Project Management

TCEP 132: Renewable Energy and Decoupling the Water-Energy Nexus

December 4, 2019 By EMI

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In episode 132 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, our seventh episode in our Women in Civil Engineering series, I talk with Pavitra Rammohan, PE. ENV-SP, the Region Manager at DeepRoot. Pavitra talks about renewable energy and specifically about decoupling the water-energy nexus. We also dive into her background as well as her journey from India to the United States.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Pavitra:

Could you please tell us about your journey from Chennai to Los Angeles?
Can you tell us more about decoupling the water-energy nexus?
What is renewable energy?
Can you talk about the importance of getting stakeholders involved in this process?
How did you develop such a high confidence level?
What are Silva Cells?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Renewable Energy and Decoupling the Water-Energy Nexus:

TCEP 127: Digital Twins for Digital Cities

September 25, 2019 By EMI

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Bob Mankowski, P.E., Vice President of the Bentley’s Digital Cities Business unit with a 3D representation of the The City of Helsinki. The City of Helsinki used Bentley’s reality capture technology for geo-coordination, optioneering, modeling, and visualization throughout the Helsinki 3D+ project.

In episode 127 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I will be taking you on a road trip to Connecticut, to the offices of Bentley Systems, to visit with Robert (Bob) Mankowski, P.E. who is a civil engineer and also the Vice President of Bentley’s Digital Cities Business Unit. Bob will discuss the power of digital twins for digital cities and emphasizes the importance of having technological advancement as a tool in the preparation and mitigation of city-wide projects. This episode is also available on YouTube.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Bob:

Tell our listeners about your background and career journey and how you got to where you are today.
What is your role with Bentley Systems?
Are there cities that are already using the digital twin process?
What excites you about the future of civil engineering?
What worries you about the future of civil engineering?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Digital Cities for Digital Twins:

Obtaining field experience early in your career makes a big difference in terms of understanding how your work as an engineer will impact other people around you.
A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical product, process or system that bridges together the physical world and the digital world. It does not only involve the geometric or physical replica in a digital world. It also includes engineering technology which allows you to understand and model the behavior and performance of the infrastructure as well.
A digital twin is built up from a variety of different sources containing different data. You will then typical connect it to an IOT which provides the real-time and historical performance of the system into the digital replica.
One of the ways in which you would start creating a digital city and a digital twin of a city is through a process called reality modeling. The idea is that your vertical replica reflects the actual reality. An example of doing this would be by transforming photos into 3D models. The 3D model would then become the integration point for other data. Having this 3D model is a way of indexing all of this information and accessing it in a very intuitive and immersive environment.
The demand for civil engineers is growing dramatically and it is uncertain whether the enrollment rate and graduation of civil engineers are going to be able to keep up with that demand.
There are so many things that civil engineers can have an impact on in this world, so we need to make sure that we have enough skilled and professional civil engineers out there.

More details in this episode…

About Robert (Bob) Mankowski, P.E.

Bob joined Bentley Systems in the company’s 2004 acquisition of Haestad Methods, where he served as chief technology officer. He is a co-inventor of seven patented technologies. Prior to serving as the Digital Cities business executive, Bob was the leader of the product teams that created AssetWise capabilities for water, wastewater, geospatial, and communications infrastructure. Bob has a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Drexel University and is a licensed professional engineer.

Sources/References:

Bob Mankowski’s LinkedIn|
Bentley Systems
TSEC 07: Drones and Structural Engineering Inspections – A Marriage in the Making
EMI’s YouTube Channel

Here Are Some of the Digital Twins for Digital Cities Projects Bentley Has Worked On:

Helsinki, Finland Project
Oporto, Portugal Project

This episode is brought to you by Maser Consulting P.A., a privately owned, multi-discipline, consulting and engineering design firm with a unique balance of public and private sector experience. Established in 1984 by Richard M. Maser, PE, PP, CME, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, the firm has an expert staff of licensed engineers, planners, surveyors, landscape architects, and environmental scientists with offices strategically located nationwide. Click here to learn more about Maser Consulting P.A. today.

If you are interested in taking our FREE CMAP Diagnostic Case Study, please email Betty at >> betty@engineeringmanagementinstitute.org

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Dynamics of Software Development

Objectives and Key Results: Driving Focus, Alignment, and Engagement with OKRs

Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on Digital Cities for Digital Twins.

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To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success

TCEP 118: Information Civil Engineers Should Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success

May 22, 2019 By EMI

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In episode 118 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I visit with Karen Morgan, P.E. who is the owner and founder of the AEC Proposal Institute. We discuss what information civil engineering professionals need to seek up-front for proposal writing success. Morgan discusses 5 specific points that you can use as a checklist to ensure you write more winning proposals.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are 5 Important Points Engineers Should Always Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success:

TCEP 114: What Civil Engineering Firms Need to Know About Providing Drone Services or Hiring Firms to Do So

March 27, 2019 By EMI

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In episode 114 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Scott Harrigan, who is the CEO, Co-Founder and Chief Pilot at Harkin Aerial about the use of drones in civil engineering and specifically what civil engineering firms need to know about providing drone services for themselves or hiring outside firms to do so.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Scott About Providing Drone Services:

What will people in the A/E industries use drones for?
What is photogrammetry?
How have the software and programs evolve in the drone industry?
Talk to us about the regulations and guidelines for using drones.
Do you work for companies that use drones and/or firms that have no drones at all?
What are some things that people should be aware of when purchasing a drone?
When purchasing a drone, what do you need to think about in terms of insurance?
Explain one example of a project you’ve worked on before?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Drone Services:

TCEP 112: Managing Mega Civil Engineering Projects and Staying Calm in the Process

February 27, 2019 By EMI

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In episode 112 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I’m taking you with me to the offices of Louis Berger where I will be speaking with the Department Manager, Muzamil Husain, PE. We talk about the importance of managing mega civil engineering projects and how to stay calm during stressful situations.

