Engineers and LDD

[Anonymous]

I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to remove
Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
"engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the engineer.

Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd right
now)

[Anonymous]

That's one of the craziest things I've heard! Civil Series IS a design tool, to ASSIST you in your design. You are using your engineering judgement as you use it...no one better just "accept" what the computer gives you! In my eyes, it's a drafting tool less than a design tool (i'm sure others might differ). So, I'd be p'd off too. What next, breaking out the slide rule?? Good luck! Pat

[Anonymous]

i'd be in the same boat as you, kevin. i'd be a little mad. you can be so
much more proficient using ldd. i'm sure you can use your head quicker using
engineer skills, but you're also more liable to make a mistake. sounds like
the company trying to cut costs when it's gonna end up costing them in the
long run.


"Kevin S" wrote in message
news:627BB86F2F208F7C1190829BDC39F4E8@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to
remove
> Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
> "engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the
engineer.
>
> Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
> technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd
right
> now)
>
>

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify, they are taking away all CAD including LDD. In my ideal
world,t he engineer would set up the alignments, pipes, etc. and maybe the
sheets could be generated by someone else to save time. i could be way off
base here, and I have heard true technicians' horror stories about engineers
messing up CAD drawings, but I'm just looking for objective feedback.
Basically what size company and how do y'all do it...

Thanks

[Anonymous]

They are taking away your "pencil and calculator"

"Kevin S" wrote in message
news:627BB86F2F208F7C1190829BDC39F4E8@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to
remove
> Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
> "engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the
engineer.
>
> Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
> technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd
right
> now)
>
>

[Anonymous]

Looking for a career change, Kevin? We not only install it on every
engineer's workstation, but expect them to use it and make it dance. Contact
me if you'd like to discuss.

--
James Wedding, P.E.
IT Manager
Jones & Boyd, Inc.
Dallas, TX
XP/1 on P4-1.6/512
LDT2004+C3D

[Anonymous]

Wow. I don't know who said this but it seems appropriate.

"We the unwilling, led by the unknowing, must accomplish the impossible for
the ungrateful".

Your the carpenter w/o a hammer, the mechanic w/o a wrench......

John


"Kevin S" wrote in message
news:627BB86F2F208F7C1190829BDC39F4E8@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to
remove
> Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
> "engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the
engineer.
>
> Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
> technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd
right
> now)
>
>

[Anonymous]

I'd start looking. The industry trend and evolution is that the final
drafted product will be a direct byproduct of the Engineer's design from
civil applications such as LDD.

Fred

[Anonymous]

I used to do a lot more architectural work, but for the past 2-3 years I have been doing more and more civil engineering work. ALthough I only have my AAS, I have been think about getting a BAS. Right now, most places I have worked I have been considered a drafter, cad operator, cad designer. SO then what are these folks who don;t move on from just a drafter going to do when all the engineers are doing what they used to do? If you have one person doing all the design, drafting, file mamangement, etc..., then the project will take longer to get out and I have always thought that more than one mind working together is always better. Don't get me wrong, I have been far from just a drafter for quite some time now, but I know eventually I am going to have to gain more skills and move as the industry does. Mayb be unfortunate, but that is life...and work. What are the other thoughts here?

[Anonymous]

Engineers need to design, not draw. Leave the drawing to people who know
how to use the software. Engineers do NOTHING but mess up DWGs.

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that the software industry is at odds with many traditional
engineering management attitudes.

A common management view in our firm is that "expensive" engineers should
roughly set down the main design features (with a pencil stub on the back of
the proverbial envelope presumably) and leave the labor intensive CAD
hackwork to "cheaper" drafting staff.

But the software industry is busily adding more and more sophisticated
design features into the CAD package.

The same thing happened earlier on with word processing. We were supposed to
leave all that hackwork to the typing pool.

But by now practically all our engineers do their own typing on the PC right
down to the formatting, Table of Contents and final printing and never send
anything to the typing pool.

Soon the same thing will happen in CAD. The engineers will just decide it is
easier and quicker to just do it themselves all the way to the final plans.
This is happening right now in our work group despite the rantings of
management. (All the engineers suddenly want me to teach them how to use
AutoCAD)

Doug Boys (Engineer and Draftsperson)

[Anonymous]

Another thing to add: I tend to agree with both sides. I very seldom see any engineers who can use Cad somewhat profiently let alone LDT. I think the should have a more hands on approach, but still is best if it is left to a team to work on. With that said and what was said earlier by me, has anyone here made a transition from drafter-cad designer to an engineer? How did you do so? I find it difficult and haven;t done so because of a few reasons. First off, not enough time and then again, paying for even more college. Anyone know of good routes to take to complete this endeavor? Most places that look for civil engineers that I have seen ask for them to have a bachelors degree, but I have known many of folks who only had an AAS if that, but knew LDT very well and with using that and there knowledge, could almost do as much as any engineer. They just couldn't stamp anything. What are the thoughts here on moving up in the engineering chain gang?

[Anonymous]

Hey Kevin, 2 engineers , 1 principle and 1 p/t sect.

I even sweep the floor on occasion

[Anonymous]

I will pose the question: If engineers are not supposed to use LDD, then who
is?

