The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Isaac Oakeson
  • 4.9 (21)
  • EDUCATION
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The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Welcome to The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast - your ultimate guide to everything related to civil engineering! Our goal is to support you at every stage of your journey to becoming a successful professional civil engineer, and to help you enhance your career and personal life. We share our expertise and provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you succeed. Join us for informative and engaging discussions on exam preparation strategies, career development, and cutting-edge engineering innovations. Whether you're preparing to ace the civil FE or PE exam, looking to adv Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

  1. NOV 7

    Revolutionizing the AEC Industry with AI: Insights from Dr. Sam Zolfagharian

    “Artificial Intelligence” gets all the buzz today. 🤖 Lots of things it could be used for, and lots of options out there. The problem? 🤔 According to Dr. Sam Zolfagharian, most AEC leaders try to implement it the wrong way! 🚨 Dr. Sam is the co-founder and president of YegaTech, an AI consulting firm focusing on helping AEC firms and executives plan and execute their AI strategy to scale their business. After years of experience as a Structural Engineer herself, she saw firsthand all the tasks that could be sped up with the help of technology…and how little AEC leaders understand what’s really at their disposal when it comes to AI. 🤯 (In case you’re wondering, it’s not simply looking at what AI tools are out there and picking a few to “give it a try.) In this episode, Dr. Sam dives into how AI will shape the future of work in the AEC industry for companies, how future AEC professionals (civil engineers included!) will need to adapt…all the way to YegaTech’s AI Innovation Framework for firms to scale with the help of AI. This framework is now already being used to develop AI strategies and AI governance across multiple AEC companies, and Dr. Sam teaches it in this very episode. Go check it out! 🎧 TUNE IN TO LEARN: The Biggest Mistake Leaders Make When Incorporating AI into Their Companies What Leaders Should (Really) Look at When Thinking of AI for Their Firms The Future of Human Work in an AI-Driven World How AI is Being Implemented in the AEC Industry Today Where Can AI Be Implemented...That No One is Talking About? How AI Tools and Techniques Can Scale Industry-Standard Procedures How AI Will Streamline a Tedious Task in Structural Engineering Will AI Take Away People's Jobs...Only? (Hint: It's not what you think!) A Big Concern with Using AI at Work...for the Company and Employees The Biggest Risk of Relying on AI in the Workplace What Companies Need to Do to Minimize the AI Risks for the Company What Will Change for AEC Professionals in the Future Due to AI What Will Change for AEC Firms in the Future Due to AI A Brand-New Department for AEC Companies Due to AI What All This AI Talk Means to Future Civil Engineers Like You! ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: YegaTech’s Presentation on AI in the AEC Industry 5-Step Guide to Prepare for the AI-Driven Economy Georgia Tech Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) 📧 CONNECT WITH DR. SAM: LinkedIn YegaTech 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

    35 min

  2. OCT 31

    Passing The PE After Only ONE Month of Studying Time with Connor Aycock

    🚨 This PE Exam prep timeline defies EVERYTHING you’ve seen so far! 🚨 We always mention that 3 months is the minimum, but exemptions exist…and Connor Aycock did it in ONE month!  😱  👇 That’s exactly what you read, believe it or not.  After moving to a new state where the rules on when you can take the PE after passing the FE are looser, Connor had his chance. In May 2024, his boss challenged him to take it immediately. After realizing the timing was perfect and that the best window for him to take the test was June 2024, he went for it. 💪 He condensed his exam prep into a jaw-dropping four-week schedule (Whats?! 😨), blocked off his study time, and gathered the on-demand resources he needed to bust through the material. After 4 and half weeks, he took it…and passed it! ✅ 👷 In this episode, he dives into this (unbelievable) journey, hits on all the things he did to make it possible, talks about what the exam was like and the most challenging parts of it… …all the way to the ONE THING he would’ve done differently that you can learn from him and do it right in your own exam prep. If you’re preparing for this exam as well, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 TUNE IN TO LEARN: His (Unbelievable) Deadline to Take (and Pass!) the Civil PE Exam How He Structured His Entire PE Exam Prep Into 4 1/2 Weeks His One-Line Piece of Advice for Your Own PE Exam Prep The ONE Thing He Would've Done Differently in His Exam Prep What Caught Him Off Guard During the Exam The Biggest Challenge While Taking the Exam That Really Messes up With You The Best Skill You Learn Going Through the PE Exam His Two-Step Approach to Tackling Theory Questions…Plus How Many He Got His Experience With AIT Questions on the Exam 2 Tips for You to Find Time to Prepare for Your Exam (Believe it, You Have Time!) What He Enjoyed the Most About The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course 🤝 OUR PARTNER: Namecheap ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Civil PE Starter Toolkit The Ultimate Civil PE Review Courses Test Prep Insight’s Best PE Review Courses University of Alabama 📧 CONNECT WITH CONNOR: LinkedIn Alta Southwest 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

