Benefits

Scheduled seminars throughout the DC 37 Education Fund provide licensed Professional Engineers and Registered Architects the opportunity to earn Professional Development Hours for license renewal. Engineers are required to have a minimum of 36 development hours as part of the renewal process; 18 of which must be in an interactive classroom setting. These seminars are open to licensed engineers and architects only.

---

March 2024 to April 2024 – Seminars and Instructors’ biographies.

ME-148 Advancements in Railroad Engineering (Pt. #1)
A turnout is defined as an arrangement of a switch and a frog connected by closure rails, by means of which rolling stock may be diverted among different tracks A turnout could produce high lateral forces and accelerations, which require slower operating speeds and can have adverse effects on ride quality and component life. The aim is for Low Cost Modification of Existing Turnouts for Higher Diverging Speed in the same Interlocking Footprint. The main Constraints are to keep the certain parameters as fixed e.g. Lead Distance (distance between the point of switch and point of Frog), Interlocking Footprint, Location of P.S. (Point of Switch) and P.F.(Point of Frog) , Frog Angle. Future challenges are to extend the study even to commercial level by using different methodologies. This presentation concludes with the latest accomplishments of turnout design and opportunities of future work which leads to higher diverging speed in the same interlocking footprint without changing the basic track infrastructure.

---

ME-149 Advancements in Railroad Engineering (Pt. #2)
The locomotives in present US railway systems are powered either by diesel engines or by electric motors powered from a third rail system or an overhead wiring system. The locomotives typically pull long trains of railway cars. AMPS (Assisted Magnetic Propulsion System) are a new approach for providing enhanced propulsion capabilities and greater energy efficiency for railway systems. The AMPS mode of propulsion, termed the linear synchronous motor (LSM). AMPS can assist in upgrading the current conventional railroad systems with minor modification to the existing infrastructure. There are various advantages for using this new technology with the existing subway system (e.g. No pollutants, Greenhouse affect or Noise Pollution, etc.). It reduces energy requirements & operating cost. In AMPS system, Kinetic energy is not lost in the mechanical braking. The magnetic field in the passenger compartment is at the same natural field level that exists everywhere in the world. Keeping the above advantages in view; it is proposed/ planned for integrated AMPS system on actual locomotives and railway cars.

Avinash Prasad, PE, PLS, PP, PhD, MSCE, MSEM, F.ASCE, M.AREMA, M.NYSAPLS, M.PMI, M.AISC, FF, EMT
Dr. Avinash Prasad is a Licensed Professional Engineer, Land Surveyor, and Professional Planner with more than 30 years of professional experience in civil engineering, land surveying and management field since his graduation. He is a Doctor of Philosophy from New York University. He has a double Master of Science Degrees in Civil Engineering and Engineering Management from New Jersey institute of technology and BS Degree in Civil Engineering from India. He is a NJ state certified emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency medical responder (EMR), and firefighter (FF). He is also a certified CPR AED administer. He is a Fellow of American Society of Civil Engineers and also an active member of several professional organizations such as: NYSAPLS, AREMA, PMI, AISC, IPWE, IRT and IIBE. His research papers have been accepted and published by several technical magazines including Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures. His technical papers were accepted in AREMA & ASCE conference proceedings for presentations and or publications multiple times.

---

ME-160 (*) HVAC Systems for Underground Facilities (Pt.1)
This seminar offers an excellent opportunity for all discipline engineers, HVAC engineers and designers, interns and operators to learn about the major issues involved in the design and operation of underground building HVAC systems. The seminar offers an interesting opportunity for the fundamental study of various commercial HVAC systems such as air handling units, DX split and package HVAC systems, multiple split systems, glycol/dry cooler systems, air cooled and water cooled centrifugal and rotary chilled water system as well as heating systems involved in the underground facilities based on ASHRAE standards. Later, the seminar describes various HVAC systems used in the underground facilities and exposes various problems and their solutions involved in the design and operation of the underground HVAC system. This also involves the study of fumes exhaust from the underground restaurant facilities, ventilation and air conditioning of Gyms, banks and stores in malls and subways. Besides, the seminar overviews the types of refrigerants, Indoor Air Quality IAQ and commissioning process involved in the retrofitting of HVAC systems.

