My Interest In Civil Engineering - Essay Example

My Interest In Civil Engineering Introduction The ancient pyramids of Egypt are appreciated globally for their aesthetic value with a touch of historical significance added to them. A number of scholars support this claim and even point out that the people who organized the construction of the pyramids must have employed some form of engineering. It is in being in awe of such a structure that inspires my interest in the field of engineering. The pyramids have stood the test the time and people today travel to Egypt just to marvel at them. I draw my inspiration from them because I am confident that in the future I will be involved in building such magnificent structures. Civil engineering is considered the mother of all engineering, as it is the oldest, broadest, most simple, and useful of all engineering sciences. Due to the increase in its scope, it has managed to diversify into many branches of study including structural, geotechnical, transportation, hydraulic and environmental engineering. The importance of civil engineers cannot be ignored and it is this demand that makes the field even more appealing (Civil engineering dictionary). The Work of Civil Engineers The field of civil engineering is not only as objective and systematic, but also rather it is problem solving concerned with meeting the challenges of pollution, traffic congestion, urban development, and community planning. My passion for making a difference in the community by being a problem solver is supported by its transformative approach. The planning, designing and construction of structures such as roads, railways, and bridges play a part in easing transportation. Studying structures before they are built would help ensure the safety of the people who will use the structure in future. This is possible by having mechanisms in place that are able to counteract the effect of such disasters (Sloan Career Cornerstone Centre 1). The field of civil engineering is wide and not only centered on construction but also on examining groundwater contamination, transportation design, disaster prevention, river mechanics and stream restoration, earthquake engineering, flood prediction, survey and mapping, treatment and proper disposal of waste. Integration with other fields such as environmental science, architecture, quantity surveying contribute to adding knowledge to the field (University of Utah, Civil & Environmental Engineering). It would be true to say that a civil engineer is an all rounded person and it is my desire to be this way. It is a common knowledge to a significant number of people that civil engineers mainly work in construction. This is because they are actively involved in designing bridges, roads, railways, and tunnels. Some of them work for consulting firms, which, design projects, produce plans and specifications for various institutions. I enjoy working outdoors, moving around and I do not mind getting dirty while doing it occasionally. This is why I find the field so relatable. When young, I often opened up machines in the house and my mother would scold me. The irony is that I understood why some things did not work and once I fixed them they got back to their usual function. It may seem narcissistic to say that I was born to pursue engineering but then again it is not just a career I just want to pursue but also a calling. Choosing the Best Learning Institution To become a civil engineer it is necessary to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering degree in civil engineering. Examples of universities that offer the program include Northumbria University and Liverpool John Moores University. Both universities are similar. Industrial Institution and Highways Transportation Authority accredit them both. They offer work placement, have part-time study; do not have optional modules, offer lectures, tutorials and workshops. Additionally, they offer opportunities to do Masters in Civil Engineering and they both have 6.01 ELTS entry requirements. I prefer Liverpool John Moores University to Northumbria mainly because it has nine hours per week in lectures, it offers transition modules between one level and the next, and it has more emphasis on the structural modules throughout the 3 years (Liverpool John Moores University website). Additionally, Northumbria University is more centered on Mechanical engineering. The university is well equipped with faculty who is well trained and have years of experience. By pursuing my degree at this university, I am confident that I am in capable hands. The faculty so to speak has attracted the best civil engineers known. For example, Dr. Claire Harris a senior lecturer in Civil engineering has over 10 years’ experience in the field of hydraulic and structural analysis. Another one is Jayne Dooley, who is also a senior lecturer in civil engineering. She has 12 years of working experience, working in both the public and private sector. She has worked on a variety of schemes, which include: wastewater management, clean water pipelines, flood alleviation schemes, flood risk assessment. Her work encourages me to widen my scope of civil engineering, not just focusing on the building of structures but also considering waste management as a possible area of study. The environment of Liverpool is also conducive to studying and exploration. Being away from the activities of the city would help reduce unnecessary distractions I would not need. Bridges as My Passion behind Engineering My love for engineering stems from the fascination I have with bridges. The architectural designs of today’s bridges are breathtaking. In exploring with physics, which, I greatly enjoy, the application of Isaac Newton’s pull of gravity comes into play. I often wonder how the bridges are able to withstand the force of gravity yet they are constantly exposed to heavy materials and manage to stay firm. The science behind this is the materials used to make the bridges. For construction oof bridges, traditional building materials are stones, timber, and steel (Civil Engg Dictionary 1). More recently, the use of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete has been applied (Civil Engineering Dictionary 1 ; and Cob 123). Concrete is “a mixture of sand, gravel, crushed rock or other aggregates held together in a rock-like mass with a paste of cement and water” (McCormarc 21).It is employed in building today because it is less likely to corrode compared to steel. As McComarc (25) explains, the selection of the structural material to be used in constructing a bridge involves several factors. Such factors include the distance the bridge has to span, foundation conditions, loads that the bridge will have to support and architectural consideration. For instance, it can be built in the city or in the countryside. He, however, gives the conclusion that concrete is an excellent compression material and in most cases is favored for short span bridges and where rigidity is required. A bridge that has gone beyond this norm is the Sydney Harbor Bridge, which, was built in 1932. It is completely made of steel and is considered a renowned international symbol of Australia. The realization of these structures is made possible by the work of civil engineers. This inspires me even more. Another bridge that is phenomenal is the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Its design is admired yet it was opened in 1883. It is also considered as a National historical landmark (Sloan Career Cornerstone Centre 1). Bridges with the passing of time have also evolved with them being of various kinds they include: arch bridges, suspension bridges and beam bridges (Lewis 1). Civil engineering especially the field that deals with structure can help engineers know the difference between the various bridges and design them. If we were to imagine a world without bridges moving from one place to another would be difficult and bridges are built where movement from one place to another poses a danger. Without them, people would be losing their lives crossing over water bodies. Conclusion We rely on civil engineering every day from supplying energy, clean water to our homes, processing and recycling waste and being able to find solutions to problems such as a solution. There are various programs that have been designed specially by the Institute of Civil engineering towards promoting the field, for example, big bang classroom challenge. It involves children from ages 8-15 competing on innovation of creative ideas. It is my desire that even as I work hard, I will manage to fulfill this dream and in the future, offer support and guidance for the younger generation. I also hope to be innovative and be able to come up with a structure that generations will remember, leaving behind a legacy. Works Cited Civil Engineering Dictionary. Definition of civil engineering. Web. 27 Apr 2015 Civil Engg Dictionary. Materials Used in Bridges Construction: Bridge Construction Materials. 2014. Accessed from http://www.aboutcivil.org/Materials%20used%20in%20bridges.html Cobb, Fiona. Structural Engineer’s Pocket Book. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2014. Print. Lewis, Joe. Building Model Bridges Following the Engineering Process. Accessed from www.yale.edu Liverpool John Moores University: Faculty of Technology and Environment. School of Built Environment. Academic staff Biographies. Accessed from www.ljmu.ac.uk. 27 Apr 2015. McCormac, Jack. Design of Reinforced Concretes 5th Ed. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2000. Print. University of Utah. Civil& Environmental Engineering.11 Apr 2014. Accessed from www.civil.utah.edu Read More