Does civil engineers have to work outside all day???

Question

I'm an electrical engineering student but I want to switch to civil but many people told me that civil engineers have to work outside all day and I hate the sun and the heat and I like to work in an office with air conditionated.WHAT DO YOU THINK????ANY ADVICE????

Answer 1

Just about any field of engineering is performed in a nice, air conditioned office, behind a desk and computer screen. However, design engineers are responsible to see that their designs are implemented properly and perform the desired function. For the civil engineer, that will necessitate travel to the job location not only for preliminary site surveys but to review work in progress and to resolve problems that develop during construction. But this may only be a small percentage of your time.

If you decide to go into civil engineering, I highly recommend that you also become certified in structural engineering. A civil engineer may be able to build a road, but they can't build bridges. It will require additional study, but will be well worth it.

By the way, electrical engineers many times have to go outside, too. I know. I am one.

Answer 2

Remember the important word - Engineer. There are laws against using that word. I miss doing stuctural. I spent more time in the field doing stuctural than I do managing typical civil subdivisions and such. Become a good structural engineer and mentor a good inspector for you. Also, I have to say that any professional engineer will go to any site where he will do any design. Although you don't technically have to. I recommend doing your site visits in the early morning, when you won't break a sweat on your brand new shirt and tie. Structural is a traditional part of civil engineering. Any good civil engineer has worn out a few pair of boots. Often a stuctural consult will require inspection of fire damage. If you are a good engineer, you will have coveralls, a chisel and gloves, and be scraping at the chars or at least directing your tech to do so. Also remember that EVERYONE is watching you. You are the engineer, and they all know their job better than you. They know nothing of your job. It don't matter if you have to know ALL of everyone's job. It is their job to construct the sidewalk to the building. The slope says 2% here and 1% there, which is it? You are now an idiot in their eyes. Should you become a registered professional engineer, the sun and heat will become the least of your worries. Public safety and economics will become your new worries. I hope you contemplate this. Perhaps you should puss out and become an architect, they never get dirty. NOTE: Often times a site visit requires no 'boot work', or time out of a vehicle. A simple drive by will suffice.

Answer 3

if you don't like working outside then dont be a civil engineer.

Electrical or computer engineering is generally inside job.

Once you become an Electrical you could be an application engineer at a industrial setting and then you will never ever go outside , but you have to love logic

If I had to do it over I would have done Process engineering ( I'm a nuclear engineer) or chemical.

Answer 4

Civil engineering has lot of field work and as an engineering you will not need to work outside like construction crews. but you might need to visit sites sometimes.
But all depends on type of job. if you are in design farm, then your work mostly inside and simulation, design calculation type.
if you work for construction or testing, survey farm, you might need to go outside occassionally.

but the impression of working outside in hot sun like common construction workers is completely a wrong idea.

Answer 5

No, the design work is done indoors, unfortunately site inspections are carried outdoors. Many other disciplines of engineering require outdoor activities. Personally, I'd like to choose bio-engineering. Whatever you choose have fun. If you like what you do, you'll succeed. Good luck.

Answer 6

my brother is a civil engineer. he works inside an office on the computer at all times.

Answer 7

nope, my uncle is a civil engineer, and my cousin is majoring in it, they spend most of their time inside, they are barely in the sun actually.so dont worry about it
ps. civil engineers made way more money

Answer 8

Most civil engineers spend most of their time, if not all of it, "doing the math" indoors. Air conditioned indoors if they're doing well.

Answer 9

NO WAY!
Unless they are surveying ALL THE TIME, NO
Electrical is a musch harder course of study
BUT i though EE paid more than CE?!?!
guess it depends on state and area of study