What is terminology?

Terminology is a systematic study for the implementation of the terms or words and their correspondence within their respective domain of human activity in the case of multilingual (more than 2) or bilingual (2) languages. Terminology is defined as the study of concepts, conceptual related phrases or expressions, and lexicography, on the other hand, is the discipline used to study any type of word and its meaning. Technical ventures and institutes create and gather their resources or word collection also known as a Glossary.

The word terminology is for a cluster of exceptional words or expressions related to a specific branch as well as the study of these terms and the usage of such types of terms is called terminology science. The terminology of certain words or abbreviations has a particular context and is significant as we can define them individually and their application is in the documentation purpose along with consistent utilization but restricted to certain languages.

Types of terminology

There are two types of terminology:

Ad hoc work terminology

It defines one term or very few words. It is useful in the translation system for converting a group of words into a single term for solving any translational issue.

Systematic collection of terminology

It provides all the terms inside a certain subject branch producing an organized ontology of words within the particular domain or subject field.

Major sections in civil engineering

Engineering Mathematics: It consists of linear algebra, calculus, ordinary differential equation (ODE), partial differential equation (PDE), probability, and statistics and numerical methods.

Structural Engineering: It comprises engineering mechanics, solid mechanics, structural analysis, construction materials and management, concrete structures, and steel structures.

Geotechnical Engineering: It contains soil mechanics and foundation engineering.

Water Resources Engineering: It includes fluid mechanics, hydraulics, hydrology, and irrigation.

Environmental Engineering: It has water and wastewater quality and treatment, air pollution, and municipal solid wastes.

Transportation Engineering: It consists of transportation infrastructure, highway pavements, and traffic engineering.

Geomatics Engineering: It contains principles of surveying, trigonometric leveling, and horizontal and vertical curves.

Basic Terminologies used in civil engineering

Aggregate: It contains sand or crushed stone. Aggregates are useful in materials like concrete and are a significant portion of structure foundations.

Backfilling: The process to refill any trenches or holes produced while excavation, normally near foundations.

Beams: They run horizontally along the major walls of a building at ceiling level, assisting the structure.

BIM (Building Information Modelling): It is the process of generating a computer model of a building that contains all details of the proposed structure, from its standard layout to the tiniest measurements.

BOQ (Bill of Quantities): It is a contract document that consists of a list of materials and workmanship required in a construction project for appropriate budgeting of the project.

CAD: Computer-Aided Design is defined as an architectural software useful for making detailed models of buildings finish the design process quickly, permitting more creativity, and making greater precision in measurements.

Caulking: A flexible and rubbery type of material that is required to seal gaps inside a joint.

Ceiling joist: Parallel framing members that support loads from the ceiling and are themselves supported by load-bearing walls.

Concrete: A material used in construction made by a hardened combination of cement, gravel, sand, and water. Useful for producing slabs, columns, and other structural components.

Construction Management Software: The software designed for construction managers to assist them more effectively in running a construction project scheduled in time and it can include specifications to manage accounting and financials, documentation, and team workloads.

Dimension: A dimension is used in the planning stage and is a measure between two points.

Drywall: A gypsum plaster panel that is wrapped in cardboard. It is usually used as an important material for building framing systems.

Ducts: Pipes that carry air throughout a building or a structure.

Egress: A way of exiting a structure, like a window or a door. Construction codes provide a particular number of egress windows in some specific parts of a home.

Field measure: Taking measurements within the structure itself and not depending on blueprints.

Floor plan: The floor plan is relevant to the layout of the building. It is a drawing of the horizontal section that depicts how the different spaces are in relation to one another.

Girder: The prime horizontal support of a structure that withstands smaller beams.

HVAC: It stands for heat, ventilation, and air conditioning.

I-beam: A beam that has a cross-section that seems to look like the capital letter I. Girders often have an I-beam cross-section for extra support.

Insulation: It prevents heat from leaving or entering any building and the substance is placed within the walls, ceiling, or floor of a structure.

King stud: It is a framing component and a material starting from the bottom to the top end of a panel in one piece.

Load-bearing wall (partition): A partition wall bolding the load of the structure above it. Thus, they cannot be removed and are responsible for structural integrity.

Mortar: Mortar is the paste useful in masonry that binds stones, bricks, and other similar types of units used to build the walls of a building. Mortar is made of asphalt, pitch, or clay.

Particleboard: A substitute for plywood that is comprised of sawdust mixed with resin.

PVC: Polyvinyl chloride is a common plastic used for water pipes and seldom for flooring.

Rafter: A series of roof frame pieces that are linked to the supports and sustain the roofing and sheathing.

Reinforced concrete: Concrete that is strengthened by the addition of steel bars or meshes inside the concrete.

Section: This is a drawing or model that depicts if anyone cuts vertically through a building and is capable of observing its various elements or layers, exactly how a building is constructed from top to bottom.

Warping: A distortion of material, that indicates water damage.

Zoning: A government regulation for limitation on how a property is used. For instance, industrial buildings are not permitted to be constructed in areas zoned solely for residential purposes.

Applications of terminology

The basic terminology is useful in various fields like engineering, to give terms to numerical methods and expressions, biology, for providing scientific names to a variety of species, chemistry, for periodic table components and other organic and inorganic compounds, physics, for specific experiments and quantum science, arts and literature, social sciences, and so on. Thus, it is very crucial and literacy applied to almost all the fields present to date.

Context and Applications

This topic has been taught in graduate and postgraduate courses like:

• Bachelors of Technology (Civil Engineering)
• Bachelors of Technology (Civil Engineering)
• Masters of Science (Civil Engineering)
• Masters of Science (Composite structures)

Practice Problems

Q1. What are the two types of terminology?

1. Ad hoc work and Systematic collection terminology
2. Extensive and Intensive terminology
3. Collateral and Basic terminology
4. Fundamental and Inferences terminology

Correct Option: a

Explanation: The two types of terminology are Ad hoc work and Systematic collection terminology.

Q2. Which type of engineering includes fluid mechanics, hydraulics,hydrology,and irrigation?

1. Water resources
2. Geotechnical
3. Environmental
4. Transportation

Correct Option: a

Explanation: Water resources engineering includes fluid mechanics, hydraulics,hydrology and irrigation.

Q3. What is the full form of BOQ?

1. Bill Original Quantities
2. Bill of Quantities
3. Boss of Quantities
4. Beam of Quantities

Correct Option: b

Explanation: The full form of BOQ is the Bill of Quantities.

Q4. What does HVAC stand for?

1. Heat, Vault, and Control
2. Hammer, Vehicle, and air conditioner
3. Heat, Ventilation, and Air conditioning
4. None of these

Correct Option: c

Explanation: HVAC stands for Heat, Ventilation, and Air conditioning.

Q5. Which material is useful for pipes carrying water and sometimes used for flooring?

1. Plywood
2. Mortar
3. Girder
4. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Correct Option: d

Explanation: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) material is useful for pipes carrying water and sometimes used for flooring.

Related Concepts

• Stresses and S-curve
• Divergence and curl
• CPM (Critical Path Method) and PERT (Programme Evaluation and Review Technique)
• Skirting and Plywood