History :
Civil engineering is a
professional engineering
discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of
the physical and naturally built environment, including works like
roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings.
[1][2][3] Civil engineering is the second-oldest engineering discipline after
military engineering,
[4] and it is defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering.
[5] It is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including
architectural engineering,
environmental engineering,
geotechnical engineering,
control engineering,
structural engineering,
earthquake engineering,
transportation engineering,
forensic engineering,
municipal or urban engineering,
water resources engineering,
materials engineering,
wastewater engineering,
offshore engineering,
facade engineering,
quantity surveying,
coastal engineering,
[4] construction surveying, and
construction engineering.
[6]
Civil engineering takes place in the public sector from municipal
through to national governments, and in the private sector from
individual homeowners through to international companies.
History of the civil engineering profession
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practice of civil engineering may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in
Ancient Egypt, the
Indus Valley Civilization, and
Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq) when humans started to abandon a
nomadic
existence, creating a need for the construction of shelter. During this
time, transportation became increasingly important leading to the
development of the wheel and
sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil
engineering and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were
mainly geographical variations referring to the same occupation, and
often used interchangeably.
[7] The construction of
pyramids
in Egypt (circa 2700–2500 BC) were some of the first instances of large
structure constructions. Other ancient historic civil engineering
constructions include the
Qanat water management system (the oldest is older than 3000 years and longer than 71 km,
[8]) the
Parthenon by
Iktinos in
Ancient Greece (447–438 BC), the
Appian Way by
Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the
Great Wall of China by General
Meng T'ien under orders from Ch'in Emperor
Shih Huang Ti (c. 220 BC)
[6] and the stupas constructed in ancient
Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in
Anuradhapura. The Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including especially
aqueducts,
insulae, harbors, bridges, dams and roads.
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering.
[5] The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton, who constructed the
Eddystone Lighthouse.
[4][6]
In 1771 Smeaton and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian
Society of Civil Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met
informally over dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical
meetings, it was little more than a social society.
In 1818 the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer
Thomas Telford
became its first president. The institution received a Royal Charter in
1828, formally recognising civil engineering as a profession. Its
charter defined civil engineering as:
the art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use
and convenience of man, as the means of production and of traffic in
states, both for external and internal trade, as applied in the
construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals, river navigation and
docks for internal intercourse and exchange, and in the construction of
ports, harbours, moles, breakwaters and lighthouses, and in the art of
navigation by artificial power for the purposes of commerce, and in the
construction and application of machinery, and in the drainage of cities
and towns.[9]
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United States was
Norwich University, founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge.
[10] The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States was awarded by
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835.
[11][12] The first such degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by
Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
[13]
History of civil engineering
Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbian city in Mexico built by the
Maya people of the Post Classic. The northeast column temple also covers a
channel that
funnels all the rainwater from the complex some 40 metres (130 ft) away to a rejollada, a former
cenote.
Civil engineering is the application of physical and scientific
principles for solving the problems of society, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of
physics and
mathematics
throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide ranging
profession, including several separate specialized sub-disciplines, its
history is linked to knowledge of structures, materials science,
geography, geology,
soils,
hydrology,
environment,
mechanics and other fields.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and construction was carried out by
artisans, such as
stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of
master builder. Knowledge was retained in
guilds
and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and infrastructure
that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were incremental.
[14]
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which underpins our understanding of
buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes' screw.
Brahmagupta,
an Indian mathematician, used arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based
on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for excavation (volume) computations.
[15]
The civil engineer
Education and licensure
Main article:
Civil engineer typically possess an
academic degree in civil engineering. The length of study is three to five years, and the completed degree is designated as a
bachelor of engineering, or a
bachelor of science. The curriculum generally includes classes in physics, mathematics,
project management,
design and specific topics in civil engineering. After taking basic
courses in most sub-disciplines of civil engineering, they move onto
specialize in one or more sub-disciplines at advanced levels. While an
undergraduate degree (BEng/BSc) normally provides successful students
with industry-accredited qualification, some academic institutions offer
post-graduate degrees (MEng/MSc), which allow students to further
specialize in their particular area of interest.
