If you have driven around your community, you have undoubtedly seen a Public Works truck out providing service, but did you know that your local Public Works department has several civil engineers behind the scenes keeping the city running and projects moving forward? In today’s blog post we dive into the roles of civil engineers within a public works department.
First off, what is Public Works? Public Works refers to the management and operations of public infrastructure owned by a municipality (town, city, or county, depending on size) which is used by the public. This includes infrastructure we all use on a daily basis: roads, bridges, sidewalks, stormwater drainage systems, dams, traffic lights, etc. More information about Public Works can be found at the American Public Works Association website linked here Typically, a Public Works department is divided into several smaller divisions focusing on a specific type of infrastructure, for example, the Stormwater Division handles drainage improvement and flood mitigation projects, the Traffic Division is responsible for traffic signal installation and maintenance and road pavement markings, while the Streets and Bridges Division may be responsible for repaving streets, conducting bridge inspections, and repairing sidewalks.
Public Works Civil Engineers serve in project management roles to keep these assets functional and to plan for the future infrastructure needs of the community. In a previous role in my career, I served as a civil engineer in a local Public Works department in Virginia. My favorite aspect about being a civil engineer in the Public Works Department was that I got exposure to broad-level, multi-discipline topics of civil engineering and I was in an operation and project management role versus the nitty-gritty details of design engineering. A civil engineer in Public Works manages contractors, manages consultants, conducts site visits, and communicates with stakeholders. We will dive into each of these below.
Civil Engineer as Manager
Within a Public Works Department, the Civil Engineer will manage multiple contractors and consultants. Most Public Works departments in the United States conduct small repairs to infrastructure themselves (repairing potholes, fixing traffic signals, unclogging a storm drain); however, large projects are typically completed by contractors (road milling and paving, bridge construction, drainage pipe upgrades, etc..). Similarly, most Public Works departments contract out the hardcore engineering design work for these projects (construction of a new bridge, drainage improvement studies, traffic analysis studies) to private, engineering consulting firms. The civil engineer in the Public Works department will be responsible for developing the initial Scope of Work documents for these projects, conducting the procurement process for contractors who are interested in bidding on the projects and reviewing and analyzing the designs and reports prepared by the consulting engineers.
Civil Engineer as Inspector
Furthermore, the Public Works civil engineer conducts site visits to perform inspections and assess contractors’ work. Specifically, he or she is checking for compliance with local, state, and federal standards and is ensuring the project is being constructed safely and according to the design plans. A successful civil engineer in Public Works should visit the projects they are responsible for at least weekly to build and maintain relationships with the contractor and ensure the project is on schedule. The engineer may also attend weekly construction meetings on-site to meet with the contractor’s project delivery team to discuss project status, review any field changes, and discuss any obstacles associated with the project.
Civil Engineer as Communicator
Civil Engineering is a people profession, and as such communication is a crucial skill for a civil engineer in Public Works as all the people of your community will be using and enjoying the infrastructure you are responsible for. In Public Works, civil engineers will communicate with directors and departmental leadership, elected officials, the city council, or the county board of supervisors, contractors, and the general public. A large part of your job will be interacting with the public either by engaging with them at public meetings to discuss projects or responding to citizen concerns, meeting them on-site to discuss broken infrastructure and how the public works department can assist. A civil engineer in Public Works is often the face of a project and the face of the community, as he or she may be one of the few members of local government that citizens actually meet and talk to face-to-face. Finally, civil engineers in Public Works need to clearly articulate technical details about projects to consultants and contractors with whom they will collaborate on a daily basis to ensure the safe and timely completion of projects.
Typically, a civil engineering degree and an EIT designation are required for entry-level civil engineer roles in Public Works; however, as you progress in your career you will need to earn your PE License. Check out Civil Engineering Academy FE and PE review courses to help you on your journey and career progression.
If you are looking for a rewarding career in civil engineering in which you will gain broad experience over several disciplines of civil engineering as you work on meaningful projects right in your own community, check out your local Public Works department! Your talents and expertise are needed!
Do you have a topic you would like us to cover in a future blog post submit it here. We would love to hear from you!
__________________________________________________
Author: Matt Fanghella, EIT, CFM
CEA Resources:
Website – https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course – https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course – https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams – https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community – https://ceacommunity.com
YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPeFLBZ2gk0uO5M9uE2zj0Q
Newsletter – https://civilengineeringacademy.com/newsletter
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theceacademy
Twitter – https://twitter.com/civilengacad
Reach out to Isaac – [email protected]