[Unit-1] [B. Tech - II Sem.

] [Basic Civil Engineering]

Introduction

 Specialization of Civil Engineering and Their Scope

Civil engineering is a very vast field. It can be classified into:

1. Surveying
2. Building Material
3. Construction technology
4. Structural engineering
5. Geotechnical engineering
6. Fluid mechanics and Hydraulics
7. Water resource and Irrigation engineering
8. Transportation engineering
9. Environmental engineering
10. Town planning

1. SURVEYING: Surveying is the science of map making. To start any development activity, the relative
positions of various objects in the area with respect to horizontal and vertical axes through a reference point
is required. This is achieved by surveying the area. Earlier, the conventional instruments like chain, tape and
leveling instruments were used. In this electronic era, modern electronic equipment’s like electronic
distance meters (EDM) and total stations are used, to get more accurate results easily. When maps of large
areas are to be made corrections for earth curvature are to be made for all measurements. Such survey is
called geodetic surveying also.

2. Building Material: All the building Structured are composed of different types of materials these materials
are either called building material or material of construction. It is very essential for an engineer to become
conversant thoroughly with these building materials. The service condition of a building demand wide range
of material with specific properties. Hence properties of Material are to be studied properly to select the
suitable material. Materials likes stones, bricks, timbers, lime, cement, sand, aggregate, tiles etc.

3. Construction Technology Construction is the major activity of civil engineering. Hence civil engineer must
know properties and uses of basic materials of construction like stone, bricks, tiles, cement, sand, jelly,
steel, glass, glazed tiles, paints and varnishes. Behavior of reinforced cement concrete (R.C.C.) and pre-
stressed concrete should be understood properly. Improved versions of many flooring materials, bath room
fittings keep on appearing in the market. Construction engineer should study their advantages,
 disadvantages and cost effectiveness. Construction technology should keep pace with the need of modern
trend. In cities building tall structures in shortest possible period is the requirement while in rural areas and
poor need the low cost housing technology. Construction engineer should know quantity of materials and
man power requirement. He has to plan and execute the work in proper sequence without wasting man
power, material and time of construction equipment’s.

4. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Load acting any structure is ultimately transferred to ground. In doing
so, various components of the structure are subjected to internal stresses. For example, in a building, load
acting on a slab is transferred by slab to ground through structural components like beams, columns and
footings. Assessing various types of internal stresses in the components of a structure is known as structural
analysis and finding suitable size of the structural component is known as structural design. The structures
to be designed may be of masonry, R.C.C., pre-stressed concrete or of steel. Structural engineering involves
analysis of various structures like buildings, water tanks, chimneys, bridges etc. and designing those using
suitable materials like masonry, R.C.C., pre-stressed concrete or steel. A structural engineer has not only to
give a safe structure but he has to give economical structure. To get economical sections, mathematical
optimization techniques are to be used.

5. GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING Soil property changes from place to place. Even in the same place if
may not be uniform at various depth. The soil property may vary from season to season due to varying
moisture content. The loads from all structures are to be safely transferred to soil. Hence, safe bearing
capacity of the soil is to be properly assessed. Apart from finding safe bearing capacity for the foundations
of building, geotechnical engineering involves various studies required for the design of pavements, tunnels,
earthen dams, canals and earth retaining structures. It involves study of ground improvement techniques
also. Since stability of every structure depends on how safely load is transferred to ground, this branch of
civil engineering is very important.

6. FLUID MECHANICS AND HYDRAULICS Water is an important fluid required for all living beings.
For the design and construction of hydraulic structure study of mechanics of water and its flow
characteristics is very much essential. This is important field in civil engineering and it is known as fluid
mechanics/hydraulics; fluid mechanics being the general term applicable to all type of fluids. Hydraulics
engineering is application of the principle of Fluid Mechanics to problem daily collection storage transport
measurement and use of water.

7. Water resource and Irrigation Engineering Water resource engineering means measurement utilization
and development of water resources for agricultural Municipal and power generation purpose. Water is to be
supplied to agricultural field. Hence suitable water resources are to be identified and water retaining
structures are to be built. Identifying, planning and building water retaining structures like tanks and dams
 and carrying stored water to fields is known as water resources and irrigation engineering. Constructing
canals, distributaries aqueducts and regulators form part of irrigation engineering.

8. Transportation Engineering Another important amenity that public requires is good roads. Design of good
road involves the design of base courses, surface finishes, cross drainage works, road intersections, culverts,
bridges and tunnels. Roads need suitable design of horizontal and vertical curves also. Railway is another
important long way transport facility. Design construction and maintenance of railway lines and signal
systems are part of transportation engineering. Design, construction and maintenance of harbors and airports
are also the need of globalization era. For proper planning of these transport facilities traffic survey is to be
carried out. All these activities constitute the transportation engineering.

9. Environmental Engineering Supplying potable water to rural areas, towns and cities and disposal of waste
water and solid waste is another field of civil engineering. Solid waste management and disposal of
electronic waste systematically is the need for maintaining good environment. Study of sources, causes,
effects and remedial measures associated with air pollution, water pollution, land pollution and noise
pollution forms environmental engineering branch of civil engineering.

 ROLE OF CIVIL ENGINEER IN SOCIETY

A civil engineer has to conceive, plan, estimate, get approval, create and maintain all civil engineering
infrastructure activities. Civil engineer has a very important role in the development of the following
infrastructures:
1. Measure and map the earth’s surface.
2. Plan and develop extensions of towns and cities.
3. Build the suitable structures for the rural and urban areas for various utilities.
4. Build the tanks and dams to exploit water resources.
5. Build river navigation and flood control projects.
6. Build canals and distributaries to take water to agricultural fields.
7. Purify and supply water to needy areas like houses, schools, offices etc.
8. Provide and maintain communication systems like roads, railways, harbors and airports.
9. Develop new systems for control and efficient flow of traffic.
10. Provide, build and maintain drainage and waste water disposal system.
 Impact of Infrastructural Development on the economy of Country

Civil engineering activities in the infrastructural development are:

1. Good planning of towns and extension areas in the cities. Each extension area should be self-sufficient
in accommodating offices, educational institutions, markets, hospitals, recreational facilities and
residential accommodation.
2. Assured water supply.
3. A good drainage system.
4. Pollution free environmental conditions.
5. A well planned and built network of roads and road crossings.
6. Railways connections to all important cities and towns. (vii) Airports and harbors of national and
international standards
7. Airports and harbors of national and international standards.

 Effect of infrastructure facilities are

1. Connecting producing centers to marketing places minimize exploitation of producers by middlemen.

Imports and exports became easy and as a result of which whole world becomes a village.
2. Improved irrigation facility enhances agricultural products and hence producers as well as consumers
are benefitted.
3. Infrastructural facility develops scope for a number of industries and it creates job opportunities.
4. Improved education and health care give rise to skilled and healthy work force. Quality of life of the
people is improved.
5. Utilization of manpower for the benefit of mankind brings down antisocial activities.
6. In case of natural calamities assistance can be easily extended to the affected areas and misery of
affected people minimized.
7. Infrastructural facility improves defense system and peace exists in the country.
8. Improved economical power of the country brings a respectable status in the world. The world has
realized that a government should not involve itself in production and distribution but should develop
infrastructure to create an atmosphere for economical development.