New Technologies In Civil Engineering

Many changes are taking place in technology everyday and specifically in the field of civil engineering. Such changes have enabled civil engineering to achieve new heights that make it easier to construct tall buildings, amazing bridges, very attractive tunnels, dams and many other fantastic structures. With such emerging technologies, it is possible for civil engineers to apply very sophisticated and advanced high technology components in their work to achieve better results.

How Computer Aided Design Helps Civil Engineers

While the computer aided design (CAD) software can be quite complex, engineers who find the right package and use it with the tools they need will find CAD to be very helpful. Civil engineers in government, military and in the industry have applied the CAD software in the design and development of many projects with lots of success. The software has helped in the construction of skyscrapers, bridges, highways and in the construction of many structures and has become a mainstay in most disciplines in this field.
What the CAD software does is that it simplifies the design process and makes it possible for work to continue at a more accelerated pace and also in a productive manner. With the availability of CAD, manual hand drafting is eliminated and automation is brought into the picture. With the availability of CAD designers and engineers are able to apply the software for complex calculations in their design work.
The CAD software has made it possible for people in the civil engineering field to produce Civil Building Information Models also known as Civil BIM. This has brought about savings on the cost of construction and the setting up of infrastructure. Modern engineering firms appreciate the use of 3D model representation and the CAD software in the work of designing and redesigning and also in the testing and analysis of new designs.

The Application of Nanotechnology in Civil Engineering

A recent innovative technology known as nanotechnology has become very significant in the field of civil engineering. This is a field that deals with the comprehension, the controlling and handling and also the development of materials. Nanostructures, nanofabrication and nanocharacterization are the three areas in which the application of the technology is essential as far as civil engineering is concerned.
Nanotechnology can be very beneficial to construction engineering if properly harnessed. The creation of new materials, devices, and systems with new properties and functions for the purpose of progress in the field of construction is essential today. Nanotechnology plays a very important role in the development of innovative infrastructure systems and with its development; the potential to bring about revolutionary changes in civil engineering is yet to be fully exploited.
With the application of this innovation, it will be possible to achieve amenable architectural combinations that have enhanced properties. This will be helpful in that the costs of maintenance will be lowered, and better properties of cement materials will be used. Another achievement of nanotechnology is the reduction of thermal transfer rates of fire retardants and insulation. Nanotechnology will bring about intelligent structure technology and the use of smart materials.

Construction Planning with the Support of Virtual Reality Models

While the construction of buildings have used conventional methods for supporting the schedule of construction activities, it is now possible to have a prototype that has its foundation on Virtual Reality (VR) technology. With this interactive virtual model the project is presented in 3D and this helps with the monitoring of the progress of construction activities. The application of this technology can be applied to assist civil engineers in construction planning and design.
The 3D geometry application provides the steps that will be taken in the construction activity and there is a plan that is established for the purposes of the construction with the help of this technology. The application of the Virtual Reality (VR) technology as a visual device thus provides for the visualization of the various stages of the construction. With this technology, it is possible to see the process of construction while averting errors and inaccuracies and at the same time enhancing communication between the various participants in the process of construction. This can be a very important apparatus for the conception of a project as well as for the project’s application.
Author Bio: William Stevens is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to technology. In this article, he describes a few new technologies in this field and aims to encourage further study with a masters in civil engineering.