    26 min

  3. OCT 24

    From Architecture to Passing His Structural PE Exam with Justin Krishart, PE

    🚨 Here’s another case that will blow your mind 👉 Imagine taking the Civil PE Exam 7 (seven!) times, each time with a different exam format…and all this without a civil engineering degree! 🤯 That’s exactly what today’s guest, Justin Krishart, PE, did! 😲 Justin graduated from Penn State with a degree in Architectural Engineering with an emphasis in Structures. Needless to say, he knew very little about what’s covered in the PE Exam, except for Structural topics. After failing both the paper-based and CBT PE exam in the old breadth-and-depth format six times, the April 2024 changes turned on the light at the end of the tunnel. 💡 This episode is an awesome story of perseverance with a big lesson every test-taker needs to hear — which is what kept him going when most people would’ve given up. 👷 💸 If you’ve found yourself failing this thing multiple times already, you need to listen to his journey! How he managed to stay in the game even after feeling devastated by the past failures. What he found to be the most challenging part. How he prepared for this as if it were his second, part-time job. All the way to the resources he used that you can use too. 😉 TUNE IN TO LEARN: Does an Architectural Engineering Degree Cover What's on the Civil PE? Passing the FE Exam Two Weeks After Graduation What He's Doing Today That Motivated Him to Get The PE How a Tricky Requirement in Pennsylvania Delayed His PE Exam His First 3 Attempts at the Old, Pencil-and-Paper PE Exam His 4th and 5th Attempt at the CBT PE Exam in 2022 Prepping With a Prep Course for His 6th Try in 2023 His Final Attempt at the New, Depth-Specific PE Exam in 2024 4 Professional Benefits That Kept Him Going After Several Failed Attempts A BIG Personal Reason Why He Didn't Give Up (And Why You Shouldn’t Either) How Many Practice Exams He Needed to Take What His Study Hours Looked Like Over The Week With Work and Life How Many Months Did He Prepare for? The Single Most Challenging Part of the PE Exam Three Kinds of Alternative-Item Type Questions He Got Asked What He Enjoyed the Most About the Ultimate Civil PE Review Course ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Ultimate Civil PE Review Courses PE CBT Exam Simulator Pennsylvania (Penn) State University Penn State's Architectural Engineering Department Pennsylvania Engineering Licensing Board 📧 CONNECT WITH JUSTIN: LinkedIn 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

    31 min

  4. OCT 21

    Transportation Engineering Innovations with Dr. Said El Said, PE, PhD

    Do you know what Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are? Connected Autonomous Vehicles? 🤔 Then this interview with one of the industry’s traiblazers, Dr. Said El Said, PE, PhD is a must! Dr. Said is a Transportation Systems Program Manager at Neel-Schaffer, applying technology to transform our transportation infrastructure and optimize our day-to-day use of it. In this episode, he talks about what he learned from his many years of experience in the tech side of the Transportation industry…and what's changing for it in the near future because of it. From reaching full autonomy with connected autonomous vehicles that communicate with each other and the road, to the use of non-engineering disciplines in the design of transportation projects…all the way to the biggest challenge to get into the field. The tech-powered future opportunities in the Transportation arena are endless, for sure. Many things you could do and work on, instead of being pigeon-holed to one thing. So, if you’re starting out and considering a career in Transportation, or already working in the field, you’ll want to listen to this one. 😉 TUNE IN TO LEARN: What He Does as a Transportation Engineer Today at Neel-Schaffer What are Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)? How ITS Will Shape the Future of Transportation...for the Better! Another BIG Thing Changing in the Transportation Industry Right Now How to Reach Full Vehicle Autonomy: Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) How Elon Musk's Boring Company Complement CAVs The Biggest Challenge to Get into the Intelligent Transportation Field How He Grew a Transportation Tech Department at TDoT Private vs. Public Sector: How Do They Differ? The 2 Career Paths Where a PhD Gives You an Edge His Experience in Academia (Plus How to Know If It's for You, Too) His Favorite Aspect of Engineering so Far What You Need to (Really) Become an "Engineer" 2 Career Tips for Future Transportation Engineers 🤝 OUR PARTNER: Built Bar ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: Neel-Schaffer Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDoT) Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Benha Higher Institute of Technology University of Memphis University of Tennessee, Knoxville Vanderbilt University 📧 CONNECT WITH Dr. SAID: LinkedIn said.elsaid@neel-schaffer.com 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

