Tatsuki

Graduate Structural Engineer

Singapore

What is your name and role at AECOM?

My name is Tatsuki Fujiu and I am a graduate structural engineer in AECOM’s Building Engineering team in Singapore.

How long have you worked for AECOM?

I have worked at AECOM for over 6 months.

Describe your role and day-to-day work?

My role focuses on two key areas: building design and digitalization. On the design side, I handle conceptual framing, as well as the detailed design of individual elements such as beams, columns, and slabs. On the digitalization side, I work on automating tasks, advancing computational design, and developing plugins to enhance software capabilities. I’ve contributed to streamlining our workflow and supporting the CoreNet X submission, a new framework in Singapore. These projects have required a blend of structural engineering expertise and programming skills, including Python, C#, and Grasshopper (visual programming).

Thinking about the projects you are involved in – what impact have you had to improve social outcomes for communities?

In my work, I contribute to improving social outcomes for communities by focusing on sustainable and efficient building design. Through structural optimization, I help reduce material use and lower embedded carbon, which leads to more environmentally friendly structures. By integrating automation and digitalization into our processes, we save time on repetitive tasks, allowing for more thoughtful and creative design solutions. This not only enhances the quality and sustainability of the structures we build, but also reduces the environmental impact on communities, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for them.

How has your work at AECOM contributed towards having a positive impact on the environment?

At AECOM, my work has contributed to a positive environmental impact by focusing on optimizing structural designs to reduce material usage and lower embedded carbon. By implementing efficient design practices, we minimize waste while ensuring structural integrity. Additionally, I’ve integrated automation and digitalization into our workflows, which reduces time spent on repetitive tasks and enables us to focus more on environmentally conscious design decisions. This approach leads to more sustainable buildings and supports AECOM’s commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of our projects.

Do you have any interesting experience around collaboration, multi dis work, and thinking and acting globally at AECOM?

I have had the opportunity to collaborate with the Hong Kong team at AECOM on digitalization initiatives. We worked together on the development of automation tools aimed at improving workflow efficiency, which was an exciting experience. It was fascinating to see how teams from different regions could share ideas, adapt to each other’s methods, and contribute to a unified goal. The global aspect of this collaboration really broadened my perspective, allowing me to appreciate the diverse approaches within different parts of the organization while still working toward the same innovative outcomes.

Are there any other interesting or unique opportunities you have had through your work at AECOM or interesting experiences with clients or building client relationships?

I haven’t had the opportunity to engage in interesting or unique experiences with clients or in building client relationships just yet. However, I’m eager to be more proactive in seeking out these opportunities in the future.

How has AECOM helped you in your career development?

AECOM has played a significant role in my career development through two key factors. First, my senior and manager have taken the time to understand my strengths and skills, and they’ve made a conscious effort to align my work with those areas. This has allowed me to focus on what I do best while continuing to grow in my role.

Secondly, my senior has been very thoughtful in assigning tasks that are progressively more challenging, which has helped me build my foundational skills step by step. Thanks to this approach, I’ve been able to develop my career in a structured and meaningful way.

What’s your proudest moment at AECOM?

My proudest moment at AECOM was when I applied my computational design skills using Grasshopper to optimize a truss structure. The optimization process allowed me to improve the design’s efficiency, and the best part was that the result was adopted in the project. It was incredibly rewarding to see my work make a real impact and contribute to a more effective and optimized structural solution. This experience reinforced the value of computational design, especially through tools like Grasshopper, in practical applications and gave me a sense of accomplishment in how my skills could benefit the team and project outcomes.