Speaker: Dr. Tarek Aziz, NCSU

Date: Thursday, October 16, 2014

Topic: "Sustainable Anaerobic Co-Digestion in Wastewater Treatment"

Presentation: No presentation

image via NCSU.edu

Summary: Dr. Aziz is a faculty member in the NC State Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. He is interested in the interface of environmental process engineering and energy. This includes topics such as the conversion of waste materials to fuel (anaerobic digestion, biofuels, waste incineration, gasification, etc), and sustainability considerations of these, and more traditional, processes. To help explore these research questions he makes use of experimentation, computational fluid dynamics, and life-cycle assessment tools.

About the Topic:  Anaerobic digestion at wastewater treatment facilities, if operated appropriately, can serve as a net energy producer. Despite this fact, as of 2011 the US EPA estimated that less than 10% of wastewater treatment facilities currently with anaerobic digesters utilized biogas for combined heat and power (CHP). Biogas production levels, infrastructure cost, and process stability are commonly cited as reasons why anaerobic digestion is not more widely used. 

One way to enhance biogas and generate revenue at these facilities is through tipping fees received for the co-digestion of high-strength, low-value waste streams. The aim of our research at NC State is to develop co-substrate loading approaches that can sustainably enhance biogas production and to elucidate the favorable microbial community shifts that enable those biogas enhancements.

This presentation will summarize some of the exciting advances our team has made in the sustainable co-digestion of GIW and discuss the techno-economic tool we are developing to explore the feasibility of infrastructure upgrades for further energy recovery from wastewater.

Sponsor:  Duke University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Speaker: Mr. David Evans, NCBELS

Date: Thursday, September 18, 2014

Topic: NCBELS

Presentation: Download

Summary:  David joined the staff of the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors in 1998.  As the Board's Assistant Executive Director, he supervises investigations of engineers, surveyors, corporations, and non-licensed practices.  David also oversees business licensure and compliance, continuing professional competency, license renewals, and the Board's regular program of enforcement and education.  
 
David previously conducted criminal investigations in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Investigator.  He is a past Chairman of the Committee on Law Enforcement for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.  David has a B.A. in History and Social Science from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Attendees will be engaged to test their knowledge and application of the Rules of Professional Conduct given various scenarios faced by Professional Engineers.  This will be followed by a discussion of common factors in violation cases as well ethical considerations in professional practice.

Speaker: Dr. Vikram Rao, Executive Director, Research Triangle Energy Consortium

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2014

Topic: Sustainable Energy for North Carolina

Presentation:  Download

Summary:  Two new sources of energy in North Carolina are shale gas and liquid fuels from woody biomass.  Sustainable development of shale gas will be facilitated by rules currently being formulated by the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission.  We will discuss in particular the environmental risks and the measures to minimize these.  The controversial chemicals disclosure issue will also be examined.
 
North Carolina is one of the largest producers of woody biomass.  Much of this is a byproduct of logging.  Catalytic pyrolysis holds promise for the conversion of this material to liquid fuels.  Recent advances will be discussed and in particular the one ton per day pilot plant at RTI International.

via The News and Observer

Vikram Rao is Executive Director, Research Triangle Energy Consortium, www.rtec-rtp.org, a non-profit in energy founded by Duke University, North Carolina State University, RTI International and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Its mission is to illuminate national energy priorities, and those of the world by extension, and to catalyze research to address these priorities.
 
Dr. Rao advises the non-profit research institute RTI International, venture capitalist Energy Ventures AS, and firms BioLargo Inc., Global Energy Talent Ltd. and Integro Earth Fuels Inc. and serves on the Science Council of Royal Dutch Shell plc.  He retired as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Halliburton Company in 2008 and followed his wife to Chapel Hill, NC, where she is on the UNC faculty.  Later that year he took his current position.  He also serves on the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission and chairs the Water and Waste Management Committee.

Dr. Rao’s book, Shale Gas: The Promise and the Peril was released in 2012 by RTI Press and can be found at www.rti.org/shalegasbook.  It is written for general audiences and is intended to inform on the heated debate on fracturing for shale gas. The Second Edition is slated for release in August, 2014.
 
Dr. Rao holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in Chennai, India, along with a master’s degree and a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University.  He is the author of more than 50 publications and has been awarded 40 US patents and foreign analogs.

