Which type of engineering should I go for?

[Rodimus Prime]

I'm not a CE, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

And I have been burned by enough CEs that I tend to do the bulk of my grading myself rather then let it slip out of my control. No, I didn't major in CE, but I do it as a part of my right-brain job.

Although, in the interest of full disclosure, when that spinning woman image was posted that was supposed to tell you which side of the brain you use, I could see it going one way sometimes and the opposite way other times.

I am assuming you are talking about landscaping part of a job at least that is what I think when you say grading. I thinking more on the structural side of things instead of the dirt work.

As for the construction side right now I want to kill the idiot architect who complains about everything. Answer RFI like crap (have the time does not even answer the question) and then complains because we leave them open saying over and over again you have not answered the question. Also some really crappy drawings. Not only do MEP, Structural and architecture not agree with each other they do not agree with them selves. And they wonder why we are sending out so many RFI's

 

[mactastic]

I am assuming you are talking about landscaping part of a job at least that is what I think when you say grading. I thinking more on the structural side of things instead of the dirt work.

Well, grading isn't exactly landscaping. I use a landscape architect for that. I'm talking about setting grade for flatwork, DIs, SD lines, sewer lines... all the gravity fed stuff where elevation is critical. Plus all ADA compliance, 2% max cross slope, 5% in the direction of travel, and still getting water to move into the SD system. Sumps, manholes, stuff like that.

As for the construction side right now I want to kill the idiot architect who complains about everything. Answer RFI like crap (have the time does not even answer the question) and then complains because we leave them open saying over and over again you have not answered the question. Also some really crappy drawings. Not only do MEP, Structural and architecture not agree with each other they do not agree with them selves. And they wonder why we are sending out so many RFI's

Why are you sending out RFIs if you're the Civil? Shouldn't the Contractor be the one doing that? Or are you acting as a CM?

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Well, grading isn't exactly landscaping. I use a landscape architect for that. I'm talking about setting grade for flatwork, DIs, SD lines, sewer lines... all the gravity fed stuff where elevation is critical. Plus all ADA compliance, 2% max cross slope, 5% in the direction of travel, and still getting water to move into the SD system. Sumps, manholes, stuff like that.


Why are you sending out RFIs if you're the Civil? Shouldn't the Contractor be the one doing that? Or are you acting as a CM?

I am not civil. I work for a GC. My degree is in construction engineering technology. I spent the first 2.5 years in college working on CE degree before I figure out it not what I wanted to do change my major and finished it off. It was over all a very minor change in course work but made a world of difference in how much more I was enjoying it and it was the career path I wanted from day one when going into CE just did not know about it until later.

WEll the sewer lives and gravity stuff I think i is rather sad when a CE screws those up. The ADA stuff well I can understand why a CE would mess that up. They do not understand those laws and very little of the things they do have to be ADA compared to the architectural side where you have a LOT,.

 

[gauchogolfer]

While it's tempting to recommend getting the same degrees that I have (Physics and Materials Engineering) it sounds like Civil Engineering is the best choice for you. I think that whatever you choose, keep in mind that the elective courses you opt to take can provide the breadth of education that you'll need to be a successful architect. So, if you feel the CE program is light in math, you can always take a PDE class. If physics isn't emphasized enough, there will likely be plenty of those also.

My 2cents.

 

[mactastic]

I am not civil. I work for a GC. My degree is in construction engineering technology. I spent the first 2.5 years in college working on CE degree before I figure out it not what I wanted to do change my major and finished it off. It was over all a very minor change in course work but made a world of difference in how much more I was enjoying it and it was the career path I wanted from day one when going into CE just did not know about it until later.

Ah, well then I'm sure we could go back and forth about "idiot contractors" and "idiot architects" all day.

WEll the sewer lives and gravity stuff I think i is rather sad when a CE screws those up. The ADA stuff well I can understand why a CE would mess that up. They do not understand those laws and very little of the things they do have to be ADA compared to the architectural side where you have a LOT,.

It's not really that hard. I do a lot of it myself these days just to keep control over site elevations. A CE really should have a decent grasp of ADA requirements, at least inasmuch as it affects the site grading. I don't expect them to know the forward reach range numbers, or accessible seating requirements, or accessible restroom stall dimensions. But dammit, how hard is it to compute a cross-slope?!

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Ah, well then I'm sure we could go back and forth about "idiot contractors" and "idiot architects" all day.


It's not really that hard. I do a lot of it myself these days just to keep control over site elevations. A CE really should have a decent grasp of ADA requirements, at least inasmuch as it affects the site grading. I don't expect them to know the forward reach range numbers, or accessible seating requirements, or accessible restroom stall dimensions. But dammit, how hard is it to compute a cross-slope?!

I think if you knew the details you would think the guy is a idiot.

As for the other part I agree how hard is to do a cross-slop. It seems pretty simple to me and I did it I think in my first year in college.