INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL ENGINEERING :-

Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and
maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads,
bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and
railways.
DISCIPLINES OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
BUILDING MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY
All the building structures are composed of various types of materials. These materials are either
referred to as building materials or materials of construction. A builder, perhaps an architect or
engineer, or a contractor needs to become familiar totally with these building materials.These are some
of the most commonly used building materials –
1. Stones
2. Bricks
3. Cement
4. Sand
5. Mortar
6. Concrete
7. Timber
8. Metals
9. Glass
10. Ceramics
11. Miscellaneous Building Materials

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

It focuses on the knowledge and skills required for the planning, coordination and successful
implementation of large Projects such as design and construction of structures and buildings, ship
structures, aircraft, dams, roads, and bridges etc. It is a fusion of engineering and management.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING:-
This field is concerned with the study of the necessary methods and techniques of environment
protection as well as the availability of the basic life elements such as water and air with a specific level
of quality to protect the mankind health and environment. This includes design and construction of
water distribution networks, wastewater and storm water collection systems, water treatment plants
and wastewater treatment for reuse in industrial and agricultural fields. Environmental engineering
involves also the study of the different techniques of controlling air, water and soil pollution as well as
the proper disposal or recycle of solid and hazardous wastes.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING:-
This field is concerned with the study of the soil properties of the construction site and its bearing
capacity. Geotechnical engineering is concerned also with the suitable solutions for any problem in the
soil as well as the choice of the best and secured methods of design and construction of the foundation
of engineering structures.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING:-
This discipline deals with the analysis and design of concrete and steel structures, such as multi-story
buildings, bridges, towers....etc. It deals also with the study of the durability and resistibility of such
structures for live loads, wind and earthquake.
SURVEYING:-
Surveying typically involves measurements of horizontal and vertical distances between points. It also
includes descriptions of the exact characteristics of the land structure and surface.
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING:-
Transportation engineering is a branch of civil engineering that involves the planning, design, operation,
and maintenance of transportation systems to help build smart, safe, and liveable communities

SELECTION OF SITE FOR BUILDINGS :-

1. The soil of site should have good bearing capacity. Hard strata should be available at reasonable
depth, around 1.2m to1.5m depth from ground level.
2. The site should be on elevated ground. It should have slope towards front street to afford good
facility of drainage.
3. Sites nearer to ponds ,pools of water, water logged areas must be avoided as they remain in damp
condition .
4. Sites near to high voltage power transmission lines are avoided.
5. Sites very nearer to big shopping complexes , markets, railway station ,airport are avoided
6. The surrounding of site should be pleasing and calm.
7. The orientation of site should be such that it receives natural light and air in plenty.
8. The location of site is such that the common facilities like school, transportation, medical facilities etc
are within reasonable range.
9. Sites in developed colonies should be preferred.
10. The layout of the colony should be approved by local authorities. This will help in getting essential
facilities like water , drainage ,electricity, telephone connection etc easily.

TYPES OF BUILDING AS PER NBC (NATIONAL BUILDING CODE):-

Any structure made for whatsoever purpose with any material, used for human habitation or not which
included foundation, plinth, walls, floor, roofs, chimney, plumbing, and building services, Verandah,
Balcony, and cornice, etc. is called a building. Buildings are classified based on occupance and type of
construction:
A. RESIDENTIAL
B. EDUCATIONAL
C. INSTITUTIONAL
D. ASSEMBLY
E. BUSINESS
F. MERCANTILE (included retail and wholeshale store)
G. INDUSTRIAL (low, moderate and high fire hazards)
H. STORAGE
I. HAZARDOUS
1. Residential Buildings
Any building in which sleeping accommodation is provided for normal residential purposes with or
without cooking/dining.
These are further classified as: Group A-Residential
A1: Lodging or rooming houses.
A2: One or two-family private dwellings
A3: Dormitories
A4: Apartment houses
A5: Hotels (upto 4 star category)
A6: Hotels (Starred- five star and above)
(i) Lodging and rooming houses- These are buildings in which separate sleeping accommodation
with or without a dining facility but without a cooking facility is provided. For instance, Inns,
Clubs, Motels, and Guesthouses.
(ii) One or two-family private dwelling- A private dwelling which is occupied by members of one
or two-family. Maximum sleeping accommodation is provided for 20 persons.
(iii) Dormitories- Any building in which group sleeping accommodation is provided with or
without dining facilities. e.g., School and College Dormitories, Hostels, and Military Barracks.
2. Educational Buildings
Any building used for school, college, and other training institutions having a minimum of 20
students.
(i) Schools up to Senior Secondary level Minimum students should be 20.
(ii) All others/training institute Minimum students should be 100.
3. Institutional Buildings
Buildings that are used for medical or other treatment, care of persons suffering from physical
and mental illness, care of infants, for inmates etc are called institutional buildings `
(i) Hospital and Sanatoria -Any building which is used for the treatment of patients e.g.,
hospitals, sanatoria, infirmaries, and nursing homes.
(ii) Custodial Institutions Any building used for custody and care of a person for instance
children, old age homes, orphanages, etc
4. Assembly Buildings
Any building in which a minimum of 50 persons gathers for recreational, amusement, social,
religious, patriotic purposes e.g., theatres, assembly halls, exhibition halls, museums, estaurants,
places of worship, etc. These are classified into 7 types:
(i) The building having theatrical or motion pictures or any other stage having fixed seats
for over 1000 persons.
(ii) The building having theatrical or motion pictures or any other stage having fixed seats
for up to 1000 persons
5. Business Buildings
Any buildings used for the transaction of business, professional establishments, service facilities,
etc. are termed as business buildings. These are further divided into 5 types –
(i) Offices, banks, professional establishments etc.
(ii) Laboratories, clinics, research establishments and libraries etc.
(iii) IT parks, call centers etc.
(iv) Telephone exchange
(v) Broadcasting stations, TV stations and air traffic control towers.
6. Mercantile Buildings
Any building which is used as a shop, store, market, etc. is known as mercantile buildings. These
are further classified as:
(i) Shops, stores, departmental stores, markets (covered area up to 500 sq. m ).
(ii) Shops, stores, departmental stores, markets (covered area more than 500 sq. m).
(iii) Underground shopping centres, storage and service facilities
7. Industrial Buildings
Any building in which products or materials are fabricated, assembled, manufactured, or
processed. For instance, assembly plants, industrial laboratories, power plants, pumping
stations, etc.
 Buildings for low hazard industry –  Buildings in which those things are manufactured that
have low combustibility.
 Buildings for moderate hazard industry-  Buildings in which those things are manufactured
which will burn with moderate rapidity.
 Buildings for high hazard industry-  Buildings in which those things are manufactured which
will burn with extreme rapidity and results in hazardous situations.
8. STORAGE BUILDINGS
 Any building which is used for storage of goods, ware or merchandise, vehicles or animals. e.g.,
warehouse, cold storage, garages, stables, etc.
9. HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS
 Buildings which are used for storage, handling, manufacture, or processing of highly
combustible or explosive material. For instance, manufacture of explosives and fireworks,
storage of highly flammable liquids, storage of LPG, rocket propellants, etc

