CIVIL ENGINEERING SPECIALIZATIONS

Bataan Peninsula State University

Main Campus

College of Engineering and Architecture

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering Orientation

By Group 3A:
Domingo, Charles Kent
Gabriel, Aeron Estrella
Dela Cruz, Mark Gian
Flores, Jermaine Ian
Gozon, Reynold Jr.
Alfonso, Alsel Roy
De Leon, Yvanna
Guzman, Jeffrey
Estrella, Jermin
Gloria, George

January 29, 2024

 CIVIL ENGINEERING SPECIALIZATIONS

● Structural Engineering
● Construction Engineering and Management
● Geotechnical Engineering
● Transportation Engineering
● Water Resource Engineering
● Energy and Environment Engineering

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Structural engineers are concerned with the conception, analysis, design and
construction of components or assemblies to resist loads arising from internal and
external forces.

What do they do?

• Analyzing blueprints, maps, reports, and topographical and geological data;
• Estimating the cost and quantities of materials, equipment and labor;
• Computing load and grade requirements, water flow rates and material stress
factors to determine design specifications;
• Inspecting project sites to monitor progress and ensure the project is being
constructed according to design specifications;
• Conducting studies of traffic patterns or environmental conditions to identify
potential problems and assess how they will affect the project.

Skills and knowledge needed as a Structural Engineer

The application of solid mechanics enables the structural engineer to assemble
elements, such as beams and columns, into a structure that will resist both static and
dynamic loads, such as gravity, wind, snow and earthquakes.

● Critical skills that a person needs in structural engineering include an

in-depth understanding of physics and mathematics.
● A structural engineer must also know the
properties of various materials, such as their density, hardness, tensile
strength, bulk
modulus and bending strength.
● They need to be able to calculate how different
 materials will perform under stresses such as compression, tension, bending
and
twisting, as well as under various environmental conditions of temperature,
pressure,
corrosive glasses and liquids, and even radiation.
● They also need to be able to predict
how these materials will perform over an extended period.
● Structural engineers rely increasingly on computer-aided design (CAD)
systems, so
proficiency with computers is essential.

Job Opportunity
Employment opportunities include work with;
● consulting structural engineers
● Construction companies
● Building development companies
● Engineering departments of private corporations
● Aircraft and aerospace-related companies
● Public Utilities
● Government agencies.

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

Construction management controls and monitors the progress of a project in
terms of quality, cost, and time.

Project management process:

Supporting plans:
● Quality management,
● Risk management, and
● Contract management plan
What do they do?
● Set the budget and run cost assessments.
● Plan the work schedule.
● Select the right construction methods and strategies for their project.
● Maintain a close and good relationship with the clients.
● Negotiating contract agreements with workers and other project agents.
● Take good care of the workers on site.
● Work together with the numerous consultants of the project.
● Make sure that the whole project complies with the set building plans, codes,
and other regulations.

Skills and knowledge needed in construction management

1. Technical Expertise:
a. Grasp of construction methods and materials.
b. Familiarity with pertinent building codes and regulations.
c. Proficiency in interpreting blueprints and construction documents.
2. Project Management:
a. Planning and scheduling construction activities.
b. Budgeting and cost estimation.
c. Risk management and problem-solving.
3. Communication Skills:
a. Effective communication with diverse stakeholders.
b. Negotiation and conflict resolution.
c. Clear written and verbal communication.
4. Leadership:
a. Team management and motivation.
b. Decision-making under pressure.
c. Delegation of tasks and responsibilities.
5. Time Management:
a. Efficient use of time to meet project deadlines.
b. Prioritizing tasks and adapting to changes.
6. Legal and Ethical Considerations:
a. Understanding legal aspects of construction projects.
b. Ethical decision-making and professional conduct.
7. Environmental Awareness:
a. Consideration of environmental impacts.
b. Compliance with environmental regulations.
 8. Client Relationship Management:
a. Building and maintaining client relationships.
b. Customer service orientation.

