The Modern Build: How Project Engineers Are Adapting to a Changing Industry

Working in engineering and construction is equally challenging and rewarding. You get to see your hard work pay off in tangible items and structures that will stand the test of time. While many engineering principles go back hundreds of years, the industry is constantly changing.

Whether it be because of new technologies, new standards, or the economy, project engineers must constantly adopt new methods. Not only does this ensure their longevity, but it also helps them lead and oversee projects with new perspectives. Some industry changes aren’t fondly embraced, while others can transform engineering in ways it has been needing for years.

Project engineers who don’t stay curious and passionate will likely struggle to endure such changes. Follow along as we explore how project engineers are adapting to a changing industry.

Project Engineers Must Embrace Change

Project engineers have many responsibilities, from designing and scheduling to managing the budget. Balancing these responsibilities makes keeping up with trends and looking toward the future somewhat difficult.

However, you can save yourself a lot of time and trouble if you adapt and embrace such changes. As a project engineer, you can adapt to the changing industry in a few ways, including:

1. Harness Data

Engineers have long utilized data to develop innovative plans and methods, and to learn from the experiences of other projects. However, harnessing data is more important than ever, as project engineers can now access more and better data than they previously could. This includes data from past projects as well as data from competitors’ builds.

Scouring internal databases can unearth some invaluable information you can use for your next project. That said, overlooking public datasets is a mistake, as you can learn a lot from others. Project engineers owe it to themselves to pore over as much data as possible.

Sometimes, this involves creating your own database full of relevant data, so you and your team can easily access it. From there, you can identify trends, take key information from them, input new data, and track your progress. It’s also important to utilize real-time data so you can adjust your plans as needed.

2. Prioritize Collaboration

It’s no secret that project engineers are among the best multitaskers in the workforce. Project engineers have historically overseen and helped manage many aspects of design and production. However, it’s hard to keep up with the times if you don’t collaborate with everyone.

Sure, there are still separating lines between the different departments, but you must work together. Cross-functional work can ensure that everyone shares information and works toward shared goals. Sharing information and listening to others can help reduce the need for troubleshooting later.

For example, you may have a blind spot regarding certain building materials that another designer or engineer is more familiar with. Unless you work together, you won’t figure this out until it’s too late, and you may waste time and money. Communication and collaboration can eliminate time waste and help keep each project on track.

3. Embrace Modern Tools

Some experienced project engineers may hesitate to deviate from their tried and true methods. However, that’s a mistake in a time when new tools and technologies emerge each year. For example, simulation technology has progressed enough so that project engineers can virtually build and analyze their designs.

Virtual representations like “digital twins” can make a huge difference in a project’s trajectory. Virtual twins help you save time during the design and troubleshooting phases. You can input many variables and see how the virtual twin reacts to them.

That way, you can tweak your design as needed and get quick feedback. Of course, virtual representations don’t fully represent how a project will turn out. However, the technology has progressed enough that using a virtual twin can at least cut costs, remove uncertainties, and save time.

4. Continue Your Education

Each year, driven students graduate from college and go straight into advanced degree courses. That’s because the competitive job market often demands that people have many strong credentials. However, people who have been in the workforce since before this was as common may not boast the same credentials.

No matter how many years you have on the job, you owe it to yourself to continue your education and keep up with credentials. That way, you can keep up with trends, apply new knowledge, and maximize efficiency. This doesn’t mean you must go back to college for another degree.

However, it’s at least worth speaking to people, taking workshops, and seeking knowledge in your downtime. Doing so can help you be the best project engineer possible, and it will show in the quality of your work.

Look Toward the Future

The engineering and construction industries wouldn’t be where they are today without driven, passionate engineers. Project engineers set the tone for their projects, which gives them the chance to make their work meaningful. The best way to produce meaningful outcomes is to pair tried and true methods with new data, concepts, and protocols.

Keep up with new technologies, design programs, and datasets to make the most of your position and talent. Doing so can help you stay relevant and give the best possible performance for each project.