Introducing Hao Liu, EIT, Ph.D.

Staff Engineer

We’re so happy to have you on our team! Now that it has been a few months, we’d love to know a little bit more about you! Let’s get started, shall we? 

What did you do before joining Civiltec? (Work/School) 

I worked as a civil engineer with a civil consulting firm and completed a few dozen projects including high schools, universities, hospitals, and medical office buildings. Most of my projects were in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas.

What made you decide to pursue engineering? (Is there a particular specialty that you lean more towards? Water, wastewater, drainage, transportation, etc.)

In my childhood, I always wanted to do something that is related to the environment and water. That idea drips into my major choice when I went to college (Civil and Environmental Engineering). My educational background is all about water. Firstly, water and wastewater treatment and distribution are what my Bachelor’s degree is in; then hydrology, hydrometeorology, and satellite precipitation/water vapor imagery and data product were my Master/Ph.D. focus. The only thing that I did not study much regarding water is ice and snow (which is also important in hydrology). After graduation, my work has been related to stormwater and low-impact development (LID). I was actually fascinated particularly with water treatment and wastewater treatment, water distribution systems, pumping stations, and water tank design. I always wanted to participate in one of those projects and see how everything is put together as part of a municipal water system.

What drew you to work for Civiltec? 

While I was working as a civil engineer and graduate, I noticed Civiltec 6 years ago while I was walking around the Monrovia Library park. Every week I saw the sign of the company and was wondering what it has to do with civil engineering. I did a quick research a few years back (it has everything to do with civil engineering I found out) and had an idea of what we do. I also like working with small engineering firms as it has more opportunities and is more like a family.

What do you enjoy about your day-to-day work? 

I like working as an engineer as we have to solve problems and get things done together, we have to work as a team and depend on one another. I need to carefully consider every detail of the design and put them together, eventually presenting them nicely as drawings or reports to impress my clients. It is a joy to do this kind of work.

What has been one highlight of the past three months? 

I had a team meeting with the San Jacinto Water Treatment Plant project’s client. I did some site topo mapping and utility layout based on what we have received. I studied with what we had. In that meeting, I was able to ask a lot of questions to our client and show them how more clarification regarding the site is needed for us to understand the underground piping system. Eventually, they were convinced, and later on, they did more thorough research and sent us back their in-field findings. 

What is the number one thing on your bucket list? 

A star-hopping night spent at a dark site, clear sky, new moon.

What do you do besides working?  

I mostly spend time with my daughter and wife. Besides that, my wife and I are Christians and participate in church-related services, outreaches, and meetings. If time permits, I occasionally do camping and star-hopping at a dark site.