110-Corrosion Control and Tactics
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course provides an overview of the nature of aqueous corrosion and the variety of standard methods and well-known, but often overlooked tactics, used to control it at least cost. Topics reviewed include some fundamental aspects of electrochemistry related to control methods, brief descriptions of the various forms of attack, effects on corrosion rates of various operating variables, the four classic control methods and some suggested control tactics that the engineer can investigate further for applicability to his or her specific corrosion problem. Several references are cited.
242-What Every Engineer Should Know About Reinforcement Corrosion in Concrete Highway Bridges
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course provides a summary of a topic that is much in the news – the incidence and causes of the deteriorating condition of an important segment of the physical infrastructure in the United States - concrete highway bridges. In these structures the primary cause of damage is corrosion of the embedded steel reinforcement. The course condenses selected information from (20) cited engineering standards, articles and government reports to supply an overview of the topic.
Included are the ways corrosion damage occurs, control methods by which corrosion can be minimized for new construction and during remediation along with several techniques used to assess the extent of existing corrosion damage. The types of construction discussed are traditional rebar in concrete and prestressed bridge members – both pre and post-tensioned. The causes of problems with coated structural steel in bridges that are fully exposed to the atmosphere are briefly reviewed. Much of the information is applicable beyond bridges to other reinforced concrete structures that may experience corrosion of embedded reinforcement.
The learning objectives are to allow professional engineers to gain a basic understanding of how corrosion in reinforced structures occurs and how it may be assessed and controlled.
The course is most suitable for civil, structural and transportation engineers plus persons in other engineering disciples that plan and supervise construction and remediation of concrete structures in which corrosion may be an issue.
070-Solar Power Part I - Design for Small Structures - An Introduction
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Those who take this course will learn about the basic solar power system components. They will learn how the components work together to provide power to supply a small structure. They will learn how to size and select the necessary components based on the power demands. They will understand how the power is generated, what is required to store the power for later use, and the power losses that occur within a system.
195-Solar Power Part II - Design for Grid-Tie Systems - An Introduction
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Detailed course outline with timeline
- 6 Minutes — Introduction, brief history, and current applications
- 26 Minutes - Basic Grid-Tie Concepts
- 16 Minutes — System components
- 15 Minutes — Power Company Disconnects
- 10 Minutes — DC Power Disconnects
- 7 Minutes — Battery Banks
- 16 Minutes — DC Power Circuits
- 11 Minutes — Emergency Power
- 16 Minutes — System Sizing
- 37 Minutes — Solar Panels
- 8 Minutes — Batteries
- 5 Minutes — Charge Controllers
- 11 Minutes — Inverters
- 5 Minutes — Meters
- 7 Minutes — Generators
- 5 Minutes — Summary
- 40 Minutes - The Test
Course objectives
This is a course that begins where the first course "Solar Power Design for Small Structures" ends. You will be introduced to the components needed to connect a solar PV system to the power grid and how they work together to provide power for a building. You will also be provided a quick refresher of the design process.
202-Solar Power Part III - Design Considerations
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Detailed course outline with timeline
- 15 Minutes — Introduction
- 20 Minutes — Components Review
- 10 Minutes — PV Panels
- 35 Minutes — Mounts
- 5 Minutes — PV sizing
- 10 Minutes — Batteries
- 10 Minutes — Charge Controllers
- 15 Minutes — Inverters
- 5 Minutes — Meters, Monitors, Generators
- 30 Minutes — System Wiring
- 10 Minutes — Surge Protectors
- 15 Minutes — Schematics
- 20 Minutes — Emerging Technologies
• 5 Minutes — Summary
- 40 Minutes — The Test
Course objectives
- Those who take this course should already have a basic understanding of a PV system. This course will briefly review and highlight the components and process of designing a solar power system for small structures but does not provide all of the explanations and basic information found in the introductory course (Solar Power Part I to Design for Small Structures - An Introduction). This course provides more details and calculations used when expanding beyond a very basic system and by providing additional information on items not included previously such as surge protectors, battery capacities and their selection, DC appliances, sample solar system schematics, and emerging technologies. This course is intended to build on the Solar Power Part I and Solar Power Part II introductory courses.
089-Solar Power Part IV - Inspecting and Evaluating Systems
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended to provide engineers, designers, or contractors with the knowledge and process for inspecting or evaluating a solar power system in a small structure. We will also look the problems commonly associated with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, brief reviews of the system components and their potential problems, and wiring issues. We will also note those items that you need to perform the inspection.
The course will start "at the beginning" … from the solar panels to the electrical outlets and the components installed along the way. This course is not intended to be all-inclusive in the evaluation and trouble-shooting of a solar PV electrical system but is intended to provide you with knowledge of how to evaluate a system and the typical problems associated with a solar powered system. Obviously, these same principles apply to a system for a larger structure but there is much more involved with larger power systems. Note, that this is not the design course. The design course is entitled "Solar Design for Small Structures" and is also available from SunCam.
155-Solar Power Part V - Installing Systems - An Introduction
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is basically a detailed type of course for contractors and professionals that work closely with contractors or monitor the installations… a guide of what's behind all those component covers, how they are connected, grounded, protected, what goes where, etc. It includes installation tips that many contractors simply aren't familiar with or don't worry about in their haste to complete the job and get paid.
Note: The course assumes that you have a working knowledge of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) design and are familiar with the terminology and components found in a typical system. This course is intended to provide an introduction to the installation of a solar PV system for a small structure. The design and basic explanations of a solar power system are not included in this course but are found in the first two courses:
070-Solar Power Design for Small Structures - An Introduction and 089-Solar Power Systems - Inspecting and Evaluating
Obviously, the course doesn't cover the installation of all the products manufactured today but does cover a complete off-grid solar system installation that can be used as a reference for the different products available today.
