Civil Engineers

Many civil engineers work regular 40-hour weeks, often in or near major industrial and commercial areas. Sometimes they are assigned to work in remote areas and foreign countries, especially in developing countries such as China. Because of the diversity of civil engineering positions, working conditions vary widely. Offices, labs, factories, and actual sites are typical environments for engineers.

A typical work cycle involving various types of civil engineers involves three stages: planning, constructing, and maintaining. Those involved with the development of a campus compound, for example, would first need to work in their offices developing plans for a survey. Surveying and mapping engineers would have to visit the proposed site to take measurements and perhaps use drones to take aerial photographs of the area of the proposed campus compound. Geotechnical engineers supervise workers who dig wells at the site and take core samples from the ground. If toxic waste or unexpected water is found at the site, the contractor determines what should be done.

During the planning phase, a civil engineer estimates quantities and cost of materials, equipment, and labor to determine the project's feasibility. They use computer-aided design and drawing software to prepare campus compound drawings and blueprints utilizing the measurements and aerial photographs previously taken. In addition, the civil engineer prepares or presents reports to campus administrators on bid proposals, environmental impact statements, and property descriptions. The buildings and structures being developed for the campus must be demonstrated to be energy efficient and environmentally sound in their designs.

Actual construction then begins. Very often, a field trailer on the site becomes the engineers' makeshift offices. The campus might take several years to build—it is not uncommon for engineers to be involved in long-term projects. If contractors anticipate that deadlines will not be met, they often put in weeks of 10- to 15-hour days on the job.

After construction is complete, engineers spend less and less time at the site. Some may be assigned to stay on-site to keep daily surveys of how the structure is holding up and to solve problems when they arise. Eventually, the project engineers finish the job and move on to another long-term assignment.