PE Civil Exam Breadth
Civil engineering is one of the world's oldest professions. Civil engineers' skills have been necessary to develop cities since the dawn of civilization. And, as time passed, the numerous specialties of civil engineering evolved and grew. If you are keen to enter this field, you have to take the PE Civil Exam. There are several sub-categories of civil engineering, five of which are part of PE Civil Breadth Portion in PE Civil Exam for PE License:
- Construction Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
- Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
Here’s a brief overview of each category to give you a clear idea of the breadth of this exam:
Construction Engineering
This is one of the most prevalent forms of civil engineering, and it entails the planning and implementation of building projects, as well as the development of sites based on environmental, hydraulic, geotechnical, and structural engineering. Construction engineers are more concerned with risk management throughout a project, and they utilize models and statistics to establish what the hazards of a specific project are, as well as how to reduce and prevent them.
Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical engineering is the study of soil and rock as they relate to civil engineering systems. Experts in this profession employ understanding of materials science, earth science, hydraulics, and mechanics to design structures, such as retaining walls and foundations, as well as other structures, in an inexpensive and safe manner.
A geotechnical engineer would often begin a project by studying the bedrock qualities, soil, and fault distribution of a given site in order to provide an evaluation of their engineering properties. Experts in this sector are responsible for assisting in the prevention of damage caused by earthquakes, sinkholes, debris flows, landslides, rock falls, and soil liquefaction.
Structural Engineering
This civil engineering subject includes the structural analysis and design of a range of structures, including buildings, flyovers, and tunnels. The primary goal of this sub-discipline is to identify any loads that may operate on the structure under consideration, as well as any stresses and forces that may emerge inside the structure.
Transportation Engineering
Transportation engineering entails the design and building of facilities that aid in the movement of products and people in a way that is safe, efficient, and maintains the vibrancy of the surrounding community. This civil engineering sub-discipline might include specifying, building, designing, and maintaining transportation infrastructure such as rail systems, highways, roads, streets, mass transit systems, ports, and airports.
Water Resources and Environmental Engineering
This sub-discipline of civil engineering is concerned with the management and collection of water as a natural resource. Water resources engineering involves managing and forecasting of water quantity and quality in both aboveground and subsurface streams, lakes, and rivers. A water resources engineer would often model and analyze sections of the Earth to anticipate both the content and volume of water moving into, out of, or through a facility, although they are not typically involved in the facility's construction.
So, there you have it, an overview of the breadths of the different disciplines encompassed in the PE Civil Exam. Hopefully, now you will be able to take an informed decision about taking civil engineering as a career.