Structural Engineering

What is it?

Structural Engineering is only a specific part of the Engineering sector; this includes design, construction, and maintenance of building projects. A general structural engineer can work on infrastructure such as residential buildings, bridges, tunnels, transportation routes, and government buildings.

For a structural engineer graduate, the job prospects are pretty extensive; whether you are after positions in the public sector or private firms, you will generally find that there aren’t limited opportunities. Structural Engineering is a challenging but rewarding position. Structural Engineers can have a very flexible career thanks to the number of sub-professions within the job description.

What do they do?

Structural engineers can perform various tasks like design reviews and site visits. They will generally deliver specific recommendations for these design projects, working with the conditions and features of the land. We spoke with Gold Coast Structural Engineering company Cyber Services Group, who stated, “When one of our structural engineers is designing or evaluating a building, they will be working with schematics to ensure everything being worked on is up to the Gold Coast regulations.” They work to ensure standards are kept and work directly with existing builders, designers, and architects to make sure the client's vision is brought to life.

Structural engineers review several aspects when they arrive at construction sites, ranging from building envelopes, insulation, curtain walls, infrastructure, and the foundation. The engineer is responsible for determining whether or not these aspects of a construction are safe for the purpose of its being erected. This primarily means having capabilities in place for resisting environmental challenges. Structural engineers will analyze the site thoroughly and compare the structure with the attached building plans; if and when there are discrepancies, the engineer will flag these and ensure they are rectified as per code. The construction project does not proceed further unless these approvals are given by the Structural engineer.

Site Inspections & Reports

Companies such as Cyber Services Group also offer forensic structural engineering services; this includes examinations for building defects, pre-purchase assessments, on-site advice, insurance claim assessments, dilapidation surveys, and advice on rectification.

When a building simply breaks or isn’t performing to the expected standard on the plans, a forensic engineer is brought in to determine why this may happen. The Forensic engineers will construct a plan moving forward, identifying and defining the structure’s future capacity to cause harm.

These inspections and reports are highly recommended when errors from a building become apparent; the assessor will provide the client with an honest assessment of the structure so that an informed decision can be made about the future of the building. This is especially important when insurance claims are made due to the building.

Structural & Forensic Engineering is a pivotal cog in the Engineering sector; if you or your business need these services, give Cyber Services Group a call today to discuss your options.