Civil engineers plan, build, and take care of things like buildings, roads, and bridges. They use certain tools and equipment to do this job well. If you want to work in civil engineering, finding out more about the tools you might use every day can help you get ready for your job. In this article, we talk about what civil engineering tools are and give you a list of them. We also talk about what a civil engineer does and how to become one. You can read about tools used by civil engineers in the article below.

What are civil engineering tools?

Civil engineers use tools to design, build, and fix public structures. When civil engineers work on-site, they may use construction tools like hammers,saws, or drills, as well as safety tools and equipment like hard hats, hearing protection, and face shields. When civil engineers work in an office, they might use technology and software to talk to clients and make detailed plans for infrastructure. Civil engineers get special training on how to use these tools safely and effectively at work so that accidents don’t happen.

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List of civil engineer tools

As a civil engineer, you might use the following tools and equipment every day:

1. Hammers

During construction, civil engineers may use different kinds of hammers for different tasks, such as driving nails into wood, shaping metal, or doing demolition work. Here are some different hammers civil engineers may use:

  • claw hammer
  • ball peen hammer
  • club hammer
  • cross-peen pin hammer
  • sledgehammer
  • soft-faced hammer
  • joiner’s mallet
  • dead blow hammer
  • rubber mallet
  • tack hammer
  • brass hammer
  • brick hammer
  • scaling hammer

2. Safety equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to keep workers safe on a construction site. Civil engineers also wear the right PPE when they go to a construction site. As a civil engineer, you may use and wear the following safety tools and equipment:

  • protective gloves
  • full-face shields when grinding, cutting, or chipping materials
  • respiratory protection
  • fall protection equipment when working above a certain height, typically six feet
  • safety glasses
  • hearing protection
  • hard hat
  • safety boots
  • reflective clothing

3. Saws

On construction sites, civil engineers may use saws to cut through things like wood, metal, or marble. There are many different kinds of saws, but most of them have a hard-toothed edge on a blade, chain, or wire. This makes it possible to cut through different materials. Civil engineers may use the following types of saws:

  • hack saw
  • coping saw
  • bow-cut saw
  • crosscut saw
  • keyhole saw
  • fret saw
  • rip-cut saw
  • back saw
  • veneer saw
  • wallboard saw
  • circular saw
  • mitre saw
  • jigsaw
  • table saw
  • chainsaw

4. Software

Civil engineers spend a lot of time in an office in front of a computer. To help them do their jobs well, they use different kinds of software and apps. Most of the time, they do their work with design software and tools for managing projects. Civil engineers may use the following software:

  • Design software: Most civil engineers use design software, which helps them with their projects by giving them tools for design, analysis, and simulation. They can use this software to make building plans that workers can easily follow on the job site.
  • Project management software: Tools for project management help civil engineers make schedules that are well organized and work well. This lets professionals keep track of their time well enough to meet tight deadlines.
  • Spreadsheet tools: spreadsheet software, which can keep data organised, is another programme that civil engineers may want to think about. It can be used by civil engineers to do things like budgeting, quality control, contract maintenance, and estimating the amount of something.
  • Storm sewer systems analysis software: Civil engineers can use this software to plan and analyse drainage systems. It helps them figure out the sizes of pipes and structures so they can make accurate calculations for the flow of the pipe network, the runoff from drainage areas, and the capacity of the inlets.
  • Structural analysis software: During the planning phase of a project, a civil engineer might use software for structural analysis and design. This software usually has all kinds of design codes for concrete, steel, and wood, so civil engineers can choose materials that fit the budgets of their clients.

5. Heavy machinery

Civil engineers can’t run heavy machinery themselves because they need a special licence to do so. However, they can help the people who are running the machines. They can show you how to use the equipment most effectively to get the results you want. Here are some examples of heavy equipment that civil engineers may use on construction sites:

  • backhoe
  • excavator
  • bulldozer
  • concrete mixer trucks
  • dozer
  • dumper
  • forklift
  • grader
  • hoist lift
  • pile drill machine
  • hydra crane
  • road header machine
  • road roller
  • Skid steer loaders
  • tower crane
  • trenches cutter

6. Small tools

Civil engineers need to pay close attention to the details if they want to see their plans come to life. On construction sites, they may use small tools to fix or maintain structures the way they planned. Civil engineers may use the following small tools:

  • binding hook
  • block pane
  • bolster
  • boning rod
  • bump cutter
  • chisel
  • drill
  • crowbar
  • digging bar
  • framing square
  • hoe
  • level
  • trowel
  • measurement tape
  • measuring wheel
  • polisher
  • putty knife
  • water level
  • wooden float

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What does a civil engineer do?

Learning about what a civil engineer does can help you decide if you want to become one. Here are some of the main jobs of a civil engineer:

  • working with customers, vendors, subcontractors, and architects
  • Building infrastructure that meets health and safety requirements
  • managing the purchase of project materials and equipment
  • sticking to the budgets and schedules of clients
  • developing designs and models for clients’ approval
  • checking construction sites to see if certain infrastructure can be built
  • keeping up with government rules and regulations
  • providing answers to problems that arise during the design and development stages

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How to become a civil engineer

Here are the steps you can take if you want to become a civil engineer and use these tools every day:

1. Obtain a bachelor’s degree

To become a civil engineer, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Think about getting a Bachelor of Science with a major in civil engineering to learn the basics. You might learn about basic engineering principles, geological factors, computer-aided design, and project management. The average time it takes to get a bachelor’s degree is four years.

2. Apply to become an engineer-in-training

You can apply to become an engineer-in-training (EIT) in your province or territory once you have your bachelor’s degree. Make sure you meet the requirements of each provincial and territorial association before you apply. This gives you the chance to work with a seasoned civil engineer. Before you can get certified, you need a certain amount of work experience, which is set by each association. On average, you need 48 months of work experience.

3. Become certified

You can become a certified civil engineer in your province or territory once you meet the requirements of the association. One requirement is to pass the National Professional Practise Exam, which is an online test that takes two and a half hours and tests your knowledge of engineering law, professional liability, ethics, and professional practise. Another requirement is to include both personal and professional references. If you want to become an engineer, it’s important to keep good relationships with your professors and employers. You get the professional engineer title once you pass the certification process.

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4. Create an updated resume

When you get your certification as a civil engineer, you can apply for open jobs. To do this, you need a good resume that shows off your skills, experience, and qualifications. Start by putting your full name, contact information, and certification in the header. This shows hiring managers that you are qualified to work as a civil engineer in your province or territory. Next, write a one- to three-sentence professional summary that shows why you’re the best person for the job.

In the next section, tell us more about your education, such as the name of the school you went to, the type of degree you got, and the date you graduated. Next, you should list your work experience, including what you did as an engineer-in-training. End with a list of five to ten engineering skills you have that the employer is looking for in a good candidate.