"Small things matter when they accumulate. The details, when finely polished and carefully combined, add up to something remarkable.” -James Clear
A surgeon uses a scalpel. A mechanic uses a wrench. A landscaper uses an edger. However, none of these will pick up a tool without first determining how it will be used. Evidenced-based practices are (or should be) the norm. As a patient, you want to know what the surgeon is planning to do before they begin surgery, not after the incision has already been made. How have they decided what to accomplish? Numerous scans, tests, and analyses are completed before the decision to perform surgery is approached, and every last detail is taken into account.
In this same vein, a civil engineer will collect and analyze copious amounts of data, before construction is ever begun. In between, the liminal space is filled with designing concepts that will best put the data to use. To accomplish all of these tasks, a CE needs the right tools. It’s been said, “we measure with a micrometer, mark with a grease pencil, and cut with an axe.” Some of that still holds true, but a modern CE has a more complex toolbox, with manual tools used in conjunction with computer-aided programs.
1. Data Collection
Data collection is often a collaborative process that stems from a partnership between a CE and a land surveyor. This step benefits greatly from having critical thinkers at the helm, who see a plot as an end goal instead of simply as an area to be measured. At the base level, pure measurements with physical tools are crucial, but an understanding of the final design in this stage of data collection will ensure minimal mistakes and a smoother execution.
2. Design Stage
During the design stage of a project, a CE will use computer-based software programs to assist with data manipulation or modeling. It is during this phase that the data collected comes into play in the form of 3-dimensional models, in order to more fully envision the project design. Both form and function are considered in setting project benchmarks, with safety and efficiency remaining at the forefront. During the design stage, multiple options can be easily explored for owners of a project to make decisions based on various 3-D models or renderings that may be produced.
3. Construction
Once the data has been analyzed and applied to plans, the construction phase may begin. Cutting edge technology is used to allow the civil engineer to observe construction in ways that were previously thought impossible. A few decades ago, it would have been laughable for a CE to observe a project site without actually being there. While that is still the preferable option, with the use of drones, thermal cameras, and remote sensing, a CE can now monitor progress of multiple sites in a day, saving on traveling time.
Though technology has advanced immensely, at the end of the day, we are still only as good as our data and the ability to use it. Civil engineering thrives in the details of development. For this reason, a detail-oriented and thorough CE with a well-stocked toolbox will always play a vital role in construction.
Comments