The development of technical-managerial skills is a key skill to have in an organization. In the US, most Civil Engineering professionals are promoted through experience and through a combination of knowledge and expertise with on the job training. A number of universities and colleges offer a number of technical-degree courses that focus on this. However, some people already possess enough technical knowledge and experience in the field without requiring further technical education or certification. What can then be done for these folks? In this article, we will introduce six broad areas in the civil engineering field that most people who are not involved in technical-managerial work would benefit from knowing more about.
One of the most important skills to possess in any engineering discipline is technical management. You must understand the full range of your job, including your interactions with the project managers, and ultimately your clients. You must know how to strategically plan the project to improve productivity, as well as make sure that it is executed in a manner that maximizes efficiency. You must also know how to deal with all aspects of engineering including design, technology, cost, scheduling, resource planning, and operation. This is one of the fundamental skills needed in the field and one that is a requirement regardless of whether you work in the engineering or management field.
Project management is a very important technical skill. It is where you plan and deliver a project from start to finish. A civil engineer must be very capable of identifying and managing the risks inherent in any given project, as well as figuring out what the best course of action will be to solve those risks. They must therefore be able to coordinate and communicate effectively with various key stakeholders, coordinate resources and deliver the project on time and within budget.
There is a lot of information that engineers use in their day to day work. They must therefore be very good at data analysis, mathematics, and computer applications. They should be capable of interpreting data and drawing graphs, charts, and other relevant graphics. These technical skills are required by civil engineering professionals because the applications they use are so complicated and dynamic. Civil engineering majors who wish to continue on to pursue graduate studies in this field need to be skilled in computer applications.
A civil engineer also needs to be very familiar with technology. In fact, a successful professional in this career will be an excellent IT professional. They will use technology not only to develop solutions for their clients, but to store, retrieve, analyze, and communicate information from various systems. Civil engineers also utilize technology in manufacturing, construction, power generation, water treatment, and telecommunications. This includes everything from mechanical engineering to the emerging field of environmental technology.
One of the most difficult projects to plan is one that involves people. Planning a large-scale project can be daunting for both managers and their staff. Project managers must consider many things such as budget, time constraints, resource availability, and the best way to complete the project. Civil engineers must be good at problem solving and planning and be able to communicate their findings to their team members. Civil engineers must be prepared to evaluate alternative methods of completing the project, and must be capable of directing the project without getting everyone to agree on every single decision that is made.
A large portion of civil engineering careers involves working with power generators. Project managers often find themselves spending several days on a single project, while engineers may be required to design and construct large facilities such as water treatment centers. Because generators are so useful, civil engineers are required to know the proper placement for them so that they do not create safety hazards.
Finally, managers must be very familiar with the laws and regulations that are related to their job. It is illegal to operate any equipment or structure in a place that does not have adequate safety standards. Therefore, managers must know the regulations before taking any action regarding a project. They must be familiar with permits, licenses, and codes. If managers fail to follow these laws, they can be held personally liable for any damage or injury caused by their own negligence. Civil engineers must know the laws well enough to comply, or face serious consequences.