Here is your monthly dose of my Canadian engineering news created for licensed and aspiring engineers, geoscientists and technicians in Canada.
- Professor Luis Ricardez Sandoval received the D. G. Fisher Award from the Chemical Institute of Canada for his significant contributions to systems and control engineering. His research on CO2 capture and conversion aims to reduce carbon emissions, promoting sustainability and a circular carbon economy through innovative modelling and catalyst design.
- Award-winning green building advocate Anthony Pak was once ignored when he emphasized the importance of embodied carbon to his Canadian colleagues. Last month, Pak received recognition for his dedication at the second annual BC Embodied Carbon Awards, North America's first event of its kind, celebrating efforts to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment.
Introducing the Sports Alert Board: your all-in-one hub for fantasy sports founded in Toronto, Canada. Track all teams, wins, and updates seamlessly, eliminating the need to switch devices. Enhance your strategy and performance with real-time information at your fingertips.
LOOI transforms your phone into a quirky cyber-creature via a magnetic connection, bringing it to life like a being from another galaxy. With simple gestures, LOOI adds excitement to every moment, revolutionizing your desk presence. LOOI: Turn your smartphone into a desktop robot!
ZNAPS is a magnetic adapter that fits seamlessly with your mobile devices and cables, ensuring safe and protected charging. Prevent frayed cables, tripping accidents, and water damage, while making charging easier and more convenient.
What technology or gadget are you currently enjoying and would recommend to other aspiring and licensed engineers? Let us know in the comments below.
Here are the news links to every Canadian Association. If there is anything beyond the standard stuff (elections, new appointments), I'll try to list them below. The news tends to slow down during certain parts of the year (e.g. Summer, X-Mas).
- APEGA News- Update for those affected by wildfire evacuations
- APEGS News -Public Protection Notice
- APEY News
- ASET News- NAIT Instructor/Olympian wins provincial mentoring award
- EGBC News -Reserved Practice Being Developed for ASTTBC Registrants
- EGM News -Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba Welcomes Michael Gregoire, P.Eng., FEC, CEO/Registrar/Secretary
- Engineers Nova Scotia News
- Engineers PEI News- 2024 Engineers PEI Annual Lobster Supper
- NAPEG News-Over 130 Northern Engineers and Geoscientists Convened in Yellowknife on Building a Resilient North
- PEGNL News- Member Announcement
- PEO News
Effective communication is crucial for engineers to collaborate, understand problems, share timelines, and ensure project success with diverse stakeholders. Read here for some tips on how to communicate in the workplace.
Head over to our recruitment page, where you can send us your resume and enter our select candidate pool. We'll contact you if your resume matches one of our client's open jobs.
Search all 300k eng. jobs | Use my three career-hunting tips for better success.
First engineering job? Here's some advice. Your first engineering job is key to developing essential skills. In this article, Laura Buzek and Brian Campbell advises focusing on technical skills through code reviews and skill-sharing.
- TED Fellow Ayah Bdeir introduces littleBits, a set of electronic building blocks designed to make electronics accessible to all ages, enabling users to create complex circuits with ease, similar to how LEGO blocks inspire imaginative construction.
- Mechanical engineer and Imperial College Design Collective co-founder Joachim Horn presents a TED talk on his creation, the “LEGO of the Internet generation.” This toolset empowers users to design, experiment, and invent, harnessing engineering principles to spark future innovations.
“Great engineers are convinced that everything can be improved. Instead of complaining, they think of ways to make things better."
-Prince Philip
Thanks for reading, and have a great month!
Gavin Simone, P.Eng. (AB), LEED AP
Engineers, join my monthly Canadian engineering newsletter to stay informed & receive my free career resources cheat sheet!
100% privacy, I will never spam you!
Success! Now wait until the 1st of each month for your highly informative and fun engineering newsletter - Canadian edition.
Thank you for taking the time to read! Here are our questions for this month:
Q1: What are some innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
Q2: What was the most challenging engineering project you’ve worked on and how did you overcome the obstacles?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Q1: What are some innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
A1: On my engineering field, I was using the hand calculation method (still using it), but then there comes a powerful MS excel to organized your design spreadsheet. Next is the software that makes my structural analysis even faster output. I am picturing if an AI will be the next thing.
Q2: What was the most challenging engineering project you’ve worked on and how did you overcome the obstacles?
A2: When I have a project that has been submitted but of a sudden, there was a changes from the client and required a short timeframe. I put an extra overtime to finished.
Q1: What are some innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
– I’m using pyro sim for designing model and analyze fire scenarios in various buildings and structures. A lot of assistance with AI as well in understanding few basic concepts.
Q2: What was the most challenging engineering project you’ve worked on and how did you overcome the obstacles?
-I recently worked on a project to install a stair chair lift for an exit stair in a mall area. Since that was the only exit stair used by the suite it was quite challenging to understand the requirements for an exit stair for an occupant load of more than 60 persons according to the NBCC. We ended up increasing the width of the stair to allow for more required exit width of stairs and installed the stair chair lift. Making buildings more accessible. 🙂
Q1: What innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
– in hydraulics, the use of variable radius tube bending is becoming more applicable as machines become more streamline and compact. CNC variable radius tube benders are now becoming a popular choice to design and route hydraulic tubing, profiled to the system they are functioning in. previously, fixed radius tubing was common, but it is now starting to phase out due to their restrictions when manufacturing complex tubes.
