Explore Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering examines safe and resilient infrastructure for communities. This subject guide introduces the questions, methods and practical work that help learners understand the field before choosing a formal course of study.
A strong starting point is to connect structural mechanics with geotechnics. The first develops a foundation for reasoning; the second provides a setting in which to test ideas. Keep a learning journal that records assumptions, sources and questions that remain unresolved.
Four areas to investigate
Structural mechanics
Connect structural mechanics to the study of safe and resilient infrastructure for communities. Compare an introductory explanation with a worked example, then describe where the approach is useful and where it may fail.
Geotechnics
Connect geotechnics to the study of safe and resilient infrastructure for communities. Compare an introductory explanation with a worked example, then describe where the approach is useful and where it may fail.
Water engineering
Connect water engineering to the study of safe and resilient infrastructure for communities. Compare an introductory explanation with a worked example, then describe where the approach is useful and where it may fail.
Construction planning
Connect construction planning to the study of safe and resilient infrastructure for communities. Compare an introductory explanation with a worked example, then describe where the approach is useful and where it may fail.
Learn through inquiry
Evaluate drainage options for a hypothetical neighbourhood under several rainfall scenarios.
Begin with a question narrow enough to investigate. Decide what evidence would support an answer, document the method and explain what further work would be needed.