Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the members, the result would be only minor changes to the fi nished design, while
generally there is one team member whose substitution would change the project
fundamentally.
In order to carry out his synthesising role, the designer must know enough about
all the various specialities involved, so that he can understand the implications on
the design as a whole of making one choice or another. Clearly, the designer is not
expected to be skilled in all these various disciplines, but he must be able to question
the specialists, understand the reasons for their choices, challenge their decisions,
take second opinions and ultimately accept responsibility for them. In particular, the
bridge designer should have a reasonable knowledge of soil mechanics, as decisions on
foundations often determine the type of structure to be built.
This concept of the chief designer and the skills he requires is not new. In Chapter 1
of his fi rst topic, Vitruvius discusses the education of architects (which were not
differentiated from engineers) in republican Rome, and puts forward the view that
very few people can be expert in all the disciplines involved in construction, but that
architects must deal with them all, with only imperfect knowledge. He goes on to ask
the reader's forgiveness for his imperfect grammar, as he is an architect, not a gifted
writer. Perhaps as a civil engineer, I may ask for the same indulgence!
1.4 The specialisation of designers
It is quite clear that society requires a large number of civil engineers to design, build,
administer and maintain its roads, railways, water supply, sewerage system, power
stations, ports and telecommunications infrastructure among other tasks. The great
majority of those tasks do not require a deep and intuitive understanding of the
behaviour of structures or the exercise of aesthetic judgement. It is important that these
engineers be well trained, as they are in positions where they can make a signifi cant
contribution to society, and the more able among them are likely to attain positions
of infl uence in the private sector or in government. Other engineers will become
specialists in a wide variety of technical disciplines, such as geotechnical engineering,
dynamics, information technology, wind engineering etc.
A minority of those who opt to train as civil engineers will become the designers
of structures which, in addition to their utilitarian function become part of the built
environment. This minority requires different training from the majority. They need
to develop an intuitive understanding of the behaviour of structures, a thorough
understanding of the nature of the various building materials, and an appreciation of
the appearance of their structures.
This distinction is recognised to some extent by the profession in the United
Kingdom. The Institution of Structural Engineers, with a membership of chartered
engineers (MIStructE and FIStructE) in the UK of approximately 9,000, caters for
the minority of designers, and the Institution of Civil Engineers, with a chartered
UK membership (MICE and FICE) of approximately 36,000, represents the majority
of more general civil engineers. In order to become a member of the Institution of
Structural Engineers, suitably qualifi ed graduates with about three years experience
in industry have to pass an examination that tests their knowledge as designers of
structures, while similarly experienced graduates applying for membership of the
Institution of Civil Engineers are subjected to a written assignment that tests their
more general suitability to take professional responsibility. However, the distinction is
