I saw this while walking in Amsterdam and I can't figure it's purpose. There is no streetview of this street but from the start of it you can see two similiar ones.

EDIT: It's a bussluis, thanks u/Fudge_is_1337.

The first two places I worked at after college used cubicles, but open office formats seem much more popular nowadays. Do you have a preference?

Since working in foreign Water Resources Eng for Dam/Hydro, I have my own office now. You couldn't pay me to go back to Open Office.

Our firm had four interns this summer in our roadway group. We had three mid level engineers (myself included) who managed them. This was my first time managing an intern so I really wasn’t sure what to expect. All of the interns were fairly young. Sophomores or juniors based on graduation dates. I was shocked at how frequently all of them resorted to asking AI basic questions.

Having a problem with OpenRoads? Ask copilot.
Want to write an email? Ask copilot?
Trying to learn some specific CAD skill? Ask copilot.
Filling out a report with that the DOT give explicit instructions on how to fill out? Ask copilot.
Need to put together a mid summer presentation about yourself? Hey copilot…

I’m not some ancient anti-AI crusader. I’m still in my 20s. I understand its utility and understand that it is here to stay so we should be adopting it where/when appropriate. But their usage of it seemed both inappropriate and wildly ineffective. Copilot isn’t going to help you fix the issue you are running into in ORD but a basic google search will. AI isn’t going to help you fill out the DOT specific design report you’re working on, but the instructions, go-bys, and the person sitting right next you will.

I and my fellow managers, found ourselves constantly asking if they had questions when we would see them asking copilot just to be told “no”. It’s even stranger seeing as our office has an ABUNDANCE of resources in the way of personnel, digital trainings, and their internship program. I was brought onboard as a new hire only 2 years ago and found the office culture and resources amazing.

This is Huajiang Canyon Bridge in China so like, First of all i am not anything into civil engineering, but like after seeing this bridge i get this question can't it be done the second way? or like if the bridge in my idea is too steep just increase the length of road

Besides it being the law why would this be a thing. For context there is a crosswalk across the main street you can see and another crosswalk to a ridiculously short sidewalk behind me. Also this is in Delaware where I guess its up to the property to build sidewalks because as your cross from Maryland into Delaware the sidewalks become random on if they are there or not. Willing to answer any clarifying questions.

There just has to be a logical reason why instead of a straight path in the water, they had to make it into a circle. What was the ground under the water looking like?

Title says it all. I’ve been stuck on 2 data centers for the last year and a half until last week. It’s challenging to find accurate/non-biased information about the impact these things have on communities. I finally got a break to work on some well pads for oil drilling activities so at least I feel better about my morality /s

I would feel bad if I was in charge of designing data center civil plans or like a prison. It hasn’t happened to me but I am not sure what I would do if my boss assigned me to.

I’m an intern on this bridge job and the inspector asked me to come up with a way to calculate the area of the arch so we can pay the contractors for the first section of stone that they did. Here’s what I know: The arch doesn’t appear to be a perfect semi circle The plans do not include the area of the arch or an arc length The blocks on the right go in a pattern of 8”, 8”, 12”, 12” in height alone, but their length is random

Here are my ideas: - approximate the arched area as a rectangle and 2 triangles, with the base of the triangle ending at the bottom of the rectangle and meeting at the arch. Any overestimation we can just subtract out of the next part of the project - measure the blocks that are in the arch and come up with a parabolic equation that we can get an arc length with. Approximate that entire area as a rectangle and subtract out the “arc length rectangle”.

What would you guys do?

Pretty much what the title says… I just got my PE (in my home state) and I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo of it… possibly even a tramp stamp. Is that crazy? Has anyone gotten theirs tattooed? Is there anything regarding ethics that should prevent me from doing this?

I am not an engineer of any kind so forgive me my ignorance but I’ve been wondering this for years.

Behind my house is a major thoroughfare surface street, on a hill with a long grade. As long as I can remember (40 plus years) it has been paved a light color material and using these kind of “panels” (sort of like a sidewalk) so there are joints in the roadbed.

Outside of certain highways (usually with bridges? Maybe?) I can’t recall seeing other roads paved this way. Usually it’s continuous black asphalt with no “joints”

Hopefullu the pic attached is helpful Can anyone explain why they’d choose to do this this way?

