CIVIL ENG. ORIENTATION REVIEWER SURF - Surf the web.

Give yourself some time to

surf around your school’s web site so that you are
I. Civil Engineering Orientation
familiar with what’s there.
DEFINING SUCCESS
You define your own success by setting your
own expectations, limits, standards and goals. II. The Undergrad Engineering Experience
The accomplishment of an aim or purpose
The undergraduate engineering experience is
A truly successful undergraduate engineering unique to engineers and incomprehensible to
experience requires at least the following: almost everyone else. It will be one of the most
- A solid understanding of what was taught to you. rigorous stages --- emotionally, physically, and
-Confidence at graduation that you are academically --- you will pass through in your life.
academically prepared fo your next adventure. Not because you are expected to memorize every
- Great friends law, formula, and method with which you are
- More “growth experiences” inundated, but because you are being taught how
- Awesome memories to think analytically to become a professional
- Time and opportutiy to develop completely problem solver.
random interest.
THE TIME FRAME WE ARE LOOKING AT
Personal success is what makes you happy, 4 YEARS - to get your bacherlor’s degree in
whether it is a slick free body diagram, a perfect engineering.
score on a problem set, being able to go to bed at
a decent hour before a big test. Love, what you (Note: Review Your Professors profiles in ppt)
do ---- or at least like most of it. A few Dos and Don’ts for Dealing with Profs:
Don’t:
PREPARATION FOR EDUCATION Don’t be intimidated!
The best preparation you can give yourself is Don’t call professors at home.
time and confidence. Do’s
Do schedule appointments.
Two ways to give yourself a head start before Do go to office hours prepared.
college: Do always address any difficulties
Take as much math and science as you can. optimistically.
Get as many sleeps as you can. Do a quadruple check if you believe there has
been a grading error on a test before you talk
GETTING ORIENTED – ARRIVING ON CAMPUS to the professor.

Nine Things to do that will make you feel less lke ALL ABOUT ENGINEERS: CULTURE,
a freshman when classes start: CHARACTERISTICS, AND QUIRKS
FIND - Find out where the offices of the
Engineering, Registrar, Cashier, Supply, etc are. Pride: Engineers know they are smart.
SCOUT - Scout out the library and the computer Stress Level: Organized Chaos.
labs. Make a note of the hours they are open. Humor: Quirky
LOCATE - Locate your classrooms before Camaraderie: We will get through this
classes start. together.
BUY - Buy books early – if you can Competition: Exists
FIND OUT - Find out who the deans, professors, Fashion sense: Generally poor
department chairs and other officers are. Social Stereotype: We don’t attract many
TALK - Talk to upperclasses or seniors. members of the opposite sex.
BE PREPARED - Be prepared for the lifestyle.
change. THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
GET - Get your computer / email account set up. NOTE TAKING AND PAYING ATTENTION
Sit Smart.
Listen actively.
 - Date everything, including handouts.
- Copy everything the professor writes down Ancient Historic Civil Engineering Constructions
or reiterates. Qanat water management system
- Use two colors of ink. • consists of a network of underground
- Box, underline, or highlight important canals that transport water from aquifers
equations, definition and theories. in highlands to the surface at lower levels
by gravity
III. History of Civil Engineering • the oldest, older than 3000 years
• longer than 71km
Civil engineering is a professional Parthenon (447 – 438 BC)
engineering discipline that deals with the design, • Is a former temple on the Athenian
construction, and maintenance of the physical Acropolis, Greece, that was dedicated to
and naturally built environment, including public the goddess Athena during the fifth
works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, century
airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural Appian way (By Roman Engineers)
components of buildings, and railways. • was a Roman road used as a main route
for military supplies for its conquest of
Ancient History of Civil Engineering southern Italy in 312 BC and for
It is difficult to determine the history of improvements in communication.
emergence and beginning of civil engineering, Great wall of China (220 BC)
however, that the history of civil engineering is a • 21,196.18km
mirror of the history of human beings on this • 2,000 years of construction
earth. • It is not a wall but a series of fortifications
• Man used the old shelter caves to protect (defensive wall)
themselves of weather and harsh The Stupas
environment, and • Constructed in ancient Sri Lanka
• used a tree trunk to cross the river, • Semispherical monuments that house
which being the demonstration of ancient age civil cremated remains or belongings of
engineering. Buddha or Buddhist monks or nuns.

Earliest practices of Civil Engineering Ancient History of Civil Engineering

• Between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient • A treatise on Architecture, Book called
Egypt and Mesopotamia when humans Vitruvius’ De Architectura, was
started to abandon a nomadic existence, published at 1AD in Rome and survived to
thus causing a need for the construction of give us a look at engineering education in
shelter. ancient times. It was probably written
• no clear distinction between civil around 15 BC by the Roman architect
engineering and architecture Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the
• the term engineer and architect were emperor Caesar Augustus, as a guide for
mainly geographical variations referring to building projects.
the same person, often used • Throughout ancient and medieval history
interchangeably most architectural design and construction
Circa 2700-2500 BC was carried out by artisans, such as
• The construction of Pyramids in Egypt – stonemasons and carpenters, rising to the
first large structure constructions role of master builder. Knowledge was
Around 2550 BC retained in guilds and seldom supplanted
• Imhotep (first documented engineer) built by advances. Structures, roads and
a famous stepped pyramid for King Djoser infrastructure that existed were repetitive,
located at Saqqara Necropolis and increases in scale were incremental.
• His greatest contribution to • One of the earliest examples of a scientific
engineering was his discovery of approach to physical and mathematical
the art of building with shaped problems applicable to civil engineering is
stoned the work of Archimedes in the 3rd century
 BC, including Archimedes Principle,
which underpins our understanding of Educational and Institutional History of Civil
buoyancy, and practical solutions such Engineering
as Archimedes’ screw. In the 18th century the term civil
• Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, engineering was coined to incorporate all things
used arithmetic in the 7th century AD, civilian as opposed to military engineering.
based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for 1747
excavation (volume) computations. • National School of Bridges and Highways,
France was opened.
Civil Engineering in Modern Times 1771
• The beginnings of civil engineering as a • John Smeaton (the first self-proclaimed
separate discipline may be seen in the civil engineer) and some of his colleagues
foundation in France in 1716 of the Bridge formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil
and Highway Corps, out of which in 1747 Engineers.
grew the École Nationale des Ponts et 1794
Chaussées (“National School of • The Ecole Polytechnique was founded in
Bridges and Highways – first Paris
engineering school”). 1799
• Its teachers wrote books that became • The Bauakademie was started in Berlin
standard works on the mechanics of 1818
materials, machines, and hydraulics, and • The Institution of Civil Engineers was
leading British engineers learned French founded in London and in 1820 the
to read them. eminent engineer Thomas Telford
Talented, craftsmen, stonemasons, became its first president
millwrights, toolmakers, and instrument makers 1828
became civil engineers. • The institution received a Royal Charter,
James Brindley began as a millwright and formally recognizing civil engineering as a
became the foremost canal builder of the century profession.
John Rennie was millwright’s apprentice who Its charter defined civil engineering as: “Civil
eventually built the new London Bridge engineering is the application of physical and
Thomas Telford, a stonemason, became scientific principles, and its history is intricately
Britain’s leading road builder. linked to advances in understanding of physics
and mathematics throughout history. Because
• John Smeaton, the first man to call civil engineering is a wide ranging profession,
himself a civil engineer, began as an including several separate specialized sub-
instrument maker. His design of disciplines, its history is linked to knowledge of
Eddystone Lighthouse (1756–59), with structures, material science, geography, geology,
its interlocking masonry, was based on a soil, hydrology, environment, mechanics and
craftsman’s experience. other fields.”
• Smeaton’s work was backed by thorough • The first private college to teach Civil
research, and his services were much in Engineering in the United States was
demand. Norwich University founded in 1819 by
• In 1771 he founded the Society of Civil Captain Alden Partridge.
Engineers (now known as the • The first degree in Civil Engineering in the
Smeatonian Society). Its object was to United States was awarded by
bring together experienced engineers, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in
entrepreneurs, and lawyers to promote the 1835.
building of large public works, such as • The first such degree to be awarded to a
canals (and later railways), and to secure woman was granted by Cornell
the parliamentary powers necessary to University to Nora Stanton Blatch in
execute their schemes. 1905.
 stone church that was financed by the public
The History and Development of Civil Engineering charity and became one of richest in Intramuros.
and its Profession in the Philippines

