How to Become a Civil Engineer: Steps to a Satisfying Engineering Career

How to Become a Civil Engineer

Individuals who wish to know how to become a civil engineer must take the time and make the effort to ask as many questions and collect information about the profession. Known as one of the oldest of the engineering branches, the civil engineering space prides itself on its highly visible and notable achievements, which include the world’s best roads,bridges, dams, and airports. The demands and challenges of the profession no doubt require the skills and acumen of highly trained and educated practitioners.

Civil engineers spearhead the design and oversee the construction of vital infrastructure, making sure projects are completed on schedule and within budget. They estimate labor and material costs, assess and address environmental hazards, and ensure that projects comply with laws and building codes. Aside from the infrastructure mentioned above, civil engineers also supervise the construction of other important facilities such as buildings, residential and commercial complexes, railroads, tunnels, and water supply systems. They may specialize in particular fields or industries such as construction and transportation, or serve government agencies and manage various public projects.

Facts on How to Become a Civil Engineer

The first step to learning how to become a civil engineer is to determine the kind of education needed to become a civil engineer. A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering tops the list of requirements to become a civil engineer. Today most employers demand no less than a four-year degree even for entry-level civil engineering positions.

The curricula of most bachelor-level engineering degree programs require the completion of math, science, and other core subjects during the first two years of studies after which students concentrate on engineering courses up until graduation.

Civil engineering coursework involves in-depth exploration of various disciplines and principles including engineering design, fluid mechanics, structural design, engineering mathematics, engineering materials, concrete and steel structures, geomechanics, hydro-engineering, computer-aided engineering design, transport engineering, and infrastructural engineering. Students may also attend classes in cost control and business management as well as elective courses in specialized engineering.

Those asking how to become a civil engineer should be made aware of the importance of a good internship. Aspirants are advised to undergo a civil engineering internship even while still studying to gain hands-on industry experience and discern which civil engineering sub-discipline they would like to specialize in. Students who are about to graduate may already start searching and applying for entry-level engineering jobs.

Following graduation, aspirants occupying entry-level positions work under the direction of a licensed civil engineerto gain the real-world experience they need to obtain their license. All states require civil engineers providing services to the public to have the proper license. To obtain a license, applicants must have completed a degree program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, accumulated at least four years of engineering work experience, and passed the state licensing examination.  Once they earn their license, practitioners are conferred the title professional engineers or PEs.

Training and knowledge building do not end after graduation or certification. Civil engineers must invest in continuing education, keeping abreast of new technology and building methods for better work performance and professional advancement. They must also complete continuing education courses as a prerequisite to license renewal.

Civil engineers can also boost their careers by working toward a master’s or doctorate degree or by obtaining additional certifications in sub-disciplines such as structural design, construction engineering and management, transportation, and water resources management.

Aspirants must keep in mind these pointers on how to become a civil engineer as they work their way to a challenging but very rewarding career.

Everything You Need To Know About P.Eng. Certification

In Canada, the title “professional engineer” is restricted by law. When you hold a P.Eng., you are licensed to practice engineering in the province or territory where it was granted. The licence also gives you the right to use the letters P.Eng. after your name.

According to PEng.ca, the P.Eng. tells both employers and the public that you:

• Are legally and ethically responsible for your work, and hold public safety paramount;
• Maintain the highest levels of competence, as judged by your peers;
• Continually upgrade your knowledge; and
• Adhere to a strict code of ethics

There are four basic steps to obtaining your P.Eng.:

1. Obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program
2. Register as an engineer in training with your provincial or territorial engineering licensing body
3. Two to four years of internship experience, depending on your province
4. Write the professional practice exam or professional examination

When you’ve completed all those steps, you receive your licence to practise and a seal to stamp the designs and drawings you create.

But not everyone who has completed an accredited engineering program is anxious to take the P. Eng. test.  Tommy Zhang, 26, is currently working as a product development engineer after obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degree in applied science.  “Most companies don’t care that you’re not technically a professional engineer, so it doesn’t really factor into being hired.”

“One reason is to become part of a larger organization … There should be good opportunities for networking as well as opportunities to gain technical knowledge that you wouldn’t necessarily get in class.” —Brian Paiva, software developer

Already employed, Zhang doesn’t see the benefit in a P.Eng. licence for his own career.  While there may be some inherent advantages such as being able to certify plans, to Zhang, the time and effort spent on getting licensed in addition to guild fees doesn’t translate into a serious career benefit.

