Electronics & Communication Engineers

Design, fabricate, maintain, supervise, and manufacture electronic equipment used in the entertainment media, in hospitals, in the computer industry, for communication and in defense. Electronics engineers work with devices that use extremely small amounts of power. They work with microprocessors, fibre optics, and in telecommunication, television, and radio.

Necessary Qualifications

To become electronics engineer one needs to hold a degree in electronics engineering or must have passed the AMIE (Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers) in electronics and telecommunication.

Academic Programme

The focus in the study programme is on understanding electronic networks and devices, electromagnetic field theory, computer fundamentals, as also their protection, and communication and control systems.

Job Opportunities

An electronics engineer can be employed in the public and private sector industries and organizations such as the Indian Telephone Industries, MTNL, National Physical Laboratories, AIR, Civil aviation, and the police wireless departments.

Electronics engineers are also absorbed into the entertainment transmission industry, research establishments, and defense. They can also take up teaching and research in one of the many engineering colleges in India or abroad.

Solar water heating

Solar water heating or solar hot water is water heated by the use of solar energy. Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage. The system may use electricity for pumping the fluid, and have a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use. The systems may be used to heat water for a wide variety of uses, including home, business and industrial uses. Heating swimming pools, underfloor heating or energy input for space heating or cooling are more specific examples.

In many climates, a solar heating system can provide up to 85% of domestic hot water energy. This can include domestic non-electric concentrating solar thermal systems. In many northern European countries, combined hot water and space heating systems (solar combisystems) are used to provide 15 to 25% of home heating energy.

In the southern regions of Africa like Zimbabwe, solar water heaters have been gaining popularity, thanks to the Austrian-and other EU-funded projects that are promoting more environmentally friendly water heating solutions.

Residential solar thermal installations can be subdivided into two kinds of systems: compact and pumped systems. Both typically include an auxiliary energy source (electric heating element or connection to a gas or fuel oil central heating system) that is activated when the water in the tank falls below a minimum temperature setting such as 50 °C. Hence, hot water is always available. The combination of solar water heating and using the back-up heat from a wood stove chimney to heat water can enable a hot water system to work all year round in cooler climates, without the supplemental heat requirement of a solar water heating system being met with fossil fuels or electricity.

Among pumped options, there is an important distinction to be made regarding the sustainability of the design of the system. This relates to what source of energy powers the pump and its controls. The type of pumped solar thermal systems which use mains electricity to pump the fluid through the panels are called low carbon solar because the pumping negates the carbon savings of the solar by about 20%, according to data in a report called “Side by side testing of eight solar water heatings” by DTI UK. However, zero-carbon pumped solar thermal systems use solar electricity which is generated onsite using photovoltaics to pump the fluid and to operate its control electronics. This represents a zero operational carbon footprint and is becoming an important design goal for innovative solar thermal systems.
Today homeowners even can make their own solar water heater.

Mechanical Engineering Scholarships

Work in Aviation or Automotive Industries

Students interested in Mechanical Engineering degrees must have an interest and or aptitude for mechanical things. The major is pretty much what it sounds like. Students learn about mechanical systems, all types of engines and machinery especially their applications in industry.

Mechanical Engineers often work in the automotive and airlines industries because of their abilities with engines and large mechanical systems.

College Scholarships

Florida International University has a large Engineering and Computing Department, which sponsors dozens of scholarships. The Southern Gear and Machine, Inc. Scholarship, however, is specifically designed for Mechanical Engineering students. Applicants must be residents of Dade County and be able to prove financial need as well as the ability to perform academically.

West Virginia University Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department offers students in the mechanical engineering major nearly two-dozen scholarships. Among them:

* Amelia Earhart Scholarship Award for Women is given to an outstanding graduate level female student in the department.
* The Hansen Inc. Scholarship awards $800 to students in their third or fourth year of undergraduate studies or their graduate program.

Mechanical Engineering students enrolled at the Western Michigan University may be interested in the Kalamazoo Antique Auto Restorers Club Scholarship. Qualified applicants must be majoring in mechanical engineering, but be concentrating on automotive courses and willing to consider a career in automotive restoration. $500 available.

Professional Organizations

HENAAC, Inc. encourages and supports Hispanics in engineering. A big part of the organization’s mission is to make sure the next generation is covered as well. Thanks to generous support from large corporate partners the organization is instrumental in extending thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to deserving Hispanic students in engineering programs in accredited programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to be considered for all awards:

* Daimler-Chrysler funds a scholarship for mechanical engineering students with a demonstrated talent in the major and high academic scores.
* Ford Motor Company scholarships go to Hispanic students in mechanical engineering. Applicants must have GPAs of at least 3.0.
* Lockheed Martin Corporation rewards those mechanical engineering students who are at the top of their class academically.
* Northrop Grumman Corporation scholarships are awarded to students with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
* Shaw Industries scholarships are available to those students attending mechanical engineering programs in the Southeast region of the U.S.

The National Society of Black Engineers sponsors dozens of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in engineering. Like other minority students and women, African Americans have been tragically underrepresented in the engineering professions:

* Johnson and Johnson awards over a dozen scholarships to the tune of $1500 to undergraduate students pursuing any number of engineering degrees, including mechanical engineering. Qualified applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.2 and be genuinely open to a career with Johnson and Johnson.
* The GE “Lloyd Trotter” African American Forum Scholarship is awarded to those students in their third or fourth year. Eligible applicants must have a high GPA and be active in the NSBE. Awards are $2500.

Scholarships from the Society of Women Engineers are funded in large part by large industrial and manufacturing corporations. Women are also considered a minority in a field such as engineering and have been underrepresented until recently. Applicants must consider that scholarships require top academic scores, and that many of the sponsoring companies are also looking to employ the next wave of talented engineers. These criteria alone make these programs extremely competitive. Awards designed for women studying Mechanical Engineering are funded by such corporations as Lockheed Martin, DuPont, GE, and Chevron to name only a few. Scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $6,000.

Sika in Industrial Building

Introduction to Industrial Construction

Industrial buildings consist of many different structures with their own specific function and specification. This in return will demand different requirements and of course specific system for each of the structures.
Warehouse for example, is exposed to heavy traffic such as forklift and this will demand a high abrasion resistance floor. While food and beverage production area may need a hygienic and easy-to-clean floor system.Sika with its knowledge and experience is in best possible position to provide a total project based solution to its customers.

Below its some examples of Sika’s products involvement in industrial building projects.

1.    Concrete works

Base on concrete requirements (workability, strength) a wide range of admixture (mainly Sikament and Sika Viscocrete range) is available for producing high quality and durable concrete. Use of silicafume based material, Sikacrete PP1 is also common to reduce concrete permeability, increase strength and resistance to aggressive environment (chlorides, sulfates). Following good concrete practice and use of reliable formwork release agent (Separol) and curing compound (Antisol) shall give the best possible concrete work quality.