During Spanish Time 1599

The history of the architecture and civil St. Augustine Church is the oldest stone
engineering profession in the Philippines were church in the Philippines. It was built in 1599:
almost synonymous to each other. In more than however, it was also destroyed and rebuilt many
three-and-a-half centuries of Spanish subjugation, times. It is an immense structure of thick walls of
there were no Filipino civil engineers. Social Corinthian and Ionic designs.
prejudice constrained the repressed indio builders
to content themselves to be called mere Maestro 1621
de Obras (Master Builders) even if they could In 1621, Don Bernardino Castillo, a
design and build any type of structure that generous patron and a well-known devotee of St.
technology could allow at that time. Master Sebastian. Patron of Archers, donated his lot,
Builders as of today were equivalent to which is now the present site of the San
Construction Foreman. Sebastian Church. The original church, which was
Civil Engineering, as practiced in the made of wood, was burned in 1851 during a
Philippines during the Spanish era, was not by Chinese uprising. The succeeding structures were
virtue of an academic title. There were no civil destroyed twice by fire and an earthquake in
engineering schools in the country at that time 1859. 1883. and 1880 respectively.
and the only architects/engineers with academic An example of the Gothic Revival
degrees were Spaniards. architecture in the Philippines, it is the only steel
The walled city in Intramuros was building church in the Philippines. It was
established by the Spaniards as a model designated as a National Historical Landmark in
community. The Friar Architects/Engineers during 1973 and as a National Cultural Treasure in 2011.
that time were the ones who built the government
buildings, bridges, residential and other 1645
structures, incorporated European standards in Manila was hit by an earthquake and was
engineering and architectural installations. reconstructed
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Filipino
engineers were assigned the task of maintaining, 1686
repairing and/or remodelling infrastructure The first artesian wells were built in Bells,
systems in all 'pueblos' or towns including Pampanga by Fr. Manuel Camanes. The water
churches, convents and government buildings. system in Manila (now MWSS) had its beginning
Maestro de Obras were called by the from the water works constructed by Fr. Juan
Ilustrados or the elite group to build structures in Peguero in 1686.
villas and mansions. The first irrigation system was constructed
in Tanay, Rizal by Fr. Jose Delgado.
1571
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi founded the 17th Century
City of Manila on June 24, 1571 Cavite Friar Land Irrigation System is one
The Spaniards started building Fort of the oldest irrigation systems in the Philippines.
Santiago (Fuerte de Santiago) after the Sometimes in the 17th century, the Spanish
establishment of the city of Manila under Spanish period encomiendas or Spanish Royal lands
rule on June 24, 1571. grants were implemented in Cavite. The priests
were granted by the Spanish King, portions of the
1577 agricultural land in Cavite. They subdivided the
With the arrival of the Franciscan Order to lands in to four estates namely: Naic Estate.
Manila in 1577, they began with construction of Santa Cruz de Malabon (Tanza) Estate, San
wood and cane churches that succumbed to Francisco de Malabon (General Trias) Estate and
natural catastrophes. In 1739 they constructed a Imus Estate, all of which are now popularly called
as Cavite Friar Lands.
 its kind in the Philippines, a precursor of the
modem Sky Way, albeit for pedestrian use only.
The suspension bridge measured 110
metres (360 ft) long and 7 metres (23 ft) wide,
1846 and had two lanes that allowed passage of
The Pasig River Light House was the first horses and carabao-drawn carriages. It was also
lighthouse (masonry-built) erected in the opened for pedestrians traveling on foot between
Philippines. A light station has been established Quiapo and Intramuros and nearby areas.
on the site since 1642. The first lighthouse
structure was erected by the ruling Spanish 1867
government and lit on September 1,1846. It was  the town council decides to take on the
then located on the north jetty at the mouth of challenge of a project to supply fresh water to
Pasig River, (San Nicolas, Manila) marking the the whole of the city.
entrance to the river for vessels around Manila  1882 - the first public water fountain gushed
Bay, looking to dock on the ports along the banks forth its waters
of the river in Manila.
From its location at the mouth of the 1868
historic river, which divides Manila into two  the Bureau of Public Works and Highways
sections, it was a welcoming beacon for over a (Obras Publicas) and Bureau of
century to all mariners of inter-island vessels Communications and Transportation
when bringing their vessels up into the river for (Communicationes y Meteologia) were
berthing along its busy wharves. organized under a civil engineer known as
The lighthouse was demolished in 1992 'Director General'.
and was replaced with an architecturally simpler
lighthouse with the new tower built on the 1878-1918
foundation of the old one. The Philippine Coast  The founding of Carriedo Waterworks
Guard Station of Manila is located adjacent to the  Municipal waterworks was established by
lighthouse and the community that developed Governor Domingo Moriones, with money
from the reclaimed lands is now known as 'Parole from a fund that by then had become
(Filipino for "lighthouse"). legendary as the Carriedo Legacy.
The present tower is a white conical  Don Francisco Carriedo y Peredo - A
concrete structure with a height of 46 feet (14.02 'public-spirited citizen’. A Basque from
m) and a focal plane of 43 feet (13.11 m). The old Santander who during his life conferred
tower was taller at 49 feet (14.94 m). Lighthouses immense benefits on the Philippines.
in the Philippines are maintained by the Philippine  One of his 'obras pias“ (pious works), was a
Coast Guard. legacy he left in his will for the building of a
Manila water system.
1852 1875
Puente Colgante (which is the term for a  June 25. 1875 - King Alfonso XII of Spain
suspension bridge in Spanish: literally. hanging promulgates the Royal Decree directing the
bridge) was the first suspension bridge built in Office of the Inspector of Public Works of the
Southeast Asia when it was started in 1849 and Philippines to submit a general plan of railroad
completed in 1852. It was built and owned by in Luzon.
Ynchausti y Compaiiia, the business headed by
Jose Joaquin de Ynchausti. He commissioned the 1876
design from Basque engineer Mafias  General Plan for Railways was drawn up.
Menchacatorre. The bridge was first named  This operated a regular service as from 1892.
Puente de Claveria, likely in honor of the  The most outstanding works carried out on
Governor- General of the Philippines Narciso the railway system were the bridge over the
Claveria, who served from 1844-1849. great Pampanga River and the building of
Puente Colgante was the first suspension Tutuban Station in the Tondo district.
bridge, not only the Philippines but in South East
Asia as well, and probably the first toll bridge of 1878
 Concession for constructing five tramways in
Manila and its suburbs was approved. 1898 First Philippine Republic
 Plan included a main station at San Gabriel  June 12, 1898 - Gen Emilio Aguinaldo
and the crossing of the river via the "Puente declared the Philippine Independence in
de Espana". Kawit. Cavite.
 June 23, 1898 - The Organic Decree of the
1880 Philippine Revolutionary Government was
 School for Maestro de Obras called Escuela issued by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo provided for
Practica y Artes Oficios de Manila was the creation of four (4) Departments in the
founded. government. one of which was the
Department of War and Public Works.
 Julio Hernandez (1891)  Department of War, now Department of
Isidro Medina (1894) Its first Filipino National Defense, its functions as builder and
Arcadio Arellano (1894) Graduates maintainer of roads, bridges, and other public
Juan Carreon (1896). works structures.

