Good Morning everyoneLet me start my piece with an anecdote..

Winners versus Losers The Winner is always The Loser is always a part of the problem. The Winner always The Loser always has an excuse. The Winner says, "Let The Loser says, "That's not my job." me a part of the answer;

has

program;

do

it

for

you;"

The Winner sees an answer The Loser sees a problem in every answer.

for

every

problem;

The Winner says, "It may be difficult The Loser says, "It may be possible but it's too difficult."

but

it's

possible;"

Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow colleagues and for the future engineerswhat lies ahead either will make you or break you depending on what role you are in..the winner or the loser

Today I will speak on the roles of the civil engineers in upholding the civil engineering profession

What Is a Civil Engineer? It is important to first provide a formal definition highlighting the role of a civil engineer. A civil engineer is responsible for using their civil engineering background to plan and oversee various construction efforts in many different areas of this field. They will apply civil engineering principles to ensure that structures are constructed in the safest, sturdiest manner.

So What Are The General Responsibilities of a Civil Engineer? A civil engineer engages in many general responsibilities on a daily basis. These responsibilities are a crucial part of their job and enable the civil engineer to engage in their profession to the best of their ability. One general responsibility of the civil engineer is to analyze various factors concerning a construction job. The civil engineer will

analyze the proposed site location as well as the entire construction job which is to be completed at such a site. They will analyze the process for completing the construction job every step of the way.

The civil engineer must also plan the construction project that will be taking place in conjunction with the results they found due to their analysis of the proposed project. During the process and at the end, the civil engineer must inspect the product to ensure that all rules, regulations and guidelines have been explicitly followed. In SMI Mining where I am a consultant on infrastructure programwe are now developing the SMI Community Infrastructure Support Program Guidelines. The purpose of these GUIDELINES is to provide a viable reference for successful infrastructure project management. It lays down the specific rules and practices in implementing the SMI community infrastructure support program and its component projects. We see to it that infrastructure projects follow not only the national standards but as well as the international building code and other standards relating to infrastructures.

What are then the Specific Duties of a Civil Engineer? Within the general responsibilities of a civil engineer are specific duties that must be carried out on a frequent basis, often times daily. 1. The first duty of a civil engineer is to inspect and analyze the proposed construction project. They will not only inspect the plan itself but will go to the site location many times to ensure that the plan fits the location and vice versa.

2. When they have adequately analyzed the situation, they will write detailed reports stating what is acceptable and what needs to be changed prior to beginning the project. Once these proposed changes have been made, the civil engineer will review the plans and project site once again to ensure that all changes have been made as required.

3. The job of a civil engineer does not end at this point. The civil engineer will follow the project from start to finish and make any necessary changes along the way.

They will ensure that procedure is being followed and check on safety features of the project during the time it is being completed.

4. A civil engineer must use many different equations, applications and figures to ensure the proper procedure application. Items that civil engineers must take part in and use include chemical testing applications, drafting and design software, electrical test devices and equipment, land surveying techniques and the metric system, to name just a few pertinent items.

5. The civil engineer must also be certain to follow land use laws and regulations every step of the way. This is extremely important as one who does not abide by such rules and regulations may find that the project is stalled, either temporarily or permanently. Therefore, a specific duty of a civil engineer is to know the pertinent land use laws and regulations and to follow them consistently.

6. One who is a civil engineer is also the key contact person regarding the construction project in many cases. They will answer questions directed towards them by individuals involved with the construction project and the general public as well. While answering questions, they will also be responsible for backing up their statements with reports, graphs, charts and surveys.

What Positive Traits Should a Civil Engineer to Possess? There are some definitive positive traits which civil engineers should possess. By having these traits, one who is a civil engineer can excel in their job profession. Although having all of these traits is not a prequisite to doing a good job as a civil engineer, one who does have such traits will find that their job may go much more smoothly than if these positive attributes were lacking.

1. Good analytical skills are a must for any civil engineer. Civil engineers have to read and interpret many complex charts, diagrams, maps and reports. By having superior analytical skills, one who fills this job role will find that they can complete their daily job duties in an effective and efficient manner. One who does not have good analytical skills may have a hard time in the role of a civil engineer.

2. Above average communication skills are also a good thing for civil engineers to possess. Civil engineers need to correspond with a wide array of individuals throughout their profession. They will have to deal with everyone from construction workers to CEOs of large corporations. Therefore, it is imperative that a civil engineer possesses above average communication skills as this will allow them to communicate effectively with individuals involved in the job.

3. One who is a civil engineer should also possess excellent problem solving capabilities. The role of a civil engineer is not an easy one. There will be problems that arise from time to time which the civil engineer will be responsible for fixing. With that said, one who works as a civil engineer should have impeccable problem solving skills. They need to be able to survey potential or full-blown problems and come up with a solution for such problems as quickly as possible. Since most construction jobs are on a stringent time schedule, it is important to not only be able to solve the problems that arise but to do so in a quick and speedy fashion.

Challenges We are facing In a January 2011 article in CE News titled Change is Good, John P. Bachner, CEO of Bachner Communications, Inc and Executive Vice President of ASFE/The Geoprofessional Business Association stated that civil engineers right out of the gate have three strikes against them: Strike One Civil engineers are taught to be civil engineering professionals, not civil engineering businesspeople. The result: They know a lot about civil engineering and all too little about business in general and the professional service business in particular. Strike Two Many civil engineers are ineffective communicators. Some, it seems, sense these deficits at an early age and find comfort in math and science, where a lack of expository skills doesnt matter all that much; numbers do the talking. Strike Three Many civil engineers have weak interpersonal skills, except when it comes to other civil engineers who want to talk about civil engineering. Regrettably, in the civil engineering business, most of the folks civil engineers deal with are businesspeople, administrators, finance guys, contractors (who may be graduate civil engineers but now live in a far different world), government officials, and so on. Those civil engineers who do not fit the stereotype the gregarious extroverts have a huge

advantage over their less-outgoing brethren because the service business in general and the professional service business in particular are all about people So, what is the best way for a civil engineer to develop their communication skills when dealing with the public? By the trial-by-fire method where they are just sent to public meetings and expected to learn through immersion. Tag along with project managers and company principals and learn by example and mentorship. Joining seminars on this very topic will make a difference. One should join Toastmasters, organization that operates for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills. I offers a program of communication and leadership projects designed to help men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening, and thinking. This ability just come along with maturity in the profession