Understanding the Different Forms Civil Engineering Can Take

Many people understand that civil engineers can perform land surveys when you want to build on a piece of property, but civil engineering covers a lot more than just surveys. Understanding the different forms of civil engineering is essential if you want to know when it would help your project to hire a civil engineer in Malibu.

City Planning and Land Use Goals

Civil engineers advise both private land developers and local governments about the construction of major projects that impact entire communities. This includes bridge engineering and structural design for roadways as well as buildings. It also includes engineering the flow of traffic through road design and urban planning. Transportation engineering is about more than just roads and cars, though. It also includes the design of public transportation systems to serve local communities.

Civil engineers also work on coastal and hydraulic engineering projects designed to protect communities and preserve natural landscapes as well as to develop ports for efficient shipping traffic. They even work on issues related to geographical stability and resource extraction in the form of geotechnical engineering services and underground engineering.

When To Call a Civil Engineer in Malibu

Local geography can make construction challenging anywhere, but with Malibu’s unique coastal features, the challenge is equally unique. If you are planning any land development in the area, consulting with a civil engineer in Malibu like https://www.chrisnelsonassociates.com/services/civil-engineering/conceptual-design/ can help you build better and realize a greater return on your investment. That is true whether you are adding to your home or working toward a commercial project.

Land Surveyor Services Every Business Owner Should Be Aware Of

Effective business owners understand the importance of having individuals in their professional network. One often overlooked professional you should have on your team is a land surveyor. In addition to boundary surveys, there are many land surveying services that companies offer. Here are some of the ways a professional land surveyor can help your company grow.

Construction Related Land Surveying Services

Land surveyors provide building construction services. A topographic survey shows the elevation of the property at several points throughout the land. Topographic surveys help you determine what grading is necessary during construction. In addition, land surveyors can also:

• Identify the location and size of trees throughout the property and along the boundary lines
• Place stakes at proposed building corners for use by contractors during facility construction
• Report on the physical location and elevation of structures on the property for post-construction approval

ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys

When applying for a property loan, the lender typically requires an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey. This specialized survey helps the lender understand the condition of the property. Licensed California land surveyors certify the characteristics of the property at the time of the drawing.

Boundary Adjustment Plats

There may be a point where you must join two or more parcels of land together or separate one larger parcel into smaller ones. Land surveyors will develop the legal descriptions and drawings according to your municipality’s guidelines. These are time-consuming endeavors, and you will want to make sure that all of the legal standards are met.

Expert Witness Services

One of the most valuable land surveying services is expert witness services. Courts call land surveyors to report on property boundary lines. In the event of an accident on or near your property, these professionals help you establish ownership or land conditions that may impact lawsuit outcomes.

Modern Technology Used In Land Surveying

Land surveys require a lot of unique technology that has evolved, just like how people watch movies or listen to music. Here is more on the modern tech found in this industry. 

What Land Surveys Are

At Chris Nelson & Associates, we consider the job to be measuring and mapping. That said, surveys encompass a lot more than expected.

We can cover raw land surveys, planning for engineered construction, and stuff that needs more advanced technology. That means we might map property lines one day, help on substantial construction projects the next, and finish the week with some detailed measuring and mapping of a large parcel. These surveys involve a blend of office and fieldwork. 

Modern Technology Chris Nelson & Associates Is Using

Land surveyors in California have come a long way from their roots of dragging chains through the desert. Fortunately, many more tools are available today to help us measure distances. For instance, our surveyors use total stations. These electronic tools are used to measure distances, elevations, and angles. In addition, we’ve recently brought in devices such as drones and GPS technology. 

How That Changes Things for Land Surveyors In California

The most recent developments have evolved what tools are necessary to provide surveys. It also makes it easier to work remotely and opens the profession up to more prospective surveyors. 

Start Using This Technology The Right Way

Students still in school should take the time to start using modern tech to perform land surveys. Then, when they graduate, that information will make them more marketable and help them teach more seasoned professionals how to adopt these tools. 

FAQs About Civil Engineers

It isn’t easy to know when civil engineering services are necessary without knowing what these professionals do. So here are some answers to frequently asked questions about civil engineers and their work.

