Introduction to Civil

Engineering
CEE 101
Prof. Ezekiel A. Adeniran
What is Engineering?
Who is an Engineer?
ENGINEERING
• Engineering (from Latin ingenium, meaning "cleverness" and
ingeniare, meaning "to devise") is the application of scientific,
economic, social, and practical knowledge to invent, design, build,
maintain, and improve structures, machines, devices, systems,
materials and processes.
• The discipline of engineering is extremely broad and
encompasses a range of more specialized fields of engineering,
each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied
science, technology, and types of application.
• Engineering has been defined by several Engineering regulatory
bodies including the Regulation in Nigeria (COREN) has defined
"engineering" as:
The creative application of scientific principles to design or develop
structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or
works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or
operate the same with full cognizance of their design, or to forecast
their behavior under specific operating conditions; all as respects an
intended function, economics of operation or safety to life and
property. ,
WHO IS AN ENGINEER?
One who practices engineering is called an engineer,
and those licensed to do so may have more formal
designations such as:
Professional Engineer (USA)
Registered Engineer (Nigeria)
Chartered Engineer (United Kingdom)
Incorporated Engineer (Europe)
Ingenieur (France/German)
What is Civil Engineering?
Civil engineering
• Civil engineering is a professional discipline that deals with the
design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and
naturally built environment, including public works
(infrastructures) such as roads, bridges, canals, dams,
airports, sewage systems, pipelines, structural components of
buildings, and railways.
• Civil engineering is traditionally broken into a number of sub-
disciplines.
• It is considered the second-oldest engineering discipline
after military engineering, and it is defined to distinguish non-
military engineering from military engineering.
• Civil engineering can take place in the public sector from
municipal public works departments through to federal
government agencies, and in the private sector from locally
based firms to global multi-corporation companies.
Civil Engineering Has Five Areas
Environmental
Geotechnical and Materials
Structural
Transportation
Water Resources
What do civil engineers do?
Water
Roads Bridges Treatment
& Supply

Waste Wastewater
Managemen Design Critical Infrastructure treatment
t Systems & Disposal

Airports Railroads Buildings

What do civil Engineers do?

YouTube Link

[Link]
 Environmental Engineering
Air pollution control
Hazardous waste treatment
Water supply
Waste water management
Storm water management
Solid waste disposal
Environmental Engineering
Water treatment and distribution Wastewater treatment and disposal
(source: [Link]) (source: [Link])

Air pollution control Solid and hazardous waste management

(source:[Link]) (source:[Link])
What does an environmental engineer do?

YouTube Link
[Link]
Geotechnical and Materials Engineering
Concrete
Pavements
Foundations
Dams
Soil Properties
Site Studies
 Foundation engineering

Geotechnical
engineering
Soil properties and mechanics

Materials engineering (Concrete, asphalt)

Structural Engineering

Earthquake engineering
Building structures
Civil engineering structures (Bridges, Dams,
Roads)
Structural Engineering

Buildings
Towers and Columns
Dams
Bridges
What does a structural engineer do?

[Link]
Transportation engineering

Highway engineering Port and harbor engineering Airport engineering

(source: [Link]) (source: [Link]) (source:smseng,com)

Railroad engineering
source: [Link]
Transportation Engineering
Roadways,
Airports,
Port facilities,
Traffic control,
Pavement markings,
Intelligent Transportation Systems.
Water Resources Engineering

Storm sewers
Water resource planning
Dams
Irrigation systems
Water distribution systems
Groundwater modeling
Water resources engineering

Hydraulic Engineering
(source: [Link])
Groundwater Engineering
(source: [Link]) River Engineering
(source:[Link])
What do water resources engineers do?