[16]
Snapshot from
shake-table video
[17] testing of base-isolated (right) and regular (left) building models
In most countries, a bachelor's degree in engineering represents the first step towards
professional certification, and a
professional body
certifies the degree program. After completing a certified degree
program, the engineer must satisfy a range of requirements (including
work experience and exam requirements) before being certified. Once
certified, the engineer is designated as a professional engineer (in the
United States, Canada and South Africa), a
chartered engineer (in most
Commonwealth countries), a chartered professional engineer (in Australia and
New Zealand), or a European engineer (in most countries of the
European Union).
There are international agreements between relevant professional bodies
to allow engineers to practice across national borders.
The benefits of certification vary depending upon location. For example, in the United States and Canada, "only a licensed
professional engineer
may prepare, sign and seal, and submit engineering plans and drawings
to a public authority for approval, or seal engineering work for public
and private clients."
[18] This requirement is enforced under provincial law such as the Engineers Act in
Quebec.
[19]
No such legislation has been enacted in other countries including the
United Kingdom. In Australia, state licensing of engineers is limited
to the state of
Queensland. Almost all certifying bodies maintain a
code of ethics which all members must abide by.
[20]
Engineers must obey
contract law
in their contractual relationships with other parties. In cases where
an engineer's work fails, he may be subject to the law of
tort of negligence, and in extreme cases, criminal charges.
[21] An engineer's work must also comply with numerous other rules and regulations such as
building codes and
environmental law.
Sub-disciplines
In general, civil engineering is concerned with the overall interface
of human created fixed projects with the greater world. General civil
engineers work closely with surveyors and specialized civil engineers to
design grading, drainage,
pavement,
water supply, sewer service,dams, electric and communications supply.
General civil engineering is also referred to as site engineering, a
branch of civil engineering that primarily focuses on converting a tract
of land from one usage to another. Site engineers spend time visiting
project sites, meeting with stakeholders, and preparing construction
plans.Civil engineers apply the principles of geotechnical engineering,
structural engineering, environmental engineering, transportation
engineering and construction engineering to residential, commercial,
industrial and public works projects of all sizes and levels of
construction.
Materials science and engineering
Materials science is closely related to civil engineering. It
studies fundamental characteristics of materials, and deals with
ceramics such as concrete and mix asphalt concrete, strong metals such
as aluminum and steel, and polymers including
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and carbon fibers.
Materials engineering involves protection and prevention
(paints and finishes). Alloying combines two types of metals to produce
another metal with desired properties. It incorporates elements of
applied physics and
chemistry. With recent media attention on
nanoscience and
nanotechnology,
materials engineering has been at the forefront of academic research.
It is also an important part of forensic engineering and
failure analysis.
Coastal engineering
Coastal engineering is concerned with managing coastal areas.
In some jurisdictions, the terms sea defense and coastal protection mean
defense against flooding and erosion, respectively. The term coastal
defense is the more traditional term, but coastal management has become
more popular as the field has expanded to techniques that allow erosion
to claim land.
Construction engineering
Construction engineering involves planning and execution,
transportation of materials, site development based on hydraulic,
environmental, structural and geotechnical engineering. As construction
firms tend to have higher business risk than other types of civil
engineering firms do, construction engineers often engage in more
business-like transactions, for example, drafting and reviewing
contracts, evaluating
logistical operations, and monitoring prices of supplies.
Earthquake engineering
Earthquake engineering involves designing structures to
withstand hazardous earthquake exposures. Earthquake engineering is a
sub-discipline of structural engineering. The main objectives of
earthquake engineering are
[22]
to understand interaction of structures on the shaky ground; foresee
the consequences of possible earthquakes; and design, construct and
maintain structures to
perform at earthquake in compliance with
building codes.
