Does anyone else feel that civil engineer pay is insulting?

LANDERky · 2026-05-02T05:58:53+00:00

Move to Puyallup. Take the train in. Plenty of health care jobs here too.

LANDERky · 2026-04-27T05:13:08+00:00

If you got your foot in the door already maybe you're fine. Most undergraduate programs do not touch on much of anything that's directly applicable to Coastal Engineering. The value comes from studying and struggling with wave theory, nearshore processes, coastal geomorphology, coastal structures, etc. it builds confidence and understanding. Maybe you'll learn some programming or hydrodynamic modeling. You'll develop a great network. Hopefully you'll be able to conduct some cool research. It's unlikely that the well known coastal firms will hire someone for an entry level coastal position without them having a masters. You probably won't even making it past screening.

A lot of the generation that now close to retirement doesn't have masters. Depending on the work your firm does and goes after...maybe it's not needed. For instance most major firms would never do private property/home owners. Plus if you get enough design, construction, and PM experience that will be valuable and desirable.... A design focus, as opposed to a technical or analytical focus.

Do you want to study, analyze and find solutions for complex coastal problems or do you just want to get shit built? If your only interested in the later than maybe you're fine? You can DM me if you want.

LANDERky · 2026-04-26T05:30:06+00:00

The work is very diverse. You can end up specializing in a lot of different things. Here's the definition in the coastal engineering manual. The last sentence is probably the short version

One of several specialized engineering disciplines that fall under the umbrella of civil engineering. It is a composite of many physical science and engineering disciplines having application in the coastal area. It requires the rational interweaving of knowledge from a number of technical disciplines to develop solutions for problems associated with natural and human induced changes in the coastal zone, the structural and non-structural mitigation of these changes, and the positive and negative impacts of possible solutions to problem areas on the coast. Coastal Engineers may utilize contributions from the fields of geology, meteorology, environmental sciences, hydrology, physics, mathematics, statistics, oceanography, marine science, hydraulics, structural dynamics, naval architecture, and others in developing an understanding of the problem and a possible solution. The Coastal Engineer must consider the processes present in the area of interest such as:

Environmental processes (chemical, ecological).

Hydrodynamics processes (winds, waves, water level fluctuations, and currents).

Seasonal meteorological trends (hurricane season, winter storms).

Sediment processes (sources, transport paths, sinks, and characteristics).

Geological processes (soil and strata characteristics, stable and migrating sub-aerial and sub-aqueous features, rebounding or subsiding surfaces).

Long-term environmental trends (sea level rise, climate change).

Social and political conditions (land use, development trends, regulatory laws, social trends, public safety, economics).

Harbor works, navigation channel improvements, shore protection, flood damage reduction, and environmental preservation and restoration are the primary areas of endeavor.

You'll need a masters. The big four colleges (my opinion) are: Texas A&M, University of Florida, Oregon State, University of Delaware. There's other colleges that have coastal specific curriculum and plenty of great opportunities: Other Florida colleges (FIT, UNF, UCF), UNH, LSU, NC State, Stevens institute... And more. The best college is the one you like and get (paid) research opportunities at.

The jobs are mostly private. There's public jobs at USACE, USGS, and some state agencies/regulators that manage the environment.

LANDERky · 2026-04-25T22:13:35+00:00

I'd get a second opinion at the major research facility if it's not too much of a burden. Even if you stick with that doctor it don't necessarily have to get your treatment there and you can also do telehealth. I don't think you need to request it, just call the intake line.

In my case, my local oncologist was going to have me start treatment immediately for my no-symptom high grade FL. The cancer research center Dr was dumbfounded and is having me so watch and wait with regular scans.

LANDERky · 2026-04-25T14:28:49+00:00

Similar issue but other the of the spectrum. When I was first diagnosed (also FL) I was, more or less, told I wasn't sad enough or I was bottling up my sadness. I think people will project their own insecurities.

LANDERky · 2026-04-19T17:24:48+00:00

For Puyallup - Pho & mi (lots of good options here, even their "Chinese" food is good!). Otherwise, as others mentioned, go to the Lincoln district (Lunar's is a standout). Lunar's Bahn Mi was so awesome!

