Joseph Hummer
Biosystems Engineer
Qualified for a position in
Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Biological Engineering
Process Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Electrical/Computer Engineering
Willing to
Relocate
Travel on the job
Pursue additional training
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Engineering and Science Technical Intern
Summer of 2013 and 2014
My experience with PennDOT as an intern inspector varied drastically from one week to another. One week I might have been inspecting sidewalk crews in Meadville, PA (a majority of my time was spent there) and the next I might be driving across the district to work with a crew on a busy highway. Since my responsibilities could change easily, it was important to learn the details of the job contract and the requirements for each job quickly and thouroughly.
My time in Meadville involved inspecting crews working on the State Route 27 improvements. These improvements involved replacing main-line sewage pipes, storm pipes, sidewalks, crosswalks, road, and signals. This project had a number of obstacles, some were physically and some political. As this project was conducted in a heavily used street in Meadville, re-routing traffic and communication with local residents was common throughout construction. Some of Meadville's historical infrastructure presented problems as undocumented pipes and gas lines were discovered throughout excavation, creating potential safety hazards.
References:
Kent Turk
PennDOT Project Manager
814-374-4058
Autumn White
PennDOT Inspector In-Charge (TCIS)
814-547-9717
Much of Meadville's improvements involved excavation for storm and sewage pipe. To ensure the quality and lifetime of the installations, attention was given to inspecting pipe grade, proper foundation and compaction, water-proofing, and coordination with existing utilities.
During my two summers with PennDOT, I inspected crews in various spots all over the district. Each new location offered its own challenges to safety and quality assurance as traffic patterns, crews, and project goals varied.
At times, I was given the opportunity to visit other project sites for a day for supplemental learning. Such projects involved bridge deck pours (pictured), milling, hazardous waste removal, and guide rail installations.
Much of Meadville's improvements involved excavation for storm and sewage pipe. To ensure the quality and lifetime of the installations, attention was given to inspecting pipe grade, proper foundation and compaction, water-proofing, and coordination with existing utilities.