In this competitive international economy, the demand for educated talent is growing. As such, it makes sense that the United States should strive to reduce the expense of education. However, the current trend reflects skyrocketing costs. …
Eureka is the moment when someone (an Innovator) suddenly realizes that information organized into a new pattern solves a problem or gives new insight. Eureka moments have occurred frequently in engineering, science, medicine, law, economics, and all other areas of study. Many engineers mention Eureka moments experienced when facing an apparently insoluble design, construction, or failure problem. …
Being a young engineer can seem incredibly daunting. You are surrounded by professionals who tell you “that is not how I did it when I was in your position.” While I have several years until I can obtain my P.E. license, many of my coworkers and supervisors have their professional licenses. They recognize that, as a young engineer, I have a lot to learn. They have been exceptional at teaching me through involvement on projects and inclusion in conversations. When not in the office, though, I expand my knowledge base with my involvement in professional societies such as ASCE and NCSEA, and their respective young member groups. …
Thoughts from an E.I.T.
I believe engineering is one of the most important professions in a civilized society. Similar to the way the public relies on medical professionals to keep us healthy and to prevent injury and illness, the public relies on the professional engineer to design safe structures and equipment. Engineers improve the lives of people across the globe. We wake up to an alarm clock (electrical engineer). We take a car, bus, train, or bike (mechanical engineer) on highways, over bridges, and through tunnels (civil engineer). …
A recent internet meme titled “Trust Me, I’m An Engineer” shows a photo of a severely-damaged concrete column. To remedy gaping vertically-oriented cracks, someone wrapped the column with kitchen-grade cellophane. The caption reads, “Don’t worry; we’re safe – I fixed it.” …
The First Three Rules of Construction
One thing savvy contractors have learned is that the first three rules of the construction phase of a project are document, document, and document.
Unfortunately, too many engineers do not adequately document construction activities. The problem with this is the old maxim, “If it is not in writing, it did not happen.” Though there is wisdom in this old maxim, it does not tell the engineer what to document or how to document. …
How Should the SER Respond?
Structural Engineers of Record (SER) should all be well trained by insurance providers and legal professionals to avoid the realm of means and methods of construction – that sometimes grey area where the contractor is responsible for temporarily supporting partially erected structural elements even though they may not fully understand the statics of force transfer, temporary construction loads, and effects of environmental loads that may occur. …
There are questions in life that become routine. Where do you live? How old are you? What do you do for a living?
There are also questions specifically directed to our profession. What is structural engineering? Does that mean you are an architect? What type of structures do you design? …
Historically, societies have placed a high value on professionals, trusting that those who possess the higher knowledge associated therewith will serve the interests of society with that knowledge. But now, perhaps due to political or economic pressures, we find society struggling to determine the value of having licensed, regulated professional engineers. …
Structural engineers understand the significant role ductility plays in the design of structural elements to resist earthquake forces. We recognize structural systems with higher ductility perform better than less ductile systems in an earthquake. The building codes characterize different lateral force resisting systems by their ability to yield, deform, and absorb energy under load. The ductility factor, or “R” factor, is critical in determining design loads and in understanding the response a structure may go through during ground shaking. …