 Puente de Convalecencia or better known 1899

as the Ayala Bridge was completed.  The Malolos Constitution was ratified during a
general assembly of Congress.
1883  First Council of Government of the First
 November 1, 1883 - the study of the first Philippine Republic was created.
railroad project between Manila and Dagupan  January 21, 1899 - May 7, 1899
done by Antonio dela Camara was approved. - with Apolinario Mabini as President of the
Cabinet (i.e. Prime Minister), Gracio
1887 Gonzaga served as the Secretary of
 July 31, 1887- construction of the Manila- Public Welfare, which included the
Dagupan railroad was started. transportation and communications
 November 24. 1892 - the entire line from portfolio.
Manila to Dagupan with a total length of 195.4  When Mabini was replaced by Pedro Paterno
kms was completed and put into commercial as President of the Cabinet, among the seven
operations. departments set up was the
Communicaciones y Obras Publicas (i.e.
18th and 19th Century the Communications and Public Works
 Road work in the Philippine Islands were Department).
under the Spanish regime.  Maximo Paterno was appointed as Secretary
 Two types of construction under Spanish of Public Works and Communications. Since
regime were practiced: then, Public Works, Transportation, and
- Pavement of Cut Spanish Road Communications have been grouped into one
 Cut adobe stone pavement stone. department.
 The size used called "ordinario" 20
by 20 centimeters and 50 During the American Regime
centimeters long.  July, 1901 - Under the civil government
 Smooth and pretty pavement. established, such 'assimilation" manifested
 Wears very rapidly. itself physically in the form of infrastructures.
- Spanish Road Rubble-Stone Pavement Highways. bridges. schools. hospitals. and
Cobblestones government buildings steadily transformed the
 Consisted of boulders probably taken Philippine landscape.
from riverbeds varying in size from 10
to 30 centimeters in diameter. 1900
 Durable and lasting.  Foundation of the Liceo de Manila, a private
 Very rough and had a second or top institution offering academic course for
course of small gravel been used and maestro de obras and headed by Leon Ma.
bound together with a binding material. Guerrero.
 The first private school to offer an academic policies to stimulate national economic growth
title for Maestro de Obras. (The forerunner of through irrigation development.
formal education in architecture/engineering)  The Irrigation Division under the Bureau of
 The introduction of reinforced concrete in the Public Works (BPW) was established in 1908
Philippines was in the 1900s. (the friar lands were sold to govt. which in turn
 It’s use in the construction of the Masonic were sold to the tenants in 1902).
Temple (Grand Lodge of the Philippines), the  The Irrigation Act was passed in 1912.
first multi-structure in Escotta. Manila.  This regulated the appropriation of public
waters, investigation, construction, operation
Early 1900’s and maintenance of irrigation systems.
 Transportation in the Philippines was
depended largely on trails, waterways 1914
Railroad, earth roads and partially-gravelled  Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS) were
roads. simple structures.
 Highway in the Philippines at that time is  The earliest on record is as far back as 1914,
nothing more than a dream to most Filipinos. mostly located in the Ilocos area of northern
Philippines and known as the zanjera.
 Zanjera - is derived from the Spanish term for
turnout and used locally to refer to a co-
1907 operative irrigation society the function of
 Faculty of Engineering of the University which was to secure a stable and reliable
of Santo Tomas (UST) is the oldest supply of water for its members.
engineering school in the Philippines.
 May 18, 1907- It was established as School
of Civil Engineering with one program
offering leading to the degree of Master of 1921
Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE).  Metropolitan Water District was founded.
 1912 - when the earliest batch of students  February 23, 1921 - The Engineers and
was conferred their MSCE degrees. Architects Law (Act No. 2985) was passed.

1907 1928
 Don Ramon Irureta-Goyena - headed the  A group of civil engineers from the
UST-COE. government sector formed the Philippine
Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) which
1908 was the first civil engineering organization
 Escuela was reorganized and reopened its in the Philippines with Engr. Marcia Kasilag
doors to students, but this time offered a as its first president.
three-year course for architecture, civil  Engr. Kasilag thereupon received the honor
engineering and electrical engineering. of holding PRC Registration Number 1 for
Civil Engineers.
1909
 Wawa Dam (Montalban Dam) - is a gravity 1930
dam constructed over the Marikina River in  Puente Colgante Bridge was replaced by a
the municipality of Rodriguez in Rizal modern steel arch bridge during early 1930's.
province.  It was renamed Quezon Bridge after Manuel
 It was built in 1909 during the American L Quezon, the president of the Philippines at
colonial era to provide the water needs for that time.
Metro Manila.
1937
1912  The Philippine Association of Civil
 The Irrigation Act of 1912: Under the Engineers (PACE) was formed from a group
American regime, the government-initiated of civil engineers in the private sector with
 Engr. Enrique Sto. Tomas Cortes as its first Communications and Labor with Basilio
president. Valdes as Secretary.
 The PACE being the most active than the
PSCE led to the transfer of many PSCE 1942
members to PACE.  Philippine Executive Commission was
established. Under President Jose P.
1938 Laurel's administration. Quintin Paredes
 Statutes for practice of architecture from served as Minister of Public Works and
engineering separated by law —National Communications.
Assembly Bill No. 1850  Caliraya Dam - an embankment dam located
 January 31, 1938 - first Bicol train was put in the town of Lumban province of Laguna, in
into operation. the Sierra Madre Mountain Range of the
 May 8, 1938 - unified system of railroad from Philippines.
San Fernando. La Union in the North to  The dam construction was started in 1939 and
Legazpi in the South was formally a small hydroelectric plant was operated in
inaugurated. 1942.

