Civil engineering is a profession that executes the design and construction of large-scale structures essential to society, such as buildings, highways, and bridges. Environmental engineering and transportation engineering are two examples of its subdisciplines.

A general degree in civil engineering can lead to several job opportunities. Please continue reading to view our list of the most in-demand civil engineering fields.

Therefore, geotechnical engineers are constantly in demand so long as there are ongoing building projects. To become a geotechnical engineer, you must have a broad understanding of civil engineering.

Before practicing design independently, most geotechnical engineers earn a master’s degree.

There is significant earning potential. Civil engineering is a potentially profitable industry; thus, a good wage may be available. Job-specific wage expectations will vary, but people without a bachelor’s degree might earn up to £35,000 with sufficient experience.

Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical engineering is the discipline of civil engineering concerned with the behavior of earth materials from an engineering standpoint. It employs soil mechanics and rock mechanics principles to solve their respective engineering challenges.

In addition, it requires expertise in geology, hydrology, meteorology, and other relevant sciences. Geological engineering is a subdiscipline of geotechnical (rock) engineering.

Geotechnical engineering includes applications in the military, mining, petroleum, coastal engineering, offshore building, and civil engineering. There are overlapping knowledge areas between geotechnical engineering and engineering geology.

However, although geotechnical engineering is a subfield of civil engineering, engineering geology is a subfield of geology. The fundamentals of soil and rock mechanics are identical, but their applications differ.

History Of Geotechnical Engineering

Historically, humans have utilized soil as a material for flood control, irrigation, burial places, building foundations, and construction projects.

In ancient Egypt, ancient Mesopotamia, and the Fertile Crescent, as well as in the early cities of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa in the Indus valley, remnants of dykes, dams, and canals dating back to at least 2000 B.C.E. were discovered.

As cities flourished, buildings supported by organized foundations were created; the Ancient Greeks constructed pad footings and strip-and-raft foundations.

Before the 18th century, however, there was no theoretical foundation for soil design, and the field was more of an art than a science, relying on prior experience.

Several foundation-related engineering issues, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, motivated scientists to adopt a more scientific approach to subsurface investigation. The creation of hydrostatic pressure theories for the building of retaining walls was the oldest advancement.

In 1717, Henri Gautier, a French Royal Engineer, identified various soils’ “natural slope,” a concept known as the soil’s angle of repose.

A primitive soil classification system was also created based on the unit weight of a substance, which is no longer regarded as an accurate indicator of soil type.