My Career Journey into My New Hobby

              I have been using AutoCAD since I was a junior in high school in 2003. I took two semesters of CAD design before graduating. At that point in my life, I thought it was just a fun class to take. I didn't correlate it with the possibility of an actual career in the future. I wish I had followed that path sooner in school instead of 21 years later. I would probably be in the position I am currently going through school to be in. I never knew I would love engineering and specifically roadway design as much as I do. It is a really rewarding career in my opinion. I can design something, put it on a paper plan set, and a little bit later, someone has built my design that people get to drive on. Being able to physically travel on streets and parks that I had a hand in designing is unreal. I think this is why I just recently got into the hobby of 3D printing. I still use a version of CAD software, and I get to create functional items that I can use or people can play with. This is another thing I wish I had gotten into earlier in life as well. Ever since starting this hobby about six days ago, I have already made 20 prints. Some have used and some are just for fun, but they are all steps towards me perfecting my new hobby that surprisingly fits into engineering. I personally am learning new CAD software to create my 3D designs, and those are Fusion 360 and SolidWorks. I have always had an interest in SolidWorks, but never really had a need to learn it for the engineering field I am in, but I am starting to really love it. I can make fully working parts and test them in the software before ever sending them to the printer for real-world tests. I may have only started this hobby six days ago, but I am already hooked. I can wait to continue learning and growing my knowledge in the 3D printing world, which I never knew had so much engineering influence in it. Even though this will be my final blog post, I feel like I have learned a lot in this seven-day journey. I am not big into writing overall, but I feel being able to write and post about topics that interest me fits me just a little better than having to read a random book and write a paper on it. I have really enjoyed this blogging journey, and I am really happy this was the final assignment.

My Visit to TransGuide

            Today, my department at work had the opportunity to tour the TransGuide facilities through TxDOT. This facility is the home base for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) designed by TxDOT. They help manage and observe traffic conditions through CCTV cameras, DMS message signs, and fiber optics to detect travel times and provide real-time information to motorists. We got a glimpse of the dispatch floor, and I thought we walked into space command with the number of computers and TV monitors there were. Each worker there had eight screens that they were utilizing. The center runs 24 hours a day for 7 days a week. They showed us a new way they are starting to detect and track wrong-way drivers using AI detection through CCTV cameras. The system is extremely intricate and overwhelming, even for a group of us who are in the engineering field. It truly gave me a new respect for what those people do for our safety. Although the dispatch and monitoring center was amazing, the most interesting part of the tour for me was when we got to go to what they call the signal shop. This is the room where they set up, test, and monitor traffic signal systems around the San Antonio area. They have live feeds and remote system adjustment capabilities for the signals that TxDOT controls, and they even showed us live signal adjustments that they had to make on the fly. One of them also went through the entire inside of a signal controller cabinet and let us know what each component did and how it was used and controlled. I am a veteran in traffic signal design, but I have never had the opportunity before to see how the inner workings were assembled and manipulated. It was truly eye-opening seeing how the designs and labels I put on a piece of paper turn into physical devices and circuits to run the actual signals in the field.

Eager to Move up the Civil Engineering Career Ladder

 

    Just a little about me. I have been working in the Civil Engineering industry in roadway design since 2006. Out of high school, I got a small scholarship to play football at a community college in Mesa, Arizona, where I got injured in my very first start, tearing all the ligaments in my right ankle. I was never the same and dropped out of school after losing the scholarship when I got hurt. I got invited to interview for an entry-level CAD tech position in Las Vegas, as my great aunt was working for a firm there that needed new people, and she knew I had taken two semesters in CAD design in high school. After acing the interview, I moved to Vegas a week later and have been moving up the ladder ever since. I currently find myself at a crossroads, though. To be able to move out of the design section and more toward project management, I would need my degree to make it easier to move up. The first step will be getting my AS in engineering from Northwest Vista College in the Fall of 2025, then transferring to UTSA in the Fall of 2026. Even though I have 19 years of experience, I am barely above the new graduate engineers fresh out of school with their degrees. This has pushed me late in my career to finally finish school and get the coveted Bachelor's in Civil Engineering. One benefit of my having the experience I have is that when I do finally graduate, I will be able to have the FE exam waived, so I can become an EIT fresh out of school instead of having to wait to pass that exam. This will automatically bump me up the career ladder right away and open a lot of opportunities for me, whether it be with my current company or a new one. The only step after that would be to pass the PE exam to become a fully licensed Civil Engineer and reach the peak of my goal. This will be a goal of mine to achieve before I reach the age of 45, which will be a challenge for me as I turn 40 at the beginning of this coming Fall semester. I know my current supervisors support my journey, which makes it a bit easier, especially when I get to UTSA and have to alter my work schedule to fit in all my in-person classes, to still be able to work a 40-hour work week while being a full-time student. This will be a major challenge for me that I will have to face head-on in the Fall of 2026, and I am fully prepared for it and can't wait.

Is the Loop 1604 Expansion Project a Win for San Antonio?

    

    In my opinion the Loop 1604 Expansion Project is a real game-changer for San Antonio's infrastructure. Sure, I have had to drive in the construction going on for 2 years now, but as a roadway designer myself, I know that when the project is complete, it will all be worth it. The project is a huge step forward when it comes to easing congestion for commuters who don't want to be stuck in traffic for longer than they need to be. The expansion project had a budget of $1.3 billion to expand Loop 1604 from Bandera Road to I-35, increasing the existing two lanes each way to 5 non-tolled lanes each way. According to the Texas Highwayman, the 5 lanes will also include an HOV lane, ensuring a more efficient flow of traffic. I know even before I moved to San Antonio, the rapid growth has been putting stress on Loop 1604 and causing daily frustrations for people going to and from work. The expansion has a real shot at reducing travel times and improving overall accessibility, especially with the inclusion of HOV lanes that could encourage more carpooling, which would also reduce commute times. In Las Vegas, where I moved from, we had HOV lanes on all the major highways in town, and they really did ease some of the congestion. I personally rode a motorcycle in Vegas and utilized the HOV lane every day to and from work, and it felt a lot safer in that lane rather than sitting behind cars waiting to get sandwiched by someone not paying attention. HOV lanes can make a huge difference in an area like this, for sure. The only downside of projects like this one is the construction times and traffic control for these zones. Yes, the final result will be great, but during construction, it is an absolute nightmare for commuting. I know the final result is worth the terrible traffic that we all currently face, though, and that is the only reason I am ok with it for the next couple years or so until this massive project is fully complete.

