Matthew
Graduate Engineer, Geotechnical
Hong Kong
What is your name and role at AECOM?
My name is Matthew Heung and I am a graduate geotechnical engineer working under the Tunnel and Cavern Team in Hong Kong.
How long have you worked for AECOM?
I have started to work for AECOM after graduating from university in August 2023.
Describe your role and day-to-day work?
At AECOM, my day-to-day work encompasses a variety of tasks, primarily centered around design work. I utilise various computer software to develop finite element models, which are essential for analysing and predicting the behavior of soil and structures under different conditions. Interpreting the results from these models involves applying different methods to ensure accuracy and reliability.
In addition to this technical work, I collaborate closely with AECOM’s draftsmen. This teamwork is crucial for translating the design concepts and model results into detailed design drawings. These drawings serve as the blueprint for construction and implementation, ensuring that every aspect of the design is clearly communicated and executed.
Overall, my role requires a blend of technical expertise, analytical skills, and effective communication to ensure successful project outcomes.
Thinking about the projects you are involved in – what impact have you had to improve social outcomes for communities?
During this time at AECOM, I had the opportunity to work on one of Hong Kong’s upcoming major roads. This road when completed will form the Route 6 alignment in Hong Kong’s strategic road network. Connecting West Kowloon and Tseung Kwan O through an express link, Route 6 will provide the necessary relief to the heavily congested road network in central and eastern Kowloon districts.
With Hong Kong being an ever-growing city where masses of the population need to commute through the city day-in and day-out, it is of paramount importance to improve the existing road network and infrastructure to help save travel time for millions. I believe my involvement in this project has provided positive social outcomes for different road users.
How has your work at AECOM contributed towards having a positive impact on the environment?
I have always known that the construction sector contributes to a large chunk of global emissions, therefore, I strive to consider the environmental impact of my designs. Although it is not an easy task with Hong Kong’s codes and regulations being on the conservative side, I would test out different design arrangements to meet standards yet with reduced materials to reduce embodied carbon. I understood that that even small actions can have a significant cumulative effect on the AECOM’s social and environmental footprint.
Do you have any interesting experience around collaboration, multi dis work, and thinking and acting globally at AECOM?
I had the opportunity to work on a major railway project to which our team had to work in close collaboration with members from the transportation team, this experience enabled me to understand the importance of communication, especially when information is transferred across different teams.
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?
When working on a railway project, I had the chance to join design meetings with the client to which they raised their concerns and ambitions regarding the project. It was critical that we explain our decision making and our thoughts to the client to ensure the quality of our work meets their expectations.
How has AECOM helped you in your career development?
AECOM has a plethora of resources available for all colleagues, from AECOM University to the Technical Practice Network, technical sharing sessions and self-learning courses are provided on a regular basis. But what I found most applicable to my career development is the Geotechnical Knowledge Hub where useful geotechnical resources are readily available which aids in expanding my knowledge in the geotechnical field. There are also monthly broadcasts where a member of Hong Kong’s geotechnical team shares interesting aspects of the project they are working on, this broadcast provides a rare insight into different projects and gives me the opportunity to learn about other projects in the business line.
What’s your proudest moment at AECOM?
My proudest moment at AECOM is when I had the opportunity to deliver a presentation on behalf of the geotechnical digital team to esteemed leaders and experts of the geotechnical business line. The purpose of the presentation was to showcase our innovative concept for streamlining the detail design workflow of ELS (Excavation Lateral Support) using digital tools, aiming to gather valuable feedback from technical experts to enhance our ongoing development process. The presentation effectively engaged the audience, yielding insightful discussions and a greater understanding of the intricacies involved in ELS design. This was particularly rewarding as it marked my first opportunity to present our concepts to such a distinguished group.