Civil Engineering Subjects -Details and Importance for Civil Engineers

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Various subjects in civil engineering courses for different semesters with details and importance of these subjects for civil engineers are presented. Civil engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines in the world and its operation can be traced back to the time when men decided to put roof over his head for shelter. Civil engineering is study, design, development and maintenance of the natural and built environment. It is one of the evergreen branch of engineering that is not much affected by recession or other factors. When considered in developing countries like India it has a very large scope in future. Civil engineering branch of engineering deals with many topics from planning, estimation to pollution or traffic engineering.

Various Civil Engineering Subjects, their Details and Importance

That most popular subjects in  civil engineering course in different semesters are presented below:

Surveying in Civil Engineering

Surveying is one of the most studied topics in civil engineering. Majorly we study about types of surveying, their units, error, Precision and accuracy. Leveling is also a part of Surveying. Other topics like setting up of curves for roads and railways, areas and volumes of any geographical structure is also studied under surveying.

Importance of Surveying in Civil Engineering

Survey is used in the preparation of maps which help in location of hills, valleys, rivers, boundaries, roads, and railway. It also helps in setting up of plan for roads and railways. Read various articles in surveying.

Strength of Material or Solid Mechanics

Strength of materials or Solid Mechanics deals with the behavior of solid object subjected to stress and strain. It also include the method of calculating stress and strain in structural members like beams, columns and shafts. It is also known as mechanics of material. Various tests on construction materials to find the properties and behavior of them is discussed in this subject.

Importance of Solid Mechanics of Strength of Materials in Civil Engineering

Solid mechanics deals with the study of properties of engineering and construction materials; thus, they help in design of structures. The engineering properties and behavior of construction materials obtained through the study of these materials helps in selection of material for construction works as well as in the design calculation of structures.

Building Material and Construction Technology

This subject only gives a brief description about different types of materials used in building construction for members like foundation, masonry, arches, lintels, balcony, roof, floor, doors, windows, stairs, plastering, painting and other general topics. Properties of various construction materials, their uses and different applications are discussed in this subject.

Importance of Building Material and Construction Technology

It provides information about all the building materials generally used, its types, properties and uses. Thus, this subject becomes necessary for civil engineers to learn about basic construction materials. Read various articles in Building Materials

Geology in Civil Engineering

Geology is the study of earth, its constituent and its structure. It mainly deals with rock, its formation, types, stresses, deformation. It also explains on “Rock as building material” and its properties. Other topics like hydrogeology, aquifer, its types, wells and its location. New methods used in the location of underground water is also explained here.

Importance of Geology in Civil Engineering

Geology in civil engineering is helpful to find location of underground water, water table and rocks below soil surface. It helps to understand properties of different types of rocks, soils to be used in construction and their applications in foundation works.

Concrete Technology in Civil Engineering

Concrete technology in civil engineering deals with all the information related to concrete, its constituent materials, their properties, applications etc. Topics like cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, chemical admixtures are discussed in this subject. Concrete composition, types, mix design and various tests on concrete at site and in laboratory is provided in concrete technology. It also explains about the workability, durability, elasticity and its related topics. A major part of it helps in the design of concrete mix as per the codes.

Importance of Concrete Technology in Civil Engineering

Concrete technology is the core of civil engineering related to concrete construction. If you are a civil engineering, you must be aware with all the topics of this subject to execute the works at site effectively and maintain quality control of concrete construction. Every part of this subject is used in the practical field of construction and designing. Read articles in Concrete Technology

Structural Analysis

This subject is studied in two parts. It deals with analysis of structural members such as beans, column, frames, trusses, arches and cables when load is applied. The second part deals with method used in calculating the force in different type of structures.

Importance of Structural Analysis in Civil Engineering

It is the core subject for the design of structure. It gives the way of how a structural member react under loads.

Building Planning and Drawing

This subject is pure drawing based. Preparation of geometrical drawing of components of building, plans, elevations and cross sections. Line diagram of water supply and electrical layouts are also practiced here.

Importance of Building Planning and Drawing

To understand the schematic representation of building on a drawing sheet. Water pipe lines and electrical layout in the building.

Design and Drawing of RCC Structures

It deals with the design of RCC Structural member like beams, slabs, column, footing and staircase. The drawing part consists of detailed drawing of all the designed members.

Importance of Design and Drawing of RCC Structures

It helps a structural engineer in the calculation of reinforcement for the different RCC member in different building.

Geotechnical and Foundation Engineering

This subject explains the concept related with soil. Topics like classification of the soil, index properties, shear strength, compaction and consolidation of soil is studied under this subject. Further subsurface exploration, drainage, dewatering stress in soil, flow nets, stability of the slopes, bearing capacity are discussion.

