Summer 2019 Newsletter

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6 | CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING The Future of Construction Engineering Granite Construction, a leader in the construction industry, is working to impact the future of construction engineering by preparing students for the changing landscape through a joint heavy Civil minor. The landscape of construction engineering is changing every day with the rise of technology and the need for innovative solutions. GlobalData tracked 11,000 large-scale construction projects across the country and found that 10 U.S. states accounted for nearly 60% of the total U.S. construction project pipeline value ($3.7 trillion). California is at the top of the list. As construction continues to grow in the state, the need for workers proficient in the latest technology and skilled in both engineering and construction follows suit. “The future of construction engineering is bright. Infrastructure in California and throughout the country needs development and repair. Construction engineers are needed to solve this,” said Brent Fogg (civil engineering ‘06), Granite vice president and regional manager. As one of the top construction companies in the nation, Granite is working to prepare the next generation of graduates who will fill this growing need. To ensure Cal Poly graduates are prepared to tackle this industry, the College of Engineering and the College of Architecture and Environmental Design launched a unique partnership with Granite Construction to create a robust pipeline of diverse Cal Poly graduates skilled in both construction management and civil engineering through a heavy civil minor. Fogg is working with Hani Alzraiee, civil engineering professor, and Philip Barlow, construction management professor, to develop the new heavy civil engineering minor. The Granite Heavy Civil Engineering and Construction program is a unique cohort program, bringing together students from both colleges. Under this program, students in construction management will have the opportunity to become more proficient in heavy civil engineering fundamentals, and students in heavy civil engineering will have access to more construction management classes. The minor will begin accepting applications beginning in 2020 and the first cohort of students will start the same year. The collaboration between the two departments will ensure students are receiving the training they need to address some of the most challenging problems in construction engineering. Fogg believes that civil engineers are a good fit for the construction engineering industry because of the skills they bring to the table, and he understands the important role civil engineers play on the job site. “Civil engineers are analytical, good at math and science, detail-oriented, organized in thought and process and good problem solvers. Construction projects from design through CEENVE.CALPOLY.EDU
SUMMER <strong>2019</strong> | 7 Drones take aerial pictures of construction sites to help engineers create 3-D models to quantify data in real time. Brent Fogg, vice president and regional manager of Granite Construction. completion are full of complex problems that require these skills,” Fogg said. According to Fogg, projects are becoming more challenging due to regulations, working restrictions, highly-congested urban areas and complicated design parameters. These challenges and alternative delivery methods like designbuild and construction manager/ general contractor processes require collaboration between design and construction teams to ensure project success. Another component of construction engineering is automating processes and improving accuracy through technology. When every second counts, being able to get things done quickly without error is key. Fogg explains that engineers are instrumental in developing this technology in construction. “In the past ten years, technology that was once groundbreaking has become routine. But I think because of this, the possibilities in tech are endless. It just takes someone like a construction engineer to bring value,” said Fogg. Granite uses Building Information Modeling tools and 3-D modeling to expedite tedious processes. Pictured in the image above is an example of drone mappings used by Granite to create 3-D models of the area, helping engineers quantify data in real time. The information is then directed to machine controls on the job site. Motor graders also use this information and operate at greater accuracy which requires less control by the machine operators. While the technology may be close to perfect, construction engineers are still needed to ensure the data is correct. As advances and challenges grow, Cal Poly and Granite have a unique opportunity to train the next generation of engineers who will be the problemsolvers and innovators. “The minor brings together the best of both programs into one. I am really excited about the minor for those interested in construction engineering and I know that it will enable students to be prepared when they graduate,” said Fogg. CEENVE.CALPOLY.EDU
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Summer 2019 Newsletter

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