If you’re a long-time property owner or in the construction business, then there’s a chance you’ve consulted with a civil engineering firm at some point—but only if you were in need of some sort of project assessment. For example, new home builders and land developers may need expert design and construction services to avoid running into unexpected problems that can have a negative impact on projects. But first, you might be wondering what the term “civil engineer” means, and about its place in public and private projects. Let’s take a look!
What is a civil engineer?
If you search the Internet for a definitive definition of a civil engineer, you may just run into more questions. That’s because a civil engineer might be trained in one aspect of engineering, or several aspects. In fact, it’s a broad title used to describe a professional who oversees design services and various types of construction projects for residential and commercial clients. They work hard to bring custom infrastructure plans or building projects to fruition—including property zoning, subdivisions, septic or sewer systems, bridges, roadways and wastewater treatment.
A civil engineer usually comes in at specific phases of a project, like during the design phase or the construction process. They can also be hired to inspect projects once completed, which is especially important for government agencies, since they must be in compliance with a number of federal and state regulations.
Now, let’s look at a few of the lesser known factors to keep in consideration when hiring a civil engineer in Idaho.
Land use knowledge
Land development laws are constantly changing, so a professional civil engineer must always be up to date on the latest land regulations at the local, state and federal levels. If a location is part of an environmentally sensitive area or a conservation program, then a civil engineer will know that land development requirements are likely to be subjected to even more changes. They should also have a strong knowledge of proposed regulatory changes—in other words, they should be able to determine whether a parcel of land is cleared for the owner to move forward with development plans, or if a project is going to run through a protected conservation area.
Creativity
Creativity is not usually on your radar when looking for a civil engineer, because they’re expertise is in infrastructure. But a good civil engineer in Idaho does not merely sit on the sidelines during design meetings. If they have an idea, they contribute it without fear of the possibility of backlash from the design team and architects.
Organization
Not only should an individual civil engineer be organized, but the whole firm should be, as well. From the initial design plans to financial notes to construction, an organized civil engineer will have all your project information ready to pull up at a moment’s notice. Since computer software is widely available for use in this industry, having organizational skills should be no problem.
To speak with a seasoned and professional civil engineer in Idaho, we welcome you to call us at Mason & Stanfield, Inc. Contact us today to find out how we can help you!