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






2. The slope of a plot of land. Grading is the mechanical process of moving earth changing the degree of rise or descent of the land in order to establish good drainage and otherwise suit the intent of a landscape design.






3. Horizontal shoring members - usually square - rough cut timber - that are used to hold solid sheeting - braces or vertical shoring members in place. Also called STRINGERS.






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. The pipeline extending from the water main to the building served or to the consumer's system.






6. A U.S. government agency charged with administering vast areas of public land.






7. A wall that supports any vertical load in addition to its own weight.






8. A structure made of concrete or other durable material to protect bare soil from erosion by splashing or falling water.






9. A sewer pipe to which building laterals are connected. Also called a COLLECTION MAIN.






10. 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.






11. 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






12. 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






13. Material used to fill in a trench or excavation






14. The height to which something is elevated - such as the height above sea level.






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






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






17. 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.'






18. A manhole in which the rate of the water entering is greater than the capacity of the outlet under gravity flow conditions. When the water in the manhole rises above the top of the outlet pipe - the manhole is said to be 'surcharged.'






19. A record of each person involved in the handling and possession of a sample from the person who collected the sample to the person who analyzed the sample in the laboratory and to the person who witnessed disposal of the sample.






20. Load applied along or parallel to and concentric with the primary axis






21. 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.






22. 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






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






24. The lay of the land - particularly its slope and drainage patterns; the science of drawing maps and charts or otherwise representing the surface features of a region or site - including its natural and man-made features.






25. Solid material settled from suspension in a liquid.






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






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






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






29. That part of the precipitation falling on a drainage area which does not escape as surface stream flow during a given period. It is the difference between total precipitation and total runoff during the period - and represents evaporation - transpira






30. 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.'






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






32. A structure or chamber which is usually sunk or lowered by digging from the inside. Used to gain access to the bottom of a stream or other body of water.






33. 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.'






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






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






36. 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






37. A site that might appear to be natural but has elements and features that were planned and specified by a landscape architect. Designed landscapes include Central Park in New York to the siting of buildings.






38. Sewers are surcharged when the supply of water to be carried is greater than the capacity of the pipes to carry the flow. The surface of the wastewater in manholes rises above the top of the sewer pipe - and the sewer is under pressure or a head - ra






39. 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






40. Federal agency responsible for producing and managing many federally-funded public service programs - especially those affecting housing and public spaces.






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






43. A large - public park - often highly scenic and isolated belonging to and operated by the federal government.






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






45. American Society for Testing and Materials






46. 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.






47. A professional society that represents landscape architects in the United States and Canada and seeks to better the practice and understanding of landscape architecture through education - research - state registration and other programs.






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






49. A line from which heights and depths are calculated or measured. Also called a datum plane or a datum level.






50. This landscape architecture specialization has evolved to encompass maintenance of a site in its present condition; conservation of a site as part of a larger area of historic importance; restoration of a site to a given date or quality; renovation o