Civil PE Exam Reference Manuals

Click here to purchase or download a PDF version of the index for the Civil Engineering Reference Manual.

The Civil Engineering Reference Manual provides a comprehensive review of all five NCEES Civil PE exam content areas: construction, geotechnical, structural, transportation (the Transportation depth exam standards have changed; click here for more information, or download a PDF version of the new standards), and water resources and environmental engineering.

Over 500 example problems not only demonstrate how to apply important concepts and equations, they also include step-by-step solutions that show you the most efficient methods to use when solving exam problems.

With more than 100 appendices from references and exam-adopted design standards it’s possible to solve many exam problems using only the Civil Engineering Reference Manual.

Features of the Civil Engineering Reference Manual

• More than 500 example problems
• Over 400 defined engineering terms
• References to over 3,300 equations, 760 figures, and 500 tables
• Index includes cross-topic concepts
• Example problems that use both SI and U.S. Customary units
• Consistent nomenclature in each chapter
• Coverage of both theory and practical applications
• Easy-to-read explanations
• Easy-to-use index and full glossary

Exam Topics Covered

• Construction: Earthwork construction and layout; material quality control and production; quantity and cost estimation; temporary structures; scheduling
• Geotechnical: Earth and earth-retaining structures; shallow foundations; soil mechanics analysis; soils and materials properties; subsurface exploration and sampling
• Structural: Loadings; analysis; materials and their mechanics; member design
• Transportation: Geometric design
• Water Resources and Environmental: Closed conduit and open channel hydraulics; hydrology; water and wastewater treatment

 What’s New in This Edition

• Updates to current exam-adopted codes and standards for:
  • AASHTO: AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 5th ed., 2010
  • ACI 318: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, 2008
  • ACI 530: Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures, 2008
  • IBC: International Building Code, 2009
• Modifications to concrete and masonry chapters to be consistent with NCEES' revised structural specifications
• New content, including:
  • A new chapter on highway bridge rating
  • 31 chapters with revisions to existing material
  • 10 chapters with new material
  • 51 revised equations
  • 13 new equations
  • 15 revised tables
  • 2 new tables
  • 19 revised examples
  • 5 new examples
  • 3 revised appendices
  • 13 revised figures
  • 6 new figures
  • 130 new index entries to new and existing material
• Removal of all ACI 318 App. C theory, equations, and examples to be consistent with the NCEES requirement of exclusive use of ACI 318 unified strength methods
• Continued relevance to current technology and modern methods with updates, clarifications, and revisions to existing content

• Construction: Earthwork construction and layout; material quality control and production; quantity and cost estimation; temporary structures; scheduling
• Geotechnical: Earth and earth-retaining structures; shallow foundations; soil mechanics analysis; soils and materials properties; subsurface exploration and sampling
• Structural: Loadings; analysis; materials and their mechanics; member design
• Transportation: Geometric design
• Water Resources and Environmental: Closed conduit and open channel hydraulics; hydrology; water and wastewater treatment

To pass the Civil PE exam’s construction depth section, you’ll need to be familiar with the exam topics and how to use relevant equations. The Construction Depth Reference Manual for the Civil PE Exam provides comprehensive coverage of the exam topics. Example problems demonstrate how concepts are applied, and detailed tables, figures, and appendices make it possible to solve many exam problems using the Depth Reference Manual alone.

The Civil PE exam’s construction depth section requires a thorough familiarity with relevant codes. Consequently, the Construction Depth Reference Manual is updated to the following:

• 2001 edition of CMWB
• 2002 edition of ASCE 37-02
• 2003 edition of MUTCD
• 2004 edition of ACI 347
• 2005 edition of ACI 318
• 2005 edition of ACI SP-4
• 2005 edition of AISC
• 2005 edition of NDS
• OSHA, 29 CFR Part 1926 (US Federal Version)

Comprehensive Reference and Practice for the Civil PE Exam’s Construction Depth Section

• Clear, easy-to-understand explanations of construction engineering concepts
• A complete introduction to the construction depth section of the Civil PE exam
• 35 solved example problems
• 178 equations, 29 tables, 74 figures, and 5 appendices
• An easy-to-use index

Topics Covered

• Construction Operations and Methods
• Earthwork Construction and Layout
• Estimating Quantity and Cost
• Material Quality Control and Procedures
• Scheduling
• Temporary Structures
• Worker Health, Safety, and Environment

