What is Engineering?

 The conceptual definition of engineering is the application of creativity and teamwork

using math and science principles as tools to solve problems. A more effective way
to explain engineering is by saying it is the ability to create something that will benefit
society. Engineers shape the world we live in.

 Engineering is the application of Mathematics and Science to solve problems.

 The field of civil engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering, dating back to
when people first started living in permanent settlements and began shaping their
environments to suit their needs. As populations grew and larger groups of people began
living together in towns and cities, there was an increasing need for reliable sources of clean
water, the means to dispose of waste, a network of streets and roadways for commerce and
trade, and a way for people to defend themselves against hostile neighbors. Early civil
engineers, therefore, were called upon to build walls, roads, bridges, dams, and levees; and
to dig wells, irrigation ditches, and trenches.
 Among the most well-known civil engineering projects of ancient times are the roads of the
Roman Empire, the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, the cliff
dwellings at Mesa Verde; and Mayan ruins at Copan, Palenque, and Tikal. The construction
of many of these wonders by pre-industrial societies remains mysterious and the names of
the engineers who designed them are lost to antiquity.


 Engineering combines the fields of science and maths to solve real

world problems that improve the world around us. What really
distinguishes an engineer is their ability to implement ideas in a cost
effective and practical approach. This ability to take a thought, or
abstract idea, and translate it into reality is what separates an engineer
from other fields of science and mathematics. Consider some things you
use in your everyday life: Buildings, roads and bridges, vehicles (cars,
planes and boats), computers and other electronic devices.
 Engineering is a scientific field and job that involves taking our scientific understanding of
the natural world and using it to invent, design, and build things to solve problems and
achieve practical goals. This can include the development of roads, bridges, cars, planes,
machines, tools, processes, and computers. The things engineers build are called
technology. Without technology, the modern world simply wouldn't exist. We're surrounded
by the work of engineers practically every moment of our lives.
 Engineering is the application of science and math to solve problems. Engineers
figure out how things work and find practical uses for scientific discoveries.
Scientists and inventors often get the credit for innovations that advance the
human condition, but it is engineers who are instrumental in making those
innovations available to the world.
 What is Civil Engineering?
Civil engineering is arguably the oldest engineering discipline. It deals with the built environment and
can be dated to the first time someone placed a roof over his or her head or laid a tree trunk across
a river to make it easier to get across.

The built environment encompasses much of what defines modern civilization. Buildings and bridges
are often the first constructions that come to mind, as they are the most conspicuous creations of
structural engineering, one of civil engineering's major sub-disciplines. Roads, railroads, subway
systems, and airports are designed by transportation engineers, another category of civil
engineering. And then there are the less visible creations of civil engineers. Every time you open a
water faucet, you expect water to come out, without thinking that civil engineers made it possible.
New York City has one of the world’s most impressive water supply systems, receiving billions of
gallons of high-quality water from the Catskills over one hundred miles away. Similarly, not many
people seem to worry about what happens to the water after it has served its purposes. The old civil
engineering discipline of sanitary engineering has evolved into modern environmental engineering of
such significance that most academic departments have changed their names to civil and
environmental engineering.


 Engineering is one of the cornerstones of STEM education, an interdisciplinary
curriculum designed to motivate students to learn about science, technology,
engineering and mathematics.
 Engineering is the application of science to the needs of humanity. This is
accomplished through the application of knowledge, mathematics, and
practical experience to the design of useful objects or processes.
Professional practitioners of engineering are called engineers.

 ‘Engineering is the knowledge required, and the process applied, to
conceive, design, make build, operate, sustain, recycle or retire, something
of significant technical content for a specified purpose; a model, a product,
a device, a process, a system, a technology.’
 Engineering is ...
 Engineering involves the knowledge of mathematical and natural sciences
(biological and physical) gained by study, experience, and practice, applied
with judgement and creativity to develop ways to utilize the materials and
forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.
 Science concerned with putting scientific knowledge to practical uses,
divided into different branches, as civil, electrical, mechanical or chemical
engineering. Planning, designing construction or management of
machinery, roads, bridges, building waterways, etc.
  Engineering is essentially learning how to design and construct things. By
'things' we generally mean that an engineer will have been involved in the
design and manufacturing of almost every object you can see and
touch. However, engineers aren't like superman, we can't all make
everything and engineers certainly don't have capes and tight lycra pants !
... So engineering is divided up into smaller sections, each of which
specialises in one area of making ‘things’ :
 Engineering is everywhere, helping transform people's lives around the
globe. The work that engineers do is creative and hands-on. It's about
designing things, finding solutions and improving things.

 Engineering is behind everything, from your smartphone and hair styling products
to the car you travel in and the shoes on your feet. You could be working with
new materials, chemicals and technology to design sports clothing, preserve
food or make the latest skincare products. Or you could be part of a team that
works on driverless vehicles, surgical robots or improving cyber security.


 Engineering is an occupation with extremely wide reach. The term 'engineering'
covers many fields and, by extension, many skills. Engineers are scientists,
inventors, designers, builders and great thinkers. They improve the state of the
world, amplify human capability and make people's lives safer and easier.
 Engineering skills include:
 the scientific method
 social, cultural and economic awareness
 mathematics
 biology, chemistry, physics and other areas of science
 creativity
 teamwork

What is a Civil Engineer?

A civil engineers is an engineer who designs and oversees the construction of public works,
such as roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, buildings, airports, water and sewage systems, and
other large infrastructure projects.

Definition of CIVIL ENGINEER

: an engineer whose training or occupation is in the design and
construction especially of public works (such as roads or harbors)
Civil engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation for our modern
society – our roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, sea
 ports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment, to
name just a few.

Civil engineers design, plan, organise and oversee the

building of structures such as dams, bridges, gas and
water supply systems, sewerage systems and roads.
A Civil Engineer is a specialized type of Engineer. Also known as: City Engineer, Transportation
Engineer,Structural Engineer.

Civil engineers are often responsible for large teams that are involved in project design,
planning, and construction processes. This requires that they regularly meet, collaborate
with, and manage these team members, composed of surveyors, construction
managers, architects, landscape architects, and urban planners. In addition, they themselves
will spend significant amounts of time designing and planning projects and presenting
proposals, needs assessments, budgets, and amendments to clients.

Designs, plans and oversees construction projects such as

railways and roads.
Alternative job titles for this role
 Transportation engineer
 Environmental engineer
 Construction engineer
 Geotechnical engineer
Introduction
Civil engineering is all about improving and protecting the world we inhabit. It involves
the planning, design and construction of facilities that we require for everyday living,
industry and transport. A career in civil engineering can range from the development of
airports, offshore oil platforms, bridges, roads, railways, waste collection and treatment
systems, and water supply systems. Civil engineering also aims to solve environmental
issues such as air pollution, coastal protection and waste treatment.
 What the job involves
 Undertake technical and feasibility studies including site investigations
 Use a range of computer packages for developing detailed designs
 Undertake complex and repetitive calculations
 Liaise with clients and a variety of professionals including architects and subcontractors
 Compile job specs and supervising tendering procedures
 Resolve design and development problems
 Manage budgets and project resources
 Schedule material and equipment purchases and delivery
 Ensure projects run smoothly and structures are completed within budget and on time
How your career can develop
There is currently an abundance of employment opportunities for the civil engineering
team both in Ireland and internationally. With experience, there are plenty of
opportunities to specialise in a diverse range of areas, including coastal and marine,
power, water and roads to name a few. Promotion to senior engineer level is
achievable, and with more experience, to principal engineer level and beyond.

Why civil engineering matters

In addition to civic projects, civil engineering also has charitable uses. Recently, three
young Dublin engineers travelled to Kenya after winning a prestigious competition
aimed at harnessing modern technology to help the poorest people on the planet.

Skills
 Critical, analytical thinking
 Strong visualisation skills – to visualize how complex components will come together in to a
finished project
 Communication skills
 Advanced maths skills
 IT skills
 Ability to control and monitor budgets and costs
 Attention to detail
Typical employers
 Local authorities
 Civil engineering contractors
 Consultancies
 Private industry
 Materials research bodies
Typical salary
 Graduate/Starting €30,000
 Senior/Potential €60,000+
Typical qualifications
Degree in civil engineering. Graduates wishing to become chartered engineers now
need to hold an accredited masters degree (level 9) or equivalent. Other gateway
degree qualifications include:

 Construction engineering
 Structural engineering
 Environmental engineering
 Geomatics
 Mechanical engineering
 Electrical engineering
Related job descriptions
 Site engineer
 Quantity surveyor
 Building surveyor
 Materials Scientist
 Building services engineer
 Traffic/ highways engineer
 Planning engineer
 Landscape architect
 Site manager
 Statistician
What is an Engineer?
 "Engineers have a hand in designing, creating, and modifying nearly everything we
touch, wear, eat, see, and hear in our daily lives" (American Society of Engineering
Education).
 Engineers figure out how things work and find practical uses for scientific
discoveries.
 What Does A Typical Engineer Do? Engineers are problem solvers,
organizers, communicators, calculators and designers. They are
capable of clearly defining a problem and its relevant constraints (such
as time, cost, etc.) and providing a simple solution. A senior engineer
will usually perform less technical work (calculations and designs) but
instead focus on managing a project or team of engineers.

 What does an engineer do? Engineers design, evaluate,

develop, test, modify, install, inspect and maintain a wide variety of products and
systems. They also recommend and specify materials and processes, supervise
manufacturing and construction, conduct failure analysis, provide consulting
services and teach engineering courses in colleges and universities.

What is an engineer?

Engineers use maths, science - especially physics - and subjects such as D&T,
computing, electronics and construction, to turn ideas into reality. Engineers create
special effects for film, design future modes of transport, create earthquake detection
systems, help everyone in the world access clean water, work with athletes to improve
performance, develop lifesaving medical equipment and explore the universe.

The field of engineering is divided into a large number of specialty areas:

 Civil engineering involves design, construction, maintenance and inspection of large

infrastructure projects such as highways, railroads, bridges, tunnels, dams and airports.
Civil engineering is probably the first one that comes to mind when people think about engineering.
These are the roads, bridges, dams, buildings, and canals that make up our human communities
and infrastructure. All of those structures are designed and built under the supervision of civil
engineers.

What is an engineer?
 An engineer is a professional with a broad scientific knowledge who applies this knowledge in a practical, creative
and innovative way in business. Engineers are experts in technology. They design and produce solutions to society’s
demands.

The work of an engineer

Engineering offers a host of exciting opportunities for young graduates. Engineering is about dynamic, people
orientated working environments, get up and go attitudes, organizational skills, travel and the ability to communicate
effectively.

Engineers shape the future of the world

Engineers impact on every aspect of society and have enabled us to embrace new technologies and developments at
an ever increasing speed.
In the future engineers will create newer, faster and safer ways to travel, and develop cleaner, cheaper and
renewable sources of energy.

These are just some of the problems that the engineers of the future will have to solve:

 Environmental pollution
 Global warming
 Healthcare improvements
 Renewable energy
 Water treatment
 Flood prevention

Engineers are creative

Design is a core activity within the field of engineering. Engineering is the power behind innovation and new product
developments.

Engineers are responsible for creating and improving technologies that benefit society. Engineers create and improve
technologies that are used in sectors such as -

 Information & Communications Technology (ICT)

 Biomedical
 Entertainment
 Civil / Structural
 Pharmaceuticals
 Renewables
 Energy
 Defence
 Manufacturing

Engineers create wealth

The engineer has the skills and experience to help convert information into knowledge, which in turn creates wealth
for clients and employers
Engineers are managers
Engineers make very good managers. In the early part of their professional careers engineers take responsibility for
individual projects and learn the basics of good project management. As they progress they take on larger projects
and assume responsibility for budgets.
The Engineering Council (UK) reports that an engineer is seven times more likely to become a chief executive than
other professions.

Engineers are entrepreneurs

An increasing number of engineers set up their own companies after gaining experience as professional engineers.
Engineering provides the opportunity to identify new products and processes that have potential for commercilisation.