Difference Between Civil Engineer And Architect (2023)

Constructing a structure as small as a house to construct a structure as large as the Taj Mahal or Bandra-Worli sea link bridge is not an easy job. Without the backbreaking work of civil engineers and architects, the world would not have seen such amazing structural achievements.

Civil engineers and architects do work in combination with each other to construct a structure and to achieve the feat. But both, the civil engineer and the architect, have contrasting roles to perform and work accordingly to accomplish their goals respectively.

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Civil Engineers

A civil engineer is a person who performs and looks after the planning, designing, construction, maintaining, and operating of the infrastructure while keeping in mind the public health and environmental health and improving the existing infrastructure that may have been neglected.

A civil engineer looks at a structure from the structural point of view. He/she is responsible from the planning stage to the finishing stage of a structure. Even when the structure is fully constructed and handed over to its respective owner, an engineer is responsible for the maintenance of the structure.

Also, an engineer is responsible if there is any sort of technical issue in the structure like leakage from slabs, cracks in walls, etc. He/she must find and give a proper solution for the problem and shall effectively work on that.

Qualities Of A Good Civil Engineer

A good and an experienced civil engineer should possess the following skills:

(Video) Being a Civil Engineer Vs. an Architect

Technically Sound

Civil engineering is a branch that deals with the technical aspects of any structure. So a civil engineer needs to have good technical knowledge about various types of structures. Technical and structural knowledge of structures is important for civil engineers as they have to imply it during the construction of the structure.

Good Knowledge Of Mathematics

Technical calculations in civil engineering require a good knowledge of mathematics. A good civil engineer should be capable of understanding and performing complex mathematical calculations.

Structural calculations are way too complex. They are done very precisely. It requires good knowledge of mathematics. Also, the calculations during quantity takeoff are somewhat complex for large projects, especially.

Communication Skills

Both, written and oral communication plays a vital role for civil engineers. Effective communication shall be there between the engineers and other employees working on the project. Communication helps to convey one’s idea to another person or a group of people.

An effective and transparent communication channel can be the reason for the successful completion of the project. Similarly, if the communication between the employees is weak, it may lead to delay or failure of the project too.

Leadership Skills

A good civil engineer needs to have significant leadership skills. He/she has to lead a team of employees/people including planners, technicians, surveyors, contractors, supervisors, etc.

Problem Solving Skills

During the construction process, engineers have to encounter several problems and issues that occur on the site. Problems have to be solved on the spot or as early as possible to avoid further complexities in the project.

Decision Making Skills

When you are leading a project, you might need to take some crucial calls by yourself. Decisions may include factors like quality and quantity of materials, financial decisions, some change in a typical plan, etc.

Roles And Responsibilities Of A Civil Engineer

The roles and responsibilities of a civil engineer are as follows:

1. To carry out surveying and levelling with proper survey equipment for setting out works.

2. To fix the alignments of road, canal, railway, etc.

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3. To carry soil tests and investigations for the design of foundations.

4. To carry out planning of various types of buildings as per the requirement of owners/ clients.

5. Getting various approvals regarding the current project from local authorities & planning according to the building by-laws.

6. To invite tenders for work and to select the best out of it, in terms of quality of work and money.

7. Supervision and monitoring of activities during the construction work.

8. Testing the quality of various materials like cement, sand, aggregates, steel, etc.

9. To act as an arbitrator if in case there is a dispute between two parties.

10. To check and control the quantity of work done.

11. To ensure that the design of the structure is safe, durable, and economical.

12. To keep an eye on the material being utilized on site and to check that it is not being wasted or stolen.

13. To maintain proper documentation on site, ensuring a smooth and gradual progression of the project.

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Architects

An architect is a person responsible for planning and designing a structure(s) in such a way that the structure should look aesthetically beautiful keeping in mind the functionality of it and it should also be cost effective. The design shall be safe and durable too.

Architects create designs for various types of structures using some special softwares and applications. They are known as Computer Aided Design drawings (CAD drawings). Sometimes hand drawings or hand drawn designs are also required for a particular portion of the structure.

The CAD drawings are highly detailed drawing, consisting of every required detail. Architects are also involved in the project from the planning phase of the project till the completion of the whole project.