2.    Industrial Floor

Floor of a factory & warehouse has a key factor in ensuring the convenience of the production process. Bad condition floor will cause the disruption in productivity rate and furthermore, in some cases this will adversely affect the quality of goods produced.

Heavy traffic floor such as in warehouse or parking lot will require a high abrasion and mechanical resistance floor and this is best achieved by using Sikafloor Chapdur, non-metallic floor hardener, finished by power-float. For high abrasion requirement, Sikafloor 2 Syntop, dry shake floor hardener is a reliable solution. Pharmaceutical and food production area demand a seamless, easy-to-clean flooring system and sometimes require certain degree of chemical resistance.

Epoxy resin based flooring system has been used widely for this purpose where the type and thickness of epoxy layer are very dependant on the mechanical/chemical exposure and also the design life of the floor.
Sikafloor 2530-W New, coloured, 2-part epoxy dispersion, has been widely used in numerous projects in Vietnam. This epoxy coating produces a smooth, tough finish appearance and very suitable for use in food industry and light industry factory. If anti-skid appearance is required like in wet area such as kitchen, toilet and liquid contaminated floor then Sikafloor 7530 or Sikafloor 261 textured / screed system can be applied.
Besides these two products, Sika also provides various others flooring systems for other flooring requirements such as anti-static, high chemical and mechanical resistance floor.

3.Machine and Column Base Plate Grouting

To reach maximum effective bearing area, column base plate shall be grouted using non-shrink flowable grout such as SikaGrout 214-11. For heavy machine base plate, usually it is required to use high vibration resistant and high ultimate strength grout, Sikadur 42 MP, a 3-component castable epoxy grout, is suitable for this purpose

Top Engineering Colleges Ranking (2010) in India

National Research Ranking

Publications determine the academic quality of institutions.
Here is a listing of the top 60.

1. IISc, Bangalore
2. IIT Kharagpur
3. IIT Bombay
4. IIT Delhi
5. IIT Kanpur
6. IIT Madras
7. Jadavpur University
8. Anna University
9. IIT Roorkee
10. Cochin University of Science and Technology
11. IIT Guwahati
12. College of Engineering, Anna University, Chennai
13. Bengal Engineering and Science University, Howrah
14. IT BHU, Varanasi
15. BITS, Pilani
16. National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur
17. PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore
18. National Institute of Technology/REC, Trichy
19. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad
20. Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
21. National Institute of Technology/REC, Rourkela
22. BITS, Mesra
23. ISM, Dhanbad
24. Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
25. Harcourt Butler Institute of Technology, Kanpur
26. Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala
27. National Institute of Technology/REC, Warangal
28. Shri Govindram Saksaria Institute of Technology and Science, Indore
29. National Institute of Technology/REC, Surathkal
30. R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore
31. Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, New Delhi
32. Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Sangrur
33. IIIT, Hyderabad
34. National Institute of Technology/REC, Kurukshetra
35. National Institute of Technology/REC, Hamirpur
36. National Institute of Technology/REC, Nagpur
37. National Institute of Technology/REC, Calicut
38. Delhi College of Engineering, New Delhi
39. IIT, Bangalore
40. S.J. College of Engineering, Mysore
41. National Institute of Technology/REC, Durgapur
42. National Institute of Technology/REC, Allahabad
43. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar NIT, Jalandhar
44. Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh
45. Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal
46. National Institute of Technology/REC, Jaipur
47. Nirma University of Science and Technology, Ahmedabad
48. Maulana Azad NIT, Bhopal
49. JNTU College of Engineering, Hyderabad
50. Government College of Engineering, Pune
51. Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai
52. Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Gandhinagar
53. National Institute of Technology/REC, Surat
54. IIIT, Allahabad
55. Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior
56. College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram
57. M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore
58. Atal Bihari Vajpayee IIIT and Management, Gwalior
59. Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai
60. National Institute of Technology/REC, Srinagar

Secret to Training Engineers

Good employees are hard to find, and even harder to keep. While this virtue is undeniably true in just about any industry, I find it to be especially true within the engineering industry. Many have heard the timeless question; is the glass half full or half empty? Optimists will respond stating the glass is half full, pessimists half empty. Engineers on the other hand will simply conclude the glass to be twice the size it needs to be. While I mention the parody in jest, its truthfulness can unveil some key insights as to the way engineers learn.

Arguably the most fundamental trait of an engineer is their innate ability to solve problems. Simple or complex, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is a conclusive yes or no answer can be found. This passion for discovering the answers to problems big and small consequently feeds into what could be described as an endless appetite for information. Much like a chef can take seemingly unrelated ingredients and make a celebrated dish, engineers have the ability to take seemingly unrelated pieces of information and assemble it together into a larger concept or idea.

Sometimes the process of assembling fragments of information into a single concept can take seconds, other times it can take days or months. Engineers have the tendency of building a relevancy engine our non-engineer friends are likely to find annoying. So why are we able to remember things our non-engineer friends cannot? In essence it boils down to the way we as engineers commit things to memory.


Most people read a book and commit it to memory in a linear manner. They memorize sequence of events, not necessarily how the events interrelate with one another. Rather than focusing on sequence, engineers focus on relevance. How does topic A relate to topic B, which then loops around and relates to topic B? This woven web of relevance would make most sane people dizzy. But the all important concept here isn’t necessarily the information web itself, but rather how we supplement it with new information over time.

Our appetite for information means we’re seeking new information on a daily basis. Those looking at us from the outside probably wander how in creation we digest such vast quantities of information day in, and day out. The secret is our internal relevancy engine. Harnessing our internal knowledgebase, we categorize all new information into one of our existing categories, or simply discard worthless information altogether. Consequently we really don’t commit any more information to memory than most other people.

Let’s say for example, a typical person reads 3 articles in a day, retaining 90% of each article. On the other hand, an engineer might double that, reading 6 articles a day, but only committing 45% of each article to memory. At the end of the day, both individuals have retained the same amount of information (270 % points). Unlike most that retain more about a small number of topics, engineers tend to retain less about a larger number of topics. In such a scenario, nearly every other word you say as a trainer will be discarded by your students.

I don’t know about you, but that number depresses me. The good news is that engineers have the ability to retain 100% of what you say, but only if they see the information as relevant. A while back I was teaching Land Desktop Fundamentals to a group of new employees. Among our new hires was one individual who had never used Land Desktop, so everything I was teaching was brand new to him. At first it didn’t seem this guy was going to do much, if any road design. Consequently he decided to skip class the day we covered road design. As luck would have it a few months later I get a call from this guy asking if I could walk him through how to design a road in LDT.

To be honest, I was a little peeved at the fact he had skipped my class, and was now calling me to teach him how to design a road. Like most such events, some other variables played into the why of skipping class. Regardless, the lack of immediate relevance certainly played a major role in his decision to skip class. As a trainer it is your job to establish as much relevance as possible in the topic you’re presenting.

Perhaps the most compelling way to create relevance to topics covered during training is to know your audience. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your students will allow you to deemphasize your students’ areas of expertise, and emphasize their weak points. Even without the luxury of knowing such details about your audience, relevance can be added by soliciting your own experiences.

