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Five Common Types of Civil Engineering Projects

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Civil engineers have a long and storied past of growing and redefining the idea of society through a structural perspective. From Archimedes of Syracuse to John Smeaton to Isambard Brunel, to Henry Bessemer, engineers have shaped the world to its current state.

The profession stays relevant year over year, century over century. And today, it’s even more critical. Modern civil engineers are tasked with the construction, design, and maintenance of structural works that are integral to the general public’s welfare.

With this in mind, let’s review five common types of civil engineering projects.

#1 Bridges

Building, renovating, or modernizing a bridge is one of the more technically intensive projects a civil engineer will work on. From design to construction, it’s important that bridges are safe, reliable, and sustainable. While there may be several tasks required of a structural engineer, essential aspects of bridge engineering include:

  • Land surveying to gather necessary measurements and ensure that foundations and topography are conducive for the build
  • Calculating loads and stress
  • Handling design and construction sequences

An example of this type of project would be the 65th St. Rail Yard Transfer Bridge.

#2 Solar Farms

As the country continues to embrace renewables, there’s increased demand for solar energy projects. In that aim, many places are opting to install direct current ground-mounted or canopy photovoltaic systems. For this, civil engineers will likely provide geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and land surveying services that provide:

  • Settlement analysis
  • Foundation and subgrade design
  • Site plans
  • Grading design
  • Sediment and erosion control

MFS was retained as the lead civil engineer for the Cinnaminson Landfill Solar Project.

#3 Roads

Roads and highways must be regularly maintained and expanded. When that happens, civil engineers may provide geotechnical engineering, site engineering, and structural engineering services. Depending on the project, tasks may include:

  • Environmental impact assessments
  • Pavement design
  • Drainage system design
  • Highway safety analysis
  • Culver extension construction
  • Sound barrier design and construction

The MFS team provided many of these services as the lead engineers for the Holland Road Widening Project in Virginia Beach.

#4 Seawalls and Bulkheads

These types of structures help protect shorelines or harbors from waves and prevent soil erosion. For such a project, a civil engineer may offer their expertise in a number of ways, including:

  • Soil erosion and sediment control design
  • Geotechnical subsurface investigation
  • Constructability reviews
  • Project management
  • Permitting

For instance, at MFS, we were brought on as the construction managers for the Village of Port Chester Bulkhead/Seawall project.

#5 Subways and Railways

In metropolitan cities, rail lines and subways often serve as a primary source of transportation. Both rail lines and stations must be maintained and built to accommodate the expected traffic. For this type of project, civil engineers are predominantly focused on structural engineering, which could include tasks like:

  • Station and pedestrian reconstruction
  • Support of excavation designs
  • Temporary shoring and bracing system design
  • Structural analysis and verification

An example of a subway project that MFS was involved with was the 30th Street MFL Station Improvements.

Civil Engineering Expertise with MFS

A civil engineer is essential for the design, maintenance, and improvement of transportation systems and city infrastructure. Because of this, you must partner with a firm capable of handling all of that and more.

At MFS, we’ve gathered a team of civil engineers that produce top-quality work and deliver excellent results. Whatever your project is, our team is ready.

Interested in partnering with us? Let’s chat!