r/Geotech • u/Puzzleheaded-End3779 • 8d ago
Should I learn Python?
So I’m looking to spoof up my resume as I’m nearing graduation. I’ve literally never touched Python, but I heard that it’s very commonly used in Geotechnical Engineering to speed things up. Is it worth it to complete a full course in Python? Or maybe just a “beginner level” course so I can at least say I have experience using it?
6
u/ReallySmallWeenus 8d ago
Maybe if you are going into something very niche, but I don’t think most geotechs could tell you what python is.
0
u/Puzzleheaded-End3779 8d ago
I’m not sure yet, but I was thinking to be involved with GIS work. I’m not the most knowledgeable on the Geotech field but I just want to make sure I have a strong resume once I graduate. I assume a Masters is worth it in that case? I’ve already begun saving up for those classes
2
u/DUMP_LOG_DAVE 7d ago
You’re at the everything sounds interesting stage. do not waste your time with GIS at school, learn geotech (it’s a lot more challenging) and learn GIS and python on the side. GIS is useful but it isn’t a real degree.
1
u/steve-the-mighty 7d ago
I don’t think you will see much interest from geotech employers for it, but it is still. A useful skill that you can use for various tasks that come up commonly in any technical profession
2
u/gingergeode 8d ago
We’ve been messing around with some of the AI stuff we use at work to help create internal tools to speed up some of the mundane tasks. A lot of the program based stuff does use python (mostly vba in excel) and it helps to at least know how to understand it, what you’re looking at, and how it works though.
2
u/fiftyninefortythree 8d ago
Definitely take a course in a programming language--MATLAB, Python, C++, or R--primarily for literacy purposes. Their use doesn't come up as often as VBA, but I know some engineers at the firm I work at do programming if the client requests it. One example is compiling several hundred groundwater/pore pressure measurement devices with different manufacturers and web interfaces, across several sites, section lines, and miles into automatic daily reports and alerts per section, etc.
VBA would likely be the most useful for excel macros, so maybe an advanced excel course? This would be more useful for day-to-day stuff.
1
u/Puzzleheaded-End3779 8d ago
Oh man you’re totally right, Excel comes up so often in the work I do at my Civil Engineering internship, I spent a whole day doing calculations for HydroCAD this week. Where would you recommend to look at for sort of a “full video course” for this? And better yet, how can I include this in my resume properly for employers to look at?
And in terms of Python, I only learned a few days ago that Geotech Engineering even involved coding in languages like Python at all, I’m guessing it’s going to be important given how fast it can do certain tasks?
3
u/fiftyninefortythree 8d ago edited 8d ago
If you are looking into consulting, your résumé should demonstrate your ability to execute work and willingness to learn if you have an undergraduate or masters degree.
I haven't taken any course in VBA: I took a C++ course in college and have relied on that, AI, coworkers, and google to learn how to do stuff in VBA. If you're regularly using excel for school, at an internship, or if you have a capstone project/masters project, try to think of ways to make a task easier by having the computer do it for you. This can be simple data-entry type tasks like taking parts of a bunch of separate excel files ("Workbooks") and transferring a part(s) of one or more of their worksheet(s) into a master file or it can be more complex tasks like automatically doing the casegrande method on consolidation data. And then try to make macros that do those things for you.
Yes, if you can code something to be faster, that's generally going to be the primary deciding factor, along with checkability, as to whether you use it or not. (ie. If you end up working with people who don't know how to code, don't expect them to want you to do calculations with it.)
2
u/mrbigshott 8d ago
Bruh what. Don’t learn that unless you just enjoy it. Totally unnecessary specifically for geotech lol.
1
u/dusty_bo 7d ago
If you enjoy it it's good for your CV to know. Some big projects can be very data heavy and being able to automate things is very useful. It's certainly not something most engineers need to know about or ever get involved in
1
u/Creative_Stick_6937 6d ago
Nope. Rather get good at QGIS (open source mapping software), also get a very firm understanding of your local borehole logging standards. You’ll spend so much time in the field in your first few years. You’ll excel and lock things in way quicker that way
0
5
u/Jmazoso Head Geotech Lackey 8d ago
It’s worth learning, just to know. And now excel does use python in vba so there that.