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If you have any
questions please call a Titan Representative
1-800-960-8858 |
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Titan home study courses will be mailed to you within one business day of receiving your order. Each course is accompanied with a quiz that must be completed and submitted to Titan via mail, fax or email for credit. Upon completion of home study courses, Titan will send you your certificate.
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Home Study Course Books / Engineers
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Introduction to Mechanical Shock
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$100.00 |
This course provides an introduction to the field of mechanical shock. Mechanical shock is a highly dynamic environment that is frequently a system design driving load case. This course provides an introduction to the field of mechanical shock along with some historical background describing the origins and importance of the field. A discussion of the common shock failure modes, simple shock dynamics, and the two general types of shocks are provided. Finally, a brief overview of the general methods of analyzing shock data and presenting shock test and analysis results are covered.
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Introduction to Petroleum Engineering Part I: Basic Concepts
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$125.00 |
This 4 hour course addresses engineering issues ranging from initial involvement in exploration to analysis of reservoir engineering. It is considered a primary course prior to specialized training programs. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts involved in petroleum engineering activities and become familiar with the wide range of exploration, petrophysic and reservoir engineering used by the petroleum industry.
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Introduction to Petroleum Engineering Part II: Drilling & Production
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$125.00 |
This 4 hour course addresses engineering issues ranging from starting drilling to completing well. It is considered a primary course prior to specialized training programs. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts involved in petroleum engineering activities. Moreover, it will explain the Petroleum Engineering context within which Drilling Operations and Production Engineering take place. The emphasis on down hole technology will be complemented by a facilities and operations overview. The course will first cover abrief history of petroleum engineering. Then, basic drilling engineering is discussed and will lead in to Drilling Fundamentals, Well Completions/Workovers and Casing/Cementing. Finally the course will cover basic Production Engineering which covers fundamental concepts.
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Introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers
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$35.00 |
This course is an overview of the basic design and configurations of the more common programmable logic controllers. Included in this course are descriptions of the most common and simple programmable logic controllers and some of the more complex units. Numerous examples of applications of programmable logic controllers are shown and discussed in detail with illustrations. This course explores the programming of the programmable logic controller using ladder logic language. Examples of some of the ladder logic programming syntax are included.
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Introduction to Solar Energy Technologies
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$100.00 |
In this 3 hour course, the basics of three solar energy technologies are described. The technologies are photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) , and solar systems integration. The fundamentals of PV are given for solar cells, system design, manufacturing, performance and efficiency, soft costs, and solar rooftop potential. CSP is introduced through discussion of linear concentrator, power tower, dish/engine, and thermal storage systems. Solar systems integration is represented through description of solar resilience, distributed energy resources and microgrids, inverters and grid services, storage basics, solar-plus-storage systems, planning operations, cybersecurity, and silicon carbide in solar energy.
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Introduction to Transportation Planning
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$35.00 |
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The Introduction to Transportation Planning course will discuss the basic principles of transportation planning. It provides the definitions and objectives of project design and corridor traffic forecasting. It will also examine how equivalent single axle loading (ESAL) forecasting plays into the planning process.
Traffic data sources will be discussed such as permanent continuous counts, permanent continuous classification counts and portable seasonal classification counts.
Definitions will be provided for traffic factors including seasonal factor (SF), axle correction factor, annual average daily traffic (AADT), K, directional distribution (D) and percent trucks (T). Equations will be provided to show how each of these factors relate to traffic forecasting.
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Introduction to Zero Energy Buildings
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$35.00 |
The concept of zero energy building likely includes significantly more considerations than the average reader might imagine. This course explores many of the facets of zero energy buildings of particular interest to design professionals ranging from the design considerations, computer analysis, economic analysis, applicable codes, indoor air quality improvement and the effects on the utility industry. For the reader interested in further pursuit of the concept, a multitude of additional references are listed in the cited references.
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Land Development: An Engineer's Guide
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$65.00 |
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This course discusses a typical overall land development process, from initial review of a vacant property through final approvals and certification after completion of site construction activities. While no two municipalities have the exact same standards or procedures, the course provides a detailed discussion of what can typically be encountered by the Engineer throughout the process, how the Engineer works and interacts with the developer/client and what additional support team members are sometimes needed to complete a project. Included in the course are discussions on land use and zoning, due diligence evaluations, cost factors, design standards, plan preparation, permitting and approval to construct activities and project close-out.
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Land Disposal of Hazardous Waste
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$65.00 |
This course introduces an overview of hazardous waste (HW) landfill design, operation, and performance. This course covers the materials related to Landfill Operations, Site Selection, Liner & Leachate Collection Systems, Final Cover Systems, Materials, Contaminant Transport through Landfill Barriers, Landfill Stability, Subsurface Impoundments and Deep Well Injection, Closure and Post-Closure Care. This course is suggested for civil engineers, environmental engineers, and solid and hazardous waste landfill managers and operators.
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Landfill Gas Energy - Costs, Benefits and Technology
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$65.00 |
This 2 hour course discusses the how local governments and communities can achieve energy, environmental, health, and economic benefits by using landfill gas (LFG) recovered from municipal solid waste landfills as a source of renewable energy. The steps and considerations involved in developing and implementing LFG energy projects and an awareness of expected costs and financing opportunities are described. Two case studies are presented.
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Landscape & Vegetation Management for Flood Damage-Reduction Structures
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$35.00 |
This 1 hour course provides guidelines to assure that landscape planting and vegetation management provide aesthetic and environmental benefits without compromising the reliability of levees, floodwalls, embankment dams, and appurtenant structures. The dimensions of the vegetation-free and root-free zones defined in this document provide the minimum acceptable buffer between vegetation and flood damage reduction structures.
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Layered Control of Slab Moisture
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$65.00 |
Effective moisture control in concrete is a critical factor in the success of
commercial flooring installations. This course will explore moisture control
systems designed to maintain the structural integrity and aesthetic quality of
flooring, ensuring long-lasting results. Participants will learn how to address
common moisture challenges in concrete and how to select the right systems that
provide confidence through warranty-backed solutions. We'll explore industry
standards for testing and evaluating moisture, offering insight into best
practices that support safe, durable, and high-performing flooring
installations. Through real-world examples, participants will gain a deeper
understanding of how proper moisture management can contribute to a project's
overall success, from design through completion. By the end of the course,
attendees will have the knowledge to make strategic choices that enhance
flooring resilience and project outcomes.
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Leadscrews, Screw Jacks and Other Devices: Application and Selection
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$35.00 |
This course is an overview of the basic design considerations for selecting and applying leadscrews. Included in this course are descriptions of the most common leadscrew configurations and their main components. The main configurations include threaded nut, roller nut and ball bearing leadscrews. This course explores some of the design compromises that are necessary in designing and selecting leadscrews. Load capacity, accuracy, repeatability, resolution and backlash are discussed. Screw Jacks, mechanical jacks and linear actuators are described. The differences between the various configurations are explained. Examples of some installations are included.
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Lean on Me - Choosing Railings Carefully
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$100.00 |
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In every major city, premier addresses flaunt high-end high-rise residential towers, that make it possible to maximize profit from acquiring high priced land. On these towers, row upon row of sleek railings march toward the heights, declaring at least small pieces of outdoor space as being for private use only. In conjunction with the design of the whole structure, these railings form a large part of the aesthetic of their projects. They are one of the most visible. All the while, the rails do the job for which they were really designed. That is keeping those behind them alive. This material briefly examines the materials and methods used to construct barriers against fatal falls. Codes governing the performance of railings will be examined, because safety is the main justification for such regulations. Different ways to meet those guidelines will be discussed. Different looks made possible by technology will be portrayed. Finally, the challenges faced by busy design firms in choosing, detailing, and specifying these integral building components will be examined. Many new tools for railing design are becoming available to architects, engineers and builders. 3-D imaging, 3-D modeling, BIM and CAD-CAM programs are changing the perception of what once was possible, especially in the area of renovation projects. New business models are beginning to emerge whereby the development of standard details and standard specifications for railing systems will become practical, for busy architectural firms providing services in multiple locales. This course in intended to convey that knowledge to such firms.
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Levels of Building Security
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$65.00 |
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Building security doesn't involve only electronic gear, software and guards, nor
is it just for specific building types. Buildings for all purposes should likely
address security concerns during design.
Threats to building occupants can be lone individuals, acting from
opportunity and using simple tools to enter and sometimes harm victims, but more
often to steal their possessions to later sell. Some are lone perpetrators
seeking notoriety or significance, through publicity of their planned and
attempted mass murders. At the extreme end of security threats are organized
mobs, trained terrorists and armed militia with advanced weaponry.
The last group will be a bit hard to resist, without excessive expense or
an equally armed group to repel them. But for most potential threats, there are
things we can do to identify that danger before it reaches us, delay entry until
help can arrive or completely deny threats entry into our facilities and our
lives.
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Liquefied Natural Gas - Introduction
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$65.00 |
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This course is the first in a series of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Courses. It
is designed for engineers entering the specialty of LNG or those who want to
understand the basics of LNG production, storage, transportation, vaporization
and safety measures.
Learners taking this course are expected to have a basic understanding of
thermodynamics and heat transfer (boiling, condensation pressure, temperature
relationships, etc.).
The learner will understand the origins of natural gas and the required
pre-treatment before natural gas is converted to LNG. The reasons for and
methods of reducing the concentration of acid gases, mercury, water vapor, and
heavy hydrocarbons before liquefaction will be covered. The chemical and
physical characteristics of LNG will also be covered in this course.
Emphasis will be placed on the need for relief valves and attention to LNG
special phenomena, such as Rapid Phase Transformation, LNG spill behavior, and
LNG storage tank inventory rollover. The effects of nitrogen in LNG and
re-condenser use will be explained, along with the importance of proper design
(spring hangers, expansion joints, etc.) and preventive maintenance. The need
for auxiliary and backup auxiliary systems will also be presented.
Importantly, the learner will appreciate the need to maintain safe and
reliable plant operations through proper training of plant personnel. The
rationale for strictly following procedures, recognizing anomalies,
understanding the technologies and applying a Management of Change process will
be covered.
The course will aim to develop a culture of preemptive thinking, continuous
learning, continuous improvement, and ethical behavior to avoid accidents and
unreasonable risks.
The most important intention of this course is to give the learner the
basic technical knowledge, at an introductory level, that he/she needs to start
their study on how to continue to make the Liquid Natural Gas Industry "Safe and
Reliable."