Job Opportunity
The field of construction management offers a wide array of job opportunities across
various sectors. Some key job roles include:
1. Construction Manager:
a. Overseeing and managing construction projects from inception to
completion.
b. Ensuring adherence to budgets, timelines, and quality standards.
2. Project Manager:
a. Leading and coordinating projects, including planning, execution, and
monitoring.
b. Collaborating with diverse teams to achieve project goals.
3. Estimator:
a. Assessing project costs and preparing accurate estimates.
b. Analyzing project requirements and proposing budgetary
considerations.
4. Scheduler:
a. Developing project schedules to optimize resource utilization.
b. Monitoring and updating schedules to ensure timely project
completion.
5. Site Manager/Supervisor:
a. Managing on-site construction activities.
b. Ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency on the construction site.
6. Contract Administrator:
a. Overseeing contract negotiations and ensuring contract compliance.
b. Resolving disputes and maintaining positive client relationships.
7. Quality Control Manager:
a. Implementing and managing quality control processes.
b. Monitoring construction activities to ensure adherence to quality
standards.
8. Safety Manager:
a. Developing and implementing safety programs on construction sites.
b. Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Geotechnical engineering is about understanding how the infrastructure –
tunnels, bridges, dams, buildings, roads, railways, ports, and landfills – interacts
with the ground they were built on. It deals with the behavior of soils under the
influence of loading forces and soil-water interactions.

What do they do?

The major functions of geotechnical engineering are as follows:
● Evaluation of geotechnical hazards including the potential of landslides.
● Determination of bearing capacity, deformations of foundations, and likely
interactions between soil, foundation, and the structure.
● Assessment of earth pressure and the performance of retaining walls.
● Analysis of embankment behavior.
● Strength of excavations, caves, and tunnels.
● Conducting response analysis for a site.

Skills and knowledge needed as a Geotechnical Engineer

Soil mechanics is a major field of geotechnical engineering in which soil is
analyzed before any major construction, to ensure its suitability to support the load
of the desired structures. The soil normally consists of rock particles, while water
and air are located in the empty spaces. It is essential to determine the engineering
characteristics of soils that are influenced by the size of rock particles, the form of
mineral particles, the distribution of grain size, and the amount of minerals, air, and
water in the soil
The engineering properties of soils generally considered for carrying out the
analysis of site conditions and design of structures are the unit weight, dry unit
weight, saturated unit weight, porosity, and permeability. Several laboratory tests
are conducted to determine the suitability of soil, including hydraulic conductivity,
soil compaction, relative density, and water content.
Evaluation of foundations is an important element concerning the design of
structures since the loads from the buildings are transmitted to the earth through the
foundations which should be adequately strong to bear the applied loads. Properties
of the soil and rock layer at the site also influence the design of the foundations.
Foundation support is affected by the bearing capacity, settlement, and movement of
ground under the foundations.
Bearing capacity is the capability of the soil to bear the building or structure
loads, and should be determined meticulously to ensure the safety of the building.
Settlements occur beneath nearly all foundations, though structures that are lightly
loaded may experience insignificant settlements.
When structures are heavy or sites are soft, settlements may be of serious
concern. Settlement that occurs over some time may have critical consequences. All
these aspects should be considered while carrying out the design of foundations.
Other than these, geosynthetics have also emerged as a reliable solution for civil
engineering problems. Their characteristic properties like water resistance and
polymeric nature make them suitable for resisting water drainage, providing
reinforcement, structural containment, etc. Geofoam, geosynthetic clay liners,
geocells, infiltration cells, and geotextiles are some of the most commonly used
products in civil engineering works across the globe.

Job Opportunity
Employment opportunities include:
● Geotechnical and engineering consultants
● Public Utilities
● Governmental agencies
● Environmental agencies
● Specialized contractors
● Resource industry companies.

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER
Transportation engineering is a branch of civil engineering that involves the
planning, design, operation, and maintenance of transportation systems to help
build smart, safe, and livable communities.

What do they do?

Transportation Engineers do the following responsibilities:

● Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established

engineering standards policy.
● Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities.
● Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems,
such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage
structures, or roadway lighting.
 ● Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to
improve safety or function.
● Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss
plans, specifications, or work schedules.
● Design or engineer drainage, erosion, or sedimentation control systems for
transportation projects.
● Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow
or safety.
● Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure compliance with
environmental regulations

Skills and knowledge needed as a Transportation Engineer?

