What do you do?

As a geotechnical engineer I deal with the study of behaviour of earth materials like soil, rocks, underground water, etc. and their relation to design, construction and operation of civil and structural engineering projects. Within a ground engineering team, I work closely with engineering geologists and collectively we manage all sizes of projects that require geotechnical engineering inputs. Some of the amazing projects we deal with are foundations of renewable energy schemes such as solar and wind farms, stabilization of natural and man-made slopes, design of foundations for major structures including tall buildings and bridges, ground improvement designs for unstable ground conditions.

Essentially, anything that is built on or into the ground, we do provide a design input to ensure that the ground will be stable throughout the design life of that structure and/or infrastructure. In terms of software, I deal a lot with geotechnical software and apply principles of limit equilibrium modelling (LEM) and finite element modelling (FEM) example of these software include RocScience and Plaxis.

What’s been a highlight of your career so far?

The best highlight of my career so far is being able to strike a balance between office and site work. I get to travel quite often to attend to projects including scoping, construction supervision, and inspections. Another highlight is the positive professional growth and the amazing opportunities that my career is offering thus far including being approached by recruiters from overseas. This has kept me motivated towards shaping my skills as it proves they are in high demand.

Looking back, what advice would you give to current students?

I would like to encourage current students to take a risk and accept all challenges posed to them as this will help them build a positive attitude towards accepting responsibilities and consequently making them responsible global citizens whilst contributing to a long-lasting impact and legacy.

What challenges did you face when transitioning into the working world and how did you overcome them

My biggest challenges were more of adulting issues such as understanding the credit score system, filing tax returns, and understanding my financial obligations. In terms of my career, the transition has been smooth as I developed a positive attitude earlier on during my schooling journey. This has allowed me to accept any responsibilities given to me and with this I’ve had an opportunity to learn and sharpen my craft in contributing to the lasting impact through our projects.

What pulled you towards your field?

The reason as to why I was attracted to geotechnical engineering was the ability to contribute to the designs of all types of construction activities as everything is built on or into the ground. With this I’m able to contribute to any projects in many disciplines.

How do you see your industry evolving in the near future?

My industry is in high demand partly because of shortage of skilled professionals and partly due to high demand of infrastructural projects as a result of population growth. As all of this is happening the industry is also embracing new technologies to simplify workflows and ensure quick deliverance of projects. I see my industry growing even further with new ideas from new generations joining the industry.