Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life
Civil Drafters
Civil Drafters prepare drawings and topographical and relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, pipelines, flood control projects, and water and sewerage control systems.
Table of Contents
Job Description
Civil Drafters prepare drawings and topographical and relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, pipelines, flood control projects, and water and sewerage control systems. They also produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
Other tasks include:
- Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
- Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data received from civil engineers to ensure that they conform to design concepts.
- Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
- Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
- Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
- Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
We asked Civil Drafters how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.
66%
48%
66% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 48% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.
Typical Day At Work
On a daily basis, Civil Drafters produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices. They draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
A typical day for a Civil Drafter will also include:
- Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data received from civil engineers to ensure that they conform to design concepts.
- Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
- Locate and identify symbols on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations.
- Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
- Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
We asked some Civil Drafters a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.
Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? | 38% said yes | |
How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 57% said very important | |
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 67% said yes | |
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 5% said yes | |
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 0% said yes | |
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 19% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Civil Drafters also correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports. They may also calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Civil Drafters Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods. They might also Calculate excavation tonnage and prepare graphs and fill-hauling diagrams for use in earth-moving operations.
In addition, they Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them Plot characteristics of boreholes for oil and gas wells from photographic subsurface survey recordings and other data, representing depth, degree, and direction of inclination.
To some Civil Drafters, it is also their responsibility to Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
Working life
Standard 40 hour work week
Regular schedule like a 9 to 5
In a typical work week as a Civil Drafter, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.
Is this right for me
The Builders and The Organizers
People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
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