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Chartered Engineer building bridges in steel, concrete and words since 1970
Account type
Freelance translator and/or interpreter, Verified site user
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Services
Translation, Editing/proofreading
Expertise
Specializes in:
Architecture
Construction / Civil Engineering
Surveying
Real Estate
Also works in:
Engineering (general)
Geology
Law: Contract(s)
Law: Patents, Trademarks, Copyright
Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.)
Mechanics / Mech Engineering
Metallurgy / Casting
Patents
Transport / Transportation / Shipping
Cooking / Culinary
Metrology
More
Less
Volunteer / Pro-bono work
Open to considering volunteer work for registered non-profit organizations
Rates
German to English - Standard rate: 0.15 EUR per word / 35 EUR per hour
Translation Volume: 51000 words Completed: May 2024 Languages:
German to English
Book Translation: " Architecture Transformed: The Digital Image in Architecture
This book examines the key role of the digital image in architecture over four decades – in the process of digitising knowledge in theory and practice – as well as its influence on architectural design and visualisation: The transition from the analogue to the digital age is analysed on the basis of 51 design visualisations, from hand drawings to hybrid methods to computer renderings, in order to illustrate how architecture has been impacted by digital methods and media.
Engineer's comment: This book shows why even a simple freehand perspective sketch could 'sell' a project to a client much better than a formalised set of plans, elevations and sections. It traces the way planned (not yet existing) buildings were depicted and 'sold', from paintings in the 19th century, plans, elevations and sections, isometric views, artist's impressions, analogue, digital, photographs and combinations of all three, CAD, computer-generated views, artistic staging and unreal, surreal views. Check out the sums of money in the case study of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg for a measure of how effective these techniques can be in convincing the public and the decision makers of the desirability of a project.
Translator's comment: Not exclusively technical, art, architecture or history but a tricky mix of all four.
Architecture, Photography/Imaging (& Graphic Arts), Real Estate
No comment.
Translation Volume: 70000 words Completed: Oct 2023 Languages:
German to English
Book Translation "About Render: Designing and realising surfaces"
This book shows that the potential of render (external plaster) goes far beyond current application practice and the wide range of design options plastering offers for the planning and implementation of building facades. Through photos, detailed drawings, and facade sections on a scale of 1:20, the publication documents 18 buildings using new and traditional plastering techniques. It also features interviews with experts in architecture and craftsmanship, who share their insights into render from production to application. They also relate the history of rough renders and the complex interplay between render and paint. In addition, ten recipes and an illustrated glossary offer a practical guide to produce an array of materials and renders, such as pit lime and sgraffito.
Engineer's comment: I'm just about old enough to remember quicklime being slaked on site for use in mortar. Today's site logistics and the need to build and complete buildings quickly and independently of the seasons mean synthetic and cementitious renders are almost universally used on new buildings in the UK. This book shows what can be achieved in terms of plaster surfaces by careful planning, good timing and patience.
Translator's comment: Plaster terminology is so diverse, not least due to locality, language, resources, culture and history, that the EU funded this excellent glossary: "EwaGlos – European Illustrated Glossary of Conservation Terms for Wall Paintings and Architectural Surfaces", which offers some welcome fixed terminology points for those even with relevant experience and technical knowledge who wish to translate in this field.
You can view some of the book on Amazon
Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.), Construction / Civil Engineering, Architecture
No comment.
Translation Volume: 11000 words Completed: Jul 2023 Languages:
German to English
Book Translation: Building Simply: Wooden Windows by Judith Resch
Building Simply: Wooden Windows by Judith Resch (German title Einfach Bauen: Holzfenster) Publ. by Birkhäuser
144 pages 11,000 source words Published October 2023
10 simple wooden window designs (intriguing case studies)
From retrofitting historical windows to the possibilities of DIY design
Precisely designed, handcrafted, highly repairable windows
The second in this series of Building Simply I have taken delight in translating. I also came away with some tips for my own wooden windows and doors.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Building-Simply-Windows-Judith-Resch/dp/303562576X
Construction / Civil Engineering, Architecture
No comment.
Translation Volume: 11000 words Completed: Jul 2021 Languages:
German to English
Book Translation: Building Simply: A guideline (German title: Einfach Bauen)
Building Simply: A guideline (German title: Einfach Bauen) by Florian Nagler
128 pages 11,000 words Published November 2021 by Birkhäuser
How to create a pleasant indoor climate by constructional means with the least possible amount of building services technology.
The 6 principles of simple building illustrated and explained in 3 research houses.
Even as an affiliate member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (UK), it's hard to argue against the author's 6 principles.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Building-Simply-guideline-Florian-Nagler/dp/303562464X/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1179777031831191&hvadid=73736292212351&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=188&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73736304638442%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=24401_2219219&keywords=building+simply&qid=1693315092&sr=8-1
Real Estate, Environment & Ecology, Architecture
No comment.