Qualities Of A Good Architect

A good architect should have the following quantities and skills for completing the project effectively:

1. An architect is expected to have a good design sense as he/she has to work with the design of the structure. They must have a good understanding of design processes, such as how to combine the visual appearance of the structure with its functionality.

2. Communication is again a vital skill that an architect should have. An architect should be able to communicate his/her ideas to the client, owners, engineers, and the project managers, effectively.

3. An architect must be trained for preparing sketches and detailed drawings by hand or on computers using CAD software.

4. An architect must have adequate knowledge of computers as most of the complex designs are prepared using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. He/she should be trained before working on projects, professionally.

5. Observation is a key skill that an architect should possess. Architects create designs using their observations and visualization skills.

6. He/she must have technical knowledge regarding construction activities performed on construction projects.

Roles And Responsibilities Of An Architect

The roles and responsibilities of an architect are as follows:

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1. Fruitful discussion of the project with the client/owner during the planning stage.

2. Creating detailed drawings, ensuring the feasibility of the project, by hand or using the Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.

3. Preparing costs-effective designs as it is very important to keep the designing costs within the budget.

4. To convey the design ideas effectively and create an effective communication channel between owner, architect, project managers, engineers, and supervisors, respectively.

5. To supervise and keep a check on the work and to look after that the work is being done according to the plan.

Major Difference Between An Architect And A Civil Engineer

As discussed, an architect and a civil works in combination with each other for the successful completion of a project. The major difference between an architect and an engineer is that an architect deals with the design and aesthetics of the structure while a civil engineer looks after the planning, designing, construction, maintaining, and operating of the structure. He/she deals with the technical and structural aspects of the structure.

Also Read –

How To Become A Successful Civil Engineer

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FAQs

Is civil engineer same as architect? ›

Civil engineers manage a broader range of projects encompassing transportation infrastructure and water systems, while architects focus on buildings. Architects are more deeply involved in the pre-construction phases, while civil engineers directly oversee all phases of construction work.

Which is best architecture or civil? ›

Civil Engineering is much broader than Architecture and deals with the design, planning, and construction of buildings, roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, and other infrastructure projects. Civil engineers are involved in all the construction phases (designing, planning, overseeing the construction process).

What is the difference between architect and engineer? ›

For example, an architect is focused on designing and construction the form space, and ambiance of buildings and other physical environments, whereas, engineers ensure that the design will work by applying scientific principles. To become a licensed architect, one must pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).

Can civil engineer become architect? ›

Civil engineering and Architecture are two really different branches and hence it is not advisable to pursue Architecture after doing Civil as you must have already spent 4 years for B. tech and B. Arch is for 5 years (which sums up to 9 years in total!). I will instead recommend you to do your masters in Planning (M.

Which is higher architect or engineer? ›

After the architect creates the blueprint (building plan), the engineer goes over the architect's design and decides what materials must be used to make bring the architect's design to completion and to make the building strong enough for use.

Can civil engineer build a house? ›

Well, the job of an engineer is to plan and design not to build, if the engineer starts building he would be called a contractor. A civil engineer can build houses but they would be building a house as a contractor. An engineer is allowed to be both; an engineer and a contractor at the same time.

Is Civil Engineering harder than architecture? ›

Architecture is much harder than engineering. Engineering requires clearly defined and methodical efforts to achieve accurate and predictable results.

Can a civil engineer draw house plans? ›

In our state, they are allowed to plan and design, but they can't use the title." According to him, there are about 150 architects in the city.

Which engineering has highest salary? ›

10 Highest Paying Engineering Jobs
  • Civil Engineer. ...
  • Mechanical Engineer. ...
  • Industrial Engineer. ...
  • Biomedical Engineer. ...
  • Electrical Engineer. ...
  • Chemical Engineer. ...
  • Software Engineer. ...
  • Computer Engineer.
21 Jun 2022

Can an architect construct a building? ›

Building construction

Architects who are both talented and inventive are the only ones who can build such incredible structures. As a result, when it comes to a building's aesthetics, an architect plays a crucial role.

Do architects do math? ›

Geometry, algebra, and trigonometry all play a crucial role in architectural design. Architects apply these math forms to plan their blueprints or initial sketch designs. They also calculate the probability of issues the construction team could run into as they bring the design vision to life in three dimensions.

