About Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, BA (Hons) - at Trinity College Dublin
What is civil, structural and environmental engineering?Civil, structural and environmental engineering is a very diverse and broad discipline, offering graduates the chance to work in many different areas, including designing and maintaining transport systems, looking after the environment, designing foundations for homes and building and designing structures. Therefore, civil engineers are involved in every aspect of our lives. The skills required to be a good civil engineer are a mathematical mind, a gift of logic and good problem solving abilities. In addition to these skills a civil engineer needs to be imaginative and inquisitive.
Civil engineeringCivil engineers design the services that we use and take for granted every day. Civil engineers ensure that we have clean running water, that traffic continues to move and that we have homes to live in and places to work. Whether it is supplying water to people or industry, building houses, hospitals, factories or warehouses, or mining for fuel and other substances, a civil engineer has been involved.
Structural engineeringStructural engineering is a branch of engineering that involves designing buildings and bridges. Structural engineers have to ensure that a building is safe for the area that it is built in and for the purpose for which it is intended.
Environmental engineeringEnvironmental engineers design the systems that provide us with water for all purposes and the systems that deal with waste. Environmental engineers also design ways of producing power from renewable resources and ensure that development happens in a sustainable way.
As you can see, this specialism combines a unique set of skills – analytical and practical, as well as creative and environmental. Some skills, such as foundation and highway engineering or water supply, will require you as the engineer to be the sole expert or authority. Others, for example architecture, surveying and computer aided design, will need your input on those aspects of the job that specifically relate to civil engineering design, construction and environmental impact.