Detailed course outline with timeline
- 11 Minutes — Introduction
- 5 Minutes — Safety
- 11 Minutes — Needed Items
- 21 Minutes — Course Project
- 21 Minutes — Panel Mounts
- 37 Minutes — Solar Panels
- 11 Minutes — PV Combiner
- 11 Minutes — Electrical Disconnect Box
- 11 Minutes — Charge Controller
- 12 Minutes — Batteries
- 11 Minutes — Inverter
- 21 Minutes — Breaker Boxes
- 11 Minutes — Grounding
- 5 Minutes — Summary
- 40 Minutes - The Test
080-Gravity Flow in Pipes - The Manning Formula - Part 1
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering and to familiarize the professional engineer with the use of the Manning Formula for solving round pipe problems and the SunCam Manning-Pipe software.
Course Description:
This is a course in gravity flow hydraulics that uses sample problems and small case studies to demonstrate the use of the Manning Formula for solving round pipe problems. To complete the course you will first download your FREE copy of "SunCam Manning-Pipe" software that runs on Microsoft Excel 2000 or later. (After you purchase the course, you will receive the link to download "Manning-Pipe")
The objective of the course is to give engineers the ability to use the information that they know about a gravity flow hydraulics problem to solve for the things that they do not know. This course will provide useful skills, knowledge and insights for civil, sanitary, mechanical and engineers of all disciplines.
150-Open Channel & Box Culvert Flow - The Manning Formula - Part 2
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering and to familiarize the professional engineer with the use of the Manning Formula for solving open channel and box culvert problems and the SunCam Manning-Channel software.
Course Description:
The software will only operate on Excel 2007 or newer.
This is a course in gravity flow hydraulics that uses sample problems and small case studies to demonstrate the use of the Manning Formula for solving open-channel and box culvert problems. To complete the course you will first download your FREE copy of "SunCam Manning-Channel" software that runs on Microsoft Excel® version 2007 or later. (After you purchase the course you will receive the link to download "Manning-Channel")
The objective of the course is to give engineers the ability to use the information that they know about a gravity flow hydraulics problem to solve for the things that they do not know. This course will provide useful skills, knowledge and insights for civil, sanitary, mechanical and engineers of all disciplines.
095-Fundamentals of Concrete
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Written in an easy to understand style, the course Fundamentals of Concrete takes a look at the properties of concrete including its ingredients as well as the nature of the product from its inception at mixing these ingredients to some of the final products. A clear discussion of the ingredients of concrete is included as well as the process that makes the initial slurry change to a hardened structural material. Some of concrete's material properties — such as workability, weight, and strength — are discussed including precautions and factors affecting these properties. The effect of evaporation on newly placed concrete is discussed along with methods to prevent it.
The course continues with a clear discussion of reinforced concrete, stresses in a concrete beam, and reinforcing steel. The principles of pre-cast and post-tensioned beams are discussed with several representative cross sections presented. The course concludes with an introductory discussion of the principles of formwork design.
The course is not a design course but does offer some sample calculations to demonstrate the design criteria involved in the design of reinforced concrete beams and the design of formwork for vertical structures such as walls and columns.
127-Fundamentals of Steel - Part A
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Written in an easy to understand style, the course Fundamentals of Steel — Part A takes a look at steel in an informative and intuitive way — using among other things, a story of a yardstick as a teaching tool. After a brief history of steel in the U. S., and an introduction to the most influential and dominant codes, the manufacturing process of steel is presented. This is followed by a discussion of the most important mechanical properties — and the factors affecting them — of steel including easy-to-understand drawings. Then the various shapes are presented and discussed with clear and easy to follow diagrams. One of the many topics presented is a discussion of how a single nominal sized beam can have the largest member of its class be over 160% times larger than the smallest.
Photos relating to the topics presented include the John Hancock Building in Chicago.
The course is not a design course. It does however offer some sample calculations to demonstrate the material properties and the design criteria for steel members.
Fundamentals of Steel — Part B, a companion course, continues on with a look at how the shapes are used in the field with an emphasis on connections — both welded and bolted. Bar joists are discussed. Some of the very serious weaknesses of structural steel are discussed including methods of protecting against these weaknesses.
128-Fundamentals of Steel - Part B
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Written in an easy to understand style, the course Fundamentals of Steel — Part B takes a look at steel in an informative and intuitive way — using among other things, a story of a pop can as a teaching tool. This course will look at how the shapes are used in the field with an emphasis on connections — both bolted and welded. Bar joists — perhaps the most common built-up member — are discussed. Structural carbon steel has some serious weaknesses. These are also discussed including methods of protecting against these weaknesses.
Connections — both welds and high strength bolts — are discussed. The concepts behind their function and simple sample problems are presented to demonstrate the very complex workings of steel connections.
Photos relating to the topics presented include the John Hancock Building in Chicago, the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Lambeau Field in Green Bay, and the Mackinac Bridge over the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, as well as others.
The course is not a design course. But it does offer some sample calculations to demonstrate the criteria involved in the design of high strength bolted and welded steel connections.
Fundamentals of Steel — Part A is not required as a pre-requisite to this course. It would however be helpful to understand the basic principles of the most important mechanical properties of steel as well as the common nomenclature associated with steel as presented in Part A of this series.
203-What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures - Part A - Statics Fundamentals
4 $9.95 This is our Featured Course of the week.
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Written in an easy to understand style, the course What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures Part A — Statics Fundamentals focuses on presenting simplified methods of calculations, and the presentation of intuitive methods for the understanding and solving of basic statics problems. Statics is fundamental to the field of engineering mechanics — including structural analysis and design. Included among the many topics covered are loads and forces on members; how to deal with uniformly varying distributed loads; solving equilibrium equations using an intuitive and simple method where up equals down and left equals right; and simplifying assumptions to determine the forces necessary to keep an extension ladder from sliding down a wall. Many example problems are worked with simple and easy to understand diagrams. Newton's three laws of motion are presented and reduced to two for use in statics.
This course is not a design course. However the methods and techniques presented can be used to determine the forces in many common structures including storage shelves in the garage, the support forces of an NFL player's bench, and drifting snow loads on a porch roof.
Anyone who has taken high school trig and algebra can complete this course.