Environmental engineering
Water pollution
Environmental engineering is the contemporary term for
sanitary engineering,
though sanitary engineering traditionally had not included much of the
hazardous waste management and environmental remediation work covered by
environmental engineering. Public health engineering and environmental
health engineering are other terms being used.
Environmental engineering deals with treatment of chemical, biological, or thermal wastes, purification of water and air, and
remediation
of contaminated sites after waste disposal or accidental contamination.
Among the topics covered by environmental engineering are pollutant
transport,
water purification,
waste water treatment, air pollution,
solid waste treatment, and
hazardous waste management. Environmental engineers administer pollution reduction, green engineering, and
industrial ecology. Environmental engineers also compile information on environmental consequences of proposed actions.
Geotechnical engineering
A phase diagram of soil indicating the weights and volumes of air, soil, water, and voids.
Geotechnical engineering studies rock and soil supporting civil engineering systems. Knowledge from the field of
soil science, materials science,
mechanics, and
hydraulics is applied to safely and economically design
foundations,
retaining walls, and other structures. Environmental efforts to protect
groundwater and safely maintain landfills have spawned a new area of research called geoenvironmental engineering.
[23][24]
Identification of soil properties presents challenges to geotechnical engineers.
Boundary conditions
are often well defined in other branches of civil engineering, but
unlike steel or concrete, the material properties and behavior of soil
are difficult to predict due to its variability and limitation on
investigation. Furthermore, soil exhibits nonlinear (
stress-dependent)
strength, stiffness, and dilatancy (volume change associated with application of shear stress), making studying
soil mechanics all the more difficult.
[23]
Water resources engineering
Water resources engineering is concerned with the collection and management of water (as a
natural resource). As a discipline it therefore combines hydrology, environmental science,
meteorology, geology,
conservation, and
resource management.
This area of civil engineering relates to the prediction and management
of both the quality and the quantity of water in both underground (
aquifers)
and above ground (lakes, rivers, and streams) resources. Water resource
engineers analyze and model very small to very large areas of the earth
to predict the amount and content of water as it flows into, through,
or out of a facility. Although the actual design of the facility may be
left to other engineers.
Hydraulic engineering is concerned with the flow and
conveyance of fluids, principally water. This area of civil engineering
is intimately related to the design of
pipelines,
water supply network, drainage facilities (including bridges, dams,
channels,
culverts,
levees,
storm sewers), and canals. Hydraulic engineers design these facilities using the concepts of
fluid pressure,
fluid statics,
fluid dynamics, and hydraulics, among others.
Structural engineering
Structural engineering is concerned with the
structural design and
structural analysis of buildings, bridges,
towers,
flyovers (overpasses), tunnels, off shore structures like oil and gas fields in the sea,
aerostructure
and other structures. This involves identifying the loads which act
upon a structure and the forces and stresses which arise within that
structure due to those loads, and then designing the structure to
successfully support and resist those loads. The loads can be self
weight of the structures, other dead load, live loads, moving (wheel)
load, wind load, earthquake load, load from temperature change etc. The
structural engineer must design structures to be safe for their users
and to successfully fulfill the function they are designed for (to be
serviceable). Due to the nature of some loading conditions, sub-disciplines within structural engineering have emerged, including
wind engineering and earthquake engineering.
[25]
Design considerations will include strength, stiffness, and stability
of the structure when subjected to loads which may be static, such as
furniture or self-weight, or dynamic, such as wind, seismic, crowd or
vehicle loads, or transitory, such as temporary construction loads or
impact. Other considerations include cost, constructability, safety,
aesthetics and
sustainability.
