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TSEC 07: Drones and Structural Engineering Inspections – A Marriage in the Making

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Structural Engineering InspectionsIn episode 07 of The Structural Engineering Channel podcast, we talk to Luis Duque, EIT, A.M. ASCE, A.M. SEI who is a structural engineer at DLK Engineering. We talk about the use of drones in structural engineering inspections and more specifically about how drones will impact bridge inspections. This is some really interesting stuff!

Engineering Quotes:

Structural Engineering Inspections

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

  • What made you interested in bridge inspections?
  • What are the benefits of using UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)?
  • Is it safer to use UAVs for inspection than doing it in traditional ways?
  • How do you see UAVs and similar technologies related to bridge inspection in the future?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About the Drones and Structural Engineering Inspections:

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Does Work-Life Balance Exist? A Myth or a Reality?

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Does Work-Life Balance Exist? A Myth or a Reality is a guest blog by Jacob Dillon

Work-life balance is a renowned concept that refers to the situation when a person has a regular and sustainable source of income, while at the same time, is able to take out enough time to relax with his or her loved ones or to do stuff that they find entertaining, in order to regularly rejuvenate themselves and avoid experiencing burnouts. [Read more…] about Does Work-Life Balance Exist? A Myth or a Reality?

TCEP 124: Technology, Innovation, and Smart Cities – What Civil Engineers Need to Know

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In episode 124 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will be taking you with me to Philadelphia where we will be visiting the offices of Pennoni to talk to Joseph Viscuso, PE, PLS, ENV SP who serves as Pennoni’s Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Growth. We will be talking about smart cities and specifically about understanding how important it is to embrace technology and to be innovative in your career. Viscuso also elaborates on the next wave of technology which is heavily reliant on the 5G network and also the threats that cyber security has on smart cities. You can also view this episode on YouTube. You don’t want to miss this one!

Engineering Quotes:

Smart Cities

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Joe:

  • I know that you spend a lot of your time traveling to different cities and venues to discuss innovation and technology—why do you think that is important for the future of firms like Pennoni?
  • How do you see innovation/technology changing the everyday landscape in the engineering profession?
  • If I gave you a crystal ball, what would you see about the future of smart cities?
  • If I gave you a magic wand, how would you use it to increase smart city momentum?
  • We have heard a lot about cyber security threats – how can this impact smart cities?
  • What are some of the challenges for cities to adopt smart technologies?
  • What can residents do to move the conversation further on smart city solutions?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Smart Cities, Technology and Innovation:

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One Trick for Making Better Engineering Decisions

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This is a guest blog by Kyle K. Cheerangie, P.E.

Engineering DecisionsA decision is a commitment to action. Until that action is completed there has been no decision. Good decision making is a process and involves a certain amount of risk-taking. The top person in any organization must be a decision-maker. Ideally, in an engineering firm, this person would be good at making engineering decisions on a daily basis.

Here Are Some Traits That Good Decision-Makers Have in Common:
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TSEC 06: The Emotional Side of Structural Engineering

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Emotional Side of Structural EngineeringIn episode 06 of The Structural Engineering Channel podcast, we talk to Zohaib Alvi, P.E. who is a civil, structural, and forensic engineer and principal of za/engineering. We talk about sustainability in structural engineering and more specifically about the emotional side of structural engineering and how important it is to embrace and understand it as an engineer.

Engineering Quotes:

Emotional Side of Structural Engineering

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

  • Where did your interest in sustainability come from?
  • In terms of policies, guidelines and regulations – has it been reflected in codes and guidelines in the recent history?
  • Can you give us an example of how resiliency needs to start with us?
  • How does smart technology play into all these trending issues?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About the Emotional Side of Structural Engineering

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The Engineering Management Institute Launches Women in Civil Engineering Podcast Series

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>> Click here to see all of the episodes in the Women in Civil Engineering podcast series <<

The Engineering Management Institute is thrilled to announce that we’ve launched a new and exciting series on The Civil Engineering Podcast entitled Women in Civil Engineering to feature some of the great women working in the field. Diversity and inclusion is more important than ever in the workplace, especially in the field of civil engineering where we are faced with complex challenges throughout the built environment. In order to solve these problems, we’re going to need a diverse workforce that can bring different ideas to the table, and this workforce includes many amazing women that have been doing great things in the civil engineering field.

