Civil Engineering

Civil Engineers

Civil engineers build the essentials that make civilization possible—bridges, roads, and water supply systems. This profession may take you to remote regions and faraway lands, but usually the work is near major industrial and commercial centers. With vision and a sense of adventure, civil engineers design and supervise the construction of airports, tunnels, dams, and wastewater systems. Major specialties within civil engineering are structural, water resources, environmental, construction, transportation, and geotechnical engineering.

Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions, from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer. Others may work in design, construction, research, and teaching.

Autodesk software applications you’re likely to use in this career includes AutoCAD®, AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD® Map 3D and AutoCAD Raster Design.

Find out more about civil engineers, including job descriptions, training requirements, and links to other resources.

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Urban and Regional Planners

What to do with all that land? A bird sanctuary? Maybe a ballfield or a skateboarding park? If you’re an urban or a regional planner, it’s up to you. Planners develop long- and short-term land use plans to provide for growth and revitalization of urban, suburban, and rural communities, while helping local officials make decisions concerning social, economic, and environmental problems.

Planners use computers to record and analyze information, and to prepare reports and recommendations for government executives and others. Computerized geographic information systems enable planners to map land areas and overlay maps with geographic variables, such as population density, as well as to combine and manipulate geographic information to produce alternative plans for land use or development.

Autodesk software you’re likely to use in this career includes AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD Raster Design.

Find out more about urban and regional Planners, including job descriptions, training requirements, and links to other resources.

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Surveyors, Cartographers, Photogrammetrists, and Surveying Technicians

Put the world on a map so the rest of us can see it! Measuring and mapping the earth’s surface is the responsibility of several different types of workers. Traditional land surveyors establish official land, air space, and water boundaries. They write descriptions of land for deeds, leases, and other legal documents; define air space for airports; and measure construction and mineral sites.

Other surveyors provide data relevant to the shape, contour, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features. Surveying technicians assist land surveyors by operating survey instruments and collecting information. Cartographers compile geographic, political, and cultural information and prepare maps of large areas.

Advances in technology include new earth resources data satellites, improved aerial photography, and geographic information systems (GIS), which are computerized data banks of spatial data. The geographic information specialist combines the functions of mapping science and surveying into a broader field concerned with the collection and analysis of geographic information.

Autodesk software you’re likely to use in this career includes AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD Raster Design.

Find out more about surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists, including job descriptions, training requirements, and links to other resources.

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Public Utilities

Most of us never even think about it. But the simple act of walking into a restroom, turning on the light, and washing our hands uses the products of four different utilities. Electricity powers the light, water supply systems provide water for washing and drinking, wastewater treatment plants treat the sewage, and natural gas or electricity heats the water. Each of the various segments within the public utilities sector is distinctly different. They are: electric services, gas production and transmission, combination electric and gas and other utilities, water supply, sanitary services, and other utilities.

We usually take public utilities for granted—until we don’t have heat, water, or an operable sewage system. If you choose a career in this field, get ready forimportant responsibilities. You’re an unsung hero—the one who keeps it all running, rain or shine.

Autodesk software you’re likely to use in this career includes AutoCAD® Revit® MEP Suite, AutoCAD, AutoCAD® Architecture, AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Map 3D, and AutoCAD Raster Design.

Find out more about public utilities, including job descriptions, training requirements, and links to other resources.

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State and Local Government Jobs

State and local governments provide vital services to citizens, including transportation, public safety, health care, education, utilities, and courts. Excluding the education and hospital sectors, state and local governments employ about 7.2 million workers, placing them among the largest employers in the economy.

This field encompasses a wide range of professions found in nearly every industry, including chief executives and legislators, inspectors and compliance officers, urban and regional planners, social workers, firefighters, police officers, and subway car operators. Ample benefits—health, life insurance, and retirement—usually go with the job, providing a significant incentive to working in this field.

Autodesk software you’re likely to use in this career includes AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture,  AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Map 3D and AutoCAD Raster Design.

Find out more about state and local government jobs, including job descriptions, training requirements, and links to other resources.

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Construction

Put on your hard hat, flex your muscles, and build! Houses, apartments, factories, offices, schools, roads, bridges—these are only some of the products of the construction industry.

The construction industry is divided into three major segments: general building contractors, heavy construction contractors, and special trade contractors. General building contractors build residential, industrial, commercial, and other buildings. Heavy construction contractors build sewers, roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, and other projects. Special trade contractors are engaged in specialized activities such as carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical work.

Autodesk software you’re likely to use in the construction careers includes AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Raster Design and Autodesk® 3ds Max®.

Find out more about the construction industry, including job descriptions, salaries, and training requirements.

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Construction and Building Inspectors

Put on your hard hat and head to the site. You decide whether the work measures up—and if it doesn’t, you determine what needs to be done. Construction and building inspectors examine the construction, alteration, or repair of buildings, highways and streets, sewer and water systems, dams, bridges, and other structures to make sure they’re up to code—building codes, ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications. Inspectors make an initial inspection during the first phase of construction, and then follow up with inspections throughout the construction project.

Building inspectors look over the structural quality and general safety of buildings. Some specialize—for example, in structural steel or reinforced concrete structures. A primary concern of building inspectors is fire safety. Inspectors consider such things as alarm systems, fire exits, and risks posed by adjoining buildings. There are many types of inspectors, including elevator inspectors, electrical inspectors, and plumbing inspectors.

Autodesk software you’re likely to use in this career includes AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Raster Design and Autodesk 3ds Max.

Find out more about construction and building inspectors, including job descriptions, salaries, and training requirements.

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Public Relations Specialists

It takes belief in the organization behind a product or service for buyers to buy. As a public relations specialist, your job is to help make that happen. Being able to do that for a specific audience means you have to understand the attitudes and concerns of consumers, employees, and other groups that play a part in the commercial exchange. You’re an advocate—for businesses, governments, universities, hospitals, schools, and other organizations. You build and maintain positive relationships with the public.

Public relations specialists prepare press releases and work together with people in the media who might print or broadcast their material. Many radio or television special reports, newspaper stories, and magazine articles start at the desks of public relations specialists.

Autodesk software you’re likely to use in this career includes AutoCAD and Autodesk 3ds Max.

Find out more about public relations specialists, including job descriptions, salaries, and training requirements.

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Portions of this page are adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook and Career Guide to Industries.