What exactly a Structural engineer do???They work outside or inside???

Question

I want to be a structural engineer but I hate to work outside,I want to work in an office with air conditionated.

Answer 1

It's interesting that you say you want to be a structural engineer, but you don't know what a structural engineer does. Maybe what you mean is that you are thinking you might like to be a structural engineer if it doesn't mean doing anything you don't like. Much learning lies ahead of you in this life.

A structural engineer designs structures and supervises or consults in the process of constructing them. Much of this work is done in air-conditioned offices with a staff of draftspersons and assistants.

The structure could be a building, a bridge, an oil refinery, or a tunnel under the Atlantic Ocean. The structural engineer becomes intimately familiar with the building site, which may mean crawling in wet passages under ground or wading in a swamp in hip waders.

When the structure is under construction, the engineer is often on the site making sure specifications are being followed and the structure fits together correctly. All kinds of weather, all kinds of political conditions (you could be in Iraq, remember).

So it's an indoor-outdoor job, with a touch of Indiana Jones. Sounds like a tough decision for a man like yourself.

Answer 2

A structural engineer, for the most part, designs structures. You use regulatory codes as your criteria and size components of the structure to meet the requirements for the kinds of loads you are dealing with. For example, a building that houses machinery is different from a greenhouse. Both have to meet building codes, but the load from the machines are much different from that of the greenhouse. Structural engineers also design bridges, walls, foundations, etc. Most of the work is inside.

But, believe me, there is nothing wrong with trying to get outside on a nice, sunny day in May or June.

Answer 3

I am a structral engineer with advanced degrees, and 20 year experience.
I have 6 different structural engineering jobs during my carreer.
I help fix San Francisco Oakland during the earthquake damage in 1989.
I have build 25 offshore jacket platforms, 2 refineries, subway tunnel, power plants, and etc.
The last 7 years my job is mostly providing engineering design and plan with 95% of my job is in the office.
Some time I miss my field work, especially my offshore and jungle assignments.

Answer 4

Major in Business administration..that'll suit you. ;)