The Augusta Canal was a bold economic development enterprise begun in 1844 that created the first multi-user, multi-purpose, industrial district in the agrarian South. It transformed the City of Augusta, Georgia and ultimately the entire region from a strictly agrarian economy to a more diversified employment base including manufacturing. Numerous civil engineers participated in its design and construction including William Phillips of Augusta and John Edgar Thomson, the latter of whom was later renowned as President of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
A civil engineer is an engineer who plans and maintains infrastructure projects like airports, roads, dams, and stormwater drainage. Learn the basics of what your life can look like as a civil engineer.
[Featured image] A civil engineer consults with a construction manager at a job site.
A civil engineer helps build and maintain infrastructures such as roads, bridges, buildings, or water resources. They help get water, electricity, people, and goods from place to place by creating the networks and facilities needed to make transportation possible. You can learn more about civil engineers and how to become one in the following article.
What do civil engineers do?
Civil engineers have specialized skills that match the work they do and the clients that they serve.
Engineers should have a solid foundation in math, physics, and chemistry. These other skills can round out your readiness to be a civil engineer:
Civil engineers need expertise in the materials they will be working with. An engineer who builds dams will need to understand fluid mechanics, while one who builds roads will need to understand changing soil conditions. Some of these skills can be acquired on the job, while others require study.
Civil engineers doing design work may want to have certification on engineering systems such as Autodesk. Being an Autodesk Certified Professional shows potential employers and clients that you have expertise with the systems you will be using to draft construction projects. You can prepare for an Autodesk Certification Exam with the following online course:
No matter what type of project you are working on, civil engineers need to understand project management . At the entry-level, being familiar with project management concepts will help you understand why projects are structured a s they are. As you move up the ladder, you may work more with project management concepts, eventually using them to direct projects from start to finish. Some engineers earn certifications in Project Management to demonstrate their expertise. For example, you can earn a Career Certificate from Google in a self-paced, online course format:
The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area, managed by the National Park Service, provides trails, trailheads, and interpretive information along the seven-mile canal. The Augusta Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill, 1450 Greene Street in Augusta provides interpretive displays about the construction, operation, and significance of the canal for an entry fee. A variety of boat tours are available.