One important aspect of transportation engineering is that:

● The transportation engineer is not only interested in the infrastructure (e.g.,

bridges, rails, etc.) and the individual units (cars, trucks, railcars) that use the
infrastructure, but also the user. Often it is necessary to understand the
interaction of all three of these entities: infrastructure, individual units, and
users to understand the system as a whole.
● The infrastructure and units are considered the supply side of the equation,
while the users are identified with demand.
● Experimental studies, or designed experiments, are the mainstay of many
standard statistics books. They are used extensively in many engineering
disciplines, including pavement engineering, that are not necessarily
applicable to transportation systems engineering. For example, consider an
engineer who is interested in the various factors that affect skid resistance and
the relationship to crash rate. From an ethical standpoint, she cannot place
various types of pavement surfacing on different sections of highway, observe
what types of accidents occur, and then choose the best type of pavement
based on the empirical accident results.
● Most transportation studies are observational in nature, and as a result, the
statistics used by transportation engineers reflect this characteristic.
● It is sometimes very difficult to obtain certain data from the transportation
system, so statistical techniques that can handle missing data or use a priori
knowledge are needed.
● Much of the data are correlated and interdependent. For example, the travel
time on a given link is often correlated to the travel time on the immediate
 downstream link. Sometimes this correlation is negative: Consider, for
example, a driver stopped at a traffic signal that is red. If the signal system is
coordinated properly, the driver will have a lower probability of being
stopped at the traffic signal on the next link. At other times, however, the
correlation is positive: If one link is experiencing high travel times because of
excessive demand, then other links also will experience high travel times
because of the same demand. Regardless,as this example demonstrates, the
assumption that different transportation phenomena being independent is not
always valid.

Job opportunities.
● Construction supervisor
- Responsible for overseeing and coordinating various aspects of a construction
project, such as budget, schedule, quality, safety, and compliance.

● Highways Engineer/ Highways Control Manager

- Focuses specifically on the design and construction of roads
- Responsible for planning, designing, and supervising projects that keep road
networks working efficiently. The job role of a highways engineer may
involve the following duties: Designing local road schemes and maintaining
the road network, including structures such as bridges

● Railroad Engineer/ Locomotive or Train Engineer

- A railroad engineer does much more than just drive the train - he or she is
ultimately responsible for the entire train during a run. Railroad engineers
usually work up to the job title with on-the-job training in other railroad jobs.

● Airport Engineer/ Airport Planner

- Works in conjunction with architects and contractors in the design of airports
and runways. He or she supervises all phases of the construction to be certain
that the work is completed according to plan.

● Tunnel Engineer
- The Tunnel Engineer is responsible for the analysis, design, and construction
of tunnels. They must have a strong understanding of geotechnical
engineering principles and practices. The Tunnel Engineer is responsible for
ensuring the safety and stability of the tunnel structure during construction
 and operation. They must be able to effectively communicate with other
engineers, contractors, and clients.

● Bridge Engineer
- Design bridge projects and oversee the construction, inspection, and repair of
bridges and related structures.
1. Senior Bridge Engineers development and/or review roadway designs, utility
plans, drainage reports, stormwater quality plans, performing bridge analysis
and design computations, and other various related design elements
associated with public transportation infrastructure and facilities.
2. Senior Project Engineers lead and manage structural design efforts of major
highway, rail and movable bridge projects.
3. Bridge Design Engineer conducts structural analysis to ensure the strength
and safety of highway structures, prepares structural design and contract
documents including drawings, specifications, and estimates; participates in
preparing project budgets and schedules, participates in meetings with clients
and project team members, and reviews structural calculations and contract
documents prepared by others.