Here at the Engineering Management Institute, we’ve been producing content for engineers for more than 10 years and we’ve built up a large supportive audience and we want to use our platform to do something good for the engineering community and we believe that highlighting women in civil engineering will yield positive results throughout the industry including bolstering existing STEM outreach efforts. [Read more…] about The Engineering Management Institute Launches Women in Civil Engineering Podcast Series

How Can Women Succeed in a Male-Dominated STEM Workforce

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This is a guest blog by Holly Welles

WomenWomen make up half of the workforce, but when it comes to the positions at the top, we have a long way to go. Many women stay away from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields to begin with, quite likely due to gender expectations that blossom in childhood classrooms. And unfortunately, some who aim for a career as an engineer, scientist or mathematician often leave the field.

How can women succeed in a male-dominated workforce such as the engineering field? It isn’t easy, and it takes developing more than thick skin. Women need to pick their battles when it comes to dealing with coworker and employer demands for performing gender-specific labor. Here’s how women can take their engineering career to new heights. [Read more…] about How Can Women Succeed in a Male-Dominated STEM Workforce

TCEP 123: Women in Civil Engineering – Inclusion, Diversity, and STEM Oh My!

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Inclusion and Diversity

Monica Morales, PE, ENV SP

In episode 123 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Monica Morales, PE, ENV SP who is a water engineer for Jacobs in their Los Angeles office. This is the first episode in a special series we are publishing entitled Women in Civil Engineering. In this episode, we will focus on the importance of inclusion and diversity in engineering. Monica also discusses sustainability through STEM Outreach and the importance of women in engineering.

Engineering Quotes:

inclusion and diversity

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Monica:

  • What does it mean to be a statistically improbable engineer, like yourself?
  • Tell us more about the statistics for the United States in terms of diversity in engineering and civil engineering?
  • Talk to us about the importance of inclusion and diversity?
  • What can we do to help more under-served students to pursue STEM careers?
  • Why do you think it is important for engineering employers to diversify their leadership?
  • How do you make STEM activities fun for students?
  • Tell us more about drawing girls into STEM specifically?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:

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Why BIM Coordination & Clash Detection Services Are Important for Engineers

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This is a guest blog by Vishakha Jadav

BIM Coordination

The construction industry has gained tremendous marketability throughout its existence. Earlier when the technologies were not mainstream and not fully used by contractors, builders, and owners, they prepared a model drawing on paper with a pencil to drive their visualization of how their buildings would look.

Since the 1960s, drafters and designers prepared drawings in a 2D Model with the help of AutoCAD software wherein the model design could showcase drawings as per architectural, structural and MEP engineers. However, it took a lot of time to design the model to be able to accurately visualize how the building would materialize after construction.

There are many pros and cons of making drawings on 2D CAD Models.  One con is that it is often rework might be required during construction due to installations and design of elements not adequately depicted on the 2D Drawings.  In other words, you could draw them in 2D, but building them the way they were drawn in 2D wasn’t practical.

Later in the 1980s, many construction companies started growing and looking forward to adopting BIM and other digital technologies as digital transformation had enabled the construction industry. BIM was an early adoption in the construction industry but was not known by many companies. Since the government has mandated the use of BIM Drafting Services in public and private projects, it has gained momentum.

BIM (Building Information Modeling) can help architects and engineers to visualize and look into the model closely enough and identify any potential clashes and resolve them during the design stage itself. It will enhance collaboration among the three disciplines and is an accurately detailed model. Let’s take a look at how BIM coordination and clash detection services works in a construction project:

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TSEC 05: Community Resilience in Structural Engineering with Dr. Therese McAllister of NIST

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Community ResilienceIn episode 05 of The Structural Engineering Channel podcast, we talk with Dr. Therese McAllister, P.E., F.SEI, M.ASCE who is the community resilience group leader and program manager in the materials and structural systems research division of the Engineering Laboratory (EL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We speak with Dr. McAllister about what the NIST Community Resilience Program is and why community resilience is so important in structural engineering and beyond.

Engineering Quotes:

Community Resilience

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

  • What does NIST do?
  • How does the community resilience program fit into NIST’s mission?
  • What is community resilience?
  • Who is addressing resilience in structural design now?
  • Why is community resilience important to structural engineers?  
  • How does performance-based design intersect with community resilience?
  • How can community resilience be implemented by structural engineers?
  • What is the most exciting thing right now in the structural engineering industry to you?

Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Community Resilience in Structural Engineering:

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