What Every Engineer should Know About Structures Part B — Statics Applications, the second in a series, continues on with a look at how the fundamentals are applied to solving real-life statics problems. Included are sections on reactions; friction; forces in truss members; forces in cables used to support traffic lights hanging over intersections; and the huge mechanical advantages gained by using pulleys and sheaves.
Optional Supplemental Material
Basic Trigonometry, Significant Figures, and Rounding — A Quick Review is a zero credit course intended for those who might find themselves a bit rusty and would like a quick refresher. The information in the course is useful for application to the solution of structural problems especially in the fields of statics and strength of materials.
This course is free and can be downloaded here.
The trigonometry review includes demonstrating - through the use of several example problems — the use of the basic trigonometric functions including: the sine, cosine and tangent and their inverse; the Pythagorean Theorem; the Sum of the Angles; the Law of Sines; and the Law of Cosines. The significant figures and rounding review includes a discussion of the precision and validity of an answer, along with rules and guidelines for using the appropriate number of significant figures, and for rounding answers appropriately.
207-What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures - Part B - Statics Applications
4 $29.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Written in an easy to understand style, the course What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures Part B — Statics Applications is a logical extension of the previous course in the series, What Every Engineer should Know About Structures Part A — Statics Fundamentals.
Where the first course in the series, "Part A — Statics Fundamentals", presented the fundamental principles of statics including nomenclature, definitions, Newton's Laws, and procedural methods, this course, "Part B — Statics Applications", applies the principles learned to real-life problems.
The course is divided into five sections. Included are sections on calculating reactions for beams, trusses, and frames; determining forces in truss members; calculating the different forces is a single cable supporting point and distributed loads; presenting the basics of friction; and understanding the principles of sheaves and pulleys.
Statics is fundamental to the field of engineering mechanics — including structural analysis and design. Included among the many topics covered are discussions of the uncertainties of design loads, why utility linemen are careful to sight along a line when making a final hook-up, and why simplifications in stating a statics problem is an acceptable and common practice. Many example problems are worked with simple and easy to understand diagrams and calculations.
This course is not a design course. However the methods and techniques presented can be used to determine the forces in many common structures including metal building frames, traffic light suspension cables, and multi-line hoisting systems, as well as to determine the minimum lean angle of an extension ladder as limited by friction.
Anyone who has completed the first course in this series can complete this course.
Basic Trigonometry, Significant Figures, and Rounding — A Quick Review is a zero credit course intended for those who might find themselves a bit rusty and would like a quick refresher. The information in the course is useful for application to the solution of structural problems especially in the fields of statics and strength of materials.
This course is free and can be downloaded by clicking the link below.
/authors/123Glon/TRIG.pdf
The trigonometry review includes demonstrating - through the use of several example problems — the use of the basic trigonometric functions including: the sine, cosine and tangent and their inverse; the Pythagorean Theorem; the Sum of the Angles; the Law of Sines; and the Law of Cosines. The significant figures and rounding review includes a discussion of the precision and validity of an answer, along with rules and guidelines for using the appropriate number of significant figures, and for rounding answers appropriately.
261-What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures - Part C - Axial Strength of Materials
4 $29.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Written in an easy to understand style, the course What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures - Part C – Axial Strength of Materials is the third course in the series of courses in the
field of study called engineering mechanics. This course focuses on presenting simplified methods of calculations, and the presentation of intuitive methods for the understanding and solving of basic problems. The
course contains 18 solved example problems to illustrate the principles discussed.
This Course Includes:
- stress and strain in a member, and their relationship, including material properties such as Hooke's Law and modulus of elasticity;
- axial loads in tension and compression, including deformation;
- shear stresses, including shear modulus of elasticity, single and double shear, and punching shear;
- design stresses and factors of safety;
- temperature deformation and thermal stresses, and;
- cross sectional properties of structural members including determining the centroid of a cross section.
The first two courses in the series, called Statics, focused on solving problems related to the exterior (or externally) applied loads on a stationary body - a body at rest. It is expected that
you have a good background in the study of Statics. If you are not familiar with statics, consider taking the two SunCam courses titled What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures Part A – Statics
Fundamentals and What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures Part B – Statics Applications.
Significant Figures, Rounding, and the Solution of a Statics Problem – A Quick Review is a zero credit course intended for those who might find themselves a bit rusty and would like a quick refresher.
The information in the course is useful for application to the solution of structural problems especially in the fields of statics and strength of materials. This course is free and can be downloaded at: Statistics PDF.
274-What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures - Part D - Bending Strength Of Materials
4 $29.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Written in an easy to understand style, the course What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures - Part D - Bending Strength of Materials is the
fourth course in the series of courses in the field of study called engineering mechanics. This course focuses on presenting intuitive methods for the understanding of basic principles of forces
and stresses in beams. And solutions to basic problems with simplified methods of calculations. The course contains 19 solved example problems and additional drawings to illustrate the principles discussed.
Part D Includes:
- Cross sectional properties of structural members including defining and determining the Moment of Inertia and Section Modulus of a cross section.
- Torsional stresses and deformations of rods and shafts.
- Shear and bending moment diagrams of beams.
- Bending stresses in loaded beams.
- Shear stresses in loaded beams.
The first two courses in the series, titled What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures - Part A – Statics Fundamentals and What Every Engineer
Should Know About Structures - Part B – Statics Applications focused on solving problems related to the exterior (or externally) applied loads on a stationary body - a body at rest. The third course in the series,
titled What Every Engineer Should Know About Structures - Part C – Axial Strength of Materials, focuses on what happens inside a structural member, including stresses
and strains, axial deformation, factors of safety, thermal deformations, and properties of cross sectional areas.
It is expected that you have a good background in the material covered in the three previous courses. If you do not, consider taking the three SunCam courses for Part A, Part B, and Part C.
Loads, Supports, and Assumptions – A Quick Review is a zero credit course intended for those who might find themselves a bit rusty and would like a quick
refresher. The information in the course is useful for application to the solution of structural problems especially in the fields of statics and strength of materials. This quick review course is free and can be downloaded:
Supports PDF.