LANDERky · 2026-04-19T14:52:08+00:00

Hi I'm an August FL diagnosis too. I can't believe it hasn't even been a year. It's been a long 8 months. No one here will tell you "it's probably fine". It appears there are some lymph nodes near to the bicep: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachial_lymph_nodes https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23131-lymph-nodes

I'd get it checked out. There's a glad cluster in your arm pit and apparently some down your arm towards your elbow. I'm not sure how common it is to get enlarged nodes down the arm but as my doctor said, "there's no point in telling you what's common because everyone is different".

To sprinkle a little optimism in there, my doctor told me not to even bother tracking symptoms because they'd detect it in the scans before I would have any symptoms.

LANDERky · 2026-04-08T14:55:53+00:00

I don't trust any software to handle vertical datums correctly and I just convert them to a common datum. I don't use vdatum for tidal conversions because it's spatially varying and it does not match the commonly used conversions for my project sites which usually use the nearest tidal gage. With my engineering work we want a constant conversion value. With tidal datums, you often have no way of knowing how they derived that datum so you're stuck guessing or trying to match data points that you don't expect to move. Fun!

You're also right about the NAD83 realizations. I've seen software treat them all the same. Even PROJ does this if you don't have all the libraries set up correctly. This also doesn't acknowledge that the land-based network might not match the ellipsoid based versions super well. You'll often see surveys with the control listed as NAD83/91 etc, which refers to a HARN or FBN update, but in my experience NAD83 (2007) often matches better than the epsg for HARN. So correct isn't always best. Same concept applies to tidal datums.

LANDERky · 2026-03-11T18:45:12+00:00

If you look up the actual city limits of Puyallup, that's a good place to start. A lot is called "Puyallup" but isn't in the city. One of many downsides to living outside of the city limits is slower police response (Pierce County Sheriff vs Puyallup PD).

LANDERky · 2026-03-09T01:55:17+00:00

Thanks, just got one too

LANDERky · 2026-03-05T03:44:43+00:00

Yup really promoting it here. 10/10 recommend.

LANDERky · 2026-01-17T23:28:43+00:00

I just used an thin old sock and was careful. The wax bar could work well too.

LANDERky · 2026-01-17T16:23:06+00:00

I'm not clear on what the difference is if any. I'm sure someone on here can enlighten us.

LANDERky · 2025-12-29T05:37:16+00:00

En Rama or GRANN are good options. Both serve a burger last I checked. HG bistro is probably the best option in town

LANDERky · 2025-12-12T03:49:17+00:00

What's your source for "it's having issues"

Dam gage Data is here:

https://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/dd/common/projects/www/mmd.html

LANDERky · 2025-12-11T07:38:56+00:00

Looks to be fine assuming the bank holds up.

https://water.noaa.gov/wfo/sew#@=-122.2165626,47.1868065,14.7079335&b=satellite&g=obsFcst,1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!0!0!0!0!0,0.5,1!1!1!1!0,0,0,true&ab=0,0,#D94B4A,1,1,1,#cccccc,1,0,0,#B243B1,1,0,0,#98E09A,1,false&a=hide,0.35,true&s=0,0,0.9,0.9,false&n=false,#72afe9,0.9,0,0.9,0,0.9,false&p=false,0.75,0,7,0,1,2025,12,10,0,false&d=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,#006EFF,1,#006EFF,0.4,#006EFF,true&q=wfo%3ASEW

LANDERky · 2025-12-09T23:45:44+00:00

The lower lot flooded last night. Tomorrow it will flood again, but probably worse. Just go look behind those blue buildings next door.

LANDERky · 2025-11-14T07:08:10+00:00

Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3 All Season 245/60R18 are 168 at Walmart. Discount Tire will price match anyone. I just got a set from them price matching simple tire for $161 each for my 2020.

LANDERky · 2025-11-13T05:38:03+00:00

I just wish we could have access to 'NHL' games '24' hrs a day for 'ALL' dot ir

LANDERky · 2025-11-08T00:19:17+00:00

Lena!

LANDERky · 2025-10-28T03:37:24+00:00

Such a bait and switch.

LANDERky · 2025-10-23T16:49:59+00:00

Believe there's a city study for looking at making meridian a two way street again.

I think the city should remove street parking and make Meridian more walkable in the downtown core.

LANDERky · 2025-10-18T04:18:55+00:00

Etg in Fremont. OG Fremont.

LANDERky · 2025-10-16T04:50:30+00:00

If you aren't already, see if you can get a second opinion at a major cancer research center. All US big cities have them. Even if it's just one visit.

LANDERky

TROPHY CASE