    26 min

  5. OCT 10

    Perseverance Pays Off: A PE Journey of Seven Attempts with Tucker Stafford

    What would you do after failing the PE Exam five times?! 😧 And worse, with each and every attempt being a different exam format? From paper-based to CBT…all the way to the new specs?! 😱 That’s exactly Tucker Stafford’s journey of resilience to get over the PE exam! 🥵 He got started way back in 2020 (when the exam was still paper-based!) and finally cleared the bar in April 2024. ✅ He took all the exam formats ever since, sticking with the Transportation exam every time.  His story is the ultimate inspiration for any repeat taker out there, going above and beyond where most people would have simply folded and given up.  If you’re struggling with this exam and have already failed it a few times before, you need to listen to this episode. Tucker's hard-earned tips and advice will give you the motivation you need to keep pushing forward and get this done and over with as well, no matter how many times you take it. 💪 TUNE IN TO LEARN: His Experience Having His Exam Canceled in April 2020 A Mistake He Made in His First Attempt in October 2020 That Most People Make His Second Attempt With His First Review Course in April 2021 His Third And Fourth Attempts at the PE Still as a Paper-Based Exam in 2022 His Struggles With His Fifth Attempt With the PE as a CBT Exam in April 2023 His Final Attempt in April 2024 With the New Depth-Focused Specifications Should You Immediately Sign Up Again for the Exam After a Fail? Is It Better to Stick With the Same Exam After Failing...Or Switch Exams? The 2 Rules of Thumb to Choosing Your PE Exam 2 Topics About Which He Got the Exact Same Questions on All 6 Attempts! Two Transportation Topics That Came up During the Exam as AIT Type Questions How to Use the NCEES Diagnostics Right After a Fail The Only Two Prep Materials You Need, Even if You Don't Get Anything Else A Daily Habit Every PE Test-Taker Should Pick Up During Their Prep His No. 1 Piece of Exam Prep Advice...That He Learned the Hard Way 🤝 OUR PARTNER: Audible ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: Should You Switch PE Exams After Multiple Failures? Official NCEES PE Practice Exams PPI’s Transportation Depth Reference Manual Mississippi Engineering Boards Mississippi DOT University of Mississippi Jackson State University Highway Safety Manual (HSM) Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) AASHTO Green Book Guide for Design of Pavement Structures Roadside Design Guide 📧 CONNECT WITH TUCKER: LinkedIn tuckerstafford@me.com 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter Free CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

    35 min

  6. OCT 2

    How Companies Can Attract Talented Engineers in a Labor Shortage with Tyler Wiggins

    Is the shortage of civil engineers only a lack of interest in the field by people, or have companies just been offering…well, too little? 🤔 In today’s episode, we interview Tyler Wiggins, an engineer turned recruiter that grew a small operation of only three people into a team of talented engineers in the solar industry. Tyler dives into the big shortage of civil engineers hurting companies big time today…and the ONLY thing they can do to solve this problem. Here's a hint… 👇 Offering what every other company offers is not gonna cut it. But what should companies do then, exactly? 🤔 Check out this episode to find out lots of ways companies can make their openings much more enticing to attract (and retain!) the civil engineers they desperately need! TUNE IN TO LEARN: The REAL reason why there are more jobs than Civil Engineers to fill them What does it really take for firms to find and attract good engineers? 3 strategies firms can use to attract more candidates that are real, talented ballers An surprisingly simple way companies can make their openings way more enticing A misconception about using a recruiter as a job seeker that you believe is true. A real-life example of how a recruiter can land you a job that pays $175-225k The biggest mistake companies make when working with a recruiter 🤝 OUR PARTNERS: Audible Built Bar ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: CEA Episode #116 (The Decline in Civil Engineering Programs) K2 SystemsCal Poly San Luis Obispo 📧 CONNECT WITH TYLER: LinkedIn Agavos Group 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter FREE CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

