Drive-by Inspection

Some things just have to be done up close.  This is one of them.

On the other hand, it's surprising how we've learned to do so many things remotely that were previously thought to require in-person attention.

Will jobs like hair stylist or flight attendant ever be done remotely?  You never know.

Ask The Experts: Social Distancing Tip #26

I've never understood the appeal of "pulling an all-nighter".  For some caffeine-saturated schmoes, it's like a badge of honor.  "...pulled another all-nighter last night! Third one this week," he'll gloat.  If you've ever been secretly envious of that guy, now's your chance to one-up him.  Move your home office to your bedroom and pull an all-nighter every night!

Ask The Experts: Social Distancing Tip #45

I think there's some truth to the stereotype of the glasses-wearing engineer.  Research shows that the number of years of study is more important than genetics in determining whether or not a person becomes nearsighted.  If that's the case, then it stands to reason that the harder the study, the thicker the glasses.

My eyes were fine right after college, so perhaps it's not the studies but engineering work that damages your eyes.  After just a few years staring all day at a computer screen in the office, boom - I needed glasses.

While this stereotype may be based in some truth, I've not seen any research yet that correlates years of study to the increased chance of being a nerd.

[Credit for this one goes to David Winn.  His email to me said, "I was on the phone with a client yesterday and he commented that we should put out a list of social distancing tips from engineers since we are so good at it."  He then gave me a list of brilliant cartoon ideas that I've attempted to recreate here.]

Ask The Experts: Social Distancing Tip #43

Hey, every engineer slaps on a big factor of safety to cover his rear, right?  It's not uncommon to hear an "armchair" engineer confidently ask, "So... how much factor of safety did you add?" as if it's the world's most obvious fact that all engineers throw in a bunch of fat and over-design the heck out of everything. 

I actually don't know any structural engineer that does that, though there's probably a Schmoe or two out there.  Safety factors that have been refined over decades of practice and experience are already built into the Building Code, so there's no need for a good engineer to slap on an additional "factor of ignorance".

I have my theory about the origins of this misconception.  Most people have at least a "feel" for the weight of things, but they have little concept of the magnitude of design wind or earthquake forces.  That's partly because lateral loads are more complicated and harder to visualize, and partly because design wind and earthquake loads occur so infrequently they may never happen in a person's lifetime.

Now, when it comes to the minimum separation for proper social distancing, that's a different story. 

[Credit for this one goes to David Winn.  His email to me said, "I was on the phone with a client yesterday and he commented that we should put out a list of social distancing tips from engineers since we are so good at it."  He then gave me a list of brilliant cartoon ideas that I've attempted to recreate here.]

Social Distancing

The COVID-19 pandemic is no laughing matter, and we're taking it very seriously - as we all should.  But in the midst of the resulting stress and worry, some of our engineers have been unable to resist making wise cracks about our social distancing policy, like"It's an engineer's dream!" or "What's the big deal?  I've been doing this my whole life."  We can take the current pandemic very seriously, but it's still okay to laugh a little.  Smile and be safe.