There are many types of engineers and these professional are responsible for building everything from our homes to our office buildings as well as cars, computers, appliances and much more. Highway engineers are a type of civil engineer that designs the roads that we drive on, including city streets and highways and freeways.
Obviously designing safe and functional road systems is highly important and a poorly designed road not only can be difficult for drivers to use, it can be dangerous and deadly. The science of designing roads dates back to ancient times when the Romans began designing highly functional roads throughout their empire.
Designing roads and making improvements of these are the jobs of highway engineers, although they can also have several jobs. An environmental impact study should be done, including how the road will have an impact on the environment and likewise the socio-economic impact on the locality and also the people, and this is done before there is ground breaking for the road.
Because traffic accidents are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, safety is the biggest concern of a highway engineer. The roads must be made safe for a huge variety of drivers in a myriad of driving conditions. An engineer will be concerned with the grade of the road and the angles of curves and turns, as well as the lane width and horizontal and vertical clearance. These are just a few factors that these engineers think about when designing roads.
There are several types of tools that the engineers will use in this process, including theodolite, a tool used to measure angles in horizontal and vertical planes. A clinometer or inclinometer as it is also called can be used, and this is tool to measure angles in slopes. Measurement of angles is a skill that is of very high importance for a highway engineer. On top of the clinometers and theodolites that are available and can be bought from a company such as Warren Knight, other tools and equipment and also those used for surveying and designing as well as building roads can be available.
Finding a college or university that offers accredited programs in civil engineering is a must for those who wish to become a highway engineer. A variety of math curriculum as well as science curriculum is required as well as classes regarding highway design and traffic engineering. Civil engineering with a concentration in road and highway design is typically the degree that you will wish to complete.
Obviously designing safe and functional road systems is highly important and a poorly designed road not only can be difficult for drivers to use, it can be dangerous and deadly. The science of designing roads dates back to ancient times when the Romans began designing highly functional roads throughout their empire.
Designing roads and making improvements of these are the jobs of highway engineers, although they can also have several jobs. An environmental impact study should be done, including how the road will have an impact on the environment and likewise the socio-economic impact on the locality and also the people, and this is done before there is ground breaking for the road.
Because traffic accidents are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, safety is the biggest concern of a highway engineer. The roads must be made safe for a huge variety of drivers in a myriad of driving conditions. An engineer will be concerned with the grade of the road and the angles of curves and turns, as well as the lane width and horizontal and vertical clearance. These are just a few factors that these engineers think about when designing roads.
There are several types of tools that the engineers will use in this process, including theodolite, a tool used to measure angles in horizontal and vertical planes. A clinometer or inclinometer as it is also called can be used, and this is tool to measure angles in slopes. Measurement of angles is a skill that is of very high importance for a highway engineer. On top of the clinometers and theodolites that are available and can be bought from a company such as Warren Knight, other tools and equipment and also those used for surveying and designing as well as building roads can be available.
Finding a college or university that offers accredited programs in civil engineering is a must for those who wish to become a highway engineer. A variety of math curriculum as well as science curriculum is required as well as classes regarding highway design and traffic engineering. Civil engineering with a concentration in road and highway design is typically the degree that you will wish to complete.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier likes blogging about precision scientific instruments. For more information about alignment tools such as a maple wood Jacob Staff, check out the Warren Knight site today.
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