Civil engineering involves the design and construction of all aspects of civil infrastructure, including roads, bridges, towers, dams, and so on. Many civil engineering projects involve designing aspects of any number of these structures. For example, students might design highway culverts (drainage facilities that let water run underneath highways without disrupting the flow of traffic). For students with a background in biology, another project involves "biocement," which is an improved version of normal cement that uses microbes to produce calcite at a higher rate, thus increasing the strength and cohesion of cement materials.
Students who study electrical engineering and electronics, design and build component parts and entire systems used to harness, store and process electricity for use by people. This field offers a wide range of potential projects. For example, students in the field of voice recognition technology can create a voice recorder using digital technology such as a Programmable Intelligent Computer (PIC) or a microcontroller and Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC). Another project, in the transportation field, could be the design of a microprocessor-based railway system. This might also be applied to other electronically linked transportation systems, such as subways, monorails or even amusement parks.
This field of engineering involves the application of physics and material science to mechanical systems, especially machines and tools. Some mechanical engineering projects involve improving modes of transportation, especially with a focus on environmentally safe travel. For example, students might design hybrid cars or other vehicles powered by alternative fuel sources; this includes designs for air-powered cars. Other projects involving mechanical engineering might be to design mechanical devices to help humans do everyday tasks like lifting heavy weight, cooking, and even more involved activities like law enforcement or fighting fires. For example, a student might design a robotic device to help firefighters perform their jobs safely.