Preparing for the Future of Structural Engineering
Donald Dusenberry, PE, SECB, Past-President of the Structural Engineering Institute
How is technology impacting the construction industry, and what should we do to respond? How will the increasingly global marketplace affect our business? Would performance-based codes and standards liberate us to be more creative and innovative? What new skills will the next generations of practitioners and educators need to lead the structural engineering profession?
These questions and others led the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Board of Governors to develop a strategic plan, based on a task committee report titled A Vision for the Future of Structural Engineers and Structural Engineering: A Case for Change, to help SEI and its members adapt to the changing environment in the construction industry. The following influences, among others, rose to the top priority. SEI’s responses all center on the belief that structural engineers of the future need enhanced leadership and innovation skills in a world in which technology and globalization present new challenges and opportunities.
- Our codes and standards stifle innovation and creativity, hinder designs that respect sustainability and resiliency, and turn design services into commodities. Response: Facilitate transition to performance-based codes and standards.
- Other professions are facing many of the same challenges, yet we are working separately to solve them. Response: Lead summits with other professions on matters of common interest so we can work together and pool resources to find solutions.
- Technology has opened the world to competition and opportunity. Response: Form the Global Activities Division within SEI to focus on international issues and global opportunities.
- Our present educational system does not prepare engineers with skills to be leaders and innovators, or to operate in a global business world. Response: Develop and advocate for a fundamentally new education for structural engineers.
Don will discuss influences impacting the construction industry, and SEI’s vision for the future.
The link for this webinar will be sent to all registrants prior to the event.
Donald O. Dusenberry, P.E., SECB, F.SEI, F.ASCE
Don Dusenberry joined the Engineering Mechanics Division of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. in 1975 and serves as a Consulting Principal. He has taken part in numerous complex investigations, analyses, and peer reviews of buildings, building components, bridges, and other structures. He has extensive experience in investigations of failed civil and mechanical structures. Don is an active participant in numerous professional organizations, including the Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, for which he is a former President of its Board of Governors. Presently he chairs a committee that it charged to develop a course to advance the profession from prescriptive to performance-based design practice. Don has written extensively on failure investigations and topics such as structural performance under extreme events including blast, fire, and disproportionate collapse.
SEA-MW Bylaws Updates (Sept. 23 Vote)
Over the past several months the Executive Committee has undertaken a review of the Bylaws to address some inconsistencies or conflicts within the document, and incorporate updates as needed to reflect the current membership and operations. The updates are not intended to change the mission or intent of the organization, but to provide some housekeeping.
Additionally, we have had Taylor Dolan, an attorney with Lee/Shoemaker, review the document. He has provided some additional suggestions that have been incorporated for completeness, consistency and conformity with recommended practices.
As a part of our Business Meeting on September 23rd, we will open the floor to comment and are planning to vote on the updates to the Bylaws, to finalize the process. We do not plan to review the revisions in detail at that time, so we have included a copy of the proposed revisions with this notice, for your review prior to the meeting: SEA-MW ByLaws Revision (20-0529) (rev 20-0908).pdf . If you have any questions regarding the updates prior to the 23rd please feel free to contact Scott Stewart (scotts@skaengineers.com or 240-676-3483).