[Link]
Civil engineering career options
Consulting Private
Government
Firm Industry
Agency

(Source: [Link])

(Source: [Link])
(Source: [Link])
Working in a consulting firm
Perform
engineering for
outside clients

• Solve engineering problems for clients (e.g.,

design a bridge)
• Involved with a project from the beginning
• Work closely with the client managing the
projects on their behalf
• Involves occasional visits to the site, but largely
office-based.
Career options in civil engineering
Government
Agencies

Environmental Highway Department of

Agencies Departments Agriculture

Department of
Defense Agricultural
Forest Service
Research Stations

Service Branches
US Army Corps of
(Army, Navy, Air-
Engineers
Force, Marines)
Why is civil engineering important?
• Keeps people safe
• Buildings that don’t collapse
• Water that won’t make you sick
• Transportation systems that minimize hazards
• Environment free of harmful pollutants
• Provides infrastructure that improves economy and
life-style
• Transportation of people and goods
• Productive work spaces (buildings)
• Healthy water to drink and air to breathe
Can you find at least on object in
this picture that involves a civil
engineer specializing in the areas
of:
• Environmental Engineering;
• Geotechnical/Materials Engineering;
• Structural Engineering;
• Transportation Engineering; and
• Water Resources Engineering?

Structures

Column
Signal Supports
Timing

Retaining Pole
Walls Foundations
Solid Waste
Streets and Disposal
Sidewalks Storm Sewer
Pavement Markings System
We will now go into detailed
Notes
What is Civil Engineering?
• Civil engineering involves facilities and
installations that people generally use.
• This means that the profession involves finding out
what is required and making it happen.
• Civil Engineering includes the analysis, planning,
design, construction, and maintenance, that is, the
whole life cycle of different facilities that people
use.
➢These could be government facilities
➢These could be for businesses, industries like factories,
shop floors, and so on, and
➢Facilities that are used by the general public like bridges,
roads, and other such installations.
Examples of Civil Engineering Fcailities
• Some examples of the facilities that are created and
managed by civil engineers are:
• high-rise buildings, office towers, residential buildings, factories,
schools,
• airports, and other transportation facilities like tunnels subways,
and
• other systems that are needed for providing drinking water and also
for treatment of sewage,
• dams, canals, water purification systems
• and others that we need to protect the environment.
• We want to make sure that the sewage that is
created from all these townships and offices is
treated properly before they go back into the
environment.
• This would be a broad definition of what the field of
civil engineering is.
What do Civil Engineers do?
• The purpose of civil engineers in society is that they coordinate the needs of
society.
• Broadly when we talk about civil engineering, it is a response to what society
wants or society needs.
• Civil engineers coordinate the needs of society, they see what is required and
make it happen;
➢ within the limits of technical feasibility, and
➢ within the limits of economic viability.

• What does technical feasibility mean?

• It is doable, it is possible with the technology that are available, and it is possible with the
resources that we have here, manpower or raw materials.
SPECIALIZATIONS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
Specializations in Civil Engineering
The different civil engineering specializations include:
➢ Environmental engineering - how we interact with the environment, how should
we take care of the environment,
➢ Geotechnical engineering - the soil, the ground, foundation engineering
➢ Hydraulics and water resources - the flow of water (fluid) in pipes and conduits,
water conservation.
➢ Structural engineering - the design and analysis of structures before
construction.
➢ Transportation ( H i g h w a y ) engineering - the planning, design, and
construction of all transportation facilities mainly roads, railways, ports,
airports, etc.
➢ Construction (Project) management - takes care of managing, and using
resources efficiently in all civil engineering projects, we take up. Finally, we have
➢ Urban Planning – Town, City, regional, and community planning, space and
land use planning, what should be where, growth projections etc.
•
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering

• Environmental engineering is the branch of civil

engineering that is concerned with protecting people
from adverse environmental effects, such as pollution,
as well as improving environmental quality.
• Environmental engineers work to improve recycling,
waste disposal, public health, and water and air
pollution control.
• Environmental engineering deals with providing water
that is drinkable to people, taking care of wastewater,
and treating it so that when it goes back into an
environment, it does not harm the environment.
How environmental engineers help to protect
the environment in terms of water supply and
wastewater disposal.
Branches of Environmental Engineering

