Civil Engineering

10 Tips for Creating Good Plans in AutoCAD

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As engineers, many of us spend a lot of time in AutoCAD. For this reason, engineers must learn how to draft clear, attractive plans in AutoCAD. After a while, CAD drafting becomes second nature. However, there is a steep learning curve to get to that point. This is especially true in settings where there is … Read more

Self Management – The Future of Engineering?

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As my responsibilities have increased at my “day job”, I have become increasingly interested in learning ways to become a better manager. After all, I do not want anyone to look back and think of me as a nightmare micromanager or incompetent in general. I became intrigued by the “self-managing company” concept embraced by NPS … Read more

Controversial Opinions in Civil Engineering

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I have been working in engineering consulting for several years at this point. Throughout that time, I have developed some opinions about how I feel things should work at an engineering firm. Some of these opinions have changed and evolved as I have gained more experience in the industry. I expect some of these opinions … Read more

Managerial Decision-Making in Civil Engineering

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I am currently taking a business management class to help enhance my soft skills to prepare for opening my engineering firm in the near future. One of the assignments involved writing a short essay about decision-making. The following blog post is an adapted version of that essay where I share my thoughts about decision-making at … Read more

10 Tips For Preparing Solid Grading and Drainage Plans

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Site grading is an important part of land development and civil engineering in general. Even so, site grading is not a required subject in many civil engineering programs. This means that many entry-level civil engineers must scramble to figure out grading in their first professional job after college, which is frustrating. The following blog post … Read more

Skills That Make Civil Engineers More Marketable

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In today’s globalized economy, the job market can be very competitive. Luckily, civil engineers who possess the right training, education, and skillsets will often have many professional opportunities come their way throughout their careers. For civil engineers who have just graduated from college or are early on in their careers, it is particularly important to … Read more