Construction engineering combines civil engineering and business management to oversee site management, safety, and environmental impact of construction projects. Students receive training in engineering, management, and software systems, and must pass an exam to become certified engineers. Construction engineers also manage resources and budgets for projects.
Construction engineering is a hybrid professional discipline, drawing on both engineering, particularly civil engineering, and business and management education. While civil and environmental engineers may be responsible for the final design of a project, construction engineers are responsible for site management and the construction process. Small projects, such as building small houses, may not even require a construction engineer, but large construction projects employ a team of construction engineers to assess environmental impact, monitor safety and hygiene, manage maintenance and cleaning of the site and manage the flow of personnel and materials to and from the site.
The hybrid nature of the discipline requires that students who wish to enter construction engineering receive training in several related fields. They take engineering courses related specifically to construction. Additionally, they generally take classes from related fields of engineering, such as civil engineering, management classes, and courses in the use of software systems crucial to modern engineering design. They are also typically required to take an exam after several years of work to become fully certified engineers.
Large construction projects have a significant impact on the environment and are usually carefully regulated to minimize pollution and maximize safety. The task of ensuring that a building site complies with all environmental standards is usually carried out by the on-site construction engineering staff. These engineers will work with surveyors to develop a site plan that takes into account local soil and water characteristics, and will continue to monitor these factors during construction.
A second key component of construction engineering work is the ongoing maintenance of safety standards on the construction site. Most countries have codes that dictate safety procedures appropriate for a construction site, and on-site construction engineering personnel will generally be responsible for making sure those procedures are followed. Periodic inspection of the project to ensure that quality and safety standards are met is also part of this aspect of a construction engineer’s job. For projects lasting months or years, periodic site cleaning and the repair and maintenance of any temporary structures needed for construction also fall within the construction engineering team’s area of responsibility.
Construction engineering training also includes business and management skills, and construction engineers also use this training in the workplace. They typically manage the flow of resources to and from a construction site and work to make sure all materials are on site as needed for construction. This aspect of construction engineering often affects payroll and the budget for the job as well.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
