Careers In Transportation……Structural (Bridge) Engineering

Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences

Job Shadow Program

February 8, 2012

Topics

Introduction Background

– Engineering– Structural (Bridge) Engineering

Career ladders Knowledge, skills and abilities for

success Guidance for those interested in

Bridges

Who am I?

Larry O’Donnell Senior Structural Engineer

– Bridge Management and Inspection Federal Highway Administration

– Resource Center

What do Engineers do?

EngineeringWhat is Engineering?

– The application of scientific principles to practical ends for the design, construction and operation of efficient and economical structures, equipment, and systems

Structural (Bridge) Engineering

The application of scientific principles to practical ends for the design, construction and operation of efficient and economical structures (Bridges), equipment, and systems

What is a Bridge?

Bridge. A structure including supports erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, highway, or railway, and having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and having an opening measured along the center of the roadway of more than 20 feet between undercopings of abutments or spring lines of arches, or extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes; it may also include multiple pipes, where the clear distance between openings is less than half of the smaller contiguous opening. (NBIS - 23 CFR 650.305)

What is a Bridge?

Bridges

What materials are used to build bridges?

Built with various materials– Concrete– Steel– Timber– Composites (fiber reinforced polymers)

How many highway bridges are there in the U.S.?

There are over 603,000 highway bridges in the U.S.– The average age is about 45 years– Some are in good condition– Some are in fair condition– Some are in poor condition

Inspected periodically– Typically every 24 months

A lot of work needs and limited resources ($)

Bridge Management

Planning Programming Design

– New and repairs Construction Operation

– Inspection and maintenance

What do I do?

Review and evaluate Bridge Management System (BMS) software and concepts, and the integration of BMS with other management systems

What do I do?

Provide technical advice, assistance and leadership to:– FHWA Division office, Resource Center,

Headquarters personnel– State, local and regional agency officials– High level officials of industry, associations,

and groups

What do I do?

Interpret extremely complex data, policy, legislation and regulations, procedures, requirements, and technological advancements

Furnish assistance in the most complex and unique issues which develop and which have been resistant to resolution through normal approaches

What do I do?

Provide technical expertise to FHWA Headquarters’ policy officials

Take a lead role in developing national policy, in evaluating new techniques, and in developing approaches for agency wide use

What do I do?

Plan and implement national efforts for extremely complex, broad-based initiatives for technological advances and technology transfer

Plan, implement, and evaluate sophisticated models as tests of potential national initiatives

What do I do?

Troubleshoot complex policy and technology problems

Foster new partnerships, marketing approaches, and customer participation

Serve on intra-agency task forces to furnish expert advice and representation

What do I do?

Lead teams at the regional/multi-regional level which address significant regional issues

Provide training in engineering concepts for bridge inspectors, routine bridge inspection procedures and use of BMS software

What do I do?

Provide bridge management and inspection: – Technical Assistance – Technology Deployment – Training

What do I need to know?

Program Knowledge– Thorough knowledge and understanding of

the linkages of the highway bridge program to the overall surface transportation program, including knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and policies

Technical Knowledge– Advanced knowledge of highway

bridge/structural engineering theories, standards and practices

What do I need to know?

What do I need to be able to do?

Professional Ability– Establish and maintain effective working

relationships that promote leadership, negotiation, cooperation and teamwork, including the ability to identify and foster new and innovative partnerships and avenues for marketing one's expertise in structural engineering

Outreach Ability– Effectively draw upon my knowledge and

expertise to advance and achieve organizational goals and mission

– Effectively express and present ideas in writing and in person to communicate technical and program information

– Effectively negotiate and market my skills

What do I need to be able to do?

What do I have?

Comprehensive knowledge of engineering theories, concepts, principles, methods, practices, standards, and/or procedures related to Bridge Management Systems (BMS) and National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) as they apply to Federal Highway projects

What do I have?

Broad knowledge of BMS and NBIS programs as conducted within the FHWA, including the applicable laws and regulations, policies, operational and/or technical demands, program interrelationships, program precedents, and customer needs

What do I have?

The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including demonstrated ability to develop and present briefings and training, as well as prepare highly technical reports and standards

What do I have?

The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships which promote leadership, negotiations, cooperation and teamwork, including the ability to identify and foster new and innovative partnerships and avenues for marketing FHWA expertise

What are my qualifications?

Bachelors of Science Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering

Registered Professional Engineer NHI Certified Instructor 22 years of experience with FHWA in

structural (bridge) engineering positions– Design, Construction, Inspection,

Management

Career Ladders

Technical

Managerial/Supervisory

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities for Success

Advanced math and science knowledge Good communication skills

– written and oral Advanced computer application skills Ability to use knowledge and skills

efficiently and effectively Team work

Guidance

Guidance for those interested in Structural (Bridge) Engineering

Complete a BSCE degree with structural specialty– Internship with DOTs, Consultants,

Contractors, etc. Get advanced degree Get experience and professional

registration

Structural (Bridge) Engineers are needed and you can

become one!

Chicago Locality PayFederal Employees

Grade Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Step 10

1 22272 23016 23756 24493 25234 25669 26401 27139 27168 278592 25041 25637 26465 27168 27473 28281 29090 29898 30706 315143 27322 28233 29143 30054 30965 31875 32786 33697 34608 355184 30672 31694 32716 33738 34760 35782 36804 37826 38849 398715 34316 35460 36603 37746 38890 40033 41177 42320 43463 446076 38252 39527 40801 42076 43351 44626 45900 47175 48450 497257 42508 43925 45342 46760 48177 49595 51012 52429 53847 552648 47076 48645 50214 51783 53351 54920 56489 58058 59626 611959 51995 53728 55461 57193 58926 60658 62391 64124 65856 67589

10 57260 59169 61078 62987 64896 66805 68714 70623 72532 7444111 62909 65006 67102 69199 71296 73392 75489 77586 79682 8177912 75403 77916 80429 82943 85456 87969 90482 92996 95509 9802213 89664 92653 95641 98630 101619 104607 107596 110585 113573 11656214 105956 109488 113019 116551 120082 123614 127145 130677 134209 13774015 124635 128789 132944 137098 141253 145407 149562 153717 155500 155500

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2012Annual Rates by Grade and Step

Questions

Larry O’Donnell, PESr. Structural Engineer FHWA-Resource Center 4749 Lincoln Mall DriveMatteson, IL 60443(708) 283-3502(708) 283-3501 Larry.O’Donnell@dot.gov

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/index.cfm

http://www.usajobs.gov/

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/