Works Cited

Loop 1604 North Expansion Program - The Texas Highway Man, www.texashighwayman.com/lp1604exp.shtml. Accessed 4 May 2025.

Innovative Water Resource Project Thoughts

 

Living in the desert for most of my life, I have come to realize that water conservation and water scarcity are major issues that don't get worried about enough at all. I don't think a lot of people truly worry about the potential scarcity of water enough. Water conservation is extremely necessary, especially in Texas, where droughts and growing populations put pressure on the dwindling water resources. The Pure Water Center in El Paso is the first direct-to-distribution potable reuse facility in the United States. This facility will introduce purified water straight into the drinking supply without relying on environmental buffers like reservoirs. It is a prime example of how advanced engineering can support efforts by reusing water efficiently.  This is a large step forward in ensuring we have drinkable water in the future. The blending of purified water with treated brackish water is actually a brilliant move. It helps stabilize the finished water and reduces corrosivity before it enters the distribution system. This kind of forward-thinking design is super crucial for cities facing long-term drought conditions. This project really highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration as it brings engineers, environmental scientists, and policymakers together to create resilient infrastructure. It truly is fascinating how engineering can directly impact public health and resource sustainability. Beyond large-scale initiatives, Texas really does employ a lot of different strategies to reduce water consumption. These strategies include rainwater harvesting, drought-resistant landscaping, efficient irrigation systems, groundwater protection measures, and public awareness campaigns like Water IQ. With all these combined with the high-tech reuse projects, this should help ensure sustainable water management for future generations as long as we stick to it.

Works Cited

“Texas Utility Launches Landmark Water Reuse Project.” American Society of Civil Engineers - Texas Section, 17 Mar. 2025, www.texasce.org/tce-news/texas-utility-launches-landmark-water-reuse-project/.

My Thought on the Texas Construction Industry

  

    From my short 2 years in Texas, I can tell that it is in a state of nonstop growth. As highlighted by Texas Contractor, the 2025 forecast for construction projects really does paint a clear picture that the constant population growth will fuel the need for infrastructure and residential projects across the state. Currently, Texas has nearly $40 billion in projects underway, which include roadways, bridges, and airports. These projects not only help the construction industry stay busy, but you also have to remember that behind every construction project lies an engineering firm that has to first design the entire project. I see nothing but growing possibilities in the engineering field with all this growth in population as people move from other states into Texas. It seems like Texas has never-ending funding when it comes to public infrastructure projects as well. The only thing that I believe could really derail a lot of future projects is inflation. Inflation will eventually make the cost of materials and labor so high that the overall project cost will not be viable any longer. Sure, rapid population growth could be beneficial short term, but it does put a lot of stress on the existing infrastructure, which requires a lot of planning to avoid congestion and deterioration. One other concern that not many people think of as well that could slow down future projects is that the availability of workers for these future projects. The more projects that launch call for more workers and at some point, there will be a shortage and causing a delay in project start and finish times. Overall, I believe the industry is in a strong place, but I feel that long-term sustainability will require major strategic planning. While most of the funding and demand are in place, addressing the possible workforce shortages and cost inflation will be the key to maintaining the growth. It will be crucial for the industry leaders and policymakers to focus on balancing expansion with infrastructure resilience to ensure that Texas's rapid development will not outpace the ability to support it.

Works Cited

“2025 Texas Construction Industry Forecast: All Signs Point to Continuing Vitality for the Texas Construction Industry.” Associated Construction Publications, acppubs.com/TXC/article/2F8913D6-2025-texas-construction-industry-forecast-all-signs-point-to-continuing-vitality-for-the-texas-construction-industry. Accessed 1 May 2025. 

The City of Never Ending Construction

   

    I moved to San Antonio in December of 2022 from Las Vegas, NV. I thought I was leaving a city of never-ending construction where everyone joked our state flower was the traffic cone. I thought nothing could be worse than Las Vegas construction. That was until I officially moved to San Antonio. I have never seen more roadway construction in my life, and working as a roadway designer, I get to see a lot of the inner workings and potential future projects that are in the pipeline as well. I can tell you one thing for sure, and that is the construction on the highways here in San Antonio will not end anytime soon. This is great for my career but terrible for my commute. According to the Texas Highway Man, there are currently fourteen projects under construction and another sixteen that are scheduled to start construction in the future. They seem to be very accurate with the estimation for start and completion dates from what I have learned over the last two years in the engineering field in Texas. I can't imagine the amount of research and calculations that the Texas Highwayman has put into this website, and to keep it updated constantly. I am patiently waiting for the section of the Loop 1604 that I drive every day to and from work is slated to be mostly complete by the end of 2025, and I can't be more thrilled. I just hope that all this construction to expand the highway and all the traffic I had to endure because of it will be worth it once the project is complete and all lanes are open. It would not be ideal if the lanes open and the traffic congestion stays the same, but we will have to wait to find out.

Works Cited

Construction Projects - the Texas Highway Man, www.texashighwayman.com/const.shtml. Accessed 1 May 2025.