Learning AutoCAD back in high school, most of our classroom exercises used architectural units. Upon entering the civil industry, I still remember overcoming the mental block that 1 foot 6 inches was not 1’6”, but rather 1.5. Based on that experience I am certain to place extra emphasis on units when teaching AutoCAD Fundamentals. Having used AutoCAD for some time now, it’s sometimes hard to remember what topics I had a hard time with when I was a rookie CAD user. For that reason I firmly believe there’s no better teacher that performing end-user support.

Despite teaching classes such as AutoCAD Fundamentals time and time again, I don’t know I have ever taught it the same twice. A major contributing factor to that has been my audience. Each class has new students with different strengths and weaknesses. This time through I may place extra emphasis on units, next time it may be plotting. For that reason I retain absolute and rigid flexibility, doing my best to tailor each class to the students attending it. Doing that will certainly help add relevance for the students you teach.

Engineered Efficiency offers Unlimited Live Training

While I personally thought Autodesk would announce next (not this) release would be the final release of Land Desktop, the announcement itself really comes as no surprise. Since the Technology Preview release of 2004, Civil 3D has evolved from a really cool new technology to a technology now able to sustain real-world design. For firms still using Land Desktop, switching to Civil 3D has less to do with the technical abilities of the software, and more to do with the cultural paradigm and the raw cost.

Civil 3D is not an incremental upgrade to Land Desktop; it’s a replacement for Land Desktop. For that reason many firms still have weighed Civil 3D vs LDT, and simply decided to stay on LDT subscribing to the notion “if it aint broke, don’t fix it”. More often than not that argument is code for, we’re not willing to commit to the hours upon hours of training our staff will need to be productive on Civil 3D. While Civil 3D certainly has the potential to save lots of time [money] in the long run, it’s difficult to convince management to forgo the necessary cost of training.

News of a reseller offering training is far from monumental. Something monumental would be a reseller offering unlimited live training to their customers. That’s exactly the announcement Engineered Efficiency recently made. EE CivilAccess and EE GuidedAccess customers will have the opportunity to enjoy unlimited free access to an impressive curriculum including; Core Concepts; Residential Design; Site Design; Transportation (local roads); Survey; Styles; Data Management; and Workflows.

Something especially appealing to those migrating from Land Desktop is the other services included in the EE CivilAccess and EE GuidedAccess portfolios. In addition to unlimited instructor led training, EE customers receive their impressive ProPak Base [Express Tools for C3D], access to an exclusive knowledge base, and support tokens. Their GuidedAccess offering provides a 5-step implementation, including the all important pilot project mentoring. The folks over at Engineered Efficiency have all but ignored the conventional reseller model, offering their clients premium services at an affordable price.

To learn more about EE’s impressive offering check out their website at www.eng-eff.com.

Training Program Reinforcement Part 1

It’s hard to believe, but 3 weeks ago I started my employment with Ronald A. Williams. Last week was quite exciting as I got to meet a number of our customers for the first time at a CTE conference. For those outside the education world, CTE stands for Career & Technical Education, and is perhaps better known as vo-tech. I must say, getting to chat with the teachers who are in the classrooms training the next generation of CAD professionals was quite interesting. Frankly, the inner-geek in me just couldn’t help but start comparing the world of education to industry.

One topic I found especially intriguing was the profoundly different ways education and industry measure success of their students/employees. Companies pour thousands and thousands of dollars into training their staff, but how is success primarily measured? Typically success in industry is measured by the dollar; Return on Investment. If I invest x-dollars in training, how much will new efficiency gains make me back over time?


Now think back to when you were a student. What defined your success? Here’s a clue, it generally started with an A and ended with an F. At the end of the day it was all about the grade you earned after taking a series of quizzes, tests, and exams. But why do teachers even bother to use their trusty red-pen to mark what’s right and what’s wrong?

The answer can be summarized in a single word – REINFORCEMENT.

Frankly, this is where education seems to flourish, and industry seems to fail more often than not. Chances are you didn’t just wake up one day and suddenly know algebra. Instead your algebra teacher probably showed you some basic algebraic formulas, and progressively started giving you problems to try on your own. At the end of it all, you got tested on the topics, and were assigned a grade as a way to measure your performance.

But that graded paper was truly more than a grade. It also highlighted what you got wrong, and how to calculate that equation correctly. While your grade may have motivated you to learn, ultimately it wasn’t the grade that MADE you learn. What made you learn was the reinforcement you received along the way.

Suffice to say, we probably wouldn’t call it education without this reinforcement. So why is reinforcement a seemingly optional component to corporate training programs?

What does your firm do? What do you wish they did differently? How does your firm reinforce it’s training program? Share your thoughts in the comments of this post, and stay tuned for part two!

Training Program Reinforcement Part 2

In my last post I spoke about the power of reinforcement in the world of education. My point to making the connection between academia and corporate learning is that reinforcement is no less important in academia than it is in a corporate learning environment. But without report cards, parent-teacher conferences, and other staples of academia, how does one reinforce corporate training?

It’s as simple as this. Corporate training shouldn’t end when your employees leave the classroom. In all likelihood your employees will come back from training excited about all the cool things they were shown in training, but how much of it did they actually retain? Fact of the matter is this, you have no clue what your employees did or did not retain.

A comprehensive training program will follow-up on the classroom learning offered to your employees. You can choose the best way to quantify what your employees truly learned in training. You may choose to create an assessment customized to your company, and the way it does things. On the other hand, you may choose to have your employees take one of the Certification Exams offered by Autodesk. The method isn’t the important part here; it’s the reinforcement you’ll be able to provide as a result of your employees taking an assessment.


Take the Autodesk Certification exams for example. When you take an Autodesk Certification exam, you’re provided with a report that summarizes what you got wrong on the exam. Now if you take this information and file it away in your desk, well you’re once again missing the boat. This information is gold, and provides you, the CAD Manager, with the information necessary to reinforce the training you provided to your employees.

In a perfect world each of your employees would get a 100% on the certification exam. Reality says, that’s probably not a realistic expectation. For a CAD Manager, the true value of these assessments is having the opportunity to identify the deficiencies of your staff. Armed with this information you can then formulate a plan to address these deficiencies with your staff, and truly make your CAD staff a force to be reckoned with!

You may choose to address the deficiencies identified in your assessments a couple different ways. Let’s say you have a large group of employees who scored poorly on plotting. A great way to help those users may be to offer a lunch-and-learn presentation on plotting. On the other hand, if you’ve got 1 or 2 employees who had trouble with a specific topic, an over-the-shoulder approach may better serve those employees. Perhaps it’s such a small topic that a lunch-and-learn session would be overkill. Use something like Jing or Camtasia to record short 5-minute videos demonstrating those topics.

After all the mind can absorb no more than the seat can endure.

