Civil Engineering at Texas A&M

Jacob Tiemann

What is a Civil Engineer?

• Someone that: – Designs structures to

improve society– Reviews plans of

structures to ensure the safety of the people

– Improves existing structures through experiments to create better materials

History of Civil Engineering

• Civil Engineering is the oldest form of engineering, other than strategic military engineering

• Broken into many sub-disciplines as the need for engineers grew

Northbridge Suspension Bridge in Australia

Popular Examples of Civil Engineering

• Coastal Management • Design of

Roads/Buildings • Environmental

Protection• Materials Testing

A Few Examples of Civil Engineer Projects

Bridge designed by Gustave Eifell Petronas Twin Towers

Opera House In Sydney Australia

Toothpick Bridge!

• Objective:– Build a toothpick bridge,

using only toothpicks and glue, that will hold more weight than your classmates bridges

Examples of Other Bridges

http://mrlewisclassroom.tripod.com/bridgede.htm

http://www.pisymphony.com/toothpick/toothpick_tom_e/toothpick_tom.htm http://web.mnstate.edu/bridge/

Bridge_Pictures.htm

Diverse Job Opportunities

• Every country needs civil engineers to function properly

• Many different fields• Government, military

and private sector

http://entrance-exam.net/an-evergreen-career-optioncivil-engineering/

Important Subjects

• Math– A firm foundation in

mathematics will prove to be vital in later Engineering courses

• Physics/ Science– Much of the physics you

encounter in College is Calculus based

– Must have a strong knowledge of math to be successful

If you put the two together, you can determine the safety and plausibility of structures that are needing to be createdor repaired. The combination of the two also helps solve complex problems rather simply.

What kind of salary can a Civil Engineer expect?

• Civil Engineers can expect to make between $50,000 and $115,000 with the average being $75,000

• This is roughly 17% higher than other job postings nation wide http://

www.projectpartners.com/resources/salary.html

Engineers are Important

• With the deterioration of roads and expansion of the U.S. infrastructure, Civil Engineers are in high demand

• Higher demand leads to:– Higher pay– More choices of where

to work

• Civil Engineers keep the economy and of the Nation through a complex web of roads and waterways

http://www.engr.uconn.edu/asce07.php

Why A&M?

• Tradition• Experience• Family• Expertise

Tradition

• A&M is home to several famous traditions– Silver Taps– Muster– Corp of Cadets– “Howdy”– Midnight Yell

http://www.tamu.edu/about/traditions.html#muster

Silver Taps Ceremony

Experience

• By attending Texas A&M, students receive the same experiences that their fellow Aggies before them learned to cherish

• You become a big family with you fellow student body http://bleacherreport.com/articles/

558900-new-years-resolutions-for-every-bcs-top-25-team

Expertise

• Texas A&M Undergraduate Civil Engineering program ranked 7th and the Graduate Program is ranked 8th by U.S. News and World Report in fall of 2011 and spring 2011

• Texas A&M also spends millions of dollars every year on research, (American Society of Engineering Education: 2011)

Materials and Infrastructure Engineering

• Main Aspects– Design, construct,

maintain, inspect and manage public facilities

– Come up with new/ better materials for construction http://fineartamerica.com/featured/

concrete-cylinders-marc-bowers.html

Structural Engineering

• Purpose– To Analyze and Design

Future or Existing Structures

– Make Sure Structures are Safe and Plausible

– Research and Develop a Greater Understanding of Why Things Happen

http://jkk.com/

Transportation EngineeringWhat is Transportation Engineering?

• The discipline that strives to make transportation throughout the nation safe, fast and simple, while also making the smallest imprint on the environment as possible

http://thetransportationgazette.com/2010/06/what-is-transportation-engineering/

Geotechnical Engineering

• Geotechnical Engineering-– The study of the

engineering behaviors of soils when being used in creating Civil Engineering structures

Coastal and Ocean Engineering

• What do Coastal Engineers do?– Coastal engineers are

involved beach nourishment, dredging, and harbor construction and maintenance

• What do Ocean Engineers do?– Ocean Engineers design

off shore platforms, pipelines, and are involved in the environmental safety of off shore structures

Construction Management

• Construction management combines engineering, design and management.

• With a Degree in Construction Management, you can manage construction projects as well as plan them

Water Resource Engineering• Water Resource

Engineers….– Design spillways, dams and

other water retention structures

– Study the effects these structures will have on the surrounding area

– Engineer new ways to conserve water for times of drought

– Design new water transportations systems to deliver it to cities in need

Environmental Engineering

• Purpose– To improve and protect

the natural habitat and environment for all living organisms

• Importance – Without Environmental

Engineers, there would be no one to control and regulate environmental hazards

Which Do I Prefer?

• Coastal Engineering– Why? I love being on the

beach and near the coast ; tides, shorelines, and harbors have always interested me

– I would love to be the person protecting this important part of the country