● Docks/ Harbor Engineer

- Port Engineers manage the day-to-day engine department operations and
maintenance, including facilities and personnel, to assure vessel system
reliability and efficiency. They maintain the vessels for the safety of the
passengers and crew in accordance with all applicable regulations and safety
rules.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Environmental engineering is a field focused on ensuring sustainable societal
development by addressing the environmental impact of mining, manufacturing,
and industrial activities. The primary goal is to manage and minimize pollution and
waste, emphasizing the responsible use of water, land, and air resources.
Environmental engineers design technologies and processes that control the release
of pollutants and facilitate the cleanup of existing environmental contamination. In
essence, the field seeks to strike a balance between societal progress and the
preservation of the environment through thoughtful and effective engineering
solutions.
What do they do?
Environmental engineers do the following responsibilities:
• Make recommendations to maintain and improve environmental performance.
• Review environmental regulations, and determine whether they're being applied
properly.
• Review stormwater management practices for municipal, industrial, and
construction stormwater programs.
• Create and maintain air quality management systems that comply with air permits
and air regulations.
• Report environmental incidents to plant management, including mishaps such as
internal
spills, external releases, potential permit non-compliances, and upcoming regulatory
inspections.
• Interface with different regulatory agencies, prepare needed documentation,
schedule required
testing, and provide any necessary, additional follow-up documentation.
• Planning, design, construction and operation of water and wastewater treatment
facilities in
municipalities and industries.
• Modeling and analysis of surface water and groundwater quality, design of soil
and remediation systems.
• Planning for the disposal and reuse of wastewaters and sludges.
• Collection, transport, processing, recovery and disposal of solid wastes according
to accepted
engineering practices.

Skills and knowledge needed as an Environmental Engineer?

Environmental engineers require a combination of skills and knowledge in various
fields to address the diverse challenges they encounter. The key skills and
knowledge include:
1. Engineering Knowledge: A solid understanding of engineering principles to
develop technical solutions for environmental issues.
2. Soil Science: Knowledge of soil science to address soil-related environmental
challenges.
3. Chemistry: Understanding of chemical processes and reactions, particularly as
they relate to pollution control and remediation.
4. Biology: Knowledge of biological systems, essential for addressing environmental
issues that involve living organisms.
5. Technical Problem-Solving: The ability to develop and implement technical
solutions to environmental problems.
6. Legislative Awareness: Understanding of environmental laws and regulations to
ensure solutions align with legal requirements.
7. Economic Considerations: Consideration of economic factors to develop
cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
8. Social and Political Awareness: Awareness of social and political factors to ensure
solutions are compatible with broader societal concerns.
9. Water Supply and Sewerage: Expertise in water supply and sewerage systems,
crucial for managing water-related challenges.
10. Surface Water and Groundwater Management: Skills in managing the quality of
surface water and groundwater.
11. Remediation Techniques: Knowledge of remediation techniques for contaminated
sites.
12. Solid Waste Management: Expertise in planning and implementing solid waste
management strategies.

Environmental engineers, particularly those with a focus on civil engineering,

play a vital role in addressing various environmental issues and ensuring the
compatibility of solutions with broader societal, economic, and legislative
considerations.

Job Opportunities
Job opportunities in environmental engineering are diverse and can be found in
various sectors. Potential employment avenues include:

1. Consulting Firms: Environmental engineers can work for consulting firms that
provide specialized expertise and solutions to clients facing environmental
challenges.
2. Municipalities: Local governments often hire environmental engineers to work on
projects related to waste treatment, wastewater treatment, and pollution control
within their jurisdictions.
3. Government Agencies: Environmental engineers may find employment in
government agencies at various levels (local, regional, or national) that focus on
environmental regulation, management, and policy development.
4. Industries: Many industries, especially those with environmental impact, hire
environmental engineers to ensure compliance with regulations, implement
pollution control measures, and manage environmental sustainability.
5. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Environmental engineers can work for
NGOs dedicated to environmental conservation and advocacy, contributing to
projects that align with the organization's goals.
6. Specialized Contractors: Companies specializing in environmental remediation,
waste treatment, or pollution control may hire environmental engineers to contribute
to specific projects.

These opportunities highlight the interdisciplinary nature of environmental

engineering, offering a range of career paths in both the public and private sectors.

WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING

Specialization of civil engineering that involves the design of new systems
and equipment that help manage human water resources.