"Kevin S" wrote in message
news:627BB86F2F208F7C1190829BDC39F4E8@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to
remove
> Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
> "engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the
engineer.
>
> Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
> technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd
right
> now)
>
>

[Anonymous]

The following is clipped from my post for: Advantages/disadvantages of
Contour Objects vs. Polyline Contours
supervisors fail to see the benefits of a little extra time spent on the
model (I get a kick out of the guy that does not want you to spend time on
a model - then doesn't understand why the slope map or queried elevation,
cross section or profile doesn't just jump out of the box). Besides, I have
heard more than one project MGR. say " you should have the job built in your
mind" .... hold on a minute! what better way to build in your mind than to
model?>


Joe

"Kevin S" wrote in message
news:627BB86F2F208F7C1190829BDC39F4E8@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to
remove
> Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
> "engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the
engineer.
>
> Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
> technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd
right
> now)
>
>

[Anonymous]

Sorry to burst your bubble....their DUDE....but I have been selling myself as a self employed Civil Engineer, who can do the whole nine yards.....

I find that you techy's....always look for a quick fix to our design, without looking ahead and what other ways the data could be used instead of going back and putting some more duct tape on it.

In my opinion more companies are beginning to look at degreed engineers who can do the entire enchilada.

LDD is a very important tool for me, not only to design but prepare a finished product that can be presented in a consice and data oriented manner. Not only is LDD a powerful tool but so is Storm-Cad, HEC-RAS, Micro-Station and others, that help in cutting costs and providing the client the most practical and economical solution to his investment.

Z

[Anonymous]

I left work in 1996 to complete my 4 year by 1997. I ended up transferring most of my core class's (math/science) from my 2 year program, that took me 9 years to complete going part time.

I decided to go full time with a loan from Uncle Sam to complete my four year in 5 quarters. It was not easy, but I had no desire to party it up 'DUDE like anyway'. Older and wiser I guess?

In either case, I have absolutely no regrets and look forward to getting my PE once I decide to sit down and study again.

So...my opinion...do it....because even I will become a dinosaur as more and more individuals get specialized training and addtional education.

Think about it? More and more companies prefer to hire PE's then regular EIT's. It is just another way of getting quailified people in a tightening market.

Still paying for the loan, but the money is well worth it!!

Z

[Anonymous]

Most of your newer engineers are competent in a CAD environment. It is the
Engineers that have several to many years of experience, that tend to have a
problem using software that does their calculations. The problem with the
newer engineers is that they tend to use the CAD system as a crutch instead
of as a tool. This where some companies have limited the about of time
engineers use CAD. Because if you use both methods of calculations you are
more likely to find problems. Where if you use CAD primarily as your
calculation tool, you could and tend to miss the small errors that you tend
to find when doing the calcs long hand.






"Joe bouza" wrote in message
news:5E5214C5E93865ED1B29D3D4A8B43AA2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> The following is clipped from my post for: Advantages/disadvantages of
> Contour Objects vs. Polyline Contours
> employers/
> supervisors fail to see the benefits of a little extra time spent on the
> model (I get a kick out of the guy that does not want you to spend time on
> a model - then doesn't understand why the slope map or queried elevation,
> cross section or profile doesn't just jump out of the box). Besides, I
have
> heard more than one project MGR. say " you should have the job built in
your
> mind" .... hold on a minute! what better way to build in your mind than to
> model?>
>
>
> Joe
>
> "Kevin S" wrote in message
> news:627BB86F2F208F7C1190829BDC39F4E8@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to
> remove
> > Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
> > "engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the
> engineer.
> >
> > Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
> > technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd
> right
> > now)
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

I think the idea is that a technician will use LDD under the general
supervision of the engineer, who manages the schedule, budget, client needs,
correspondence, etc.


"Neil Wilson" wrote in message
news:21282EA35E9EA7783676947E45697FD4@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I will pose the question: If engineers are not supposed to use LDD, then
who
> is?
>
> "Kevin S" wrote in message
> news:627BB86F2F208F7C1190829BDC39F4E8@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to
> remove
> > Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
> > "engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the
> engineer.
> >
> > Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
> > technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd
> right
> > now)
> >
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

I am not usually a fan of over simplification, but the core of this issue is
a no-brainer.
Design is a conceptual modeling process.
LDD is (among other things) modeling software.
The person who is developing the model needs tools.

Brian Keever

"Joe bouza" wrote in message
news:5E5214C5E93865ED1B29D3D4A8B43AA2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> The following is clipped from my post for: Advantages/disadvantages of
> Contour Objects vs. Polyline Contours
> employers/
> supervisors fail to see the benefits of a little extra time spent on the
> model (I get a kick out of the guy that does not want you to spend time on
> a model - then doesn't understand why the slope map or queried elevation,
> cross section or profile doesn't just jump out of the box). Besides, I
have
> heard more than one project MGR. say " you should have the job built in
your
> mind" .... hold on a minute! what better way to build in your mind than to
> model?>
>
>
> Joe
>
> "Kevin S" wrote in message
> news:627BB86F2F208F7C1190829BDC39F4E8@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > I am an engineer in Texas, and was just informed that I will need to
> remove
> > Civil Series (all CAD programs) from my machine, and start doing more
> > "engineering" work. In my opinion, LDD is a powerful tool for the
> engineer.
> >
> > Any opinions on the breakdown of engineers using LDD as opposed to CAD
> > technicians? Should I be p'd off or happy about this change? (I'm p'd
> right
> > now)
> >
> >
>
>