What Do They Do?

The professionals design infrastructure projects, such as buildings and other systems. They also supervise the construction process to ensure the project goes according to their design.

Where Do They Work?

They can work in various locations. Typically, they spend some time in their offices, where they work on designs, and at construction sites, where they supervise their projects. Most of these individuals work for a company full-time.

What Training Do They Have?

Most civil engineers have at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering, civil engineering, or a related specialty. Those working in senior positions tend to have graduate degrees. Additionally, those offering their services to the public need to be licensed at the state level.

How Much Do They Make?

The national average income for civil engineers is approximately $88,000 as of 2021. Most engineers who work for a company are paid a salary from that company, not by project.

Is This a Growing Occupation?

The amount of civil engineers in the workforce is increasing at an average rate. Just over 24,000 jobs in this field open up nationally every year. However, most come from workers exiting the workforce or changing jobs.

Are Civil Engineering Services Necessary?

After understanding the details of this occupation, it is possible to determine if a project demands civil engineering services. Research options in the surrounding area to find the best fit for a project.

What Does a Civil Engineer Do?

Even if you’ve never had to contract civil engineering services, you have likely heard of civil engineers and wondered what one does. In short, a civil engineer can design, build and supervise projects related to infrastructure or the environment in which we live.

What Do Civil Engineers Study?

To become a civil engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering technology or a specialty related to that. Generally, the coursework includes mathematics, fluid dynamics, engineering systems and mechanics, and statistics. Each state has its own licensing process for a civil engineer to be able to provide services to the public.

Where Do Civil Engineers Work?

Civil engineers can work in the public or private sector, helping to develop bridges, tunnels, dams, water and sewage treatment systems, and more. They can also do surveying, work as a CAD technician, work on building and HVAC maintenance for hotels and other large buildings, work with public officials as urban planners, and more. They can also manage construction sites, be transport planners or fire engineers, or analyze soil and rock conditions on mining or building sites as geotechnical engineers. They may work in private consulting, be project managers, or become city engineers.

When Do You Need Civil Engineering Services?

You may need civil engineering services if you are planning to build anything. They can also help you analyze and plan to remodel your home or survey if you want to install a fence or drain in your yard. A civil engineer can be instrumental any time you are building.

Different Kinds of Land Surveys and the Tools Surveyors Use

A land surveyor is a person who creates a map of a piece of land to describe its boundaries and various property features. Property owners and developers need surveys for various reasons, including applying for permits and planning improvements. Depending on the required information, many different types of surveys can be ordered for a property.

Maps Made by a Land Surveyor

A boundary survey is one of the most common types of maps. This map will lay out where the property begins and ends and includes demarcations of any easements or rights of way on the property.

Another type of survey is a subdivision map. This map takes a larger parcel and divides it up into smaller lots. A subdivision survey is recorded with the locality and used to plan utility distributions.

A topographic survey is another map where California land surveyors identify features on a specific parcel.

Tools Used by California Land Surveyors

Essential tools to create a survey map include a level and a rod. Surveyors also use sophisticated equipment such as theodolites, GPS systems and 3D scanners.

Surveying Versatility

A land surveyor can create a map with almost any information a client may want about a piece of property. Surveys are a necessary part of land development.

Three Essential Duties of a Civil Engineer

Civil engineers are often unsung heroes. They’re responsible for designing the structures and buildings we use every single day. There is much more to the job than just drawing buildings, though. So if you’re considering a career as a civil engineer in Malibu, you should know exactly what the job entails before you dive into a training program or start applying for jobs. A civil engineer has several responsibilities, including the following three.

Design Transportation Systems

When you stop at a red light, you probably don’t consider who designed the intersection. Chances are that it was a civil engineer. Indeed, one of a civil engineer’s primary job duties is to design transportation systems such as streets, highways, intersections, and roundabouts. These structures must be expertly designed to minimize the chance of accidents and allow drivers to navigate their path easily.