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Liquefied Natural Gas Safety: What Every Energy Engineer Needs to Know
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$125.00 |
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Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plants and other petrochemical facilities are built to deliver a return on investment to their investors through safe operation. Their designers and engineer-led operators require in-depth technical knowledge to ensure that these facilities are safe and reliable. This course provides an introduction to that knowledge.
The most well-designed facilities are only as safe and reliable as the human resources that make decisions when operating these facilities. These human resources require training and technical knowledge on how the safety systems work, how to recognize anomalies, react to such anomalies, and, most importantly, how to prevent such anomalies. Remember the Challenger Space Shuttle - extensive safety systems, but poor operator judgment rendered it a disaster.
This training covers LNG safety practices from both a technical and human resource development perspective. A thorough understanding of these topics is needed to help you design, operate or maintain an LNG facility; however, many of the topics covered pertain to all petrochemical plants. This training is intended to present concepts and materials to develop a culture of safety and reliability in your thought processes. It will provide the learner with basic technical knowledge needed to make informed planning, maintenance, and operating decisions to ensure plant safety and reliability. The most crucial intention of this training is to impart knowledge of how to continue to make the Liquid Natural Gas Industry "Safe and Reliable."
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Low Voltage Special Topics of Interest
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$200.00 |
This 7-hour course explores topics of interest in the areas of voltages less than 1000 volts, including who is allowed to do what, based upon the type of license held. For example, fire alarm contractors are not licensed to install higher voltage systems such as 240 V motors, while an electrical contractor is allowed to install the 240 V motor as well as a fire alarm system. Even so, the EC specializing in residential, commercial and industrial wiring, probably will not include specializing in fire alarm systems. The goal of this course is to present a few contemporary higher voltage concepts that may be of interest to low voltage specialty contractors, such as electric vehicle charging, as well as a few contemporary low voltage concepts that may be of interest to electrical contractors, such as alarm wiring and controls. Some topics, such as selecting fuses and circuit breakers, batteries and battery charging and troubleshooting methods and examples will also be presented.
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Maintenance of Traffic Plans
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$35.00 |
This course will provide the necessary information to provide an understanding of Maintenance of Traffic Plans. The fundamental principles of work zone traffic control are discussed. The requirements of traffic control devices and human factor principles for work zones are also discussed. The components of maintenance of traffic plans are listed. Work zone device requirements are defined in detail. Traffic control planning is defined as a set of plans describing how traffic will be controlled during each construction phase. The components of traffic control zones, taper types and lengths, lane closure and detours are included. Transportation management plan development is described as a method for minimizing activity-related traffic delay and accident by the effective application of traditional traffic handling practice and innovative combination of community and motorist collaboration.
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Managing the Project Client
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$35.00 |
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Every builder offering professional services encounters difficult clients. Given enough experience, and methods to identify and avoid difficult people before they become part of that experience, builders can avoid most of them. Because builders are hired to manage the hopes and dreams of their clients, as well as a large part of their money, home owners will always have high expectations. They will demand and expect professionalism from any builder with whom they are partnering.
It is possible to manage projects well enough to minimize conflict. Managing clients may not be so easy. Sometimes, despite good project management, good intentions, good communication and a very good end-product, a client just refuses to be happy. If you absolutely know you did well, an old piece of advice states, “This too shall pass.”
That client will leave your life eventually. Then you will be able to remember all the excellent reasons you became a professional builder in the first place.
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Manual Materials Handling and Back Safety
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$65.00 |
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Manual materials handling (MMH) is a component of many jobs and activities. Typically, it involves lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling and carrying objects by hand and covers a wide range of situations including construction, office work, and daily living.
This course explains many risk factors involved in lifting and handling materials. It discusses ways to move materials safely and examines hazard control in the workplace. This guide explains many ways to keep our backs and muscle groups healthy and safe while we work. An important goal of this course is to help students find ways to create safe workplaces.
Manual materials handling, or MMH tasks, are encountered regularly on and off the job. The one thing that all MMH tasks have in common is the potential for injury, from simple cuts, bruises and sore muscles to more serious conditions related to low back pain (LBP). Almost half of all low back injuries are related to lifting, about another 10 percent are associated with pushing and pulling activities, and another 6 percent occur while holding, wielding, throwing or carrying materials. This course introduces the student to safe methods of handling and lifting and when to avoid lift altogether
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Mechanical Myths and Myth Calculations
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$35.00 |
This course has been prepared to cause the reader to think about solutions,
rather than structured to recite a lot of technical facts. Popular and
long-standing myths about physical and mechanical phenomena are discussed. Some
cases of faulty calculations are analyzed and presented. This course will
enable the student to apply reliable means of evaluating unusual situations and
look at the physical world in a new light. The lesson contains many good points
that could save a young engineer many hours of grief.
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Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
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$35.00 |
The mechanics of rigid bodies is a core topic in engineering. This course is a
review of the important fundamental concepts of rigid body mechanics. The
review is designed to refresh the essential definitions and principles governing
Newton's Laws of Motion, mechanics, statics and kinetics. Engineers need to
refresh and maintain their understanding of these fundamentals in order to
strengthen their practice.
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Median Design
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$35.00 |
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This course is designed to cover median design from history to actual design. It begins with the benefits and history of median design. Median design terms are defined. Access Management Classification is discussed as it relates to median placement and design.
The different types of median openings are shown from most restrictive to least restrictive. The types of medians are outlined along with the corresponding number of conflict points. The relationship of access vs. through movement is discussed.
Median design issues are outlines as they relate to turn lane development including approach taper, deceleration distance and storage length. Perception-reaction time, design speed and entry speed also play factors in turn lane design.
Definitions of sight distance including negative and positive left turn offsets are defined. A positive offset is preferred because it gives the left turning driver greater visibility of oncoming traffic. There is also a discussion as to how driveways can be strategically placed at median openings to promote safe turning movements.
Properly implemented median management will result in improvement to traffic operations, minimize adverse environmental impacts, and increase highway safety. As traffic flow is improved, delay and vehicle emissions are reduced. In addition, roadway capacity and fuel economy are increased and accidents are less numerous and less severe.
The benefits to medians include:
Safety - Fewer/less severe accidents; less auto/pedestrian conflicts
Efficiency - Higher levels of services; less stop and go traffic
Aesthetics - More room for landscaping and pedestrians; more attractive corridors
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Mine Subsidence - Residential Damage and Problems
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$35.00 |
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This 1 hour course discusses subsidence problems associated with past underground mining activity. Typical problems include cracks in foundations and walls, jammed or broken windows, and broken water, sewer, and gas lines. Information is also provided about conditions such as expansive soils or brick thermal expansion that may produce problems frequently mistaken as being caused by subsidence. Detailed advice is provided as to what to do when subsidence problems are suspected and what help is available for property owners faced with these kinds of problems.
The course is based on specific conditions in Illinois, but many of these same conditions also exist in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. These states are underlain with coal deposits that lie so far below the surface that they can be extracted only through underground (rather than surface) mining. Many of these mines were dug well over one hundred years ago in areas that were uninhabited or sparsely settled at the time. Today these areas are home to residential subdivisions and retail centers, some of which now sit above abandoned mines. As the coal pillars and timbers that originally supported the mine roof collapse from age and water damage, the roof comes down, and the soil and rock overlying the mine sink. The surface of the land above the mine subsides, and any structure lying on the surface is liable to damage from the subsidence.
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Modern Roundabout Design
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$65.00 |
The modern roundabout is a common intersection application which is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. As with any intersection, its selection and design requires balancing competing objectives (economics, safety, environmental concerns, operation, accessibility, land usage, aesthetics, etc.). This 2 hour course is a summary of the geometric design process for today’s roundabouts. Participants will be given an in-depth look at the principles and potential trade-offs to be considered when selecting and designing roundabouts. It is important to understand these design principles as well as the potential trade-offs that may be encountered. By combining this course material with work experience and engineering judgment, the participant may produce plans beneficial to the traveling public.
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Moisture Infiltration
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$35.00 |
This 1 hour course covers moisture infiltration sources, problems and possible remedies. Moisture enters buildings both as a liquid and as a gas (water vapor). In its liquid form it is introduced intentionally in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries. It can also come accidentally from leaks and spills. As a gas, water vapor sources include humidifiers, evaporation, occupants and outside air.
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Moving Towards Net Zero Building
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$150.00 |
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Net zero refers to achieving an overall balance between carbon-based emissions produced and the removal or offsetting of the same amount of carbon from the atmosphere. Sustainability is defined by one source as "meeting current needs, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, in the environment we will leave them." Taken together, striving to meet these two objectives can result in choices made in project design and project use, resulting in the least harm possible being done to our environment. Setting buzzwords aside, we will examine a few key principles involved in moving toward "net zero." The first of these will involve designing buildings that use as little energy as possible, once occupied as intended. The second principle will be generating as much power on-site, or the equivalent thereof, to supply the power still needed and used by the facility. The concepts examined here should provide a few tools to reach toward these goals.
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Multipurpose Machines
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$35.00 |
This course is an analysis and overview of the challenges encountered in designing multi-function machinery and vehicles. Hopefully, this course will be helpful to engineers and designers who may be preparing to begin a new design project. Examples of multi-function machines are reviewed with the challenges that had to be overcome. Their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Included in this course are descriptions of the most common challenges to creating a successful multi-function machine design and their effect on the final design.
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Natural Gas Pipeline Flow Calculations
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$35.00 |
Several different equations have been proposed and are in use for natural gas pipeline flow calculations. This 1 hour course provides information about four of them, the Weymouth Equation, the Panhandle A Equation, the Panhandle B Equation, and the Darcy Weisbach Equation, along with information about the fluid properties needed and their estimation or calculation. This course is intended for, petroleum engineers, chemical engineers, geotechnical engineers, environmental engineers, and civil engineers. An attendee of this course will gain knowledge about four equations used for natural gas pipeline flow equations and how to use them.
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NEC FAQs
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$65.00 |
This 2-hour course
has been designed to explain some of the mysteries associated with electrical
issues related to existing and emerging electrical work. It is presented in a
question and answer format that looks at some of the more difficult or confusing
concepts that occur in the last two editions of the National Electrical Code
(2017 & 2020). It starts with questions related to Chapter 1 and covers
topics through Chapter 9, including concepts such as arc flash, modern
electronic dimmer switches, electric vehicle charging, watts and VARS, grounding
electrodes, floating circuits, harmonics and 3-phase neutrals and several
emerging technologies, such as Article 706 on Energy Storage.
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Nuclear Power Plants: What Makes Them Safe?
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$125.00 |
This 4 hour course will provide an understanding of the mandated safety systems that are incorporated into every operating nuclear power plant in this country to protect plant personnel, the general public and the environment against the hypothetical design basis loss-of-coolant accident which simulates a collection of simultaneous worse case assumed accident conditions.