1940 1944 (After the War)

 Highway 54 was the former name of the  President Sergio Osmena issued Executive
Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). Order 15-W on August 8. 1944 reorganizing
 Highway 54 serves as a lifeline for hundreds and consolidating the Executive Departments
of thousands of Filipinos passing or doing of the Commonwealth government with
business in Metro Manila. Secretary Basilio Valdes as Secretary of
 When the avenue was constructed in 1940 by National Defense and Communications.
engineers led by Florencio Moreno and
Osmundo L. Monsod, it was first named as 1948
North and South Circumferential Road. But  Manila International Airport Authority was
at the end of World War II, the American originally a US Air Force base until 1948,
occupiers changed the name to Highway 54. when it was turned over to the Philippine
 1959 - by virtue of Republic Act 2140, the government's National Airport Corporation.
highway was renamed in honor of Epifanio
de los Santos, a famous statesman of the 1950-1956
province of Rizal.  Ambuklao Dam - highest and biggest in the
Far East.
1941 (During Japanese Occupation (World  Construction began on July 1950 and opened
War II) on December 23, 1956.
 The tides of war in the Pacific came in
December 1941 and thereby interrupted the 1951
normal operations of the schools and  President Elpidio Quirino under Executive
colleges. By order of the President of the Order No. 392 in 1951, the DPWC was again
Philippines, all schools were closed. When the reconstituted to Department of Public Works.
Japanese forces entered Manila in January  With the abolition of National Airport
1942, they occupied the College/School Corporation in 1951, ownership and
buildings. management of the airport fell to the Civil
Aeronautics Administration (CAA) under the
December 24, 1941 - August 1, 1944 Department of Commerce & Industry.
 During the Japanese occupation, the exiled  1956 - the CAA was transferred to the
Commonwealth government of President Department of Public Works, Transportation &
Manuel Quezon issued Executive Order 396, Communications.
which reorganized and grouped the cabinet.
The Department of Public Works and
Communication became the Department of
National Defense. Public Works. 1954
 Bureau of Public Highways (BPH) was  Shortage of projects in the country have
created and placed under The Department of resulted to an influx of Filipino architects and
Public Works, Transportation and engineers migration to the US and Europe
Communications (DPWTC) . which started in the 60’s.
 August 25, 1954 - R.A. No. 1192, an act to  The North Luzon Expressway (NLE or NLEx),
create The Bureau of Public Highways, and which is formerly called the North
abolishing the Division Of Highways Of The Diversion Road and Manila North Expressway
Bureau Of Public Works was approved. (MNEX), and officially known as Radial Road
 R.A. No. 1080 was enacted on June 15, 1954 8 is a 2 to 8-lane limited-access toll
— making bar and board exam (passers) are expressway that connects Metro Manila to the
equivalent to First-Grade Civil Service provinces of the Central Luzon region in the
eligibility. Philippines. It is one of the two branches of
the Radial Road 8 (R-8) of Metro Manila
1955 (Quirino Highway is the other). It was built in
 REPUBLIC ACT No. 1383 was approved on the 1960s.
June 18. 1955 "an act creating a public  The expressway begins in Quezon City at a
corporation to be known as the national cloverleaf interchange with EDSA: a
waterworks and sewerage authority’’ continuation of Andres Bonifacio Avenue. It
 The first road classification system in the then passes through Quezon City. Caloocan,
country was established through Republic and Valenzuela in Metro Manila. Meycauayan.
Act No. 917, known as the Philippine Marilao. Bocaue. Balagtas. Guiguinto.
Highway Act, enacted in 1953 and Executive Malolos. Plaridel, and Pulilan in Bulacan. San
Order 113, series of 1955 which classified Simon. San Fernando. Mexico and Angeles in
roads into national roads. Pampanga. The expressway currently ends at
Mabalacat and merges with the MacArthur
1955-1970 Highway, which continues northward into the
 National Waterworks and Sewerage rest of Central and Northern Luzon. Presently,
System Authority (NAWASA) was created it was maintained b Tollways Management
through RA 1383. Corporaion with a total length of 84km.

1956 1960-1980’s
 June 16. 1956  The automobile age.
- the Civil Engineering law was further  It was during the decade that road
amended by Republic Act No. 1582. construction becomes a matter of priority of
- the Architecture law was further the government under the slogan: “This nation
amended by Republic Act No. 1581. is on Wheels."
 Ambuklao Dam began its construction in
July 1950 and opened on December 23. 1960
1956.  Binga Dam is a dam connected to a
hydroelectric power plant situated at Barrio
1957 Binga.
 Agusan Dam started construction on May  The plant was constructed in 1956 and was
1956, and it opened on December 29. 1957. opened in 1960, three years after Ambuklao
Dam was opened.
1960  The International Bureau of Weights and
 Philippines had created one of the top Measures prepared a system of units
countries in the world that produces architects designated the 'Systeme Internationale d'
and engineers since the 60’s. Unites' with the abbreviation SI for worldwide
 Private and infrastructure developments were adoption.
not in existence in the country to make use of
these new architects and engineers. 1961
 1953 - The international runway and
associated taxiway were built
 1961 - saw the completion of a control tower Contractor's License Law'
and a terminal building for the exclusive use
of international passengers at the southwest 1967
intersection of the runways.  Angat Dam is a concrete water reservoir
 This system came to be officially known as embankment hydroelectric dam that supplies
the Manila International Airport (MIA). the Manila metropolitan area water.
 Construction began on November 1961 and it
 The Association of Structural Engineers of opened on October 16. 1967.
the Philippines (ASEP) was founded.

1961-1967 1965-1973 During Martial Law (Marco Era)

 Angat Dam located at Norzagaray.  President Ferdinand Marcos appointed
 Bulacan started its construction on Manuel Syquio as Acting Secretary of Public
November 1961 and opened on October 16, Works and Communications.
1967.
1970’s
1963  Martial Law years.
 REPUBLIC ACT No. 3597 was approved on  The construction industry in the Middle East
June 22. 1963 (NAWASA Act) was at its peak and civil engineers and
- An act amending certain provisions of architects were in demand.
republic act numbered thirteen hundred
eighty-three. Entitled "an act creating a public 1971-1997
corporation to be known as the national  June 19, 1971 - Republic Act 6234 was
waterworks and sewerage authority”. enacted. It dissolved the National Waterworks
 The National Irrigation Administration is a and Sewerage System (NAWASA) and created in
government-owned and controlled corporation its place the Metropolitan Waterworks and
tasked with the development and operation of Sewerage System (MWSS).
Irrigation Systems all over the country. It was  August 20, 1971- Republic Act No. 6366
created under RA 3601 which was signed on was passed amending the PNR Charter.
June 22, 1963 by then President Diosdado
P. Macapagal.  June 1973 - President Ferdinand E.
 Its forerunner was the Irrigation Division of the Marcos issued Presidential Decree 223, creating
defunct Bureau of Public Works. By virtue of the Professional Regulation Commission
Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1 issued by (PRC) regulating all professions and accrediting
President Ferdinand Marcos, all irrigation only one organization to represent each
activities were integrated under the NIA. The profession.
Agency's power was likewise broadened and  December 11, 1973 - the Securities and
capitalization increased from P300 M to 2 B Exchange Commission (SEC) issued
by the issuance of PD 552 on September 11. Registration Certificate No.53896 to the
1072. Capitalization was further increased to PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
P10 B under PD 1702 on July 17. 1980. INC. (PICE).
 May 25, 1973 - Presidential Decree No.
1964 198, also known as The Provincial Water
 June 20, 1964 - Republic Act No. 4156 is Utilities Act of 1973 was signed into law.
enacted. It changes the corporate name of
Manila Railroad Company (MRRCo) to  May 20 to 24, 1975 - The first
Philippine National Railways (PNR) International convention was held in the
Philippines with the theme 'Civil Engineering in
1965 Disaster Prevention Control." (Philippine Institute
 R.A No. 4566 was enacted on June 19. 1965 of Civil Engineers).
— regulating constructions or The  August 13. 1975 - the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) recognized the
PICE as the only official organization of civil - largest in Southeast Asia and also one of
engineers in the Philippines with Accreditation the cleanest in the Philippines.
No. 007  Construction on the dam began in 1971 and it
was completed in 1977.
 May 7, 1975 - Presidential Decree No.  May 1969 - the Congress of the Philippines
693 (Construction of Magat Dam) was enacted. authorized the development of the Pampanga
 PD No. 693 - Authorizing the Construction Basin with Republic Act No. 5499.
of the Magat River Multi-Purpose Project in  October 1969 - detailed studies of the
Isabela. Providing for the Financing Thereof, and Pantabangan site were carried out and lasted
for Other Purposes. two years.
 National Housing Authority (NHA) was  June 11, 1971 - Pantabangan was an old
created under PD 757 to oversee housing town of around 300 years old. President
development on a national level. Ferdinand Marcos and many others arrived
 December 1975 - The Philippine Ports for a groundbreaking ceremony in Palayupay.
Authority was created under Presidential Decree Pantabangan. Nueva Ecija, to signal the
No. 505 which was subsequently amended by beginning of the construction of Pantabangan
P.D. No. 857 Dam.
 The dam went into operation in February
 1975 - President Ferdinand Marcos, by a 1977 and was completed later in May.
Presidential Decree, the System International (SI)  Approximately 1,300 people were relocated
system of units was mandated in the Philippines. from the dam's reservoir zone.