Water Resource Engineering has been divided into the following;

• Water and Wastewater treatment plant design
• Water Distribution, Wastewater and Stormwater Sewer Systems
• Irrigation Engineering
• River Engineering, Hydraulics, Hydrodynamics, Sediment Transport,
Contaminant Transport, River Morphology, Ice-covered rivers
• Hydraulic Structures (reservoirs, floodways, dams, dykes, spillways & sluice gates,
channels, water intakes)
• Drainage Canals
• Groundwater and Seepage, Well Design, Seepage Control, Underground
Contaminant Transport
• Surface Runoff Analysis
• Hydrology, winter hydrology, climate change
• Extreme events: floods, torrents, mudflows, debris flows
What does Water Resource Engineering do?
Water engineers need a long-term and holistic perspective of water from
catchment to ocean and innovative approaches to all aspects of the water cycle.

• Design and operate dams to ensure that we have enough water during dry times
and that water is allocated fairly and efficiently to all users.
• Predict flooding and ensure that development in floodplains is safe and
appropriate and design stormwater systems that can prevent flooding.
• Come up with innovative ways to track and quantify the groundwater.
• Design beach nourishment programs and breakwalls that ensure safe navigation of
boats into harbors and estuaries. They try to understand how estuaries behave and
can help to restore them when development has caused them to become out of
balance.
• Design and operate water treatment plants, waste water treatment and water
recycling schemes.
• Analysis of data from relevant areas, then designing new or improved facilities to
enhance the cleansing effects of the water treatment system.

Skills and knowledge needed as a Water Resources Engineer?

Skills:
-Hydraulic Modeling
-GIS (Geographic Information System)
-Problem Solving
-Communication
-Project Management
-Environmental Awareness
-Team Collaboration

Knowledge:
- Hydrology
- Water Quality Management
- Fluid Mechanics
- Climate Science
- Regulatory Compliance
- Water Infrastructure
- Geotechnical Engineering
Job Opportunity
Water Resources Engineers play a crucial role in managing and developing
sustainable water systems. Job opportunities for Water Resources Engineers can be
found in various sectors, including:

1. Government Agencies: Work with local, state, or federal government agencies

responsible for water resource management, environmental protection, and
infrastructure development.
2. Consulting Firms: Join engineering consulting firms that specialize in water
resources, providing expertise to clients on a project-by-project basis.
3. Environmental Organizations: Contribute to non-profit organizations focused on
environmental conservation and sustainable water management practices.
4. Utilities: Work with water utilities and companies responsible for water supply,
treatment, and distribution.
5. Research and Academia: Pursue opportunities in research institutions or academia
to advance knowledge in water resources engineering.
6. Private Industry: Join private companies involved in industries such as
agriculture, energy, or manufacturing, where water resource management is critical.
7. Infrastructure Development: Contribute to large-scale infrastructure projects
involving dams, reservoirs, and water supply systems.
8. International Development: Work on water-related projects globally, addressing
water challenges in developing countries through international organizations.
9. Climate Resilience: With the growing focus on climate change, there are
opportunities to work on projects aimed at enhancing water resilience in the face of
changing climate patterns.
10. Urban Planning: Collaborate with urban planners to integrate water
management into sustainable city development projects.

ENERGY ENGINEERING
Energy engineers are engineers that are responsible for projects involving
energy distribution, and energy generation. These engineers concern themselves
with researching methods of generating cleaner less environmentally harmful
energy from sources like solar wind and nuclear energy and optimizing existing
methods to increase the efficiency of energy extraction.
Responsibilities of Energy Engineers:
● Researching new ways of extracting energy
● Improving existing methods of extracting energy
● Maintaining and monitoring energy plants and facilities
● Negotiating service agreements with specialist contractors and relevant
organizations
● Managing funds and revenues of projects
● Managing the designs, development, and construction of the project

Skills and Knowledge of Energy Engineers

● General understanding of relevant legislation around energy efficiency,

carbon emission, and implementation of legal standards on system efficiency
● Knowledge of current industry developments, inventions, and discoveries as
well as knowledge of the current energy market
● Knowledge of statutory and regulatory energy usage requirements and
sustainability concerns

Job Opportunity
Energy engineers can have varying responsibilities depending on the project,
professional background, expertise, and the section in which they were assigned.
Certain responsibilities however have similarities across the board.
Quiz
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer to the corresponding question.

