Civil engineering is that the design and construction of structure , like dams, bridges and other large infrastructure projects. it's one among the oldest branches of engineering, dating back to when people first started living in permanent settlements and commenced shaping their environments to suit their needs. Early engineers built walls, roads, bridges, dams and levees; they dug wells, irrigation ditches and trenches. As larger groups of individuals began cohabitation in towns and cities, these populations needed reliable sources of unpolluted water, the means to eliminate waste, a network of streets and roadways for commerce and trade, and how to defend themselves against hostile neighbors.