Civil Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings of human existence. The earliest practices of Civil Engineering may have commenced between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq) when humans started to abandon a nomadic
existence, thus causing a need for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation became increasingly important leading to the development of the wheel and sailing.
Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engineering and architecture, and the term engineer and architect were mainly geographical variations referring to the same person, often used interchangeably. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (circa 2700-2500 BC) might be considered the first instance of large structure constructions.
In modern days, Civil Engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings. Civil engineering is traditionally broken
into several sub-disciplines. It is the second-oldest engineering discipline after military engineering, and it is defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering.
Civil engineering takes place in the public sector from municipal through to national governments, and in the private sector from individual homeowners through to international companies.
The civil engineering profession recognizes the reality of limited natural resources, the desire for sustainable practices (including life-cycle analysis and sustainable design techniques), and the need for social equity in the consumption of resources. Surface says the basic responsibilities of
a civil engineer are to plan and design a structure and analyze its various aspects, make a regular inspection in the site to ensure that the construction is going according to the plan, and make the necessary amendments in the project if required during construction. A civil engineer has to make sure that the project is cost-effective, and structure is of required strength and safety. Civil engineer holds the safety, health, and welfare of the public paramount. Civil engineering projects and systems should comply with governmental guidelines and regulations; should be built economically to function properly with a minimum of maintenance and repair while withstanding anticipated usage and weather; and should conserve energy and allow hazard-free construction while providing healthful, safe, and environmentally sound utilization by society.