Civil engineers plan, design and supervise the construction, maintenance and decommissioning of a wide variety of public and private structures and facilities.

Civil engineers use traditional and high-tech tools (for example, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Smart Systems, specialized materials) to solve problems and meet challenges such as pollution, traffic congestion, urban development, community planning, drinking water and energy needs. They examine and evaluate each project to find cost effective solutions to problems while still maintaining recognized standards. For example, they may plan and build:

• industrial buildings
• roadways, railways and bridges
• airports
• offshore drilling structures
• dams and reservoirs
• water and wastewater collection, management, treatment and distribution systems.

Civil engineers may specialize in any of the following branches of civil engineering:

Construction engineers plan and manage the construction of public and private buildings and facilities. In general, they:

• determine project requirements in terms of equipment, materials and human resources
• estimate costs and monitor expenditures
• apply their knowledge of construction methods to the basic principles of planning, organizing, financing, managing and operating a construction project
• supervise technical support personnel, contractors and construction workers.

Geotechnical engineers provide the information on soil conditions required to design and construct foundations, underground structures, tunnels, embankments and dams. In general, they:

• analyze the properties of soil and rock that support foundations, pavements and underground facilities
• evaluate the potential settlement of buildings, the influence of slopes and landfills, and the effects of groundwater seepage, sliding, frost action, earth shifts and earthquakes
• design the foundations of offshore drilling platforms and high-rise buildings
• evaluate and design systems to eliminate or mitigate ground contamination
• design open pit mines and tailings dams.

Infrastructure Asset Management engineers develop strategies to protect the investment on municipal infrastructure. In general they: 

• implement Life Cycle Asset Management for the infrastructure
• prepare and implement sustainable infrastructure rehabilitation strategy, including development of statistical forecast tools to determine rehabilitation need, costs, timelines, funding sources, and work with financial services to set utility rates
• develop condition assessment criteria for infrastructure
• maintain and apply current knowledge on infrastructure rehabilitation approaches and technologies.

Land Development engineers co-ordinate with urban planners to implement engineering solutions for transforming lands into functional communities. In general, they:

• develop master plans to provide a framework for timely development of infrastructure to support sustainable long term urban growth
• conduct feasibility studies on proposed land development projects from the engineering perspectives
• develop financial plans for development, including cost sharing and cost recovery assessments for development levies
• design utilities and roads for new or redeveloped subdivisions, and  prepare submissions for obtaining development permit and servicing agreement
• manage the construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the new facilities.

Structural engineers usually work as part of a team that may include architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, construction contractors and project developers. In general, they:

• conduct condition assessments for existing structures and facilities
• design load-bearing structures such as bridges, towers, offshore structures and buildings, keeping in mind the stresses that these structures must withstand
• carry out inspections at each stage of the building process to ensure adequate strength and rigidity, and analyze the structure's ability to withstand the effects of wind, snow, vibration and other forces
• check load and weight distribution requirements.

Transportation engineers plan and design systems for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. They must have an understanding of the economic and social factors involved as well as engineering principles. Often working in conjunction with urban planners, transportation engineers:

• conduct condition assessments for existing structures and facilities
• plan and design transportation systems such as highways, streets, railroads, airfields and mass transit systems
• manage the operation and maintenance of all types of transportation infrastructure such as pavements and signals.

Water resource engineers design systems that collect, store and distribute water. In general, they:

• conduct condition assessments for existing structures and facilities
• oversee the construction and maintenance of dams, reservoirs, hydroelectric power plants, canals and locks
• predict and analyze patterns of water flow (run off and flooding) and evaluate their potential effects
• design systems for the delivery of drinking water and collection and treatment of municipal waste and storm water
• design holding areas and storm sewers to accommodate water overflow and flooding conditions
• develop water systems designed to supply water to irrigation projects, prevent flooding, protect beaches and manage rivers.

For information about another specialization in civil engineering, see the Environmental Engineer occupational profile.

Working environments for civil engineers are as varied as their projects. They may spend most of a working day at a computer workstation, on a project work site or in front of a public hearing. They usually work with a team that may include professionals from other engineering and scientific disciplines, contractors, project owners, architects, bankers, lawyers or government officials.

Civil engineers must constantly update their knowledge and skills to keep up with advancements in this rapidly changing field. They may be required to work long hours and may experience a great deal of pressure to meet deadlines and design standards.

The basic educational requirement for working as a civil engineer is a four year Bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

In Alberta, the following universities offer Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degrees in civil engineering:

• the University of Alberta in Edmonton
• the University of Calgary.

The admission requirement for engineering programs at both universities is a competitive average in English Language Arts 30-1, Pure Math 30, Math 31, Chemistry 30 and Physics 30.

A co-operative education or internship program, consisting of periods of academic study alternating with periods of planned work experience in industry, is available through the Faculties of Engineering at both the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. These programs usually require about five years to complete.

Post-secondary institutions throughout the province offer university transfer programs which allow students to apply up to two years of study toward university bachelor's degree programs. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the courses they choose to take will be accepted for credit at the institution to which they wish to transfer.

For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

Under Alberta's Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act, you must be a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) to practice as a Professional Engineer. You do not have to be registered if you work under the direct supervision of a Professional Engineer and do not call yourself a Professional Engineer or use the word Engineer in your job title.

Civil engineers work in construction and related industries. They are employed by:

• municipal, provincial and federal government departments
• engineering consulting firms
• construction contractors
• property developers
• resource industries
• public utilities
• railroad companies
• manufacturing firms.

With experience, civil engineers can become project managers and eventually advance to the management of very large projects. Some experienced civil engineers establish their own construction or consulting companies. Those who have doctoral (PhD) degrees may teach at a university or conduct research.

In Alberta, 83 per cent of people employed as civil engineers work in the following industries:

• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
• Construction
• Public Administration.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next ten years.

According to the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Civil Engineers occupational group earned from $16.93 to $140.00 an hour. The average wage was $42.60 an hour.

For more detailed information, see WAGEinfo.

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see Educational Requirements above)

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA) website: www.apegga.org

Canadian Society for Civil Engineering website: www.csce.ca

Construction Sector Council website: www.csc-ca.org