What is a Consulting Engineer?

The components of our "built environment," roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings, sewers, water treatment systems, hazardous waste disposal, and others, make people's lives safer, cleaner, and more comfortable. These engineered components also give us greater mobility, more work and recreational opportunities, and a better overall quality of life than we would have otherwise. But who comes up with these ideas? Who figures out how to suspend a bridge, clean rainwater, build earthquake resistant buildings, or heat and cool a 40 story building? 

Consulting engineers provide expertise and leadership in the planning, design, modification or rehabilitation of public and private infrastructure. They are involved in designing virtually every construction and renovation project in the nation, from bridges and prisons to water purification plants and energy efficient generation and distribution systems. They design ventilating and electrical systems for new hospitals, figure out how to build tunnels through mountains without disturbing the local wildlife, and renovate wastewater treatment systems for bustling cities. They also solve environmental and ecological problems, like wetlands, brownfields, and hazardous waste disposal.

Consulting engineers frequently lead teams of multi disciplined professionals on complex technical projects that may include:

• investigations to determine the feasibility of a project 
• collection of design data 
• preparation of plans, specifications and cost estimates 
• management during construction 
• assistance during start up, research and development 
• and a variety of other types of consultations