• Air Pollution
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Water Supply and Treatment
• Wastewater Treatment
• Solid Waste Management
Geotechnical Engineering
• Geotechnical engineering is the sub-discipline of civil engineering that
involves natural materials found close to the earth's surface.
• The term geotechnical engineering is defined as the science and practice of
that part of civil engineering involving the interrelationship between the
geological environment and the works of man.
• The engineer doing this specific type of engineering work is
"GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER".
• In a general sense, geotechnical engineering has two branches:
➢ Soil Engineering
➢ Rock Engineering
• Soil engineering is the application of the principles of soil mechanics to
practical problems.
• Soil Mechanics is the branch of geotechnical engineering that deals with
the physical properties of soil and the behavior of soil masses subjected to
various forces.
• It applies the basic principles of mechanics including kinematics,
dynamics, fluid mechanics, and the mechanics of materials to soils.
• Rock Engineering is the application of the principles of rock mechanics to
practical problems.
Applications of Geotechnical Engineering
• Foundation Engineering
• Tunnel Engineering
• Dam Engineering
• Retaining Walls
• Slope Stability
• Pavement Engineering
• Earthquake Engineering
Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering
• Water resources engineering is the quantitative study of
the hydrologic cycle -- the distribution and circulation of
water linking the earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans.
• Surface runoff is measured as the difference between
precipitation and abstractions, such as infiltration (which
replenishes groundwater flow), surface storage, and
evaporation.
• Applications include the management of the urban water
supply, the design of urban storm-sewer systems, and flood
forecasting.
• Civil engineers play a vital role in the optimal planning,
design and operation of water resource systems.
•,
Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering…
• Hydraulic engineering consists of the application of fluid mechanics to
water flowing in an isolated environment (pipe, pump) or in an open
channel (river, lake, ocean).
• Civil engineers are primarily concerned with open channel flow, which is
governed by the interdependent interaction between the water and the
channel.
• Some familiar applications of water resources engineering involving the
utilization of water for beneficial purposes are:
➢ the design of hydraulic structures, such as sewage conduits, dams,
and breakwaters,
➢ the management of waterways, such as erosion protection and
flood protection, and
➢ environmental management, such as prediction of the mixing and
transport of pollutants in surface water.
➢ Hydroelectric-power development,
➢ water supply, irrigation, and navigation
 Structural Engineering
The 1st Fundamental Canon of Engineering
“Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable
development in the performance of their professional duties. “
• Structural Engineering deals with the analysis and design of
structures.
• Structure can be defined as an assembly of various components that act
together under “stress” conditions.
• Bridges, highways, buildings, transmission towers, trusses, water tanks,
and offshore structures, are common today.
• The basic purpose of designing a structure is to ensure its safety,
functionality, and economy under the most severe conditions of use,
during its lifespan.
• Fast upgrade of design tools (including CAD software) are now
available to handle complex designs.
• Structural Engineering applications are interdisciplinary (Architecture,
Construction, Maintenance, Repairing, Financing, Environmental...)
• Optimal structural design shall achieve a balance between Strength,
Economy and Serviceability.

See next Slide

Concept of Optimal Structural Design
• Transportation Engineering
• Transportation as we all know is very important.
• We use different modes of transport.
• Transportation engineering is the application of technology
and scientific principles to the planning, functional design,
operation and management of facilities for any mode of
transportation in order to provide for the safe, rapid,
comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally
compatible movement of people and goods (transport).
• It is a sub-discipline of civil engineering.
• The planning aspects of transportation engineering involve
urban planning and technical forecasting decisions.
➢Technical forecasting of passenger travel usually involves an
urban transportation planning model, requiring the estimation of
trip generation (origin and destination estimates).
➢The design aspect of it includes the design of pavements (flexible
and rigid); aircraft runways, culverts, bridges, interchanges, etc.
• Transportation engineering encompasses a wide variety
of issues and areas, including:
➢ the design of streets,
➢ highways, and intersections.
➢ airports and seaports
➢ mass transit systems; urban planning.
➢ traffic control systems and devices.
➢ travel demand and traffic flow.
➢ sizing of transportation facilities.
➢ operations and management for roadways.
➢ highway sign visibility.
➢ traffic congestion and safety hazards; and
➢ the management and economics of transportation
systems.
Construction (Project) Management
• The management of construction is an enterprise that involves
many people with diverse interests, talents, and backgrounds.
• The owner,
• design professionals
• contractor comprise the primary parties, however, others such as
• subcontractors,
• material suppliers,
• bankers,
• Insurance and bonding companies,
• attorneys (lawyers), and
• public agency officials,

