The term municipal engineering was created in the UK in the 19th century. Industrial cities were becoming large and industrial revolution was taking place at that time. Urban populations were threatened and vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases like typhus and cholera transmitted through water systems. Sanitary science emerged as a profession to investigate, deal with and prevent these issues. The name was later changed to what we know it as today.
The services of municipal engineering today involves public infrastructure. An engineer in this field will design, specify, maintain and construct facilities and structures that are important and useful to members of the community or nation. The erection, development and maintenance of sidewalks, sewers, streets, systems for water supply and street lighting are some of the work that this type of engineering is concerned with. Other responsibilities of engineers in this field include management of public solid waste and construction of depots for storing sand, salt or any other bulk materials that are utilized in maintenance and public construction. These materials are also used for cycling and public parks structure. Telecommunication and electric services are carried out in the construction of utility networks underground. A municipal engineer can also be involved in improving networks used in bus service and the collection of garbage.
Although a municipal engineer can do certain task of a civil engineer, their specialties significantly differ. Civil engineering is concerned with constructing, maintaining and designing of naturally as well as physical built environment in the private sector. These include and are not limited to canals, roads, buildings, bridges and dams. Municipal engineering on the other hand, deals with the detailed designing and coordinating of maintenance and development of social sector areas. Essentially, the lives of people are improved with the actions of municipal engineers.
A company that offers public engineering services provides detailed specifications and plans of a project for public infrastructure. Companies that specialize in engineering of this type are aware that the needs of the municipalities differ from that of the private sector. They are committed to meeting those needs by developing their services which works well to expand and complement the resources of the city. Municipal engineers should be creative, experienced and knowledgeable in the field to ensure that the necessary needs of the city are provided or dealt with.
Efficient municipal engineering services of this type include expertise in:
Programming capital improvements
Civil engineering
Block grant and community development funding
Drinking water systems
Engineering reviews
Applications for grant funding and federal assistance
Public sector facilities
Recreation and parks facilities
Management plans for safe pavement
Management of asset through surveying/mapping
Waste water
Transportation
Cities are facing dire circumstances from the funding challenges that come with organizing projects that will benefit and improve the lives of citizens. Municipal engineering companies have to be reputable and highly recommended to prove their ability to assist these public authorities in realizing their vision. Their services should be wide-ranging and not only cost efficient, but sustainable, creative and specific to the particular needs of the municipalities.