Civil engineer software is available for land surveying, terrain mapping, cost estimation, environmental analysis, load capacity, project management, and maintenance. It can also calculate pressure, load, fluid drainage, and flow, and help with building design and HVAC systems.
Civil engineer software is often available for the specific field in which it is used. Some software programs are suitable for land surveying and can actually generate maps with data entered into a computer. There are also specialized programs for overlaying this data on aerial maps, for example. Other software can map a site’s terrain, which can be useful for designing buildings or roads. Computer Aided Design (CAD) software is often suitable for civil engineering, as are programs focused on cost estimation, environmental analysis, underground structures, and calculation of structural load capacities.
In addition to assessing the terrain before construction, civil engineer software can help determine the number and length of beams needed to make a structure sound. Engineers may also use similar types of software to estimate how much load can be placed on a given soil sample, while others integrate the data input with popular spreadsheet programs. Information management is another task often handled by a computer. The software can also be used for project management, order tracking, and reporting of purchasing and construction activities.
Physical aspects such as pressure and load are generally important for the construction of safe buildings. These are often addressed by civil engineer software. Fluid drainage and flow often need to be calculated as well; the software can be used to estimate storm runoff and the capacity of drainage channels. From an environmental perspective, there are many programs that can analyze how liquid moves through different types of materials. Some help engineers plan how to clean up contaminated groundwater or predict the flow of pollutants through the soil or air; there are also products specifically designed for the operation of waste treatment plants.
Maintenance is another category for civil engineer software. Infrastructure can be mapped so that bridges can be monitored for structural problems, or underground pipes that are at risk of failure can be mapped, for example. Some systems are connected to a series of sensors, so the data can be viewed immediately by the software if a problem is suspected.
Other types of civil engineering software help building designers calculate wind force on structures. Some products can even estimate the effects of snow weight. Another civil engineering field covered is the design of heating and air conditioning systems; such tools can provide a convenient means to visualize a system layout and also determine the most energy efficient design.
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