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TCEP 140: A Near Death Experience, the COVID-19 Coronavirus, and How Civil Engineers Can Help Reduce the Spread of Pandemics

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Coronavirus

In this episode, we focus on a topic that is on everyone’s minds — the coronavirus and how it should be a wake-up call to civil engineers. And we’re discussing this with Michael Paddock, PE, PS, a licensed civil engineer and surveyor. Twenty years ago, Mike was told he had three to six months to live and since then, through Engineers Without Borders (EWB), he’s helped to grow communities around the world. He also talks about his work managing mega civil engineering projects, and the one thing you must be able to handle to do so.

Engineering Quotes:

Coronavirus

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michael:

  • Can you tell us about how you went from civil engineering to dedicating your time to Engineers Without Borders?
  • How old were you when you got the news about your stage 4 cancer?
  • When you get this news from the doctor, how did you proceed over the coming months?
  • You recently wrote an article for ASCE entitled, “Coronavirus a Wake-Up Call for Civil Engineers.” Can you tell us about the article?
  • How did you find out about EWB and what moved you towards them?
  • EWB is a membership organization. Could you please explain to us how it works?
  • Did finding out that you had cancer change your life philosophy?
  • What is it like to manage mega-projects?
  • What are some of the skills needed to be able to work on mega-projects?
  • In terms of getting good at managing mega-projects, is on the job experience the main way to get good?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Coronavirus and How We as Civil Engineers Can Make an Impact

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Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset: Risk Is Opportunity

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This is a guest blog by Michael Burns, PE, PgMP, DBIA

An Entrepreneurial Mindset

In previous EMI blogs, we discussed Thinking Big and Being Mindful as We Set Goals and Building Confidence Through Empathetic Stakeholder Engagement. I fully respect that managing these objectives with a myriad of associated voices can be distracting as we attempt to sustain growth. Sustaining growth, for our businesses and talent, is particularly difficult in the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry, as we constantly regroup to provide service on projects that marry significant technical challenges with dynamic client expectations. So, the intent of this month’s discussion is to explore a Risk Intelligent approach, creating a consistent basis for our teams to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and explore entrepreneurial solutions. 

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TSEC 21: Structural Analysis Using Finite Element Modeling and Hydropower Dam Inspections

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Finite Element ModelingIn episode 21 of The Structural Engineering Channel podcast, we talk to Aimee Corn, PE, who is a civil and structural engineer at Gannett Fleming. Aimee will be talking to us about structural analysis using finite element modeling and hydropower dam inspections. She also talks about her career journey and shares some great tips on communication and overcoming failure in your engineering career.

Engineering Quotes:

Finite Element Modeling

Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Aimee in This Episode:

  • Your technical work has focused a lot on dams. You’ve developed non-linear models of 40- to 300-foot-tall arch dams. Can you talk to us about the structural engineering that goes into that?
  • What are some of the places where you use finite element modeling or where you find it most helpful?
  • What goes into a hydropower dam inspection?
  • How important are written communication (e.g., email, technical reports, memoranda) and verbal communication (e.g., presentations, phone calls) skills on these projects and in the workplace in general?
  • What is the Potential Failure Mode Analysis (PFMA) process and how it is used?
  • What are some of the resources and ways that students can get into the dam industry?
  • How can a person evolve their professional association participation beyond just joining as a member?
  • Do you have an overall life or career philosophy you can share with us?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Finite Element Modeling and Hydropower Dam Inspections:

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TECC 225: How Project Management Skills Contribute to Your Overall Success as an Engineering Leader

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Project Management SkillsIn this episode, I talk to Christian Knutson, CEng, P.E., PgMP, F. SAME, who has co-hosted this podcast in the past and now serves as the Europe Program Manager for Stanley Consultants. He is responsible for managing and coordinating Stanley Consultants’ activities in the U.K. and Europe as well as providing program/project management delivery and master planning solutions for clients in the U.K. and Europe. In this episode, which is part of a series we are publishing focused around the four key drivers of engineering managers, we talk about the third key driver: the ability to manage projects. Chris talks about the fundamentals of project management and how project management skills can help you to become a great engineering manager.

