Civil engineers also have a major role in the enhancement of the health and well-being of society and the protection of the natural environment. Indeed, civil engineers can claim to have made the greatest positive impact of any profession on world health through the provision of potable water and the disposal of waste water. This infrastructure includes buildings , structures of all types, transport systems, water supply , waste water treatment and power supply - the work of the civil engineer has a fundamental effect on our lives. The Canary Wharf Tower is a prominant landmark building which required extensive involvement from civil engineers during the planning, design and construction phases. The centres of our cities are full of such buildings.
Bridges are amongst the best known structures designed by civil engineers.
Here we see the second Severn crossing which was completed in 1996. This is a good example of a cable stay bridge, which is a recent development in bridge design. Ensuring an adaquate and potable water supply is an important task of civil engineers. Climate change and increasing consumer demand is likely to bring this issue to the fore in the coming years. In the new Channel 4 Headquarters, structural engineering is one of the main design features.