Hello

[Spencersmum]

Hi all, this looks like a really good site. Im not sure if it is the right place for my request but here goes.
I was wondering if anyone had any of the reports or designs from a structural / civil engineers that they would be willing to email to me. It doesn't really matter what they are, concrete, wood, steel etc. Anything that shows the day to day work really .
Its just my son is showing an interest in this field and it is the first thing he has shown an interest in other than arguing with me. So I'm trying to show an interest too.
Any help would be much appreciated

Spencersmum

[email protected]

 

[DevilDamo]

You'd be lucky for somebody to email you such information that you are not directly associated with as it's to do with copyright, etc... If your son is wanting to progress down that route, why not approach a careers advisor or a college who specialise in those fields... or even general construction as a starting point? You/your son wouldn't be able to learn anything from these so-called reports... unless you already have extensive knowledge in that field.

 

[Static]

He will need pretty solid maths skills.. as well as good IT skills.. beyond that alot of consulants/contractors do vocation experience..

 

[stevehuws]

I don't think you'll be successful in getting someone to send you a report. I commissioned a reoprt on a house (which I didn't buy) and sold a copy for £200 to another interested party.

However, you could contact a local surveyor for a chat, maybe he could go on some work experience with him. When I was 16 I went with one of the local council's highway engineers had had a great week.

Also, this link has lots of info on engineering principles and applications. It's fairly dated, so you can skip the bits that are now done with calculators and computers, but the rest is a goldmine: http://www.tpub.com/content/engineering/14071/.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You could do worse than by starting here: http://www.ice.org.uk/About-civil-engineering/What-do-civil-engineers-do

or here: http://www.istructe.org/about_struc...ne/Pages/what_do_structural_engineers_do.aspx

As mentioned a weeks work experience may be the way to go. Bit boring nowadays as they can't take him off to site H&S/Insurance and all that.

 

[Spencersmum]

Thanks for the replies, I know there is an issue but I don't need names and addresses just the numbers.
I did contact a structural engineer and his view was what does he want to do that for?
The idea of getting him into some experience is a good idea though.
Thanks again
Vicky

 

[shakk1001]

Hi spencersmum

I suggest you try and get your son some work experience in the councils building control unit. They check all aspects of building regs including structural stability and deal with every variety of structural design on a daily basis.
Most councils will take on students for work experience and even take them out on to building sites, depending on the students age.

It's how I got started!

Good luck

Stuart

 

[Spencersmum]

Hi Thanks for all the advice the work experience seems a good idea eventually its still early days yet, we are still at the getting him interested stage. Hopefully it'll all come good.
Thanks again

 

[richjamesw]

i have worked for sructural engineers for the past 10 - 15 years and we get a lot of school children / students who come in for a couple of weeks during the holidays to gain some experience. You may not get paid much if anything atall but its valuable when deciding what you want to do. Theres no money it though!!!

 

[^woody^]

If you shove a load of calculations under his nose, then unless he absolutely loves formulae, then you could put him off - as that is not everything an engineer does.

There is more to an engineers role, and there are other professions that may do more of a particular aspect - eg building surveyors may do more site work and get involved with the technology of building, or quantity surveying will just crunch numbers, or there is building control with inspection and legal enforcement work. Then you could specialise in several aspects of structural/civil engineering.

Or there are contractual or man-management roles rather than just pure design. And you can go for site or office based roles or domestic or commercial/civil work

I really think you need to narrow down exactly what he actually enjoys doing as there are potentially many specific roles and specialisms to choose from

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Did my work experience with the council, spent my 16th birthday in a wet and windy field watching a 525mm storm sewer being laid, and then tested... Left school and landed a job, office based and hated every second. Went back out on site, doing proper work and was far happier.

Showed me the indoor life wasn't my cuppa tea, outdoor may be harder in the winter but still wouldn't go back indoors if they paid me double.

 

[^woody^]

Oddly, my job tends to require me to be in the office when cold and wet, but out on site when it is warm and sunny