Architectural and Civil Drafters

Career Description: Prepare detailed drawings of architectural and structural features of buildings or drawings and topographical relief maps used in civil engineering projects, such as highways, bridges, and public works. Utilize knowledge of building materials, engineering practices, and mathematics to complete drawings.

Industry: Architecture and Engineering

Other Job Titles for Architectural and Civil Drafters:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, or construction time.
• Consult with client to determine functional and spatial requirements of structure.
• Direct activities of workers engaged in preparing drawings and specification documents.
• Plan layout of project.
• Prepare contract documents for building contractors.
• Prepare scale drawings.
• Integrate engineering element into unified design.
• Conduct periodic on-site observation of work during construction to monitor compliance with plans.
• Administer construction contracts.
• Represent client in obtaining bids and awarding construction contracts.
• Prepare operating and maintenance manuals, studies, and reports.
• Prepare reports, sketches, working drawings, specifications, proposals, and budgets for proposed sites or systems.
• Meet with clients such as district or regional councils, farmers, and developers, to discuss their needs.
• Design sensing, measuring, and recording devices, and other instrumentation used to study plant or animal life.

Emerging Tasks

• Seek new work opportunities through marketing, writing proposals, and giving presentations.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• advise clients or customers
• advise clients regarding engineering problems
• analyze project proposal to determine feasibility, cost, or time
• analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
• analyze spatial data
• analyze technical data, designs, or preliminary specifications
• bid engineering, construction or extraction projects
• communicate technical information
• compute production, construction, or installation specifications
• confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
• consult with customers concerning needs
• convert design specifications to cost estimates
• coordinate engineering project activities
• delegate authority for engineering activities
• design construction projects
• design office layout
• determine specifications
• develop or maintain databases
• develop plans for programs or projects
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• develop tables depicting data
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct personnel in support of engineering activities
• draw maps or charts
• draw prototypes, plans, or maps to scale
• estimate cost for engineering projects
• estimate time needed for project
• estimate time or cost for installation, repair, or construction projects
• evaluate costs of engineering projects
• evaluate engineering data
• evaluate product design
• explain complex mathematical information
• inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
• inspect project operations, or site to determine specification compliance
• interpret aerial photographs
• interpret maps for architecture, construction, or engineering project
• judge distances
• lead teams in engineering projects
• make presentations
• manage contracts
• negotiate business contracts
• obtain information from individuals
• plan construction of structures or facilities
• prepare contract documents
• prepare reports
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• read blueprints
• read maps
• read technical drawings
• recognize construction industry codes or symbols on blueprints
• research property records
• resolve engineering or science problems
• understand construction specifications
• understand engineering data or reports
• understand government construction contracting regulations
• understand property documents
• use building or land use regulations
• use computer aided drafting or design software for design, drafting, modeling, or other engineering tasks
• use computer graphics design software
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use creativity in designing interior spaces
• use creativity in graphics
• use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques
• use field notes in technical drawings
• use government regulations
• use graphic arts techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of regulations in surveying or construction activities
• use land surveying techniques
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use project management techniques
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use technical regulations for engineering problems
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write business project or bid proposals
• use pollution control techniques
• use project management techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use research methodology procedures within manufacturing or commerce
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities
• use technical regulations for engineering problems
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• work as a team member
• write business project or bid proposals
• write product performance requirements
• work as a team member
• write business project or bid proposals
• write product performance requirements

• n/a

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$20.82
• Average annual wage (2007) - $43,310.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 6.08%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 7,019
• Employment (2006): 115,522

• Civil Engineering Technicians
• Civil Engineers
• Electrical Drafters
• Industrial Safety and Health Engineers
• Landscape Architects
• Marine Architects
• Mechanical Engineers
• Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
• Set and Exhibit Designers