115-Mechanically Stabilized Earth Structures - Part 1
4 $29.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
The mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall course provides an introductory lesson addressing the basics of MSE wall design. The course, which has been separated into three parts, covers the following topics:
- Part 1 - History of MSE Structures (ancient and modern).
- Part 1 - Industry Design Methods and Programs.
- Part 1 - Segmental Block and Reinforcement Products.
- Part 2 - Failure Modes.
- Part 2 - Civil Design Considerations.
- Part 2 - Geotechnical Engineering Considerations and Soils Testing.
- Part 2 - Why Do MSE Walls Fail?
- Part 3 - Detailed hand calculation.
The course is geared toward engineers who practice in the civil, geotechnical, surveying and structural disciplines.
116-Mechanically Stabilized Earth Structures - Part 2
4 $29.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
The mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall course provides an introductory lesson addressing the basics of MSE wall design. The course, which has been separated into three parts, covers the following topics:
- Part 1 - History or MSE Structures (ancient and modern).
- Part 1 - Industry Design Methods and Programs.
- Part 1 - Segmental Block and Reinforcement Products.
- Part 2 - Failure Modes.
- Part 2 - Civil Design Considerations.
- Part 2 - Geotechnical Engineering Considerations and Soils Testing.
- Part 2 - Why Do MSE Walls Fail?
- Part 3 - Detailed hand calculation.
The course is geared toward engineers who practice in the civil, geotechnical, surveying and structural disciplines.
117-Mechanically Stabilized Earth Structures - Part 3
4 $29.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
The mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall course provides an introductory lesson addressing the basics of MSE wall design. The course, which has been separated into three parts, covers the following topics:
- Part 1 - History or MSE Structures (ancient and modern).
- Part 1 - Industry Design Methods and Programs.
- Part 1 - Segmental Block and Reinforcement Products.
- Part 2 - Failure Modes.
- Part 2 - Civil Design Considerations.
- Part 2 - Geotechnical Engineering Considerations and Soils Testing.
- Part 2 - Why Do MSE Walls Fail?
- Part 3 - Detailed hand calculation.
The course is geared toward engineers who practice in the civil, geotechnical, surveying and structural disciplines.
130-Introduction to GIS and GPS for Engineers and Surveyors - Part 1
4 $29.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course provides an overview of Geographical Information Science and Systems (GIS) as it pertains to the engineer and surveyor. The engineering incorporates the science into everything from utility mapping to plume modeling to tackling water quality issues within multiple heterogeneous watersheds. An increase in model visualizations, accuracies, and overall productivities are the result of incorporating GIS into engineering applications. The United States Global Positioning System (GPS) is used increasingly by professional surveyors, and is a means of collecting data for use within a GIS. This course is meant to familiarize engineers and surveyors with the terminology and industry lingo used by GIS Professionals such that those composing responses to Requests for Qualifications or Proposals can better understand the scope of GIS or GPS services they need, or be asked to provide, and whether they have the in-house talent to perform such services. A glossary of common terms used in this field is provided at the end of the course.
In addition to an introduction to Geographical Information Science and its terminology, the functions of a GIS will be outlined. Real-world engineering applications using GIS will be discussed. Other topics of importance include: referencing data to a coordinate system, working with scales and resolutions, and recognizing GIS data and metadata formats. GIS data collection means, including the use of GPS and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) will be introduced. GPS technology, including data correction systems and accuracies as compared to traditional surveying, will also be discussed. The course also contains a short overview of the more popular GIS and GPS software and hardware. This is not a "how-to" course on making maps or analyzing data. Instead, it is meant to 1) be a practical introduction to geospatial concepts for those deciding whether to integrate the skills into their career, 2) provide a knowledge base for purchasing software or hardware needed to get started, and 3) entertain those who simply desire a basic conversational language and understanding of the world of GIS and GPS.
215-GIS - Beyond the Basics: Web Maps and File Sharing Services - Part 2
7 $47.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course discusses online resources and data sharing techniques for engineers using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). It is for those wanting to increase their technical skills or stay competitive in a world with an ever increasing move towards Cloud-based computing and technology, all while earning continuing education credits. The course is written in a (somewhat) technical nature for the engineer. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to connect to various GIS servers, how to use online services, and finally, how to prepare maps and data for sharing either among peers, or as a type of service to the public. This course demonstrates the benefits of accessing online web map services through an example tailored for engineers that allows them to follow along using their own computers.
To this end, this course offers background information and explanations for why a user would follow the steps prescribed. It explores the benefits as well as challenges in using online mapping services. The reader is introduced to ESRI's ArcGIS for Server and ArcGIS Online. A glossary of terms relevant to this course is provided for infrequent users of ArcGIS who may need a refresher or an explanation of the new terms presented herein. In addition, the author provides user-friendly tips for how to manipulate GIS services, and directs the reader to other online help options. Sidebar information provides additional insight into the background and current uses of GIS services, as well as server limitations. The course was written with the intent that it could be used as a reference guide for office and field engineers, project managers, and others needing access to these services. Hopefully, it is as interesting to the reader as it is informative. The reader does not need an ArcGIS license for this course, but is encouraged to preview the course introduction for assumptions made with regards to its intended level of audience.
171-Design of Sand Filters & Bioretention Systems
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended for engineers who are involved in land use projects requiring stormwater control. It explains the problem of controlling stormwater quality and lists several methods that can be used to provide this control.
The overall objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive design guide to two major types of stormwater control features: sand filters and bioretention systems. It includes descriptions of each of these systems along with the limitations of each and the maintenance required for each. The course includes standard details and representative photos of both sand filters and bioretention systems.
172-Design of Constructed Stormwater Wetlands
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended for engineers who are involved in land use projects requiring stormwater control. It describes the design, installation, and maintenance of constructed stormwater wetlands.
The overall objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive design guide to constructed stormwater wetlands. A design of vegetated filter strips is also included as well as a discussion of water budget calculations. The course describes a variety of types of constructed wetlands and includes a discussion of adaptations that need to be made to them in unusual situations.