Can I be both an engineer and architect? ›

One can become an architect if one is already an engineer, given that they have undergone proper technical training. Santiago Calatrava is living proof. I have also read about civil engineering majors who take an architecture route in graduate school.

Which engineering is best? ›

5 best engineering courses in India with a high market value
  • Computer Science Engineering:
  • Electronics & Communications Engineering:
  • Information Technology Engineering:
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineering:
  • Mechanical Engineering:

Which course is best after civil engineering? ›

8 Best job oriented courses after Civil Engineering in India
  • Civil Engineering Practical Training Course.
  • City Planning or Town Planning Courses.
  • Postgraduate after Graduation.
  • Higher studies (MBA+Construction Management/Project Management )
  • State Government Jobs.
  • Software skills Courses.
16 Apr 2022

Is it hard to study architecture? ›

Architecture is perceived as being hard because of how time intensive it is – this heavy requirement of a student's time and lack of experience managing their own time creates sleepless nights, long days in the studio and a horrific amount of homework.

Is architect a good career? ›

If salary is important to you, a career in architecture is a safe choice. The BLS reports the median salary across all occupations is $41,950, but the median salary for an architect is double that. Job satisfaction for architects is the same or better compared to any other profession.

How many years does it take to study architecture? ›

Program Overview. The Bachelor of Science in Architecture is a five year college degree intended for people who wish to pursue a career in Architecture.

Do civil engineers draw? ›

You do not have to be talented at drawing to become a civil engineer. But, it's necessary to be able to use drawing software such as AutoCAD. Hand-drawing may be helpful when you design buildings, but most of the companies today use computers that can draw blueprints.

What type of engineer makes houses? ›

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS may design any building of any type. CIVIL ENGINEERS may design any building of any type EXCEPT public schools and hospitals.

Does civil engineers travel a lot? ›

It simply depends on your employer and the type of engineering work you do. Working on the construction side of civil engineering will often require more travel, since work occurs on the project site. The project planning and development side is typically done in an office setting, and often requires less travel.

Which pays more civil engineer or architect? ›

Architects earn an average of $86,897 per year . In contrast, civil engineers earn an average of $85,617 per year . Factors like geographical location, experience level and focus area impact the earning potential of both professionals.

Which is easy civil or Architecture? ›

Depends on you. If you are creative and good at drawing, go for Architecture. If you are good at maths and science, go for Civil engineering.

Does civil engineering require math? ›

Physics equations typically use a combination of algebra, calculus and trigonometry. Math is a really important part of a civil engineer's job. At places like ADOT, the planning phase of the project (design) and the budget (how much it will cost) are all based upon mathematical calculations by the engineers.

Can you build a house without an architect? ›

For modest or straightforward improvements, many experts say the services of an architect are unnecessary. It's possible to carry out bigger projects without an architect, if you can't or don't want to afford an architect. But, it's important to have a clear idea of what you will need to do.

What buildings do civil engineers design? ›

Civil engineers design, construct, maintain and improve the physical environment, including; bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, canals, dams, buildings, flood and coastal defences, airports and other large structures.

Which engineer draw house plans? ›

A structural engineer is there to ensure that the project is planned out with safety in mind. The layout is completely planned out by the structural engineer, as well as the materials that will be used.

What type of engineer is Elon Musk? ›

Elon Musk has no formal engineering degree, but he clearly is industrial engineer by profession. His approach to business and problem solving is typical industrial engineering approach. His actual degrees (BS in both economics and physics) have good overlap with undergraduate curriculum in IE.

Which engineering is hardest? ›

What Is the Hardest Engineering Major?
Top 3 Hardest Engineering MajorsTop 3 Easiest Engineering Majors
1. Chemical engineering (19.66 hours)1. Industrial engineering (15.68 hours)
2. Aero and astronautical engineering (19.24 hours)2. Computer engineering and technology (16.46 hours)
1 more row

Which engineer is best for future? ›

15 best engineering jobs for the future
  • Civil engineer.
  • Chemical engineer.
  • Environmental engineer.
  • Biomedical engineer.
  • Safety engineer.
  • Hardware engineers.
  • Aeronautical engineer.
  • Engineering managers.

Does an architect need a civil engineer? ›

The architect and the civil engineer are the two primary planners of a project and both professions are crucial to the structure's design and construction. Though it is not mandatory for architects and civil engineers to work together, sometimes their roles overlap.

