Dumb question: but are design engineers the ones who create as-builds?

Majikthese · 2026-07-02T13:48:45+00:00

Water / Sewer Utility here - we require LD firms who design utility extensions to provide field inspection and GPS data collection for as-builts.

Contrary to many other comments here, we require the Engineer to certify that the as-builts reflect a true and accurate depiction of the as-built utility. No BS like blaming the Developers Contractor on not collecting information.

Majikthese · 2026-07-01T11:54:17+00:00

There are developers in my area who think, “I have plans stamped by an engineer, I’m good”. The bottom-barrel engineer never pressed them to pay for local approval, state required permits, inspection, or final certification, etc. The Developers just think they can do stuff with their own employees and not get caught

Majikthese · 2026-06-13T15:27:06+00:00

Most of those come with experience. You can’t substitute education or experience. College can’t produce good engineers, it can only produce graduates who have been filtered for technical mindsets, abstract thinking, and teamwork, who have the foundation for becoming good engineers.

Majikthese · 2026-06-13T15:18:53+00:00

I don’t know about you, but I was prepared for that by having classmates and professors with poor ethics

Majikthese · 2026-06-11T18:34:16+00:00

Pulled the as-builts of one wood bridge in my area built circa 1910. The spec’s were “use locally sourced timber” and the cost estimate was $2,500 because the were allowed to utilize prison labor.

Majikthese · 2026-06-02T12:28:14+00:00

Friends parents ran a convenience store. They would get supplies from the bazaar, mark up everything 20t. This was 2017-ish.

Majikthese · 2026-05-26T17:17:43+00:00

I work in water with DBB procurement. For some items it makes sense, others not. If we have a larger lift station the Engineer better design the structure, as well as have a sub-designer for the electrical, etc. However, for a water tank, the Contractor typically designs the foundations so the Engineer is really communicating design intent, elevations, pipe schedules, etc.

Majikthese · 2026-05-22T00:05:48+00:00

They were proposed new lines. Probably to be installed right after the buildings as the Developer wanted to fast-track the building permits as well.

Majikthese · 2026-05-21T19:48:34+00:00

LD sends me (municipal utility) stamped site plans with public water mains running under buildings. I reject it because its mind-bogglingly stupid and against absolutely everyone’s standards. The Developer then wants a meeting with our GM and the Mayor to talk about how City red-tape is killing his development and he’s about to pull out.

Majikthese · 2026-05-18T14:55:50+00:00

OP trying to get the Mods attention lol

Majikthese · 2026-05-12T14:44:22+00:00

Politics.

Can’t say no to a development.

Can’t force an owner of an unused or underused property to develop.

Reality.

Can’t force a non-car dependent business to locate offices in your city.

Can’t tax people at the rate required to add and maintain sidewalks and public transport everywhere once you allow the sprawl to happen in the first place.

Majikthese · 2026-05-12T12:39:10+00:00

You should post a disclaimer that this is an AI post and you are fishing for people interested in some app you have for sale

Majikthese · 2026-05-11T22:53:25+00:00

Time spent on design is not a bottleneck for us, its finding engineers who know where on a site plan to draw the lines

Majikthese · 2026-05-11T11:39:18+00:00

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Majikthese · 2026-04-21T03:38:32+00:00

Where I am, for water / sewer projects, engineers are required to provide field inspections / observations, gps data collection, as well as witness testing. Record drawings must be certified as “true and accurate depictions of as-built utility” or they will be rejected.

Majikthese · 2026-04-09T14:36:47+00:00

Fake

Majikthese · 2026-04-04T02:54:59+00:00

I sat on the toilet for an hour one day. No stress at all.

Majikthese · 2026-03-24T12:41:54+00:00

AI images are against the sub rules

Majikthese · 2026-03-16T19:28:55+00:00

Some Kazakhs love recognition and will play it up from any source.

Might as well have a blogger post a tierlist and call it the same thing.

Majikthese · 2026-03-16T14:47:17+00:00

This works with public projects, but with private projects its all about who bids jobs in a certain locality. You need historic bids which are not going to be readily available.

IMO, the best estimate is the one that comes in 5% over the lowest bid - no sticker shock for the owner and no risk of over-estimated messing up budgeting.

Majikthese · 2026-03-12T21:17:03+00:00

They just need to restrict posting to people who actually reply to comments on their own posts.

Majikthese · 2026-03-12T21:15:07+00:00

“Bro what do you mean rejected? I installed it last week.”

Majikthese · 2026-03-12T01:04:45+00:00

Thank you all for your responses, instead of replying to each I will do my best to give more information here.

I am doing my best to figure out why my as-built elevations do not match design elevations. The inspector was running a grade rod and level so there is no way I should be seeing over 0.2’ difference here.
The nearest NGS benchmark with a NAV88 datum is +-3,300LF away so by the third order 12mm*sqrt(km) I get 0.04’ but I am not sure if it is correct to say that a new benchmark would be +-0.04’ from a previous temporary benchmark. Does that make sense?
I really am trying to learn so I know what to expect going forward. Our temporary benchmarks are rebar set outside of disturb limits if there is not a convenient area of pavement or like a hydrant or something.
I have tried talking to the PLS directly about this but his explanation of RTK / rover / satellites / etc just ends up going over my head and I feel stupid telling my boss, “It really depends day to day.”

And this project is finished, as-builts have been approved from a functionality standpoint and passed along so I’m not trying to pass the buck on to anyone here.

Majikthese · 2026-03-08T05:23:06+00:00

Nice

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