Rick Vollmar, PE, civil engineer and owner of Blue Line Stone Home & Engineering (BLSH&E), can help answer that. Typically, anything you see “built” was designed by a civil engineer - roads and bridges, retaining walls, traffic signals, sewer systems, dams and the list goes on. Chances are though, if you are a homeowner, realtor, general contractor or land developer, you are more concerned with a single lot residence. Many people may not realize that the services of a civil engineer are usually a necessary and required supplement to your contractor, since most municipalities will require you to get a building permit before you do any actual work. Whether you are replacing your deck, doing a home addition, putting up a shed or building a retaining wall, then it is likely you will need a civil engineer’s insight and professional guidance for your project.