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Very Short Introductions #331
Civil Engineering: A Very Short Introduction
Civil engineering has made an inestimable contribution to modern life, providing the crucial expertise behind our vast transportation systems and the wide array of built structures where we work, study, and play. In this Very Short Introduction , engineer David Muir Wood turns a spotlight on a field that we often take for granted. He sheds light on the nature and importance of civil engineering in the history of civilization and urbanization, outlines its many accomplishments in the modern era, and points to the hurdles that civil engineering will face in the future. Beginning with the task of creating a settlement on a deserted island, Muir Wood sets out the problems that civil engineers face every day, highlighting the social and environmental challenges as well as the grasp of science and technology needed to craft buildings, bridges, tunnels, houses, and areas of recreation. The author also profiles the lives of some of the major civil engineers, such as Isambard Kingdom
Brunel, the acclaimed builder of steamships, railways, and tunnels, and Sir Joseph Bazalgette, whose sewer system in central London was instrumental in relieving the city from cholera epidemics. Finally, Muir Wood considers the growing difficulty of managing our water and energy supplies, and he looks at the engineering profession's increased sensitivity to building and the environment.
Brunel, the acclaimed builder of steamships, railways, and tunnels, and Sir Joseph Bazalgette, whose sewer system in central London was instrumental in relieving the city from cholera epidemics. Finally, Muir Wood considers the growing difficulty of managing our water and energy supplies, and he looks at the engineering profession's increased sensitivity to building and the environment.
143 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 28, 2017
Fun to read about the origins of this field. And it's both short and readable! (like it says on the cover).
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The original engineers designed clever devices, engines (war machines like catapults). The term civil engineering might then seem to be an oxymoron. But the term now relates to that branch of engineering which is concerned with the creation of the infrastructure of society: the civil implying this link with the citizen and with civilisation.
It is interesting to note that in some countries (e.g. Norway and Sweden), the term civil engineer has retained something of its earlier broad meaning as an indicator of a level of educational attainment in an engineering field. One might be a civil engineer with qualification in electrical engineering.
All engineering is concerned with finding solutions to problems for which there is rarely a single answer. Presented with an appropriate ‘solution-neutral problem definition’ the engineer needs to find ways of applying existing or emergent technologies to the solution of the problem. There are a number of distinctive features which add excitement to the practice of civil engineering: civil engineering projects tend to be large, visible, and unique. The size and visibility mean that failures cannot be hidden.
Andrew Saint: ‘a broadbrush way of describing the change in relations between architects and engineers over the past two centuries might be to say that they used to work on different projects but have similar skills, whereas now they work on the same projects but have different skills. One might measure the strength of rock in terms of the height of a column of rock that will just cause the lowest layer of the rock to crush: on such a scale sandstone would have a strength of 2 kilometres, good limestone about 4 kilometres.
The principles of road design have not changed much over two millennia, even if the loading has increased considerably from those of Roman chariots and soldiers. Traffic requires a strong running surface, resistant to wear. This layer needs some underlying support to prevent it spreading, and an underlying drainage layer to draw rainwater into lateral ditches to prevent the formation of a morass in wet weather.
The rationality of an engineering argument is not necessarily immediately apparent to the layman and requires careful explanation. The media and people who consume media like scare stories – these are what are remembered, a correction at a later date will not receive the same publicity. Engineers need to be prepared to think laterally of the possible unintended consequences of their actions and need to be trained to deal with potentially hostile media. The engineering itself is straightforward.
Earthquakes in developing countries tend to attract particular attention. The damage is high because the enforcement of design codes (where they exist) is low.
The damage that can be inflicted by natural movements of wind, water and earth is enormous. We can design structures to resist or survive these movements, but do we choose to make the structure heavy and stiff so that it cannot move, but generates massive internal stresses, or rather to make the structure flexible so that it goes with the flow, generating rather low internal stresses but experiencing larger movements which may be unpopular with the users of the structure?
The civil engineering challenge to anchor tidal current devices to the seabed is significant: the power of the sea to generate electricity is also the power that batters the coast in stormy weather and destroys puny man-made structures that are placed in its path.