Speaker: Majed Al-Ghandour, PhD, PE, CPM, Assistant Branch Manager - Program Development at NCDOT

Date: Thursday, July 17, 2014

Topic: Using Earned Value Management (EVM) in Project Management

Presentation: Download

Summary: The Project Management Unit (PMU) is part of the Program Development Branch of the North Carolina Department of Transportation. PMU is responsible for the authorization of federal and state for various State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Projects which include Preliminary Engineering, Right-of-Way Acquisition, Utility Relocation, Construction, Mitigation and Landscape Development Phases. The PMU utilizes state of the art of the project management concepts that monitor and control the successful delivery of STIP Projects. Applying the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) standards enables us to track the life cycle through the Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring, Controlling and Closing Process. This presentation will quickly demonstrate how PMU uses PMBOK on STIP Projects and we can provide project performance measurement such as an Earned Value Management (EVM).

Majed received a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the North Carolina State University. Dr. Al-Ghandour currently serves as the Assistant Branch Manager with the Program Development Branch, NCDOT.  In this role, he oversees and directs program activities of the program management, the state and federal policies, and the projects funding (not limited to the latest  State Law House Bill 817- Strategic Transportation Investments) for all projects modes. His 20 years work experience with the department include the areas of transportation planning, regional transportation modeling, traffic forecasting, travel demand modeling, traffic studies analysis, and project management and scheduling. Dr. Al-Ghandour published 18 papers in published journal and conference proceedings and as an adjunct Professor teaches Information Technology.

Speaker: Mr. Mike Holder, NCDOT

Date: Thursday, June 19, 2014

Topic: NC Transportation Updates and the Future

Presentation: None

Summary: Chief Engineer of NCDOT, Mike Holder, oversees all 14 Transportation Divisions. Since 2000, Holder has been the Division Engineer for Division 12, which includes Gaston, Cleveland, Iredell, Alexander, Catawba, and Lincoln counties. He manages construction projects, maintenance, operations customer service for the division.

He discussed the current state of transportation in North Carolina and NCDOT's plan for the future.

Speaker: JD Solomon and Kim Colson, North Carolina State Water Infrastructure Authority

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014

Topic: Funding, Priorities, and Innovation: The New State Water Infrastructure Authority (SWIA) and the State of North Carolina's Water Resources

Presentation: Download

Summary: The new State Water Infrastructure Authority was formed by legislation passed in the 2013 session of the General Assembly.  SWIA in responsible for working with the NCDENR Division of Water Infrastructure to prioritize and approve the state's loan and grants program's related to water resources, as well as such things as developing  a master plan for the state's water resources, providing information related to utility best management practice, and providing recommendations related to the potential use of public-private partnerships.  The Board began meeting in January 2014 and has already implemented consolidation of the state's loan application process and consolidating the priority criteria for applications.

JD Solomon, PE is a VP, Area Manager for CH2M HILL in North Carolina.  He serves as the firm's Eastern US Leader for the Strategic Consulting Platform that focuses on water utility management.  He has a Professional Certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford, an MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a BS Civil Engineering from NC State.   He is a licensed Professional Engineer in 3 states.

Kim Colson, PE received his B.S. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina. He has been in the water resources industry for over 25 years and has been with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). In his role as acting director for the Division of Water Infrastructure in DENR, he manages the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the infrastructure program within Community Development Block Grants, and state-funded water infrastructure fund programs.

Speaker: Ms. Sepi Saidi, PE, President & Owner

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2014

Topic: Importance of Culture in Growing a Business

Download: Forthcoming…

Summary: Ms. Saidi is the President and Owner of Sepi Engineering.  She discussed how she grew her business in very challenging times. What does an authentic, visionary leadership mean to the value and importance of company culture? Why is it important and how can it add value?

Speaker: Mr. Mark Landis, PE, PG, Principal Engineer

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2014

Topic: Rehabilitation of Stoney Creek and Lake Cammack Dams, Burlington, NC

Download:  Presentation

Summary: These dams are owned by the City of Burlington. The presentation discussed the overall project description, engineering problems, the engineering analyses and results, and construction.

