Others estimate construction costs and specify materials to be used. Civil engineering technicians engage in varied activities. State highway departments utilize their services to collect data, design and draw plans, as well as to supervise the construction and maintenance of roadways. Railroad and airport facilities require similar services. Cities and counties need to have transportation systems, drainage systems, and water and sewage facilities planned, built, and maintained with the assistance of civil engineering technicians.
Some technicians specialize in certain types of construction projects.
Highway technicians, for example, perform survey and cost estimates as well as plan and supervise highway construction and maintenance. Rail and waterway technicians survey, conduct specifications, cost estimates, help plan, and construct railway and waterway facilities. Assistant city engineers coordinate the planning and construction of city streets, sewers, drainage systems, refuse facilities, and other major civil projects. Other technicians specialize in certain phases of the construction process. For example, materials technicians sample and run test on rock, soil, cement, asphalt, wood, steel, concrete, and other materials.