Civil Engineers were the first engineers. Civil Engineering is the oldest branch of engineering, ranking after Military Engineering. People consider Civil as an evergreen branch. It never goes out of scope. Civil Engineers are usually highly skilled at Mathematics, strategizing and planning, and, leadership. Today, Civil Engineers don’t just have to be adept at these skills but also have to be technically sound at various software that simplify the work of a Civil Engineer. Here I’ve listed a few common academic and behavioral skills required in a Civil Engineer:
-
Mathematics
Yes, Civil Engineering requires a lot of mathematics, a lot of measurements and preciseness when it comes to measuring and picking up stuff. You also need to use complex trigonometry to identify the perfect angle of support for different structures.
-
Physics
Physics plays a vital role. You need to understand how to support something. Also, Civil Engineers need to learn about truss. Truss is a distinction in physics which deals with structural supports and its knowledge, technically dealing with iron parts and structures. Physics is an important part of Civil Engineering.
-
Chemistry
Chemistry of materials used in structures helps the civil engineers identify how do buildings stand in rainy weather, in polluted environment and how to deal with the wear and tear of all external factors of nature. The answer is Chemistry. A civil engineer must be very good at chemistry and how the science works at the minutest level. Just imagine what would happen to the structures if all of the iron gets rusted. Again, chemistry at work!
-
3D Modelling and Architecture
In the age where all is governed by technology, one must have a grasp of 3D Modelling software out there, so that the data can be fed to the machines precisely. Example: AutoCAD, SAP 2000.
-
Economics
When we talk about economics we’re talking about the viability of resources available. An efficient engineer is the one who uses the most necessary required resources with the lowest cost of production. So you need to be a good manager at this. Technically, a civil engineer has to be a resource manager and economize the production at the least costs.
-
Material Science
There are various scenarios where we cannot use the conventional materials of production. So an efficient civil engineer must have a keen knowledge about what materials to be used and the replacements for the conventional ones. A good knowledge of metals and articles, strength, tensile strength and ductility etc of the articles used is a must for engineers.
-
Concentration
Yes, good concentration. When you are on the field, you have a lot to take care of, a lot of heat, lots of pressure of the arriving deadlines. Besides all these, you have to focus on the perfect measurements, perfect dimensions, and perfect structural geometry. So, you must have the ability to focus and concentrate.
-
Designing
Even though, we have designers to design buildings and design layouts. But the lead part which supports the whole of the project is the design which is viable, strong, sturdy and with a great withstanding capability. If this all goes well, it’s good to go! So, yes one should have good designing skills going together with the understanding of structural strength!
-
Efficient Planning
This is self-explanatory. Without a good planning, there’s no use of the structure. So an efficient engineer must know how to design the project and how to design the structure with a prime aim of accessibility of the residents in mind.
-
Communication skills
When you are on the field you have with a team and the workers working under and with you. So a good honest peaceful communication with them leads to a fruitful result. You must be very polite and to the point with the workers to keep the flow going.
