If you call me an engineer, does that mean I have to go back and pass statics?
TAMUCC calls it
Texas A&M in Corpus Christi calls it.
The Master of Science in Geospatial Surveying Engineering
Thinking about this a little. I have over the course of my years been able to read the plans of many different disciplines (architectural, civil, mechanical, etc) and incorporate each one into a project as required. Now if that isn't engineering I'm not sure what is.
Each required a certain amount of translation or interpolation of units or angular values to a common base (metric/Imperial). Not to mention just plane trouble-shooting on-the-fly.
Most of the engineers I know have now moved on and are Project Managers. They don't have time for designing anymore. Which is why we get the plans we get now-a-days. I think they want us to do that ?.
I resist.
When I applied for my Washington LS, Utah accidentally sent verification of my PE. I very nearly was a Surveying Engineer...
To the point... The use of Engineering Plans (advanced as it may be) does not make me an Engineer any more than their use of my maps makes them Surveyors. I am certain both of us can perform some functions of the other discipline, but we are different creatures...
Being called an Engineer no longer offends me. I've grown past that. I do feel the need to correct folks when they use the wrong title...
The elementary course in surveying I teach at LSU is the ONLY required course for Civil Engineering majors. I tell my students that we will cover Engineering Surveying, and that Land Surveying is an entirely different profession from engineering. When I was in the Army, I was a Topographic Engineer: it was changed from Combat Engineer because of my prior education.
In NC it would be against the Board rules if someone calls themselves any kind of "engineer" without being licensed as an Engineer (as I read the rules).
"It shall be unlawful for any person to practice or to offer to practice engineering or land surveying in this State, as defined in the provisions of this Chapter, or to use in connection with the person's name or otherwise assume or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that the person is either a professional engineer or a professional land surveyor, unless the person has been duly licensed."
I have always considered myself to be a survey engineer. The vast majority of the work I do is engineering surveys. I have a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and consider the work I do to be a part of Civil Engineering. If someone asks what I do, I tell them I am an engineer (without the survey part of the title).
Unfortunately, some states only recognize boundary surveying as "real" surveying, i.e. as experience necessary to qualify one to be eligible for licensure. Yet they want all engineering surveying to fall under their jurisdiction.
TAMUCC calls it
> Texas A&M in Corpus Christi calls it.
> The Master of Science in Geospatial Surveying Engineering
>
>> http://gisc.tamucc.edu/graduate/graduate.htmlbr >
I love what they're doing down there, but man, what a mouthful. Surely a better degree title could be found!
That is kind of ridiculous. The majority of people who graduate from college with a degree in engineering do not obtain a PE. Perhaps a PE is more common for CE's, but if you look at other fields, like electrical or chemical, I bet the majority never obtain a PE. I read somewhere that something like 20% of engineers get a PE.
So if you ask a recent graduate of an engineering program what they are, what are they supposed to answer? I agree it would absolutely be against the rules to claim that one is a professional engineer without having a PE, but the generic term engineer?
> That is kind of ridiculous. The majority of people who graduate from college with a degree in engineering do not obtain a PE. Perhaps a PE is more common for CE's, but if you look at other fields, like electrical or chemical, I bet the majority never obtain a PE. I read somewhere that something like 20% of engineers get a PE.
Back in the 80's when I was in college the Washington licensing board required my father's company which was incorporated in New Mexico to change their name from Science & Engineering Associates to Science & Engineering Associates of New Mexico or be subject to a fine for advertising engineering services without a license.
FWIW - there were about dozen technical staff members all of who had post graduate degrees in electrical or nuclear engineering (with a couple of physics PhDs thrown in the mix) and the "engineering services" they provided were classified and therefore not offered to the public. :'(
In the construction industry, those surveyors who work directly for the construction companies have been called "Field Engineers" as far back as I can remember being aware of the subject. About 47 years. I would surmise that they were called that for years preceding that date.
Through most of the 70's that is how I made a living.
B-)
They can say they do engineering work and are working towards getting licensed. I didn't make the rules. If you want to be called an Engineer in NC, take and pass the exam. Easy as that.
Yes, we civil engineers have to sign our work. Guess it is more important than the others? 😉
Would I be called a "civil" ?
Does NC have indoor plumbing yet?
Nope. Just Engineer as it says on our license. "Professional Engineer" It is up to the Engineers to practice within their experience.
> Nope. Just Engineer as it says on our license. "Professional Engineer" It is up to the Engineers to practice within their experience.
Better turn this guy in.
http://www.bme.ncsu.edu/index.php/directory/userprofile/mgforest
He has three degrees in mathematics, not licensed as a PE according to the board website, yet the UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering has the cojones to give him the title Professor of Biomedical Engineering 😉
Do it quick!! ...before he harms the public.
That means he is teaching engineering not an engineer. Huge difference. Looks like he is a smart guy but not an Engineer.
It seems limiting because I see surveying broadly including all of the engineering aspects that go with the measuring, math, designing survey and cadastral infrastructure, and working with the design and placement of the fixed works of engineering, but also including the application of law, investigation and interpretation of evidence/facts gathered in research and fieldwork, and the art associated with knowing what information needs to be gathered and how it is best gathered for particular needs.
Engineering, being a discipline dealing with discrete facts and prescribed formulae and methods, lacks the more abstract nature of judgment and art applied to the legal, investigative, and interpretive elements of surveying.