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Nuclear Power: Making A Comeback?
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$125.00 |
This 4 hour course will explore the current confluence of factors causing increased and serious attention to be paid to nuclear power plants as a viable alternative to fossil fueled power generation to meet future electrical energy requirements. The nuclear fuel cycle and issues surrounding spent nuclear fuel transportation and disposal are also presented.
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Nuclear Power: What Great Promise, What Went Wrong?
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$150.00 |
This 5 hour course will provide an understanding of nuclear power plant operations and why there have not been any new nuclear power plant orders in the US for over 25 years. The course describes the TMI and Chernobyl accidents and a series of other significant operating events that served to transform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission into a hardened regulator. Finally, the new culture of safety in the industry, and its surprising economic impacts are examined.
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Offshore Wind Energy Strategies
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$125.00 |
In this 4 hour course, the current status of offshore wind energy development in the United States is described, along with the challenges impeding further deployment. Five strategies to help make the United States a global leader in the industry are identified: 1) expand federal incentives, 2) reduce offshore wind energy costs, 3) improve siting and regulatory processes, 4) invest in the supply chain, and 5) plan grid integration.
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Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Technologies
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$175.00 |
Advances in oil and gas exploration and production technologies have resulted in numerous economic and environmental benefits. This 6 hour course provides information in the form of fact sheets for 36 advanced technologies for oil and gas exploration, drilling and completion, production, site restoration, and handling sensitive environments.
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Open Channel Flow Part I: The Manning Equation and Uniform Flow
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$35.00 |
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Flow of a liquid may take place either as open channel flow or pressure flow. Pressure flow takes place in a closed conduit such as a pipe, and pressure is the primary driving force for the flow. For open channel flow, on the other hand the flowing liquid has a free surface at atmospheric pressure and the driving force is gravity. Open channel flow takes place in natural channels like rivers and streams. It also occurs in manmade channels such as those used to transport wastewater and in circular sewers flowing partially full. In this course several aspects of open channel flow will be presented, discussed and illustrated with examples. The main topic of this course is uniform open channel flow, in which the channel slope, liquid velocity and liquid depth remain constant. First, however, several ways of classifying open channel flow will be presented and discussed briefly. After completing this course you will have knowledge about the basic nature of flow in open channels and the common ways of classifying open channel flow (laminar or turbulent, steady state or unsteady state, uniform or non-uniform, and critical, subcritical or supercritical). Practice in the use of the Manning equation for a variety of uniform open channel flow calculations will be gained through several worked examples. Upon completing this course, you will be prepared to take more advanced open channel flow courses.
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Open Channel Flow Part II: Hydraulic Jumps, Supercritical Flow & Non-Uniform Flow
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$35.00 |
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Many examples of open channel flow can be approximated as uniform flow allowing the Manning equation to be used. Non-uniform flow calculations are needed, however, in some open channel flow situations, where the flow is clearly non-uniform. The concepts of supercritical, subcritical and critical flow, and calculations related to those three regimes of flow, are needed for non-uniform open channel flow analysis and calculations. Hence, in this course, the parameter called specific energy will first be used to introduce the concepts of critical, subcritical, and supercritical flow. Various calculations related to critical, subcritical and supercritical flow conditions will be presented, including hydraulic jump calculations. The thirteen possible types of gradually varied non-uniform flow surface profiles will then be presented and discussed. Also, the procedure and equations for step-wise calculation of gradually varied non-uniform surface profiles will be presented and illustrated with examples. An attendee of this course will gain knowledge about the meaning of critical, subcritical, and supercritical flow, about basic calculations related to those three types of flow, about the hydraulic jump and basic calculations concerning it, about the classification scheme for types of gradually varied non-uniform flow, and about how to carry out a stepwise calculation of a gradually varied, non-uniform flow surface profile. Upon completing this course, the student will be prepared to take additional open channel hydraulics courses.
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Open Channel Flow Part III: Sharp Crested Weirs
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$35.00 |
A weir is basically an obstruction in an open channel flow path. Weirs are commonly used for measurement of open channel flow rate. A weir functions by causing water to rise above the obstruction in order to flow over it. The height of water above the obstruction correlates with the flow rate, so that measurement of the height of the flowing water above the top of the weir can be used to determine the flow rate through the use of an equation, graph or table. The top of the weir, which is used as the reference level for the height of water flowing over it, is called the crest of the weir. Weirs are typically classified as being either sharp-crested or broad-crested. This course is devoted to the more widely used sharp-crested weir. The major emphasis is on the calculations used for flow rate over various types of sharp-crested weirs. There is also information about guidelines for installation and use of sharp-crested weirs.
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OSHA - Asbestos Standard for Construction Industry
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$65.00 |
In the construction industry, asbestos is found in many installed products. Because very few asbestos containing products are being installed today, most worker exposures occur during the removal of asbestos and the renovation and maintenance of buildings and structures containing asbestos. This 2 hour course describes how the OSHA standard applies to the following activities: 1) demolishing or salvaging structures where asbestos is present; 2) removing or encapsulating asbestos-containing material; 3) constructing, altering, repairing, maintaining, or renovating asbestos-containing structures or substrates; 4) installing asbestos-containing products; 5) cleaning up asbestos spills/emergencies: and 6) transporting, disposing, storing, containing, and housekeeping involving asbestos or asbestos-containing products on a construction site.
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OSHA Guide for Protecting Roofing Workers
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$35.00 |
This 1 hour course presents the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s guide to protecting workers on roofing jobs. Roofers encounter many hazards, including working at heights and from ladders, using power tools, working with electricity, and being exposed to hazardous substances and extreme temperatures. Citing relevant OSHA standards and providing additional guidance, this course gives employers the information they need to minimize the hazards faced by their roofers.
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Panama Canal History & Expansion
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$125.00 |
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The Panama Canal is currently undergoing a $5.2 billion transformation to add a third set of locks to accommodate larger transit vessels. This course will first present the history of the existing Panama Canal, how it was selected over other competing locations and the first attempt at its construction by the French. Next, the course will review the site and its geology and the American effort to design and construct the existing canal consisting of two sets of adjacent locks at three locations throughout Panama. Following this, the course will present how upgrades to the canal were performed to maintain its viability over the past 100 years and the canal’s impact on global transportation of goods and materials. The current expansion project scope and design basis will be presented along with the program execution plan and contractor selection. Finally, the course will provide the recent project status including problems and issues encountered during construction and the current progress and projected completion. This course includes several graphics and photographs that provide a good depiction of one of the largest construction project ever undertaken.
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Passive Solar Heating Basics
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$65.00 |
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The principles of passive solar heating, such as basic types of systems, their description, and the components making up any passive system are presented in this 2 hour course. Sources of data for heating requirements and available solar radiation throughout the U.S are identified and discussed along with a method for estimating the rate of heat loss from a home. The use of these three inputs in a method for estimating performance of a passive heating system of specified size at a specified location is presented. The data retrieval and calculations are illustrated with numerous examples.
This course is intended for mechanical, electrical chemical and energy engineers, and architects. It will also be of interest to any engineers wanting to learn more about the renewable energy field.
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Pedestrian Safety
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$100.00 |
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This course discusses the issue of pedestrian safety as it relates to traffic studies and plan design. A background of the pedestrian safety problem is discussed.
An understanding of pedestrian characteristics and transportation design and policy elements that impact pedestrian safety are covered. Design for pedestrian safety is discussed as it relates to street design, street connectivity, site design, land use and access management. Methods to improve pedestrian safety are provided.
Collection data to identify pedestrian safety problems is outlined as it relates to types of safety projects and the information necessary to identify and quantify pedestrian safety deficiencies.
Analyzing the information and prioritizing the concerns is an important issue. Identifying high crash locations, corridors, targeted areas and jurisdiction is key to determining possible solutions. Crash typing is covered in order to select appropriate solutions. A ranking system is then produced to prioritize the solutions for implementation.
Safety solutions must take into account design specifications and guidelines. Engineering, enforcement and educational solutions can all be used in policy and planning solutions. After implementation, these solution should be monitored to make sure they have a positive effect.
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Personal Protective Equipment in Construction
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$35.00 |
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This course covers personal protective equipment (PPE).
Controlling a hazard at its source is the best way to protect employees, but
when work practice and administrative controls are not feasible or do not
provide sufficient protection, employers must provide PPE to their employees and
ensure its use. Examples of PPE include such items as gloves, foot and eye
protection, protective hearing devices (earplugs, muffs), hard hats, respirators
and full body suits.
This course will help contractors understand the types of
PPE; know the basics of conducting a "hazard assessment" of the workplace;
select appropriate PPE for a variety of circumstances; and understand what kind
of training is needed in the proper use and care of PPE.
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PFAS Removal During Water Treatment
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$35.00 |
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of synthetic chemicals that have been widely used for decades. PFAS are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because their strong carbon-fluorine bonds prevent them from breaking down in the environment. The presence of PFAS in the water supply is cause for concern due to both environmental and health-related issues. This course summarizes PFAS detection and removal methods that are currently used to reduce PFAS levels in water. Complexities and potential improvements to these methods are also discussed.
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Pipe Flow Calculations Part I - Friction Factor Calculations with Excel
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$35.00 |
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Several kinds of pipe flow calculations can be made with the Darcy-Weisbach equation and the Moody friction factor. These calculations can be conveniently carried out with an Excel spreadsheet. Many of the calculations require an iterative solution, so they are especially suitable for an Excel spreadsheet solution. This 1 hour course includes discussion of the Darcy-Weisbach equation and the parameters in the equation along with the U.S. and S.I. units to be used. Example calculations and sample Excel spreadsheets for making the calculations are also presented and discussed.
This 1 hour course is intended primarily for civil engineers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, and environmental engineers. After completing this course you will be able to make calculations with the Darcy Weisbach equation and the Moody friction factor equations to calculate several different unknown parameters when sufficient input data is provided. You will also be prepared to use Excel spreadsheets to efficiently make the calculations. As prepared for Titan Coursework this series has been separated into separate courses and may be taken out of sequence, each course independent from another.
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Pipe Flow Calculations Part II - Partially Full Pipe Flow Calculations
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$35.00 |
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The Manning equation is used for a variety of types of uniform open channel flow, including gravity flow in pipes, the topic of this course. This 1 hour course includes a review of the Manning equation, along with presentation of equations for calculating the cross-sectional area, wetted perimeter, and hydraulic radius for flow of a specified depth in a pipe of known diameter. Numerous worked examples illustrate the use of these equations together with the Manning equation to calculate flow rate and velocity, normal depth, minimum required pipe diameter, required pipe slope or full flow Manning roughness coefficient for partially full pipe flow.
