Mario Pereira Vaz

Dedicated and analytical Civil Engineering student with a specialization in water resources, environmental, and structural engineering. I have completed coursework in concrete design, timber design, earthquake/vibration analysis, city planning, and transportation design. As the project manager for my capstone course, I successfully led the development of a balsawood tower incorporating tuned mass and liquid damper systems.

I am an excellent communicator with experience working both independently and in teams. Proficient in a variety of technical tools and software including AutoCAD, MATLAB, SAP2000, SolidWorks, Civil 3D, Synchro Studio, and various coding platforms. I am pursuing my FE exam this summer and am eager to apply my broad skill set in practical settings. Passionate about all areas of civil engineering, I am particularly skilled in using graphical representations to resolve design conflicts and perform analysis. With a keen interest in continuously expanding my knowledge across diverse topics, I aim to leverage my versatility and drive to contribute meaningfully to the field of civil engineering.

In this senior-level capstone course, my team and I designed a 19-story tower adhering to the EERI competition requirements, incorporating a Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) and Tuned Liquid Damper (TLD) system. The project involved comprehensive design, fabrication, and analysis, culminating in a detailed report and presentation. As the project manager, I successfully led a team of ten students, developing a balsawood tower with integrated damper systems. This experience enhanced my skills in teamwork, meeting deadlines, and collaborating across various information networks.

In this course, we focused on analyzing the impact of ground vibrations on structures. We utilized tools such as MATLAB and SAP2000 to design and evaluate earthquake-resistant two-dimensional frames and structures. Through this course, I gained a solid understanding of how vibrations affect structural integrity and learned to assess the effectiveness and necessity of dampening systems in mitigating these impacts.

The course was designed to learn and manage urban infrastructure and spaces, ensuring efficient use of resources and sustainable development, while using multiple programs such as Synchro Studio, Civil 3D, and Microsoft Excel. I utilized Microsoft Excel to identify and analyze the demand for various points of interest by collecting and interpreting data on population density, usage patterns, and service requirements.

In my Global Environmental Crisis course, I explored the complex challenges facing our planet, including climate change, pollution, and resource depletion. This course deepened my understanding of the environmental issues that intersect with civil engineering projects. By studying real-world case studies and current research, I learned to develop sustainable engineering solutions and integrate environmental considerations into infrastructure design. This knowledge is invaluable as I pursue a career in environmental engineering, equipping me to create resilient, eco-friendly structures and systems.