---

ME-161 (*) HVAC Systems for Underground Facilities (Pt.2)
This seminar offers opportunity for the advanced study for all discipline engineers, HVAC engineers and designers, interns and operators to learn the design and operation of underground building HVAC systems. The seminar highlights the application of design fundamentals of HVAC principles on case by case basis in designing various commercial HVAC systems such as air handling units, DX split and package HVAC systems, multiple split systems, glycol/dry cooler systems, air cooled and water cooled centrifugal and rotary chilled water system as well as heating systems involved in the underground facilities. Besides, the seminar discusses the fundamental of controls system, electrical power distribution system and various aspects of maintenance and operation of underground facilities.

Syed Qadeer, B.S.M.E, M.S.M.E, P.E.
College of New York (CCNY) and is specialized in HVAC systems design from New York Mr. Syed Qadeer, P.E. is a licensed Mechanical Engineer with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in the area of Mechanical Engineering from City University (NYU). He has considerable experience in the area of HVAC, Plumbing and Fire Protection system design working on the numerous building projects of government and private sector. He has been affiliated with MTA NYC Transit authority for past 23 years and is currently serving in the electo-mechanical unit of the Transit as a senior mechanical engineer where he provides technical support to the operating groups of Transit in the issues related to the area of HVAC system design and operation. He has also worked in the Capital Program department of transit where he worked 15 years on numerous major capital projects involving HVAC and plumbing of transit facilities. .Besides, he is also a freelance consultant in HVAC/ Plumbing and fire protection system design of the commercial facilities and an associate member of ASHRAE.

---

May 2024 to June 2024 – Seminars and Instructors’ biographies.

CE-282 (*)(+) Work Related Health Hazards that Engineers Encounter (Pt. 1)
Are you truly aware of how your body takes in toxins and viruses? Do you understand Covid-19? Respiratory protection is the answer if you use it correctly. This seminar is designed to give you answers to these questions and to warn you of other hazards you may encounter in the office or on a job site. Topics that will be discussed are: Routes of Entry for viruses or toxins into your body; COVID 19 (SARS-CoV-2); Respiratory Protection and how to use it correctly and safely; other viruses you may never have known about. What is OSHA’s take on addressing these hazards. Is your company ready?

---

CE-283 (*)(+) Work Related Health Hazards that Engineers Encounter (Pt 2)
In the continuation of CE282 is the discussion of additional types of health hazards and risks that you face at work, such as: blood borne pathogens; asbestos; lead; and dangers not manmade (e.g., animals, insects). How does OSHA expect you to be prepared for these hazards? Methods of information to educate you, such as the Hazard Communications Global Harmonizing System will also be discussed. Is your company ready?

Linda McKenna, BECE, CSP, OSHA OTI, P.E.
Linda McKenna, President of LCM Consulting, Inc. (WBE) and McKenna Safety Services, LLC (WBE/SBE), is a licensed Professional Engineer, Certified Safety Professional, NYS Certified Safety and Loss Prevention Consultant and a former NYC licensed Site Safety Manager. She has an extensive background in the construction industry and has provided safety support for many agencies in the Tri-State Area including Metropolitan Transit + Agency (MTA). NYC School Construction Authority (SCA), NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), NJ School Construction Corporation (NJSCC) and New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Ms. McKenna has 30 year experience in the Construction Industry with 25 specializing in Construction Safety. She is also an OSHA Training Institute certified instructor, NYS Certified Safety and Loss Prevention Consultant and a former Adjunct Professor with the Construction Management Program at Stevens Institute of Technology. Linda has presented at Regional Conferences for the Professional Engineers™ Society and given seminars for clients, approved for awarding PDH’s™, on pertinent construction safety topics.

