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CAREERTIP: Construction Professionals should start treating AI like a new colleague

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Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t going away and construction professionals need to embrace it and start working with it as if it were a new colleague. Across all industries, including construction, the adoption of AI is rapidly gaining momentum. This is because technology has finally advanced to the point where it can handle the complex and unstructured data involved in construction projects. Experts predict that AI will continue to develop into what they call "composite AI." Construction professionals, however, have some concerns about adopting AI. These concerns include: Regulatory Framework: Construction professionals must ensure that they comply with all applicable laws and regulations. They must also protect themselves, as AI can be programmed with specific guidelines to produce desired outputs. Ethics : There are important legal and ethical issues to consider when using AI. For example, who is liable if something goes wrong? Who is responsible if a disaster occurs as
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CAREERTIPS: How does a young graduate work towards his passion for Structural Engineering?

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Dr Pierre van der Spuy a seasoned Structural Engineer shares MY CAREERTIPS with Herve-Noel Kimpwene a Young Civil Engineering graduate who wants to know how to work towards finding an opportunity to work in the structural engineering  filed whilst employed in a different field.


I have a dream of becoming a Structural Engineer but I currently find myself employed in a company that focuses on a different aspects of Civil engineering. How do I work towards my dream?

I think it is key not to lose touch with the field. If you are out of an environment for some time you become rusty. You can overcome this through a continuous learning process by studying relevant subject matters in your own time. Continuous learning doesn't mean only attending CPD courses, there is a lot you can do on your own. Read up on reinforced or prestressed concrete design, or steel design. 

You can teach yourself a lot about topics like structural dynamics or finite element analysis. BIM is the buzzword, take YouTube and teach yourself Revit. This sounds nerdy, but when my family goes to bed at night I take out the iPad and I read about structural engineering. You will be surprised at how much you can teach yourself with all the books and google! When you do find a position in structural engineering you will be in a much stronger position.

ALSO READ CAREERTIP:  How does a young Civil Engineering graduate work towards his passion?

What advice or tips would you give me as a young graduate on his way to professional registration?

I think it is key that you do not rush it. It is not a race, and as a reviewer for ECSA I can say that you pick it up very quickly if someone still misses some experience. When you are ready, it will be easy to fill out the application forms, because you don't need to scratch for experience. 

I remember sitting in front of the TV and writing my reports, because after 6 years I had more than enough. I don't believe in all the registration workshops out there. The best is to find examples of successful applications and read the requirements on ECSA's website thoroughly. Before you submit I suggest you ask a colleague or a friend in the field to read your report. 

Although ECSA has made great strides in speeding up the registration process, it costs money and causes delays if you submit a report which is not quite there yet.

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Comments

  1. UnknownMay 18, 2021 at 9:31 PM

    Great advice. Thanks Dr. Vd Spuy. I took some for myself as well.

    ReplyDelete

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