243-Soil Erosion & Sediment Control Plans
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended for engineers who are involved in land use projects that disturb the soil, including construction, mining, and other activities. It presents an overview of soil erosion and sediment control plans and describes several specific practices in detail.
The overall objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive description of soil erosion and sediment control plans and to familiarize the reader with the most commonly-employed practices. In addition, it presents detailed information on a number of soil erosion control practices and describes how and when to use them.
227-Earthwork Basics and a Traditional Calculation Method
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is developed to identify the basics of earthwork and to explain a "traditional" method of performing earthwork analysis via hand calculations. This study is for those who are not experienced with earthwork, earthwork calculations and earthwork equipment.
Additionally, it is intended to be a helpful a refresher and source to anyone who has worked in Civil Engineering and/or Land Development looking for a resource discussing earthwork basics. Earthwork analysis is an important topic for any Civil Engineer involved in roadway and land development to understand associated with their required design. This course will focus more on site analysis than on the analysis required to economically determine the elevation of highways through mountainous regions.
This course will also expose the student to the basic equipment used in the construction field associated with earthwork.
196-Structural Concepts for Non-Structural Engineers
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Structural Concepts for Non-Structural Engineers is a course designed to promote understanding of why structures work the way that they do, and why they are designed the way that they are.
It is a course for people that do not have a heavy background in structural design, such as Electrical Engineers, Mechanical (HVAC) Engineers, and Architects.
It is, perhaps, a review for people who have studied structures in college, but have not been seriously involved with it since.
201-Electrical Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Electrical Engineers
4 $29.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Electrical Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Electrical Engineers is a course designed to promote an understanding of the fundamentals of electricity. The course covers the differences between Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) power sources by explaining the behavior of the voltage and current for both types of sources. The fundamental circuit building blocks including resistors, capacitors and inductors are covered including their behavior in series and parallel circuits as well as transient analysis. The course covers Ohm's law and Kirchoff's Laws and their application to performing circuit analysis. This course also includes a brief introduction to imaginary numbers and phasors as related to current, voltage, and impedance.
It is designed as a course for engineers that either have not had a substantial amount of electrical training or it has been some time since receiving that training. The course offers easy to read graphs, real world examples, and sample problems to promote understanding.
180-Asbestos Fundamentals
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
The reader will learn what asbestos is, how it is used, and how it becomes dangerous to humans. You will have a basic understanding of asbestos in construction, the methods used to abate it, and the requirements of the United States (US) law for doing so. You will also learn how certain demolitions and renovations are regulated by US law in order to protect the public and the industry workers. Throughout the course material there will be comments regarding the desirable green or sustainable philosophy. An environmentally friendly ideology, action, standard, or process, which is more stringent than the law or regular construction standards and has a higher sensitivity toward human life or health will be herein deemed to be "green".
208-Future Highways - Automated Vehicles
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
It has been approximately 100 years since the motorized vehicle replaced the horse and buggy. The future of highway transportation is now undergoing another major revolution as engineers across numerous disciplines (transportation, automotive, technology, etc.) work towards moving the responsibility of driving the automobile from human to machine, see figure. The development of cars driven completely without aid by a human driver (i.e., driverless cars), commonly referred to as 'automated' vehicles, will certainly give more appropriate meaning to the term 'auto'-mobile.
Example of a future highway
Source: USDOT
In this course, you will learn about:
- the terminology being used in the field of automated highway vehicles,
- examples of government legislation being implemented to facilitate the future of automated vehicles,
- the technologies being used in automated vehicles,
- automated vehicle engineering research and standards under development, and
- potential impacts of automated vehicles on traffic flow and roadway design.
226-Introduction to Thermal Imaging
2 $45.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Modern day technology allows us to see in the dark. Thermal imaging is the technology that identifies and records images that are not visible by the human eye by using specialized equipment. These images represent the infrared radiation emitted by the object.
This course will provide a background on the discovery of infrared energy and an overview of the electromagnetic spectrum. It will define key terms and concepts related to thermal imaging. It will explain the types of thermal imaging equipment and night vision technologies.
Traditionally used in military and security operations, thermal imaging has expanded to other industries. Examples will be provided for the application of thermal imaging in the manufacturing and healthcare industries as well as building inspections. Finally, this course will distinguish between the levels of professional certifications for thermographers.
131-An Introduction to Pavement Construction - Part 1 - Concrete
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
A brief introduction to concrete pavement construction covering pavement types, ingredients and mix designs, pavement uses, methods of paving, paving equipment, and recent changes in the industry and their benefits.
After completion the reader should have a basic understanding of the standard methods of concrete paving and the associated equipment needed. Additionally, which construction methods and equipment choices are more suitable for specific pavement types and applications. Lastly, what latest technological, social, and economic factors are changing the traditional perception of concrete pavement and are making concrete pavement a more desirable choice to alternate paving types.
From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient paving designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
262-An Introduction to Pavement Construction - Part 2 - Asphalt
2 $45.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
A brief introduction to asphalt pavement construction covering pavement types, ingredients and mix designs, pavement uses, methods of paving, paving equipment, and recent changes in the industry and their benefits.
After completion, the reader should have a basic understanding of the standard methods of asphalt paving and the associated equipment needed. Additionally, which construction methods and equipment choices are more suitable for specific pavement types and applications. Lastly, what latest technological, social, and economic factors are changing the traditional perception of asphalt pavement and are making asphalt pavement a more desirable choice to alternate paving types.
From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient paving designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
086-Introduction to Storm Sewer Design
2 $45.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course explains in detail the basic principles of storm sewer design and is intended for design persons with little or no previous practical experience. It covers use of the Rational Method to determine peak flow rates from various sites and Manning's Equation to analyze open channel flow. Insight into the design process from the author's long career as a drainage engineering professional is woven into the fabric of the course.
After you purchase the course, you will receive a link for downloading the Excel spreadsheet.
149-Precast Segmental Bridge Construction - Part 1 - An Introduction
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
A brief introduction to Precast Segmental Bridge Construction covering Casting Segments, Precast Substructure Erection, Precast Superstructure Erection — Span-by-Span Method, and Precast Superstructure Erection — Balanced Cantilever Method.