This course is intended for hydrologists, civil engineers, hydraulic engineers, highway engineers, environmental engineers and mechanical engineers. After completing this course you will have knowledge about the equations for calculating area, wetted perimeter, and hydraulic radius for partially full pipe flow and equations for calculating the Manning roughness coefficient at a given depth to diameter ratio, with a known value of the Manning roughness coefficient for full pipe flow. Practice in the use of the Manning equation for a variety of partially full pipe flow calculations will be gained through several worked examples. As prepared for Titan Coursework this series has been separated into separate courses and may be taken out of sequence, each course independent from another.
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Pipe Flow Measurement
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$35.00 |
Those taking this course will gain knowledge about twelve different types of meters for measuring fluid flow rate in a closed conduit. They will learn about typical calculations for differential pressure meters and pitot tubes. They will learn the general principles of operation for each type and general advantages and disadvantages of each. Several categories of pipe flow measurement devices will be described and discussed including associated calculations with some of them.
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Plastics in Building Construction and Fire Safety
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$35.00 |
This course examines the fire safety implications of plastics used in modern building construction, focusing on how polymer-based materials influence ignition, fire growth, smoke production, and toxic gas release. The course explores common thermoplastics and thermosets used in insulation, facades, piping, electrical systems, and interior finishes, with emphasis on their combustion behavior and heat release characteristics. The course integrates fire testing methods, building code requirements, and real-world case studies - including facade fires, concealed insulation fires, and cable-tray incidents - to illustrate system-level risks and regulatory controls. Overall, this course examines how plastics can both enhance building performance and introduce critical fire hazards that must be managed through design, testing, and code compliance.
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Practical Electrical Problems and Solutions
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$200.00 |
This 7-hour course introduces a wide range of electrical topics that are not generally a part of the typical day of the typical electrician. Often the electrician is told to 'do it like this', which can leave the electrician wondering 'why am I doing it like this? Is there another way? A better way?' The course covers the how and why of topics ranging from backfeeding circuit breakers to selection of motor starters to troubleshooting sump pumps to determining how many and where to install expansion joints in PVC and metallic conduit to installing electric vehicle chargers.
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Practicing Ethics: Examining Case Studies
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$65.00 |
This two-hour course for construction professionals, architects, and engineers discusses the ethical and professional dimensions of practical case studies. You will learn the basic facts of cases, examine core ethical issues and themes, and see what the cases can teach us about professional ethics and practice.
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Premade Components for Expedition and Ease
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$65.00 |
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If a process or product can be made or finished more quickly or installed more
easily, those advantages translate directly into either a lower price or a
higher profit margin in the world of construction. That is the primary
motivation driving the increasing use of prefabricated building components,
including entire premade buildings, in the marketplace.
This course examines multiple aspects of this growing trend. It presents
the history of such practices, components or units that are currently available
in a prefabricated form, opportunities to further expand the practice and the
pros and cons of using such pieces in a new building project. It begins with
discussions of prefabrication from the assembly of small pieces, the creation of
major building components, and the ordering of pre-engineered structures of
steel and other materials. The course concludes with an overview of the
purchase of building kits and entire structures that can be delivered
on-site.
Whether in whole or in part, prefabrication has proven valuable in the
construction industry. For this reason, prefabrication processes will remain in
use for quite some time.
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Preventing Wrong-Way Driving on Freeways
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$125.00 |
Driving the wrong way on freeways has been a consistent traffic safety problem since the interstate system was opened in the 1950s. From 1996 to 2000 alone, over 1,700 people were killed and thousands more were injured in wrong-way crashes in the United States. The average direct economic loss from such crashes is estimated to be over ten million dollars per year. The purpose of this course is to identify the contributing factors to wrong-way crashes on freeways and to develop promising, cost-conscious countermeasures to reduce these driving errors and their related crashes. Factors found to be significant are alcohol impairment, age, gender, physical condition, drivers experience and knowledge, time of day, and interchange type. Vehicle type, seat belt use, lighting, roadway alignment, driver age group, first vehicle contact point, and driver condition (blood alcohol concentration level) are shown to have an impact on crash severity. Types of countermeasures such as signage, pavement markings, geometric design, and ITS vehicle detection systems are discussed. Applications to twelve specific interchanges are presented.
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Principles of Organizational Communication
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$65.00 |
This course is designed to introduce you to the basic principles of organizational communication. It begins by giving you insight to the history and early perspectives of the communication field. The focus then shifts to the importance of communication to an organization. This book covers a broad range of topics including tips on improving your listening skills, the key to leadership, gender in the workplace, and an extensive look into crisis management.
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Professional Ethics for Engineers
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$100.00 |
How can the professional engineer distinguish between right and wrong? How can the engineer identify and deal with ethical dilemmas? This 3 hour home study course addresses such questions by providing a philosophically-informed analysis of engineering ethics and by looking at real case studies. The course begins by clarifying core concepts in ethics. Using the NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers as a guideline, the course analyzes five case studies in order to give real examples of how to apply ethical principles. It describes the DASDA ethical reasoning process for dealing with ethical dilemmas. The course also contains informative appendices on the foundations of ethics and a selected bibliography. By taking this course, you will refine your moral judgment and raise your awareness of your ethical responsibilities as a professional engineer.
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Professional Ethics: Determining Negligence in Engineering Failures
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$35.00 |
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Negligence in the practice of professional engineering means the failure to behave with the standard of care that a professional engineer of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances. The purpose of this 1 hour course is to identify conditions under which, when an engineering failure has occurred, it can be attributed to negligence. Five causes of failure are proposed: negligence, rare failure mode, overlooked failure mode, new (previously unrecognized) failure mode, and incorrect assessment of a known risk. Negligence is the only cause that involves failing in an ethical duty.
These concepts are illustrated with five case studies of failures ranging from gross negligence to absolutely unforeseeable events: - The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, for which a new possible cause was identified 95 years later (2014);
- A building collapse in Bangladesh in which over 1,000 people died—one of the worst structural engineering disasters in history;
- A meteorite strike of a private residence;
- The crash of the British-French Concorde supersonic airliner, caused by an unlikely tire blow-out; and
- Radiation overdoses received by patients treated by the Thorac-25 medical linear accelerator, caused by errors in the software controlling the machine.
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Project Management - Advanced Techniques
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$100.00 |
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This 3 hour course in project management is intended to improve the prospects for existing project managers and would-be project managers to manage a successful project. The simple definition of successful has rarely been defined in specific terms of a given project, but a general definition usually encompasses being on time and being under budget. Nevertheless, while this definition may be too narrow to satisfy many PMs and executives, the project is not successful unless you combine these two finite factors with a more than satisfactory end result.
The course is divided into two separate parts, each of which is intended to improve the capabilities of a Project Manager or a potential Project Manager. The first part describes the steps necessary to become a top quality PM. This part focuses on the background and education necessary to be considered for a project management role. The second part of this course deals with the actual fundamentals of managing a project so that a Project Manager and every team member are performing at an optimum level. This section of the course covers the multiple functions of the project, including the activities necessary to assure that engineering, equipment and construction meet the quality objectives of the project. In this portion of the course are many techniques which describe how to obtain optimum scope and design parameters as well as maintaining schedule and cost controls. Numerous examples are given of solutions to problems that are encountered as the project unfolds. The PM is made aware of the subtleties that are available to resolve seemingly difficult issues.
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Project Management - Be A Successful Project Manager
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$125.00 |
Upon completion of this 4 hour course, students will understand beginning to intermediate project management concepts and techniques that will greatly increase your odds of successfully managing projects. The course is organized according to the five process areas of initiation, planning, execution, control, and closeout. Learn the detailed project initiation and planning steps that will set the stage for success before you begin a project. Also covered are: quality assurance to maintain high quality work products; communicating with your team and customers; staying on top of budgets, schedules, and scope issues; and related topics such as controlling and protecting your valuable electronic documents.
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Project Management Fundamentals
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$100.00 |
In this 3 hour course you will understand project manager functions, responsibilities, project controls, schedules, estimating and managing risk. Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. Project management is about performing the project within the triple constraints of cost, time and quality plus gaining customer satisfaction. Project Management is achieving these goals within schedule, within budget, meeting specified quality expectations and customer satisfaction.
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Prototypes and the Art of Reproduction
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$35.00 |
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In the practice of architectural design, there exists a peculiar niche or genre of work. It lies in the creation and reuse of prototypical plans for clients who need to duplicate their basic facilities elsewhere.
To those observing from afar, the work seems mundane and unsatisfying. It is not the stuff from which awards or peer recognition arises. For those involved in the niche, is can make for very long and satisfying working relationships and a recognition of worth by clients, to who’s success the designer directly contributes.
In this course, we will examine the pros and cons of prototype creation. We will do so from the standpoint of the team of professionals involved in their creation, from the professionals most often involved at individual project locations and from the viewpoint of the building owner. Most often, that will be a company involved in the creation and expansion of franchises.
In doing so, we will discuss the power of duplication.
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Quality Assurance: Focus On Design Control
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$125.00 |
This 4 hour course in Quality Assurance (QA) provides an introduction to QA creating the foundation to develop an understanding and appreciation of QA and its contribution to engineering activities. This course defines QA and explains the importance of an effectively implemented QA Program. The typical components of a QA Program will be identified and a detailed discussion of the requirements for a QA organization and program, specifically focusing on design control requirements will be provided. QA will take on practical and significant meaning, resulting in a quality consciousness that will enhance the engineering and technical work we are responsible for.
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Rainwater Harvesting
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$125.00 |
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Rainwater harvesting is an ancient technique enjoying a revival in popularity due to the inherent quality of rainwater and interest in reducing consumption of treated water. Rainwater collection has numerous benefits such as: free supply, low mineral and sodium content, reduction in non-point source pollution, and reduced demand on water utilities. This course introduces the basic principles of residential and small-scale commercial rainwater harvesting systems design. The design process includes choosing system components in the most cost effective and advantageous manner. It is intended to serve as a first step in consideration of the use of rainwater harvesting systems. This course is based on the publication, Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting. The information in this course may be useful in planning and sizing of rainwater harvesting systems.
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Rational Method Hydrological Calculations
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$35.00 |
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Calculation of peak storm water runoff rate from a drainage area is often done with the Rational Method equation (Q = CiA). Calculations with the Rational Method equation often involve determination of the design rainfall intensity and the time of concentration of the watershed as well. Example calculations and examples using an Excel spreadsheet for Rational Method equation calculations and for determination of the design rainfall intensity and the time of concentration of the drainage area, are presented and discussed in this course. The parameters in the equations are defined with typical units for both U.S. and S.I. units.
