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Building Design Specifications and Tools Attention New York Engineers: This course cannot be taken to fulfill your continuing education requirements for the state of New York since the course does not fall under the category of "Areas of Practice" or "Laws / Rules." For more information, check the New York State Board Requirements. Overview This course will introduce you to the single most comprehensive source of ?hands-on?  more...

Solar Water Heating Systems Overview This four-hour course is a review of how solar water heating systems work and the components that constitute a solar water heating system. The course discusses the types of systems, the characteristics of solar radiation, the types of collectors and the balance of system equipment. In addition there is a section on how to calculate the size of a system and an overview of the design  more...

An Introduction to Roofing Systems Overview This is an introduction to roofing systems. You will learn how to specify roofing systems and incorporate appropriate engineering details into your working drawings on a wide variety of projects. You will learn about the different types of roofing systems for steep- and low-slope roofs, considerations when selecting a system, re-roofing and re-covering issues, design considerations, and  more...

An Engineer s Guide to Influencing Public Policy Overview This is a tale told by an Engineer who ventured into a land seldom visited by his kind. Specifically, the Land of Public Policy. It is a story filled with high hope, confusion, disillusionment, frustration, anger, a creeping realization of how this strange new world really works and, finally, an understanding of some strategies and techniques that those of his ilk might think about  more...

Introduction to Visual Basic 2008 Express for Engineers Overview This course introduces the reader to Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition by Microsoft in an easy-to-understand fashion. While it is not intended to be a complete tutorial, the student will learn basics and become familiar with the code used to write many of today?s computer applications. The course covers program development and mentions some of the tools used by programmers. Some  more...

Introduction to JavaScript for Engineers Overview This introduction to the use of JavaScript is valuable for engineers of all disciplines. You do not need prior knowledge of HTML or JavaScript and do not need to buy or download anything since the core portion of JavaScript is in all browsers. In fact, you do not even need to have an HTML editor. The Notepad program included with Windows can be used to edit JavaScript documents. With  more...

Advanced Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition for Engineers Overview This is an intermediate course in programming using the Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition that is appropriate for all engineers. No prior knowledge of Visual Basic is needed. It is not necessary that you have to have completed the Introduction to Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition for Engineers course as the concepts covered in the Introduction course are reviewed in this course.  more...

Highway Hydrology - Part 1 Overview This course will examine the hydrologic cycle in order to determine run-off from various land covers encountered in highway design. All facets of the hydrologic cycle will be studied including meteorology, geo-hydrology, sheet flow, channel design, and hydrographs. Several different methods will be presented to determine time of concentration and peak discharge such as regression  more...

Open-Channel Hydraulics Overview This course is for Civil Engineers, Sanitary Engineers or any Engineers who might deal with open-channel flow. No prior knowledge of open channel flow is needed; however basic algebra and trigonometry will be used in the course. The course introduces you to hydraulic elements of open-channels. An introduction to types of flow and fundamental equations used for open-channels is also  more...

Highway Hydrology - Part 2 Overview This course will examine the hydrologic cycle in order to determine run-off from various land covers encountered in highway design. All facets of the hydrologic cycle will be studied including meteorology, geo-hydrology, sheet flow, channel design, and hydrographs. Several different methods will be presented to determine time of concentration and peak discharge such are regression  more...

Written Pole Motors Overview This is a three-hour course about a relatively new form of single-phase induction motor known as the Written-Pole? Motor. The motor was developed by Precise Power Corporation and it uses an innovative approach of controlling the magnetic field of the motor to reduce the starting current requirements. The result is a motor that has starting current requirements of only about twice the  more...

AC Waveforms Basic Quantities for Non-Electrical Engineers Overview This course introduces basic definitions, quantities and concepts associated with the AC waveforms. The material is mainly intended for the non-electrical engineer who requires a basic understanding of AC electricity. Electrical engineers who have worked a considerable time in other areas will also find the course useful. The course material is presented in an illustrative manner  more...

Electrical Forensics Engineering Overview This course is a discussion of the science of forensics and how electrical energy fits into that science. Designed for engineers of all disciplines, this course contains much of the basic theory that is needed to even begin looking at the causes of failures in the electrical world. The discussion will include an emphasis on energy concepts. It is relatively easy to see and understand  more...

Smart Grid Overview This five-hour course is an overview of the work being done in a Department of Energy project to define the next generation of the electric utility industry. The concept is that future, or modern grid, will be ?smarter? than the current electric grid and will be more reliable, more secure, more environmentally friendly, safer, and will have an new economic paradigm where consumers are  more...

Alternative Wastewater Collection Systems - Low Pressure and Small Diameter Gravity Sewers Overview This course includes guidance and considerations on the selection of alternative wastewater collection systems for suburban, rural and semi-rural settings and development areas where the use of conventional gravity sewers could prove to be prohibitively expensive. In the course material, the reader will review several of the most common types of alternative collection systems,  more...

The Green Chemical Engineer Overview This course provides an introduction to the concept of ?green chemical engineering? through the eyes of an experienced engineer. The author uses situations from his vast experience to illustrate the advantages and pitfalls of green engineering. A unique, grassroots approach is suggested by the author to provide the backdrop for the course: ?If you do not make a mess, you won?t have to  more...