After completion the reader should have: a basic understanding of these methods of bridge construction and the associated equipment needed, a basic understanding of which construction methods and equipment choices are more suitable for specific bridge applications, and lastly, a basic understanding of how these choices can affect the cost, schedule, quality, and safety of a project.
From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient bridge designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
Future courses that further detail each process will be available to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this type of bridge construction.
229-Precast Segmental Bridge Construction - Part 2 - Span by Span Erection Method
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
A follow on course to Precast Segmental Bridge Construction – An Introduction providing more detailed information on the Span-by-Span method of erection. Topics covered in the course include: Erection Equipment, Lifting and Transporting Segments, Truss Placement, Erection Geometry, Span Erection, and Stressing and Grouting.
After completion the reader should have: a better understanding of the span-by-span method of bridge construction and the associated equipment needed, an understanding of the staging and some details of the phases to complete bridge spans, and lastly, the understanding of the method will assist the engineer in cost, schedule, quality, and safety decisions of a project.
From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient bridge designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
Future courses that further detail other segmental bridge processes will be available to provide a more comprehensive understanding of each type of bridge construction.
230-Precast Segmental Bridge Construction - Part 3 - Stressing and Grouting
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
A follow on course to Precast Segmental Bridge Construction – An Introduction providing more detailed information on the Post-tensioning Stressing and Grouting operations. Topics covered in the course include: Brief introduction narrative, Common Terms and Definitions, Stressing operations outline, and Grouting operations outline.
After completion the reader should have: a better understanding of the post-tensioning stressing and grouting operations and the associated equipment needed, an understanding of the staging and some details of the phases to complete bridge spans, testing requirements and procedures, and lastly, the understanding of these operations will assist the engineer in cost, schedule, quality, and safety decisions of a project.
From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient bridge designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
Future courses that further detail other segmental bridge processes will be available to provide a more comprehensive understanding of each type of bridge construction.
233-Precast Segmental Bridge Construction - Part 4 - Balanced Cantilever Erection Method
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
A follow on course to Precast Segmental Bridge Construction – An Introduction providing more detailed information on the Balanced Cantilever method of erection. Topics covered in the course include: Erection Equipment, Lifting and Transporting Segments, "Table-Top" Fabrication and Erection, Erection Geometry, Balanced Cantilever Erection, and Stressing and Grouting.
After completion the reader should have: a better understanding of the balanced cantilever method of bridge construction and the associated equipment needed, an understanding of the staging and some details of the phases to complete bridge spans, and lastly, the understanding of the method will assist the engineer in cost, schedule, quality, and safety decisions of a project.
From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient bridge designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
Future courses that further detail other segmental bridge processes will be available to provide a more comprehensive understanding of each type of bridge construction.
264-Precast Segmental Bridge Construction - Part 5 - Precast Segment Manufacturing
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
A follow-on course to Precast Segmental Bridge Construction – An Introduction providing more detailed information on manufacturing bridge precast segments. Topics covered in the course include: Casting Equipment, Site Selection, Segment Formwork, Lifting and Transporting Segments, Concrete Placing and Finishing, Casting Geometry, and Stressing and Grouting.
After completion the reader should have a better understanding of the manufacturing and the associated equipment needed to precast bridge segments for erection, and an understanding of the staging and some details for acceptance of precast materials. Lastly, the understanding of the pre-casting method will assist the engineer in cost, schedule, quality, and safety decisions of a project.
From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient bridge designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
Future courses that further detail other segmental bridge processes will be available to provide a more comprehensive understanding of each type of bridge construction.
162-Introduction to Compound Channel Flow Analysis for Floodplains
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Cross-sections of natural and restored waterways are generally composite compound channels as opposed to single geometric shapes with one constant roughness. This course covers eight composite compound channel analysis methods. Differences between the methods and typical applications of each method are discussed. The course also provides example calculations for each method. A few common hydraulic software programs are briefly introduced and the concepts and analysis methods they utilize are discussed.
170-Horizontal Curve Design To Prevent the Rollover of Heavy Trucks
1 $22.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Heavy trucks, such as tractor-trailers and tanker trucks could rollover at speeds that are less than the design speed of the curve they are traveling on. Friction factors that have been established for design of horizontal curves may not be satisfactory for heavy trucks. This course will provide the highway engineer with the information necessary to check horizontal curves against the special needs of heavy trucks.
179-Interchange Ramp Characteristics - Selection and Design
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course will give the highway/interchange designer information that will aid them in producing a safe and economical interchange design.
The types of mainline ramp terminals are reviewed, so that the most appropriate terminal, for a specific project can be selected. There is also a section on connection ramps and loop ramps. The question, can a two-lane loop ramp replace an expensive connection ramp, is addressed in this course.
Due to economic and environmental constraints, most new or reconstructed interchanges are forced to be designed using minimum criteria. Therefore, also included is a section on the propensity of heavy trucks to rollover on small radius curves. This material is also covered separately in 170-Horizontal Curve Design To Prevent the Rollover of Heavy Trucks.
200-Design of Suburban Highways
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Suburban arterial and collector highways are often the most difficult to design. They serve densely populated residential areas that are usually bordered by continuous commercial development. This type of environment creates numerous closely spaced driveways and intersections. These roadways must not only accommodate vehicular traffic including, passenger cars, trucks and buses, but also provide for bicyclists and comply with the ADA requirements for pedestrians.
This course will provide the Highway Engineer with information that will aid in designing an economical and safe suburban highway.
250-Project Management Through Client Management
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended to provide professionals with a different perspective in Project Management by addressing the Client’s needs in a Project Manager. The course will discuss the attributes that Clients expect and demand from the Professional that will be managing the project development.
The course will start with assessing the client, the project, and the professional's qualifications. This is followed by discussions of some of the client’s expectations, contracts, communications, relationships, and more. So many professionals fall short of what a client is looking for because the professional is focused on the technical aspects of the design and lose sight of the overall project development. This course is for all of those that honestly want to be a truly effective Project Manager for their Client and their company.