All are vital stakeholders of the project team whose interrelated roles must
be coordinated by a Civil Project Manager/Engineer to ensure a successful
project.
• The functions of a project management engineer
for construction include:
➢ Specification of project objectives and plans including delineation
of scope, budgeting, scheduling, setting performance requirements,
and selecting project participants.
➢ Maximization of efficient resource utilization through procurement
of labor, materials, and equipment according to the prescribed
schedule and plan.
➢ Implementation of various operations through proper coordination
and control of planning, design, estimating, contracting, and
construction in the entire process.
➢ Development of effective communications and mechanisms for
resolving conflicts among the various participants
➢ Planning, coordination and control of Civil Engineering projects
➢ Design and allocate formwork, scaffolding, construction equipment,
etc. (Site Management)
➢ Management of resources, labor, materials, equipment, money, and
time.
The Project Manager takes actions based on:
❖ Mathematics (Timeline and target analysis – Gant
Chart)
❖ Estimation, economics, and finance
❖ Management principles
❖ Sociology and personnel management (Trade disputes,
local issues, omo onile etc)
❖ Quality and Safety Assurance
❖ Risk Management
Urban Planning
•

• Coordinate the development of the built

environment.
• Projection of road networks, location of
green and recreation areas
• Zoning of residential, commercial and
industrial areas
• Based on:
o Landscape
o Architecture
o Transportation
o Balance between open and built-up spaces
o Study of growth and usage patterns
Landuse Map
of Babcock
University
Development
Master Plan of
Babcock
University
based on the
Landuse
Projections.
 ROLES OF ENGINEERS IN
GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRIES AND
ACADEMIA
 Civil engineer job description
• Civil engineers are accountable for constructing, enhancing, and
safeguarding our local environment.
• They plan and supervise the construction and reconstruction of roads,
bridges, tunnels, trains, dams, harbors, power plants, and airports, as
well as their maintenance.
• Civil engineers plan, design, and oversee the building of massive
structures.
• This may include bridges, buildings, transportation links, and other
significant structures.
• They produce project blueprints using computer modeling tools and
data from surveys, testing, and maps.
• These plans advise contractors on the most effective course of action
and aid in mitigating environmental impact and risk.
• Civil Engineers will either work for:
• the Government or
• for a private firm that the Government has contracted.
• Some civil engineers work in the private sector on projects
• Others are engaged as consultants on their own.
ROLES OF ENGINEERS IN GOVERNMENT
Civil Engineers in Public Service.
• Most of the Engineering Development Projects are
being conceptualized, designed, supervised,
evaluated, and certified by the Civil Engineers in
the Public Service.
• These Engineers also ensure that these projects
are executed according to specifications.
• They also make necessary input towards the
procurement of Engineering Projects.
Government Agencies where Civil Engineers can work