1976 1978
 Department of Public Works.  The National Engineering Center (NEC)
Transportation and Communications was established as per P.D. No. 1295.
(DPWTC) became Ministry of Public Works, - It is an agency supported by the National
Transportation and Communications Government and by the UNDP
(MPWTC) - an umbrella body under which the non-
 Department of Public Highways (DPH) teaching activities of the college will be
became Ministry of Public Highways administered.
(MPH). - include: The National Hydraulics Research
 National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Center (NHRC), the Training Center for
was created through the National Water Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry
Code of the Philippines Mater Code of the (TCAGP), the UP Industrial Research
Philippines) to coordinate policies concerning Center (UPIRC), and the Transport
water resources. Training Center (ITC), and the Building
Research Services (BRS).
1977
 February 19, 1977 - PD 1096, otherwise  June 11, 1978 - Presidential Decree Number
known as the National Building Code of the 1594 or The Prescribing Policies, Guidelines,
Philippines (the 'NBCP") signed by then Pres. Rules and Regulations for Government
Ferdinand Marcos and its Implementing Rules Infrastructure Contracts was promulgated.
and Regulations ('IRR')  April 7, 1978 - Presidential Decree No. 1350
 Pantabangan Dam was promulgated — allowing applicants for
- is an earth-fill embankment dam on the citizenship to take the board exam pending
Pampanga River located in Pantabangan the approval of their petition.
in Nueva Ecija province of the Philippines.  May 7, 1975 - The construction and
- provides water for irrigation and appurtenant structures was authorized by P.D.
hydroelectric power generation while its 693 signed by the late President Ferdinand E.
reservoir. Marcos.
- affords flood control.
MAGAT DAM
 1978 - The Magat Dam was constructed  MPW and MPH were merged to become The
 October 27, 1982 – it is inaugurated by the Ministry of Public Works and Highways
Late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos. (MPWH).
 1983 – started operation.  July 27, 1981 - Under Executive Order No.
710, the Ministries of Public Works and Public
 July 23, 1979 - MPWTC was again Highways were merged for a more effective
restructured into two (2) Ministries — the and sustained implementation of infrastructure
Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the projects.
Ministry of Transportation and  Early as 1981- the Philippine Board of
Communications (MOTC). Examiners for the Various Licensure
- Minister Jose P. Dans served as head of Examinations for the Practice of Engineering
the MOTC. and Architecture began to use the new system
 July 23, 1979 - Executive Order No. 546. of units, SI.
PNR becomes one of the attached agencies
of the Ministry of Transportation and 1984
Communications, now DOTC 1980's Major  Ipo Dam - a gravity concrete water reservoir
highways and expressways were constructed dam found in the Philippines.
through the financial assistance and loans - located about 7.5 kilometers downstream
from foreign banks. of the Angat Dam in Norzagaray. Bulacan
province.
1980 - It was a pad of the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa
 President Marcos founded the Rural water system. Its normal level is 110 m.
Waterworks Development Corporation  January 30, 1987 - the Ministry of Public
(RWDC) Works and Highways (MPWH) is now known
- Responsible for water supply in areas as the Department of Public Works and
where neither MWSS nor LWUA carries Highways (DPWH) with five (5) bureaus, six
out the service or assists the LGUs, (6) services, 16 regional offices, 24 project
respectively. management offices. 16 regional equipment
 July 12, 1980 - President Ferdinand E. services and 118 district engineering offices.
Marcos, created the Light Rail Transit  DPWH - is responsible for the planning,
Authority (LRTA) as a government agency. design, construction, and maintenance of
- The Chairman was the then First Lady and infrastructures such as roads and bridges
Governor of Metro Manila, Imelda flood control systems, water resource
Romualdez Marcos. development projects and other public works
- This LRTA confined its activities to in accordance with national objectives.
determining policies, to the regulation and  August 17, 1987 - Republic Act No. 6639 was
fixing of fares, and to the planning of enacted and the MIA was renamed the Ninoy
extensions to the system. The project was Aquino International Airport. The MIA Authority
called Metrorail and was operated by a however, retained its corporate name since
sister company of the former tramway the law did not amend the original or revised
company Meralco called Metro, Inc. charters of the MIAA.
 October 1981 - Construction of the line
started. 1989
 March 20, 1980 - Martial Law executed Letter  The La Mesa Watershed and Eco-Park
of Instruction 1000 — the Malacanang edict of consists of the La Mesa Dam and an
having just one organization for each ecological nature reserve site in Quezon City
profession to be accredited by the commissioned in 1929 in the Philippines.
Professional Regulations Commission. - It is part of the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water
system, which supplies most of the water
1981 supply of Metro Manila.
- is an earth dam whose reservoir can hold
up to 50.5 million cubic meters and
 occupying an area of 27 square meters tall. 1.2-kilometer-long embankment
kilometers. dam on the Agno River. It spans the
 Earth-filled dams - are a common type of municipalities of San Manuel and San
dam structure used worldwide for water Nicolas, Pangasinan and is nearly 200 km
storage, flood control, and hydropower north of Metro Manila.
generation. These dams are constructed by  The dam impounds a reservoir with a surface
compacting layers of earth materials such as area of about 12.8 square kilometers
soil, rock, and clay to form a barrier that extending North into the municipality of
retains water. Itogon.
 San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC)
1991 financed and constructed the SRMP under a
 September 20. 1991 - a "Civil Engineering power purchase agreement (PPA) with the
Week' for the period November 3 to 9. 1991 National Power Corporation (NPC) on a Build-
was declared by Malacañang thru Operate-Transfer (80T) basis.
Proclamation No.799 issued by President  February 14, 2003 - SRPC substantially
Corazon C. Aquino. completed the SRMP at midnight.
 January 10, 2003 - Republic Act Number
1993 9184 or 'an act providing for the
 May 29. 1993 - The Board of Civil modernization. standarization and regulation
Engineering (at PRC) held its first fully of the procurement activities of the
computerized (board) examinations. government and for other purposes' was
 November 9. 1993 – released results. enacted by President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo.
1997  The United Architects of the Philippines
 The privatization of MWSS. (UAP) and the Philippine Institute of Civil
 The Legislature passed into law Republic Act Engineers (PICE) signed a joint resolution
8041, also known as 'The Water Crisis Act.' supporting the passage of Architecture and
The Act, which paved the way for the Civil Engineering bills delineating their
privatization of MWSS. respective scope of practice and to strengthen
- Objectives: their collaborative efforts in common goals.
Transfer financial burden to the private
sector. 2004
Improve service standards.  March 17, 2004 - RA 9266 or 'The
Increase operational efficiency. Architecture Act of 2004' was passed into law.
Minimize tariff impact.  March 22, 2004 - Republic Act No. 9275 was
approved. 'An act providing for a
2000 comprehensive water quality management
 December 5, 2000 - RA 8981 or Professional and for other purposes."
Regulations Commission (PRC)
Modernization Act of 2000 was enacted and 2005
signed into law on by President Joseph  May 3, 2005 - a petition for declaratory relief
Ejercito Estrada. filed by the PICE and Engr. Leo Cleto Gamolo
to declare null and void Sections 302.3 and
2001 302.4 of the Revised Implementing Rules and
 Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers. Inc. Regulations ('Revised IRR") of Presidential
(PICE) has been awarded by the Professional Decree No. 1096 (the 'National Building
Regulation Commission (PRC) as the Most Code).
Outstanding Accredited Professional - The said provisions require that
Organization. architectural documents submitted in
applications for building permits must be
2003 prepared, signed, and sealed by
 The San Roque Dam, operated under San architects.
Roque Multipurpose Project (SRMP) is 200
 PICE claim that the said sections of the IV. Civil Engineering Society and Other
Revised IRR, by effectively prohibiting Civil Professions
Engineers from also preparing, signing and
sealing architectural documents, are contrary Civil engineering is a professional
to the National Building Code and the engineering discipline that deals with the design,
Republic Act No. 544 (the 'Civil Engineering construction, and maintenance of the physical
Law'), which purportedly gave Civil Engineers and naturally built environment, including public
the said right. works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams,
2006 airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural
 Since November 2006 CE Board Exam, the components of buildings, and railways.
Professional Regulation Commission releases
only Top 10 Board Exam Performers and Two major types of engineering roles performed
stopped releasing the 11th to 20th places by civil engineers;
Executive Order No. 566 issued by President 1) Consultant engineers - focus on design work
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dated September 8, and generally spend more time in the office or
2006 directing the Commission on Higher working with clients.
Education to regulate the establishment and
operation of review centers and similar 2) Contractors - are more involved in keeping an
entities. eye on the physical construction and are usually
based on site.
2007
 November 2007 - CE Board Exam was WHAT IS AN ENGINEER?
invalidated (retake last January 2008 for
Hydraulics and Geotechnical Engineering) Engineering - concerned with the implementation
 January 2008 - Results of retake exam of a solution to a practical problem.
(Hydraulics and Geotechnical Engineering) Scientist - may ask "why?" and proceed to
was released of Commission on Higher research the answer to the question.
Education makes Implementing Rules and By contrast…
Regulations (IRR) based on Executive Order Engineers - want to know how to solve a problem
No. 566. and how to implement that solution.

