Technology!

For this week's blog, we are asked to discuss the technology we use at work with our mentors to try to find out where technology might be taking our respective industries. So, here's what we concluded:

1. How would you (my mentor) use technology in the day to day operations of your career field?
We use Autodesk AutoCAD every day in our work. We also use programs like MathCAD to calculate weight loads for our structures.

2. What technology do you (my mentor) use to communicate with other professionals?
E-mail, phones, and driving.

3. If/when presenting to other professionals, what do you use to do so?
We simply e-mail completed plans to other professionals.

4. What is your theory about the type of technology that will be used in the future in this profession?
More "automatic" programs with built-in structures and drawings, as well as "plug-and-chug" math programs will help to maximize the speed of the industry in the future.

5. As a student and future professional, how can you imagine technology being incorporated in this profession?
I think that technology in the profession will be the same as what my mentor said, as the current programs, though helpful, can be improved. Currently, to make a drawing of a retaining wall section, I must use paper-drawn plans to do so; however, I can see the importance of having a complete database of standard engineering drawings that can simply be opened and put into each project.