Keeping track of past projects
Keeping track of past projects
(OP)
As an EIT just starting out in structural design, I wonder if what other structural engineers do (if anything at all) to keep track of past projects.
I'm toying with the idea of keeping a 11x17 set of structural drawings for all the major projects are work on, and keeping them in binders that I will keep over the course of my career.
Does anyone else do something like this? or maybe you just keep a one-page render of the building and nothing else. Or maybe you go out and snap a few pictures of the building once it's built.
Maybe you couldn't care less once the building is done and you just want to move on.
Thoughts?
I'm toying with the idea of keeping a 11x17 set of structural drawings for all the major projects are work on, and keeping them in binders that I will keep over the course of my career.
Does anyone else do something like this? or maybe you just keep a one-page render of the building and nothing else. Or maybe you go out and snap a few pictures of the building once it's built.
Maybe you couldn't care less once the building is done and you just want to move on.
Thoughts?






RE: Keeping track of past projects
I only keep an on-going resume and/or project listing of every project - include project name, address, description, discussion of what I specifically did on it, estimated/actual project cost, size, etc.
I also try to obtain photos of the projects when possible for marketing efforts in the future.
RE: Keeping track of past projects
Food for thought.
Also, can I change my Civil/Environmental status beside my name to Structural?
RE: Keeping track of past projects
BA
RE: Keeping track of past projects
Also I guess you could also purge old/uninteresting projects as the years go by.
RE: Keeping track of past projects
I did not keep records of projects done from 1955 to 1969 while in the employ of others, but my employers were all pretty careful about record keeping.
When I retired in 2008, I started to dispose of some of the older records, but I still retain a minimum of the last fifteen years. It is surprising how often an old client calls about a job done many years ago where he has lost his drawings and needs a fresh copy.
For the last few years, I have been keeping my Autocad drawings on my computer, but there is always a chance that they could be lost if they are not carefully backed up.
BA
RE: Keeping track of past projects
You asked...
"Also, can I change my Civil/Environmental status beside my name to Structural?"
Does your state of licensure differentiate between a PE and an SE?
If it does differentiate, even though you have experience in structural, unless you are licensed as a Structural Engineer, I would not advertise as such.
If your state does not differentiate, then you might be able to. Best to check with your state board on this.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Keeping track of past projects
Dik
RE: Keeping track of past projects
RE: Keeping track of past projects
RE: Keeping track of past projects
About the Civil/Environmental vs structural, I'm talking about the words in brackets next to our display name on the forum. IS that what you're referring too as well msquared48?
Also, my intention in starting this thread was to ask about keeping records for yourself, out of interest, regardless of whether your employer keeps archives of all the project documents. Of course if I was self employed, I would keep everything.
I find it interesting that people keep digital records of project documents for their personal use.
Thanks for your input everyone!