List of Contributions

Mr. Mitchell M Winkler, P.E., R.Eng, M.ASCE

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Mr. Mitchell Winkler, P.E., R.Eng, M.ASCE


My Content

1 to 20 of 50+ total

RE: You're an engineer right? Francis Scott Key Bridge

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 04-15-2024 04:55 PM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
The collapse of the FSK bridge was a tragedy, and the loss of life was unacceptable, but no one should have been surprised. As Bill Mc pointed out, this was a high-risk event. One just needs to look at a risk assessment matrix. Globally, there is a major bridge collapse due to a barge or ship collision ...

Structure Article "From Idea to Industry": Seeking Feedback from Inventors or Others with Similar Experience

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 04-15-2024 10:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Integrated Buildings & Structures \ view thread
The recent issue of Structure has a great article on developing and commercializing an innovative connector for braced frames subject to seismic loading. The article From Idea to Industry methodically describes the sequence of activities required to deliver this product from an idea to a commercially ...

Baltimore Bridge Collapse From a Mariner's Perspective

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 04-04-2024 01:40 PM
Found In Egroup: Integrated Buildings & Structures \ view thread
A professional acquaintance, an unlimited master mariner, brought this article to my attention. Don't be put off by the article's title. The article's content focuses on facts and avoids speculation about the events that led to the bridge's collapse. Are bridges a one-off situation, or are there other ...

RE: ASCE Strategic Plan - Progress?

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 04-01-2024 11:49 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
Thanks for the list. Is there a formal scorecard to track these items, and is there a process in place to evaluate whether these individual initiatives have moved the needle? ------------------------------ Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE Houston, TX ------------------------------

If you See Something, Say Something

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 03-26-2024 10:20 AM
Found In Egroup: Integrated Buildings & Structures \ view thread
This is a familiar refrain in the security domain and now structural engineering? I stumbled across this article on preventing America's aging buildings from collapsing by Abieyuwa Aghayere, Professor of Structural Engineering at Drexel University, and it is an excellent read. In light of four recent ...

RE: PE References for Licensure

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 03-25-2024 04:54 PM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
In my view, any legal weight placed on references would have a chilling effect on the process. No PE in their right mind would touch the process if there were legal implications. I view the PE process as a best-endeavor effort to screen for basic competency. I also come back to the point that I have ...

ASCE Strategic Plan - Progress?

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 03-19-2024 03:35 PM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
The ASCE issued an updated Strategic Plan to much fanfare in October 2022. Has anyone seen a summation of evidence of progress against objectives since this plan was issued? ASCE Leadership: it should go without saying, but this is a great opportunity for you to contribute to our member dialog! -- ...

RE: ASCE Book Club - Free March 2024 Papers

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 03-05-2024 11:25 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
I opened the referenced paper, but it's beyond my reading comprehension. ------------------------------ Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE Houston, TX ------------------------------

ASCE's Stance on Safety: More Must Be Done

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 03-04-2024 08:05 PM
Found In Community: Professional and Career Topics Blogs
Safety is paramount to the civil engineering profession and a bedrock on which the public's trust that we hold so dear sits. I have no doubt of the ASCE's commitment to safety: Safety is a core element of the ASCE's mission: to Lead the civil engineering profession to sustainably advance and protect ...

RE: Why Not Transfer Knowledge of Forensic Engineer's Results To Engineering Educators

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 02-10-2024 10:37 AM
Found In Egroup: Peer-to-Peer Standards Exchange \ view thread
I think this is a case where one needs to look at outcomes. In my mind, graduates need to know that engineers are not infallible and mistakes get made through acts of omission and commission. They must know they are part of a system and the failure of the system is its weakest link. They also need to ...

RE: A Critical Appraisal of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) journey

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 02-04-2024 10:21 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
It would be interesting to see an in-depth look back at the effectiveness of these programs and if and how they are achieving their desired end in minds. The one shining light that I have seen in the plethora of stuff I did to maintain my PE was the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors ...

RE: Why Not Transfer Knowledge of Forensic Engineer's Results To Engineering Educators

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 02-04-2024 10:21 AM
Found In Egroup: Peer-to-Peer Standards Exchange \ view thread
A starter for this conversation would be hearing from educators on how they are incorporating lessons learned from disasters and failures into their classrooms. I don't think there is any better teaching tool for focusing students on the safety-critical nature of their work than past disasters and failures. ...

RE: AI in Practice Today

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 01-24-2024 10:16 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
Your paper Artificial Intelligence – the Tool of No Limit. has some great examples of how AI is being used in civil engineering today and how it can be used in the future. As to the risks of AI, are they really different from those of any tool or approach? For civil engineers, and not speaking for society ...

RE: AI in Practice Today

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 01-20-2024 11:48 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
Stephanie Slocum has an excellent article on AI in structural engineering in the January 2024 edition of Structure. Click here for the online version. Her thoughts echo many of my own. You do not have to be a structural engineer to benefit from this article and her wisdom. It would be great to hear ...

RE: Public hostility to CE disciplines

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 01-19-2024 04:30 PM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
It would be interesting to see what the data shows as to the trustworthiness of civil engineers and if this varies by discipline. I don't think the general public gives civil engineers a second thought unless something breaks, and even then, I'm not sure they understand where to voice their anger. ...

RE: Lunch and Learn Topics

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 01-16-2024 10:28 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
A suggestion is decision quality. See https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/article/2022/03/22/improve-your-civil-engineering-decision-making-process. I'm on the Houston ASCE Branch's agenda to speak on this topic at their March meeting. ------------------------------ ...

RE: Jury Decision on Realtors - What does this mean for AEC industry?

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 01-09-2024 08:02 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
Your response highlights the perversity of the situation and what the public is willing to pay for services. As to the original question, I don't think the Missouri ruling will impact civil engineering other than this chat space. ------------------------------ Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE ...

Is the civil engineering profession doing enough to promote the safety-critical nature of our work?

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 01-09-2024 08:02 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
Is the civil engineering profession doing enough to promote the safety-critical nature of our work, and does the profession have the necessary checks and balances to ensure safe outcomes? The recent partial collapse of the Bronx apartment building got me thinking about quality assurance. Not to get into ...

RE: Good Engineering Analogies

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 01-01-2024 11:16 AM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
A long, slender object makes a great prop to demonstrate column failure by buckling and the impact of unsupported length. ------------------------------ Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE Houston, TX ------------------------------

RE: AI in Practice Today

Posted By Mitchell Winkler 12-21-2023 12:44 PM
Found In Egroup: Professional and Career Topics \ view thread
I think more tech might be an answer to mitigating failures and in particular, the failure to learn. AI conceptually has the ability to generate an accurate assessment for a given project of what might go wrong and how to mitigate. With AI, there should be no excuses. I have "The Blessings ...