Alumna Bertie Rietema
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Geotechnical Engineer | Temporary Works Design (TWD)
My name is Bertie and I graduated from the MSc in Civil Engineering in 2022 as a geotechnical engineer. After graduating, I started working at Temporary Works Design (TWD), an offshore engineering firm.
Where do you work and what do you do?
TWD is mostly involved in the transport and installation of offshore structures, such as jackets and monopiles. We also work in the marine civils and heavy lift sector. So think of the installation tools required for the construction of offshore platforms, foundations and wind turbines or ports and harbours. We deliver technical assessments as well as design drawings to our clients.
Our main focus is to streamline construction processes, aiming to improve methods and equipment used by offshore contractors in the renewable energy sector. The ultimate goal is to achieve more efficient and sustainable installation of offshore wind turbines. One current challenge is building the expected number of windfarms in the next 10 years.
When I started working at TWD, my focus was on business development and how geotechnical engineering could contribute to optimizing foundation installation. Now I work in the Research and Development (R&D) Department, solving anticipated challenges in the offshore wind energy sector. My daily works consists of market research, concept development and high-level feasibility studies of innovative techniques.
What skills do you need as a civil engineer?
This job encourages me to think outside of the box, finding solutions for the offshore sector. It has a lot of overlap with civil engineering, as many structural and hydraulic calculations are executed daily with an offshore application (think of harsh environments and high-impact forces). A good understanding of (soil) mechanics is a must. Very complex second-order differential equations are rare in my job. However, the capability to understand computer programs that do these calculations for you is a big advantage.
Why are civil engineers important for the future?
Civil engineers are important for the future as society needs to adjust to and mitigate the effects of climate change. Our job is becoming ever more important. Dikes, coastal protection, as well as the realization of clean energy sources, all need our ingenuity and efforts to protect society and the planet. Challenge yourself to implement sustainability into your daily life as a civil engineer!