Speaker: Lisa Johnson, University Architect, North Carolina State University

Date: Thursday, February 20th, 2014

Topic: NC State University Master Plan

Download: Presentation

Summary: Centennial Campus is part of a larger effort by NC State to create neighborhoods that are diverse in character and are organized around attractive, lively open spaces. The proposed physical master plan contributes to a sense of place by building a common vision of Campus Neighborhoods and their connecting Paths. Centennial's master plan demonstrates a rich tapestry of foot paths, smart buildings and natural environment to foster NC State's Guiding Principles.

Primary Aspects of this plan includes;

• Human Scaled Neighborhoods and Paths
• Environmental Sustainability
• Pedestrian Oriented Campus
• Effective and Appropriate Vehicular Movement
• Other Issues

Ms. Lisa Johnson is the NCSU University Architect and has been working at NCSU for more than 20 years.  She received her Bachelor's in Architecture in 1982 from Louisiana State University.

Speaker: Mr. John E. Skvarla

Date: Thursday, January 16, 2014

Topic: Changes at NC DENR

Presentation:  No Presentation

Summary: Mr. Skvarla is the Secretary of the NC Department of Natural Resources. He discussed the new changes at NC DENR and the impact of those changes to engineers across the state.

Mr. Skvarla came to DENR after a successful career in business. He most recently served as CEO for Restoration Systems, an environmental mitigation firm based in Raleigh that helps improve and restore wetlands and waterways. His past environmental experience also includes his work as chairman with Wilkinson Hi-Rise, a world leader in manufacturing new products such as waste management and automated recycling systems. Skvarla previously served as chief operating officer for The Aviation Group, Inc., a company that emerged as the world's largest all-cargo airline during his tenure. He also has been managing director of an investment banking office in Raleigh and owner of a Sandhills golf course community. An attorney, Skvarla in 1978 founded and served as senior partner to the Raleigh-based Skvarla, Wyrick, and Robbins law firm, where he specialized in corporate and tax matters, as well as public and private capital formations.

Speaker: Craig M. Newton, PE

Date: Thursday, November 21, 2013

Topic: The Planning Process for the Union Station Project

Download: Presentation Part 1 | Presentation Part 2

Summary: The first Raleigh Union Station was built in 1892 and still stands at the corner of Dawson and Martin Streets, though it was abandoned as a train station in 1950.  Since then, multiple plans and studies identified the Boylan Wye as the best area for a new union station or Multi-Modal Transportation Center.  The City of Raleigh, NCDOT, and Triangle Transit recently aligned their efforts to develop plans for a new Raleigh Union Station, which will adaptively reuse a 1960’s-era industrial building.  The $73 million project is partially funded, design teams have been selected and began work in January 2013, and completion is scheduled for 2017.  This session will review the project history, feasibility, costs, funding, schedule, and benefits.

Mr. Newton is a native of Raleigh, and a 1988 graduate of NC State University with a BS in Civil Engineering.  He began working with the NCDOT Rail Division in 2000, and oversees the NCDOT Train Station Improvement Program, and other Rail Facilities projects.  He has also worked in municipal government and in private sector engineering.

Speaker: R. Jason Herndon

Date: Thursday, October 17, 2013

Topic: Mechanics’ Liens in North Carolina

Download: Presentation

Summary: Mechanics’ Liens in North Carolina – Where have we been, where are we now, and where are we going? Substantial changes over the course of the last year have dramatically altered the mechanics’ lien “playing field” for engineers and all other construction project participants. This presentation will discuss the evolution of those changes, what those changes mean for engineers who want to protect and enforce their rights, and what additional changes may be on the horizon.

Jason Herndon is a construction law attorney with Parker Poe in Raleigh, where he represents a diverse group of clients including design professionals, public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and construction sureties. He has litigated a wide variety of construction issues including scheduling disputes, delay/disruption claims, design defects, construction defects, cumulative change impacts, payment and performance bond claims, mechanics’ lien prosecution and defense, and contract disputes. Mr. Herndon currently chairs the Lien and Bond Law Revision Committee for the NC Bar Association’s Construction Law Section, and has been named a “Rising Star” in construction litigation by Super Lawyers each year from 2010-2013.

Speaker: David Demo

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2013

Topic: An Introduction to Tensioned Fabric Structures

Download: Presentation

Summary: The presentation covered the fundamentals of tensioned fabric structures including the materials, fabrication, structural characteristics, and design. Additionally, Mr. Demo discussed the environmental considerations and performance related to energy use, daylighting, acoustics, fire safety, maintenance, and operating costs. Finally, he discussed the applicability of this construction type.