Engineering Quotes:

Project Management Skills

Project Management Skills

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Project Management Skills:

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Creating Recurring Revenue for Increased Stability of a Small Firm

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 This is a guest blog by Sam Lytle, PE

Recurring Revenue

In the world of engineering, owning a business or even being self-employed often requires stepping outside of technical design and into new territories of bookkeeping, marketing, web design, payroll, invoicing, and a bevy of other tasks not normally taken on by engineers.

In 2011, I realized I belonged to the former — the drive to leave the engineering design path hit hard and fast. This drive was the motivating force that helped me make the jump in 2014 to start Civil FX, and it is still with me today. With that career change has also come those many other tasks that a business owner inevitably faces, including financial duties, hiring decisions and — my personal favorite — marketing and branding. As I’m not incredibly technically minded and engineering was never a satisfying fit, this transition has been mostly comfortable for me. The constant barrage of challenges has been steadied by the freedom of being on my own and the feeling of knowing I’m where I need to be in my career.

Building A(n) (Un)Sustainable Business

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Work From Home Productivity Tips for Engineers

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Work From Home Productivity TipsDue to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, many engineering companies across the United States and beyond are implementing travel restrictions and work from home directives.

I have had the opportunity to work from home, on and off, over the last ten years, and as nice as it sounds, one of the biggest challenges with doing it effectively is staying focused and productive.  I’ve accumulated some of my own work from home productivity tips over the years and thought this would be a good time to share them.

Please leave comments or questions below and I will respond to them.

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COVID-19 Coronavirus News and Information Related to Engineering

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Updated: March 26, 2020 at 9:15 a.m. EDT

Below is a list that we are updating daily related to the effects of the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak on the engineering industry including projects, conferences, events, company announcements, etc.  To submit news, leave a comment at the bottom of this page or email us by clicking here.

Articles Related to COVID-19 Impacts on Engineering

Engineering Company COVID-19 Statements and News

Engineering Conference and Event Updates Related to COVID-19

We will continue to update this list as information comes in.

Stay safe!

The Engineering Management Institute Team

EMI to Serve as COVID19 News Outlet for Engineering Related News

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Like most people, the team here at the Engineering Management Institute is concerned about the COVID 19 coronavirus.

While there are many reputable news and medical sources out there to help you stay informed, here at EMI we’d like to use our platform to keep you up to date on any news related to engineering projects, conferences, events, and so on.

If you have any information related to these items that you would like to broadcast to a wider audience, please let us know.  You can email our content manager here with information you’d like to share, or leave comments below this post. [Read more…] about EMI to Serve as COVID19 News Outlet for Engineering Related News

What Construction Contractors and Owners Should Do, Today, to Prepare for the Possible Effects of Coronavirus on Projects

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This is a guest post written by Diana Parks (partner at Dorsey & Whitney) and  Ross Eberlein (an associate at Dorsey & Whitney) and was previously published here of the Dorsey website.

Coronavirus on Projects

As novel coronavirus has spread from China to Europe, the United States and around the globe, it has begun to have a debilitating impact on world markets, manufacturing, distribution, supply chains, and the workforce in general. It seems only a matter of time before COVID 19 directly affects U.S. construction projects. What can we, in the U.S. construction industry, do to prepare for its effects and mitigate the potential harm to our people and our projects?  The ultimate solutions may be complex, but there are some simple, initial steps, that construction contractors and owners should take to assess and bolster their ability to deal with the potential impact of an outbreak.

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TCEP 139: What Goes Into Developing the ASCE Report Card for America’s Infrastructure?

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ASCE Report Card

In this episode, which is part of our Women in Civil Engineering series, I talk to Peyton Gibson, EIT, ENV SP, a civil engineer who works for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the Board of Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment. She also serves as the ASCE Colorado’s Infrastructure Report Card Chair, and that’s what we focus on in this episode: what goes into developing the ASCE Infrastructure report card, both at the national and state levels.

Engineering Quotes:

ASCE Report Card

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Peyton:

  • What led you to make your recent career change?
  • What is the report card and what is its intent?
  • Can you take us through the process of how ASCE came up with the final grading in the report card?
  • With the amount of work, staff, and volunteers that are involved in compiling the report, how did you work through the process of managing all the different chapters?
  • What do you think motivated the volunteers?
  • What happens once you receive that grade and how can it be utilized to improve infrastructure?
  • How do you have the funding and the resources for the marketing that needs to be done once the problem areas have been identified?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Developing the ASCE Report Card:

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