Civil Engineering Technicians
Official O*NET title: Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (17-3022.00)
Also called: civil designer, civil engineering assistant, civil engineering technician, design technician, engineer technician
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Prepare reports and document project activities and data
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing civil engineering technicians work
3 of 6 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Red (lots of AI use) — 50%. 1 newer task is not in the data yet and left out.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Prepare reports and document project activities and data (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Read and review project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Calculate dimensions, square footage, profile and component specifications, and material quantities, using calculator or computer (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Draft detailed dimensional drawings and design layouts for projects to make sure conformance to specifications (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Talk with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Analyze proposed site factors and design maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Report maintenance problems occurring at project site to supervisor and negotiate changes to resolve system conflicts (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct materials test and analysis, using tools and equipment and applying engineering knowledge — a lot of recorded AI use
- Develop plans and estimate costs for installation of systems, utilization of facilities, or construction of structures — some recorded AI use
- Inspect project site and evaluate contractor work to detect design malfunctions and make sure conformance to design specifications and applicable codes — no recorded AI use
- Develop project budgets by estimating the cost of project activities — no recorded AI use
- Plan and conduct field surveys to locate new sites and analyze details of project sites — no recorded AI use
- Respond to public suggestions and complaints — no recorded AI use
- Negotiate with contractors on prices for new contracts or modifications to existing contracts — too new for the AI data
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Prepare reports and document project activities and data”. Try the prompt for: “Read and review project blueprints and structural specifications to determine dimensions of structure or system and material requirements”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and civil engineering technicians
Will AI replace civil engineering technicians?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 3 of the 7 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Red rating (lots of AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 7 of the 14 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which civil engineering technician tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: conduct materials test and analysis, using tools and equipment and applying engineering knowledge; prepare reports and document project activities and data; develop plans and estimate costs for installation of systems, utilization of facilities, or construction of structures.
Which civil engineering technician tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: talk with supervisor to determine project details such as plan preparation, acceptance testing, and evaluation of field conditions; analyze proposed site factors and design maps, graphs, tracings, and diagrams to illustrate findings; report maintenance problems occurring at project site to supervisor and negotiate changes to resolve system conflicts. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 69% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a civil engineering technician start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
This job isn’t ranked: it has fewer than 8 main tasks we can measure, or its rating is an estimate.
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