Careers / Students

Your career in ...

Construction Commercial Management
Geospatial Engineering

Do you like to:

Then you should find out more about Civil Engineering Surveying

What is Civil Engineering Surveying?

The civil engineering industry involves the design and construction of the facilities which shape the world we live in. From roads, railways and bridges to water supply pipes and power stations, this is all civil engineering.

Civil Engineering Surveyors are involved in every stage of the project from the initial concept through the design and construction, to monitoring the condition and performance of the completed structure.

Within this profession you could choose to work within Commercial Management (Quantity Surveying) or Geospatial Engineering (Engineering Surveying).

Commercial Management

Commercial Managers, or quantity surveyors, are the financial managers of the civil engineering industry. They work alongside other professionals in preparing the documents on which projects are based, measuring the work completed on site and ensuring that the companies carrying out the construction are paid a fair price for it. Their responsibilities include:

• Preparing documents including legal documents
• Evaluating prices received from various contractors and subcontractors to see who should be appointed to do the work
• Preparing estimates of the likely cost of the construction of a project
• Advising engineers on financial issues
• Measuring and costing the work carried out
• Valuing the contract as work proceeds

This profession also includes the following functions:
Estimating: calculating the cost of a project
Procurement Engineering: purchasing the materials and services needed
Planning: programming the construction and ensuring that it is carried out as specified
Project Management: general management of the construction project
Construction Law: advising on the legal aspects of the construction including settling claims and disputes.

Back to top...

Geospatial Engineering Surveying

Geospatial Engineers work within construction on the measurement and monitoring of projects as well as producing maps, plans and charts of different features. The main profession within civil engineering is engineering surveying (which is sometimes known as land surveying). Engineering surveyors are generally responsible for:

• Investigating land, using computer-based measuring instruments and geographical knowledge, to work out the best position to construct bridges, tunnels and roads
• Producing up-to-date plans which form the basis for the design of a project
• Setting out a site, so that a structure is built in the correct spot and to the correct size
• Monitoring the construction process to make sure that the structure remains in the right position and recording the final as-built position
• Providing control points by which the future movement of structures such as dams or bridges can be monitored

The term Geospatial Engineering includes the following specialist areas:

Engineering surveying: preparation of maps and plans for the planning and design of structures as well as ensuring that the construction takes place to the dimensions and tolerances required.
Hydrographic surveying: measuring and mapping the earth's surface that is covered by water.
Photogrammetry: involves obtaining information from photographic images in order to produce a plan of an area.
Geographic Information Systems: involve collecting and manipulating geographic information and presenting the information in the form required.
Cartography / Visualisation: accurately and precisely producing maps or plans and representing the information in two or three dimensions.

Back to top...

Have you got what it takes?

• Ambition
• Financial Sense
• Leadership Skills
• Communication Skills
• Numeracy
• Organisational Skills

The civil engineering surveying profession provides an exciting and demanding working environment with the potential to develop a challenging and rewarding career.

Many jobs involve working in the open air with opportunities for travel both in the UK and abroad.

Qualifications you need

You will need to have good GCSE passes in English, Maths and Science. There are then several different ways of progressing through your career. It is possible to develop at your own pace by studying through distance learning or by part time study.

Alternatively you can take A levels and go to university to study a degree or diploma course. If you have just taken your A levels, you could consider taking one of the courses that the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors accredits. This means that the course meets all the ICES requirements which means that no more examinations are necessary to gain full professional membership. There are various courses available in both Commercial Management and Geospatial Engineering subjects. Contact the university direct for requirements to enroll on the courses (details given within the accredited courses lists as well as links to the university web pages).

Back to top...

Want to find out more?

The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors is the only international qualifying body dedicated exclusively to the education and professional advancement of those working within the fields of Commercial Management and Geospatial Engineering.

Student membership of the ICES is available and indeed student members are warmly welcomed. By joining, you will become part of a lively and dynamic organisation committed to its members and to widening their recognition and influence throughout the construction industry. There are active regional groups across the country organising events and meetings to keep members in touch with the profession.

Why should you join?

• A free monthly journal with articles and features giving authoritative and up-to-date information about new developments within the industry
• Region meetings and events as well as national conferences and seminars
• Postal bookshop with discounts for members for a wide range of publications
• Student members can included their period of industrial training on a sandwich course as part of their period of experience needed to upgrade to a higher grade of membership
• It looks good on your CV when you are applying for jobs and shows a commitment to the industry and the profession

The Institution is committed to encouraging Student Members because it recognises that they are the future of the profession. To demonstrate this commitment, the Institution will cover all the costs of membership for those studying full time. Membership is therefore FREE for the duration of your course if you are studying full time or on a sandwich course. For those studying part time, membership rates are very reasonable.

All you need to do is complete and return an application form, which can be downloaded here (in Microsoft Word format), countersigned by your course tutor, together with a passport size photo, and your membership can commence (the on-line Membership Enquiry form can be used for more general membership queries). There is no need to send copy certificates for A-level or GCSE qualifications, but if you have completed a course since then, can you please send copy certificates.

For more information on this exciting and challenging career, contact the membership secretary at [email protected].

Back to top...

Home | About ICES | Civil Engineering Surveying | ICES Membership
ICES Regions | Education and Training | Publications