AN EXPERT IN CIVILENGINEERING?Colin Smith, Technical ExpertDiales, London, UKTo many, this is a difficult concept; given the breadth ofcivil engineering they see a conflict with the principleof being an expert on such a broad topic. Of course, Ido not see it quite like that, but it is probable that mostwould say I am biased! To support my case, I offer thefollowing:It appears to me that the crux of the concern relates tothe definition of civil engineering.The term civil engineer was first coined by JohnSmeaton in 1750 to contrast between the engineerworking on civil projects and military engineers.Interestingly, he is also considered to be the first expertwitness to appear in an English Court, when he testifiedon the silting-up of a Norfolk harbour in 1782.Over the years I have come across many definitionsof civil engineering. When I first started work, therewas the traditional description by Thomas Tredgoldwhich was essentially adopted by the Institution of CivilEngineers (ICE) in their Royal Charter:14“.....being the art of directing the great sources ofpower in Nature for the use and convenience of man,as the means of production and of traf昀椀c in states,both for external and internal trade, as applied in theconstruction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals,river navigation, and docks, for internal intercourseand exchange; and in the construction of portsharbours, moles, breakwaters, and lighthouses,and in the art of navigation by arti昀椀cial power, forthe purposes of commerce; and in the constructionand adaptation of machinery, and in the drainage ofcities and towns.”Arguably, this definition may well have been influencedby Leonardo da Vinci, when he said:“Civil Engineering is a noble profession that shouldbe pursued for the public good.”
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