HISTORY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING- is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and
maintenance of the physical and natural built environment.
In 18th century, the term “Civil Engineering” came into use to describe engineering work that was
performed by civilians for non-military purpose.
4000-2000 BC practices of civil engineering in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Mesopotamia when human
abandoned the nomadic way of living.
Civil Engineering during the 18th and 19th Centuries
18th century that term “Civil Engineering” was coined. The first civil engineering school was opened in
France.
Civil Engineering in the Modern Era
Civil engineering in this era involves the design, construction, and maintenance of roads, bridges, and
structures.
HISTORY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IN EDUCATION
École Des Ponts Paristech
in 1747, the first institution for the teaching of civil engineering was established in France
founded by Daniel- Charles Trudaine
Norwich University
The first private college to teach civil engineering in the United States, founded by Captain Alden
Partridge
The first degree in civil engineering in the U.S was awarded by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1835.
John Wesley Gunn of Lexingston received first civil engineering degree from A&M College (UK) in 1890.
The first civil engineering degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to Nora
Stanton Blatch in 1905.
HISTORY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IN PHILIPPINES
Late 19th Century (Spanish Colonial Period) – Spanish sought engineering expertise, UST Manila
founded first program in 1907.
American Colonial Period (Early 20th Century) – U.S. introduced UP College of Engineering in 1910 for
education reforms .
Post- World War II Period - post-war infrastructure demand led to civil engineering program
expansion.
Modern Era – evolving education, embracing modern principles, sustainability, and technology.
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) – PRC established 1973, oversees civil engineer licensure
and professional practice.
Advancements- curriculum update includes earthquake, environmental and transportation
engineering.
WHO ARE THE FIRST CIVIL ENGINEERS
JOHN SMEATON
* father of civil engineering
* constructed the eddystone lighthouse
*created windmills and waterwheels
*design bridges, canals, harbors, and lighthouses.
BENJAMIN WRIGHT
* father of american civil engineering.
*build transportation and canal system in the us
ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL
* versatile civil engineers in history
*famous for designing tunnels, railroad lines, bridge and ships.
*designed a pre-fabricated hospitals
THE FIRST FILIPINO CIVIL ENGINEER
ENGR. MARCIAL KASILAG
* first registered civil engineer
* first president of the Philippine society of civil engineers (PSCE)
CVIL ENGINEERING AND ITS SUB-DISCIPLINES
• Environmental Engineering – it treats chemical, biological and thermal waste; it concentrates on e.g.
water purification, waste water and solid waste treatment, air pollution, hazardous waste management
and it is also in charge of giving information on possible environmental consequences.
• Geotechnical Engineering – this branch is based on the knowledge from geology, material science,
mechanics and hydraulics; it focuses on economical foundations, retaining walls as well as similar
structure designs.
• Structural Engineering – it provides structural design and structural analysis of buildings ( bridges,
towers, tunnels); next, it identifies the kind of loads acting on structures and it takes into account
strength, stiffness and stability of the structures.
• Transportation Engineering – the main emphasis is placed on moving people and goods efficiently; also
it pays attention to designing, constructing and maintaining of transportation infrastructure (streets,
highways, rail systems, airports, ports and mass transit).
• Municipal Engineering – this branch of civil engineering deals with municipal infrastructure; it designs,
constructs and maintains pavements, water supply networks, sewers, street lighting, municipal solid
waste management, public parks, bicycle paths.
• Water Resource Engineering - it concerns collection and management of water; the branch is
connected with hydrology, environmental science, meteorology, geology, resource management; it is
closely related to the design of pipelines, water supply network, drainage facilities and canals.
• Material Engineering - this branch deals with various kinds of materials, such as concrete, mix asphalt
concrete, metals; its attention is drawn to increasing strength of aluminium, steel, polymers and
carbon fibres.
• Coastal Engineering - the main task of this branch is to manage the coastal areas; it also tackles with
the flooding defence and erosion.
• Construction Engineering - it provides planning and execution of the designs from transportation, site
development, hydraulic, environmental, structural and geotechnical engineers; it plays a role in
business in drafting and reviewing contracts, evaluating logistical operations and prices monitoring.
• Surveying – it is a process when a surveyor measures certain dimensions which occur on the Earth
surface; land surveying is used for a boundary establishing and for making subdivision plans;
construction surveying includes existing condition survey, verifying the structure location during
construction and survey at the end.