This 1 hour course is intended primarily for civil engineers, hydraulic engineers, highway engineers, and environmental engineers. After completing this course you will be able to calculate peak storm water runoff rate using the Rational Method equation in either U.S. or S.I. units, including determination of runoff coefficient, calculation of time of concentration, and determination of design rainfall intensity. You will also be prepared to use Excel spreadsheets to efficiently make the calculations.
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Reading and Interpreting Construction Specifications and Plans
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$65.00 |
This course is written for construction professionals who must be able to read and understand the documents in a bid package. This course will concentrate mainly on the reading and interpretation of the specifications and plans (drawings) contained within the bid package. Excerpts from an actual construction project specification are appended as a study aid. The discussion of the reading of the specification will refer to the appended specification excerpts. Details and particular features of project plans will be discussed with examples embedded within the lesson text.
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Recent Developments in Renewable Energy Research (NREL) - Part I
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$65.00 |
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In this 2 hour course, recent news and research breakthroughs from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are described.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for research on renewable energy and energy efficiency. NREL's mission is to advance the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies and provide the knowledge to integrate and optimize energy systems. Every year, in addition to publishing technical articles and reports, NREL publishes dozens of short articles (NREL News & Feature Stories) that take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the latest news and research breakthroughs. The present course is Part 1 of a three-part series of courses based on excerpts of recently published News & Feature Stories. In general, all three courses should be of interest to anyone wanting to keep up with recent developments from a laboratory regularly recognized for national and global leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development.
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Recent Developments in Renewable Energy Research (NREL) - Part II
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$65.00 |
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In this 2 hour course, recent news and research breakthroughs from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are described.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for research on renewable energy and energy efficiency. NREL's mission is to advance the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies and provide the knowledge to integrate and optimize energy systems. Every year, in addition to publishing technical articles and reports, NREL publishes dozens of short articles (NREL News & Feature Stories) that take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the latest news and research breakthroughs. The present course is Part 2 of a three-part series of courses based on excerpts of recently published News & Feature Stories. In general, all three courses should be of interest to anyone wanting to keep up with recent developments from a laboratory regularly recognized for national and global leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development.
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Recent Developments in Renewable Energy Research (NREL) - Part III
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$65.00 |
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In this 2 hour course, recent news and research breakthroughs from the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are described.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for
research on renewable energy and energy efficiency. NREL's mission is to advance
the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation,
and renewable power technologies and provide the knowledge to integrate and
optimize energy systems. Every year, in addition to publishing technical
articles and reports, NREL publishes dozens of short articles (NREL News &
Feature Stories) that take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the latest
news and research breakthroughs. The present course is Part 3 of a three-part
series of courses based on excerpts of recently published News & Feature
Stories. In general, all three courses should be of interest to anyone wanting
to keep up with recent developments from a laboratory regularly recognized for
national and global leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy
research and development.
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Relocating a Welding Robot - a project management case study
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$35.00 |
This case study is based on actual events surrounding the forced relocation of a
welding robot that was installed in a factory in Canada. Innovation creates new
situations for engineers. New technologies often involve unfamiliar situations
and working environments. Engineers in the pursuit of their assigned tasks must
deal with new experiences with machinery and people. Engineers must often adapt
their approaches to problem-solving to arrive at a successful outcome when
dealing with personnel in other organizations in unfamiliar surroundings. In
this case study, a contentious work environment resulted from the unwelcome
installation of innovative technology. The strained labor-management relations
put the engineers to the test.
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Residential Green Building: Residential Design, Construction and Accreditation
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$125.00 |
Green Building is rapidly becoming mainstream, mostly due to increasing environmental concerns, a desire to develop healthier structures, and increasing regulation from the permitting authorities. This 4 hour course starts by debunking many green building myths and then moves into a comprehensive discussion of its elements. The course takes a close look at green building in relation to many aspects of design and construction including issues dealing with sites, landscaping, foundations, frames, exterior finishes, plumbing, appliances, insulation, ventilation, windows, finishes, and flooring. The course wraps up with information on testing, certification, and accreditation, including a look at the LEED program and the NAHB Green Home Certification Program.
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Residential Green Remodeling: Design, Construction and Certification
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$150.00 |
This 5 hour course provides a comprehensive treatment of Green Remodeling with an emphasis on how Green Remodeling differs from Green Building. The unique aspects of Green Remodeling are treated in detail, with particular emphasis on building evaluation, deconstruction, handling of hazardous waste, materials recycling and reuse, energy conservation, indoor air quality, use of environmentally safe products, design principles, system planning and construction best practices. An overview of Personal and building certification programs is complemented by a discussion of incentives available from government sources.
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Responding to Radon
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$65.00 |
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In the movie, "The Princess Bride" the Man in Black describes his
fictitious iocaine powder, being used in a deadly game, as being odorless,
tasteless, dissolving instantly in liquid, and among the more deadly poisons
known to man.
Radon has at least a few things in common with iocaine powder. It too is
invisible, odorless, tasteless, can be contained in water and can be quite
deadly. But men in black do not usually announce the presence of radon. And no
one acquires immunity to it.
In this course, we will examine what we do know about this ubiquitous,
ever-present, radioactive gas, why more and more, it tends to accumulate in our
buildings, the danger that represents to the health of occupants and what
exactly can be done to lower our increasing risk.
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Road Diet
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$35.00 |
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The purpose of this course is to provide information on the most common road diet which involves converting an existing four-lane undivided roadway segment to a three-lane segment consisting of two through lanes and center two-way, left-turn lane (TWLTL). Road diets can be used to address safety concerns with four-lane undivided highways associated with relatively high crash rates. The reduction of lanes allows the roadway cross section to be reallocated for other uses such as bike lanes, pedestrian refuge islands or parking.
The benefits of road diets include improved safety, traffic calming and the opportunity to repurpose segments of the roadway to create on-street parking, bike lanes or transit stops. Based on the history of safety studies, designers can expect a crash reduction of 19 to 47 percent after installing a road diet.
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Roadway Geometric Design Part I - Functions, Controls & Alignments
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$65.00 |
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This 2 hour course focuses on the geometric design process for modern roads and highways. Subjects covered include: highway functions (classification systems); design controls and criteria (design vehicles, highway capacity, traffic characteristics); and elements of design (sight distance, horizontal and vertical alignments). The contents of this course are intended to serve as guidance and not as an absolute standard or rule. The course objective is to give engineers and designers an in-depth look at the principles to be considered when selecting and designing roadways. Upon course completion, you should be familiar with the general guidelines for roadway geometric design. A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (also known as the “Green Book”) published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is considered to be the primary guidance for U.S. roadway design. For this course, Chapters 1 through 3 – Highway Functions, Design Controls and Criteria, and Elements of Design will be used exclusively for fundamental roadway geometric design principles.
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Roadway Geometric Design Part II - Cross-sections and Road Types
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$65.00 |
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This 2 hour course focuses on the geometric design process for modern roads and highways. Subjects covered include: cross-section elements (lane widths, shoulders, roadside design, medians, drainage channels); local roads; collector roads; rural and urban arterials; and freeways. The course contents are intended to serve as guidance and not as an absolute standard or rule. The course objective is to give engineers and designers an in-depth look at the principles to be considered when selecting and designing roadways. Upon course completion, you should be familiar with the general guidelines for roadway geometric design. A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (also known as the “Green Book”) published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is considered to be the primary guidance for U.S. roadway design. For this course, Chapters 4 through 8 - Cross-Section Elements, Local Roads and Streets, Collector Roads and Streets, Rural and Urban Arterials, and Freeways will be used exclusively for fundamental roadway geometric design principles.
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Roadway Geometric Design Part III - Intersections & Interchanges
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$65.00 |
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This 3 hour course focuses on the geometric design process for modern roads and highways. Subjects covered include: intersections (types/examples, alignment, profile, sight distance, roundabouts); grade separations and interchanges (types, warrants, safety, economic factors). The contents of this course are intended to serve as guidance and not as an absolute standard or rule. The course objective is to give engineers and designers an in-depth look at the principles to be considered when selecting and designing roadways. Upon course completion, you should be familiar with the general guidelines for roadway geometric design. A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (also known as the Green Book published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is considered to be the primary guidance for U.S. roadway design. For this course, Chapters 9 and 10 – Intersections, Grade Separations and Interchanges will be used exclusively for fundamental roadway geometric design principles.
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Roadway Horizontal Alignments
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$65.00 |
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The roadway horizontal alignment is a series of horizontal tangents (straight roadway sections), circular curves, and spiral transitions. It shows the proposed roadway location in relation to the existing terrain and adjacent land conditions. Together with the vertical alignment (grades and vertical curves) and roadway cross-sections (lanes, shoulders, curbs, medians, roadside slopes, ditches, sidewalks), the horizontal alignment (tangents and curves) helps to provide a three-dimensional roadway layout. In today's environment, designers must do more than apply design standards and criteria to solve a problem. They must understand how various roadway elements contribute to safety and facility operation, including the horizontal alignment. This 2 hour course focuses on the geometric design of horizontal alignments for modern roads and highways. Its contents are intended to serve as guidance and not as an absolute standard or rule. Upon course completion, you should be familiar with the general design of horizontal roadway alignments. The course objective is to give engineers and designers an in-depth look at the principles to be considered when designing horizontal alignments. A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (also known as the Green Book published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is considered to be the primary guidance for U.S. roadway design. For this course, Chapter 3 (Section 3.3 Horizontal Alignment) will be used exclusively for fundamental roadway geometric design principles.
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Roadway Intersection Geometric Design
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$65.00 |
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Intersections are unique roadway elements where conflicting vehicle streams (and sometimes non-motorized users) share the same space. This area encompasses all modes of travel (pedestrian, bicycle, passenger vehicle, truck, and transit) as well as auxiliary lanes, medians, islands, sidewalks and pedestrian ramps. These may further heighten the accident potential and constrain the operational efficiency and network capacity of the urban street system. However, the main objective of intersection design is to facilitate the roadway user and enhance efficient vehicle movement.
This 2 hour course summarizes and highlights the geometric design process for modern roadway intersections. The contents of this document are intended to serve as guidance and not as an absolute standard or rule.
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Roadway Lighting Design
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$35.00 |
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Roadway lighting design is a key component in many roadway design projects. It is important for designers in all areas of roadway design to understand the basics of roadway lighting design. This course discusses the purpose and objectives of roadway lighting. Analyzing lighting needs on the various roadway classifications are discussed. Lighting justification is also included.
