What is Construction Engineering?

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What is construction engineering? Construction engineers are masterminds who plan and oversee the execution of infrastructure projects.

From towering buildings to winding roads, from sturdy bridges to complex tunnels, from vital dams to essential utilities and railroads. They bring these ambitious projects to life, navigating the chaotic construction world with ease.

Trust me, I know this firsthand as I’ve been a part of many construction projects. The work is tough, no doubt about it, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. It’s a field where you get to see your hard work come to fruition and make a lasting impact on the world.

Now, let’s dig deeper into construction engineering by answering two crucial questions:

  • What sets construction engineering apart from civil engineering?
  • What are the nitty-gritty realities of working in construction engineering?

What’s the difference between construction engineering and civil engineering?

construction site

Construction engineering, or as some like to call it, construction management, is a vital part of civil engineering. While some universities offer construction engineering as a specialty under civil engineering, you can also pursue a construction management degree outside of engineering. However, I highly recommend pursuing construction management as a sub-specialty within an engineering degree. This way, you’ll have greater flexibility, and you can still become a construction manager. It’s a win-win!

But let’s get back to the subject at hand. It’s challenging to describe civil engineers in one word or phrase because their profession is so diverse. Civil engineers research, plan, design, supervise construction, and manage projects. It’s a broad field, but we can separate civil engineers into those who do design work and those who work in the field.

Design-focused civil engineers primarily do analytical work, designing projects and doing some fieldwork. Construction engineers, on the other hand, solely focus on construction-related work, executing and bringing completed designs to life.

Therefore, construction engineers need a deep understanding of construction processes and methods to successfully supervise contractors and ensure work quality. It’s a field where you’re often under the blazing sun, kicking up dirt, while your counterparts sit in air-conditioned offices, staying sweat-free.

In a nutshell, the primary difference between the two is the amount of fieldwork completed.

Important Note: After completing a design, some civil engineers shift to fieldwork, allowing them to gain a healthy dose of both design and construction work experience.

What are the realities of construction engineering work?

excavators building site

Diving into the world of construction work is like embarking on a thrilling rollercoaster ride. It’s a far cry from design work, but for those who thrive in this environment, the rewards are immense. Here are 8 gritty realities of construction work that’ll give you a taste of what to expect in this dynamic industry.

#1 Pay and work hours

Construction work may boast higher pay than design-focused civil engineering roles, but don’t be fooled – there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Brace yourself for grueling hours, with days stretching from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM without overtime pay. Throw in a bad week, and your weekends might vanish too.

In fact, I know many people in the industry who have marriage and alcohol problems due to the demanding nature of the job.

Undoubtedly, construction work requires sacrifices and often impacts personal lives. However, if you can weather the storm and climb the ladder, the financial rewards can be substantial.

#2 Travel and relocation

Pack your bags and prepare for adventure, as construction work may require you to move to new cities or even states for months or years at a time. Seniority will eventually bring stability, but until then, be prepared for long commutes and uncertainty.

Contrast this with the more stable lifestyle of a civil engineer, and you’ll see the stark difference between the two career paths.

#3 High-stress environment

Construction sites can be chaotic, high-pressure arenas where you’re responsible for keeping everything on track. Problems are inevitable, but you’ll need to think fast and act even faster to prevent delays and ballooning costs.

The industry thrives on deadlines, and contracts often contain penalties for any delays.

Personally, I have never been a part of a large construction project where everything went smoothly. To further emphasize this environment, the following type of language can be found in every contract:

“It is agreed by the parties to the Contract that time is of the essence; and that in case all the work is not completed before or upon the expiration of the time limit as set in the Bid, Contract and/or Progress Schedule as designated by the City (generally the date of final completion), or as revised by any time extensions that may have been granted, damage will be sustained by the City; and that it may be impracticable to determine the actual amount of damage by reason of such delay; and it is, therefore, agreed that the Contractor shall pay to the City as damages the amount of $1,000 liquidated damages amount per day for each and every day’s delay in finishing the work in excess of the number of days specified.”

#4 Personality traits

Relationships reign supreme in construction!

To succeed, you need a personality that fits the bill. You can’t be a pushover or overly kind, or people will quickly take advantage and walk all over you.

The most successful construction engineers I know are firm and well-respected. In return, they can effectively handle interactions with various groups of people when discussions heat up:

  • Suppliers
  • Superintendents
  • Contractors/laborers
  • Executives
  • City representatives

If you struggle to get along with a diverse assortment of personalities, your stress levels might skyrocket. Just imagine getting an earful from some jerk at 6:00 AM!

#5 Work environment in the office and field

Don’t expect to lounge in an air-conditioned office all day. You’ll often find yourself walking the field, overseeing construction—getting your hands dirty and breaking a sweat.

However, I’d still classify the job as partly an office gig, since you’ll spend significant time:

  • Sitting through lengthy meetings and leading extensive conference calls
  • Sending emails and making calls throughout the day
  • Managing project schedules and budgets on your computer

I’m not kidding when I say you could receive 100+ texts and calls in a single day. Everyone will turn to you for guidance, approvals, and even gossip. At the same time, this environment presents an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your leadership skills.

#6 Amount of paperwork

Even on a construction site, paperwork will haunt you. It becomes even more overwhelming with publicly funded projects.

As you deal with numerous costly moving parts, documentation is crucial. For instance, you’d better have a paper trail explaining why you chose different $1,000,000 equipment over the specified option.

Covering your back is a significant aspect of the job. When things go wrong, people often try to rewrite history, so you must provide a record of what actually transpired.

#7 Required level of knowledge 

To maximize success, you need to be book-smart and knowledgeable about various trades. The best construction engineers I know have a strong foundation in subjects like:

  • Geotech
  • Structures
  • Foundations
  • Concrete
  • Earthwork
  • Electrical

The list goes on, but the point is to stay sharp across many fields. Being a civil engineer isn’t an excuse to ignore other disciplines.

The good news? Exposure to various subjects keeps your work interesting, and you’ll constantly learn.

#8 Career development

The career development perks are enormous. Hands-on engineering experience will make you a far better designer, which is why I believe real-world practice trumps formal education.

I’d even argue that field experience and knowledge are essential building blocks for every designer. Fieldwork fosters an appreciation for and a deeper understanding of design work. As a result, you’ll have an edge in the corporate world and become a more outstanding engineer. I wholeheartedly believe this.

So, if given the opportunity, step out of your comfort zone and work in construction—even if it’s just for a year. You’ll learn so much, and your design skills will level up quickly.

But beware: you might fall in love with construction work. It can be deceptively and incredibly gratifying. Watching a project you’re leading come to life is addictive. Plus, you may experience an epiphany, realizing how dull 24/7 office life is in comparison.

“What is construction engineering?” wrap up

Construction engineering is a vital aspect of engineering. It’s the bridge that links the design realm with the real world.

I liken it to being the conductor of a symphony. You must continuously coordinate numerous moving parts, ensuring everything and everyone arrives on time, day after day.

Unsurprisingly, the profession has its fair share of challenges. However, it also offers a wealth of skills you can’t acquire from any book or office. I view it as a cheat code in engineering, enabling you to level up rapidly.

To top it all off, the construction industry isn’t disappearing anytime soon.

True, we’re transitioning into a digital age. But, for the foreseeable future, we still inhabit the physical world. So, it’s no wonder that the profession is likely to remain stable moving forward.

What are your thoughts on the construction engineering field? What do you foresee happening in the construction engineering industry in the future?

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