“I don’t think taking the P.Eng. test makes you any better of an engineer.  I think most engineers have the common sense to not attempt a solution that is even potentially dangerous.  I think an engineer’s skill set is developed mostly through courses and professional experience.”

However, recent grads like Zhang should keep in mind that although you can work in engineering without a licence, you must work under the supervision of a P.Eng. who takes responsibility for your work. You cannot take public or private responsibility for your own work, or be in charge of the engineering work you do, until you have been licensed as a P.Eng. by the engineering licensing body in the province or territory where you work.

You are not legally an engineer or a professional until you have the P.Eng.

Brian Paiva, 25, works as an embedded systems software developer and is working toward earning his P.Eng. by studying for the exam.  “One reason is to become part of a larger organization … There should be good opportunities for networking as well as opportunities to gain technical knowledge that you wouldn’t necessarily get in class.”

The benefit of being in a large organization has a certain appeal to Paiva, and many of them are directly related by his desire to use networking to further his career.  Although this isn’t essential to working as an engineer, it does pose a specific advantage for anyone who wishes to follow a career path that can offer a wider range of advancement options.

Paiva says studying for the exam has had little impact on his job performance and, in his opinion, offers no real drawbacks to working as an engineer.

So for those wondering whether or not to take the P.Eng. test, it really depends on what sort of career you’re looking for.  If you’re focused more on finding your area of expertise and starting your career right after school, you may not need to worry about the P.Eng. test.  However, if you’d like the ability to sign off on your own projects and work within a larger set of options, you should consider become P.Eng. certified.

If you’re still unsure about whether it’s right for you or not, keep in mind that after completing your degree, there’s no rush to become licensed.  There’s no limited window of opportunity and you can always apply when you feel you’ve become experienced enough to hold a position which might involve serious health and safety responsibilities.

Water and Water Tanks around the World

Water is important to one’s health and hygiene, and so people strive to store enough water at home and industries. The use of water tanks and water towers is common in all civilizations and generations. Several archeological finds have proven this to be so.

Today, you might have heard it several times in your lifetime, “Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to stay healthy.” Surprisingly however, there are no scientific bases for this. In 2002 and 2008, medical reviews made on related literatures did not reveal any direct source that would support this healthy advice.

The misconception does not lie on whether water intake is important or not, but on how much water should be consumed in a day. The British Dietetic Association places it at 1.8 liters a day, while American RDI (Reference Daily Intake) says 3.7 liters per day for males above 18 years old and 2.7 liters a day for females over 18. These include the water unknowingly consumed when eating food and drinking beverages.

A glass of water is filled with several minerals in little amounts. These include calcium, zinc, phosphate, sodium, potassium and chloride, as well as fluoride. There may be low concentrations of these elements but they are very beneficial to people and animals.

Water may be taken lightly in America and other developed countries, but sadly many other countries are not as blessed. Only 46% of Africa’s total population have access to safe drinking water. Around the world, only 27% of rural areas get safe drinking water in their homes.

Surveys and research estimate that about 884 million people do not have access to good water sources, and about 746 million of these reside in rural areas.  In such places, water is a very important commodity. Some are forced to drink dirt water, which is better than no water at all.

Although the planet is 70% water, most of this is saltwater, and therefore, unsafe for drinking. There is safe freshwater in almost all parts of the country but supplies and sources must be sustained. Sources of freshwater include underground aquifers, rain, surface water, plants, and by desalinating seawater; underground water surfaces in springs, which are natural resources for mineral-rich clean water.

In developed countries, water is delivered to homes and industries through comprehensive and complex city and national water piping systems. However, due to wear and tear, most city piping and plumbing that have been put in place at the turn of the century have now deteriorated. Underground pipes are leaking, and thus contamination is a serious threat even in the most developed cities in the world.

In desert countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and neighboring nations, water is scarce, and so it is typical to see homes with a cistern, water tower or water tank. People living in these countries make good use of the little water that Nature makes available to them. These nations have also perfected dry-land farming, a kind of agriculture that makes use of moisture and rainwater to water their crops.

In such countries, agricultural failures may happen more frequently than elsewhere, but the system works more often than not. This only illustrates the urgency that people in developed countries should conserve this dwindling resource. Water tanks, containers, and cisterns must be installed in homes and industries more than ever.