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Roadway Vertical Alignments
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$35.00 |
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Roadway vertical alignments are a combination of various parabolic curves and connecting tangent grades. Along with the roadway cross section (lanes and shoulders, curbs, medians, roadside slopes and ditches, sidewalks) and horizontal alignment (tangents and curves), the vertical alignment (grades and vertical curves) helps provide a three-dimensional roadway model. Its ultimate goal is to provide a safe, smooth-flowing facility that is crash-free. In todays environment, designers must do more than apply design standards and criteria to solve a problem. They must understand how various roadway elements contribute to safety and facility operation, including the vertical profile. This 1-hour course focuses on the geometric design of vertical alignments for modern roads and highways. Upon course completion, you should be familiar with the general design of these alignments. The course objective is to give engineers and designers an in-depth look at the principles to be considered when designing roadway vertical alignments. A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (also known as the Green Book published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is considered to be the primary guidance for U.S. roadway design. For this course, Chapter 3 (Section 3.4 Vertical Alignment) will be used exclusively to present fundamental roadway geometric design principles.
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Self-Driving Cars: What Can We Realistically Expect?
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$125.00 |
In this 4 hour course, recent developments in the technology of self-driving cars (SDCs) are described. Popular media have made many predictions about the dramatic changes self-driving cars (SDCs) will eventually bring about in society. Some prominent people working in the field worry that these predictions grossly overstate what can reasonably be expected of SDCs and may actually discredit the entire field when SDCs fail to meet expectations. Despite this concern, these researchers believe that SDCs will eventually prove their worth but probably not in the form and certainly not as soon as the media say. This course draws on the comments and writings of these researchers to identify over a dozen problems in SDC development that have not yet been solved. The problems include not just technical issues such as the adequacy of machine learning, software validation, hardware reliability, cybersecurity, and the lack of adequate testing, but also non-technical issues such as public fears about SDCs lack of safety and questions of insurance and liability. The course concludes by suggesting a future consisting of slow, incremental improvements in SDCs over many years. The radical changes in society that have been predicted in the media may never be achieved, but nevertheless SDCs may result in the saving of lives of many people who would have otherwise perished in automobile accidents.
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Sexual Harassment in the Building Trades
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$35.00 |
In recent decades, sexual harassment has become a part of the national conversation regarding the American workplace. This is not because it has become more prevalent, but rather because legislation has made it safer to demand that it cease. This is a sensitive topic, but one that can be approached and discussed honestly and practically, as a first line of defense against its occurrence. In this course, we will look at how such actions are defined and how they must be corrected. We will examine how liability for tolerating such actions plays out at an individual, management, and corporate level.
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Shade and Shadow in Design
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$150.00 |
This course examines the essential roles of shade, shadow, and light in interior design. Learners will investigate both the theory and practical application of how these elements shape mood, depth, and usability within interior spaces. Through engaging stories and case studies, participants will discover the psychological and emotional effects produced by various lighting techniques. They will be empowered to harness the transformative power of light and shadow in interior design projects.
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Signalization Design
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$35.00 |
This course provides a history and requirements for use in the design of signalized intersections. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) for signal warrants, definitions of traffic signal control types, phasing and signal operating plans are covered. In addition, traffic signal pole layout, vehicle and pedestrian detention, signal timing parameters and signal coordination are be discussed.
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Solar Energy Introduction
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$35.00 |
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Solar energy travels from the sun to the earth in the form of
electromagnetic radiation. In this course properties of electromagnetic
radiation will be discussed and basic calculations for electromagnetic radiation
will be described. Several solar position parameters will be discussed along
with means of calculating values for them. The major methods by which solar
radiation is converted into other useable forms of energy will be discussed
briefly. Extraterrestrial solar radiation (that striking the earth's outer
atmosphere) will be discussed and means of estimating its value at a given
location and time will be presented. Finally, information will be presented on
the use of three websites to obtain values for yearly average solar insolation,
monthly average insolation, or daily insolation at a specified location in the
United States or anywhere around the world. Numerous examples are included to
illustrate the calculations and data retrieval methods presented.
After completing this course, you will have basic knowledge about solar
electromagnetic radiation, will be familiar with fundamental solar parameters,
will be able to obtain or calculate values for those parameters and use them in
calculations, and will be able to obtain values for average monthly rate of
solar radiation, average annual rate of solar radiation and average hourly rate
of solar radiation striking the surface of a typical solar collector in the
United States or any location around the world. You will also be prepared to
take additional more specialized solar energy courses.
This course is intended for mechanical, electrical, chemical and energy
engineers, as well as architects. It will also be of interest to any engineers
wanting to learn more about the renewable energy field.
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Solid Waste Landfill
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$65.00 |
This course introduces an overview of solid waste landfill design, operation, and performance. This course covers the materials related to Site Selection, Site Preparation, Equipment, Operation, Environmental Considerations, Bioreactor Landfill, Landfill Design, Completed Solid Waste Landfills, Solid Waste By-Products and their beneficial use. This course is suggested for civil engineers, environmental engineers, and solid and hazardous waste landfill managers and operators.
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Solutions for Sustainability
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$65.00 |
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Sustainability is defined by one source as "the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level." It is described elsewhere as "meeting current needs, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, in the environment we will leave them." To every extent possible, design choices made on projects should result in the least harm possible being done to our environment, to be inherited by our descendants. Whether architects really have a "duty" to design "sustainably" as a matter of ethics, is a question needing a bit more discussion. Trying to do so is unquestionably, a good idea.
Setting buzzwords, special interest groups and political agendas aside, we will examine a few key principles of what can instead be called, "environmentally responsible" design. Many steps that can be taken during design and after structures are complete, to reduce energy use and resources consumed. These include passive steps like building envelopes with thermally superior components. In the design phase, buildings can be positioned on site to strategically allow or preclude solar gain, admit or deny natural ventilation, and maximize or minimize shade needed in different seasons. After everything has been done to passively minimize energy use, active technologies can recapture energy or generate power for internal use or addition to the grid.
Concepts examined here should provide a few more tools to design sustainably.
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Solving Difficult Problems
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$65.00 |
This course was prepared to enable the reader to think about solutions to unusual problems and strengthen problem solving skills. The lesson includes case studies of unusual and perplexing mechanical and electrical problems rather than presenting a collection of technical facts. The course demonstrates how to apply reliable means of evaluating unusual situations and view problem-solving in a new light. Included in the lesson is a list of actions and observations that can be applied to a broad range of technical problems. Interesting real-life stories illustrate how others successfully approached difficult problems successfully.
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Sound Advice for Acoustics
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$150.00 |
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Unwanted sound impacts and affects inhabitants of our created spaces. If it is not already, controlling noise will quickly become a mandated concern for designers. Attesting to increasing regulatory focus on noise, is a recent proliferation of standards, guidelines, and codes regarding acoustics.
Very soon, many of these guidelines will no longer be mere suggestions. Most concerns covered in these standards, can be addressed with a basic understanding on how sound travels and is reflected, blocked, absorbed, or transmitted by materials and assemblies chosen in designing envelopes.
Acoustic design is best addressed in an incremental fashion. This course was written to do just that. Fundamentals are first covered, including basic principles regarding sound, how its energy moves through matter, how its path and intensity can be altered, and how success in the manipulation of sound is measured. Known design strategies are discussed for controlling sound moving; from exterior to interior spaces, from interior spaces to adjacent spaces, within interior spaces, through structural components, and through building systems. Design considerations are outlined for numerous common building functions. Finally, acoustic codes and guidelines in existence now, are listed for consideration.
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Speaking of Older Buildings
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$100.00 |
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When the question of what to do with older buildings arises, it usually resolves itself to choices of reusing them as is, repairing them, restoring them, repurposing them or replacing them.
There is an old saying regarding existing buildings that goes like this. 'It has good bones.' Any facility, free of structural defects and doing a reasonably good job of keeping water out, represents a tangible asset. The trick to maximizing the value of existing structures, especially in areas where changing economic factors have also resulted in changing market demands, is to approach their reuse from a different point of view. The judicious employment of renovation funds should not be based on restoring them to a previous use, but making them suitable for other markets in which the existing bones might enable a whole new purpose.
This presentation proposes criteria that may prove valuable in determining which option for the disposition of older buildings represents the best value for the owner, the buyer or the community in which the structure is located. It will also briefly examine a potential business opportunity in a collaboration between architects and commercial real estate agents.
For the benefit of everyone involved, any reuse of older buildings is better than none. Some thought just needs to be put into the options of how to do so, before any decision is made on to the best way to proceed.
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Stainless Steel
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$35.00 |
Stainless Steel, provides an overview of the basics of stainless steel, its
production, applications and characteristics. The course is a refresher for the
experienced design engineer and a primer for those new to metallurgy. Included
in this course are descriptions of the five main types of stainless steel and
their basic similarities and differences. The various alloying elements are
described and their effects on the stainless steel reviewed. The main
manufacturing processes, forming and fabricating are included. Stainless steel
selections for various applications are discussed.
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Standard Fire Resistance Design of Structures
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$65.00 |
Uncontrolled fire within an engineered building may be regarded as a low probability and potentially high consequence event. Hence, it is important that structural systems adequately resist the effects of fire. Accordingly, long-standing standard fire resistance design requirements aim to the control the heating of individual structural components with the intent of mitigating the risk of structural collapse due to fire exposure. This 2 hour course examines the current practice of standard fire resistance design, and covers relevant code requirements, qualification testing, and proper specification of structural fire protection.
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Starting From the Bottom
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$100.00 |
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When a floor collapses or when mold appears on it, we can be sure of one thing. Such problems likely began when poor choices were made selecting materials, from the level of the grade to the level of the finished floor. Like the problems they spawn, choices made in proper or improper floor design, begin at the bottom and work their way upward. This course takes a systematic look at decisions made in choosing specific components of construction, from the ground to the top of the first finished floor. Those choices need to be sound and dependable, since the top of that floor is the base upon which the rest of the enclosure will rest. This design process includes; an analysis of water attacking the structure, why specific foundation options are selected, what framing members will support the floor, how vapor drive will be controlled, what insulation will be installed to isolate climates, the subflooring that will be the primary barrier between the inside atmosphere and any space below, and the underlayment and finish flooring that will be placed above. If we do our job well as designers, that last component will be the only part of everything chosen, to ever need further attention or consideration from our clients.
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Strategic Planning
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$35.00 |
This one hour online course will provide information and training on strategic planning in construction. The course will go over the steps of a strategic plan and explain how to successfully execute the plan.
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Structural Fire Design
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$65.00 |
The frequency of uncontrolled fire in buildings is low, but the consequences can be severe if not properly addressed. Hence, it is important that structural systems adequately resist the effects of fire. Conventional methods for structural fire safety aim to control the heating of individual structural components with the intent of mitigating the risk of structural collapse due to fire exposure. However, new industry standardization and guidance are paving the way for the explicit design of structural systems to safely withstand uncontrolled fire exposure, referred to as structural fire design. This course briefly examines conventional methods for structural fire safety, and then primarily covers the requirements, methodology, and benefits of structural fire design.
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Supply Chain Management
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$65.00 |
This course will provide the student with basic concepts in supply chain management. An overview of the history of supply chain management, its components as well as the benefits and potential gaps are presented. Additionally, the course will review current and future trends within the supply chain that are emerging throughout businesses today
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Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules Ch. 137
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$35.00 |
This one course is designed to meet the Texas Board of Professional Engineers continuing education requirement that a minimum of 1 PDH per renewal period must be in the area of professional ethics, roles and responsibilities of professional engineering, or review of the Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules. The course consists of a review of Chapter 137 (Compliance and Professionalism) of Title 22, Part 6, of the Texas Administrative Code.
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Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules Ch. 139
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$35.00 |
This one hour course is designed to meet the Texas Board of Professional Engineers continuing education requirement that a minimum of 1 PDH per renewal period must be in the area of professional ethics, roles and responsibilities of professional engineering, or review of the Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules. The course consists of a review of Chapter 139 (Enforcement) of Title 22, Part 6, of the Texas Administrative Code. The course also includes examples of recent Board disciplinary actions.
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The First Steps: Foundations for the Coming Project
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$65.00 |
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The right decisions made early are the foundation needed to support a successful
project. Starting points include ensuring design compliance with the various
rules and regulations from governing authorities. Otherwise, permission will not
be granted to implement a project. A properly chosen foundation that reliably
transfers the load of a structure into the earth minimizes the risk of a
building collapse. Soil testing is needed to determine whether the dirt beneath
will support the new structure(s). The type of soil found on the site, its
stability and its structural bearing capability must be known to ensure a solid
design. The weight of the building being placed on the soil of our chosen site
must also be determined.
These represent a few of the factors which must be considered to create a
strong foundation for a successful project. Obtaining and properly utilizing
such knowledge will smooth the way to the desired outcome. This course
discusses each of these factors and the critical decisions that depend on
them.
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The Ford Pinto Exploding Gas Tank: A Case Study in Professional Ethics
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$35.00 |
This is a one hour course in applied ethics for construction professionals. It discusses ethical decision-making and a famous case in professional design ethics: the Ford Pinto exploding gas tank. It will help understand the role of codes of ethics. To provide some context and grounding for the discussing of cases, we also provide a brief discussion on how case studies are supposed to function in professional ethics.
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The Manhattan Project
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$100.00 |
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This project may be considered by some Americans to be a research project, and in many ways it was. But an engineer or a military person would see it from a different perspective. Without the support of individual engineers and without the vision and wisdom of our scientists and military leaders, this project could not have achieved the success that it did and the world might have been changed forever.
The first part of this course focuses on the war-mongering efforts of the Germans and the Japanese to change the world's balance of power. The second part of this course describes in great detail the efforts of the many volunteer scientists and engineers, under the supervision of a proven military leader, to do something that many skeptics thought could not be done. This project emphasizes the tenacity and wisdom of key people in the military as well as in the private sector who combined their considerable talents to complete such an enormous project when the stakes were so high.
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The Potential for Electrons to Molecules Using Solar Energy
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$65.00 |
In this 2 hour course, the potential for solar photovoltaics (PV) to supply low carbon energy sources to sectors of the economy other than the power industry is described. Molecules such as hydrogen, ammonia, and hydrocarbons are currently produced from natural gas and crude oil and are used in sectors other than the power sector. Processes to produce them emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases both directly and in upstream feedstock recovery processes. Electrons-to-molecules (E2M) technologies are being developed to convert carbon dioxide, water, and atmospheric nitrogen to desired chemical products using electricity, and they represent large electricity loads. E2M technologies are thus emerging as a potential application for PV; essentially, they can act as electrochemical energy storage and thereby provide a means to use the energy generated from PV and store it in molecular form. In this course, the focus is on potential interfaces between PV and the organic chemicals sector. Specifically, analyses are presented for sustainable production pathways for hydrogen, ammonia, carbon monoxide, ethylene, ethanol, methanol, formic acid, and methane.
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The Role of Concentrating Solar-Thermal Technologies (NREL)
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$100.00 |
In this 3 hour course, the role that concentrating solar-thermal (CST) technologies could play in future U.S. energy markets is discussed. CST uses reflective surfaces to concentrate the sun's rays on a small area (the receiver), which heats up to temperatures of 700 to 1000 deg F, depending on the type of receiver used. Concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) refers to a system for converting this heat to electricity, which is the primary end application discussed in the course. Besides generating electricity, CST can be used in any other application that requires thermal energy, such as industrial process-heating, thermal desalination, and fuel production. Thermal energy can also be stored for later use through thermal energy storage systems, giving CST technologies greater generation flexibility than solar photovoltaic or wind technologies. The course describes the most widely deployed CSP plant types, such as parabolic trough collectors, power tower systems, linear Fresnel collectors, and parabolic dish collectors.
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Thermodynamics and Liquefaction Systems Part 1
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$150.00 |
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This course introduces the learner to the origins of natural gas and the production of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). LNG is widely used around the world. It is a very compact form of natural gas in liquid form. It is used on very cold days to supplement gas coming from the interstate pipelines to supply gas load centers like New York, Boston, and other major load areas. Natural gas (essentially the same as vaporized LNG) is the cleanest burning fossil fuel as it contains the least amount of carbon per unit of energy of all the fossil fuels. Thus, many electric power plants now use natural gas or convert from dirtier fossil fuels to natural gas or vaporized LNG.
This course also includes a step-by-step analysis of an open expansion natural gas liquefaction system to illustrate how LNG is produced. The computations will be performed through the use of pressure enthalpy charts for methane.
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Three Ways to Murder Fire
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$65.00 |
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In some ways, fire can be described as being alive. It eats, breathes and to some extent, propagates children, by using its own heat to spread. It is also somewhat malevolent, at least so far as we are concerned. This is because, if left unchecked, fire can kill us or at the least, destroy our possessions and resources. If it becomes necessary, it is better that we kill a fire, than allow it to destroy us.
This course examines ways in which we can indeed put an end to fire. We can do so by removing any leg of the fire triangle, the heat, the oxygen or the fuel which fire needs to live. We can freeze it to death, choke it to death or starve it to death. Our building codes offer a lot of guidance on ways to so deprive fire of what it needs, especially fuel and oxygen.
If we find we cannot coexist with fire, then it is wise to follow the mandates of the codes during design.
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Total Building Commissioning
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$65.00 |
This 2 hour course presents the current re-defined process of Total Building Commissioning. The first part of this course provides a detailed definition of commissioning, how it works, and who is involved in the process. The second and final part of this course presents the public sector's application of commissioning through the GSA guide for building commissioning. The commissioning of building pieces and parts has been re-defined recently as Total Building Commissioning and is gaining acceptance throughout all sectors of the building industry. Recent trends in the design and construction industry towards design-build and sustainable design have promoted the use of modern commissioning techniques.
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Traffic Calming Design
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$35.00 |
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The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the international association that represents traffic engineers, transportation planners and similar professionals who plan and design roads and neighborhoods, has defined traffic calming as “changes in street alignment, installation of barriers, and other physical measures to reduce traffic speeds and or cut-through volumes, in the interest of street safety, livability, and other public purposes.”
Traffic calming may also be known as neighborhood traffic management, traffic abatement or neighborhood traffic control. Definitions of traffic calming vary, but they all share the goal of reducing vehicle speeds, improving safety and enhancing quality of life. Some include all three “E’s,” traffic education, enforcement and engineering.
This course will discuss the issue of traffic calming as it relates to traffic studies and plan design. The history of traffic calming and various traffic calming measures and their effectiveness will be presented. Advantages and disadvantages of the traffic calming measures will be included.
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Understanding Electricity and Electrical Components
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$150.00 |
This 5 hour course introduces basic electrical concepts for those who wish to obtain a basic understanding of electricity before taking more advanced courses in electrical applications. The course covers DC and AC electrical theory, with an emphasis on concepts that are particularly useful for understanding the many codes and standards that apply to the design and installation of various electrical systems. It also explains the purposes, characteristics and operation of wire, fuses, circuit breakers, disconnects, capacitors, inductors, safety devices, transformers and surge protection. The course provides numerous examples of calculating important quantities such as voltage drop, wire size, transformer size and fuse or circuit breaker size.
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Understanding Electricity and Electrical Components - Part 2
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$200.00 |
The goal of the course is to help the electricians, engineers and other design professionals understand how systems operate, so the reasons for doing a job a certain way will make more sense. The course covers the how and why of topics ranging from understanding and controlling LED lighting systems, Fiber Optics, Variable Speed Motor Controls, Sensors, Programmable Logic Controllers, Energy Management Systems and Microgrid Systems.
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Understanding Microplastics
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$35.00 |
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, typically smaller than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter. They result from either the breakdown of larger plastic items or intentional manufacturing for use in a variety of products. They contaminate oceans, soil, food, and air, and are associated with potential risks to wildlife and human health. It is nearly impossible to avoid some exposure to microplastics due to their widespread presence in the environment. They are generally not biodegradable and persist in the environment for hundreds of years. The presence of microplastics in the environment is cause for concern. Detection and removal of microplastics from the environment is complex and difficult. This course addresses what is known and not known about microplastics at this point in time.
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Understanding the Economic Benefits of Going Green
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$65.00 |
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Probably the most common reason given for NOT "going
green" is the perception that going green adds too much to the cost of a
building and thus makes the option too expensive. Another argument is that
going green complicates the design, permitting and construction process,
resulting in delays.
The purpose of this 2-credit course is to show why these
beliefs may actually end up costing the owner, designer and contractor more
money by NOT going green. The course shows the value of owner, designer and
contractor learning how to evaluate the trade-offs between various "green" options in order to maximize the overall value of the occupancy, resulting in
win-win situations for all parties involved.
The approach used shows how to evaluate the economics of
various "green" choices for new and retrofit construction in order to maximize
profit for the designer and builder as well as the overall cost savings for the
owner. The procedures presented are intended to be useful not only for existing
technology, but also for emerging technologies. An important intended outcome
is to show how to distinguish between good choices and bad choices.