1. What is a key responsibility of structural engineers during the construction phase?

a. Analyzing traffic patterns
b. Estimating material costs
c. Reviewing environmental conditions
d. Monitoring progress and adherence to design specifications
Answer: d. Monitoring progress and adherence to design specifications

2. Which skill is NOT critical for a structural engineer?

a. Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) systems
b. In-depth understanding of physics and mathematics
c. Knowledge of traffic patterns
d. Ability to estimate labor costs
Answer: c. Knowledge of traffic patterns

3. Where do structural engineers find employment opportunities?

a. Agricultural companies
b. Fashion industries
c. Consulting structural engineers
d. Entertainment companies
Answer: c. Consulting structural engineers

4. What is the primary responsibility of construction managers?

a. Designing construction methods
b. Estimating material quantities
c. Analyzing topographical data
d. Conducting traffic studies
Answer: b. Estimating material quantities

5. Which skill is NOT essential for construction management?

a. Decision-making under pressure
b. Proficiency in computer-aided design
c. Time management
d. Negotiation and conflict resolution
Answer: b. Proficiency in computer-aided design
6. What is a potential job role in construction management?
a. Astronaut
b. Quality Control Manager
c. Fashion designer
d. Professional gamer
Answer: b. Quality Control Manager

7. What is a major function of geotechnical engineering?

a. Analyzing traffic patterns
b. Evaluating geotechnical hazards
c. Planning alteration of transportation structures
d. Designing construction methods
Answer: b. Evaluating geotechnical hazards

8. What is a key consideration for geotechnical engineers in foundation design?

a. Weather conditions
b. Bearing capacity and settlement
c. Traffic flow rates
d. Materials tensile strength
Answer: b. Bearing capacity and settlement

9. Where can geotechnical engineers find job opportunities?

a. Movie production companies
b. Environmental agencies
c. Fashion design companies
d. Aerospace-related companies
Answer: b. Environmental agencies

10. What is the responsibility of transportation engineers?

a. Designing water treatment plants
b. Planning and scheduling construction activities
c. Analyzing geotechnical hazards
d. Estimating material stress factors
Answer: b. Planning and scheduling construction activities
11. What is a unique aspect of transportation engineering?
a. Focus on user interactions
b. Focus on geological data
c. Focus on building development
d. Focus on material properties
Answer: a. Focus on user interactions

12. What is a potential job role in transportation engineering?

a. Chef
b. Railroad Engineer
c. Fashion model
d. Professional athlete
Answer: b. Railroad Engineer

13. What is the primary goal of environmental engineering?

a. Maximizing pollution
b. Minimizing waste
c. Ignoring environmental impact
d. Promoting unsustainable development
Answer: b. Minimizing waste

14. What skill is essential for environmental engineers?

a. Expertise in fashion design
b. Technical problem-solving
c. Proficiency in gaming
d. Knowledge of culinary arts
Answer: b. Technical problem-solving

15. Where can environmental engineers find job opportunities?

a. Fast-food restaurants
b. Consulting firms
c. Music industry
d. Sports organizations
Answer: b. Consulting firms
16. What is the responsibility of water resource engineers?
a. Designing fashion accessories
b. Predicting flooding and designing stormwater systems
c. Managing traffic flow
d. Analyzing air quality
Answer: b. Predicting flooding and designing stormwater systems

17. What is a critical skill for water resources engineers?

a. Expertise in culinary arts
b. GIS (Geographic Information System)
c. Proficiency in fashion design
d. Knowledge of music composition
Answer: b. GIS (Geographic Information System)

18. Where can water resources engineers find job opportunities?

a. Entertainment industry
b. Environmental organizations
c. Fast-food chains
d. Fashion companies
Answer: b. Environmental organizations

19. What is the responsibility of energy engineers?

a. Designing fashion collections
b. Managing sports events
c. Researching new ways of extracting energy
d. Analyzing traffic patterns
Answer: c. Researching new ways of extracting energy

20. What is a crucial knowledge area for energy engineers?

a. Fashion trends
b. Fluid mechanics
c. Music genres
d. Culinary arts
Answer: b. Fluid mechanics