What are 5 responsibilities of an architect? ›

Architects plan, develop and implement building designs. They compile feasibility reports, determine environmental impact, create project proposals, estimate costs, determine timelines and oversee construction processes.

What is the main role of a architect? ›

Architects design new buildings and the spaces around them, and work on the restoration and conservation of existing buildings.

Can I be an architect if I can't draw? ›

“I want to be an architect, but I can't draw. Doesn't everybody just do 3D modeling these days?” No, architects don't just do 3D modeling these days. And, no, you don't have to draw well to be an architect.

Can I become an architect without physics? ›

Physics, chemistry and maths will no longer be mandatory subjects for admission to undergraduate courses in architecture, according to the approval process handbook for 2022–23 released by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on Tuesday.

Which is harder civil engineering or architecture? ›

Architecture is much harder than engineering. Engineering requires clearly defined and methodical efforts to achieve accurate and predictable results.

Do architect need civil engineers? ›

Can Civil Engineers do Architecture? Civil Engineers can do the work of Architects if they have a professional certification or diploma in the field. As both these professions are very similar, many times, Civil Engineers pursue a short term course in Architecture.

Can civil engineer build a house? ›

Well, the job of an engineer is to plan and design not to build, if the engineer starts building he would be called a contractor. A civil engineer can build houses but they would be building a house as a contractor. An engineer is allowed to be both; an engineer and a contractor at the same time.

Can a civil engineer draw house plans? ›

In our state, they are allowed to plan and design, but they can't use the title." According to him, there are about 150 architects in the city.

Which engineering has highest salary? ›

10 Highest Paying Engineering Jobs
  • Civil Engineer. ...
  • Mechanical Engineer. ...
  • Industrial Engineer. ...
  • Biomedical Engineer. ...
  • Electrical Engineer. ...
  • Chemical Engineer. ...
  • Software Engineer. ...
  • Computer Engineer.
21 Jun 2022

Which is easy civil or architecture? ›

Depends on you. If you are creative and good at drawing, go for Architecture. If you are good at maths and science, go for Civil engineering.

Do architects require math? ›

Geometry, algebra, and trigonometry all play a crucial role in architectural design. Architects apply these math forms to plan their blueprints or initial sketch designs. They also calculate the probability of issues the construction team could run into as they bring the design vision to life in three dimensions.

Is it hard to study architecture? ›

Architecture is perceived as being hard because of how time intensive it is – this heavy requirement of a student's time and lack of experience managing their own time creates sleepless nights, long days in the studio and a horrific amount of homework.

Which engineering is best? ›

5 best engineering courses in India with a high market value
  • Computer Science Engineering:
  • Electronics & Communications Engineering:
  • Information Technology Engineering:
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineering:
  • Mechanical Engineering:

Can you switch from engineering to architecture? ›

In addition, to completing the B. Eng degree, you can pursue a Master's degree in Architecture or possibly a second bachelor's degree in architecture. Engineering will actually be a valuable skill to have in architecture.

Do civil engineers draw? ›

You do not have to be talented at drawing to become a civil engineer. But, it's necessary to be able to use drawing software such as AutoCAD. Hand-drawing may be helpful when you design buildings, but most of the companies today use computers that can draw blueprints.

What type of engineer makes houses? ›

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS may design any building of any type. CIVIL ENGINEERS may design any building of any type EXCEPT public schools and hospitals.

Does civil engineers travel a lot? ›

It simply depends on your employer and the type of engineering work you do. Working on the construction side of civil engineering will often require more travel, since work occurs on the project site. The project planning and development side is typically done in an office setting, and often requires less travel.

Can you build a house without an architect? ›

For modest or straightforward improvements, many experts say the services of an architect are unnecessary. It's possible to carry out bigger projects without an architect, if you can't or don't want to afford an architect. But, it's important to have a clear idea of what you will need to do.

What buildings do civil engineers design? ›

Civil engineers design, construct, maintain and improve the physical environment, including; bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, canals, dams, buildings, flood and coastal defences, airports and other large structures.

Which engineer draw house plans? ›

A structural engineer is there to ensure that the project is planned out with safety in mind. The layout is completely planned out by the structural engineer, as well as the materials that will be used.

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