7 Reasons to Study for a Masters in Finance Degree

 

For finance professionals and those who are planning to start a career in finance, here are seven reasons why you should study for a Masters in Finance degree.  One, it is the most reasonable next step after earning a Bachelor’s degree from university.  While most college graduates decide to take a break or begin looking for work, some consider it wise to pursue graduate studies right away while they are still used to being in a learning environment.

Two, a Master in Finance degree makes one’s credentials look more attractive and the person more employable.  The individual who has decided to take a Master’s degree immediately after college could very well end up getting a better job than someone who straight away looked for a job without first building credentials.  Employers have a high regard for a Master’s diploma.

It is not exactly a bad thing to get a job immediately after college.  The finance professional could earn a few years of work experience and then go back to school for post-university education.  With a Master’s degree and a few years of work experience, the finance employee may be moved to a better job position.

A third reason why you should take a Master’s program in Finance is the training for future promotions.  Some leading corporations identify their most reliable and promising employees, pay for their education and offer them higher-level job positions.  This is such a handsome deal.

In most cases, corporations pay half of the schooling costs and you pay the other half.  That still is a good deal.  Getting your employer to sanction your studies means he understands that you may need a little leniency at work.

Four, a promotion leads to pay increases.  People get employment to make money to pay the bills, send the children to school, pay for mortgage, save for the rainy days, and afford a few conveniences in life.  A student may have to pay tuition and spend some money while studying in a graduate course for two years, but the rewards to come later more than make up for the school expenses.

America and the rest of the world are still battling to completely recover from the global economic crunch that has plagued a number of world economies.  Times are hard, people have been laid off and salary increases are hard to come by.  In any given economic situation, corporations are much more ready to invest in employees with very good credentials.

Five, studying through a Masters in Finance will educate you on several finance concepts, principles, theories, instruments, and strategies that you did not learn in university.  The Masters curriculum includes deeper courses and subject matter.  Some of these are on financial economics, financial management, market risks, budgets, investment management, behavioral finance, and so on.

Six, compared with an MBA (Masters in Business Administration), a Master’s of Science in Finance (M.Fin.) provides more focus on the study of finance and finance concepts.  MBA is much broader since it basically aims to provide training in business administration.  While MBA may be more popular, M.Fin. is more intentional and practical.

Seven and finally, enroll in a Masters in Finance to personally improve yourself as an individual. Education promotes self-confidence; more education, more self-confidence.  Over and above the professional benefits, studying for a graduate degree makes people more confident, prepared, responsible, driven, and fulfilled.

Structural Engineering drawing service for Structure Design Engineering

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We are dedicated to the service of Structural engineering industry as a profession and as an institution. While fulfilling various CAD needs for structural projects, we strive to exceed in project delivery through responsive communication, interactive processes and a complete focus on the structural design.

Engineer Shortage Means Lost Opportunities

A shortage of engineers is hampering Australia’s ability to deliver on infrastructure and nation building needs, leading to millions of dollars in cost overruns and lost opportunities for engineering projects which have not gone ahead, an industry group says.

Speaking at a public hearing in Perth as part of a Senate Inquiry into the Shortage of Engineering and Related Employment Skills, Engineers Australia’s international and national director of policy Brent Jackson said Australia needs to address the engineering skills shortage as a matter of urgency.

“Australia produces less than half of its current annual engineering workforce needs,” Jackson says. “Even with Australian universities and TAFEs producing around 9,000 graduates annually, Australia is still unable to provide a reliable domestic solution to these key shortages.”

Jackson says engineering shortages have led to huge losses due to cost overruns and many more lost opportunities for infrastructure and sustainable development. He adds that over the past six years alone, more than 20 projects had to be abandoned because of problems finding suitably qualified staff.

Despite his concerns, Jackson applauds efforts on the part of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport with regard to the creation of the National Infrastructure Construction Schedule (NICS), a national database of planned infrastructure investments. Jackson says this will bring greater transparency to infrastructure scheduling and delivery and make it easier for the profession to plan projects and identify areas where more engineers are needed.

He says, however, that further reform to strengthen the profession is necessary, with careful workforce planning and career initiatives needed to attract highly skilled individuals – especially women – to the profession.

“As well, it’s important that reforms through the COAG of the seamless national economy progress by supporting a nationally consistent system of registration for engineers,” Jackson says. “This will help us deploy engineers of consistently high standard to wherever they are needed most.”

