Engineering With Large Language Models

CAREGIVING

Career Break New Haven, Connecticut

• Welcoming newest family addition

C.H. FENSTERMAKER & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Senior Water Resources Technical Lead Remote - Connecticut

• Led technical aspects of Louisiana Watershed Initiative Region 4 modeling efforts, supervising 6 HUC-8 level watershed models
• Developed AI-driven Python tools for HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS automation, achieving over 350% faster runtimes compared to cloud-based platforms
• Created innovative workflows to overcome technical challenges in HEC-RAS, including standardized structure modeling logs and boundary conditions spreadsheets
• Initiated and contributed to PIANC Digital Twin Task Subcommittee, using LLMs for literature review and brainstorming
• Instructed multiple technical courses for Australian Water School on AI applications in water resources, including "Applying AI to HEC-RAS Modelling Workflows" and "AI Tools for Modelling Innovation"
• Optimized water resources IT infrastructure resulting in 10x improvement in computational throughput for LWI Region 4 modeling efforts
• Supervised RAS modeling for 6 HUC-8 level watershed models, providing technical oversight of all deliverables
• Led Whisky Chitto HUC modeling team, successfully meeting programmatic deadlines with minimal QA/QC issues
• Developed python-based methods for low-detail LIDAR filtering to improve model computational efficiency
• Created boundary conditions spreadsheet tool to generate direct inputs for the RAS .u unsteady flow files, managing over 480 boundary conditions

Engineer II New Orleans, Louisiana

• Created and published HEC-Commander tools, an open-source suite of Python notebooks using AI-assisted coding on GitHub
• Led Calcasieu Parish residential mitigation project, successfully funding 95 properties through innovative BCA approaches
• Pioneered the first successful application of Sea Level Rise in FEMA BCA in Region 6
• Presented at Louisiana Floodplain Management Association Annual Conference (2023) on FEMA BCA 6.0 Tool updates
• Developed the preliminary model setup for 2D rain-on-grid model for Calcasieu Parish Stormwater Master Planning
• Provided FEMA BCA technical support for Calcasieu Parish, resulting in development of ArcGIS python script for damage estimate calculations
• Produced H&H studies and Phase 1 BCA Analysis for City of Baker HMGP Drainage Projects
• Provided ongoing technical BCA assistance to Jefferson Parish for residential structure mitigation, pump station upgrades, drainage projects, facility generator projects, and green infrastructure projects

QUALITY ENGINEERING & SURVEYING, LLC

Water Resources Manager Port Vincent, Louisiana

• Managed water resources department focusing on municipal HMGP projects and residential land development
• Led team preparing 22 Phase I HMGP applications for Puerto Rico municipalities (Caguas, Loiza, Aibonito, Isabela and Dorado)
• Developed H&H studies, BCAs, and watershed analyses for multiple drainage improvement and pumping station grant projects
• Prepared Phase II H&H Study for Bayou Conway Pumping Station HMGP project, including 700CFS additional capacity
• Developed existing HEC modeling and watershed study for Breaux Bridge Manor and Long Slash Branch Watershed
• Led 36 Phase I HMGP/CDBG applications for Livingston Parish Gravity Drainage Districts, City of Denham Springs, and City of Lutcher
• Provided forensic hydrologic investigations and plan review services for Livingston Parish Gravity Drainage District
• Prepared Hydraulic (HEC) models for multiple residential and commercial developments, including LOMR applications

STUART CONSULTING GROUP, INC.

Civil Engineer P.E. / Disaster Grant Management Metairie, Louisiana

• Technical Guidance for $70M of Roadway, Water and Sewer Infrastructure Combined Improved Project (PA Grant) for City of Slidell (DR-1603)
• Provided technical assistance during design of City Barn Pump Station Project (HMGP)
• Managed scope and cost alignment, closeout documentation, and version requests for all post-Katrina Project Worksheets
• Led team in charge of closeout for Lafon Nursing Home Katrina Project Worksheets, including revisions to hazard mitigation proposal funding
• Managed damage assessment, scope development, and hazard mitigation proposal development for Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office
• Performed technical review of scope/cost alignment of version requests involving major roadway reconstruction and FHWA funding
• Conducted technical and value engineering reviews for roadway, water and sewer infrastructure projects

LINFIELD, HUNTER AND JUNIUS, INC.

Civil Engineer P.E. Metairie, Louisiana

• Contributed to design documents for canal improvements including 17th Street Canal Widening with pile-supported concrete floodwall
• Civil design for Hoey's Canal Bypass and Improvements including 1,800 feet of sheet pile lined pile-supported concrete flume
• Designed subsurface drainage systems and roadway reconstruction projects, including Cuddihy Drive And Woodvine Avenue
• Managed construction of critical drainage infrastructure and flood protection projects, including HMGP-funded roadway elevations
• Prepared H&H studies for urban drainage improvements and perimeter protection for critical infrastructure
• Civil responsibilities for stormproofing measures for drainage pump stations, including OSP-05 and OSP-10
• Led civil design for Port Of New Orleans Drainage Study and Audubon Park Drainage System Study
• Provided hydraulic modeling for developments within floodplains and floodways in Louisville, KY and Houston, TX
• Designed water and sewer pipelines, including 20" waterline relocation (25,000 LF) and sewage plant expansion
• Conducted forensic engineering investigations for residential damage surveys and insurance claims

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Co-op/SCEP/Contract Student Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS

• Contributing author on "Effects of Pool Drawdown and Wing Dams (Pool 8), and Closure Dams (Pool 13), on Navigation Channel Sedimentation Processes, Upper Mississippi River"
• Utilized 2D/3D hydrodynamic modeling with Adaptive Hydraulics (ADH) and high-performance computing resources
• Operated and maintained large-scale physical hydraulic models (scales 1:5 to 1:30) of dams, spillways, and channels
• Participated in bathymetric surveying in the Missouri River Basin using multibeam, side scan sonar, and acoustic doppler velocimeter
• Assisted with training courses for Surface Water Modeling System (SMS) software packages
• Performed flume studies for sediment modeling and sieve analysis of sediment samples following ASTM guidelines
• Processed field data for integration with numerical modeling efforts for sediment transport studies