However you choose to provide supplemental training to your staff, the key here is to tailor it to the topics your staff is having trouble with. While you may choose to send your staff to more classroom training to help address larger topics, the key to supplemental training is that it be broken up into digestible bits. After all the mind can absorb no more than the seat can endure.

If you take the e-learning approach to supplemental training, keep your video segments to 5-minutes. Anything longer than that and your great training video is likely destined to be covered up by your end-user composing or reading e-mail. Keep lunch-and-learn sessions to 1-hour. Such a timeframe should give you ample time to cover any topic suitable for supplemental training, and also give your end-users time to ask some questions. Chances are you’ll have a mix of employees; those who prefer the short 5-minute videos, and others who prefer the tactile experience of a lunch-and-learn session. Whatever the case, you must create a learning experience that engages your users, and plays into their style of learning.

AutoCAD 2011 No Experience Required – Now Available

Over the last several months you’ve probably heard me talk about (sometimes a little too much) my “upcoming” book, AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required. It’s with great excitement that I finally get to announce AutoCAD No Experience Required is no longer “upcoming”; it’s now available from a book retailer near you!


AutoCAD No Experience Required is both a tutorial, and Autodesk Official Training Guide aimed at empowering novices to acquire the necessary skills to work in AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT immediately. The book is structured such that readers start with a blank drawing, and by following a series of concise explanations and step-by-step tutorials creates a complete plan set, including a 3D model of a summer cabin.

Since AutoCAD No Experience Required takes you from project start to project finish, readers also have the opportunity to learn the most up-to-date techniques, tactics, industry standards, and methods. For example, the increasingly popular U.S. National CAD Standards are applied throughout the book.

AutoCAD 2011 and AutoCAD LT 2011: No Experience Required was named an Autodesk Official Training Guide, and can be found from most major book retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you own an Amazon Kindle Device, or have the Amazon Kindle application installed on your computer and/or smartphone (iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry), you can also pick up the Amazon Kindle Version of AutoCAD NER.

Benefits of Using Silica Fume in Concrete

Silica Fume has been used all over the world for many years in the area where high strength and durable concrete were required. Silica Fume improves the characteristics of both fresh and hard concrete.

1. Reduce of Concrete Permeability

For provision of a concrete resistant to the most aggressive environment, the most important property is the permeability.

Lower the ingress of movement of water or chemicals; lower the deterious reactions such as sulfate attack, reinforcement corrosion…
The reaction between Silica Fume and the calcium hydroxide, released as the cement hydrates, provides a dense impermeable pore structure. Although the total porosity of the Silica Fume concrete is similar to the OPC concrete the average pore size is much finer, conducting to a large reduction of permeability.

2. Improvement of concrete mechanical Performances

The Silica Fume reacts with the cement paste to form additional strong Calcium Silicate Hydrate (CSH) providing higher strength.
Silica Fume reduces bleeding and enhances the cement paste bond to the aggregates. Thanks to its pozzolanic effect (reaction with Ca(OH)2 ), and therefore to the strength improvement, Silica Fume can be used to reduce to the cement content of the mix.
In addition of the cost saving benefit, this will reduce the total heat of hydration and can improve the performances of the concrete in terms of chemical resistance.

3. Improvement of Concrete Sulfate resistance

Prior to develop the advantages of using Silica Fume to improve the concrete sulfate resistance, it may be interesting to highlight the basics form of sulfate attacks and the properties of sulfate resisting cement.

The use and deterioration of concrete in environments containing sulfates has led to the development of special sulfate resisting cements.
It has also spawned significant research into the use of supplementary cementitious materials to improve sulfate resistance.
The utility of Silica Fume for enhancing the resistance of concrete to sulfate attack has been widely studied.
Sulfate resisting cements (type V) have a low C3A content to minimize the risk off sulfate attack. However, this does not necessarily provide immunity:
- as certain sulfate react with hydrated lime and the calcium silicate hydrate the sulfate resisting cement provide less protection than expected.
- Low C3A cements are more susceptible to reinforcement corrosion attack.
The basic forms of sulfate attack are the following:
The reactive aluminates in the cement will react with the gypsum in cement during hydration. This process is harmless as the ettringite does not produce expansive forces and is stable in sulfate solutions.
If the quantity of reactive aluminates in the cement is too high, then their hydrate form will be available to react with sulfates after the cement has hardened.

This will produce expansive ettringite and cracking of the concrete.

Aluminate Hydrate + Calcium Hydroxide + sulfate + water => Ettringite.

The second principle cause attack is the acid interaction of sulfates ions and calcium hydroxide, causing gypsum formation.

Calcium Hydroxide + sulfate + water => Gypsum

It has been shown that the cation (calcium, Magnesium, Aluminium, Ammonium) of the sulfate salt affects the type and the severity of the attack.

4. Improvement of Reinforcement Corrosion Protection

In a marine structure, the performances of the concrete in terms of sulfate resistance must be taken into consideration for concrete design but the resistance to chlorides diffusion through the concrete is generally a main concern as well.

Some studies conducted in several countries proved that Type 1 cements (with high C3A content) blended with Silica Fume used in combination with a high range water reducer provide high durable performance against chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion and against sulfate attack.

The main reasons of this result can be summarize as follows:
- Silica Fume reduces the permeability of the concrete. Water and chemicals ingress are thus reduced.
- The ability of high C3A cement to complex with chlorides results in the formation of insoluble compound, able to reduce the mobility of free chloride ion to the reinforcement-concrete surface.

Engineering Projects

The phrase engineering projects is not a technical term. It can refer to any of three things. It can mean simply any projects in which engineering plays a role, projects in which the engineering design process is employed, or the work overseen by a project engineer.

With the first meaning, engineering projects is often used to apply to science fair projects or other projects that involve engineering in some way—that is, in which something is built, a loose understanding of engineering—but are not created following the engineering design process. That this happens with science fair projects, for example, may be because scientific inquiry has long been taught in school, while the design process has not received nearly as much attention. It can also happen because science fairs may require that project entries follow the steps of scientific inquiry.

The second meaning of engineering projects refers to projects that are like the first in every regard except that they do use the engineering design process. In order to understand the difference between the first and second meanings of engineering project, it is necessary to understand the difference between scientific inquiry and the design process. This is because, though scientific inquiry and the engineering design process have similarities, they address different objectives.

Scientific inquiry involves identifying questions that can be answered through investigation; designing and conducting an investigation; using appropriate tools and techniques to collect, analyze, and interpret data; and using logical thought with regard to the evidence to develop descriptions, models, explanations, and predictions, which may then be shared. The engineering design process involves defining a need, doing background research, establishing design criteria, preparing preliminary or draft designs, building and testing a prototype, testing and redesigning as appropriate, and presenting the results. Thus scientific inquiry focuses on answering questions and engineering projects of the second type on meeting needs.

Engineering projects of the third type also use the engineering design process and focus on meeting needs. In addition, they are linked to the tiered system of engineering qualifications. Engineers must be licensed in the United States and elsewhere.