Detailed course outline with timeline
- 7 Minutes – Contents and Introduction
- 25 Minutes – Assessments
- 14 Minutes – Expectations
- 23 Minutes – Cheap Fast Good
- 11 Minutes – Contracts
- 18 Minutes – Schedule
- 24 Minutes – Communications
- 12 Minutes – Responsiveness
- 11 Minutes – Relationships
- 12 Minutes – Roles
- 14 Minutes – Multiple Clients
- 18 Minutes – Invoices
- 11 Minutes – Summary
- 40 Minutes - The Test
This course is an introduction on how to manage a project through managing the client.
Have you ever met a Project Manager that stated publicly that he's not a good project manager? Of course not! Every Project Manager believes he is a good manager. Part of being a good Project Manager includes working with the Client in the concept development, design, permitting, and construction process. Not working effectively with the Client in any one of these stages will pretty much eliminate you from future work with this Client. This course is for all of those that honestly want to be a truly effective Project Manager for their Client and their company.
269-An Introduction to Due Diligence Reports for Development Projects
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This course is intended to provide professionals with an introduction to the research conducted and the submittal required for a Due Diligence Report of a Development Project. The course will discuss the process for preparing a Due Diligence Report (aka the "Report") beginning with the initial meeting with the Client and then proceeding to the field investigation, and the regulatory research required to produce the final Report. In the course are tips and examples that are provided for assistance and clarification of the various topics being discussed.
As you will learn, there are professional liabilities and risks associated with Due Diligence Reports that the professional needs to understand in order to protect his company, and himself, before executing a contract with a Client. Also included at the end of the course documentation is a sample Due Diligence checklist that can be used as a starting point for conducting the research for a Due Diligence Report.
Course Description:
Detailed course outline with timeline
- 6 Minutes – Contents and Introduction
- 11 Minutes – Course Description
- 14 Minutes – The Contract
- 23 Minutes – Due Diligence Research
- 11 Minutes – Field Work
- 18 Minutes – Regulatory Research
- 24 Minutes – Environmental Research
- 12 Minutes – Legal Research
- 11 Minutes – Utilities Research
- 12 Minutes – Transportation Research
- 14 Minutes – Miscellaneous Client Requests
- 18 Minutes – Estimates of Development Costs
- 11 Minutes – Summary
- 40 Minutes - The Test
271-Spillway Design for Small Dams
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended for engineers who need to analyze, design, or retrofit a spillway for a small dam.
The overall objective of this course is to provide a detailed analysis of the various types of spillways and to explain the hydraulics of each type. There is a also a discussion of the spillway exit channels and a description of sub-critical, critical, and super-critical flows in these channels. After completing this course the engineer should be able to design a spillway using a variety of outlet structures.
299-Floodplain Engineering - Modeling Flood Profiles Using HEC-RAS - Part 1
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended for engineers are involved in flood studies or need to do work within a floodplain. HEC-RAS is the most up-to-date software for calculating flood profiles. It has the capability of determining multiple flood profiles and can deal with complicated stream conditions with multiple bridges and culverts.
The overall objective of this course is to provide an overview of the HEC-RAS program and to review in detail the basic input parameters. Photographs and diagrams are provided to help illustrate the concepts.
304-Floodplain Engineering - An Overview of Floodplain Management
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended for engineers work ion flood-prone areas. It describes many of the resources available to engineers working in these areas including how to access FEMA flood maps. In addition, there is a description of how to calculate hydrostatic, hydrodynamic, and other forces associated with flooding. Finally, some flood control projects are described and illustrated.
The overall objective of this course is to provide an overview of the different types of flooding and floodplains and help engineers to understand these phenomena.
315-Introduction to Electrical Theory and DC Circuits
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
It is important for any engineer to have a fundamental knowledge of
electrical circuits. This course provides an introduction to
electrical theory and DC circuits. The content can be used to
introduce yourself to these topics or can serve as a general
review. No previous knowledge of electrical theory is required
for this course.
Many applicational example problems are provided for general theory and
for DC circuits. Circuits are analyzed in several arrangements
including series, parallel, and a combination of series and parallel
arrangements. Basic problems are presented first that cover key
electrical concepts such as Coulomb’s law, resistance, Ohm’s law, and
power. Series and parallel arrangements are discussed based on
developing equivalent resistance for the circuit. More complex
analysis tools like voltage divider rule, current divider rule, and
Kirchoff’s laws are also used.
321-What Every Engineer Should Know About Endangered Species
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is intended as an overview of the Endangered Species Act and how it relates to land development projects. This knowledge is helpful in the early planning stages of a development and can prevent costly delays as the project progresses
The overall objective of this course is to provide a basic understanding of what endangered species are and how their presence can affect land development. The course includes information as to where an engineer can gain preliminary data on this topic for a specific project.
323-What every Engineer should know about Power Engineering fundamentals
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
Want to know more about Transformers, and not the kind in the movies?
Electrical power is utilized for just about everything in the
world. Without electricity, we could not function as a technical
society. Electrical equipment can be seen everywhere, be it your
house, office, stores or along the roads. What happens when you
lose power at your house? Do you every wonder how things are
powered up? Ever wonder what the big green humming box is near
your offices front door? Do you want to know what a panelboard,
circuit breaker, conductor or conduit is? This course will provide some
fundamentals of electrical power engineering.
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
• Understand about
the major equipment for electrical power equipment.
• Learn more about residential electrical equipment.
• Learn about conduits and conductors and other
electrical equipment seen around construction sites and residential
houses
• Learn power equipment names seen in the consulting
industry
• Learn what major power equipment looks like
• Learn about electrical construction tips
326- Railroads - An Introduction
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to railroads. The intent
of the course IS NOT to make you an expert in railroad design, but
rather, introduce you to the fundamental components that make up a
railroad system. This course IS intended for those engineers that need
to become sufficiently familiar with rail systems to discuss railroad
requirements with a client, understand what the railroad
representatives are saying, know what questions to ask on your client’s
behalf, and ease the pains involved if you get a project that requires
a railroad construction permit. The course will begin by providing a
very brief… but interesting… history of railroads in North America
before presenting the technical topics on the subgrade, ballast, ties,
rail, turnouts, road crossings, ladder tracks and… of course… frogs. Again,
this introductory course is about what a railroad encompasses and
provides the basic information necessary for an engineer to be able to
discuss the topic intelligently with a client but is NOT intended to
provide the knowledge to actually design a railroad, the turnouts, or
any railroad signals that may be required.