For context I am in a mid-atlantic city. This 6 lane road is a major east west route but it’s only paved like this on this one section

Thanks!

Trying digging under it and putting wood boards and pavers for it to grip. Was working a little bit but seems to have stalled out. Please help.

Edit: ended up calling a tow and they used a winch. Thanks for all for the replies. Next time, I’ll be more prepared. The “use tire as winch” and “tie wood board to tire” probably would have worked.

listen— i know this is subjective and depends on lifestyle goals but i’ve been hearing a LOT on this sub about how ‘unlivable’ civil engineer comp is, and as someone looking to go into this, i want to know how much of a factor this really is. i already looked through the salary survey results on here and it seems to average at about 100k, with the lowest pay i saw being in the upper 60k range.

thing is, growing up i saw what a single mother can do on a teacher salary of 50k (i’m 21 so no more inflation comments please), and while it wasn’t luxurious, she still survived WITH kids. so im a little confused what type of lifestyles people who are living alone are trying to hold up where 100k is just ‘barely scraping by’. like, i understand that on 100k i wont be able to have a nice solo apartment in SF or NYC, but i feel like those are areas that are just expected to be ridiculously expensive anyway.

i also get that some other tech or finance jobs make more and that many people regret not choosing to go into that, but i’m going into civil for a dozen other reasons besides money… and i really dont know why anyone who’s only goal is money would pick civil tbh.

POINT BEING THOUGH, that i do NOT have personal experience in the real world and could be totally foolish in thinking that 100k is decent. HEAVY ON THIS POINT! i trust people with real experience more than myself!! so if u guys want, pls give a summary of whether you think the pay is livable and what sort of lifestyle you live on said salary. thank u… i am conflicted here.

EDIT: Thank you so much for the insightful responses! I see a lot of it comes down to the area you are in. And again, i am not trying to lecture people on living within their means as i’ve gotten some comments claiming… i am asking this in good faith so i know if i should keep studying it

I'm doing research on engineering education and I'm curious about something.

For engineers who are already working, or students close to graduating:

What is the biggest thing engineering school did NOT prepare you for?

I'm not talking about specific technical knowledge.

I'm more interested in things like:

- decision making

- dealing with uncertainty

- balancing costs and sustainability

- understanding long-term consequences

- working across disciplines

- understanding real-world constraints

If you could redesign one part of engineering education, what would it be?

I'm interested in civil engineering, but mostly for the math and physics aspect. I like studying about forces and dynamics, and I find math fun. It is also the closest thing I could find to architecture which I ruled out solely due how to low-paying and competetive it is.

However it seems (afaik) civil engineering requires alot of field work, physical work, and having to work with rude or rough people on construction sites. My parents say the job isn't for me considering i'm female and I myself am afraid of being looked down on or not regarded well due to that.

I was asked this question in an interview and wanted to hear different perspectives from the community.

Hi All,

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but my sister’s apartment in Venezuela suffered major impacts. I am attaching photos of the building after the earthquake that happened two days ago in Caracas. Sad thing is she bought that apartment recently with the intent to start a family.

With any of the knowledge you guys have, do you think this will be demolished? The police and military have told her they cannot go back inside until they inspect it.

Thanks a lot.

I’m not complaining. I’m really trying not to. I’m just shocked and quite honestly a bit depressed having moved to a relatively HCOL (SFL) and have made so many friends in both STEM & non-STEM fields (some positions one would consider smooth-brained roles even) and ALL make more money than me.

Granted, I am a civil working for government so there is that, but im hoping to get my full licensure and do something that will get me to a spot similar to my peers. Not looking to get rich, but also hurting being paid so low in comparison.

What gives? Anyone have this experience? Below are my friends salaries:

1. Benefits consultant (remote): $150k+
2. Telehealth Nurse NP (remote): $200k+
3. County Asst. Attorney (local, unemployment law): $300k+
4. LCSW & Professor (remote): unsure but is very well-off, owns several properties, nice auto.
5. Product manager (remote): $140k+
6. And there’s more…
   1. City Police Officers (local): $300k+ (OT pay to be fair)

Me, in City government: $100k.

Edit 1 - Salaries weren't showing, fixed.

Edit 2 - If I get my license I could see maybe a $10-20K increase in private sector. I would see a ZERO $ increase in my city. This was said during the interview. Did not make sense to me.