Research is one of the most important aspects of scientific and engineering practice. A researcher usually works as a member of a team with other scientists and engineers. He or she is often employed in a laboratory that is financed by government or industry. Areas of research connected with civil engineering include soil mechanics and soil stabilization techniques, and also the development and testing of new structural materials. 調(diào)查研究是科學技術(shù)其中最重要的一個方面。一名研究人員通常作為團隊的一員，與其他科學家和工程師共同研究。他或她往往是受雇于某個實驗室或研究所，其經(jīng)費通常由政府或某個行業(yè)提供。研究領(lǐng)域涉及土木工程，包括土力學及土壤加固技術(shù)等，并涉及到結(jié)構(gòu)新材料的開發(fā)和試驗。 Civil engineering projects are almost always unique; that is, each has its own problems and design features. Therefore, careful study is given to each project even before design work begins. The study includes a survey both of topography and subsoil features of the proposed site. It also includes a consideration of possible alternatives, such as a concrete gravity dam or an earth-fill embankment dam. The economic factors involved in each of the possible alternatives must also be weighed. Today, a study usually includes a consideration of the environmental impact of the project. Many engineers, usually working as a team that includes surveyors, specialists in soil mechanics, and experts in design and construction, are involved in making these feasibility studies. 土木工程項目幾乎都是獨一無二的，也就是說，每一個都有其自身存在的問題和設(shè)計特點。因此，要認真研究每個特定的項目，甚至在設(shè)計工作開始前就開始研究。研究內(nèi)容包括調(diào)查、測量擬定項目現(xiàn)場的地形和地下土質(zhì)。還要考慮到可能的備選方案，比如是選擇混凝土重力壩還是選擇填土筑堤大壩。對于每個可選的方案都要衡量其牽涉到的經(jīng)濟因素。當前在研究中還要充分考慮該項目的建設(shè)對環(huán)境的影響。在做項目的可行性研究時，一個團隊通常由許多專業(yè)的工程師組成，包括測量工程師，土力學專家，設(shè)計和施工專家等等。Many civil engineers, among them the top people in the field, work in design. As we have seen, civil engineers work on many different kinds of structures, so it is normal practice for an engineer to specialize in just one kind. In designing buildings, engineers often work as consultants to architectural or construction firms. Dams, bridges, water supply systems, and other large projects ordinarily employ several engineers whose work is coordinated by a systems engineer who is in charge of the entire project. In many cases, engineers from other disciplines are involved. In a dam project, for example, electrical and mechanical engineers work on the design of the powerhouse and its equipment. In other cases, civil engineers are assigned to work on a project in another field; in the space program, for instance, civil engineers were necessary in the design and construction of such structures as launching pads and rocket storage facilities. 許多土木工程師參與設(shè)計工作，他們中間不乏行業(yè)內(nèi)的頂尖專家。正如我們所看到的，土木工程師的工作牽涉到很多不同種類的建筑物，所以各行如隔山，每個領(lǐng)域都有其精通的專家，專門從事某一類研究。在建筑物的設(shè)計中，這些工程師往往擔任某個建筑或安裝公司的顧問。大壩，橋梁，供水系統(tǒng)，以及其他大型工程項目通常聘請一些工程師，他們的工作由一個負責整個項目的系統(tǒng)工程師統(tǒng)一協(xié)調(diào)管理。在很多情況下，其他專業(yè)領(lǐng)域的工程師也會參與到項目中。例如，在大壩項目中，電氣及機械工程師會參與到發(fā)電廠房及動力設(shè)備的設(shè)計中去。另外土木工程師還會被安排到另一些領(lǐng)域區(qū)工作，如太空開發(fā)計劃，在設(shè)計和建造一些結(jié)構(gòu)如火箭發(fā)射架和儲存設(shè)施時，土木工程師就有必要參與其中的設(shè)計和建設(shè)。 Construction is a complicated process on almost all engineering projects, it involves scheduling the work and utilizing the equipment and the materials so that costs are kept as low as possible. Safety factors must also be taken into account, since construction can be very dangerous. Many civil engineers therefore specialize in the construction phase. 對于幾乎所有的工程項目來說，施工都是一個極其復雜的過程，它涉及到工期的組織計劃，設(shè)備和材料的合理使用，目的使建設(shè)成本越低越好。還必須考慮到安全因素，由于施工是很危險的。因此許多土木工程師專門深入研究施工階段。 Much of the work of civil engineers is carried on outdoors, often in rugged and difficult terrain or under dangerous conditions. Surveying is an outdoor occupation, for example, and dams are often built in wild river valleys or gorges. Bridges, tunnels, and skyscrapers under construction can also be dangerous places to work. In addition, the work must also progress under all kinds of weather conditions. 土木工程師的許多工作在戶外進行的，他們常常在崎嶇不平的復雜地形甚至危險情況下。測量也是一個室外專業(yè)，例如，大壩往往是建于激流河谷活峽谷中。橋梁，隧道，以及摩天大廈的施工場所也充滿危險。此外，工程必須在不可避免的各種氣候條件下進行。 The prospective civil engineer should be aware of the physical demands that will be made on him or her **. 未來的土木工程師們應(yīng)該清醒意識到這種工作對他們（或她們）的體質(zhì)要求。God，終于搞完了！