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Using Solar Photovoltaics in Transportation
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$100.00 |
In this 3 hour course, areas of transportation practice are identified which may benefit from the use of photovoltaic electricity (PV). The use of PV for transportation will become especially important as the U.S. transportation system becomes increasingly electrified and less dependent on fossil fuels and internal combustion engines. Technologies that enable wide-scale managed and coordinated vehicle battery charging show special promise for plug-in electric vehicles. Fuel-cell electric vehicles have near-zero life cycle emissions when using hydrogen produced via water electrolysis powered by PV. This form of “green hydrogen†is becoming increasingly cost-competitive as the price of wind and PV electricity continues to decline.
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Waste Water Treatment - Sequential Batch Reactors
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$35.00 |
The course describes the construction and operation of a waste water treatment plant using the sequential batch reactor method. The sequence of operation in the SBR cycle is described in detail. The necessary pieces of equipment that make up the SBR plant are described. Advantages and disadvantages are reviewed.
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Water Quality Control
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$175.00 |
This 6 hour course will initially present an introduction to the uses of water and the water cycle. Water pollution will be discussed in terms of both the natural impact and human impact on water quality along with how water chemistry impacts water quality. Various regulations designed to improve water quality and conservation will be presented along with some selected actual environmental justice cases related to water pollution. This course will also examine different methods of water quality management with a detailed look at the important features of the wastewater treatment process. Finally, the course will cover watershed management control methodologies and examples of current watershed conditions.
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Wiring Methods and Materials
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$35.00 |
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This course is an overview of the basics of electrical wiring methods and
materials. This lesson includes wiring of residential and commercial buildings,
and the methods and materials used to provide a proper and safe installation.
Being able to install the wiring for electrical construction and
remodeling requires understanding basic wiring terminology and correctly
identifying the most common types of wire and cable. This knowledge is
essential when choosing wiring for new construction and remodeling projects and
when investigating wiring problems.
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Wood - Drying and Control of Moisture Content and Dimensional Changes
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$65.00 |
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Ancient craftsmen recognized that wood could warp or split due to moisture
changes, leading to early drying practices to ensure stability. Ancient
builders, particularly in Japan, also developed long-term drying methods to
ensure dimensional stability.
Wood is hygroscopic - it absorbs and releases moisture depending on its
environment. When it dries below the fiber saturation point (around 25% - 30%
moisture content), it begins to shrink. This shrinkage is not uniform: it is
greatest tangentially (across growth rings), less radially (perpendicular to
rings), and minimal longitudinally (along the grain). These variations can lead
to warping, cupping, or cracking if drying is too fast or uneven.
Controlled drying, whether by air or kiln methods, is essential to minimize
defects and ensure the wood reaches a moisture content compatible with its final
environment - its equilibrium moisture content (EMC). Matching the final moisture
content to expected conditions reduces future movement after installation.
Drying also improves wood's strength, reduces its weight, and increases
resistance to decay. It allows for better finishing and fastener performance.
However, improper drying can cause internal stresses or defects like checking
and honeycombing.
Understanding the link between moisture content and dimensional change is
central to both traditional craftsmanship and modern wood technology. By
managing drying carefully, woodworkers and manufacturers ensure that products
remain stable, functional, and durable over time.
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Wood - A Guide to Preservation
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$100.00 |
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Many commonly used wood species can deteriorate when exposed to the growth of wood-degrading organisms. Wood products can be protected from the attack of decay fungi, harmful insects, or marine borers by applying chemical preservatives. Preservative treatments greatly increase the life of wood structures, thus reducing replacement costs and allowing more efficient use of forest resources. The degree of protection achieved depends on the preservative used and the proper penetration and retention of the chemicals. Some preservatives are more effective than others, and some are more adaptable to certain use requirements.
Not only are different methods of treating wood available, but treatability varies among wood species—particularly their heartwood, which generally resists preservative treatment more than does sapwood. Although some tree species possess naturally occurring resistance to decay and insects many are in short supply or are not grown in ready proximity to markets. This course will provide the student with basic concepts and treatments methods for wood preservation.
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Wood - A Guide to Specialty Treatments
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$35.00 |
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Many specialty treatments can be applied to wood to either improve its performance or change its properties. Treatments addressed in this course are those that make permanent changes in the shape of a wood product, improvements in dimensional stability, or improvements in performance through combinations with non-wood resources.
The first section of this course introduces the basic concepts of plasticizing wood. The second section of this course introduces the basic concepts of modified woods including resin treatments, compression treatments and heat treatments. The third section of this course introduces paper-based plastic laminates.
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Wood - A Guide to Use in Buildings and Bridges
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$35.00 |
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In North America, prior to the 20th century most houses, commercial buildings, bridges, and utility poles used wood as the basic structural component. Today, many buildings are still made using modern wood structural materials. Recently, there has been increased interest in using wood for various types of transportation structures, including highway bridges.
This course briefly introduces the features of various types of building systems. Emphasis is placed on how these systems have adapted to the use of modern materials and techniques. For example, floor, wall, and roof sheathing are now commonly made from structural panel products, such as plywood and oriented strandboard (OSB) instead of wood boards. These panel products are quicker to install and provide improved structural resistance to wind and earthquake loadings. Furthermore, the use of prefabricated floor and wall panels along with prefabricated roof and floor trusses or I-joists are replacing piece-by-piece on-site construction.
A brief description of the uses of wood in railroad and highway bridges and other transportation structures is included.
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Wood - Adhesive Bond Formation and Performance
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$65.00 |
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Adhesive bonding of wood plays an increasing role in the forest products industry and is a key factor for efficiently utilizing our timber resources. The main use of adhesives is in the manufacture of building materials, including plywood, oriented strandboard (OSB), particleboard, fiberboard, structural composite lumber, doors, windows and frames, and factory-laminated wood products.
Adhesives are also used in the assembly of furniture and cabinets, manufacture of engineered wood products, and construction of residential and commercial structures. Adhesives transfer and distribute loads between components, thereby increasing the strength and stiffness of wood products. This course introduces the student to the basic concepts and practices needed to use adhesive to bond wood.
The ability to assemble larger products out of smaller pieces or particles directly affects the efficiency of wood product. Assembly relies directly on adhesives and bonding. This course introduces the basic concepts of wood bonding and adhesives, including known best practices and chemical and physical behavior of woods and adhesives.
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Wood - Fire Safety in Construction
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$65.00 |
In the first section of this course, code requirements and related fire performance data are discussed in the context of fire safety design and evaluation. Since data on fire behavior of wood products are used to evaluate fire safety for wood construction, the second section of this course provides additional information on fire behavior and fire performance characteristics of wood products. The final section is a discussion of fire-retardant treatments that can be used to reduce the combustibility of wood.
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Wood - Mechanical Properties
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$65.00 |
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Wood is an orthotropic material with unique mechanical properties along three
principal axes: longitudinal, radial, and tangential. These properties are
determined through testing clear, straight-grained wood that is free from
defects like knots, cross grain, checks and splits. However, wood is naturally
variable due to environmental influences such as moisture and soil conditions.
Key mechanical properties include the modulus of elasticity (E), which
measures stiffness, and Poisson's ratio, which describes lateral deformation
under axial stress. The modulus of rigidity (G) defines resistance to shear
stress. Strength properties include modulus of rupture (MOR) in bending,
compressive and tensile strengths, and shear strength parallel to the grain.
Wood also exhibits impact bending strength, hardness, and fracture toughness,
which define its ability to resist impact, indentation, and crack
propagation.
Growth features like knots, slope of grain, and reaction wood significantly
impact strength. Knots weaken wood by disrupting fiber continuity, while
juvenile wood has lower strength due to a high fibril angle. Compression wood in
softwoods and tension wood in hardwoods have higher density but undesirable
shrinkage properties.
Wood's mechanical performance is affected by moisture content, temperature,
and prolonged loading. As moisture decreases, most mechanical properties
increase, but excessive drying can cause brittleness. Prolonged load exposure
leads to creep and potential failure over time. Wood's resistance to decay,
insect damage, and fungal attack depends on its species and treatment
methods.
Wood treatments, including preservatives and fire-retardants, can impact
strength. While oil-based treatments have minimal effects, waterborne
preservatives can reduce strength, particularly at high temperatures. Aging and
exposure to chemicals may also alter mechanical properties.
Understanding these factors helps in designing durable wood structures,
ensuring wood's continued viability as a sustainable engineering material. This
low-tech course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end and is intended to
provide 4 hours of professional development.
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Wood - Structural Analysis Equations
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$35.00 |
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This course introduces students to the equations for deformation and stress, which are the basis for tension members and beam and column design. The first two sections cover tapered members, straight members, and special considerations such as notches, slits, and size effect. A third section introduces stability criteria for members subject to buckling and for members subject to special conditions.
Note that this chapter focuses primarily on presenting fundamental mechanics-based equations. For design procedures, the reader is encouraged to contact appropriate industry trade associations or product manufacturers.
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Wood-Based Composite Materials
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$65.00 |
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Wood-based composites have been used for centuries, with primitive forms of
plywood dating back to ancient Egypt. Modern development began in the early 20th
century with plywood, followed by particleboard and fiberboard in the 1940s and
1950s. The 1970s introduced Oriented Strand Board (OSB), revolutionizing
construction. Recent advancements like Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) focus on sustainability and strength, making
engineered wood essential for structural and nonstructural applications in
modern building and manufacturing.
Wood-based composites are engineered materials made from wood fibers,
particles, and veneers, bonded with adhesives to enhance strength and stability.
These composites are widely used in construction, furniture, and industry.
Traditional wood-based panels include plywood, OSB, particleboard, and
fiberboard, each with unique properties. Adhesives such as phenol-formaldehyde
(PF), urea-formaldehyde (UF), and bio-based alternatives play a crucial role in
performance.
Specialty composites offer moisture resistance, fire retardancy, and insect
protection. Structural composite lumber (SCL), including laminated veneer lumber
(LVL) and parallel strand lumber (PSL), provides high-strength alternatives to
solid wood. Glued laminated timber (glulam) allows for larger, structurally
efficient components.
Wood-nonwood composites, such as wood-thermoplastic and cement-bonded
materials, incorporate inorganic or synthetic components to improve durability
and sustainability. Innovations in cellulose nanocomposites offer promising
applications. Performance standards regulate these products for quality and
safety. As environmental concerns grow, the industry is exploring sustainable
sourcing, low-emission adhesives, and efficient manufacturing to enhance
durability, versatility, and sustainability.
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