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some of the questions I ask Muzamil Husain:

In terms of project management, what would you say are some things that you have done that made you successful?
How do you determine what tasks to work on each day?
Can you describe the Magnetic Levitation project?
As a project manager you need to get good at understanding your resources and deploying them in the right areas. How does one get good at that?
What do you do to improve the culture on your team?

Here are some key points discussed in this episode about managing mega civil engineering projects:

TCEP 101: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the ICE Global Engineering Congress

October 10, 2018 By Christian Knutson, PE, PgMP, PMP

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In episode 101 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, which is the third episode in a 3-part special series focused on preparing us for the Global Engineering Congress 2018, I am bringing you with me to the offices of Mott MacDonald to sit down with Global Sustainability Leader Davide Stronati. Get ready for a great conversation around the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and how civil engineers can tactically support the achievement of these goals.

Here are some of the questions I ask Davide:

What role does a corporate, or strategic, sustainability managing director play and what responsibilities do they hold?
What is the primary outcome, with regards to GEC18, that you wish to see?
From a civil engineering perspective, what does sustainability mean to you?
What does your role as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Sustainability Leadership Team Chair entail?
What is your call to action regarding the SDGs for civil engineers listening to this podcast?

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on the UN SDGs and the ICE Global Engineering Congress:

TCEP 084: The Importance of Sustainable Infrastructure Featuring Kristina Swallow

May 21, 2018 By EMI

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In episode 084 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, which is the first episode of a 5 episode Infrastructure Series, I talk with Kristina Swallow, PE., ENV SP, F. ASCE, who is the current President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), about the importance of sustainable infrastructure.

Here are some of the questions I ask Kristina on sustainable infrastructure:

Why should we be concerned about our infrastructure in the US?
How can we as civil engineering professionals help to improve infrastructure?
How can we advocate for infrastructure funding?
Could you describe one of your typical days as ASCE President?
What parts of your job as ASCE President do you find most challenging?
What do find most enjoyable in your job as ASCE President ?

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on sustainable infrastructure:

TCEP 076: Two Professionals in the Civil Engineering Industry who are Impacting the World Beyond their Engineering Projects

January 31, 2018 By EMI

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In episode 76 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I interview two guests that work in the Civil Engineering world and have worked on very special projects that are helping our community and the world as a whole. They are Alan Lloyd, CIH, CSP, Associate Vice President and Corporate Health and Safety Officer from Pennoni, and Menzer Pehlivan, Ph.D., P.E., from CH2M who was one of the stars in the Dream Big Movie.

Here are some of the questions I ask our guests on impacting the world through these special projects:

TCEP 067: The Construction of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial

September 27, 2017 By EMI

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In episode 067 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I visit the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and will be telling you about the construction of this amazing monument, which is a massive sculpture carved into the side of a mountain in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. I will be talking to Maureen McGee-Ballinger from the National Parks Service as well as Lou Del Bianco who recently published his book: Out of Rushmore’s Shadow: The Luigi Del Bianco Story – An Italian Immigrant’s Unsung Role as Chief Carver.

Here are some of the questions I ask about the Mount Rushmore National Memorial:

Take us back to before the monument, where did the idea come from?
How do you budget for a project like this?
How many workers were involved in the construction of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and how long did it take to complete the project?
Did the designer Borglum have any idea how long this project would take?
Tell us about the stone itself and what they encountered while carving it?
How were safety procedures implemented on Mount Rushmore?
Tell us more about the actual construction of the monument?
What did they do with all the rock that they blasted?

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

TCEP 066: The Importance of Construction Cost Estimating for Civil Engineers

September 13, 2017 By EMI

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In episode 066 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Scott Jennings, P.E. principal of SJ Construction Consulting, LLC about the importance of cost estimating for civil engineers.

Here are some of the questions I ask Scott:

Can you walk us through the process of putting together an construction cost estimate? What is involved?
Do contractors use unit pricing for their estimates, or do they evaluate each individual item in a job and customize the pricing to each of the construction activities?
How is job site and/or corporate overhead incorporated into a bid?
How is profit/markup handled?
Is industry standard for bids to often be unit priced (versus lump sum). How are the unit prices determined by contractors (or civil engineers)?
Is there a difference between estimates on bid day and change order estimating?

Project Management

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Pavitra:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Renewable Energy and Decoupling the Water-Energy Nexus:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Bob:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Digital Cities for Digital Twins:

More details in this episode…

About Robert (Bob) Mankowski, P.E.

Sources/References:

Here Are Some of the Digital Twins for Digital Cities Projects Bentley Has Worked On:

If you are interested in taking our FREE CMAP Diagnostic Case Study, please email Betty at >> betty@engineeringmanagementinstitute.org

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are 5 Important Points Engineers Should Always Seek Up-Front for Proposal Writing Success:

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Scott About Providing Drone Services:

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Drone Services:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some of the questions I ask Muzamil Husain:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode about managing mega civil engineering projects:

Here are some of the questions I ask Davide:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on the UN SDGs and the ICE Global Engineering Congress:

Here are some of the questions I ask Kristina on sustainable infrastructure:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on sustainable infrastructure:

Here are some of the questions I ask our guests on impacting the world through these special projects:

Here are some of the questions I ask about the Mount Rushmore National Memorial:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

Here are some of the questions I ask Scott:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on Construction Cost Estimating: