SEAoNY January Seminar: A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words: Technical Illustration in Structural Engineering

Structural engineers use a variety of analysis tools to evaluate the structural behavior during the design, construction and investigation phases of a project. Often engineers encounter the recurring challenge of conveying complex analytical results to clients in a way which can be easily understood. In particular, when investigating structural collapse, engineers have numerous tasks to perform, including; review of a large number of documents, gathering all relevant information from the parties involved, tracing the load path in the structure prior to the collapse, analyzing the structural response at the time of the collapse and presenting the collapse theory through a final deliverable. This final product must be accurate, informative and self-explanatory. Using words alone is extremely difficult to explain a unique problem such as a structural failure. Technical illustration with rendered pictures and animation has become a useful tool to reproduce the details and present the collapse theory efficiently. Technical illustration is not a graphics cartoon, but instead it is a 3-D visualization of structural behavior that is supported by rigorous structural mechanics. During the illustration process structural engineers work closely with graphics designers to explain, link and illustrate the analysis results in rendering software. Case studies will be presented for discussion.

Speaker: Liling Cao, Ph.D.,P.E., LEED AP, Associate Principal, Thornton Tomasetti 

Price: For SEAoNY members, registration is $25 | For non-members, registration is $40 | For student members, registration is $5

—

Please Note: Your registration for this event constitutes your agreement to specific and limited use of your email address, and possibly your image or voice, in related communications. Learn more in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Contact info@aiany.org with questions.