    34 min

  7. SEP 27

    Engineering the Future of Transportation with Byron Tang, PE, TE, PTOE

    Are self-driving cars really the future…in a country with a traffic fatality rate that (literally) dwarfs that of other countries in Europe and Asia? 🚗 🤔 In this episode, Byron Tang, a Senior Transportation Engineer for the City of Hayward, shares invaluable insights on the evolving Transportation landscape…and why Transportation engineers will play a crucial role in the years to come! He dives into the BIGGEST challenge engineers will face as the industry juggles new technology and the safety concerns they create, as well as the many specialized certifications every Transportation Engineer should get to be part of the future of the industry. (You’ve seen the bunch of initials after his name, right? 😅) Byron has a unique story of getting into this field and a lot of experience over the years leading up to his Senior job position. And in this episode, he shares it all! 🤯 If you’re in the field already, this episode will give you awesome insights on how to move forward in your Transportation career. If you’re an early-career engineer thinking of going that route, then Byron has some down-to-earth pieces of advice that will hit you hard…but it’s true! TUNE IN TO LEARN: What the Professional Traffic Engineer (TE) license is…and why you’ll want to get it What’s the Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) license? What he does today as a Transportation Engineer His 2 secrets to stay up-to-date with the latest Transportation news, trends, and tech The BIGGEST challenge for Transportation Engineers in the (near) future Are self-driving cars a good thing…or too dangerous? How he (unexpectedly) found his path into the Transportation world…from Music! His honest advice for those interested in a career in Transportation 3 things to pay attention to if you’re considering a big pivot in life…like his 🤝 OUR PARTNERS: Audible Built Bar ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Transportation Professional Certification Board (TPCB) Professional Traffic Engineer (TE) License Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) License Road Safety Professional (RSP) Certification Institute of Transportation Engineers City of Hayward US Traffic Fatality Rate Data Source 📧 CONNECT WITH BYRON: LinkedIn YouTube Channel Twitter 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter FREE CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

    26 min

  8. SEP 20

    Real Estate Investment Strategies for Engineers with Brian Armstrong, SE

    Getting the PE does wonders for increasing your income. Period! But if you want to become financially better off, shoving that extra dough into traditional 401ks is..well, not the answer! ❌ In this episode, I chat with Brian Armstrong, a civil Structural Engineer turned real estate investor who’s used his high salary as an engineer to build a passive income machine with real estate! 💸 After 12 years investing in real estate, he realized other engineers (read: you! 🫵) have exactly what it takes to get started in this world as well.  That’s when he launched Progress Capital Group, a company focused on helping engineers make the money they work hard to get…work even harder for them with real estate syndications. 🏘️ If you’re an engineer with an interest in real estate for passive income, in this episode, Brian spills the beans on how to do it right…just like he did. 😉 TUNE IN TO LEARN: Why real estate reigns over traditional investment strategies, like 401ks Tax breaks: the other huge advantage of real estate compared to earned income How he got started in real estate as an engineer…in a way most people don’t What are General Partners in a real estate syndication? Why engineers make perfect real estate investors! Do you need to be an accredited investor to get into real estate syndications? Do accredited investors have benefits non-accredited investors don’t? How is the compensation structured in real estate syndications? What happens to the property you invest in via syndications after the investment period? Two secrets to reduce the risks with real estate to almost zero How much money do you need to get started? How you can use the money in your retirement accounts to get you going in real estate His resources and company to help you do this faster…and better. ✅ RESOURCES MENTIONED: SE License Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki SEC 506b - Private Placements SEC 506C General solicitation University of California, Davis (UC Davis) 📧 CONNECT WITH BRIAN: LinkedIn brian@progresscapitalgroup.com Progress Capital Group7 Reasons Ebook 🎁 FREEBIES: The 5 Best FE Resources The Civil PE Startup Guide FREE CFM® Course Module 📚 PASS YOUR EXAM WITH THESE: Civil Engineering Academy Website Civil FE Review Course Civil PE Review Courses CFM® Review Course FE Practice Exams FE CBT Exam Simulator PE Practice Exams PE CBT Exam Simulator CFM® Practice Exam 📱 CONNECT WITH US! Newsletter FREE CEA Community Instagram LinkedIn support@civilengineeringacademy.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

    33 min
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Welcome to The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast - your ultimate guide to everything related to civil engineering! Our goal is to support you at every stage of your journey to becoming a successful professional civil engineer, and to help you enhance your career and personal life. We share our expertise and provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you succeed. Join us for informative and engaging discussions on exam preparation strategies, career development, and cutting-edge engineering innovations. Whether you're preparing to ace the civil FE or PE exam, looking to adv Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/civilengineeringacademy/support

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