This past December, I was asked to speak at the Junior Achievement of Central Indiana Business Ambassador Network Forum about why I launched my own Engineering firm, JQOL. I begun thinking about what truly lies at the core of the “why” I became an entrepreneur. Did I do it for the financial reward? No. Did I do it because I was good at math and science? No, but that certainly helps. Did I do it to make an impact on the lives of others? That sounds more like it!
This might spur a question in your mind, how exactly does engineering impact quality of life? The answer to that is a little complex because civil engineers touch everyone’s lives every single day. Whether it’s your favorite walking trail in your neighborhood park, the road you take to work every day, or the water you use to shower in the morning – engineers are a part of it all. Let’s break it down a little more specifically to what JQOL can do: How does Site Engineering impact quality of life? Site Engineering projects come in all shapes and sizes. From developing municipal sewer systems to waste water management to trail design, a site engineer is hard at work to improve quality of life. These types of projects help spur economic growth within a community, promote sustainability, ensure public safety, and (literally) shape communities. Next time you park your vehicle in a parking lot, thank a Site Engineer when there are no drainage issues and traffic flow is effortless. How does Transportation Engineering impact quality of life? A close cousin to Site Engineers, our Transportation Engineers specifically focus on the design of and improvements to transportation infrastructure to ensure safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian flow. Transportation is key to a city’s growth and economic development – the more efficient the transportation system, the better quality of life you have as a community. With over 46,000 miles of interstate across the United States, thank a Transportation Engineer the next time you hop on I-70 to jump to I-465 to get to I-69. How does Structural Engineering impact quality of life? Structural Engineers use principals from physics and math to make important design decisions, ensuring a structure is safe and is built to last. It is their job to make sure the building is designed to withstand its own weight alongside the load place upon it, provide information on building aspects from roof types to foundations, and to make sure existing buildings are up to all design codes. If you ever encounter an earthquake, thank a Structural Engineer when the building doesn’t crumble. Comments are closed.
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