Difference between revisions of "User:The Duncan"
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These last two points are something I thought this wiki stuff could be a key to, somehow. | These last two points are something I thought this wiki stuff could be a key to, somehow. | ||
| − | For the past fifteen years I have mostly been tied down to large workplaces where basically, you sometimes have to toe the line in certain ways to earthly masters even when you don't feel like it. I don't ever imagine getting away from that completely until my next lifetime in heaven, but I would like to think that there is a better way in the here and now. For example I think I am pretty good at designing [[Roundabouts]]. That's not to say that every roundabout I've put in is | + | For the past fifteen years I have mostly been tied down to large workplaces where basically, you sometimes have to toe the line in certain ways to earthly masters even when you don't feel like it. I don't ever imagine getting away from that completely until my next lifetime in heaven, but I would like to think that there is a better way in the here and now. For example I think I am pretty good at designing [[Roundabouts]]. That's not to say that every roundabout I've put in is the greatest roundabout it could be, but I have learnt a fair bit along the way and I think my skills could be well utilised elsewhere and not necessarily within the same city I reside. |
Myself and another traffic engineer have also developed a new type of roundabout which we call the [[C-Roundabout]] of which we have recently built several in Waitakere City (I currently work there as an employee). I would like to think there is more efficient way of sharing information about new ideas like these which can also encourage similar innovation take place. It has taken about five years from concept to construction for our C-Roundabouts, and I just don't have the patience to do it like that all over again for something else. ''Maybe a wiki like this is part of the solution? We'll see.'' | Myself and another traffic engineer have also developed a new type of roundabout which we call the [[C-Roundabout]] of which we have recently built several in Waitakere City (I currently work there as an employee). I would like to think there is more efficient way of sharing information about new ideas like these which can also encourage similar innovation take place. It has taken about five years from concept to construction for our C-Roundabouts, and I just don't have the patience to do it like that all over again for something else. ''Maybe a wiki like this is part of the solution? We'll see.'' | ||
Revision as of 05:33, 15 September 2010
Hi I'm Duncan Campbell, and I have been doing traffic engineering as a trade for the past fifteen years. My qualifications include Masters of Engineering degree with honours (civil)specialising in transport, and I am CPEng registered and a member of IPENZ.
Traffic engineering is a branch of civil engineering, and basically involves designing and putting in things like road markings, traffic islands, roundabouts, traffic signals, cycle lanes and bus lanes to name but a few. It's actually a really interesting occupation I find, but some of the drawbacks include:
- You have to really live in a decent sized city to do it. I wouldn't mind the country life but it doesn't seem to be in my stars right now.
- You have to deal with the public all the time (and the occassional stroppy politician), which can be both satisfying as well as frustrating. As most people drive cars themselves, you often meet those who think they know how to the job better than you (that's not to say you shouldn't listen to their suggestions - often they can be right on the mark).
- There is a strong tendency towards conservative solutions rather than innovative ones - this is mainly driven by risk-averse mentality of engineers in general I think, the origins of which are open to speculation. Adoption of new ideas therefore tends to be the exception rather than the rule.
- Its pretty hard to work as an independent entity and still get involved in interesting design projects.
These last two points are something I thought this wiki stuff could be a key to, somehow.
For the past fifteen years I have mostly been tied down to large workplaces where basically, you sometimes have to toe the line in certain ways to earthly masters even when you don't feel like it. I don't ever imagine getting away from that completely until my next lifetime in heaven, but I would like to think that there is a better way in the here and now. For example I think I am pretty good at designing Roundabouts. That's not to say that every roundabout I've put in is the greatest roundabout it could be, but I have learnt a fair bit along the way and I think my skills could be well utilised elsewhere and not necessarily within the same city I reside.
Myself and another traffic engineer have also developed a new type of roundabout which we call the C-Roundabout of which we have recently built several in Waitakere City (I currently work there as an employee). I would like to think there is more efficient way of sharing information about new ideas like these which can also encourage similar innovation take place. It has taken about five years from concept to construction for our C-Roundabouts, and I just don't have the patience to do it like that all over again for something else. Maybe a wiki like this is part of the solution? We'll see.