A new model for licensing was recommended by a task force of the NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying) in 2003. In this model, a Graduate Engineer has completed his or her education, an Associate Engineer has additionally passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, a Registered Engineer is the first level of licensure and means that the Associate Engineer has now had four years of experience and agreed to his or her state board’s ethics code, and a Professional Engineer is the second level of licensure, offered to Registered Engineers who have passed the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) examination.

In this schema, a Graduate Engineer does not have a privilege to practice engineering. At the level of Associate Engineer, he or she can be an Associate Project Engineer. Full responsibility for engineering projects cannot be assumed until one has attained the level of Professional Engineer, at which point, one can legally take responsibility for engineering documents, including designs.

Civil Engineer

This is civil definition for Civil Engineer worded by Wikipedia. This could be found some other diffinitions from other sources. We Civil Engineer Site might bring to you more information on this career in later posts.

What is a civil engineer

Civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering, one of the many professions of engineering. Originally a civil engineer worked on public works projects and was contrasted with the military engineer, who worked on armaments and defenses. Over time, various branches of engineering have become recognized as distinct from civil engineering, including chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering, while much of military engineering has been absorbed by civil engineering. In languages other than English, a term corresponding to “Civil engineer” refers instead to an engineer with a high enough academic degree.

In some places, a civil engineer may perform land surveying; in others, surveying is limited to construction surveying, unless an additional qualification is obtained.
Specialisations

Civil engineering is usually divided into particular specialties, such as geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, land development, transportation engineering, hydraulic engineering, or environmental engineering.
Education and licensure

In most countries, a civil engineer will have graduated from a post-secondary school with a degree in civil engineering, which requires a strong background in mathematics, construction and the physical sciences; this degree is typically a four-year degree, though many civil engineers study further to obtain a masters, engineer, doctoral and post doctoral degrees. In many countries, civil engineers are subject to licensure, and often, persons not licensed may not call themselves “civil engineers”.

Graduate Civil Engineering Careers

The field of civil engineering is becoming more competitive as city and national governments look for innovative civil designs. Civil engineers are needed for local government agencies that need to develop sewerage systems that coexist with electrical, water, and transportation systems. National government agencies in the United Kingdom and Europe need excellent civil engineers to create innovative public buildings, roadway designs, and public transportation systems. The civil engineering field has become more design oriented, with public figures and leaders demanding a combination of form and function in even the drabbest public building.

Graduates with civil engineering specialties need to consider the skill set that is needed for success in the industry. Civil engineers typically need to specialise early in their careers in order to focus their attention and become successful in one aspect of the industry. Graduates have a variety of specialties to choose from, including hydraulic, structural, and transportation engineering. Once specialisation is established, graduates need to demonstrate their creative and technical abilities in the workplace. Civil engineers need to be able to think of creative designs of typically mundane public structures like processing plants and warehouses. Creativity needs to be mixed with exceptional technical skills in order to create buildings and structures that will last a long time.

The civil engineering field is increasingly competitive, with increasing pressure coming from international engineering firms into the United Kingdom and Europe. Civil engineering graduates need to be able to demonstrate that their education experience, intelligence, and enthusiasm set them apart from the competition. They also need to show their commitment to the profession, which can be shown by a certification with the Institution of Civil Engineers. Most firms do not require this certification though it acts as a seal of professional excellence to employers and clients.

Graduates interested in civil engineering should consider the daily life of a civil engineer before jumping into the profession. Civil engineers have incredibly demanding jobs, considering the scale at which they are performing their jobs. A typical day for a civil engineer will start with staff meetings to go over departmental projects, firm policies, and due dates to coordinate a variety of services. Civil engineers spend hours working on blueprints, computer assisted drafting programs, and other printed materials needed by government leaders and public decision makers. As well, civil engineers will go to work sites to speak with construction managers about design changes and issues that invariably arise.

Engineering Management Scholarships

An Engineering Management degree can bring graduates a whole host of opportunities within the job market. Someone with this degree will typically find their way into a career where they are managing the latest in technology and engineering which could encompass a variety of industries from concrete to communications to heavy machinery. If this challenging field sounds like the career path you want to take, then you will need some financial assistance in paying for this ambitious educational endeavor.

National Association Scholarships

The National Society of Professional Engineers offers a scholarship for graduate students studying Engineering Management at the master degree level. It is called the Professional Engineers in Government (PEG) and any engineering intern or current licensed Professional Engineer from any type of field is encouraged to apply. Monetary awards are usually $2,500 for one year.

The American Welding Society offers a number of national scholarships with one geared specifically for students in graduate school studying for an Engineering Management degree with an emphasis in the welding industry. This scholarship is called the Hypertherm International HyTech Leadership Scholarship. Eligible applicants should have a Bachelor of Science degree or at least be in their senior year of college. Grade point averages should not be below 2.8 out of 4.0. Priority is given to those applicants who display financial need. The monetary award is $2,500 for a year.

Foundation Scholarship Funding

The Florida Engineering Foundation offers a scholarship funded through ACEC, the American Council of Engineering Companies and supports students who plan to study Engineering Management. Qualified applicants must be studying for a Bachelor’s degree and be in their third, fourth or fifth year of schooling. In addition, eligible students must be U. S. citizens. The scholarship is for $1,000 for a year and also offers a chance to be considered for a national ACEC scholarship of $5,000.

The Miami University Paper Science and Engineering Foundation, at Miami University, offers scholarships to Engineering Management students who have a proven track record of academic excellence. Cumulative grade point averages determine the value of the awarded scholarships that must be used towards tuition and other university fees. First year college students are welcome to apply and must supply the requisite ACT or SAT scores as well as their high school grade point average. Upperclassmen can apply as long as they have enrolled in at least twelve hours in the engineering department and have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better.

University Scholarship Opportunities

The University of North Carolina-Asheville offers two scholarships in which Engineering Management students are eligible. With both opportunities, students who display financial need and academic achievement will be considered first:

    * The Mortimer Kahn Management Scholarship requests that a student must have already declared their major and be a resident of North Carolina.
    * The Amanda Massey Memorial Scholarship specifies preference to students who are graduates of North Buncombe High School, but will consider others as well. To be eligible, students must also show outstanding service to the community or university. In addition, any students who are members of the IFC or Pan-Hellenic organizations are also front running candidates for the scholarship.

The University of Missouri-Rolla presents the Robert and Linda Mueller Manufacturing Engineering Scholarship which is available to students who declare Engineering Management as their major with an emphasis in Manufacturing Engineering. Monetary awards vary and are based on scholastic achievement and level of involvement in university activities.

