What is Municipal Engineering?

Municipal engineering or urban engineering is a section of civil engineering specifically targeting the urban setting. A municipal engineer deals in construction and maintenance of infrastructure in urban towns like roads, bridges, parastatals, pipelines, sewage system, dams and so on. Here is a brief overview of the daily activities of an urban engineer.

Duties of an Urban Engineer
When erecting public buildings within the city, the urban engineer will be required to inspect the project site and monitor the progress of the people on the ground. They make sure that every stage of construction follows the laid designs and conforms to construction laws of the town. They also ensure safety of workers within the project site is secured and that everyone works in a properly sanitized environment.

If the engineer is not involved directly in the said project, they can still be relevant as construction advisors. They can give technical advice on matters like project design, define the different construction phases, and help in remodelling current design or offer advice on general repair of structures. Additionally, they also help determine budget costs of construction material, the equipment, and labor to be employed to ensure the project's success.

Away from the field, municipal engineering also involves designing hydraulic structures and transportation systems with relevant 3D software. They come up with the final blue print formulated by gathering information from survey reports, aerial photographs, geological and topographical data as well as drawings from other engineers partnering in the project. Before the project kicks off, they have to ensure the final blueprint complies with all rules governing environmental conservancy and any construction laws provided by the government. Recommended resource for further reading.

Bottom Line
There are more duties involved in municipal engineering but the above highlighted are some of the crucial ones. It is a highly demanding career with lots of working hours but highly rewarding when projects are designed and successfully implemented.