Review Category : Structural Forum

Some of us think of ethical conflicts as having an ideal resolution, where we can discuss the scenario and assign blame to someone who would dare to arrive at a different decision. This is often reinforced by ethics discussions, where we assess a scenario and scoff at how the transgressor should know better and be subjected to punishment. “How can those people be so unethical!” we think to ourselves. However, an ethical conflict is not always a situation where a clear answer is apparent. Therefore, before deciding what the “right” answer is, let’s step back and reassess. What could lead us to make another decision and, by extension, lead another person to make a choice different from ours? Could they still be behaving ethically, and if so, can we define an ethical person solely through their actions, or do we need to understand their decision process? I propose that giving some thought to these issues can be very important in understanding ethics and providing sound mentoring.

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Structural engineers neglect a key tenet of their professional obligation to society – designing for sustainability. While the concept of sustainability spans the social, economic, and environmental domains (the so-called triple bottom line), immediate action in the environmental domain is required in the face of the climate crisis, specifically around greenhouse gas emissions. Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., carbon dioxide and methane) are causing global temperatures to increase, resulting in increased frequency and severity of weather events, impacting infrastructure in the United States and worldwide. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), all sectors, including buildings, must decarbonize (have net-zero carbon emissions) by 2050 to avoid a 1.5 degree C (2.7 degrees F) temperature rise. However, today, the manufacturing of construction materials for buildings contributes to 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, to achieve a decarbonized built environment, structural engineers must consider strength and serviceability when designing structural systems and commit to mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions.

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A Key Aspect of Changing the DEI Landscape in the AEC Professions

As our industry looks for ways to change its landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), many are primarily focused on the upstream end of “the pipeline” and who enters it. While efforts to recruit from and build AEC awareness within our underrepresented communities are of critical importance, we cannot lose sight of the diverse and talented people working alongside us every day. Action is required to ensure they are supported, sponsored, and included in an authentic, meaningful way.

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Lessons Learned for Planning a Successful Structural Investigation

The client is on board, the contract is signed, and all eyes are on you – how can you ensure your upcoming structural investigation is successful? After participating in many on-site investigations from coast to coast, here are some tips for successful planning and execution from the author’s perspective as a young engineer beginning to lead project teams.

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On April 29, 2021, I attended a virtual meeting of SEAoNY’s President’s Breakfast Roundtable: Engineering Post-Pandemic. In my assigned break-out room, I listened to the attendees talk about the push for “sustainability” and, to achieve this goal, “optimization” of structural framing. This article discusses the evolution of engineering over the past decades and notes the consequences of misunderstanding “optimization.” It reiterates my observation that a lack of 3-D structural framing systems resulted in damage to many structures during the 1994 Northridge earthquake. These structures were pulled apart in the same manner as they were designed – that is, as a collection of two-dimensional vertical and horizontal planes of framing.

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Structural engineers make ethical choices every day. Many decisions are engrained in engineering practice and become second nature, such as ensuring the safety of the public through sound design and engaging in honest business practices. In addition, engineers work to ensure equitable and inclusive work environments and uphold professional codes of ethics. We do our best. But is that good enough?

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There seems to be a lot of angst among structural engineers about our profession, a general notion that we do not get the credit that we deserve or the proper amount of respect from the public. It is as if we work in the Rodney Dangerfield of professions, “I don’t get no respect.” However, having recently read Samuel C. Florman’s book, The Existential Pleasures of Engineering, first published in 1976, it is clear that our concerns for our profession are not new. Many of the concerns Florman had 44 years ago continue to this day, such as not attracting enough of the best and brightest students, engineering education being too technical, lack of passion for our work, lack of exposure for engineers in popular culture such as novels or movies, and not getting the same respect as other professions. Since then, other concerns have developed, such as not retaining talent, not adopting new technology quickly enough, and being replaced by technology.

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Having graduated from college into my first job as an engineer a mere 45 years ago, I experienced the things I write about here. Although not easy, I am happy to say that I still love to come in to work and perform engineering. I have worked for four Companies over my career, all good Companies. I started with an ENR Top 10 Engineering firm and have moved to smaller and, for me, more intimate Companies each time I took a new position. I felt that by working for smaller companies, my contributions would have more impact on my clients. Here are a few things that served me well as I began my career and have held up as I advise young engineers on traditional structural engineering career paths. This article was initially prepared and delivered to Dr. Joseph M. Plecnik’s Professional Practices Class (CE481) at California State University, Long Beach, in March 2007 and has been updated for publication here. Dr. Plecnik was the author’s favorite Professor at CSULB.

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Structural engineering is a stressful profession, especially for young engineers. The construction industry is highly competitive regardless of your niche in it, and clients are always looking for designs to be maximally efficient and executed as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, projects run even faster today than they did a decade ago, leaving less time for young engineers to learn how to produce quality work quickly and communicate effectively with their clients.
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STRUCTURE magazine