Structural engineering is not an easy field, but it rewards hard work. It is a fundamental career that plays an important role in supporting the foundations of today's society. From highways and railways to homes and skyscrapers, structural engineers put their skills to work to ensure that plans are made correctly and that projects last into the future. Although the practice of structural engineering has existed for as long as buildings, the career did not become professional until the industrial revolution at the end of the 19th century.
If you're curious about what structural engineers do, including the various industries they work in and the unique projects they can work on, here are five reasons why structural engineering is interesting. Firstly, structural engineers have more tools at their fingertips than ever before. From concept sketches to full-fledged building information modeling (BIM), they can use their experience to verify that the construction site is suitable for the requirements of the oncoming project or whether corrections will need to be made to the ground. This helps to plan, design and build the structure with a view to the continuous protection and safety of workers, visitors, customers and long-term users of the structure, avoiding potential hazards.
Secondly, structural engineers can use parametric modeling to create a detailed 3D model of a structure, which can be changed interactively by adjusting design parameters. This allows them to use many skills, from basic mathematical tools to physics, cutting-edge technology, and communication. Thirdly, structural engineers can work on a variety of projects. From minor renovations such as removing a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and a large room to major projects such as skyscrapers or health centers, they can use their knowledge in structural engineering to be part of construction projects in many industries.
Fourthly, structural engineers can help avoid potential problems. For example, if a homeowner knew that a structural engineer reviewed his plans early on, it could have prevented a whole problem from occurring. Finally, structural analysis is important for aging or damaged buildings of any size as beams, trusses, roofs, and more are degraded. Acquiring knowledge in structural engineering would allow him to be part of construction projects in many industries.
