The meticulous work of civil engineering technologists lies behind every bridge and road in Québec. That’s what Daniel does. His greatest project? Creating an airport in Northern Québec for transporting personnel and equipment to a mine.

“When you model a road in three dimensions, you work to the millimetre.”

Even if he’s not the one who lays the asphalt on the roads or pours the concrete to build a bridge, Daniel nevertheless likes building. He works at designing infrastructures at Roche ltée Groupe-conseil. To complete the project, Daniel works with the surveyor, the engineer and the draftsman. “It’s teamwork that demands a lot of consideration.”

The facts on the ground

Daniel isn’t confined to his desk even if he works behind a computer. On the contrary. He had to pack his bags and head to Northern Québec to design the airport. His mission once there? To make notes on a lot chosen beforehand by the engineers. He had to keep track of very complex airport standards, all the while protecting a salmon spawning ground situated near the site.

A trade that can take you far

“Students are frequently surprised at the doors that open for them,” says Guylaine Maltais, coordinator of the civil engineering department at the CEGEP of Trois-Rivières. “They can work outdoors or in an office, but they frequently do both. The summer internships are strategic. The students take advantage of them to specialize, and the employers are after them right away, since there is an incredible shortage of candidates in this domain.”

Exceptional perspectives

New placements are opening up for civil engineering technologists; companies from the environmental sector are integrating them into their professional, scientific and technical service teams. Moreover, the high demand should continue for several years because of numerous urban infrastructure projects.

These excerpts from Palmarès des carrières 2009 are published thanks to the collaboration of Septembre éditeur.