PRINCIPLES OF BUILDING PLANNING:-

“The concept of positioning all the elements and units of a building in a systematic and practical manner
to have the maximum and best utilization of the available space, area and facilities is termed as
Principles of Building Planning.” There are several principles that affect the planning of a building. This
article will give you a brief knowledge of all those principles. Factors Affecting Building Planning
3 REQUIREMENTS OF BUILDING PLANNING AND THE CONSTRUCTION:
01. ASPECT in building planning
A building is a complete constitute of different rooms and blocks in it. All the rooms are located
according to the standard use of components considering the proper access of natural resources,
i.e., sunlight and wind. ASPECT is defined as a significant arrangement of doors and windows in
abuilding, which are enough and efficient to provide sunlight, hygiene, wind, and eco-friendly
environment. There must be sufficient light and ventilation in each room and across the house. The
aspect of building can be achieved by arranging the rooms, kitchen, veranda, and many other
components in proper directions.
02. PROSPECT principles in building planning
In these modern times, all the buildings and constructions are aimed to achieve an aesthetically
appealing look from both exteriors and interior considerations. The appearance of a house or a
building is defined as PROSPECT. The standards are raised to accomplish the building’s pleasant look
by locating doors and windows at an accurate location to view nature’s beauty and avoid unwanted
attributes from getting entry into the house.
03. GROUPING in building planning
GROUPING: It is to organize the different rooms in such a way that they are adequately
interconnected with each other to form a functional and practical layout of the house. The
accessibility of all the rooms is interlinked with each other, and this provision can be satisfied by
grouping.
04. ROOMINESS of building planning
The meaning of ROOMINESS is to maximize the advantage of the available  space
rom thef
minimum dimension of a room. Both the size and shape of the room play a vital role in providing
roominess.
POINTS TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOMINES
 A square room seems small in size when compared to a rectangular room.
 It is always advisable to plan a rectangular room with a proportion of 1.2 to 1.5 times
 the ratio of the length to the breadth. The increase in ratio due to length gives the tunnel
experience as it looks longer.
05.CIRCULATION act as a principle of building planning
The internal access in a room in both ways i.e. in horizontal and vertical directions of a building is
defined as CIRCULATION. The movement from one room to another on the same floor can be
described as horizontal circulation. Likely, the movement from one floor to the other floor is termed
as vertical circulation.
06. Flexibility in building planning
Flexibility means “to allow use of the particular element in another way possible to fulfil a specific
purpose. An element is initially designed for one particular reason, but later the same element is
used differently.”
07. Privacy in building planning
Privacy is an important factor that needs prior attention. Usually, the privacy can be considered in
two ways:
a. Internal Privacy: This deals with the privacy inside a house, amongst the rooms. It covers the
privacy between rooms and water closets, corridors, passage lobbies etc.
b. External Privacy: Privacy of a building with respect to other buildings and the things outside the
building- such as streets, roads, etc., is external privacy
08. FURNITURE influence principles of building planning
According to rooms’ functions, the type of furniture varies. The architects and planner must
consider the furniture’s relative positions to avoid the congestion of space. The furniture should
match the purpose of the room and justify the effective use of a room and furniture as well. There
are many points to consider while choosing furniture for your house.
09. SANITATION in building planning
The hygiene maintenance in a building is crucial. Light, ventilation, and sanitary conveniences, are
essential factors that provide good sanitation in a building. Adequate sanitation can be achieved by
placing doors, windows, and ventilators appropriately. Installing exhaust fans, lighting lamps,
suitable absorbent flooring, and improvised plumbing equipment can lead to better sanitation.