High-speed rail works in Europe and Japan, where there is adequate infrastructure in the destination cities for access to and from railway stations. In parts of the world (e.g. USA) where the distances are much greater, population densities lower, railway networks much less developed, and local transport in cities much less coordinated, the economic case for high speed rail is harder to make.
Observation itself is not sufficient unless there is some structured strategy in dealing with the observations.
There are analogies between the uncertainty in the ground and the behaviourial uncertainty of organisations involved in civil engineering construction. For many of the well-known failures that have occurred the final technical straw that causes the failure (the strength of the material is exceeded at a sufficient number of points that a mechanism of failure is able to develop) is accompanied by some organisational dysfunction.
In Japan’s nuclear power industry, there are suggestions of regulatory capture, where the regulator, supposedly acting in the public interest, advances the particular interests of the commercial sector that it should be regulating; and senior regulators take up highly paid posts in the industry that they were previously regulating.
The balance of responsibilities and assignment of risk has moved around through the ages. The three principal parties are the client who wants the project (and possibly a separate financier providing the necessary funding); the designer (engineer) who has to interpret the needs of the client into a form that will satisfy those needs and that can actually be constructed; and the constructor (or contractor) who will turn that design into the physical reality.
Engineering is always about choices – usually political choices – which imply the comparison in a single equation of quite incompatible and unmeasurable quantities.
___
The original engineers designed clever devices, engines (war machines like catapults). The term civil engineering might then seem to be an oxymoron. But the term now relates to that branch of engineering which is concerned with the creation of the infrastructure of society: the civil implying this link with the citizen and with civilisation.
It is interesting to note that in some countries (e.g. Norway and Sweden), the term civil engineer has retained something of its earlier broad meaning as an indicator of a level of educational attainment in an engineering field. One might be a civil engineer with qualification in electrical engineering.
All engineering is concerned with finding solutions to problems for which there is rarely a single answer. Presented with an appropriate ‘solution-neutral problem definition’ the engineer needs to find ways of applying existing or emergent technologies to the solution of the problem. There are a number of distinctive features which add excitement to the practice of civil engineering: civil engineering projects tend to be large, visible, and unique. The size and visibility mean that failures cannot be hidden.
Andrew Saint: ‘a broadbrush way of describing the change in relations between architects and engineers over the past two centuries might be to say that they used to work on different projects but have similar skills, whereas now they work on the same projects but have different skills. One might measure the strength of rock in terms of the height of a column of rock that will just cause the lowest layer of the rock to crush: on such a scale sandstone would have a strength of 2 kilometres, good limestone about 4 kilometres.
The principles of road design have not changed much over two millennia, even if the loading has increased considerably from those of Roman chariots and soldiers. Traffic requires a strong running surface, resistant to wear. This layer needs some underlying support to prevent it spreading, and an underlying drainage layer to draw rainwater into lateral ditches to prevent the formation of a morass in wet weather.
The rationality of an engineering argument is not necessarily immediately apparent to the layman and requires careful explanation. The media and people who consume media like scare stories – these are what are remembered, a correction at a later date will not receive the same publicity. Engineers need to be prepared to think laterally of the possible unintended consequences of their actions and need to be trained to deal with potentially hostile media. The engineering itself is straightforward.
Earthquakes in developing countries tend to attract particular attention. The damage is high because the enforcement of design codes (where they exist) is low.
The damage that can be inflicted by natural movements of wind, water and earth is enormous. We can design structures to resist or survive these movements, but do we choose to make the structure heavy and stiff so that it cannot move, but generates massive internal stresses, or rather to make the structure flexible so that it goes with the flow, generating rather low internal stresses but experiencing larger movements which may be unpopular with the users of the structure?
The civil engineering challenge to anchor tidal current devices to the seabed is significant: the power of the sea to generate electricity is also the power that batters the coast in stormy weather and destroys puny man-made structures that are placed in its path.
High-speed rail works in Europe and Japan, where there is adequate infrastructure in the destination cities for access to and from railway stations. In parts of the world (e.g. USA) where the distances are much greater, population densities lower, railway networks much less developed, and local transport in cities much less coordinated, the economic case for high speed rail is harder to make.
