The Need for Municipal Engineering in Major Cities

The terms “city” and “major city” tend to come hand in hand with a lot of debate, as there aren’t coherent and strict rules about what either one comprises around the world. Some would say the title relies on population. But in some countries, such as the USA, many small townships are considered cities. In the UK, on the other hand, a city needs to have an ancient charter and cathedral, meaning that there is in fact a city called “Tyddewi” in Wales that has a population of only 1800 people. If we stick with the rule of a city requiring a population of over 150,000 people, there are around 4416 cities in the world. While cities may be large on paper, a population of 150,000 people in almost any constricted space is going to result in every city in the world being quite densely populated. With so many people living in a relatively small space, a whole lot of work has to be carried out to keep things ticking over. This is where municipal engineers come into play. Let’s take a moment to learn a little more about these individuals and to understand why their work is so integral to the functioning of all of the world’s major cities.

What Is a Municipal Engineer?

There are all sorts of engineers in the world. All different engineering job roles revolve around designing, building, and maintaining some sort of engine, machine, or structure. Now, many of us automatically think of physical engines, machines, and structures - things like car engines, factory equipment, or buildings. Sure, there are different types of engineers who specialise in these areas - automotive engineers, technological engineers, and architectural engineers. But sometimes the structures that engineers deal with are a little less tangible. Think of the structure of society. A municipal engineer focuses on ensuring that the city works and is an enjoyable and functional place for its inhabitants to work, play, and generally live within. Municipal engineers from this engineering firm help to expand on a city’s in-house resources, looking at areas such as:

• *  Civil engineering
• *  Engineering reviews
• *  Preventative pavement management plans
• *  Transportation
• *  Drinking water
• *  Waste water
• *  Parks and recreation

Who Employs Municipal Engineers?

Traditionally, municipal engineers were only really employed by councils. This would make sense, as it is a council’s role to create a good, liveable space for its constituents, so they could always do with the advice and knowledge of a municipal engineer. But nowadays, councils are no longer the sole employers of municipal engineers. Municipal engineers are being taken on in increasing numbers by consulting engineers, contractors, and partnerships.

You may not have thought about it before, but cities do not run themselves and a whole lot of hard work and specialism goes into maintaining any major city. Municipal engineers play a key role in this organisation and are an essential worker in any city with a large number of inhabitants!