2008 Scientists - investigate phenomena

 January 29, 2008 - the PICE's motion was Engineers - create solutions to problems or
denied and the RTC ruled in favor of the improve upon existing solutions.
architects.
Scientist - builds in order to learn.
2016 Engineer - learns in order to build.
 The Build! Build! Build! (BBB) Program is
the centerpiece program of the Duterte  (Win Phillips, 1997)
administration that aims to usher the “Golden One way to define engineering is: “how to do new
age of infrastructure” in the Philippines. Lack things in new ways”
of infrastructure has long been cited as the
“Achilles’ heel” of Philippine economic Engineering - the application of math and
development. science to create something of value from our
 The BBB Program seeks to accelerate public natural resources.
infrastructure expenditure from an average of
2.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP)  Theodore Von Karman (Aerospace
during the Aquino regime to about 7.3 percent Engineer)
at the end of the Duterte administration. This Scientists - discover the world that exists
will cost around P8 trillion to P9 trillion from Engineers – create the world that never was.
2016 to 2022 to address the huge
infrastructure backlog in the country. Civil Engineering is the oldest and
quintessential engineering profession. It
encompasses a variety of sub-disciplines and engineers work in planning, design, construction,
jobs. The civil engineering curriculum at the research, and education.
University of Colorado (CU) and most other U.S.
Civil engineers typically do the following:
universities emphasize the following major sub-
 Analyze long range plans, survey reports,
disciplines:
maps, and other data to plan and design
• structural
projects
• water resources
 Consider construction costs, government
• geotechnical
regulations, potential environmental hazards,
• construction
and other factors during the planning and risk
• transportation
analysis stages of a project
 Compile and submit permit applications to
Architectural engineering is often a related
local, state, and federal agencies, verifying
but separate degree (such as at CU). Surveying
that projects comply with various regulations
is a skill used by many civil engineers, but there is
 Oversee and analyze the results of soil testing
a separate professional licensure for land
to determine the adequacy and strength of
surveyors. Urban planning is an activity that uses
foundations
skills from a variety of the civil engineering sub-
 Analyze the results of tests on building
disciplines.
materials, such as concrete, wood, asphalt, or
steel, for use in particular projects
 Bugliarello (1994)
 Prepare cost estimates for materials,
Civil engineering is “the modification of
equipment, or labor to determine a project's
nature to create and improve human habitats.
economic feasibility
 Use design software to plan and design
 Civil Engineers
transportation systems, hydraulic systems,
- work toward an ideal that is “a standard of
and structures in line with industry and
perfection, beauty, or moral and physical
government standards
excellence, especially as an aim of
 Perform or oversee surveying operations to
attainment or realization.”
establish building locations, site layouts,
- strive to “match deep functionality with
reference points, grades, and elevations to
aesthetics in every manifestation of the
guide construction
profession.”
 Manage the repair, maintenance, and
- should be mindful that there is a “moral
replacement of public and private
compact between the engineer and world
Infrastructure
society.”
 The functions of the civil engineer can be
divided into three categories:
“Professional engineers should work for the
welfare of the public. They are responsible for
- BEFORE CONSTRUCTION
observing societal needs, and often have the
Feasibility Studies
position and resources to improve society. As
Site Investigations
professionals, engineers are expected to set
Design
examples in the work field and to establish
- DURING CONSTRUCTION
themselves as assets to society.” T.D. Oates,
Dealing with clients,
1993
Consulting engineers and contractors
- AFTER CONSTRUCTION
DUTIES OF CIVIL ENGINEERES
Maintenance
Research
Civil engineers - conceive, design, build,
supervise, operate, construct and maintain
Feasibilities studies - No major project today is
infrastructure projects and systems in the public
started without an extensive study of the objective
and private sector, including roads, buildings,
and without preliminary studies of possible plans
airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for
leading to a recommended scheme, perhaps with
water supply and sewage treatment. Many civil
alternatives. Feasibility studies may cover
alternative methods—e.g., bridge versus tunnel, to ancillary and temporary works where these
in the case of a water crossing—or, once the form part of the overall construction. After
method is decided, the choice of route. Both construction a period of maintenance is
economic and engineering problems must be undertaken by the contractor, and the payment of
considered. the final installment of the contract price is held
back until released by the consulting engineer.
Site Investigations - A preliminary site Central and local government engineering and
investigation is part of the feasibility study, but public works departments are concerned primarily
once a plan has been adopted a more extensive with maintenance, for which they employ direct
investigation is usually imperative. Money spent in labour.
a rigorous study of ground and substructure may
save large sums later in remedial works or in Research - Research in the civil engineering field
changes made necessary in constructional is undertaken by government agencies, industrial
methods. foundations, the universities, and other
institutions. Most countries have government-
Design - The design of engineering works may controlled agencies, such as the United States
require the application of design theory from Bureau of Standards and the National Physical
many fields—e.g., hydraulics, thermodynamics, or Laboratory of Great Britain, involved in a broad
nuclear physics. Research in structural analysis spectrum of research, and establishments in
and the technology of materials has opened the building research, roads and highways, hydraulic
way for more rational designs, new design research, water pollution, and other areas. Many
concepts, and greater economy of materials. The are government-aided but depend partly on
theory of structures and the study of materials income from research work promoted by industry.
have advanced together as more and more
refined stress analysis of structures and
systematic testing has been done. Modern HOW TO BECOME A CIVIL ENGINEER
designers not only have advanced theories and
To work as a Civil Engineer, formal education
readily available design data, but structural
and a license are required:
designs can now be rigorously analyzed by
computers.
1. Complete a bachelor degree in civil
engineering.
Construction - The promotion of civil engineering
2. Pass the Professional Regulatory
works may be initiated by a private client, but
Commission (PRC) licensure exam for civil
most work is undertaken for large corporations,
engineering to secure a license and be able to
government authorities, and public boards and
practice the profession.
authorities. Many of these have their own
engineering staffs, but for large specialized
Civil Engineer Board Exam Eligibility
projects it is usual to employ consulting
Requirements:
