SHPE - Spring08 - (Page 22)

Paving the Tarmac to Success Yasmin Moreno E very day, millions of people board airplanes that easily maneuver through taxiways and take off from larger runways without giving much thought to safety on the tarmac. Yet, civil engineer Yasmin Moreno sees things a little differently. “Once you design something and see how it serves the community, it’s a rewarding feeling,” she said. She should know – most of her 14 years of experience are intertwined with the runways and facilities at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (H-JAIA) in Georgia. Moreno’s strong background in civil design and aviation began while earning dual B.S. degrees in physics and civil engineering from Clark Atlanta University and Georgia Tech. During summer internships with Williams-Russell and Johnson Inc., she worked on various H-JAIA projects, especially the concept for the fifth runway. Upon completing a master’s degree in transportation from Georgia Tech, she went to work with Wilbur Smith & Associates and spent four years focused on roadway designs such as widening I-75 in South Georgia and elevated urban roads. Again longing for the fast pace of aviation projects, Moreno joined Jordan, Jones & Goulding and returned to work on H-JAIA. Among the many projects she helped design was the airport’s underground automated train that connects all concourses with the terminal. Today, Moreno is a licensed Professional Engineer and a senior project manager with PBS&J’s Orlando Aviation group, which has been contracted to design, permit, bid and administer construction services for master utilities of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport. These utilities will include separate systems for potable water distribution and sanitary sewer collection, duct banks for primary electrical and telecommunication services, roadway lighting for the airport’s main entrance road and two other water station sites. Civil engineering, as it relates to transportation, consists of geometric design, grading, drainage and designing infrastructure pipes and ponds. When it comes to airports, the FAA’s policies regulate much of the work. “We do a lot of pavement analysis and pavement design for aircraft or road vehicles,” Moreno explained. “Laying pavement requires a lot of calculations so that there isn’t flooding and ponding and so that vehicles aren’t crashing into each other due to poorly constructed roadways.” Moreno’s responsibilities as project manager include seamless teamwork and communication, facilitating review processes at critical milestones, organizing workflow and coordinating quality control reviews and regulatory agency approvals. It doesn’t surprise Moreno that end users take such work for granted. “There are television shows featuring doctors, lawyers and architects, so we feel we understand these professions,” she said. “Although we use roads, runways, taxiways and bridges all the time, we aren’t taught to think about how, why and who put them there. It’s only when there is a bridge collapse or airport plane crash that engineering issues momentarily catch the attention of the media. Maybe one day there will be a TV show about engineers.” Consejos Although she’s been given great career opportunities, Yasmin Moreno is no stranger to the discrimination women face in the field. Early in her career, one manager refused to let her work at night with contractors pouring concrete slabs because he considered it too dangerous for a woman. On another occasion, her boss felt more comfortable assigning the role of project manager to a male counterpart, even though Moreno was more knowledgeable about the project and her work experience was comparable to his. “I can’t say that I tried to take down doors and force my way in,” she said, “but I did look for other ways to gain experience and knowledge. I persevered through it, and, since that time, I’ve been able to earn the respect of my colleagues through hard work.” A member of the Central Florida SHPE Professional Chapter, Moreno advises women to view each situation independently, rather than assuming it’s a “big conspiracy,” and patiently communicate with the parties involved. “You can’t deny that those things happen, but it has gotten better, and it’s easier for us now than it was for the women who went before us,” she added. “You just have to keep trying.” 22 SHPE R Spring 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Spring08

SHPE - Spring08 Contents President’s Letter Browser Letters to the Editor Calendar of Events The Magic of Thinking BIG Five Steps to Easier Fundraising Designing Women ¡Viva Verde! The Education and Training of Ramon Flores Breakthroughs in Mobile Military Communications The Retention Doctor Success at School Begins at Home STAR Nominations Do Good Things Come to Those Who Wait? Programs & Services Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Spring08

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