(WACO, Texas) – The historic San Antonio Missions, the state Capitol in Austin and the ALICO Building in Waco are all architectural wonders in Texas. And, there was someone who had the pioneering vision to take a concept and make it into something built to last decades.
But with history comes a sense of the future, of what can be done better and more efficiently.
“We have to come up with innovative, out-of-the-box thinking on how we adapt and create masteries that engage online and hybrid,” said Victor Ramirez, director of alignment for the Drafting and Design program at Texas State Technical College.
Ramirez said the program is looking at how to use artificial intelligence, virtual reality and extended reality software to build a virtual meta world for online and hybrid program students to experience.
“For our program to be the best of the best, there are some technologies we need to invest in so we can simulate 3D-printing online,” Ramirez said. “Say we want to do a field set up for civil engineering, we have to invest in simulated survey environments and equipment.”
Ramirez said all of these technological advancements mean people working in the drafting and design field need to evolve.
“With a lot of the industry partners that we talk to, they send out technicians to do field measurements, and the way you do that is not the same way we did it 10 years ago with a tape measure and laser beam,” he said.
Chuck Ogilvie, principal of production at Frank W. Neal & Associates Inc. in Fort Worth, graduated in the 1980s from TSTC’s Drafting and Design program.
“TSTC is doing a better job at preparing somebody to get started (in the field) because they are having to read the drawings, develop the drawings, and understand what they are doing,” he said. “They are being given a skill set.”
Ogilvie said new graduates should have strong mathematics skills and understand basic coding, skills he said can make them successful. The ability to meet deadlines is also important.
“The firms are going to have to take time investing into the development of the software that is provided by Autodesk Inc.,” he said. “They are going to have to take that to a level that is definitely going to be a critical skill for their longevity.”
Ogilvie advises new graduates that it is not how much they start at in their first jobs, but how quickly they can develop their skills to justify salary increases.
Patrick Carrigan, managing principal at ALJ Lindsey’s Central Texas office in Waco, said the civil engineering firm looks for graduates who are motivated and have an interest in the profession. He said technical skills and experience with computer aided drafting software is good, but what makes a candidate stand out is the willingness to problem-solve and exhibit a strong work ethic.
“Applicants often come in with solid technical knowledge, but may be lacking in soft skills,” Carrigan said. “Communication is a common challenge, being able to explain technical details clearly to teammates, contractors and officials is crucial.”
TSTC’s Drafting and Design program is offered online statewide and in a hybrid format at the Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses. The program offers an associate degree and two certificates of completion.
Registration continues for the spring semester at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.