An Introduction to Sanitary Landfills Overview This is an introduction to the planning and design of sanitary landfills. You will learn about dry and wet landfills, site selection, site development plans, site layout, trench design, leachate control and treatment, gas control, runoff control, support facilities, and landfill closure issues. The main advantage of a sanitary landfill is that handling and processing of refuse is kept to  more...

An Introduction to Geotextiles in Pavement and Drainage Applications Overview This course will introduce you to geotextiles made from polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene, polyamide (nylon), polyvinylidene chloride, and fiberglass. You will learn about their physical properties, functions, and design methods. You will also learn about two of their most important uses: applications in pavements and drainage design. This course will give you information about the  more...

Green Stormwater Low Impact Design - Managing Stormwater Through Infiltration Overview This course discusses the advantages and suitability of designing stormwater using four low impact development (LID) technologies including infiltration basins, infiltration trenches, bioretention areas, and porous pavement/recharge beds. Extensive discussion of site constraints, including soil infiltration capacity, are examined for use in determining if infiltration systems are  more...

Marine Accident Reconstruction Case Histories - Course 3 Overview This is the third in a popular series of courses that explore marine accidents from a forensic standpoint. A total of eight case studies of various marine accidents are presented. Each examines the situation prior to the accident, events leading up to the accident, possible causes of the accident, and citation of applicable statutes and law as they pertain to the case. Each case is a  more...

An Introduction to Air Conditioning Systems Overview This is a course for all of the members of the building design team?.except the mechanical engineers. It will give you a basic introduction to air conditioning system design so you can better understand the technology, concepts and terminology in design of air conditioning systems. It will help you to be a better partner in the building design and construction process. This is your  more...

An Introduction to Design of Heating and Cooling Distribution Systems Overview This is an introduction to the design of heating and cooling distribution systems outside of buildings. It provides information about system selection, distribution media selection, and general distribution system design. Discussed are distribution systems in trenches, pre-engineered underground systems, prefabricated underground heating and cooling distribution systems, and aboveground  more...

Hydraulic Design of Fire Water Sprinkler Systems Containing Typical Branch Lines Overview This course will teach you step by step how to perform manual hydraulic calculations on a fire sprinkler system with typical branch lines. This information will be useful for fire protection, mechanical or plumbing engineers to gain knowledge of the requirements and procedures outlined in the National Fire Protection Association, Standard No. 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems. The  more...

An Introduction to Noise Control in Buildings Overview This course will introduce you to basic principles and terminology for noise control engineering in buildings. You will learn about Noise Criteria (NC) and Room Criteria (RC) curves and how they are used in acoustical engineering projects. Speech Interference Levels (SIL), Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) and Room Constants are also introduced, and you will see how the principles of sound  more...

An Introduction To Fire Protection Engineering For Buildings Overview This course will introduce you to fire protection engineering fundamentals related to building materials and design, water supply for fire protection, fire extinguishing systems, fire alarm systems, special occupancies and hazards, and storage of flammable and hazardous materials. The student will begin with fire protection basics related to building materials and design, including  more...

An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Acoustics Overview This course will introduce you to the basic principles and terminology of acoustics. You will learn about sound pressure levels, sound power levels, sound intensity levels, vibration levels, frequency, temporal variations, loudness, vibration transmissibility and vibration isolation. Additionally, the author covers definitions of fundamental acoustic properties, and you will learn how  more...

Heat Pump Systems Overview This three-hour course reviews the operation of residential heat pump systems. In this course, we review basic operation of heat pumps, the various components of heat pump systems, the types of heat pumps, and the performance characteristics of heat pump systems. There is a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty (20) questions at the end of the course to obtain PDH credits.  more...

Introduction to Cathodic Protection of Underground Structures Overview This is an introduction to cathodic protection for underground structures such as tanks and pipelines. It covers the two principal methods used to mitigate corrosion: the sacrificial anode and impressed current systems. It introduces you to the nine steps in designing a sacrificial anode system, the thirteen steps in designing an impressed current system, and the field testing  more...

Cathodic Protection Overview This 4-hour course is an introduction to cathodic corrosion protection. This course explains the basics of cathodic protection including both galvanic cathodic protection systems and impressed current cathodic protection systems. Design examples of pipeline protection for both types are covered. For PDH credit, the course includes a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty-five (25)  more...

Plan Review Techniques for Infrastructure Projects Overview This course provides instruction for establishing a routine procedure in the review of a typical set of Infrastructure plans that could represent a local street, highway or other infrastructure improvement. The course uses a descriptive sampling of a variety of plan sheets, reviews the use of the sheet by various disciplines within the design teams, and suggests the expectations that a  more...

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Power Plant Overview This four-hour course is look at a new coal-fired power plant technology called an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant. An IGCC power plant converts coal into a synthetic gas which, after suitable cleaning and treatment is burned in a combustion turbine to produce power. Furthermore, the waste heat from the combustion turbine exhaust is then used to convert water  more...