Dave Demo, principal of David A. Demo, PLLC, has over 45 years of experience in structural engineering and construction project management. Twenty-five of those years have been spent in the analysis, design, and construction of tension fabric structures. He has contributed to a number of major fabric structures; most notable are the Denver International Airport, Inchon Stadium in Korea, and BC Place in Vancouver, Canada. He is has a BSCE from the University of Pittsburgh, a MSCE from Lehigh University, and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Life Member of ASCE and a registered Professional Engineer in North Carolina, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Speaker: Greg Lucier, Laboratory Manager, Constructed Facilities Laboratory, NCSU

Date: Thursday, July 25, 2013

Topic: Development of a Rational Design Procedure for Precast Concrete Spandrel Beams    

Download: Presentation, MP4 #1 | AVI #1, MP4 #2 | AVI #2

Summary: Precast concrete slender spandrel beams are commonly used in parking structures to transfer vertical loads from deck sections to columns. In addition, slender spandrels often serve as a railing or barrier around the exterior edge of the parking structure. The main objective of this research program was to develop rational design guidelines for precast concrete slender spandrel beams. These design guidelines are expected to simplify the reinforcement detailing required for slender spandrels. The results of the research can be read in "Behavior of precast, prestressed concrete sandwich wall panels reinforced with CFRP shear grid" and "Development of a rational design methodology for precast concrete slender spandrel beams: Part 2, Analysis and design guidelines".

Speaker: Beth Howey of HDR Engineering, Inc.

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013

Topic: Bonner Bridge - History and Replacement Structure Foundation Design Aspects    

Download: Presentation, MP4 #1 | AVI #1, MP4 #2 | AVI #2

Summary: The replacement of the 50-year-old Bonner Bridge has been studied for over 20 years and the presentation provided a brief glimpse of the history of the bridge as well as some of the foundation design aspects the Design Build team tackled in working on the replacement structure.

Speaker: Dr. Reza Jafari

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013

Topic: Roundabouts vs. Signalized and Unsignalized Intersections: Safety and Operation Concerns

Download: Presentation, MP4 | AVI

Summary: Mr. Jafari discussed the advantages and disadvantages of roundabout design versus signalized and unsignalized intersections. Traffic and transportation engineers are responsible for safety and ease of travel for all modes of transportation including pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist. He reviewed the overall delay, back of queue, and other measures of a roundabout’s effectiveness by discussing case studies in North Carolina.

Speaker: Mr. James Rispoli

Date: March 21, 2013

Topic: Practical Lessons Learned For Engineers Managing Projects

Download: Presentation

Summary: Mr. Rispoli is a professional engineer and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer. He provides expert engineering management services to clients engaged in project and construction management. He is currently a Director at Large for ASCE, a Senior Executive Advisor at PT&C Inc., and a Professor of Practice at NCSU's Center for Nuclear Energy Facilities and Structures. He presented several projects and discussed their potential and actual pitfalls. He also presented ways to anticipate, avoid, or mitigate potentially adverse outcomes. He showed how to mitigate risk in the planning and the execution phases, and discussed his view of essential approaches to optimize outcomes.

Speaker: Nico Sutmoller, Insulfoam Geofoam Specialist

Date: February 21, 2013

Topic: Geofoam - A Lightweight Fill Alternative

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Summary: Mr. Sutmoller spoke about the utilization of Geofoam as a light weight fill alternative. EPS Geofoam is a large block, rigid foam plastic material that has typical densities between 12-46 kg/m³ (0.7-2.85 ft³) making it up to 100 times lighter than soil. It is one of the only truly engineered fill materials that has predictable, consistent physical properties. He also spoke about the manufacturing process of EPS, the history of Geofoam, recent trends, some design considerations, specifications, and installation considerations.

Speaker: Mr. Wade Kirby

Date: January 17, 2013

Topic: Engineering Challenges in a War Torn Country

Download: Presentation

Summary: Wade Kirby is a licensed Professional Engineer and Geologist in North Carolina.  He earned his Masters degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech, a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M, and a Bachelors degree in Geology from North Carolina State University.  He recently completed a one year contract with the United States Marine Corps in Afghanistan through L-3 Communications.  Prior to his work in Afghanistan, Wade worked for several large consultant firms as well as the NCDOT, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the City of Wilmington.