The need to encourage more women the enter the engineering field in particular has long been recognised by policy makers and is seen as a necessary step if Australia is to develop the skills it needs to meet the infrastructure requirements of the coming decade. Earlier this year, 23-year-old engineering student Marita Cheng was awarded the Young Australian of the Year for her efforts in promoting the profession as a career path to young girls in secondary schools across the country.

The Master in Financial Engineering

The Master in Financial Engineering (MFE) is a highly selective two-year program that provides financial education at the forefront of both academic thinking and industry practice. The program serves students seeking comprehensive technical knowledge of derivatives pricing, asset management, market design, and risk management. The MFE is of particular relevance to those wishing to work in:

• Portfolio management and security analysis,
• Hedge funds,
• Risk management,
• Securities and derivatives trading,
• Corporate finance and corporate restructurings,
• Venture capital and private equity.

Through their studies, MFE students learn how to combine modern finance theory and computational methods with a practical knowledge of the forums in which they can employ these skills.

The curriculum of the MFE is entirely in English. Following a number of compulsory foundation and advanced courses in the first two semesters, an extensive range of electives in the third semester allows students to tailor the program to their specific interests. The learning cycle is completed by a six-month internship in the financial industry during the fourth semester.

At the end of their studies, MFE students have the perfect profile to rapidly integrate in financial institutions such as investment banks, rating agencies, consulting and auditing companies, insurance companies and online trading companies. As an alternative, MFE graduates interested in an academic career can also enter top level PhD programs in finance, such as the Swiss Finance Institute PhD program at EPFL.

The MFE is the result of a multi-disciplinary effort, involving the Swiss Finance Institute @ EPFL and theCollege of Management of Technology as well as faculty members from Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science and Operations Research among others. As such, it brings together state-of-the-art thinking and research from disciplines that are highly relevant for a career in the financial world.

What are the priorities of the CFO

 

The economic and financial situation is so convoluted that companies have to make real financial engineering. Currently based out any financial aspect is crucial in organizations, but from Finance Strategy wonder if there is any priority or major concern for any specific area of financial management. That’s why we published a survey with which we intend to know if during this year’s financial managers will focus their objectives in seeking financing, risk control, improved management or strategy development internationalization.

The results obtained so far show that the risk control and the search for funding are the main priorities. Do you agree with this result?

No doubt, there can be limited to a single priority for financial management has to play many sticks and cannot leave any leg of their activity without considering and look closely. Thus, the managers have noted the views that have made Linkedin. In any case everything happens for a lack of credit and therefore the need of working capital.

Valuations of swaps and structured products

The year 2010 will be remembered as one of the years with more litigation in the courts in matters relating to: Madoff, bonds issued by Lehman, swap agreements, hedge funds that have not returned the cash, etc.

To have any chance of success at trial is required to forward a figure sophisticated financialknowledge to judges and lawyers affordable and easy to understand: The legal expert.

In the field of derivatives, there are very few legal experts with real experience in the field of structuring and financial engineering for a simple reason, if you have work experience in structuring and JP Morgan to earn 10 times more than being a humble expert or consultant.

Thus, there are many cases signing expert valuations that come from the audit (KPMG, Deloitte, etc.) Theorists and professors of the university world.

The former give an accounting approach to a problem that has nothing to do with accounting but with finances. The valuation of structured products is carried out with very sophisticated models of financial engineering that have earned at least half of recent Nobel laureates in economics. Models are to be understood in perspective need mathematical knowledge engineering or PhD level in mathematics.

On the other hand the theoretical academics, while giving a good image of neutrality before the judges, are that: theory, practice and know the market, so that their reports are usually strings of citations to researchers without getting wet in going to climax or catastrophe reports referring to anyone who works in the market would take seriously.

It is therefore required to play this role a hybrid between investment banking and teaching the twofold: the training and technical subject matter. In the same way it would be good judges of the commercial form in this area that many disputes will bring to theaters in the coming years.

One of the best consultants in finance in Spain is AFI – International financial analyst, but rarely take a stand against financial institutions because they are your best customers.

Another of the best consultants specializing in financial engineering is NetValue Financial Advisors, which specializes in complex products (exotic) and valuations of structured products, derivatives, swap contracts, etc.

Finally Investment insurance is more focused on the group of insurance companies and the assessment of their financial assets, which often have long maturities (coupons zero cancellable, etc), rather than the more exotic side of products.

It would be advisable that participants in this network is responsible for ensuring legal certainty in this exciting sector “culture hoisted” more and more with the concepts of swaps, structured products, SPVS, etc.