Kansas State University offers a scholarship to distance education students studying for their Master’s degree in Engineering Management. The Robert F. Sykes Scholarship is geared towards students who have been accepted and are enrolling in the distance education Master’s program through Kansas State University. Eligible students must have graduated with a Bachelor degree from a university with an accredited engineering department, worked in a professional capacity for at least a year as an engineer and have at least a 3.5 grade point average. (Source: http://www.collegescholarships.org)

The Master of Construction Management

Are you civil engineering graduates wanting to get best jobs in the construction industry? Master of construction management is a professional degree you need to obtain.  The following is a typical program for the master course.
Duration

2 years full time

Course Overview

The unique mix of breadth and depth in the field of construction management studies provides a distinctive foundation for professional leadership for graduates facing the social, financial and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Students can enhance their program by taking cross-disciplinary studies in urban design, urban planning, architecture and landscape architecture. This creates opportunities to locate construction specific knowledge in a broader context and therefore develop programs of study suited to the needs of the individual student.

There is also the opportunity to take research subjects which may enable progression to further studies as a PhD candidate. Professional experience can be integrated as part of the program which contributes to professional accreditation requirements.
The Program

The Master of Construction Management:

* allows students to develop and build on expertise in quantity surveying, construction law, project management and facility management.
* covers studies across the full breadth of the building cycle; and
* provides the opportunity to specialise in the management of the construction process (costing, planning, budgeting and resource allocation).
Admission Requirements – 2 Year program

Master of Construction Management – 200 points

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria completion of the Bachelor of Planning and Design (Property and Construction) at the University of Melbourne between 2005 and 2010; and completion of at least 16 weeks of documented relevant full-time professional work experience;

or

a three-year undergraduate degree in a cognate area with a weighted average of at least 65% in the final two years, or equivalent, together with a personal statement of up to 1000 words outlining relevant prior study and work experience, and motivation to undertake the course.

2. The Selection Committee may conduct interviews or tests and may call for referee reports and employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Note: Students who have completed relevant prior study and/or at least one year of documented relevant full-time professional work experience, or equivalent, may be eligible for advanced standing.

Students who have completed at least twelve months documented relevant work experience may be eligible to receive 50 points of credit for completion of a reflective journal, including a critical review of an industry project (not more than 5,000 words), during their professional experience.
Career Outcomes

Graduates in construction management typically work for construction companies both on and off construction sites. Their roles include planning and scheduling, project management, contract administration, or estimating and tendering.

Graduates pursuing a career in construction economics work as construction cost consultants and quantity surveyors with financiers, property developers, and project managers.

Construction Project Management Courses

If you are planning to choose a career in the field of construction management, might as well take up a program that will help you excel, like the construction project management courses offered in some of the schools. The construction project management courses provide construction professionals practical knowledge and expertise, which are exactly necessary to do your job.

The innovative and timely series of Construction Project Management courses are designed to develop the knowledge base of those working as project managers and project personnel, and to those who show interests to enter the field of construction management, whether for the principal or for service providers like consultants or contractors. The course focuses on basic principles across the breadth of the project management body of knowledge, and covers the key concepts in managing a project right from the start to final close-out.

The topics may include, but not limited to construction accounting, acquisitions, developments, estimation, plan reading, field project management, real estate law, bidding, scheduling, and construction safety. To obtain certificate of completion, students must successfully complete eight intensive courses. However, if you do not plan to pursue a certificate, you may possibly take individual classes. Additionally, all construction project management courses provide Continuing Education Units or CEUs.

The Core Courses of Construction Project Management Program may include but not limited to:

Construction Accounting this course reviews accounting theory, providing an understanding of the terminology of accounting. Payroll accounting focuses on workers compensation insurance, cost allocation and control. There is also other subjects that include types of businesses and organizations, lien law, construction cost control, progress payments and sub-contractor invoices, back charges, cash flow and cost of sales.

This Financing Real Estate Acquisitions course focuses on the nature of development projects, sources of funds, mortgages, payment and construction loan processing, and administration for both portfolio and for the sale projects.

The Estimation course provides cost estimating with emphasis on quantity survey and pricing. This Plan Reading course provides a survey of the fundamentals of Construction Math and plan reading. The Field Project management is one of the construction project management courses, which helps you become a successful project manager by learning the basic principles and responsibilities of construction process. You will also learn how to identify and manage the important components of project planning, budgeting and scheduling, resource allocation, legal requirements and ethical considerations, construction safety, and project supervision.

Real Estate Law (Law for Construction)this law provides an overview of the legal system such as contractor license law, contract laws, real estate law, mechanic liens, as well as basic contract principles and responsibilities.

Bidding and Scheduling this is one of the important construction project management courses that will touch on the different bidding strategies used in the construction industry, methods of selling or buying out the construction project. You will be able to learn to read, analyze and create your own bar chart and critical path method schedules. Additionally, you will learn to monitor time, money and other resources with the schedule. At the same time, learn to use the schedule to measure the effect of changes and delays on the project.

Construction Safety this course provides overview of safety procedures, regulations and their application, included also is a series of lectures supported by printed materials provided by an industry working safety specialist.

Architecture Training Online

Students who intend to take online accredited architecture training should check to find out whether the training is accredited from a valid institution or not. The process of taking architectural licensing exams becomes a bit easier if a student takes training from an accredited institution. Online architectural training helps students choose their career path in architecture.

There are many online courses available offering two-year, four-year as well as five-year programs. Taking a four-year bachelor degree program is considered to be a good choice, as it helps exploring options before deciding which graduate program in architecture would be suitable to take.

Scope of Online Architecture Training

Online architecture training can help aspiring architects achieve their career goals. It instructs students in the art and science of designing and constructing buildings. There are many busy people who wanted to pursue an architectural degree, but could not manage it due to lack of time. Online architecture training is the ideal choice for them as it is neither very expensive nor time consuming.

You can easily manage your studies while working. Most reputable institutions accredit all online architecture schools. In a number of regions, architects need to have taken an approved degree program to obtain a license.

Students considering online architecture training programs might also consider looking into options related to technical, vocational schools or community colleges offering online training. This offers a better chance for students to get good internships and placements.

If a student enrolls in a trade school, he or she can earn a certificate, diploma or degree as an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in Architecture. This helps students save a lot of time, complete the architecture course and become independent, thereby making a mark in their chosen specialization.

Online architecture training programs offer students courses tailored to learn architectural design. They also update students on a range of modern technologies and building sciences. Students taking online training can expect a considerable gain in knowledge of comprehensive skills like using Computer Assisted Drafting software and three dimensional visualization technologies. Many online architecture-training programs also include graphic design, drafting, design theory and architecture as well as engineering and communication courses.

Employment Opportunities

Online architecture training programs offers a number of employment opportunities to students who have successfully completed their architecture training. Students are generally prepared for entry-level employment such as Architect Technicians, Building Material salesperson, construction assistants, estimators, engineering technicians and several other related professions.

With this online architecture training, you can work with a company or even start a business of your own, provided you have a working license recognized by the state.

Construction Manager

A construction manager is essentially a high level manager who focuses on the coordinating the different needs of a project on a large scale. In particular, the construction manager is responsible for maintaining the relationship with all the contractors and subcontractors to ensure the smooth and timely completion of a project.

