What do Civil Engineers Do?

Civil and environmental engineers design, construct, and maintain the built environment in which we live and work. Projects range from the tallest skyscrapers and soaring bridge spans to tunnels and underground structures.

Our graduates work to ensure efficient transportation of people and goods on the highway system, by rail, by ship, and by air. We manage scarce water and groundwater resources, and we design and operate systems to protect public health, water quality, and the environment.

We use modern materials and system analysis methods to manage and renew the civil infrastructure. Computing and information technology tools make it possible to sense the condition of the infrastructure, and then to communicate and rapidly respond to disruptions in normal operations. High-performance computing is used to simulate the behavior of complex civil systems, visualize the results, and optimize management strategies.

Demands for improvements to civil infrastructure are ever-present, because of population growth and deterioration of existing systems over time. Infrastructure must be designed and managed to minimize impacts on the environment. over the full life cycle, including choice of materials, construction, operation, and retirement. Our infrastructure also must be protected against natural and man-made hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, fires, and explosions.