History of Civil Engineering:

It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning of civil engineering,

however, that the history of civil engineering is a mirror of the history of human beings
on this earth. Man used the old shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh
environment, and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration of
ancient age civil engineering.

Civil Engineering has been an aspect of life since the

beginnings of human existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq) when
humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need for the construction
of shelter. During this time, transportation became increasingly important leading to the
development of the wheel and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg and architecture,
and the term engineer and architect were mainly geographical variations referring to the
same person, often used interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa
2700-2500 BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure constructions.

Around 2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented

engineer, built a famous stepped pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis.
With simple tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of building with shaped
stones. Those who followed him carried engineering to remarkable heights using skill and
imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat water management
system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos
in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC), the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the
Great Wall of China by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang
Ti (c. 220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the Jetavanaramaya
and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The Romans developed civil
structures throughout their empire, including especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours,
bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at Jerwan built in 691
BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around 220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over
the Rhine River built in 55 BC, numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around
Rome(e.g. the pons Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in
19 BC; the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading and (more
importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive irrigation system constructed by the
Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high
water in Friesland, The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road,
Eastern Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).

Machu Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the

height of the Inca Empire is considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes
Mountains assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers. The
people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water, drainage systems,
food production and stone structures so advanced that they endured for over 500years.

A treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was

published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering education in
ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the Roman architect Vitruvius and
dedicated to his patron, the emperor Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and construction was
carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and carpenters, rising to the role of master
builder. Knowledge was retained in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances.
Structures, roads and infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale
were incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and mathematical
problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of Archimedes in the 3rd century BC,
including Archimedes Principle, which underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and
practical solutions such as Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician,
used arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for excavation
(volume) computations.

Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering

In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to incorporate all things civilian
as opposed to military engineering. The first engineering school, The National School of
Bridges and Highways, France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil
engineer was John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771,
Smeaton and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, a
group of leaders of the profession who met informally over dinner. Though there was
evidence of some technical meetings, it was little more than a social society.

In 1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil

Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas Telford
became its first president. The institution received a Royal Charter in 1828, formally
recognizing civil engineering as a profession. Its charter defined civil engineering
as: “Civil engineering is the application of physical and scientific principles, and its
history is intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and mathematics
throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide ranging profession, including
several separate specialized sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of
structures, material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United States was Norwich
University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge. The first degree in Civil
Engineering in the United States was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in
1835. The first such degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University
to Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
Civil Engineering Profession

Civil engineers are highly trained professionals that provide technical services throughout
the world. Civil engineers are needed in big cities and small towns, working in both the
government and private sectors. Within the profession are several major disciplines,
summarized below.

Major Disciplines Within Civil Engineering

Transportation Engineering

Transportation engineers work to develop transportation systems that safely and efficiently
move people and goods. Transportation engineers design highways and roads in both
urban and rural areas and manage traffic systems to keep operations functioning
effectively. They also plan rail, air andwaterway transportation systems. Transportation
engineers develop and incorporate new technologies to improve transportation and
maintain safety.

Geotechnical Engineering

Because nearly all of the built environment is ultimately supported by the ground,
geotechnical engineers are needed to apply their knowledge of soil and rock mechanics in
all civil engineering design. Work performed by geotechnical engineers includes
performing site investigations, designing shallow and deep foundations, evaluating slope
stability, conducting and overseeing materials testing, planning tunnels, and designing
soil/rock and other ground improvements.
Structural Engineering

Structural engineers apply scientific principles to design building, bridges and other
structures to withstand the forces of nature and protect human safety. Structural engineers
are knowledgeable of how structures and materials behave under loads. They design
structures to perform their intended functions and be economical within the constraints of
building code requirements. Structural engineers typically design structures made of
reinforced concrete, structural steel and wood.

Environmental/Water Resources Engineering

Environmental engineers apply a vast range of technical knowledge to protect the

environment from human activities and maintain public health. The work of environmental
engineers includes the design of water treatment and wastewater treatment plants,
development of systems for handling non-hazardous and hazardous wastes, development
of pollution control measures and cleanup of contaminated sites. Water resources engineers
are involved in the planning and management of facilities used to supply and transport
water used for municipal, agricultural and industrial activities. In addition, water resources
engineers develop facilities and methods to capture and store water from storms while
avoiding and/or minimizing flooding.
Civil engineers of all disciplines can be found in companies and organization of all sizes, in
urban and rural settings, and in civilian, military, or government roles.

Professional Licensure
Civil engineering is a respected profession which is charged foremost with maintaining
public safety. Like those in the law and medical professions, civil engineers in positions of
responsibility are required to be professionally licensed.

Professional licensure is regulated at the state level, and licensure requirements may vary
from state to state.

To become professionally licensed, all states require a minimum level of education,

typically a B.S. degree in civil engineering from an ABET accredited school, several years of
professional experience working with licensed professional engineers, and satisfactory
completion of a standard 8-hour exam.

Engineer in training (EIT)

The fastest route to professional licensure is to become an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) upon

graduating with a B.S. degree in civil engineering. This is achieved by passing the national
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam during the final semester of one’s senior year and
submitting an application to the state board of licensure. The BYU-Idaho civil engineering
program requires students to take the FE exam prior to graduation. Instructions on how to
register for the FE exam can be found on the FE Exam page.

FE Exam

Professional engineer (PE)

To become a licensed professional engineer (PE), most states require four years of
professional experience under the supervision of a licensed PE after becoming an EIT.
Passage of the national PE exam and submittal of an application and fee to the state
licensure board are also required. Attending graduate school may reduce the experience
requirement. See state-specific rules for more information.

Profession Statistics
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles data on the civil engineering profession
including education requirements, average salary, job growth outlook and other
information.

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