Topics Covered

• Construction Operations and Methods
• Earthwork Construction and Layout
• Estimating Quantity and Cost
• Material Quality Control and Procedures
• Scheduling
• Temporary Structures
• Worker Health, Safety, and Environment

To pass the Civil PE exam’s water resources and environmental depth section, you’ll need to be familiar with the exam topics and how to use relevant equations. The Water Resources and Environmental Depth Reference Manual for the Civil PE Exam provides comprehensive coverage of the exam topics. Detailed tables, figures, and appendices make it possible to solve many exam problems using the Depth Reference Manual alone. Example problems demonstrate how concepts are applied, and end-of-chapter problems provide opportunity for independent practice. 

Comprehensive Reference and Practice for the Civil PE Exam’s Water Resources and Environmental Depth Section

• Clear, easy-to-understand explanations of water resources and environmental engineering concepts
• A complete introduction to the water resources and environmental depth section of the Civil PE exam
• An overview of the Ten States Standards
• 115 solved example problems
• 101 exam-like, end-of-chapter problems with complete solutions
• 230 equations, 65 tables, 102 figures, and 8 appendices
• An easy-to-use index

Topics Covered

• Activated Sludge
• Environmental Remediation
• Groundwater Engineering
• Hazardous Waste and Pollutants
• Hydraulics—Closed Conduit
• Hydraulics—Open Channel
• Hydrology
• Waste and Wastewater Composition and Chemistry
• Wastewater
• Wastewater Treatment
• Water Treatment

• Activated Sludge
• Environmental Remediation
• Groundwater Engineering
• Hazardous Waste and Pollutants
• Hydraulics—Closed Conduit
• Hydraulics—Open Channel
• Hydrology
• Waste and Wastewater Composition and Chemistry
• Wastewater
• Wastewater Treatment
• Water Treatment

The Traffic Engineering Handbook is a must-have reference for anyone planning on taking the transportation depth section of the Civil PE exam. The sixth edition follows a new format that divides each chapter into four areas—basics, current practice, emerging trends, and information sources. Written by experienced authors and reviewed and edited by a distinguished panel of traffic engineering experts, this handbook continues to be a transportation industry standard.

Successfully Prepare for the Transportation Depth Section of the Civil PE Exam

• A comprehensive reference for the transportation industry
• Specified by the NCEES as a standard for the Civil PE exam
• Authored and reviewed by traffic engineering experts

Topics Covered

• Introduction to Traffic Engineering
• Road Users
• Vehicles
• Traffic and Flow Characteristics
• Safety
• Probability and Statistics
• Geometric Design for Traffic
• Traffic Engineering Studies
• Planning for Operations
• Managing Traffic Demand to Address Congestion
• Signs and Pavement Markings
• Traffic Control Signals
• Access Management
• Parking
• Traffic Calming
• Effective Communication for Transportation Projects
• Traffic Regulation and Control
• Maintenance-of-Traffic Design and Construction Staging

This 6th edition of AASHTO's "Green Book" contains the current design research and practices for highway and street geometric design. It also provides guidance for highway engineers and designers to make unique design solutions that meet the needs of highway users while maintaining the integrity of the environment.

In addition, this book serves as a comprehensive reference manual to assist in administrative, planning, and educational efforts pertaining to design formulation.

Included Design Guidelines

• Arterials
• Collectors
• Freeways
• Local roads in both urban and rural locations

Topics Covered

• Collector Roads and Streets
• Cross-Section Elements
• Design Controls and Criteria
• Elements of Design
• Freeways
• Grade Separations and Interchanges
• Highway Functions
• Intersections
• Local Roads and Streets
• Rural and Urban Arterials

• Collector Roads and Streets
• Cross-Section Elements
• Design Controls and Criteria
• Elements of Design
• Freeways
• Grade Separations and Interchanges
• Highway Functions
• Intersections
• Local Roads and Streets
• Rural and Urban Arterials

Recommended Standards for Wastewater Facilities, 2004 Edition is a manual of policies for the design, review, and approval of plans and specifications for wastewater collection and treatment facilities. It was developed to establish uniformity of practice among Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario.

These standards are applicable to normal situations for individual projects. Many PE examinees have found the book useful for the water resources and environmental sections of the Civil PE exam.