Most civil engineers already know that automation can save time. What many do not realise is that the real magic happens when you combine automation with prompts, which are short, clear instructions that tell your reporting tool exactly what you want.
In Citation, prompts are not just for chat. They can guide the system to:
- Write clear executive summaries for your reports
- Highlight risks or compliance gaps in plain language
- Convert raw field data into client-friendly explanations
Why Prompts Matter
Think of prompts as the blueprint for your report’s language. The better the prompt, the more accurate and relevant your output will be. Instead of generic instructions, you can shape the tone, structure and level of detail.
Example: Instead of saying: “Summarise site inspection notes.”
Try: “Summarise the site inspection notes in a professional tone, highlighting only safety risks, environmental compliance issues and progress delays.”
The second prompt produces a focused, more useful summary without extra editing.
Prompt Ideas for Civil Engineering Reports
Here are a few starter prompts you can try in Citation right now:
For project updates: “Write a two-paragraph progress summary using plain English for non-technical stakeholders.”
For safety reports: “Highlight only hazards that require immediate action, and suggest corrective measures.”
For compliance reports: “Check for and list any missing data that could affect environmental compliance.”
Remember, the more context and guidance that you provide the AI, the better the generated result will be.
From Good to Great
Prompts are flexible, and you can save your best ones in Citation to reuse across multiple projects. Over time, your library of prompts becomes a shortcut to high-quality, consistent reporting.
Bottom line: Using prompts is not just about saving keystrokes. It is about getting the information you need, in the format you need it, the first time, with minimal edits.
Want to learn how to get the most out of prompts in Citation?
Join our upcoming webinar where we will share real examples from civil engineering projects and walk you through building your own prompt library. Register here to secure your place.
