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Civil Engineering

Rely on civil engineering companies and software to get the job done

By Octavia McFerrin
Civil engineering companies offer services such as land surveys, urban planning and inspection. Individuals, private companies and municipalities all utilize civil engineering services to plan, design and implement projects. Some services specialize in a specific area, such as civil engineering construction, while others specialize in a specific type of project like geotechnical engineering -- engineering that deals with rock and soil.

When it comes to choosing which services are right for your business, civil engineering information available to consumers varies widely based on application. Consider the following to help narrow your choices:

1. Civil engineering software

2. Online quotes for specific services

3. Hiring a professional civil engineering company

 

Consider keeping your civil engineering project in-house with civil engineering software

Civil engineering software typically has applications in four different categories: structural, environmental, geotechnical or transportation. If your project is small and you are a civil engineer or have one on staff, try using civil engineering software.
Try: 3D Nature, LLC is user friendly and provides great visualization for civil engineering construction projects including bridges, highways and power plants. Use Maplesoft if you need engineering software with mathematical products, multi-domain modeling and simulation. VisionCivil Software from Geo-Plus offers complete calculation and design for civil engineering projects. Foresoft offers a free trial, and iCivilEngineer has a list of several freeware options.

Get online bids from civil engineering services or individuals

Several companies offer online bids for their services. The key to getting the right price is to be very specific about what you expect from a civil engineering service. There may be aspects of design or implementation you feel comfortable enough with to handle on your own which would bring down the cost of the bid. Either way, you don't want to be surprised when it comes time to pay for the service.
Try: ConstructionDeal.com and Guru.com both offer online bids for civil engineering construction and other engineering services. ThomasNet lists thousands of engineering companies doing business in the U.S.

Hire a civil engineering firm for international and large projects

A civil engineering firm is the best bet when dealing with the intricacies of international law and large-scale operations.
Try: Greenwood & Moore, Inc. in the San Francisco Bay Area offers civil engineering in addition to land surveying, land use planning and architectural and structural design. URS Corporation in New York offers professional planning, engineering and architectural design, environmental, construction, and program and construction management services. Find a list of US civil engineering firms to find the one closest to you at iCivilEngineer.

 

  • If you're going to keep things in-house, make sure to take advantage of the trial versions of civil engineering software before you commit to one. One software application might not have everything you mean, or, contrarily, the software package may have more bells and whistles than you actually require to get the job done.
  • The same goes for civil engineering firm - make sure to schedule an appointment with each civil engineering firm to ask questions about your project. Get several quotes before you decide on a firm.
  • Civil engineering often requires permits and licenses - visit your local municipality to make sure you have all your paperwork in order.

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