Surveying
Surveying is the process by which a surveyor measures certain
dimensions that occur on or near the surface of the Earth. Surveying
equipment, such as levels and theodolites, are used for accurate
measurement of angular deviation, horizontal, vertical and slope
distances. With computerisation, electronic distance measurement (EDM),
total stations, GPS surveying and laser scanning have to a large extent
supplanted traditional instruments. Data collected by survey measurement
is converted into a graphical representation of the Earth's surface in
the form of a map. This information is then used by civil engineers,
contractors and realtors to design from, build on, and trade,
respectively. Elements of a structure must be sized and positioned in
relation to each other and to site boundaries and adjacent structures.
Although surveying is a distinct profession with separate qualifications
and licensing arrangements, civil engineers are trained in the basics
of surveying and mapping, as well as
geographic information systems. Surveyors also lay out the routes of railways,
tramway tracks, highways, roads, pipelines and streets as well as position other infrastructure, such as
harbors, before construction.
- Land surveying
In the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and most
Commonwealth countries land surveying is considered to be a distinct
profession.
Land surveyors
are not considered to be engineers, and have their own professional
associations and licencing requirements. The services of a licenced land
surveyor are generally required for boundary surveys (to establish the
boundaries of a parcel using its legal description) and subdivision
plans (a plot or map based on a survey of a parcel of land, with
boundary lines drawn inside the larger parcel to indicate the creation
of new boundary lines and roads), both of which are generally referred
to as
Cadastral surveying.
- Construction surveying
Construction surveying is generally performed by specialised
technicians. Unlike land surveyors, the resulting plan does not have
legal status. Construction surveyors perform the following tasks:
- Surveying existing conditions of the future work site, including
topography, existing buildings and infrastructure, and underground
infrastructure when possible;
- "lay-out" or "setting-out": placing reference points and markers
that will guide the construction of new structures such as roads or
buildings;
- Verifying the location of structures during construction;
- As-Built surveying: a survey conducted at the end of the
construction project to verify that the work authorized was completed to
the specifications set on plans.
Transportation engineering
The engineering of this
roundabout in
Bristol, England, attempts to make traffic flow free-moving
Transportation engineering is concerned with moving people and
goods efficiently, safely, and in a manner conducive to a vibrant
community. This involves specifying, designing, constructing, and
maintaining transportation infrastructure which includes streets,
canals, highways,
rail systems, airports, ports, and
mass transit. It includes areas such as transportation design,
transportation planning,
traffic engineering, some aspects of
urban engineering,
queueing theory,
pavement engineering,
Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), and infrastructure management.
Forensic engineering
Forensic engineering is the investigation of materials,
products,
structures or components that fail or do not operate or function as
intended, causing personal injury or damage to property. The
consequences of failure are dealt with by the law of product liability.
The field also deals with retracing processes and procedures leading to
accidents in operation of vehicles or machinery. The subject is applied
most commonly in civil law cases, although it may be of use in criminal
law cases. Generally the purpose of a Forensic engineering investigation
is to locate cause or causes of failure with a view to improve
performance or life of a component, or to assist a court in determining
the facts of an accident. It can also involve investigation of
intellectual property claims, especially
patents.
Municipal or urban engineering
Municipal engineering is concerned with municipal infrastructure. This involves specifying, designing, constructing, and maintaining streets,
sidewalks,
water supply networks, sewers,
street lighting,
municipal solid waste management and disposal, storage depots for various bulk materials used for maintenance and public works (salt, sand, etc.),
public parks and
cycling infrastructure. In the case of underground
utility
networks, it may also include the civil portion (conduits and access
chambers) of the local distribution networks of electrical and
telecommunications services. It can also include the optimizing of waste
collection and
bus service
networks. Some of these disciplines overlap with other civil
engineering specialties, however municipal engineering focuses on the
coordination of these infrastructure networks and services, as they are
often built simultaneously, and managed by the same municipal authority.
Municipal engineers may also design the site civil works for large
buildings, industrial plants or campuses (i.e. access roads, parking
lots, potable water supply, treatment or pretreatment of waste water,
site drainage, etc.)
