Technology Engineering

Civil engineering is a concept that deals with the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment. The act of civil construction and engineering includes bridges, roads, canals, airports, dams and buildings. These are merely just a few examples of what civil construction and engineering is about.Civil engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines after military engineering. It has been an aspect of life since the beginning of human existence. Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engineering and architecture.One of the main aspects of civil construction and engineering is structural engineering. With structural engineering a structure needs to be able to successfully support itself as well as being able to resist loads. It is the job of a structural engineer to ensure that the design and construction of aspects such as bridges, roads and airports etc are safe and successful for their function. Some of the design considerations that need to be kept in mind are the strength, stiffness and stability of the civil construction. All of these need to commit to safety checks so that the structure can hold itself. Other considerations that need to be kept in mind when it ... [more..]

I have received several requests about what to expect during the interview process for a software engineering position. Based on my experience, the interview process typically occurs in three phases. So don't be surprised that this may seem like a lengthy process, it is.The first interview is normally conducted by human resources or a general staff person filter through resumes. During this initial contact, the interviewer is looking for basic information. Questions will include: How did you hear about this position? This is where they determine what career marketing strategy they are using really works, i.e., Careerbuilder.com, Monster.com, Dice.com, corporate website, friend, etc. Are you willing to relocate? Although there was an initial push for telecommuter hires, it appears more jobs are being filled which require the new hire to report to a physical office location. So much for modern technology. More jobs are being moved to lower overhead locations. They need to know before they waste further resources, if you are serious about moving to the middle of nowhere for this job. Can you work in the United States? Of course, this question is specific to American readers, but they need to know you work status. How soon can ... [more..]

Structural engineers work to design and repair structures such as houses, offices, stadiums, bridges, oil rigs, hospitals, factories and even satellites. They have to make sure that structures can withstand pressures both from within the structure itself at various points, and also make sure they can withstand pressures from outside, such as extreme weather e.g. winds, in order that structures do not bend, twist or vibrate, or even collapse when exposed to such pressures.The design usually takes place via CAD (Computer aided design) and using mathematical modelling techniques the engineer can create simulations of the structure and test how various forces will impact on it. They will work with a team of people, including architects and other engineers in order to reach agreement about how the structure should progress and how best to accommodate safety features within the aesthetic objectives desired. The structural engineer will be available to advise on each stage of its building by visiting the work in progress. Their job could entail visiting existing structures in order to assess how safe they are, and whether they need repairing or even re-building.Some of their typical work duties include using computers to calculate the basic components of a structure, ... [more..]

When you go to a store and buy a cool new PDA or pair of sunglasses or a computer mouse, you're seeing the end result of a design process that may have started with a drawing on a scrap of paper. Commercial and industrial designers create products that are attractive, durable, and make our lives easier.Automobiles, microwave ovens, pens, computers, toys, garden tools, motorcycles, desk lamps, shoes - people use millions of different consumer products and industrial goods every day. Some items, like the old-fashioned mousetrap, have been around for centuries. Others, like the portable MP3 player or advanced video game controller, didn't exist ten years ago. And some, like the rotary dial telephone, have become obsolete and have disappeared.Who designs these things? Commercial and industrial designers combine the fields of engineering, art, and business to design the products people use every day. Designers are responsible for the function, appearance, quality, and safety of manufactured consumer products. They get trained in basic design and then generally specialize in one particular product category, especially if it is highly complex, such as automobiles or computers.Designers sometimes have to create new products (such as the iPod), or they may update familiar products (such ... [more..]