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In this episode of The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast, we talk to Stacey Kulesza, B.S., M.E., Ph.D., an Associate Professor at Kansas State University, about her research on soil erosion and how it affects the community and our infrastructure.
[Read more…] about TGEP 15: How Soil Erosion Affects the Community and Our Infrastructure
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In this episode, I answer a question that I get from civil engineering students almost daily. Should they seek full-time employment immediately after completing their undergraduate studies or go to grad school and pursue a master’s degree? And I promise you, whether you are a student, a project manager, an owner, or a CEO, you will take something out of this episode because I get into the decision-making processes.
Graduate school and professional engineering licensure are invaluable — but, as with any career, it is more a question of timing, and the answer to this question is different for every civil engineering graduate, depending on their situation.
[Read more…] about TCEP 161: Should I Go to Grad School or Apply for Civil Engineering Jobs?
Several years ago, we took a family vacation to Maine. Being a savvy professional, I set official goals for the trip. I wrote them down, of course. Goals aren’t real unless you write them down.
I shared my written goals with a peer group. I even wrote them down in the visitors’ registration book at a Maine information center.
“Goals for Maine trip: to get a green tourmaline ring and to see a moose.”
Before I tell you what happened, let’s look at how to set goals using the SMART method, a tried-and-true model for goal setting. And very fitting for this time of year.
[Read more…] about How To Write SMART Goals, Courtesy of a Moose
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Photo by Brannen Bell, courtesy of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.
In this episode, we talk to three people who are involved in seismic upgrades to a Heritage Designated World Recognizable Work of Architecture, the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) in Canada. They are Nick Milkovich, Principal at Nick Milkovich Architects Inc. Who is also the principal architect for the upgrade, Aletha Utimati, Project Manager at The University of British Columbia and for the Great Hall renewal project, and 5013 and Eric Karsh, a structural engineer and principal at Equilibrium Consulting Inc and a leader in timber engineering and construction. They talk about some of the seismic upgrades planned at the Museum of Anthropology.
[Read more…] about TSEC 42: Seismic Upgrades To the Museum of Anthropology (MOA)
Every building project, no matter how small, comes with many aspects to consider and disciplines to reconcile. Sometimes, that’s the hardest part — having everyone work together without getting in each other’s way. For decades now, architects, engineers, and building contractors have looked for ways to resolve this problem, as well as cut project costs and increase efficiency. Finally, it seems that the solution is here, in the form of BIM.
BIM stands for building information modeling, and it can be understood in two ways: as a process and as software. In both cases, BIM helps coordinate all aspects of the building project and allows the team to collaborate. Aside from that, it lets civil engineers troubleshoot the building before it’s even built and explore different options for project completion.
[Read more…] about The Increasing Importance of BIM for Civil Engineering
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In this episode, we talk to Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D., P.E., a geotechnical project manager and laboratory manager at American Geotechnical & Environmental Services, Inc., about how you can be open to new opportunities in your engineering career, what geotechnical engineers can do in life, and what it means to be an engineer who attends conferences.
[Read more…] about TGEP 14: Be Open to New Opportunities in Your Engineering Career
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In this episode, I talk to Jeff Peacock, P.E., the President and CEO at Parametrix Inc., about his career journey of becoming a CEO, leading a multidisciplinary civil engineering firm, and the benefits of having multi-disciplines under the same roof.
[Read more…] about TCEP 160: How a Civil Engineering Firm Can Maximize Employee Engagement
Depending on your personality, you are either the type to listen or talk. Usually, people struggle to be good at both. I was the type to talk, to think about what to say next, and sometimes forget to listen to the person I was talking to. I realized that this was due to my fear of having a “boring” conversation or awkward pauses while I reflected on what was being said. It was also ego taking over, since I wanted to be “ready” with a rebuttal when I was debating with someone.
As I write this blog post, I know I am not the best listener I can be, but I’ve made improvements from who I used to be. These changes have been thanks to books, the wisdom of mentors and coaches, and most importantly, practice. You must practice!
It may be a weird concept at first, but you must be able to be intentional at listening. Instead of giving you a long list of tips or tricks to become a better listener, I want to give you two that you can implement today.
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In this week’s episode we provide you with the latest news in the Civil Engineering industry including covering how Purdue University engineers have developed sensors that could safely speed up a construction timeline by determining concrete strength directly onsite in real time.
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In this episode, we talk to Brian Trimble, P.E., a director of Industry Development at the International Masonry Institute. He talks about masonry, optimizing structural masonry, the importance of teamwork, and why getting out in the field is so important in your engineering career.
[Read more…] about TSEC 41: An Overview of Masonry in Structural Engineering
