The Department of Construction and Environmental Engineering at Seoul National University goes beyond simple civil engineering to cover disciplines that play an important role in protecting the environment and building social infrastructure. In particular, it emphasizes the academic goal of connecting nature and humans through bridges and creating social value, and aims for technical achievement and sustainable development.
Becoming a “bridge” for people by “shoveling snow”
The Department of Construction and Environmental Engineering at Seoul National University has a long history of making significant contributions to Korea’s infrastructure and environmental management. Many of its graduates have been at the forefront of national infrastructure construction and environmental protection, and these achievements have been passed on with tradition and pride. Formerly known as the School of Earth and Environmental Systems Engineering, the department has been transformed into the School of Construction and Environmental Engineering to cover a broader range of disciplines. It focuses on solving various engineering problems throughout society and making human life more convenient and safe.
When you ask students at Seoul National University about the Department of Construction and Environmental Engineering, the most common answer is “shoveling”. This is understandable, as the department mainly deals with civil engineering-based subjects, and students are exposed to a lot of hands-on practice and work with shovels in the field. However, this simplistic perception fails to recognize the breadth of possibilities within the discipline. As its name suggests, the Department of Construction and Environmental Engineering centers its academic development around two main pillars: construction and environment, and this interdisciplinary education is focused on developing top-notch talent in the construction and environmental fields in Korea.
Academic background and significance
Explaining the English name of the department, “civil & environment engineering,” one of the faculty members said it symbolizes the broad scope of the discipline. “Civil” is the opposite of “military,” which is military work, and encompasses everything that the civilian sector deals with. It is a discipline that builds and maintains the basic systems that make up society and directly affects people’s daily lives, especially through the construction of infrastructure such as bridges, roads, water and sewerage. A typical example that people can easily understand is bridges.
Bridges are more than just a physical connection for people. From small stone bridges over small streams in the countryside to large bridges spanning the mighty Han River, bridges are symbolic structures that have accompanied the development of mankind for a long time. They have played an important role in facilitating social, economic, and cultural exchanges by connecting people to people and cities to cities.
Structure and role of bridges
The structure of a bridge can be divided into two main parts: the superstructure and the substructure. The superstructure bears the weight of vehicles and people passing over the bridge, and the substructure plays an important role in supporting the superstructure. The superstructure is made up of the floor slabs, floor frames, main trusses, bracing, and bridge abutments, and while it may look like a simple plate, it requires a very complex design and sophisticated construction. If a bridge were simply made of a single plate, it could easily break under concentrated loads, which could lead to a major accident.
The substructure of a bridge is mainly composed of piers, which are responsible for transferring loads to the ground. Piers can be located on land or, if they are over a body of water such as a river or ocean, they are built on the continental shelf or reef. The role of the substructure is just as important as the superstructure, and a stable bridge cannot be maintained without strong piers. However, it’s the superstructure that determines the type of bridge. The superstructure determines the form and function of the bridge, which in turn determines the type of bridge.
Common types of bridges in Korea include girder bridges, truss bridges, arch bridges, suspension bridges, and cable-stayed bridges. Each type of bridge has its own advantages depending on its structural features and design. For example, truss bridges use a triangular skeleton to distribute loads, while arch bridges combine aesthetics with structural stability. Suspension bridges use cables to support the superstructure, while cable-stayed bridges use multiple strands of cable attached to a single column to distribute the load.
Various examples and applications
One of Seoul’s representative bridges, the ‘Submerged Bridge’, is a bridge that has attracted attention both domestically and internationally for its special design that allows the bridge to submerge under water depending on the water level. It is a symbolic example of how far Korea’s civil engineering technology has come. The recently opened World Cup Bridge is a suspension bridge that uses the latest technology to distribute load more efficiently than conventional bridges, while also enhancing its aesthetic value as a landmark in the city center. These bridges have become more than just transportation links; they have become symbols of cities and technological achievements.
The meaning of bridges and academic ideals
The various disciplines studied in our department are not just about the physical labor represented by shoveling. Rather, they are disciplines that play an important role in making people’s lives easier through shoveling. A bridge is a prime example of this, a symbolic structure that harmonizes nature and humans and helps people move and interact. More than just a technical achievement, they are important monuments to human progress.
The knowledge and skills learned in the Department of Construction and Environmental Engineering are not just limited to physical structures such as bridges and roads. After graduation, students will play an important role in modern society, including environmental protection, sustainable development, and combating climate change. They will also be responsible engineers when it comes to building social infrastructure. Learning in this program is not just about acquiring skills, but also about developing the ability to use engineering knowledge to change the world and create a sustainable future.
The breadth of experience and knowledge gained in this program will prepare students to play an important role in the future. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is not just about shoveling snow, but about making people’s lives easier and designing the future. In this way, we will fulfill our role as engineers who build bridges to help people get around.