Translation Volume: 70000 words Completed: Mar 2014 Languages:
Translation of 154 page book on hyperbolic tower structures
Hyperbolic Structures: Shukhov's Lattice Towers - Forerunners of Modern Lightweight Construction by Matthias Beckh
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyperbolic-Structures-Forerunners-Lightweight-Construction-ebook/dp/B00T9MD674/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424431792&sr=8-1&keywords=Hyperbolic+structures
Construction / Civil Engineering
No comment.
Translation Volume: 92500 words Completed: Jul 2010 Languages: German to English
Translation of Book "A life cycle approach to buildings", DETAIL
Translated in InDesign.
Read more about the book and and access a link to read an extract at: http://www.detail.de/rw_5_Kaufen_En2_HoleArtikelID_959_ArtikelDetails.htm
Environment & Ecology, Construction / Civil Engineering, Architecture
No comment.
Editing/proofreading Volume: 224 pages Completed: Nov 2009 Languages: German to English
Editing done directly in InDesign.
A mixture of engineering and architecture. Highly satisfying. Probably the second-most challenging linguistic project I've completed so far, almost as intensive as designing and building steel bridges and structures themselves. See more details at: http://www.constructalia.com/en_EN/news-and-articles/the-new-detail-book--featuring-steel---resources--architecture--reflections/4887667/250663/page.jsp
Construction / Civil Engineering, Architecture
No comment.
Translation Volume: 20000 words Completed: Mar 2008 Languages: German to English
Oliver Klein (Author), Jörg Schlenger (Author), Bert Bielefeld.
"Foreword
Ensuring people’s protection and wellbeing are important functions of buildings. They preserve people from fluctuations in the weather and from its adverse effects. At the same time the interior must be provided with sufficient fresh air and heat or cold to guarantee comfort."
Architecture, Construction / Civil Engineering
No comment.
Translation Volume: 65000 words Completed: Dec 2007 Languages: German to English
Book: "Climate Skin" Hausladen, de Saldanha and Liedl, Birkhäuser Verlag
"Concepts for Building Skins That Can Do More with Less Energy"
Climate Skin is a practice-oriented design manual centred on attaining preliminary and detailed designs optimised in terms of energy and building climatology. The book takes the reader through all phases in the development of the façade and gives a comprehensive overview of the latest technologies and design tools.
Construction / Civil Engineering, Architecture
No comment.
Translation Volume: 46000 words Completed: Mar 2007 Languages: German to English
Book:"Glass Structures: Design and Construction of Self-supporting Skins"
Birkhäuser Verlag
"Glass skin structures combine the functional and the constructional form into one entity: Because of the outstanding characteristics of flat glass as a facade and construction material the enclosing glass skin is also the load-bearing structure."
Search through text at www.amazon.com
I translated 46000 words, another translator translated the rest of the 255-page book. Despite my experience in the structural analysis and design of complex structures in wood, concrete and steel it was quite a challenge to translate the text.
The author, Jan Wurm, works for Arup Materials and Arup Facade Engineering in London as an architect, designer, and project manager.
Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.), Construction / Civil Engineering, Architecture
No comment.
Translation Volume: 5000 words Completed: Mar 2007 Languages: German to English
Paper on load testing of geotextile-reinforced bridge abutment
Translation of a paper originally presented by Alexiew, D.: Belastungsversuche an einem 1:1-Modell eines
geogitterbewehrten Brückenwiderlagers at the KGEO Conference 2007.
TU München
Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.), Construction / Civil Engineering
No comment.
Translation Volume: 22000 words Completed: Oct 2006 Languages: German to English
Book:"Fibre Cement: Technology and Design", Jan Krause, Birkhäuser Verlag
"... Fibre cement is considered as an innovative material in architecture, interior architecture, product design and open space design. Reinforced with environmentally and health-compatible synthetic and cellulose fibres, fibre cement slates and sheets can be used in large formats even though they are just a few millimetres thick. ..."
Search through the text at www/amazon.com
Architecture, Construction / Civil Engineering
No comment.
Translation Volume: 58000 words Completed: Sep 2006 Languages: German to English
Book: Smart Materials in Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design
The use of smart materials in architecture is a dynamic and innovative area merging research, development, and use. Smart materials, with their reversible characteristics, respond to stimuli such as light, temperature, and electrical field by changing their form, color, viscosity, etc.
One of the most fascinating developments is the advent of Phase Change Materials. These materials make it possible, for example, to develop self-acting, kinetic facades and wallpaper that changes its color and pattern based on temperature and light.
The book presents the development of these materials and also describes their use in the contexts of architecture, design, and art. It offers a systematic overview with a detailed discussion of properties, technologies, products, and projects based on twenty groups of smart materials.
