Jan 29, 2003 08:14
21 yrs ago
11 viewers *
English term
Latvia
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civil engineering vs. public works
English
Tech/Engineering
- branch names
Are these synonymous?
Obviously,
"engineering" implies 'desgin';
"works" implies 'physical building work';
"public" implies 'funded by the state'.
But to they have the same **scope** -- roads, bridges, amenities, etc?
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Encarta® 99 Desk Encyclopedia © & ? 1987-1998
Civil engineering is perhaps the broadest of the engineering fields. It deals with the creation, improvement, and protection of the communal environment, by providing facilities for living, industry, transport, and other constructions. The civil engineer must have a thorough knowledge of all types of surveying, of the properties and mechanics of construction materials, of the mechanics of structures and soils, and of hydraulics and fluid mechanics.
Obviously,
"engineering" implies 'desgin';
"works" implies 'physical building work';
"public" implies 'funded by the state'.
But to they have the same **scope** -- roads, bridges, amenities, etc?
----------
Encarta® 99 Desk Encyclopedia © & ? 1987-1998
Civil engineering is perhaps the broadest of the engineering fields. It deals with the creation, improvement, and protection of the communal environment, by providing facilities for living, industry, transport, and other constructions. The civil engineer must have a thorough knowledge of all types of surveying, of the properties and mechanics of construction materials, of the mechanics of structures and soils, and of hydraulics and fluid mechanics.
Responses
| 4 +2 | Yes, but |
Chris Rowson (X)
|
| 5 +8 | One is a science or professional discipline or practice. . . |
Fuad Yahya
|
Responses
+2
13 mins
Selected
Yes, but
Yes they are synonymous, but for me (British) "public works" has the additional quite separate meaning of philanthropic works, which may have nothing to do with infrastructure, or even building. In the 19th C this meaning of "public works" might be for example caring for the poor, more recently it might be sponsoring culture.
Reference:
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Chris and Fuad.
Valters"
+8
14 mins
One is a science or professional discipline or practice. . .
. . . while "public works" is a term that covers either the domain of activities covered by civil engineers or, often, a local governement department that takes care of projects that are typically the domain of civil engineers.
Put differently, a civil engineer is an engineer "trained in the design and construction of public works, such as bridges or dams, and other large facilities" (American Heritage Dictionary).
To construct a loose analogy, the difference between the two terms is like the difference between "ethics" and "morality."
Fuad
Put differently, a civil engineer is an engineer "trained in the design and construction of public works, such as bridges or dams, and other large facilities" (American Heritage Dictionary).
To construct a loose analogy, the difference between the two terms is like the difference between "ethics" and "morality."
Fuad
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
EDLING (X)
4 mins
|
| agree |
Tony M
: Well put!
8 mins
|
| agree |
Marie Scarano
: the engineers design, the government pays
22 mins
|
| agree |
Sarah Ponting
23 mins
|
| agree |
Tanja Abramovic (X)
1 hr
|
| agree |
Kardi Kho
17 hrs
|
| agree |
Dolly Xu
1 day 5 hrs
|
| agree |
AhmedAMS
317 days
|
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