---

CE-149 Inspection of Girders Supporting Light Rail Trestles (Part #1)
This seminar shall consist of the fabrication of plate to girder that comply with the New York City 2008 new Building Code requirement in Chapter 17 for Structural Tests and Special Inspections. Inspections were performed on the premises of the fabricator’s shop. Three(3) 4 foot by 4 foot and 34, 42 and 48 foot long girders were fabricated from FCM (Fracture Critical Material) steel plate. Inspection included the computer scheduled plasma cutting of the plates and maintaining it’s original heat identification. Various welding techniques were witnessed including GMAW, SAW and GMAC with different approved weld procedures. Assembly included temporary tack welding of webs to flanges and diaphragm insertions. Inspection of girder alignment and grinding before top flange welding was critical in the fabrication.

George Andersen, M.S.M.E., P.E.
Mr. Anderson has both a B.S. and an M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (now called Polytechnic University) in 1968 and 1970 respectively. He obtained his New York State Professional License No. 049652 in 1973. George was in charge of failure analysis with NYC DEP for 20 years, performed on-site failure analysis on over 300 breaks including cast iron, ductile iron, steel, and concrete water mains, and appeared in at least 10 lawsuits. He also did similar work as a consultant in Long Island, Rochester and Buffalo, N.Y. Mr. Anderson is an active member of three ASTM Committees including A-01 for steel, G-01 for corrosion, and F-16 for fasteners. In addition, he is also an active member of the steel pipe committee in the AWWA.

---

ME-191 (*)(+) A.I. Ethical implications for Engineers & Architects (#1)
ME191 introduces Gen AI algorithms and explains how the software responds to ‘prompts’ to produce text and/or video output. The next section of the course covers the different ‘flavors’ of commercial GenAI that are currently available and how ‘prompts’ are entered into these applications. This section considers how disruptive and problematic output can be produced by the software. The course then introduces the codes of ethical conduct created by the Association for Computing Machinery for computer and software engineers to help provide their practitioners with a ‘moral compass’ to guide their professional activities as part of the software development, refinement, and applications.

---

ME-192 (*)(+) A.I. Ethical implications for Engineers & Architects (#2)
ME192 presents a series of case reports documenting the current successful commercial applications of GenAI and problems identified with its use. The format is discussion-based, i.e. students are read the highlights of a case report of inappropriate Gen AI output. They then discuss why the output is inappropriate and the ethical principle(s) that may have been violated and suggest how the situation could have been avoided, assuming the prompt’s motive was not intentional.

Dr. Gene DiResta, Ph.D. Bio. Engr., P.E.
Gene R. DiResta holds a BS in Biochemistry, an MS in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Bioengineering with a minor in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering. He worked in industry for 7 years as a biochemical engineer designing reactors using enzyme technology for the production of food and beverages from bench to industrial scale. He is well versed in the theoretical and practical aspects of instrumental methods of analysis, mathematical modeling and control engineering. He received his PE in Chemical Engineering. Leaving Industry he went to work as a Medical Physicist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where he directed the Nuclear Medicine Research Lab and was the Technical Director of the Positron EmissionTomography Facility for 12 years. He transitioned from diagnosis to therapy by becoming the Director of the Orthopaedic Research Lab, serving for 12 years before being recruited by NYU to be the Director of their Bioengineering graduate program. Dr. DiResta currently has published over 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals and holds 7 US patents for a variety of devices and processes. He is certified by the American Board of Radiology in Medical Nuclear Physics. His particular outside interest is in the area of the engineering challenges of climate change because it leverages his expertise in chemical engineering, nuclear physics, mathematics and chemico-biologic principles. Climate change is a bioengineering problem because it affects the earth’s biosphere, i.e. its animal and plant life. He is ideally equipped to understand the complexity of the biological effects resulting from climatic effects and develop lectures to explain the phenomena to practicing professional engineers.