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Frequently Asked Questions General Interest and Career What does the future hold for civil and structural engineering in the 21st century? What does a structural engineer do? What are the requirements to be a licensed civil and structural engineer? What is the latest in code development in structural engineering? Earthquake Related Will there be a major earthquake to strike the San Francisco Bay Area in the near future? What is a good resource for answers to basic earthquake-related questions? Should I buy earthquake insurance for my home? How do I go about hiring a professional engineer to assess the earthquake safety of my building?
What does the future hold for civil and structural engineering in the 21st century? The future as a nation will be closely tied to space, energy, the environment, and the ability to interact with and compete in the global economy. As a civil or structural engineer, this individual will perform a vital role in linking these themes and improving the quality of life for the 21st century. As the technology revolution expands, as the world’s population increases, and as environmental concerns mount, the skills of an engineer will be needed. There is no limit to the personal satisfaction each engineer will feel from helping to make the world a better place to live. Whatever area the engineer chooses, design, construction, research, teaching, or management, civil and structural engineering offers the individual a wide range of career choices. What does a structural engineer do? As a structural engineer, he or she will face the challenge of analyzing and designing structures to ensure that they safely perform their purpose. They must support their own weight and resist dynamic environmental loads such as hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, and floods. Stadiums, arenas, skyscrapers, offshore oil structures, space platforms, amusement park rides, bridges, office buildings, and homes are a few of the many types of projects in which structural engineers are involved. He or she will develop and utilize knowledge of concrete, steel, aluminum, timber, and plastic, as well as new and exotic materials. To make certain that the plans are being followed, he or she will often be on the construction site inspecting and verifying the work. Refer to the websites of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers Association of California, and the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California. What are the requirements to be a licensed civil and structural engineer? The language and specific provisions of state engineering licensure laws vary from state to state, but virtually every state law outlines a four-step process under which an applicant who has (1) a four-year engineering degree in a program approved by the state engineering licensure board, (2) four years of qualifying engineering experience, and who successfully completes (3) the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Examination, and (4) the eight-hour Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Examination will be licensed as a professional engineer. To become a licensed structural engineer, the applicant will need a few more years of qualifying civil and structural engineering experience and passing of the Structural Engineering (SE) Examination. What is the latest in code development in structural engineering? The United States currently uses three major regional model building codes. The Uniform Building Code (UBC) is used throughout most of the western states; the BOCA National Building Code (NBC) is used in the northeastern states; and the Standard Building Code (SBC) is used in the southern states. The move toward developing a single national code has been in the works for a number of years, the result of which is the 2000 International Building Code (IBC). The primary source document for the 2000 IBC is the 1997 NEHRP Provisions (Building Seismic Safety Council, 1998). While the seismic provisions of the 2000 IBC are similar to the 1997 UBC, the most significant change is the use of new spectral contour maps that more precisely define ground shaking applicable nationwide. Earthquake Related Will there be a major earthquake to strike the San Francisco Bay Area in the near future? On the basis of research conducted since the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other scientists conclude that there is a 70% probability of at least one magnitude 6.7 or greater quake, capable of causing widespread damage, striking the San Francisco Bay region before 2030. Major earthquakes may occur in any part of this rapidly growing region. This emphasizes the urgency for all communities in the Bay Area to continue preparing for earthquakes. What is a good resource for answers to basic earthquake-related questions? The United States Geological Survey is a good place to start, as well as SOHA’s links. Should I buy earthquake insurance for my home? Earthquake insurance is normally added as an endorsement on a standard homeowners insurance policy. Typically, there is a deductible of 5 to 15% of the value of the home. This means that for a home insured for $200,000, you would have to pay $10,000 to $30,000 on damages before the insurance company would pay anything. Separate deductibles may apply to contents. The annual premium of residential earthquake insurance can be very expensive, depending on location, year and type of construction. Whether to buy earthquake insurance should depend on the specific earthquake risk of your home and the amount of risk you are willing to take. In many cases, it may be more worthwhile to retrofit the home as to buy insurance. For additional information, go to the California Department of Insurance or the California Earthquake Authority websites. If my building is designed and built to the latest codes, does that mean the building will perform well in a major earthquake? Building codes put forth the minimum requirements that must be legally met and are intended only to protect occupant safety. The minimum code requirements do not attempt to reduce potential economic losses or minimize structural or nonstructural damage. Performance-based design allows the opportunity to design and build facilities to meet specific performance goals, thus reducing potential damage and economic loss. Facilities such as hospitals, schools, essential operations, certain public and governmental buildings will benefit from more stringent performance criteria. However, certain owners and major corporations are beginning to understand the importance of protecting assets and reducing the potential for business interruption through the use of performance-based engineering. How do I go about hiring a professional engineer to assess the earthquake safety of my building? Civil and structural engineers are trained and licensed to evaluate buildings and structures, whereas geotechnical and foundation engineers are trained to evaluate the soils and foundations. When hiring a consultant, you are asking an experienced professional to review a potential problem and possibly to provide plans and specifications for correcting the problem. For projects more complex than a single-family home, you should meet with the selected firm and discuss the options. In almost every case, there will be a number of approaches for solving any given problem. Get the consultant to explain the pros and cons of each, as well as the dollars and risks involved. Once this is done, you will have defined the work the consultant will do for you. Then a fee can be set and you can discuss how changing the work would change the fee. |
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