The most important aspect of the position is that of defining the structure of the project management team and assigning responsibilities to each member. Beyond this, the construction manager arranges and maintains project relationships with the trade contractors and designers associated with particular aspects of the project, including setting timetables for the completion of certain sections and resolving conflicts as they arise.

Beyond coordinating the internal workings of a project, the manager must develop plans to handle external concerns. These include handling equipment and materials suppliers, developing plans with local emergency and fire departments for on-site safety, and risk management.

Coordination is a main focus of a construction manager’s job. In particular, the manager is charged with arranging the timing and working relationships between subcontractors. These responsibilities include organizing bids for specific parts of a project, signing off on subcontractor work, quality control, and monitoring time and costs.

This particular responsibility weighs heavily on the budgeting phase of a project. Construction managers work closely with owners and designers to make sure that a project is not only feasible from a physical standpoint, but also from a budgetary one. Once decisions concerning the direction, processes, and time constraints of project are set, the construction manager implements the plans.

Solar water heating

Solar water heating or solar hot water is water heated by the use of solar energy. Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage. The system may use electricity for pumping the fluid, and have a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use. The systems may be used to heat water for a wide variety of uses, including home, business and industrial uses. Heating swimming pools, underfloor heating or energy input for space heating or cooling are more specific examples.

In many climates, a solar heating system can provide up to 85% of domestic hot water energy. This can include domestic non-electric concentrating solar thermal systems. In many northern European countries, combined hot water and space heating systems (solar combisystems) are used to provide 15 to 25% of home heating energy.

In the southern regions of Africa like Zimbabwe, solar water heaters have been gaining popularity, thanks to the Austrian-and other EU-funded projects that are promoting more environmentally friendly water heating solutions.

Residential solar thermal installations can be subdivided into two kinds of systems: compact and pumped systems. Both typically include an auxiliary energy source (electric heating element or connection to a gas or fuel oil central heating system) that is activated when the water in the tank falls below a minimum temperature setting such as 50 °C. Hence, hot water is always available. The combination of solar water heating and using the back-up heat from a wood stove chimney to heat water can enable a hot water system to work all year round in cooler climates, without the supplemental heat requirement of a solar water heating system being met with fossil fuels or electricity.

Among pumped options, there is an important distinction to be made regarding the sustainability of the design of the system. This relates to what source of energy powers the pump and its controls. The type of pumped solar thermal systems which use mains electricity to pump the fluid through the panels are called low carbon solar because the pumping negates the carbon savings of the solar by about 20%, according to data in a report called “Side by side testing of eight solar water heatings” by DTI UK. However, zero-carbon pumped solar thermal systems use solar electricity which is generated onsite using photovoltaics to pump the fluid and to operate its control electronics. This represents a zero operational carbon footprint and is becoming an important design goal for innovative solar thermal systems.

Today homeowners even can make their own solar water heater.

Concrete Repair

Indeed in order to specify the proper repair solution we must know if we are in front of mechanical, chemical, physical damage or even carbonation damage. Proper assessment survey and diagnosis of damage must be extended before concrete repairing.

Basically, in this field Sika is proposing either additive promoter for mortar, like the well know Sika Latex, or ready to use pre-dosed mortar. Mortar could be cementitious or epoxy based.
For instance for mechanical damage the Sika MonoTop range – one component polymer modified cementitious mortar offers all variety of products covering from bonding agent to thick repair mortar.

* Chemical damage (like Alkali aggregate reaction) could be fixed with the Sikadur epoxy range mortar.

* Structural repair (crack) will be injected with Sikadur 752 – 2 component epoxy resin low viscosity.
* SikaGrout range – cementitious pumpable grout could be used for surface repair (honeycomb) for instance.

Construction Surveyor Career

The following paragraphs are what the National Society of Professional Surveyor talks about Construction Surveyor Career in their website. Hopefully that is also interesting information for you, especially for whom that are preparing for this wonderful job.

Think about what we build: bridges, houses, skyscrapers, underground tunnels, pipelines, utility networks, refineries, shopping centers, and offshore oil rigs. The list is endless. Construction surveyors make measurements and recommendations to engineers, architects, other professionals, and contractors at all stages of construction projects.

Construction surveyors get involved at many stages of a project. They are the first on the job. They verify construction as structures are being built or modified. When the job is done, they make sure that construction is in line with original plans.

Construction projects—especially for major structures—require a great deal of precision. In building a bridge, for example, construction surveyors make sure that, as the bridge is being built across a river, it is properly placed on each side. Small measurement errors across the span of a bridge can mean significant deviations once the builders reach the other side of the river. The same precision applies to underground construction for train tunnels, underground pipelines, and in mining. Surveyors who specialize in underground construction have to make sure that tunnels begin and end at the correct locations.

Another type of construction surveying that also requires extreme precision is at a factory or refinery. A refinery’s maze of pipelines is on a fixed piece of property, often with little room for movement. If a new pipeline has to be added, surveyors are the first on the job to make measurements and recommendations about where the new pipeline can be placed without damaging nearby structures.

Other construction surveyors work on large housing developments, business office parks, and shopping centers because they find great pride in taking a piece of untouched land and seeing it through to completion of something new.

Concrete admixtures

Concrete materials and concrete applications have changed and improved in the last 100 years. Whilst concrete admixtures have been around for many years, there has been an extensive amount of development of new admixtures in recent years. It is probable that almost all concrete used around the world today contains some types of admixtures. Admixtures added to the concrete can modify its properties on both the fresh and hardened stages, but are used primarily to modify the properties of fresh or plastic concrete.

Admixture s can be employed to entrain air for free-thaw resistance, to accelerate or retard setting time, to control strength development, to achieve shrinkage compensation and to improve workability. Most of unwanted effects of early admixtures have been overcome (such as the retarding effect of early plasticizers) so that modern admixture do not pacl “unexpected surprises”.

The most dramatic development have been in the area of superplasticizers or high range water reducers. These products now allow high level of water reduction without a loss in workability. Whilst early superplasticizers had a limited time over which they were effective, modern superplasticisers allow sufficient control for the setting in, for example, a large pour, until all the concrete has been placed.

Care should be taken when designing concrete mixes containing admixtures to assess sensitivity to changes of properties with changes in other ingredients and mix designs should be done on the specific materials that will be used.

Preparing for Engineering Job Interview

How to get a Engineering Career as your wish? Keep in mind that a well preparation leads to your success. Hereafter are most important tips for Engineering Jobs Interview.

DON’T BE ON TIME – BE EARLY

It is important you arrive at the interview 20-30 minutes early. Obviously, being late sends a negative message about you to the interviewer. Many interviewers don’t meet with candidates who arrive late. Plan ahead. Investigate traffic patterns relative to the time of your job interview. Don’t expect the interviewer will be sensitive to delays caused by traffic congestion or an unexpected traffic accident. They expect you will allow for those eventualities, just like they do.

