Civil works refer to various construction activities involved in building structures and facilities that form the base of a community. It encompasses a range of earthwork, construction and maintenance works related to both public and private infrastructure.

Some common types of civil works include:

• Earthwork – Leveling land, digging trenches, cutting slopes, compaction and hauling soil. This helps prepare sites for construction.
• Foundations – Constructing foundation systems like spread footings, strip footings and pile foundations to support buildings and structures.
• Drainage – Installing drainage systems like pipelines, channels, ditches and culverts to manage surface runoff.
• Roads and pavements – Constructing and maintaining roads, driveways, parking lots and pathways using asphalt, concrete and other pavement materials.
• Infrastructure – Building structures and networks to provide utilities like water, sewer, electricity, telecom and gas to communities.
• Stormwater management – Installing systems to control, detain and treat stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and pollution.
• Bridges – Building bridges to create passage over obstructions like rivers, valleys or roads.
• Retaining walls – Constructing walls to hold back or prevent the movement of soil in sloped areas.
• Landscaping – Beautifying grounds by grading land, installing paths, planting vegetation and constructing outdoor structures.

Civil works require a mix of heavy equipment operation and manual labour. Materials used include concrete, asphalt, aggregates, soil, pipes and more.

The civil works sector encompasses a diverse range of organisations including consultants, contractors, suppliers, construction firms, government agencies and more. Civil works play an essential role in supporting economic development, connectivity and livability within communities. They also help improve safety, accessibility and quality of life for citizens.