Career By Design

I believe there is a strong need for civil engineers in the energy and climate industry. Civil engineers are stewards of the natural and built environment and are well positioned to lead the industry in climate change mitigation/adaptation and renewable energy. I personally work as a civil engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power where I plan and procure large scale wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro facilities. These projects are massive and require civil engineering skills in project management, land development, construction, etc.

I'd like to get others to weigh in on the role of civil engineers in the energy and climate space. Do you currently work in the industry? Are you looking for a career in this sector? What do you think the role of a civil engineer should be? Should our academic curriculum change? 


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Paul Lee, P.E.,M.ASCE
Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power
Los Angeles CA
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<g class="gr_ gr_38 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="38" data-gr-id="38">Well,</g> this is my first contribution to any post. The post is relevant to my PhD. I have worked on concrete sustainability from an energy and climate point of view.  Civil engineers have a significant role to play in energy and climate change and there will be significant advances in the near future which might lead to the idea of sustainability and reduced carbon footprint in different sectors of infrastructure including renewable energy technologies.

This is quite interesting to see what we will have in the future as new inventions and new methodologies will improve the idea of climate change resilient infrastructure. I am definitely looking forward to working in a similar area and would like to contribute as per my capacity.

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Ali Akhtar S.M.ASCE
University of Auckland
Auckland
64211 568194
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Civil Engineers absolutely have a role in Energy and Climate. To take it one step further, when it comes to designing and developing plans for sustainability and the environment a licensed engineer or a licensed professional should be part of the process. While planning plays an important role in energy and environment, a professional license adds the level of care that a professional was part of the design process. 

Ali, like you I am working on my PhD. My dissertation is about using technology in the design process of microgrids. There are many options out there to help reduce climate change and improve sustainability.

Warm Regards,

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Bernard Brown, REP S.M.ASCE
Fair Oaks CA
(916) 544-1900
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2019 03:01
From: Ali Akhtar
Subject: Energy and Climate

<g class="gr_ gr_38 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="38" data-gr-id="38">Well,</g> this is my first contribution to any post. The post is relevant to my PhD. I have worked on concrete sustainability from an energy and climate point of view.  Civil engineers have a significant role to play in energy and climate change and there will be significant advances in the near future which might lead to the idea of sustainability and reduced carbon footprint in different sectors of infrastructure including renewable energy technologies.

This is quite interesting to see what we will have in the future as new inventions and new methodologies will improve the idea of climate change resilient infrastructure. I am definitely looking forward to working in a similar area and would like to contribute as per my capacity.

------------------------------
Ali Akhtar S.M.ASCE
University of Auckland
Auckland
64211 568194
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For nearly 40 years, I've worked in the energy industry as a civil engineer in what is known as "Upstream" - developing assets offshore, in deep water, and in extremely cold regions. Civil engineering is essential to create infrastructure, like floating structures, subsea developments, ice-resistant drilling and production bases, etc.  It's also an role that, it seems, is always working in new areas, with novel challenges and huge static and dynamic forces to contend with.  The industry needs all types of engineers - EE's, Mechanicals, Instrumentation E's, Chem E's, etc, as well as touching so many aspects of civil engineering (geotech, structures, surveying, environmental, water, etc).  CEs also make great project managers because, I think, all the other engineering aspects have to coordinate with the CE's to assure themself space and efficiency - the CE is the one that "fits it all in," and that gives them the broad view necessary to deliver whole projects successfully.   

I think it is a great place for Civil Engineers to make a positive impact on the world and continually develop personally.

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Stephen Balint P.E.,F.ASCE
Balint Consulting LLC
Houston TX
(713)997-0007
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2019 03:01
From: Ali Akhtar
Subject: Energy and Climate

<g class="gr_ gr_38 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="38" data-gr-id="38">Well,</g> this is my first contribution to any post. The post is relevant to my PhD. I have worked on concrete sustainability from an energy and climate point of view.  Civil engineers have a significant role to play in energy and climate change and there will be significant advances in the near future which might lead to the idea of sustainability and reduced carbon footprint in different sectors of infrastructure including renewable energy technologies.

This is quite interesting to see what we will have in the future as new inventions and new methodologies will improve the idea of climate change resilient infrastructure. I am definitely looking forward to working in a similar area and would like to contribute as per my capacity.

------------------------------
Ali Akhtar S.M.ASCE
University of Auckland
Auckland
64211 568194
------------------------------

I believe that it is imperative that civil engineers play a large role in the energy and climate industry. As a "millennial", I feel that I have an acute sense of how dire our current situation is, in terms of climate change. I am currently working on my undergraduate degree at Washington State University, and my furthest reaching goal for my career is to do everything I possibly can to help in the fight against climate change. 

As you stated, civil engineers are stewards of the natural and built environment. Because of this, I argue that civil engineers have a great responsibility, if not the brunt of it, to design everything as sustain-ably as possible. The changes that must be made to mitigate climate change start with civil engineers, such as implementing electric car charging stations, and zero waste and zero net energy usage properties. 

So yes, I am looking for a career in the industry (if anyone is hiring, I graduate in December), and I also believe that the academic curriculum should include a great deal more about sustainable construction and renewable energy sources. My university has a fair amount of classes regarding sustainable building and climate change, which I think is great, but I believe the education on climate change and sustainability should much sooner in the curriculum. 


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Keenan Thomas S.M.ASCE
Pullman WA
(425)374-9208
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I wholeheartedly support this belief.

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Aaron Gibson S.M.ASCE
Houston TX
(832)329-8236
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2019 23:52
From: Keenan Thomas
Subject: Energy and Climate

I believe that it is imperative that civil engineers play a large role in the energy and climate industry. As a "millennial", I feel that I have an acute sense of how dire our current situation is, in terms of climate change. I am currently working on my undergraduate degree at Washington State University, and my furthest reaching goal for my career is to do everything I possibly can to help in the fight against climate change.

As you stated, civil engineers are stewards of the natural and built environment. Because of this, I argue that civil engineers have a great responsibility, if not the brunt of it, to design everything as sustain-ably as possible. The changes that must be made to mitigate climate change start with civil engineers, such as implementing electric car charging stations, and zero waste and zero net energy usage properties.

So yes, I am looking for a career in the industry (if anyone is hiring, I graduate in December), and I also believe that the academic curriculum should include a great deal more about sustainable construction and renewable energy sources. My university has a fair amount of classes regarding sustainable building and climate change, which I think is great, but I believe the education on climate change and sustainability should much sooner in the curriculum.


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Keenan Thomas S.M.ASCE
Pullman WA
(425)374-9208
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Paul Lee that seems to be an interesting field to work in. Nowadays hydro-power, wind and solar energy are at high demand. And then the moment is turned towards clean energy to keep the environment clean and reduce the carbon emission. At the moment, the job market would position you based on the current employer need, however, all branches of Civil Engineering are interesting to be positioned, and puts food on the table.

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Sayed Maqsood
Oakland CA
(510)395-4361
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