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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. An unstable condition of a solution (water) in which the solution contains a substance at a concentration greater than the saturation concentration for the substance.






2. The precipitation that cannot be absorbed by the soil and flows across the surface by gravity. The water that reaches a stream by traveling over the soil surface or falls directly into the stream channels - including not only the large permanent stre






3. 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






4. Legal right to use the property of others for a specific purpose. For example - a utility company may have a fivefoot easement along the property line of a home. This gives the utility the legal right to install and maintain a sewer line within the e






5. The excess water running off from the surface of a drainage area during and immediately after a period of rain. See STORM RUNOFF.






6. A system of major sewers serving as transporting lines and not as local or lateral sewers.






7. A community's used water and water carried solids (including used water from industrial processes) that flow to a treatment plant. Storm water - surface water - and groundwater infiltration also may be included in the wastewater that enters a wastewa






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






9. Most plumbing codes require a vent pipe connection of adequate size and located downstream of a trap in a building wastewater system. This vent prevents the accumulation of gases or odors and is usually piped through the roof and out of doors.






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






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






12. The process of adding air to water. Air can be added to water by either passing air through water or passing water through air. In wastewater treatment - air is added to freshen wastewater and to keep solids in suspension. With mixtures of wastewater






13. The pipe system for collecting and carrying water and watercarried wastes from domestic and industrial sources to a wastewater treatment plant.






14. 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






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






16. A layer - usually of concrete or mortar - for providing continuous support to such items as bricks - slabs - pipes.






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






18. A sewer designed to carry both sanitary wastewaters and storm or surface water runoff.






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






20. 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






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






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






23. Any designated use or activity on a piece of land.






24. A type of easement granting permission to a constructor or developer to build over a street or structure.






25. A small tank (usually covered) or a storage facility used to store water for a home or farm. Often used to store rainwater.






26. Sand - silt - gravel and rocks carried or washed into a collection system by infiltration water flows.






27. Narrowly defined - the amount of countryside and/or city that can be taken in at a glance. Also - an area of land or water taken in the aggregate.






28. Record of an area's natural and man-made resources - including vegetation - animal life - geological characteristics and mankind's presence in such forms as housing - highways and even hazardous wastes.






29. A sewer that receives wastewater from many tributary branches or sewers and serves a large territory and contributing population.






30. 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.






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






32. 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.






33. The legal grant of right-of-use to an area of designated private property.






34. A device made of pipe fittings used to prevent sewer gases escaping from the branch or lateral sewer from entering a building sewer.






35. 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.






36. The pipes - conduits - structures - equipment - and processes required to collect - convey - and treat domestic and industrial wastes - and dispose of the effluent and sludge.






37. Material used to fill in a trench or excavation






38. The taking in or soaking up of one substance into the body of another by molecular or chemical action (as tree roots absorb dissolved nutrients in the soil).






39. 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.'






40. 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.






41. A wall or plate placed in an open channel and used to measure the flow of water. The depth of the flow over the weir can be used to calculate the flow rate - or a chart or conversion table may be used to convert depth to flow. A wall or obstruction u






42. 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.






43. Water that does not contain objectionable pollution - contamination - minerals - or infective agents and is considered satisfactory for drinking.






44. 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.






45. American Society for Testing and Materials






46. The linear or a real dimension over which a higher component transmits load to a lower component






47. A capped opening in a building lateral -usually located on the property line - through which the pipelines can be cleaned.






48. A natural underground layer of porous - waterbearing materials (sand - gravel) usually capable of yielding a large amount or supply of water.






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






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