Best earthwork engineering books according to redditors
We found 17 Reddit comments discussing the best earthwork engineering books. We ranked the 12 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 17 Reddit comments discussing the best earthwork engineering books. We ranked the 12 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
To add to this, always have a personal goal of improvement. Something about yourself you are improving.
The easiest thing to do is study for your job or future job. Once a week should be spent improving your professional life. This could mean going to conferences, seminars, or society meetings, but it could also simply mean sitting down and reading "Never Eat Alone" before going to bed.
The monotony of work isn't so bad when you can look back every month and know you are better than you were.
For example, my last goal was "Lose 25 pounds", I did it in a couple of months. The goal before that was "Buy a house." My current goal is studying a specific book for work. The next one is improving my handwriting.
The thing about the goals though, is they cannot simply be thrown away, they must be things that stay with you. So here are my goals again, but with small things that stick with me:
FYI, CERM stands for Civil Engineering Reference Manual; I just realized I forgot to state that in the OP. I passed the first time I took the test. I strongly recommend signing up for the School of PE review course (if they offer a course for your field). Seriously, that course was worth. every. penny. I pretty much only needed the review course notes for the morning portion, and their afternoon review course was a life saver.
Ok, here's a list of books that might interest you.
I took it in October 2012 which was the first opportunity I could take it when I gained enough experience to qualify. But you're not alone though. I teach at a PE Exam Review class and I always have older folks in the class (40s and 50s+) and those who are still young and have been eligible to take the exam for several years who are just now getting ready to take the exam. Check out the NCEES Exam Specifications to see the types of topics you can expect to see on the exam and to help you figure out which one might be best for you. And if you want to get a jump start on studying for the October exam, pick up a copy of the CERM on Amazon and start spending some time with it to start brushing up on old topics. Review classes are good too and there are several out there.
Buy her this:
http://www.eetusa.com/civil-pe-catalog
And this:
https://www.amazon.com/Civil-Engineering-Reference-Manual-Exam/dp/1591265088
This is pretty much all you need to pass.
"Drilling and Blasting of Rocks" by Carlos López Jimeno.
It's a bit dated now but gives a good overview of drilling and blast patterns. Mostly focused on open pit but has a bit about underground too.
[Amazon] (http://www.amazon.ca/Drilling-Blasting-Rocks-Lopez-Jimeno/dp/9054101997)
I have used this book, and it was helpful.... https://smile.amazon.com/Identification-Rock-Forming-Minerals-Thin-Section/dp/1138001147/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473296244&sr=1-1&keywords=thin+section
They are more difficult than the actual exam, so while they are good preparation you run the risk of spending time digging into details that won't come up in the actual exam. I didn't care for Lindeberg's practice problems. Try these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1494234858/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1473043915&sr=1-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Indranil+Goswami&dpPl=1&dpID=51mUbGpC0QL&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s//ref=mw_dp_a_s?ie=UTF8&i=books&k=PE+Prepared%2C+LLC
I didn't make one actually.
But I suggest buying all three versions (A, B, C) of the PE Prepared Breadth workbooks Link as well as the two versions (A, B) for Water Resources Depth.
In addition to that I did Mike's workbook which was really good for the breadth section.
Lastly I did the NCEES practice exam to get a feel for the actual test, which proved to be useful.
This guy's tips were extremely helpful and everything he said was entirely true:
https://medium.com/@kolkena/six-tips-to-pass-the-civil-pe-exam-breadth-section-56304405be5
As you work through all those problems, tab the heck out of your CERM. You can be sloppy with the tabbing at first and then at the end of all your studying, maybe a week before the exam go back through and re-tab everything nice so it cascades, etc. I LIVED in the CERM during the test. Even though I made two 3-ring binders containing all my example problems, I did not use them at all. The CERM was my go-to.
Also, the sub-topics that I felt weren't addressed enough in the PE practice books were some of the more intricate open channel stuff i.e. hydraulic jumps, drops, conjugate depths, alternate depths, culvert flow types, etc. so make sure you deep dive in that stuff too. I went into the test thinking "I know Manning's really well so I'll be fine" - wrong. There is much more to open channels than that one equation. And like that guide says, know the CONCEPTS behind things. What IS hydraulic radius? We know it's cross-sectional flow over wetted perimeter but what does that mean? Why is it important? - Well, it's an indicator of flow efficiency; how much of the channel flow is affected by friction because it's a ratio essentially of how much flow you're getting vs. how much of the flow is in contact with the channel walls (friction).
They want to make sure you aren't just a plug and chug machine and that you understand the principles. It is called the Principles and Practices of Engineering exam for a reason. Good luck.
SME Handbook
Hartman Book
Used both while getting my Mining Engineering degree. They are both really great for what you want but I would go with the Hartman Book. It's cheaper and does just as well.
This: Civil Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam, 14th Ed https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591264537/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Uf.8Bb9FD6EV1
As well as my notes from the review class I took. Since I had been out of school 15 years when I decided to take the exam, I took a 10 month class before the test. I have several binders of lecture notes and homework.
I don't have to do exploration in the field but I reference "Field Geology Illustrated," and "Sedimentary Rocks in the Field" when I need a visual reference.
Comptons is a good techniques and organization guide.
Other pocket sized guides you may find useful are "Field Descriptions of Igneous Rocks" and "A Pictorial Guide to Metamorphic Rocks in the Field."
My soil mechanics class uses this book:
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering by Das et al
It is pretty well organized.
You might also want to check out soil lab manuals (in addition to or in place of textbooks), many of which have laboratory procedures that follow ASTM guidelines.
"Geological engineering" by Luis Gonzales de Vallejo it's a good book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0415413524/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_8AlRAbNCCQHK7
Can you also quote me for Civil Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam 15th Ed
https://www.amazon.ca/Civil-Engineering-Reference-Manual-Exam/dp/1591265088
I am not in California, but I might be able to offer some general knowledge.
> It seems like California wants us to first apply and pass the PE, and then apply for the license. Should I go ahead and start filling out all my applications and get my references ready or should I wait until I've passed to do so? I plan on taking the test in May 2018.
I would be very surprised if you were allowed to take the test without presenting your qualifications. From what I've seen in other states, qualifying for and passing the test are the major hurdles. Applying for the license is just filling out another form and paying another fee.
> The FAQ regarding EITs and other states is ambiguous. My state's EIT "License" number isn't on the NCEES website, it simply says I've passed the FE exam.
NCEES is not an official entity. They will not have any information that you don't give them. You will be applying for your license through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors. NCEES is sometimes used as a common application form (especially when PE's want to extend their licenses to other states), but each state sets their own rules, so you should default to the state site.
The state where you took your EIT should have a similar Board for Professional Engineers with your EIT number.
> My school's education is also unverified - does this matter?
If you apply to take your test through NCEES (I am not certain that it is possible to do so), then you will need to verify your education through NCEES. If you apply directly through the California Board for Professional Engineers, then they will have to verify your education.
> Do I need to apply for an EIT with California to take the exam/get the Cali PE or am I good to simply apply for the next exam available?
Your EIT should carry over from another state, although California has weird rules, so there is a chance that it doesn't. Check the Board of Engineering website or give them a call.
> What's the best study material for the PE exam? Has it changed out in the past few years like the FE exam has? I'll probably take a course since I've always found it helps. I didn't study for the FE since I was just coming out of school but I've heard the PE is a different animal.
I found the PE to be easier than the FE, and have heard the same from others. I just bought the reference manual and made sure that I was familiar with it. Careful, there are different versions for different subject matter. Make sure that you don't have to buy it twice to get everything that you want.