Conduct Soil Testing

You might be surprised to learn that civil engineers are responsible for testing soil. Although they may not collect the soil samples themselves — that is usually left to a geologist or surveyor — they will analyze the results. Civil engineers do this in order to determine whether the land is safe to build structures on. In addition, soil samples reveal how firm the dirt in a given area may be, which is essential information for a civil engineer seeking a building site.

Maintain Infrastructure

Civil engineers don’t just build structures. They must maintain them from time to time, too. This is especially true of infrastructures like roads, bridges, and highways. The wear and tear from weather and civilian use will eventually necessitate repairs, and a civil engineer Malibu will typically be responsible for overseeing this work. Repairs may include patching potholes, repaving roads, or repairing the rebar reinforcement that is contained within a concrete structure.

Civil Engineering and Architecture

From what you see on TV, you might think that an architectural firm and a civil engineering firm are mortal enemies, constantly competing with each other. However, the reality is precisely the opposite. Architects and civil engineers work together hand in hand to reach one common goal: to build the future.

It is important to know what an architect and a civil engineer do to understand a little better.

Architects

An Architect is a skilled person in charge of designing buildings. This professional can also supervise their construction in many cases. They play a key role in every building construction project.

Civil Engineers

By definition, engineers are professionals that plan and design structures; specifically, a civil engineer plans, designs, and manages construction building projects. They can be part of a civil engineering firm, but they are able to work independently, too.

Building Together

Even when architects and civil engineering are different professions, they are intrinsically related; the same client can hire a civil engineering firm and an architectural firm to work on the same building project. Neither one is better than the other. Instead, each of them has key roles in a building project, which allows them to work together to build the future.

The Importance of Boundary Surveys and Analysis

Boundary surveys serve many important functions for real estate developers and property owners. Every type of property parcel needs to have clear boundaries in order for people to ascertain their legal rights to an area and avoid encroaching on someone else’s property.

Update Referential Resources

The map delineating the limits of a parcel that is attached to an existing deed may not necessarily continue to be an accurate representation of the parcel’s boundaries for an indefinite period. Historically, markers on the depiction of a parcel and its written description may have included landmarks or topographical features. These types of markers can change or disappear over time, so a boundary analysis may be necessary to produce an accurate rendering of a parcel.

Transfer Title With Clarity

Boundary surveys help to take surprises out of transfer titles. They help assure that buyers get what they have bargained for. Likewise, sellers may wish to verify that the plot which they believe they own matches its actual size and boundaries in order to avert potential issues. Any misrepresentation of a parcel could lead to legal liability on the part of the seller, even if a misrepresentation is not intentional.

Plan Enhancements with Confidence

Residential property owners’ improvements to their land may entail boundary surveys before beginning work. Otherwise, someone could invest a considerable amount of money towards improving their property and later find out they paid for an improvement on someone else’s property.

Commercial Development

Confirming boundary lines may be especially important for commercial property developers. Developers who construct new buildings or make alterations to infrastructure that supports commercial buildings such as sewer or drainage lines need absolute certainty about boundaries before beginning work.

Surveys from https://www.chrisnelsonassociates.com/services/surveying/boundary-surveys-analysis/ help property buyers and owners avoid problems. Clarity about boundaries is an indispensable component of the closing process and making development plans.

Job Duties of a Civil Engineer

A career in civil engineering offers an excellent opportunity to work as a professional designing and planning various projects. Here are some typical job duties for civil engineers.

Technical Expertise

Government officials often seek out civil engineering services to provide technical expertise on public works projects. Professionals can participate in local or state government meetings to offer advice on the ramifications associated with projects. Civil engineers also draft documents to provide technical points on various proposals.

Design and Planning

Public and private sector entities use civil engineering services to design and plan their construction projects. A variety of projects require a civil engineer, including public works projects, such as road construction, and private sector projects, such as the building of a commercial shopping center. The career of a civil engineer has opportunities in developing the designs of the constructed project. An engineer is also involved in planning projects, including land use and use of natural resources.

Project Management

Developers often hire a civil engineer to oversee the construction site. Civil engineering services are helpful because the engineer will have a good understanding of the design and planning behind a project which enables the civil engineer to manage the project efficiently.

The job duties of a civil engineer make the engineer a valued member of any construction team.