1. NNPC 12. INEC,

2. PTDF, 13. DSS.
3. DPR, 14. OIL AND GAS.
4. FIRS, 15. NIG ARMY,
5. FERMA, 16. NAVY,
6. FAAN, 17. AIRFORCE
7. NCS, 18. [Link] HOUSING&TRANSPORT,
8. NPF, 19. AVIATION,
9. NRC, 20. WATER RESOURCES, ENVIROMENT,ETC.
[Link], 21. BUDGET OR PENSION OFFICE
[Link] ASSEMBLY
Roles of a Civil Engineer in Government
• Ensuring that Projects meet the strategic objectives of
Government for National Development.
• Helping with site inspections
• Figuring out what projects are worth and what risks they might
pose
• Using computer-aided design to make blueprints (CAD)
• Keeping in touch with architects, subcontractors, consultants,
coworkers, and clients
• Making sure that projects meet the law and health and safety
standards
• Resolving design and development problems
• Taking care of project budgets and other resources
• Taking part in public meetings to talk about projects
Roles of a Civil Engineer in Government…
• Reviewing government regulations and
ordinances.
• Keeping track of the project’s progress and
making sure it meets legal and health and
safety standards
Working on location in all kinds of weather or
in an office.
• Project management duties (e.g. managing
budgets, resources, and timelines; procuring and
compiling quotes, etc). (e.g. managing budgets,
resources, and deadlines; acquiring and compiling
quotes, etc.).
Roles of a Civil Engineer in Industries
The roles of Civil Engineers in Industries are varied depending on the
industry. Sometimes the roles are similar to those in Government offices.
• Preparing and implementing project plans. GoodMoe Mess
• Researching and generating estimates for projects.
• Monitoring and optimizing safety measures, industrial
processes, and regulatory compliance.
• Recommending actions or giving alternate approaches to a
problem.
• Confidently liaising with clients and other competent
subcontractors.
Roles of a Civil Engineer in Industries…
• Consult with and advise project stakeholders and
managerial employees on engineering needs for various
designs, changes, and structural repairs.
• Design software and drawing tools are used to precisely
render and convey designs; other necessary and associated
systems and structures, such as transportation or
hydraulics, are planned and designed.
• Tests materials and soil to determine the strength of
foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
• Calculates load and grade requirements, material stress
factors, water flow rates, and other characteristics to set
design standards.
Roles of a Civil Engineer in Industries…
• Plans projects using drawings, blueprints, aerial photos,
survey reports, maps, and other geologic and
topographical data.
• Reports on project-related subjects such as environmental
impact statements and right-of-way descriptions are
written and presented.
• Estimates the materials, equipment, and labor required to
calculate project costs.
• Collaborates with architects and contractors to ensure that
projects are completed on time.
• Collaborates with surveyors to determine installations or
reference points, slopes, elevations, and other
characteristics that will affect construction (or directs and
participates in surveying).
Roles of a Civil Engineer in Industries…

• Monitors project progress to ensure that design

specifications, safety standards, and sanitary standards are
met.
• After completing a project, inspect, fix, and maintain the
structures as needed.
• Capability to collect, analyze, and interpret data to make
informed technical decisions and guide a project from its
genesis through to its conclusion
• Capability to undertake both desk research and field
investigations and reconnaissance
• Capability to participate in, as well as coordinate, plan, and
lead project meetings
Roles of a Civil Engineer in Industries…
• Ensures that the project team adheres to the terms of the
contract agreement and practices stringent cost control in
order to implement the authorized design while staying
within the constraints of the defined budget.
• During a project’s many phases, interacting with
customers, stakeholders, and contractors.
• Help with the formulation of proposals, and get a solid
understanding of the costs associated with projects.
• Participate in marketing initiatives, including but not limited
to the production of proposals and efforts to develop
business.
Roles of a Civil Engineer in Industries…
• Maintains positive connections with both current and
former clients by the requirements of the position and
seeks to grow the number of clients who meet the desired
criteria.
• Performs duties as a representative of a Company in
events such as meetings, presentations, and public
hearings or reviews that are related to assigned projects.
• Attend events hosted by relevant associations and
industries to promote a Company and build your
professional network.
• Using modeling software to look at data from surveys and
maps
• Putting together bids and reports on projects
• Assessing a project’s effect on the environment and any
possible risks
Roles of Civil Engineers in Academics
• Academic civil engineers teach undergraduate
and postgraduate students and contribute to or
lead research projects in areas such as:
➢Fluid mechanics
➢Construction
➢Systems modeling
➢Soil mechanics
➢Structural mechanics
➢Environmental engineering
➢Transportation
➢Renewable Energy etc.
Lecturer in Civil Engineering
• Civil engineering lecturers teach across Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D.
programs.
• They may also contribute to teaching in other engineering and
technology disciplines e,g. Applied Mathematics, Environmental Health,
Biostatistics etc.
• Aside from teaching, a civil engineering lecturer would be active in
ongoing research projects and promoting their specialist research area.
• Civil Engineering lecturers work on specific research topics aligned with
their own and the faculty/school’s research interests
• They apply for and attract research funding
• Delivery of high-quality lectures, seminars, and practical classes
• Forging links with external bodies and industry
• Administrative duties like HOD, Dean, Director of Programs, Director of
Centers/Departments, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, or Vice-Chancellor.
• Could also be appointed in Government as Advisers, Directors of
Research Centers, Commissioners, Director Generals, Ministers etc.