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Civil Engineering Vocab

Subject : engineering
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The excess water running off from the surface of a drainage area during and immediately after a period of rain. See STORM RUNOFF.






2. A rough guess of the amount of flow in a collection system. When greater accuracy is needed - flow could be computed using average or typical flow quantities. Even greater accuracy would result from metering or otherwise measuring the actual flow.






3. The natural elements with which landscape architects work - such as plant materials and the soil itself.






4. An agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - primarily responsible for planning and overseeing the use of national forest lands by private - commercial and government users.






5. American Society for Testing and Materials






6. The conversion of large solid particles of sludge into very fine particles which either dissolve or remain suspended in wastewater.






7. The angle between a horizontal line andthe slope or surface of unsupported material such as gravel - sand -or loose soil. Also called the 'natural slope.'






8. A break in a lateral pipe somewhere between the sewer main and the building connection.






9. A wall that resist horizontal forces applied in the plane of the wall.






10. Precipitation which has been rendered (made) acidic by airborne pollutants.






11. A special valve with a hinged disc or flap that opens in the direction of normal flow and is forced shut when flows attempt to go in the reverse or opposite direction of normal flows.






12. Material used to provide a bedding or foundation for pipes or other underground structures. This material is of specified quality for desirable bedding or other characteristics and is often imported from a different location.






13. The upper surface of the zone of saturation of groundwater in an unconfined aquifer.






14. Masonry composed of irregularly shaped stones laid without regularity of coursing - but well bonded.






15. In landscape architecture - the organization of areas of land for specific aesthetic or functional purposes. This can range from creating small backyard patios to huge urban plazas.






16. Shoring members placed across a trench to hold other horizontal and vertical shoring members in place.






17. Landscape architecture - (civil) engineering - urban planning and architecture. Agronomy is also often included in this group.






18. A system of gutters - catch basins - yard drains - culverts and pipes for the purpose of conducting storm waters from an area - but intended to exclude domestic and industrial wastes.






19. The gathering of a gas - liquid - or dissolved substance on the surface or interface zone of another material. Advanced Waste Treatment (water) n Any process of water renovation that upgrades treated wastewater to meet specific reuse requirements. Ma






20. The lowest point of the channel inside a pipe - conduit - or canal.






21. A U.S. government agency responsible for developing and enforcing regulations that guide the use of land and natural resources.






22. An opening or point of access in a building wastewater pipe system for rodding or snake operation.






23. A groundwater table that has seasonal changes in depth or elevation.






24. A legal form of land-use control and building regulations usually exercised by a municipal authority; usually involves setting aside of distinct land areas for specific purposes - such as commercial - educational or residential development.






25. A relatively clear or forested area left untouched in or near a city. It may be active open space - such as a baseball field - or passive open space - such as an area of natural woodland.






26. The movement of water through very small spaces due to molecular forces.






27. A pipe or conduit (sewer) intended to carry wastewater or waterborne wastes from homes - businesses - and industries to the POTW (Publicly Owned Treatment Works). Storm water runoff or unpolluted water should be collected and transported in a separat






28. A sewer that discharges into a branch or other sewer and has no other common sewer tributary to it. Sometimes called a 'street sewer' because it collects wastewater from individual homes.






29. The amount of runoff that reaches the point of measurement within a relatively short period of time after the occurrence of a storm or other form of precipitation. Also called 'direct runoff.'






30. The man-made creation of or alterations to a specific area - including its natural resources. This is in contrast to the 'natural environment.'






31. OE The pressure at a specific elevation exerted by a body of water at rest - or _ In the case of groundwater - the pressure at a specific elevation due to the weight of water at higher levels in the same zone of saturation.






32. Material used in backfilling of an excavation - selected for desirable compaction or other characteristics.






33. An authorization issued by a government agency allowing construction of a project according to approved plans and specifications.






34. A manhole located at the upstream end of a sewer and having no inlet pipe. Also called a TERMINAL MANHOLE.






35. Acronym for 'Computer Aided (i.e. - Assisted) Design and Drafting -' a digital design process in which landscape architects use computers to help produce precise drawings and details for the construction of a project.






36. Movement of soil from one place to another. Generally accompanies SILTING of a sewer system. Where infiltration is taking place and silt is carried into a sewer system - such silt or soil is removed from the ground around the sewer pipe and the resul






37. A collection pipe to which building laterals are connected.






38. A sewer line that receives wastewater from many tributary branches and sewer lines and serves as an outlet for a large territory or is used to feed an intercepting sewer.






39. Tamping or rolling of a material to achieve a surface or density that is able to support predicted loads.






40. The condition of water or soil which contains a sufficient amount of acid substances to lower the pH below 7.0.






41. A sewer installed to connect two separate sewers. If one sewer becomes blocked - wastewater can back up and flow through the interconnector to the other sewer.






42. A reservoir for the storage of filtered water of sufficient capacity to prevent the need to vary the filtration rate with variations in demand. Also used to provide chlorine contact time for disinfection.






43. A multinational organization of landscape architects whose purpose is the promotion of landscape design and planning.






44. Opening in a sewer provided for the purpose of permitting operators or equipment to enter or leave a sewer. Sometimes called an 'access hole' or a 'maintenance hole.'






45. In zoning - a housing or commercial development composed of individual units that are regulated as a whole.






46. A railing composed of balusters capped by a handrail.






47. Branch or lateral sewers that collect wastewater from building sewers and service lines.






48. A legal means of protecting beautiful views and associated aesthetic quality along a site by restricting change in existing features without government approval.






49. A trained builder or installer of landscapes - retained to implement the plans of landscape architects.






50. A groundwater table that is changed by artificial means. Examples of activities that artificially raise the level of a groundwater table include agricultural irrigation - dams and excessive sewer line exfiltration. A groundwater table can be artifici