Civil Engineers

17-2051.00

Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

• Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
• Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
• Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
• Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
• Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
• Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
• Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
• Direct or participate in surveying to lay out installations or establish reference points, grades, or elevations to guide construction.
• Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility.
• Prepare or present public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions.
• Design energy-efficient or environmentally sound civil structures.
• Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
• Identify environmental risks and develop risk management strategies for civil engineering projects.
• Conduct studies of traffic patterns or environmental conditions to identify engineering problems and assess potential project impact.
• Analyze manufacturing processes or byproducts to identify engineering solutions to minimize the output of carbon or other pollutants.
• Develop or implement engineering solutions to clean up industrial accidents or other contaminated sites.
• Design or engineer systems to efficiently dispose of chemical, biological, or other toxic wastes.

Technology Skills

• Analytical or scientific software - Dassault Systemes Abaqus; Finite element analysis FEA software; HEC-1; HEC-HMS; Hydraulic analysis software; Hydraulic modeling software; MAYA Nastran; Minitab; Procore software 🔥; The MathWorks MATLAB 🔥; Trimble Geomatics Office; WinTR-55
• Business intelligence and data analysis software - Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
• Calendar and scheduling software - Scheduling software
• Computer aided design CAD software - Autodesk AutoCAD ; Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D ; Autodesk Land Desktop; Autodesk Revit ; Bentley Haestad Methods CivilStorm; Bentley InRoads Suite; Bentley MicroStation ; Bentley STAAD; Bridge design software; Computer aided design and drafting software CADD; Dassault Systemes CATIA; Dassault Systemes SolidWorks 🔥; Eagle Point Site Design; GT STRUDL; HydroCAD Software Solutions HydroCAD Stormwater Modeling System; Mathsoft Mathcad; PTC Creo Parametric; Road design software; Stormwater hydrology software; Trimble Terramodel
• Data base user interface and query software - Microsoft Access 🔥
• Development environment software - C 🔥; Formula translation/translator FORTRAN; Microsoft Visual Basic 🔥; National Instruments LabVIEW; Verilog
• Document management software - Adobe Acrobat 🔥
• Electronic mail software - Email software; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook 🔥
• Enterprise application integration software - Extensible markup language XML 🔥
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Microsoft Dynamics 🔥; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; SAP software 🔥
• File versioning software - Apache Subversion SVN 🔥
• Geographic information system - ESRI ArcGIS software 🔥; ESRI ArcInfo; ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS software
• Graphics or photo imaging software - Bentley GeoPak Bridge; Graphics software; SmugMug Flickr; Trimble SketchUp Pro 🔥
• Industrial control software - Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
• Internet browser software - Microsoft Internet Explorer; Web browser software
• Map creation software - Cartography software; Intergraph MGE
• Object or component oriented development software - Microsoft ActiveX
• Office suite software - Corel WordPerfect Office Suite; Microsoft Office software
• Operating system software - Shell script 🔥
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Project management software - Cost estimating software; Microsoft Project 🔥; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management 🔥; The Gordian Group PROGEN Online
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel ; Spreadsheet software
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word 🔥

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

• Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
• Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
• Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Detailed Work Activities

• Coordinate safety or regulatory compliance activities.
• Direct construction activities.
• Inspect facilities or sites to determine if they meet specifications or standards.
• Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.
• Create graphical representations of civil structures.
• Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
• Evaluate technical data to determine effect on designs or plans.
• Survey land or bodies of water to measure or determine features.
• Estimate operational costs.
• Prepare proposal documents.
• Explain project details to the general public.
• Incorporate green features into the design of structures or facilities.
• Test characteristics of materials or structures.
• Investigate the environmental impact of projects.
• Develop technical methods or processes.
• Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products.
• Implement design or process improvements.
• Design systems to reduce harmful emissions.