Importance of Geotechnical Engineering

A design of building is approved if all the loads are transferred to the soil successfully. To know the properties of soil is the importance factor to successfully transfer loads to soil. Knowledge of Geotechnical engineering helps in the design of various types of foundations. Read Articles in Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Engineering

Hydrology and Irrigation in Civil Engineering

In hydrology topics like precipitation, rain gauges, losses from precipitation, hydrography and estimation of flood and flood routing is studied. Where as in irrigation, topics like soil water crop relation, requirement of water for crops and canals are studied.

Importance of Hydrology and Irrigation

Study of hydrology and irrigation engineering helps in the design and construction of water related structures such as bridges, dams, canals and other structures for irrigation purposes.

Transport Engineering

Transportation engineering in civil engineering involves study of highway engineering, railway engineering, airports and harbors. Major topics like Highway development, planning, alignment, survey, design, payment materials, construction methods, drainage etc. are covered in this subject. Another part deals with the railway engineering which includes information regarding sleepers, ballast, geometric design, points and crossings in railway lines, railway signals etc. It even explains the other transport sectors like airport runway, tunnels and harbors.

Importance of Transportation Engineering

It stands as a basis for highways, runways, tunnels and harbors. A detail and in-depth knowledge can be gained in the masters of Highway Engineering or infrastructure design. Read articles in Transportation Engineering

Design and Drawing of Steel Structure

The design of steel structure consists of topics like design of bolted connection, welded connection, tension members, compression members, columns and beams. The drawing part provides the schematic drawing of detailed connections, columns and column bases.

Importance of Design and Drawings of Steel Structures

The basic information is provided for steel structure design. Type of joints, type of connections, design of various structural steel members and their detailing is provided which helps civil engineers to understand the basic concept of steel design.

Estimation and Evaluation in Civil Engineering

Estimation of any work related to Civil Engineering is important to know the cost required for the construction project. This subject helps in understanding the steps in preparing construction estimates, cost of materials, labors and other factors. Information on rate analysis, measurement of earth work, construction equipment, construction contracts also provided. Methods of evaluation or calculating cost of existing buildings or structures are also presented in this subject.

Importance of Estimation and Evaluation

To get a building plan approved by government an estimation is essential. To acquire a contract job work quotations and rate analysis is necessary which is explained in the subject.

Air pollution and Control in Civil Engineering

Topics related to air pollution, effects of air pollution, metrological variables are briefly studied. Factors to be considered for industrial plant locations are also seen here. Other topics like pollution due to automobiles, environmental issues and importantly the environmental legislation is studied here.

Importance of Air pollution and Control

It provides information on environmental laws and rules, causes, reasons, effects and control of air pollution.

Highway Geometric Design

This subject explains the design of highways. Subtopics like sight distance, horizontal alignment, vertical alignment, intersection design, Rotary intersection and Highway drainage design are studied under it.

Importance of Highway Geometric Design

This is extensively used in the design field of highways.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental impact assessment provides general information about procedures, its framework, predictions, guidelines and plans for assessment of environmental bodies like nuclear power plants, highways, mining and thermal power project.

Importance of Environmental Impact Assessment

It provides the general information on how to conduct environmental impact assessment, its steps, factors to be considered and guidelines to be followed.

Computer Aided Drawing

It is a laboratory subject where software’s like AutoCAD, MS Office, Staad Pro and others are practiced for drawing and analysis of different structural members.

Importance of Computer Aided Drawing

These are the basic software’s used in day-to-day activities of civil engineering. Read: Construction Management Software -Comparisons, Features and Benefits

Fluid Mechanics

The subject completely deals with the fluids, properties of fluid, pressure, kinematic flow, dynamic flow, pipe flow, discharge measurement, Depth and viscosity measurement of fluids are studied here.

Importance of Fluid Mechanics

This subject helps in understanding the characteristics of fluids which helps in design of dams and water structures.

Design of Pre-Stressed Concrete Structure

It is a design subject where one studies about material used in prestressed concrete, principle of prestressing, analysis of sections for flexure, losses in prestress, deflection and limit state of collapse. Further design of prestressed blocks and beams are also studied in the subject.

Importance

It provides an overview and design procedure of prestressed concrete members.

Ground Improvement Techniques

This part of civil engineering helps in knowing the topics like different types of ground improvement, compaction, hydraulic modification, fringe and preloading, chemical modification, and grouting with other miscellaneous methods used for ground improvement.

Importance of Ground Improvement Techniques

Method used for improving properties of soil for construction of roads, railways or buildings are studied here. Read articles on Ground Improvement Techniques