Consulting-Specifying Engineer - August 2008 - (Page 50) » 50 The power of the portal is that it can be a “project switchboard,” for one or more projects. Looking for approved suppliers on this project? There’s a link right on the front of cooperation is essential to making it all work do not necessarily see the benefit of them. They understand how it’s better for the project; but they have concerns, often justified, Experienced engineers: The computer can and will amplify the benefit of your experience. Discarding old and trusted tools will require learning. that they will lose something by the creation of the new facilities. These concerns need to be alleviated if the facilities are to provide their full benefit to all participants. A major construction firm in Dallas retained me to explore project collaboration automation alternatives. I started with a presentation of available technologies, and was surprised to receive a lot of negative feedback within the meeting from project managers—most of which could be summarized as, “We’re far too busy to introduce new technologies; all our projects have deadlines, and we can’t take the time to disrupt work and train people on new tools.” When I met with each project manager individually, I learned that the real issue was that they were senior people who fundamentally distrusted computers. What’s a young engineer to do? If you are a young engineering professional, someone who grew up with computers, you probably understand—and are justly excited about—the potential of computers’ applications for your profession. You are likely aware that that potential is essentially unlimited, whether for the personal tools in your kit, PC, PDA, phone, tablet, or for the systems in your projects, with their embedded systems, control panels, locating electronics, and growing range of sensors. More power to you. The future of engineering belongs to you. But it is in the nature of things that youth may not fully respect the wisdom and knowl- the portal. Lists of requests for information? If you are approved to access them, just click here. Need to communicate with someone on the project who is not in your direct chain of command? Here’s where you can track down an e-mail address and direct a person to the files relevant to your issue. Why don’t all projects use blogs, wikis, and portals? After years of studying this question, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s because the individuals and firms whose edge that come only with experience. Rates of failure, back-of-the-envelope calculations, knowing when and how to exercise intuition—these things come only with time, with observing successful projects—and especially, with observing failures. The challenge is to read about, listen to, and learn from the failures of others, so that you can make it your goal to make only new mistakes, and not repeat old ones. You might start by talking to your boss and expressing your desire to learn more about what he or she considers to be the essentials of engineering success. And pay attention when your boss recounts war stories; there’s a lot of useful information there. Use your curiosity to ask good questions. Read trade publications; they are ideal resources. For the rest of us For you experienced engineers: Your gray hairs were acquired honorably, and you have a great deal more to contribute. If you’re struggling to get your arms around all that the new world of computational engineering has to offer, that is understandable. But don’t stop. The engineering you know and practice is the real stuff. The computer can and will amplify the benefit of your experience in undreamt-of ways. Will it require learning? Absolutely. Discarding of some old and trusted tools in favor of some new, more powerful ones? Unquestionably. Don’t hesitate or draw back. Embrace the new-fangled stuff—even if you’re still not sure what a wiki is. It is not beyond you. It’s just new stuff, and you have dedicated your professional life to understanding and using new stuff. This is a whole bunch of new stuff, but you’re up to it. Orr has been working with engineers since 1973. He designed one of the first municipal geographic information systems (for Metro Nashville), founded Computer Graphics World magazine, helped found and served as president of the National Computer Graphics Assn., and served as Autodesk Distinguished Fellow (1990-1993) and Bentley Engineering Laureate (1997-2001). David Sellers’ blog “A Field Guide For Engineers” is one of the most read pages at www.csemag.com. Blogs are a powerful tool to report progress on building projects. Consulting-Specifying Engineer • AUGUST 2008 http://www.csemag.com
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