Civil Engineering Softwares

       


              As a civil engineer, we need to have knowledge of different software according to the field we choose. We have different software in different fields of engineering such as in hydropower we have some software whereas in fields like road we have others. What we must understand is that having knowledge of all the software is not necessary for a civil engineer but we must have knowledge of the software which are related to our field of interest. Nowadays the concept of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is being practiced and is in an early stage. Building information modeling (BIM) is a process supported by various tools, technologies, and contracts involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places. BIM is actually a concept that is being practiced widely abroad. During design as well of construction BIM software are used which gives wide varieties of function and multi taskings. BIM software gives the features of not only design but project management too. However, we won't be discussing BIM but we will be showing different software that is used in the specified field of civil engineering.

1) Hydropower: -

               While designing hydropower we need to study different hydrological aspects. Below are the software used for hydrological study while designing hydropower: -

    a) HEC-HMS (Hydrological Engineering Centre-Hydrological Modelling System)

                This software is used to fix the hydrological parameters while designing of hydropower or any other structure which needs hydrological study. We give data to software such as the rainfall data of the river basin, geometry of river, slope, topography, evaporation, evapotranspiration, ppt nature, maximum intensity, etc and the software shows us the nature of the river basin.

    b) RRI-Modeling (Rainfall-Runoff Inundation)

                We input data such as ppt data, land type ( forest or river or barren land or city area) and this software gives us the output as flood value, discharge value, and water level at different spaces with respect to time.

    c) IFAS (Integrated Flood Analysis System)

                This software is used to create hazard maps. A hazard map is a map that highlights areas that are affected by or are vulnerable to a particular hazard.

    d) HEC-RAC (Hydrological Engineering Centre-River Analysis System)

                This software is very important to civil engineers (hydraulic engineers). To work on the hydraulic structures this is a must-know software. For the design of a bridge, culvert, dam, canal or any structure at different flow condition responses of a river in sense of water level scouring parameters are required which is provided by this software.

    e) Seep_W/Phase_2

                 This software is used to know the seepage path, equipotential lines.

    f) Flow-3D

                This is the software used for the 3D analysis of the hydraulic structures. Eg: - Spillway discharge analysis.

All these above-mentioned software are used for the study of open channel flow. For studying pipe flow different software is used. If a new engineer is willing to enter into a hydropower field then learning all the software is very difficult. So for beginners, some must-know software are: -

  • Auto CAD
  • Sketch UP
  • Q-GIS
  • ARC-GIS       
For professionals the software mentioned below are important: -
  • ARC-GIS
  • Civil-3D
  • HEC-RAS
  • Hydrological Models
  • Flow-3D


2) Building and water supply: -
  • Auto-CAD: - This is a fundamental software for civil engineers used in all the fields. In building its applications are in all the phases like planning phases, detailed drawing, and also construction phase.
  • REVIT 2020: - In this software plan and 3D design of the building can be done parallelly. An estimation sheet can be obtained and also material application rendering can be done in this software. Elevation and sectional detail and also analysis can be done from this software. This is multifunctional software and hence it needs a powerful computer to run smoothly.
  • 3D-Sketch UP: - This a one of the easiest, user-friendly, and very important software for 3D works. This software is widely used because it is a very light software. For purpose of rendering V-ray plugins are used in this software.
  • SW CBWSS: - This is the software created by softwel. This is used for water supply design. In this software survey data are input and design discharge calculation is done. This software gives the design of pipeline, RVT, Pump. It also does estimating and costing.
  • EPANET: - This is a very important and widely used software for water supply design. 


3)  Structure related software: -
  • ETABS:- Structural analysis and design software. This is used for the design of buildings and is very user-friendly.
  • Staad Pro: - Structural analysis and design software. This software can be used not only for building but for other structures too such as bridge.
  • SAP 2000: - Structural analysis and design software. This software is widely used and from this, any kind of structure can be designed.
  • CSI SAFE: - Structural analysis and design software. Actually, etabs, sap, safe, these all software are made for the same company called CSI. This software is mainly used in the design of the foundation and slab. This is very useful software and along with this sap and etabs is a must-learn software for fresh engineers.
  • PROKON and IDEA Statica: - Both of this software are used to design steel structures. Steel structures can be designed from all the above software but from these two software connection design can also be done which we cannot do in sap,etabs, and staad.
  • GEO-5: - This software is used by geotechnical experts but it is always a better option for a civil engineer to learn more.
  • TEKLA: - This is a very important multifunctional software. This is mainly used in the analysis of steel structures. They are used while designing structures such as stadiums. This is very similar to REVIT and very user-friendly software. Its practice is increasing nowadays in Nepal but still, it hasn't got the market like it should and in the context of foreign countries this is widely used.
  • MIDAS Civil and CSI Bridge: - These are the commonly used software for the design of bridges in Nepal. Generally, bridge design in Nepal is done manually and check is done using this software. In Nepal, the working stress method is being used for designing bridges in Nepal but nowadays limit state method is also being practiced.
                Other software such as ABAQUS, ANSYS, etc is used for the research purpose. Processing also takes a lot of time and high-end computers are used. They are the core of FEM and are used in the non-linear analysis. 


4)  Project Management: -
  • MS-Project: - It is a very important software used for project management. From MS- Project we can do activities such as project scheduling, resource management, estimating and costing, EVA, etc.
  • MS Office: - This is the basic software that I think everyone needs to learn. This is very important in all works of engineering such as documentation, design, calculations, IPCs, etc.
  • Primavera: - It is a very important software in project management. This software is used in project scheduling, risk analysis, opportunity management, resource management, etc. 
5)  Road Design: -
  • Smart Road, SW Road, Open Road solution: - These are software used in designing the road and are similar in use. They provide a plan, elevation, and section of the designed road.3D road feature is available on open road and SW Road.
  • Civil 3D: - This is one of the best software for design. Not only road they are used to design water supply. However, they are not user-friendly like others but once you know the software then it can give you great output. They are used to create profiles of roads and tunnels, create detailed site topography, section profiles over topography, etc.    

                    Hence above are some of the software used in civil engineering as far as my knowledge. Not only these, but there are also other software too in the above-mentioned field and if you know any then feel free to comment.
  
NOTE: - GIS is used in all the fields. Especially in location-related work, GIS is used. So, GIS must be learned by the fresh engineers so that it is easier in a professional career. The use of GIS is for calculation, data presentation, map making, watershed, census, contour making, urban planning, etc. It is better to learn ARC-GIS first and learn Q-GIS.         


            Prepared By: - Er. Biplov Sapkota

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