Detailed course outline with timeline
7 Minutes – Course Description &
Introduction
25 Minutes – History
14 Minutes – Railway Forces
23 Minutes – Railway Alignments
11 Minutes – Transit Rail
18 Minutes – Track Structure
24 Minutes – Subgrade and and Sub-ballast
12 Minutes – Drainage
11 Minutes – Ballast
12 Minutes – Railroad Ties
14 Minutes – Rail
18 Minutes – Turnouts
18 Minutes – Road Crossings
18 Minutes – Rail Crossing Signage, Gates, &
Signals
18 Minutes – Customer Rail Facilities
18 Minutes – Glossary
11 Minutes – Summary
40 Minutes - The Test
330-Railroad Curves Simplified
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering and to familiarize the professional engineer with the principals of superelevation and spiral transition curves in the design and evaluation of rail lines.
Course Description:
Railroad Curves
Centrifugal force is a function of both train speed and track curvature. If trains operated at a low velocity or on a straight track, centrifugal force would not factor into the engineering of a railway, but high speeds and curved track require an
engineered solution. That solution is superelevation which is also known interchangeably as "cant".
This course will teach the physics of centrifugal force and the mathematics used by railroad engineers to select a cant angle and spiral transition curve that provides a comfortable ride and minimizes wear on rails and wheels. "Rail-Curve" is the
free spreadsheet software that comes with the course and takes care of all the number crunching so that we can concentrate on the principals of railroad curve design and evaluation.
There is an eye-opening section on “Vactrain”
(Vacuum Tube Train) concepts that promise train speeds of 760 mph (1,200 kph)
for Elon Musk’s Hyperloop to 4,000 mph (6,437 kph) for Nic
Garzilli’s Hyper Chariot.
The software runs on Excel 97 or later. It's available for download after you purchase the course and it is yours to keep for the rest of your engineering career.
341-Accelerated Bridge Program - Intro to Prefabricated Bridge Unit (PBU) Construction
3 $67.50
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
A brief introduction to Prefabricated Bridge Unit Construction covering Casting Units, Crane Erection of Units, SPMT Erection of Units, Brige Slide Erection of Units, & Finishing items.
After completion the reader should have: a basic understanding of these methods of bridge construction and the associated equipment needed, a basic understanding of which construction methods and equipment choices are more suitable for specific bridge applications, and lastly, a basic understanding of how these choices can affect the cost, schedule, quality, and safety of a project.
From better understanding of the construction methods, engineers can account for better access and staging areas, and more efficient bridge designs to suit a construction method that is advantageous to the project.
Future courses that further detail each process will be available to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this type of bridge construction.
344- The Highway Capacity Manual - 6th Edition: Overview and What’s New
4 $90.00
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
The 6th Edition of the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)
was released in 2016 and is now the standard for both the Fundamentals of
Engineering (FE) exam and Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE)
exam. The title of this new HCM is “HCM
6th Edition: A Guide for Multimodal Mobility Analysis”. This edition
of the HCM provides methods for evaluating multimodal operations of freeways,
highways, and arterial streets. The focus of this course is on providing a
general overview of the content and organization of the HCM 6th
edition and highlighting revisions/updates from the previous edition of the HCM
(HCM 2010). The course does not provide
detailed coverage of analysis methodology elements. Due to the volume of material covered in the
HCM, some general knowledge of the document(s) may be helpful to completing
this course, but it is not required.
Highway
Capacity Manual 6th Edition Cover
Source:
Transportation Research Board
In this course, you will learn about:
- HCM edition history
- Why the HCM title was changed
- Why
the need for a new HCM edition
- HCM 6th edition structure – revised
chapter layout design to help practitioners use the manual
- New HCM analysis methodology capabilities
- Future directions/updates to the HCM
349-Engineering Economics Made Easier with MS Excel
5 $35.95
Course Objectives: This continuing education course is written specifically for professional engineers with the objective of relating to and enhancing the practice of engineering.
Course Description:
When we submit engineering proposals, we often have to
overcome a number of physical limitations in order to come up with the “best”
way of solving a problem. But we should
also ask ourselves, “Is this the most economical way of solving the problem?”
We must be able to speak both our “technical language”
and the “language of managers” (paraphrasing slightly from quality guru Joseph
Juran). Managers are concerned with the
bottom line and want to ensure that resources are being used in the best way
possible. As engineers, we too have a
similar responsibility as we protect the welfare of the public.
The field of engineering economics, formerly known as
engineering economy, estimates the costs and potential savings of proposals,
and then determines if the proposals make “money-sense”. Because the value of money today is not the
same as money in the future, we must account for the time value of money, and
calculate the proposal’s “net present value” based on a rate of return desired
by the organization.
Back in those engineering economy days, we often would
have to go to tables of numbers and look up the correct “factors” to use to
calculate present values and future values.
We would have to “interpolate” from the tables if we were to use an
interest rate of 7.5% (because the tables skipped from 7% to 8%). It was difficult to “back into” a rate of
return for a proposal, or to estimate how long it may take to recoup an
investment based on a desired rate of return.
(Dare I mention slide rules?)
When you take this course, you will see that MS Excel has quite a few functions that
will speed through calculations involving present value, future value,
annuities, rates of return, and others.
Woven throughout the course are engineering, business, and personal
illustrations to help you better relate to the time value of money and the rate
of return.
Engineering economics is not easy. But after completing this course, you should
be able to see how Excel can make it “easier”.
The FREE Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet that accompanies this course will be available for download after purchase. You will need Excel version 1997 or later to open the file.