Control engineering
Control engineering (or
control systems engineering) is the branch of civil engineering discipline that applies
control theory
to design systems with desired behaviors. The practice uses sensors to
measure the output performance of the device being controlled (often a
vehicle) and those measurements can be used to give feedback to the
input actuators that can make corrections toward desired performance.
When a device is designed to perform without the need of human inputs
for correction it is called
automatic control
(such as cruise control for regulating a car's speed).
Multidisciplinary in nature, control systems engineering activities
focus on implementation of control systems mainly derived by
mathematical modeling of systems of a diverse range.
Civil engineering associations
It
is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning of
civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
It
is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning of
civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
It
is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning of
civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpufvvvvv
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
History of Civil Engineering:
It is difficult to determine the history of emergence and beginning
of civil engineering, however, that the history of civil engineering is a
mirror of the history of human beings on this earth. Man used the old
shelter caves to protect themselves of weather and harsh environment,
and used a tree trunk to cross the river, which being the demonstration
of ancient age civil engineering.
Civil
Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human
existence. The earliest practices of Civil engg may have commenced
between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq)
when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need
for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation
became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel
and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engg
and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly
geographical variations referring to the same person, often used
interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500
BC) might be considered the first instances of large structure
constructions.
Around
2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped
pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple
tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His
greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of
building with shaped stones. Those who followed him carried engineering
to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.
Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat
water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer
than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC),
the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China
by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c.
220 BC) and the stupas constructed in ancient Sri Lanka like the
Jetavanaramaya and the extensive irrigation works in Anuradhapura. The
Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including
especially aqueducts, insulae, harbours, bridges, dams and roads.
Other remarkable historical structures are Sennacherib's Aqueduct at
Jerwan built in 691 BC; Li Ping's irrigation projects in China (around
220 BC); Julius Caesar's Bridge over the Rhine River built in 55 BC,
numerous bridges built by other Romans in and around Rome(e.g. the pons
Fabricius); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct, Nimes, France) built in 19 BC;
the extensive system of highways the Romans built to facilitate trading
and (more importantly) fast manoeuvring of legions; extensive
irrigation system constructed by the Hohokam Indians, Salt River, AZ
around 600 AD; first dykes defending against high water in Friesland,
The Netherlands around 1000 AD; El Camino Real - The Royal Road, Eastern
Branch, TX and Western Branch, NM (1500s AD).
Machu
Picchu, Peru, built at around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire is
considered an engineering marvel. It was built in the Andes Mountains
assisted by some of history’s most ingenious water resource engineers.
The people of Machu Picchu built a mountain top city with running water,
drainage systems, food production and stone structures so advanced that
they endured for over 500years.
A
treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiectura, was
published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering
education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the
Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor
Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.
Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and
construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and
carpenters, rising to the role of master builder. Knowledge was retained
in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and
infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were
incremental.
One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and
mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering is the work of
Archimedes in the 3rd century BC, including Archimedes Principle, which
underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as
Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used
arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for
excavation (volume) computations.
Educational & Institutional history of civil engineering
In the 18th century, the term civil engineering was coined to
incorporate all things civilian as opposed to military engineering. The
first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways,
France, was opened in 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was
John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton
and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over
dinner. Though there was evidence of some technical meetings, it was
little more than a social society.
In
1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil
Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas
Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal
Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession.
Its charter defined civil engineering as:
“Civil engineering is the
application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is
intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and
mathematics throughout history. Because civil engineering is a wide
ranging profession, including several separate specialized
sub-disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of structures,
material science, geography, geology, soil, hydrology, environment,
mechanics and other fields.”
The first private college to teach Civil Engineering in the United
States was Norwich University founded in 1819 by Captain Alden
Partridge. The first degree in Civil Engineering in the United States
was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835. The first such
degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to
Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
- See more at: http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php#sthash.lioyRmOX.dpuf