Q1: What innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
Ans. Software Defined Networking (SDN), and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) are transforming the telecom networks in today’s world.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in project management is really transforming the way of work.
Q1: What innovative technologies are transforming your engineering field?
In my engineering field, one of the most transformative technologies is Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is improving efficiency and accuracy in various tasks such as predictive maintenance and design optimization. Another innovation is the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which allow for real-time monitoring and control of engineering systems, enhancing safety and performance. Additionally, 3D printing technology is revolutionizing the way we prototype and manufacture complex parts, reducing costs and production times significantly. These technologies are creating new opportunities and making engineering processes more effective and sustainable.
Q2: What was the most challenging engineering project you’ve worked on and how did you overcome the obstacles?
The most challenging engineering project I worked on was designing a specific brake press tool that could perform three bends simultaneously, without having the necessary knowledge or software. To overcome this, I researched similar tools and consulted experienced colleagues. I used basic CAD software to draft preliminary designs, which I iteratively tested and refined through trial and error. After several adjustments, I successfully created a tool that reduced the manufacturing time by about 50%. This project taught me the importance of resourcefulness and continuous learning in overcoming technical challenges.
I am utilizing some interesting inspection technologies that are able to provide corrosion data in small bore pipelines. Prior to this, the pipelines had to be bent in a way to allow the tool to squeeze through with no damage, now we are far less limited by pipeline geometry.
What are some innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
AI in product development; simple tools like chatgpt can be useful for quickly identifying relevant standards and codes for a new product we design. The designer still needs to verify the identified standards and codes are actually correct and applicable (and then of course design to meet them) but more often than not it works as a first pass.
Q1: As a mechanical and project engineer specializing in LED lighting, I design and develop innovative lighting systems that are both energy-efficient and tailored to specific client needs. Our engineering field benefits from various advancements, with two notable technologies being:
Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) contribute to our design process by offering new ways to visualize and present LED lighting solutions. VR allows for an immersive experience, enabling a detailed exploration of design concepts, while AR facilitates the integration of these concepts into real-world settings, enhancing client engagement and design accuracy.
Sensors and Controls Integration is also a significant area of progress. The incorporation of sophisticated sensors into our lighting systems allows for more adaptive and responsive lighting solutions. This integration is key to developing smart lighting that not only conserves energy but also aligns with our goals of sustainability and enhancing user experiences.
Q2: What was the most challenging engineering project you’ve worked on and how did you overcome the obstacles?
As a design engineer, the most challenging project I have worked on was creating a plastic cable management for one of our robotic cells for my company. This was initiated as a concept from a few brainstorming sessions to solve some recurring problems with cables. What was challenging was that I was not actively involved in the brainstorming sessions and did not quite comprehend how the cable management was to work.
With lots of research on what is currently available in the market, I spent lots of time observing the problem and drafting viable solutions. Most of the work was trial and error but I was able to design the plastic cable management. I used a 3D printer to print a few samples and they broke while in use. I had to make a few design changes and cable management worked great.
Q1: What innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
Ans. Working in the telecom field, I would say that both CWDM and DWDM have revolutionized telecommunications by enabling us to carry more subscribers on the same fiber strand.
Software is being transformed by AI right now. both algorithms and access to data. So smoothing the data pipeline is really critical right now.
Q1: What are some innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
– I’m using pyro sim for designing model and analyze fire scenarios in various buildings and structures. A lot of assistance with AI as well in understanding few basic concepts.
Q2: What was the most challenging engineering project you’ve worked on and how did you overcome the obstacles?
-I recently worked on a project to install a stair chair lift for an exit stair in a mall area. Since that was the only exit stair used by the suite it was quite challenging to understand the requirements for an exit stair for an occupant load of more than 60 persons according to the NBCC. We ended up increasing the width of the stair to allow for more required exit width of stairs and installed the stair chair lift. Making buildings more accessible.
Q1: What are some innovative technologies that are transforming your engineering field?
As many have said, we are talking a lot about AI, current state of that tech, and how we can utilize that to be more efficient in our work.
Working on R&D projects can be challenging as I have had to learn a different elevator door operator to design for and there lots of revisions before completion.
AI use in Smart Pavement
Q1:
The engineering software simulation is helpful. In a project, I need to select the proper heater to heat a plunge knife to a certain temperature within certain time. While because the heated mechanism was kind of complex, I could only calculate with simplified geometry. After conducting the simulation in software, the results were similar, so I could be more confident to move to next step for experiment on site.
Q2:
The challenging project was when I need to merge two similar products of our company into one. I had to go through all the details of the designs and think about all the possible related factors. The information amount was huge. But after a long time work I managed to created the universal product for the two different situations.
Q1. Generative AI in roadway engineering is really optimizing the way we design roadway layout. It’s not commonplace yet, but soon the days of tweaking road profiles and alignments will be gone and we will just evaluate alternatives provided by this system. It’s pretty cool to see how quickly it can generate the alternatives.