Every time you drive on a freeway, enjoy running water or head to the airport to catch a flight, you’re benefiting on the work of civil engineers. Civil engineering is the practice of designing, building and maintaining vital infrastructure like roads, airports, dams, bridges and even sewer systems. Although you might not be familiar with the ins and outs of their job, their work is a part of your everyday life.

Looking for a civil engineering company in Idaho? Mason & Associates would be proud to help with your project. We have over 30 years of experience and can handle a variety of assignments. Read on to learn more about civil engineering, then call us to discuss your next venture:

• Civil engineering has been around for centuries: “Engineer” and “architect” used to be synonymous, up until the 19^th It wasn’t until 1828 that the term “civil engineering” was used to describe building projects made by a non-military group. However, civil engineering has been around as long as we’ve been creating infrastructure.
• Meet the father of American civil engineering: Benjamin Wright (1770-1842) made significant contributions to American civil engineering, including extensive work on the Erie and Chesapeake & Ohio canals. He also had nine children—and five of them became civil engineers themselves.
• Thank a civil engineer next time you use a waterslide: If you’ve ever tried to beat the summer heat by going down a waterslide, you can thank a civil engineer. They were able to determine the right ratio of water to flume, so you slide instead of get stuck.
• Meet one of the first American female civil engineers: Ellen Swallow Richards, who lived from 1842-1911, was the first woman to attend a science and technology school and the first woman to receive a degree in chemistry. She used her education and skills to become a civil engineer.
• The first female degree in civil engineering: The first woman to receive a degree specifically in civil engineering was Nora Stanton Blatch, who earned hers in 1905 from Cornell University.
• Earliest example of civil engineering: The Great Pyramid of Giza is the earliest extant example of civil engineering, and the only one remaining of the Seven Wonders of the World. Anyone who has visited the pyramids can appreciate the amount of expertise it took to create these structures.

Thanks to the work of civil engineers, we enjoy not just roads and railways, but rollercoasters, waterslides, spectacular buildings and bridges. Our world would be a lot less accessible—and a lot less fun—without them.

Civil engineering company in Idaho

Mason & Associates is dedicated to being Idaho’s premier civil engineering firm. Since 1989, we have served the state in a variety of surveying, construction staking, subdivision land platting and land development projects. We’re with you throughout the entire process, from the initial survey and planning to the final staking and record drawings. Call us today to discuss the size and scope of your project, and we’ll get started to set you up for success.