Engineering Management Institute

Civil Engineering Projects

TCEP 212: How Climate Adaptation and Resilience Connect to Civil Engineering Projects

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Climate Adaptation and ResilienceIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Emory Lee, AICP, ENV SP, MCIP-I, WEDG, Climate Adaptation & Resilience Lead for Ramboll Group A/S in New York about climate adaptation and resilience in engineering and some of the potential jobs or roles there are within climate adaptation.

Engineering Quotes:

Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Emory:

  • What is climate adaptation and resilience?
  • How do climate adaptation and resilience connect to civil engineering projects?
  • Are there specific projects that more commonly require your expertise?
  • What are some of the key points that civil engineers should know about climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure?
  • What potential jobs or roles are there within climate adaptation?
  • What final piece of advice can you provide to engineers looking to transition into a career similar to yours?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Climate Adaptation and Resilience:

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TCEP 207: How Advanced Technology in Civil Engineering Projects Can Increase the Success of a Project

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Technology in Civil EngineeringIn this episode, I talk to Rory San Miguel, co-founder and CEO at Propeller Aero, about how using advanced technology in civil engineering projects can increase the success of a project.

Engineering Quotes:

Technology in Civil Engineering

Technology in Civil Engineering

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Rory:

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Relationship Capital: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

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This is a guests blog by Jese H. Vance, P.E.

When most people think about capital for their business, they think about investors, loans, equity, etc., that is used to pay for day-to-day operations or future growth. Even though every business needs capital to thrive, I would argue that building “relationship capital” is equally as important. Relationship capital is an intangible asset that is built up over time between people. Below I share some important points to consider about building this asset in your business.

Relationships Lay the Foundation for Your Engineering Business

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Thinking Like an Owner in Your Civil Engineering Projects

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This is a guest blog by Nick Heim, P.E.

Our civil engineering careers revolve around project work. We or our firms tend to be solicited by a client, and perform professional services based on some end goal that the owner establishes. We run calculations, create models and drawings, and package everything up that eventually makes its way back to the owner to fulfill their initial vision. 

This process may involve interaction with other parties, but our work tends to be relatively self-contained and often viewed from our own internal lens — that of the engineer. Today, I would like to share one tip with three examples that can help you think more like an owner — and increase the effectiveness of your civil engineering project work. 

Understand What the Owner Cares About 

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TCEP 193: Using Alternate Delivery Methods to Deliver Civil Engineering Projects

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Alternate Delivery Methods

In this episode, I talk to Steve Long, P.E., a senior engineer with Freese and Nichols, Inc., who currently serves as the Program Manager for the North Texas Municipal Water District’s Bois d’Arc Lake Program. He discusses alternate delivery methods for the Bois d’Arc Lake Program and how one of these methods helped his client save $70 million.

Engineering Quotes:

Alternate Delivery Methods

Alternate Delivery Methods

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Steve:

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TCEP 183: The Importance of Geological Engineering in Civil Engineering Projects

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In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Christina Tipp, PG, CEG, a professional geologist, and Jason Island, P.E., QSP/D, a senior civil engineer, both from SHN, about the crossover between geological engineering and civil engineering, and how and when you need to get geological engineers involved in your civil engineering projects.

Engineering Quotes:

geological engineering

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Jason and Christina:

  • What is geological engineering and what do geological engineers do?
  • Why is it important for engineers to have a good understanding of the different disciplines involved in a civil engineering project?
  • Tell us about some of the civil engineering projects you have worked on in the past where you needed to get geological engineering involved on the civil engineering project?
  • How do civil engineers know when to involve a geological engineer in their projects?
  • Tell us about a civil engineering project that you both have worked on together that had a geological component to it?
  • What advice can you give engineers considering pursuing a career in geological engineering?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Geological Engineering:

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Three Tips to Drive Innovation in Your Civil Engineering Firm

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This is a guest blog by Nick Heim, P.E.

As technology continues to move forward at a breakneck pace, so do the speed of civil engineering projects. Clients are expecting their consultants to complete projects faster today AND provide more value for the fee being paid. One of the ways that civil engineering firms can stay competitive is adaptation and use of technology in their daily processes and workflows. Today, I would like to share three tips on how my firm is driving innovation — and how yours can too:

1. Set Aside Time for Innovation

At THP Limited, we schedule monthly innovation meetings to discuss development of projects aimed at making our day-to-day tasks simpler and more efficient. Team members take turns sharing updates on their research/projects and provide each other with feedback throughout the development process. The last 15 minutes of the meeting is dedicated to bringing forth new ideas — no matter how wild or outrageous they may seem. Employees outside the innovation group are encouraged to bring forth ideas that can be pushed into the development pipeline. All this information is organized in a Trello Board that can be referenced or updated by a team member at any time.

innovation

A snip of our Trello board that is used to catalogue potential ideas and track progress during ongoing innovation projects.

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TCEP 131: Working on a World-Changing Civil Engineering Project

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Civil Engineering Project

In episode 131 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, which is our sixth episode in our Women in Civil Engineering series, I talk with Philippa Jefferis, a senior consultant and engineer at IMC Worldwide. Philippa is the safeguard and compliance manager who focuses on the safety and constructability of elements. She talks about working in the international development field and, more specifically, about a world-changing civil engineering project she is working on in Nepal. 

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Philippa:

  • Do you enjoy traveling and working internationally?
  • Tell us about the project you are working on right now.
  • Talk to us about the terrain and how that’s been challenging for the project in general. 
  • How do the weather conditions impact project scheduling?
  • What is the reaction of the people of Nepal toward this project?
  • What would you say to engineers who are considering doing work internationally?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode about Working on a World-Changing Civil Engineering Project:

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TCEP 098: Management Skills that Civil Engineers Should Build

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Management Skills

In episode 98 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I speak with Ben Walpole, a writer and editor for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) strategic communications team. We will talk about a few very important management skills that civil engineers should build in order to increase their effectiveness as civil engineering managers.

Engineering Quotes:

Management Skills

Management Skills

Here are some important management skills you should build as a civil engineer to increase your overall success:

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TCEP 074: How to Communicate Effectively on Civil Engineering Projects

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How to Communicate Effectively on Civil Engineering Projects

Civil Engineering Projects

In episode 074 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Steve Soldati, PE about how to communicate effectively on civil engineering projects.

Here are some of the questions I ask Steve about communicating effectively on civil engineering projects :

  • Why is communication important for engineering professionals?
  • What are some things you have done to improve your skills?
  • Are there any tools that you use or recommend to improve/streamline communications?
  • Can you give examples of positive/negative communication instances in your career?
  • Talk about team communication early in project development.
  • Tell us about conflict resolution within a team.

Engineering Quotes:

Civil Engineering Projects

Civil Engineering Projects

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

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