engineers.
 Graduate of Bachelor of Science in Civil
Engineer from a PRC-recognized institution
The consulting engineer may be required
 At least twenty-one years of age
first to undertake feasibility studies, then to
 Filipino Citizen
recommend a scheme and quote an approximate
 A person of good moral character
cost. The engineer is responsible for the design of
 Must not have been convicted of a crime
the works, supplying specifications, drawings, and
involving moral turpitude
legal documents in sufficient detail to seek
competitive tender prices. The engineer must
Coverage of Civil Engineering Board Exam:
compare quotations and recommend acceptance
 Mathematics, Surveying and Transportation
of one of them.
Engineering (35%)
 Hydraulics and Geotechnical Engineering
Maintenance - The contractor maintains the
(30%)
works to the satisfaction of the consulting
engineer. Responsibility for maintenance extends
 Structural Engineering and Construction “History provides the big picture, why large-scale
(35%) projects were built and what their benefits are to
society...You can wake people up to the
Passing rate: importance of infrastructure, the efforts of the 2
The passing grade for the civil engineering board civil engineers who have improved the quality of
exam requires an overall score of 70% percent in life through its design and construction, why it
a subject to pass the Civil Engineering Board needs to be repaired, and where tax dollars will
Exam without a ranking of less than 50%. be going. You can use history to
educate...engineers ...about where our present
3. Gain experience working on public or private problems came from.”
construction projects such as those in the
structural, geo technical, transportation, water What do engineers need to know?
resources and construction industries. Based on the 1995 Civil Engineering
Education Conference of the American Society of
Civil Engineers, the following areas were
identified as fundamental elements which should
WHAT IS A PROFESSION? be incorporated into Undergraduate engineering
education (ASCE 1995):
A PROFESSION is defined by:
1. A global vision and approach to problem
1. Knowledge - requires formal education, identification and problem solving in areas such
judgment and discretion that are not routine and as infrastructure, environment, facilities, and
cannot be mechanized; continuing education systems
required; 2. A basic management knowledge base in areas
2. Organization - sets standards for admission to such as business, resources, personnel
profession, enforces standards of conduct, management, communication skills, costs and
establishes codes of ethics; value judgments, and time management
3. Public Good - purpose of service and 3. A solid foundation in personal and inter-
preservation of public welfare. personal attributes ethics
4. An involvement with engineering practice as
 George Bush, 1989 the formal education evolves
“America’s engineers have always played a vitally
important role in developing America’s way of life Desired Attributes of an Engineering Graduate
and standard of living. From constructing bridges
and highways to exploring the vast earth beneath 1. Good Communication Skills
us, America’s engineers are helping to keep 2. Higher ethical standards
America moving and safe.” 3. Ability to think critically and creatively;
 John F. Welch, Jr. Competitiveness: The independently and cooperatively
Real Stuff of American Engineering. 1989. 4. Flexibility
“The American engineering profession needs to 5. Grasp of Engineering Science fundamentals
reassert its leadership; to raise its eyes and (math, statistics, physics and life sciences,
voices, roll up its sleeves, and do again for the information technologies)
nation what it did a century ago: make it a winner 6. Good understanding of design and
in the world marketplace. If competing and manufacturing processes
winning -- rather than puttering and theorizing -- 7. Basic understanding of the context in which
become the real stuff of an engineering career, engineering is practiced (economics, history,
our best men and women, our winners, will once environment, customer and societal needs)
again gravitate toward the profession, and the 8. Possess a multi-disciplinary, system
impending decline of American engineering will perspective
become a thing of the past.”
Desired Attributes of an Engineering Graduate
 James M. Fels, 1990; in Morley 1994. Civil engineering is moving somewhat
away from the gold-standard of “design for
function”, and expanding to embrace “design to too long to prepare and are often worth
cost and environmental compatibility”. It is fewer units than a regular class, lab
important to recognize the revolution that has periods and experiments can be cool
occurred in engineering since the 1960s. because you actually get to see the
Computers and the web have changed many application of all the taught theory and
aspects of the job. Specifically, computers have scientific law.
replaced many things that engineers used to do. - It’s a chance to see how things really work
No longer are high-level skills with a slide rule and instead of reading how they should work.
detailed manual computations needed, because
computers have assumed much of this burden.  Projects
This has resulted in significant time savings, - Engineering projects pop up in any course
freeing engineers to focus on broader integration where there may be some engineering
issues of importance. design going on.
- Projects always take more time than is
More is expected of engineers than any other budgeted.
profession! - The key to painless projects is: Start early.
Civil engineers are responsible for the
well-being of the entire population via water MAINTENANCE STUDYING
treatment, wastewater treatment, air pollution
control, road design, and design of - Studying to understand what is going on in
dams/buildings/bridges. Our work often goes class.
unrecognized. The public tends to take the quality - Differs from test-tomorrow studying and
of our work for granted – until something goes how-do-I-do-this-homework-problem
wrong or performs below expectations. studying because it takes a higher level of
motivation.
V. Workload and Studying
Studying from the text books:
WHAT MAKES ENGINEERING HARD AND SO - Read it.
MUCH WORK? - Learn important terminology
 Problem Sets - Work through example problems
- They teach you what you need to know. - Interact with it
Learning material while doing problem sets - Take notes from it.
saves you from having to power-absorb the - Read the section first and then go back and
material later on, before a test. take notes
- Doing a problem set is always better than - Do not redraw charts or diagrams, try to
writing a paper. translate them into your own words
- Problem sets make great practice - Write your book notes on on-side of loose-
problems for tests. leaf paper
- They force you to solve problems and
communicate the results clearly and Studying from Class Notes
logically. - The best time to look over notes is right
- You get to know your classmates through after the class --- to reenforce concepts.
answer-checking phone networks and late
nigh peer help sessions. Studying From Problem Sets
- You really do learn a lot. - Keep all homework solutions. Look over
- You have a valid excuse to get out of them when they are made available (don’t
annoying social engagements bury them in a folder). See where you went
wrong, Revel in where you were cleverly
 Laboratory Reports right. Notice better or alternative methods.
- Laboratory classes and their reports can be
