• PossiblyOptimist@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Simultaneously really bummed out about the terrible conditions people have/are going to have to live through and deeply grateful that I get to work on improving those shitty conditions

      • lemme_at_it@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        Has there been an increase of jobs for civil engineers in recent years do you think? If so, what are the main drivers of such increases, IYO?

    • PossiblyOptimist@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Lol nope. A lot of what I do is using computer programs to model soil conditions (dirt) so it’s more about understanding what soil is out there and how it acts when we build things on it/with it. The most I use is algebra

    • PossiblyOptimist@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      It’s someone who designs infrastructure, so roads, buildings, bridges, sewer systems, etc. Basically if you think about anything a construction worker builds, a civil engineer/team of engineers designed it. There are different categories of civil engineers. Structural engineers make sure a building can handle the weight of everything on/in it. Transportation engineers design highways. I’m a geotechnical engineer, so I deal with soils (dirt) and make sure the ground can support whatever is being built.

  • Vincent St. Pierre@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    Any advice for cities facing the increasing threat of floods? I live on the floodplain in my city, and it has given me a tinge of anxiety whenever it rains rather hard in my neighbourhood.

    • PossiblyOptimist@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Buy flood insurance and if it gets too expensive, it might make more sense to move. I live in an area where flood insurance just skyrocketed and I think people are still hoping prices will go down somehow but I don’t think it’ll happen.

      If you’re handy, maybe look into how to gut a house after a flood. Mold can do a lot of damage.

      I don’t know if you’re in an area where flooding could be a safety issue but always follow local warnings/official’s advice. Property can be replaced, people can’t.

      I think as humans we can engineer our way out of increasingly hostile weather but it takes an investment of time and money and our governments aren’t usually great at either.