Civil engineers shape the world around us
Without civil engineers, the world as we know it would not exist... because civil engineers build the infrastructure (the services and facilities society needs) that supports our daily lives and adds to our quality of life.
Each time you turn on a tap, turn on a light, flush a toilet, catch a train, cross a road... you are benefiting from civil engineering.
Amazing engineering
The amazing ways civil engineers overcome the challenges of creating and maintaining our infrastructure for us and for future generations are shown in ICE's Little Book of Civilisation. Many of these challenges are met in a way that is sustainable, and all are met with style and innovation.
If I became a civil engineer, what would I actually do?
As a civil engineer, you could be involved in designing, building and maintaining towers, tunnels, bridges, dams, harbours, sports stadia, hospitals, airports, roads, railways, tall buildings and large structures in the UK and all over the world.
Apart from improving the quality of our lives, civil engineers are needed in emergencies: after earthquakes, during droughts and at times of war. As a civil engineer, you could make a positive difference by helping the local population rebuild or maintain the vital infrastructure that will keep them alive.
There's no telling where this job could take you...