highly time consuming with seemingly little IMPORTANCE OF QUIZZES, TESTS, EXAMS
payoff. Although lab reports can take way ON CIVIL ENGINEERS
 The only real differences between - Plug numbers into equations at the very end
quizzes, tests and exams are their percentage of your solution
value of your entire grade and the frequency in - Carry the units through the equations to
which they are given. avoid conversion errors
- Never leave blank!
Quiz - a short assessment designed to measure
student learning on a topic. The following list of testing benefits is
adapted from Roediger et al:
Test – like summative test is used to evaluate  Testing improves knowledge retention.
student learning at the end of an instructional unit  Testing helps determine knowledge gaps.
by comparing it against some standard or  Testing can encourage students to learn
benchmark. more.
 Testing helps students better organize their
Exams - most comprehensive form of test and knowledge.
are usually given at the end of the course and  Students are better able to retrieve material
sometimes during the middle of the term. that was tested and that was not tested.
 Regular testing boosts metacognitive
Steps To Better Prepare For Tests monitoring abilities.
 Students are better able to apply knowledge
Step 1: Organize your troops (you and your to new contexts.
notes)  Testing limits interference from older material
Step 2: Be strategic and formulate game plan when learning new concepts.
Step 3: Review old campaigns (Tests)
Step 4: Review Class and Text Notes
Step 5: Practice Problems V & VI. Dealing with Ruts and Unmarked Pitfalls
Step 6: Know your study sheet
Dealing with Ruts:
Charge! The test
Keep in mind that the most important Burnouts
issue when taking any engineering test is time. Burnouts comes in many forms but is most
So don’t forget your watch! Some engineering often characterized by a lack of motivation.
professors take pride in testing your endurance Additional symptoms can include academic
and mental stability by delivering exams that disinterest, exhaustion, sleepiness and
require twice as much time and clarity than you procrastination like never before
are given. When heading into a test, remember: Burnout solutions
• Reward yourself for a job well done
“The goal is to produce error-free work • Find compatible person you study well
quickly and efficiently.” with.
• Maintain other interest
When you get the exam: • Take study breaks
- Take a quick inventory • Change your regular study routine
- Start with the easiest question and move to
the hardest. Sleeping all the time
- Try not to leave the highest weight problems • Napping may not be so bad if it allows you
until the end. to work at odd hours when you are most
productive. Problems arise if you need
When tackling a problem: more than one nap a day or if you are
- Read a directions before jumping into always tires and unproductive.
solving the problem. Solutions to your need for naps
- Circle units • Break the cycle
- Draw a diagram for clarity whenever you can • Change your eating habits
• Set regular hours for yourself and stick to
them.
 • Don’t nap to procrastinate It takes most engineering student one to two
• Exercise more years to find their life, school and sanity (LSS)
balance. Freshman engineering students usually
Too much to do take one of three routes:
Napping? Who has time for napping? • You overwork, overstudy, don’t get out
Even if you could nap --- which you can’t because much, but get grades of which you can be
you can’t sleep, because you’re not sure if proud.
napping is a luxury you should allow yourself. • You absorb college life to the fullest by
Solutions to Help Slow Down going to every football game, party but
• Don’t look too far ahead college is tougher than high school and
• Remember that anxiety is a wasted your grades reflect this.
emotion • You have a social life, pretty good grades,
• Cut down on your caffeine consumption and enough stress that implosion is a very
• Talk to your peers who seem well adjusted real possibility.
happy
• Keep your batteries charged and motor Here are some ideas to get you started on finding
running your LSS balance.
• Stay healthy
Procrastination • Fight ruts. A bad rut can mean no life, no
Procrastination is the act of delaying or putting off school, and no sanity
tasks until the last minute, or past their deadline • Give yourself a break.
Solutions to Beat Procrastination • Get organized. Know what is due when.
• Set and meet targets Keep track of assignments, meetings, and
• Go to the library, coffee house, study social events.
lounge or picnic table • Get involved. No matter how much time
• Have productive study breaks you think you don’t have everyone has
time for at least one extracurricular
Pitfalls activity. Involvement with diverse school
End-of-the-Term Slam (Dead week a.k.a Study clubs and organizations also ensure that
week) you have a good balance of friends
Surviving the Slam solution outside of engineering.
• Keep a running list of assignments to
complete and things to do. Anxiety and Stress
• Put your social life on hold.
• Prepare in advance Anxiety
• Eat easy-to-fix meals Anxiety is the apprehension you feel in
response to a real or perceived threat. Reactions
Can’t stand the instructor are brough on by a sense of distress or through
Solution the use of drugs, such as cocaine, caffeine,
• Deal. Don’t take it personally alcohol, and amphetamines, that affects the
• Switch sections nervous system.
• Do the best you can. Physical sign. Dry mouth, flushing of face
and neck, nausea, lightheadedness,
Girlfriends, Boyfriends and Other Possibly hyperventilation, increased heartbeat, sweating,
Neglected Distractions tremors, and muscle
• If they are not in engineering, they Psychological signs. Apprehension,
probably won’t understand why you spend difficulty sleeping, restlessness, irritable, fear,
much more time with your books and panic, impatience, lack of concentration
calculator than with them. Just hope they
have a life apart from waiting for you. Stress
Stress is the response of your body when
Balancing it All (Life, School, Sanity) your internal balance is distrusted ( by positive
negative, unusual, or even normal events) and
your system must readjust. Stress is a very
common aspect of everyday life and can be
beneficial in situation such as taking an exam
where heightened alertness is desirable. Stress
becomes a problem when it exceeds a productive
level and interferes with your ability to work
effectively. Unmanaged high levels of stress can
cause physical deterioration and illness after a
period of time.
Physical signs. Chronic fatigue, change in
appetite, increased use of drugs, alcohol or
nicotine, aches and pains for no reasons, change
in sleeping patterns.
Psychological signs. Irritability, change
behavior, difficulty focusing.

Prevention is Key
To prevent anxiety and stress, you may do the
following:
• Exercise and eat well. Exercise and eating
well increase your energy level. Twenty
minutes of exercise three times a wee,
Three balance meals a day.
• Get sleep. The average person needs
eight hours of sleep. Getting enough sleep
allows your mind to unwind and your body
to repair itself.
• Find ways to relax. (like classical music in
dark, a morning jog before class, any thing
that works for you)
• Hang out with people who give off good
vibes
• Ask for help when you need it. And don’t
embarrassed about it. All schools have a
counseling center that offers advice on
stress management techniques like
muscle relaxation and meditation.