DRESS & LOOK PROFESSIONAL

Women: A skirt, dress or dress-suit or pant-suit are the most appropriate for the female candidate. Make sure your clothes are neat, clean and well pressed and make sense. Avoid controversial garb, anything too revealing or too trendy. You want to look professional, not like you are there to get a date or express a fashion statement.

Men: A dress suit, shirt and tie is the most appropriate clothing for the male candidate. Make sure your clothes are neat, clean and well pressed. Avoid flashy colors, jeans, T-shirts or tennis shoes. Wear your hair neat (including facial hair), clean and well groomed.

Oh yeah, and please cover tattoos and body piercings. While your private friends may enjoy the current fad of body art, most likely, a new employer isn’t impressed, in fact, may look upon those expressions as somewhat immature – regardless of how you may feel about them. If such corporate attitudes are uncomfortable for you, find another prospective employer who is more open to such un-requested expressions of personality. Otherwise, be professional, dress professional, behave professionally.

PREPARE

Have a pen, notepad and extra copy of your resume and references with you. Make notes of questions you want to ask that relate to the job and company. Put those items in a place that will be easy for you to get to when you need them in the interview. If you currently use a daily/weekly planner, bring that with you too. You should try to arrive at your interview well rested, with a clear mind and a plan for presenting your credentials and supporting materials like references.

GREET JOB INTERVIEWER ENTHUSIASTICALLY

Smile, be friendly, not nervous, offer a solid handshake and say something friendly, like: “Good morning, pleasure to meet you, and thank you for the opportunity to visit with you today.” Show your enthusiasm about the opportunity to work for their company. Remember, they are interviewing you for a job that requires specific skills and genuine enthusiasm — if you don’t express that at the interview, they many not be convinced you have the stamina required for the job.

DON’T HIGHLIGHT NEGATIVES

For the job interviewer, it is all about filling the job with the right person. Believe me, most job interviewers don’t want to hear about your antique tin can collection, or how you landed that elk last year on your vacation. An interviewer wants your undivided attention on their job needs. Your personal habits distract from that focus. Such personal comments may include topics like: smoking, chewing gum, nervous finger or feet movement, tapping a pencil or a fork, humming, whistling, stretching, cleaning finger nails, clearing your throat, excessive “ums” in conversation, or focusing too much time on unrelated topics. Don’t make negative remarks about your past or present employers or workmates. Negative remarks will not help your cause, and will seem as though you are blaming others for poor results.

RESEARCH THE COMPANY THOROUGHLY

Learn as much as you can about the company and the duties of the job position which interests you, like income range and associated benefits. Family and friends are sometimes sources of information about the company you seek for employment. But don’t rely on hearsay, try to talk to someone in the company about the requirement and expectations of the job you seek. And utilize more than one source of comments about the company you are considering. Any positive things you learn about the company, make sure you mention them to the interviewer as a way to express your long term interest in the job you seek. Be prepared to answer questions about why you want to work for their company, offering sensible reasons that are practical in results.

PREPARE TO ASK QUESTIONS

You don’t want to confuse the interviewer with too many questions. Remember, they are interviewing you, so be prepared to answer all their questions smartly. But challenge the interviewer with some of your own questions – determine those questions before you arrive to the job interview. Keep good eye contact when you ask your questions. Don’t get into lengthy discussions. The idea is to engage the interviewer, to show them you can take charge when required and get the information you need. You should strive to create a list of questions that go to the heart of the job you seek.

KEEP A GOOD ATTITUDE

Be confident and knowledgeable and you will express a good attitude. But don’t seem over confident in your abilities. Remain relaxed, answer questions sincerely. Be interested in the job and the company. Lighten up some and use a little humor! Your job interviewer should be made to feel you really want the job and their company. Show serious interest so that you will be considered a serious candidate. Do not mention offers of interviews with other companies, unless asked.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO EXPECT

When answering questions that have a pre-determined answer, remember to offer a straight forward and immediate answer, and keep it simple. Avoid yes/no answers, unless you are offering an example to illustrate your answer. In fact, as much as possible, try and offer your key answers in a format of : Strategy-then-example. In that sense, if you were to discuss aspects of how to build a team of your workmates, you could answer with a short comment about your overall strategy of how to build a team, then follow that up with a quick real-time example of how you recently utilized that strategy and the results you got. Something like – “I build a team by making sure everyone involved understands our mutual goals, the timing, and their influence on those goals. When I did that last Spring, as we were introducing a new product, the goal was to sell more product by training team members to up-sell the new product to existing customers – we increased sales over 20-percent in one month.”

PREPARE TO ASK QUESTIONS

You don’t want to confuse the interviewer with too many questions. Remember, they are interviewing you, so be prepared to answer all their questions smartly. But challenge the interviewer with some of your own questions – determine those questions before you arrive to the job interview. Keep good eye contact when you ask your questions. Don’t get into lengthy discussions. The idea is to engage the interviewer, to show them you can take charge when required and get the information you need. You should strive to create a list of questions that go to the heart of the job you seek. Practice Job Interview Answers is highly recommended.


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Types of construction projects in Civil Engineering

In general, there are three types of construction:

1. Building construction
2. Heavy/civil construction
3. Industrial construction

Each type of construction project requires a unique team to plan, design, construct, and maintain the project.

Building Construction

Building construction is the process of adding structure to real property. The vast majority of building construction projects are small renovations, such as addition of a room, or renovation of a bathroom. Often, the owner of the property acts as laborer, paymaster, and design team for the entire project. However, all building construction projects include some elements in common - design, financial, and legal considerations. Many projects of varying sizes reach undesirable end results, such as structural collapse, cost overruns, and/or litigation reason, those with experience in the field make detailed plans and maintain careful oversight during the project to ensure a positive outcome.

Building construction is procured privately or publicly utilizing various delivery methodologies, including hard bid, negotiated price, traditional, management contracting, construction management-at-risk, design & build and design-build bridging.


Trump International Hotel and Tower (Chicago)

Residential construction practices, technologies, and resources must conform to local building authority regulations and codes of practice. Materials readily available in the area generally dictate the construction materials used (e.g. brick versus stone, versus timber). Cost of construction on a per square metre (or per square foot) basis for houses can vary dramatically based on site conditions, local regulations, economies of scale (custom designed homes are always more expensive to build) and the availability of skilled tradespeople. As residential (as well as all other types of construction) can generate a lot of waste, careful planning again is needed here.

The most popular method of residential construction in the United States is wood framed construction. As efficiency codes have come into effect in recent years, new construction technologies and methods have emerged. University Construction Management departments are on the cutting edge of the newest methods of construction intended to improve efficiency, performance and reduce construction waste.

Industrial construction

 Industrial construction, though a relatively small part of the entire construction industry, is a very important component. Owners of these projects are usually large, for-profit, industrial corporations. These corporations can be found in such industries as medicine, petroleum, chemical, power generation, manufacturing, etc. Processes in these industries require highly specialized expertise in planning, design, and construction. As in building and heavy/highway construction, this type of construction requires a team of individuals to ensure a successful project.