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Civil Engineering Vocab

Subject : engineering
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 20 minutes. 2 minutes extra for reading the instructions.
  • 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. Soil that cannot absorb any more liquid. The interstices or void spaces in the soil are filled with water to the point at which runoff occurs.






2. 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.






3. A tank used to store a chemical solution of known concentration for feed to a chemical feeder. A day tank usually stores sufficient chemical solution to properly treat the water being treated for at least one day. Also called an AGE TANK.






4. The running off of water from a land surface or subsurface - such as through sewers or natural means.






5. 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






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






7. Regulations specifying the type of construction methods and materials that are allowable on a project.






8. A septic tank or other holding tank which serves as a temporary wastewater storage reservoir for a Septic Tank Effluent Pump (STEP) system. See SEPTIC TANK.






9. A holding basin in which variations in flow and composition of a liquid are averaged. Such basins are used to provide a flow of reasonably uniform volume and composition to a treatment unit. Also called a balancing reservoir.






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






11. Sedimentation basin overflow weir. A plate with Vnotches along the top to ensure a uniform flow rate and avoid shortcircuiting.






12. A downspout or pipe installed to drain a roof gutter to a storm drain or other means of disposal.






13. A conservation group that maintains a revolving fund for quickly buying land that is in danger of being developed inappropriately or without regard to proper environmental considerations.






14. The science and management of land - especially rural - agricultural land.






15. Downstream opening or discharge end of a pipe - culvert - or canal.






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






17. Water or wastewater flowing from a higher elevation to a lower elevation due to the force of gravity. The water does not flow due to energy provided by a pump. Wherever possible - wastewater collection systems are designed to use the force of gravity






18. Pertaining to groundwater - a well - or underground basin where the water is under a pressure greater than atmospheric and will rise above the level of its upper confining surface if given an opportunity to do so.






19. Rain and snow water accumulated in the earth's porous rock.






20. A plan for conserving or protecting various natural or manufactured resources. Such a plan is used as a management tool in making decisions regarding soil - water - vegetation - manufactured objects and other resources at a particular site.






21. A small box-like structure that contains valves used to regulate flows.






22. The oxidation ditch is a modified form of the activated sludge process. The ditch consists of two channels placed side by side and connected at the ends to produce one continuous loop of wastewater flow and a brush rotator assembly placed across the






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






24. Material used to fill in a trench or excavation






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






26. A flat board or plate - deflector - guide or similar device constructed or placed in flowing water or slurry systems to cause more uniform flow velocities - to absorb energy - and to divert - guide - or agitate liquids (water - chemical solutions - s






27. A device that admits surface waters to the storm water drainage system. Also see CURB INLET and CATCH BASIN.






28. A receptacle designed to collect and retain grease and fatty substances usually found in kitchens or from similar wastes. It is installed in the drainage system between the kitchen or other point of production of the waste and the building wastewater






29. In landscape architecture - an essential sheet showing site boundaries and significant site features - used as a basis for subsequent plan development.






30. One or a series of oneinch diameter holes through a manhole lid for purposes of venting dangerous gases found in sewers.






31. 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.'






32. A coordinating agency formed in 1961 for state boards that administer licensing exams and maintain records for landscape architects to practice.






33. Narrowly defined - an extended view or prospect from a site which - many times - is as important as or more important than the site itself.






34. The movement or dislocation of underground soil or structure. Earth shift is usually caused by external forces such as surface loads - slides - stresses or nearby construction - water movements or seismic forces.






35. Any method of determining the weight a compacted material is able to support without damage or displacement. Usually stated in pounds per square foot.






36. Installation of pumps to lift wastewater to a higher elevation in places where flat land would require excessively deep sewer trenches. Also used to raise wastewater from areas too low to drain into available collection lines. These stations may be e






37. A large pipe to which a series of smaller pipes are connected. Also called a HEADER.






38. A road laid through a garden or park-like landscape - usually with median and roadside plantings.






39. The protection - improvement and use of natural resources according to principles that will assure the highest economic or social benefits for people and the environment now and in the future.






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






41. The creative illustration - planning and specification of space for the greatest possible amount of harmony - utility - value and beauty.






42. A wastewater treatment process used to convert dissolved or suspended materials into a form more readily separated from the water being treated. Usually the process follows primary treatment by sedimentation. The process commonly is a type of biologi






43. A branch of biology dealing with the relationship between living things and their environment.






44. Railing support at landings or other breaks in the stairs. If an angle post projects beyond the bottom of the strings - the ornamental detail formed at the bottom of the post is called the drop.






45. The change to an area's natural resources - including animal and plant life - resulting from use by man. Some projects may require conducting of an 'environmental impact study' before development can proceed.






46. A mixture of storm or surface runoff and other wastewater such as domestic or industrial wastewater.






47. A water treatment process in which solid particles settle out of the water being treated in a large clarifier or sedimentation basin.






48. 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.






49. A separate pipe - conduit or open channel (sewer) that carries runoff from storms - surface drainage - and street wash - but does not include domestic and industrial wastes. Storm sewers are often the recipients of hazardous or toxic substances due t






50. Any attempt to restore to beneficial use land that has lost its fertility and stability; most often applies to mining reclamation - such as the restoration of strip mines and quarries.