The fascinating world of the built environment

Everything around us is a built environment. From the houses, we live in to the schools we study in, to the malls and offices. From Burj Khalifa to Bombay Sea link – everything is built environment. Even the airport is a built environment and so is the cricket stadium.  

The world’s population is growing at an enormous rate. During the 20th century alone, the population in the world has grown from 1.65 billion to 6 billion.

To accommodate this growing population, we will have to have a robust infrastructure in place. We will need more schools, hospitals, bridges, airports, railway stations, malls and much more.  

It is a fascinating, ever-growing world where –
•    Over 100 million people commuted from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2016 alone.  
•    We are on our way to building Jeddah Tower in Dubai -a structure taller than the Burj Khalifa  
•    We can now travel to other countries by using cross country highways  
•    We have built hotels deep in the sea  

And it will only grow … 

Not just brick and mortar anymore  

Did you think a built environment is all about working on construction sites day in and day out? It is anything but that!  

Did you know that drones are now being used to inspect high-rise buildings for faults or capture high-resolution images of the roofs for research purposes? This will be an immensely useful tool going forward for engineers working on big infrastructure projects that involve high-rise structures.  
While engineers have drones to their rescue, virtual reality tools are being availed by architects and designers to create buildings and products intuitively. And then some professionals are using new-age tools to make sustainable structures that are in harmony with nature and also won’t give way to earthquakes or hurricanes.  

New technology tools like 3-D printing, Big Data, Smart Analytics and more are taking the art of building things to a whole new level. 

What does it mean for you?  

It changes the way this industry works. New technologies mean the requirement of skilled professionals that not only know these technologies but also enjoy the excitement of working with them.  

You will be working with the latest technology tools creating man-made marvels that will become a part of history for the coming times. 

What more? You can take your pick from a number of different paths, each as exciting and unique as the next. 

What kind of careers await you?

As a built environment professional, you stand a chance to work on some of the most amazing projects around the world. It is a world of opportunities in a sector that is only going to grow. You don’t have to be an engineer or an architect to be able to work in a built environment. You can choose to use any of your skills to build a rewarding career in this sector.

Plan

If planning is what you are good at, you can choose to be part of the team that works on the building plans. Every infrastructure project, whether it is a one-story house, a skyscraper or even a bridge needs a plan before it can start taking shape.  

Design

Intrigued by the design of various buildings you see around? If you’re curious about how these marvels, sometimes gravity-defying, are designed; the built environment is the place for you. If you are good with your numbers, you could even contribute to evaluating the costs of elaborate designs. There is immense scope of creativity while working on design elements for any kind of infrastructure.  

Build 

Want to build big? 
As a built environment professional, you can be involved in huge projects that not only give you immense scope to be creative but also impact millions of lives. You can be a surveyor for Delhi Metro Rail or a construction manager for a 7-star, world-class project like the Dubai Atlantis. Exciting much?  

Manage

If supervision and keeping things in check are what you are good at, you could become a facilities manager. A facilities manager is not only responsible for running things smoothly in the big office spaces or malls but also has the onus to keep the building relevant and maintained for years. It is one of the most upcoming fields in a built environment.