Search through at www.amazon.com
Shortlisted for the Sir Robert McAlpine International Book Award for Construction (2007) by the RIBA (London)
Architecture, Construction / Civil Engineering, Materials (Plastics, Ceramics, etc.)
No comment.
Translation Volume: 39000 words Completed: Oct 2005 Languages: German to English
Book: "Exposed Concrete", Pfeifer, Liebers and Brauneck
Publisher: Birkäuser Verlag.
"Exposed Concrete: Technology and Design
....Hammer dressing
A hammer-dressed finish is produced by striking the surface with a waller's hammer or a pitching chisel to remove 5 to 6 mm of concrete. This technique can only be used for relatively weak concrete. The pitching chisel is used for breaking off the concrete at edges."
Search through text at www.amazon.com
Construction / Civil Engineering, Architecture
No comment.
Editing/proofreading Volume: 3 days Completed: Aug 2005 Languages: German to English
"Building Projects in the European Union: Architectural Export Opportunities"
I was the copy-editor for the book - full title:"Building Projects in the European Union: Architectural Export Opportunities : A Manual for Architects and Engineers" by Bert Bielefeld and Falk Würfele.
Search through the text at www.amazon.com
Architecture, Law: Contract(s)
No comment.
Translation Volume: 81000 words Completed: May 2005 Languages: German to English
Book: "Climate Design", Birkhäuser Verlag
Climate Design: Solutions for Buildings that Can Do More with Less Technology
by Hausladen, de Saldanha, Liedl and Sager (Authors)
"Every location for a building has its own individual conditions with respect to shading, solar radiation, wind, air pollution and noise..."
Construction / Civil Engineering, Architecture
No comment.
Translation Volume: 4000 words Completed: Jun 2002 Languages: German to English
20 page foundation soils report for airport development
"If these foundation levels are transferred on to the probe profiles in Appendix 2.1 then it can be seen that the undersides of the foundations are either within the insitu sands and gravels, which form a foundation soil with good bearing capacity and relatively low compressibility characteristics. Or they are located within the sand and gravel fill materials, which are likewise assessed as having good load bearing and low compressibility characteristics if they are at least of medium density, which should still be checked locally by penetration tests. The latter applies particularly for the existing BS8/BS9 (BN 5980) sewer excavation backfill material. If required the remainder of the fill material could be excavated and replaced with gravel/sand mixture, which must be compacted to give DPr >= 100 %. Should local silts appear in the base of the foundation, then they should be replaced with gravel/sand mixture."
I enjoyed this translation because I could relate to it directly; in my other life worked on the construction of an airport and designed a bridge to carry jumbo jets.
Construction / Civil Engineering, Construction / Civil Engineering, Geology
No comment.
Translation Volume: 6000 words Completed: Mar 2002 Languages: German to English
Fire safety engineering report
Fire safety report on airport freight centre.
"The main safety objective of a fire safety and smoke venting design is the rescue of people. ....Proof of 'Freedom from smoke' on the excessive lengths of escape and rescue routes within the air freight centre using a computer-based compartment fire simulation program."
Construction / Civil Engineering
No comment.
Translation Volume: 25000 words Completed: Dec 2000 Languages: German to English
Intellectual property training book for large automobile component supplier
The training material was based on a 12-part series on intellectual property rights published in 'Konstruction & Elektronik' by Friedhelm Imhäuser and was intended for internal informational use by the international car interior fittings company XXX.
Law: Patents, Trademarks, Copyright
No comment.
Translation Volume: 0 days Languages: German to English
Operating instructions for electrical power tools & appliances
I have been translating these operating instructions for the same client for 13 years.
Mechanics / Mech Engineering
No comment.
Translation Volume: 0 days Languages: German to English
Material and component test reports
I have been translating these reports for the same client for about 6 years.
Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD, DejaVu, Indesign, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Trados Studio
CV/Resume
CV will be submitted upon request
Professional objectives
Meet new end/direct clients
Work for non-profits or pro-bono clients
Screen new clients (risk management)
Get help with terminology and resources
Get help on technical issues / improve my technical skills
Help or teach others with what I have learned over the years
Bio
Construction, civil engineering, structural engineering, engineer, German, English, chartered engineer, translator, translation, books, copy editing, proofreading, reviewing, press releases, improving texts drafted in English by senior staff, absolute confidentiality
Of British English mother tongue, I have been a full-time freelance German to English translator for 22 years, following 6 years as a part-time freelance translator.
Before leaving to become a full-time translator, I worked for private and public organisations as a civil engineer specialising in roads, bridges, buildings, structural engineering, traffic and transportation, airports, coastal protection, management, QA, public administration, environment, finance etc. I hold a British degree in Civil Engineering and am a Chartered Civil Engineer.
Eur Ing R D Peat B.Tech C.Eng MICE For a speedy response, you can contact me directly by e-mail at rdpeat (at)villfarm (dot) co (dot) uk
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Expertise 
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