School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment

CIVIL ENGINEERING

What does civil engineering entail?

Civil engineering was defined by Thomas Tredgold in 1824 as “the art of directing the great sources of power in Nature for the use and convenience of man” 

Civil engineering makes a region habitable. Before construction starts, the civil engineering team must carefully plan and design the works. They also supervise the construction facilities that include structures such as bridges, airports, highways, power lines, dams, sewage and water purification plants.

Calculations have to be done to determine optimum dimensions of facilities. Detailed drawings have to be made with written specifications to ensure that the works are constructed to appropriate quality and standards at a reasonable cost. 

During construction, civil engineers and their teams ensure that the works are built as designed. The also manage the plant and manpower, and ensure that the works are completed within budget and on time. 

They must also solve problems like pollution, traffic congestion, energy needs, water supplies and provision of infrastructure for community settlements.  

Branches of Civil Engineering

Civil engineering careers may be pursued in specialised fields of civil engineering or in general terms. The following are examples of specialisation fields: 

Structural: Bridges roads towers power pylons

Transportation: Roads traffic control airports

Water: Dams pipelines purification works reservoirs

Geotechnical: Foundations excavations and fills

Urban: Municipal services development and maintenance of towns recreational facilities

Construction: Construction management

Environmental: Impact studies social and natural environments harmonising affected elements and resources.

 

Course

N. Dip. / B. Tech: Civil Engineering

Masters Degree

Course

M. Tech.: Civil Engineering

Candidates must already be in possession of the qualification B. Tech.: Engineering: Civil, and must have passed a course in Research Methodology in order to register for this degree. A research project and dissertation must be submitted for this qualification. The minimum period of study for the attainment of this qualification is one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. As a result of the nature of the course, research projects are often undertaken in the student’s working environment.

Doctoral Degrees

Course

D. Tech.: Civil Engineering

Candidates must already be in possession of the qualification M. Tech.: Engineering: Civil in order to register for this degree. A research project must be undertaken and a thesis must be submitted for this qualification. The minimum period of study for the attainment of this qualification is two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study. As a result of the nature of the course, research projects are often undertaken in the student’s working environment.

Built Environment, Quantity Surveying & Construction Management

What does the built environment entail?

Quantity Surveying comprises the careful physical- and cost planning, as well as management, of construction projects of all kinds, including buildings, civil engineering structures, infrastructure and restoration work. 

Built environment makes a region habitable. Before construction commences, the quantity surveyor and project manager must carefully plan and monitor the feasibility and capital flow of the designed. They also supervise the construction facilities that include all possible structures in the construction industry. There are no limits to the field of expertise in the quantity surveying and construction management professions. 

Calculations have to be done to determine the quantity and quality of material and labour, the life cycle cost, maintenance cost, investment options, etc. of facilities. 

Detailed drawings are used with written specifications to ensure that the workmanship and management of the construction works are in line with quality and standards at a reasonable cost.  

During construction, quantity surveyors and their teams ensure that the works are constructed within the budget. They also manage variations and deviations from the contract documents and advise the client and design team on the best cost-effective alternatives in the construction process, and ensure that the works are completed within budget and on time.

Fields of practice for building professionals 

Building careers are taken up in the Built Environment professions, and may be pursued in cost engineering, valuation, construction- and project management, investment advice, property development, property maintenance and real estate management.

Course

N. Dip.: Building

B. Tech.: Construction Management

B. Tech.: Quantity Surveying