Green Civil Engineering

We all know that one of the latest buzz words surrounding construction is GREEN building. Solar panels, energy efficient windows, appliances, etc, etc....Well, civil engineers can help in many ways too. Although the EPA and most governing jurisdictions already control water quality requirements for drainage discharge it is important for civil engineers to look to incorporate erosion control and water quality features into every design. For example, simply adding a small grass lined swale can help with adding water quality to drainage released from a site and is very cost effective for a client. Especially, on a small site where other applications (ie..water quality pond) may not be possible. Check out Urban Drainage and Flood Control District's website for some of the latest water quality applications: www.udfcd.org

Value Engineering

Saving $$...everybody likes to save a few bucks and especially when it comes to construction. Civil engineers can be an integral part of creating cost savings for a client/developer/project. This starts with the initial schematic design and first meeting. Knowing a client's project goals and visions allows us to understand what our design parameters are from the civil engineering side. For Example, sometimes although underground detention is costly, it is preferred by clients as it will allow for additional parking spaces or other improvements which are critical for the proposed building(s). The additional money spent on underground detention will pay for itself in a short time frame once the project is finished and open for business. However, on the contrary, there is a fine line between functional civil engineering that meets the required codes and gold plating or over-engineering the site improvements. This is why it is very important to understand a client's goals and visions and design something meets their expectations while always keeping in mind opportunities to save money where possible.

contact us to see how we can save you money on your next project--- info@altitudeeng.com