EngSpotlight Interview: Civil Engineering
What does Civil Engineering mean to you?
Civil engineering is a fascinating field of engineering that involves planning and construction design, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, buildings, dams, and so many different structures. Civil engineers use the mathematics and physics that they learn, and other parts of engineering to create and enhance the infrastructure that supports our modern society. I find it very extremely rewarding to be able to make a tangible difference in people's lives by creating and maintaining these public and other infrastructures.
What are some of the pressing challenges faced in the Civil Engineering field?
We do have several challenges. Number one, to me, is the aging of our infrastructure. Why do we search for the durability and sustainability of infrastructure? Many of our walls, bridges and roads and other infrastructures were built decades ago and now they are in need to be replaced, maintained and repaired.
Another challenge is climate change. I'm working on the impact of climate change on our infrastructure and you know that the climate is changing drastically. When we build civil structures, we usually accommodate the environmental loads for it like the wind, the rain load, and because it is a load that is added on top of our structure and the loads that we have is basically on the historical climate, and now the climate is changing drastically. And that's why you've seen or you've heard from the news, there are a lot of areas that when they have floods, bridges are collapsing, we need to really look at and retrofit the default our structures to withstand the new climate change. Also natural disasters - I'm sure you've heard the news of a huge earthquake in Turkey and Syria. You have seen the destruction within the city of these countries. So civil engineers or structural engineers, particularly are responsible for building structures to withstand these natural disasters.
Where do you see Civil Engineering research in the next 10 years or so?
There is a lot of work that is happening in artificial intelligence to construct large projects. Another one is building smart cities. For instance, having smart roads and smart bridges that melt the snow without the spreading of the icing salts. Also, it reduces accidents that can happen on the roads. So building smart cities is very, very nice and building good electrical grids, also green infrastructure. You see now a lot of places that have green roofs, green walls, it's also again to help reduce the CO2. These are the trending areas in the structural portion of civil engineering.
What are the different fields that Civil Engineers can specialize in?
We have quite a few fields. You know, I'm a structural engineer. So it is a big portion of civil engineering. There's also transportation engineering, designing and maintaining transportation networks such as roads, highways, and railroads, railways. Environmental Engineering takes care of the pollution air pollution and ensures the environment is protected from pollutants and hazardous materials. Geotechnical engineers are studying the soil and the rock because building the foundation underneath these big structures that we are building. There are also water resources engineers, coastal engineers, there's a lot of fields in civil engineering
You wrote a publication titled "Effect of severe chloride environment on the flexural behavior of hybrid concrete systems." Can you tell us more about the importance of the environment in Civil Engineering?
The environment has a huge impact on our infrastructure and especially, chloride onto the environment. So during the winter, we spread the icing salts and these de-icing salts penetrate through the concrete. The concrete is porous there is some pose inside it, and it doesn't impact the concrete in the beginning. It doesn't attack the concrete. It actually attached to the steel and it corrodes the steel. And what happens when corrosion commences after a few years, then the steel turns into its own and it will make pressure around it because it's getting bigger because these particles with take bigger size than the actual steel and that pressure will crack the concrete and then there is not good bonding because between concrete and steel to carry to withstand the loads that we are applying on it.
You are a member of both the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (CSCE) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Can you tell us more about the organizations and your role in them?
Yes, the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering is an association of civil engineering within Canada. It provides resources for professional development and encourages the exchange of ideas through the conference and the publishing of papers. The Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (CSCE) plays an active role in determining and promoting best practices for civil engineering in Canada. While the ASCE, which is the American Society of Civil Engineers, is a professional association for civil engineering in the United States and also around the world. It provides educational resources, professional development opportunities, and mainly the standards of practice for civil engineering. So a lot of the standards based on which tests we are going to do are done through the ASCE. It also serves as an advocate for civil engineering professionals and civil engineering profession. My role in them, I’m a member of both of them and I sit on several committees. I’ve worked on several standards and regulations that they produce.
How should Civil Engineering students better equip themselves for the professional field?
Civil engineers take advantage of available resources such as attending seminars, conferences, and networking events, and getting some sort of certificate. There is stress on lifelong learning. The more you do and the more you expand your knowledge about what is going on now and what is needed and where it is needed. Consider getting certified in a special specialty field. It could be structural engineering or environmental engineering doesn't matter because the civil engineering area is very vast. So you can actually be a master in one or two of the areas.
Being on top of the latest developments in the field is very essential for all engineers. So read the latest news and research you know, always open your eyes and especially about earthquakes. Just ask questions, how can we stay up to date in that area? Develop strong communication skills. They are very essential in any profession.
What is your advice for first-year engineering students?
My advice to the first-year students at TMU is to stay focused and work hard. Set goals for yourselves and strive to achieve them. Surround yourself with positive people and use your resources to stay on track and take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to you and make the most of your experience. You know, first-year students usually think asking how learning about resources is some sort of a weakness. But actually, this is the opposite. It's actually a strength that if you know when you need your help, you are going to come and ask for it because it shows that you are a very focused person and you have a goal and you want to reach it and you want to figure it out all the ways and then you make your choice. And of course, as you progress through your studies, don't forget to take care of yourself and find ways to relax and enjoy life and build memories for yourself.
