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In episode 120 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, you are going to hear interviews from my recent visit to the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Structures Congress. The interviews will cover both technical and professional development topics related to civil and structural engineering as well as personal development including effective communication skills for engineers.
This is the second of a two part series. The first part can be found here on our new sister podcast The Structural Engineering Channel which you can find in iTunes here.
Engineering Quotes:
Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Our Guests in This Episode:
- Can you explain what performance-based design is related to structural engineering?
- Tell us about how getting involved in ASCE has helped your career?
- What insights could you give civil engineers in terms of working with structural engineers?
- What does community resilience mean?
- Can you provide us with an example of community resilience?
Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About the Structural Engineering Industry:
- Performance-based design is an overarching terminology for a different mindset in the way that the engineer approaches their design. It allows you to consider what you are actually after, and then design it in a method that the structural engineer sees as the right path to go.
- The nice thing about performance-based design is that it makes you think of all aspects of how your design affects society and the stakeholders.
- Performance-based design has a lot of potential in other areas of engineering as well.
- As a manager in engineering, your ability to work and connect with people is extremely important.
- Don’t delay the process to get involved with your professional association as this can dramatically advance your career.
- We can’t prevent hazards from occurring, the wind from blowing, or earthquakes from happening, but we can do a lot to prevent hazards from becoming disastrous.
- When it comes to community disasters resilience, it is important for example, not to just think of a single building in isolation. You should also think about how it is supporting the people in the community around it.
- Community resilience is in its infancy/research stages. There is definitely a design component to it it that really fits in with performance-based design. Here you are not just designing to provide occupants’ safety, but you are designing it to prevent damage.
More details in this episode…
About our Guests
Kevin J. LaMalva, P.E.
Kevin J. LaMalva, P.E. has a dual registration in both fire protection engineering and civil engineering, and has worked at SGH since 2007. Referenced by industry as a “luminary” and “champion,” he is Past Chair of the ASCE/SEI Fire Protection Committee, and is a member of numerous industry committees that conduct research and develop standards for structural fire safety.
Mathew K. Picardal, P.E.
Mathew’s project portfolio includes the design of podium, commercial, office, retail, mixed-use, hospitality, residential, religious, and K-12 projects. His knowledge of wood, concrete, steel, and preferred construction techniques allow him to help clients meet their objectives by providing solutions that are efficient, practical, and profitable. Matthew also has a YouTube channel called Structural Engineer Life through which he helps young structural engineering students and professionals learn about the technical skills required to design projects, and the soft skills necessary to communicate their solutions and manage people and projects. Mathew is also a co-host of EMI’s new podcast The Structural Engineering Channel, which you can find on iTunes.
Alexis Clark, E.I.T
Alexis Clark, E.I.T, is the Structural Engineering Trade Manager at Hilti North America. In her time at Hilti, she has been a leader in several initiatives outside of her role, including the inception of an outreach program for technical services team members, serving as an ambassador for a female-driven career pathing program, and the development and field testing of innovative design software. Alexis graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2014, where she served as American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter President, Concrete Canoe Captain, and other leadership roles. She and the UT-Austin Student Chapter received national recognition in 2014 under her leadership team.
Dr. Elaina Sutley
Dr. Elaina Sutley is an assistant professor in structural engineering at the University of Kansas. Elaina is a researcher in the NIST-funded Center for Risk-Based Community Resilience Planning, where she leads the field study and housing recovery modeling efforts. She is the chair of the Structural Engineering Institute Design of Wood Structures Committee. Elaina is also the balloteer for the ASCE 7 Wind Load Subcommittee, and the chair of the NSF Natural Hazard Engineering Research Infrastructure User Forum, as well as an active member on other SEI and ASCE committees.
Sources/References:
The State of the Structural Engineering Industry from the ASCE SEI Structures Congress Part 1
The Structural Engineering Channel Podcast (iTunes)
CSI, Computers and Structures, Inc
Engineering Management Accelerator Workshop (Online) | 5 PDHs
Structural Engineer Life YouTube
SEI Structures Congress
The Institution of Structural Engineers – IStructE
Younger Members | ASCE
TCEP 082: One Civil Engineer’s Passion for Culture and Community
NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology
Community Resilience Planning Guide | NIST
Sponsors
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This episode is also brought to you by Maser Consulting P.A. is 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.
Please leave your comments or questions in the section below on any questions you might have about the structural engineering industry.
To your success,
Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
