5 PROBLEMS SOLVED BY A CIVIL ENGINEER
If
you want to see examples of what kind of work civil engineers do, just look
around. Civil engineering companies are responsible for designing highways,
bridges, wastewater systems, power grids, and for helping large cities like
Houston grow in a sustainable way. Here’s five crucial areas where civil
engineers can be key problem-solvers.
1.Mitigation of Flooding & Water Run-Off Planning
In
the last 70 years, there have been roughly 90 federally-declared disasters in
Texas.1 Over 70 of these have been floods. Sadly, this has led to several
deaths, accidents, and costly damages. Civil engineers in Houston need to be
well-versed in floodplain mapping in order to support towns, developers, and
state planners in determining the best way to avoid these costly disasters.
Civil engineers can support this effort by authoring floodplain maps, designing
roads, catchments, dams, and other water run-off features that protect our
lands and residents.
2.Reducing Traffic Through Highway Design
If
you’re a commuter, you’ll be familiar with the need for civil engineers to come
up with highway designs that can support the large number vehicles that line
the roads daily. On-ramps, over-passes, commuter lanes, and strategic freeway
expansions are key to directing the growing number of cars on the road. Civil
engineers are equipped with the mapping, statistical analysis, and modelling
skills required to tackle this complex issue.
3.Utility Design: Building Sustainable Sewage
It’s
been recently estimated that Texas’ population grows by up to 100 people a
day.2 This growth has increased the importance for civil engineering firms in
Houston and other big cities to be strategic in planning sustainable energy and
water waste systems. Every land development site needs to be assessed by a civil
engineer to determine the safest and most reliable way to connect it with the
local utilities system. Civil engineers design utility networks that play a big
part in keeping our lands pollution-free.
4.Platting: Planning Development That Complies with State
Regulations
Platting
can often seem like a complicated and mysterious topic, but it is an absolutely
crucial necessity in the process of land development. A plat is an official
survey executed by civil engineers. It defines the boundaries of a parcel of land,
designating any easements, paths of travel, and flood zones. Parcels of rural
land can be legally acknowledged without a plat, but an important point to
consider is that, without a plat, a land development cannot be subdivided.
Platting surveys cannot be carried out by just anyone. Since land development
regulations vary from municipality to municipality, it is important to work
closely with a local civil engineering firm that is familiar with pertinent
laws regarding development.
5.Earthwork Analysis for Large-Scale Developments
The
importance of accurate earthwork analysis cannot be stressed enough. Moving
vast quantities of dirt around may seem like a dull topic, but this aspect of
civil engineering can prevent great financial risks to the developer. On a
construction site, the contractor will need to subtract earth, add earth, or
both. Civil engineers can guide this process, making it cost effective and
accurate. A mistake during this process can have devastating effects on the
entire development. A good civil engineering company will take the time to put
boots on the ground and evaluate the jobsite.
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