In this industry, doing well on one project is the best way to find work on the next one. That's exactly what happened to Cheyne (pronounced like "Shane") Walsh, who was recommended by his supervisors in San Diego to join the Project here in the heart of Los Angeles. Cheyne had been working on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project to extend trolley service throughout San Diego. In August of last year, he was hired onto this project as a Field Engineer.
Cheyne's primary responsibility is providing layout support, which means that he coordinates the plans from engineers to the work being done in the field. Cheyne uses specialized equipment at points that have been previously marked by surveyors with exact latitude and longitude. From these control points, Cheyne is able to perform precise layout so the crews know exactly where to install their work. After the work is installed, Cheyne is also able to monitor the progress of the work, perform measurements used to improve the engineers' dynamic models and ultimately compare back to the original engineering plans.
Working on the Project has allowed Cheyne to grow his skillset after his first project in San Diego. Prior to that, Cheyne graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. His father was a contractor for residential builds, so Cheyne grew up around the industry and even interned with a major construction company while in high school.
"If you are given the opportunity to work in the field," Cheyne says, "take it." It’s one thing to review engineering plans, but it's quite another to actually build them. As a field engineer, Cheyne sees both sides of the project as well as all of the people involved at every step along the way.
To anyone considering his line of work, Cheyne recommends finding an opportunity to tour a project site and understand what’s going on by talking to people. "You’ll really appreciate how, as a construction engineer, you’re building both a project and relationships along with your own knowledge."