Observation itself is not sufficient unless there is some structured strategy in dealing with the observations.
There are analogies between the uncertainty in the ground and the behaviourial uncertainty of organisations involved in civil engineering construction. For many of the well-known failures that have occurred the final technical straw that causes the failure (the strength of the material is exceeded at a sufficient number of points that a mechanism of failure is able to develop) is accompanied by some organisational dysfunction.
In Japan’s nuclear power industry, there are suggestions of regulatory capture, where the regulator, supposedly acting in the public interest, advances the particular interests of the commercial sector that it should be regulating; and senior regulators take up highly paid posts in the industry that they were previously regulating.
The balance of responsibilities and assignment of risk has moved around through the ages. The three principal parties are the client who wants the project (and possibly a separate financier providing the necessary funding); the designer (engineer) who has to interpret the needs of the client into a form that will satisfy those needs and that can actually be constructed; and the constructor (or contractor) who will turn that design into the physical reality.
Engineering is always about choices – usually political choices – which imply the comparison in a single equation of quite incompatible and unmeasurable quantities.
June 12, 2018
Chapter 1: Materials of civil engineering
Chapter 2: Water and waste
Chapter 3: 'Directing the great sources of power in nature'
Chapter 4: Concept - technology - realization
Chapter 5: Robustness
Chapter 6: Civil engineering: looking forward
Chapter 2: Water and waste
Chapter 3: 'Directing the great sources of power in nature'
Chapter 4: Concept - technology - realization
Chapter 5: Robustness
Chapter 6: Civil engineering: looking forward
January 19, 2018
Good broad introduction to the field.
November 16, 2018
An amazing overview of the industry past present and prospects for the future
August 25, 2023
Decent introduction to the subject that involves history of the area, case studies and views on the things you don’t think about for example representation and dealing with the media.
July 9, 2013
This would have been interesting, if the author didn't spend so much time worrying "how to fortify buildings against terrorist attacks" in obvious reference to WTC completely forgetting it has been proven by architects and structural engineers that WTC7 couldn't have collapsed from what was essentially just a standard office fire. It should also have discussed more of the scientific principles behind civil engineering applications (i.e. how do water reservoirs work and how are they better than pumping directly to every house).
August 9, 2014
A very nice, short, and concise introduction to civil engineering concepts!
The chapter on materials was incredibly interesting, as was the analysis of different projects and buildings. The pictures were incredibly cool and helpful, and it was very well organized!
The one thing that did get bothersome by the end was the introduction of a table regarding different components of a project (which was good), that led to the continuous italicizing of the key terms (which got a bit annoying).
Overall though, a good read for the airplane!
The chapter on materials was incredibly interesting, as was the analysis of different projects and buildings. The pictures were incredibly cool and helpful, and it was very well organized!
The one thing that did get bothersome by the end was the introduction of a table regarding different components of a project (which was good), that led to the continuous italicizing of the key terms (which got a bit annoying).
Overall though, a good read for the airplane!
August 19, 2015
Civil Engineering: A Very Short Introduction gives a brief yet broad explanation about civil engineering field. It talks about how civil engineering is called by the name, the type of materials used, application of civil engineering knowledge, robustness of a structure, and lastly the future of civil engineering.
However, some of the topic discussed is a bit too broad. For example, aircraft construction is included inside the discussion. Otherwise, it is a good introductory book, especially as it contains lot of famous civil engineering projects as the examples.
However, some of the topic discussed is a bit too broad. For example, aircraft construction is included inside the discussion. Otherwise, it is a good introductory book, especially as it contains lot of famous civil engineering projects as the examples.
January 3, 2014
This book delivered what it promised. Was a quick and easy read that covered some history and core aspects of Civil Engineering. These aspects were reinforced with many interesting examples, some of which were only a few years old.
Would recommend to all who are interested in how some aspects of our modern life are developed and maintained and recommend to anyone thinking of going into Civil Engineering.
Would recommend to all who are interested in how some aspects of our modern life are developed and maintained and recommend to anyone thinking of going into Civil Engineering.
July 3, 2014
Accessible and informative introduction to this vital field of human endeavour...
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May 16, 2015ss
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews