Do you know which software can help you in your career?
Computer programs have revolutionized every aspect of our lives, and the construction industry is no exception.
If you’re a civil engineer, you need to know that without good computer skills and mastering one or two software programs, you can’t reach any success in your career. Even if you think “I can pay someone to take my exam” you will still need to put in some work.
Of course, bear in mind that each specific software is for certain kinds of projects and you can’t expect to compete with other engineers just with one tool.
You need to know the particular project and your career path to be able to choose suitable software for it.
Many civil engineers may be able to use a lot of technical software when they’re studying at university. But senior engineers often focus on specific software or even shift towards project management roles. For example, Condoly, which provides condo assignment deals in Canada, claims that many Civil engineers in Canada are working as real estate agents and managers.
So it’s good to review all the top software for civil engineers and then decide the one you need in your career.
Here is the list of 10 top software useful for civil engineers.
1. AutoCAD Civil 3D
AutoCAD Civil 3D is a civil engineering drafting tool for design, analysis, and simulation. It can be regarded as the most used software in this branch.
Civil 3D supports BIM (Building Information Modeling) with several integrated features allowing you to improve your drafting, design, and construction documentation.
You can also simplify design review and modification with this tool. Moreover, you will be able to validate if your design objectives are met. Custom reporting and table generation are also other useful features offered by Civil 3D.
2. HEC-HMS
If you are looking for a standard for hydrologic simulation, The Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) is a must.
It is designed specifically for simulating the hydrologic process of various water systems. It provides you with almost all the technical information you might need.
Using this tool, you can define the geometrical and physical properties of a watershed and simulate it during a certain time span.
The results and summary tables are really insightful. The tool provides you with the maximum flow, total volume, depth, and also storage parameters in the system.
This tool has been developed by the Hydrologic Engineering Center of the US Army Corps of Engineers and subsequently, is really valid in the world.
3. Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is one of the most famous project management tools in the world. All managers in reputable brands in every field need to use this software, and civil engineers who are playing managing roles are no exception.
It looks like other Microsoft Office features, especially Excel. A friendly user interface is obviously the most important parameter of this tool.
Scheduling is really easy using this software. For example, activity relationships, critical paths, Gantt Charts, and many other features can be created in detail. Learn more about Office 365 Cloud Migration.
4. SA
Autodesk Storm and Sanitary Analysis (also known as SSA) is a hydrology and hydraulic analysis tool. Using this software, you can easily design any complex urban drainage systems, storm sewers, and sanitary sewers. This software can also be used on cloud using tools such as hosted virtual desktop etc.
Autodesk is the owner of AutoCAD and has created SSA as an extension within CAD. SSA is a feature of Civil 3D, so users can use both tools and import and export back and forth during their design project.
SSA is a user-friendly program that integrates stormwater and wastewater analysis during planning and design.
5. ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a geographic information system to handle engineering maps and plans and geographic information. It has been developed by the Environmental Systems Research Institute.
It is a mapping platform that engineers can use to create a plan that includes geographical data. In its environment, you can create different layers of information and data resources.
You can take utility, property, and other information, and layer it on top of any image, street, or topographic maps to determine exactly what you need.
This tool has the ability to read data from the information file you’re inserting. For example, elevations, materials, street names, and many other data can be displayed in various useful ways.
6. Bluebeam
This tool is a bit different from the other applications. Bluebeam’s Revu is a PDF creator and editor tool that allows you to create and edit PDFs easily.
Apart from Microsoft Office, every engineer needs to work with PDFs in order to documents the plans. It may sound trivial, but being able to combine different PDFs, quickly redline plans, and accurately measure plans is greatly necessary for you.
This is a helpful tool in this regard and you can’t find a better alternative easily.
7. STAAD PRO
STAAD is one of the greatest structural analysis and design tools developed by Research Engineers International in 1997. In 2005, Research Engineers International was bought by Bentley Systems.
STAAD.Pro is a well-known and widely used software products in the world. STAAD.Pro is the choice of many structural professionals for steel, cold-formed steel, timber, concrete, aluminum.
It is also great for designing different kinds of structures including culverts, petrochemical plants, tunnels, bridges, and piles.
8. REVIT Structure
Building Information Modelling is now one of the most important aspects of every project, especially infrastructures.
BIM (Building Information Modeling) tools are then key to integrating 3D design procedures including architecture, MEP, and construction and coordinate professionals accordingly.
Autodesk Revit is a BIM software for architects, landscape architects, structural, and MEP engineers. It can greatly help you reduce the time taking to manage the projects and avoid any possible conflict before starting the project.
9. ETABS
ETABS is an integrated software package for complex structural analysis and design of buildings. ETABS offers unrivaled 3D modeling and visualization features, fast and accurate linear/nonlinear analytical tools, comprehensive design abilities for lots of materials, and insightful reports and displays.
10. 3DS Max
3DS Max is a great animation software that can be used by civil engineers to generate visuals for their projects. It is a modeling and rendering software developed by Autodesk and is mainly used for interior design.
Takeaway
Software is taking over our lives and you can’t do anything without using suitable software programs. If you want to work in the real estate industry, no matter which position you want to take, you have to master related software programs.