On-demand Webinar

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This webinar was co-sponsored by ASCE's Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) and ASCE Continuing Education

Instructor:  Nicholas Lutzweiler, P.E., S.E., M.ASCE

Course Length: 90 Minutes

Purpose and Background

This webinar reminds engineers to go beyond the number crunching calculations in order to show the importance and benefits of drawing or sketching scaled details. In many engineering offices, it is common place that engineers aren't involved directly in drawing or detailing what goes on the actual construction documents. This is often done by CAD/BIM technicians who are interpreting whatever short notes the engineer hands them. Additionally, typical detail libraries are often used by CAD technicians as a starting point to begin the detailing process. However, many times, these typical details need some tweaking in order to work for any particular project. For example, exterior wall thicknesses vary between projects, and the typical detail they pulled off another job may be assuming different working points and clearances. These small nuances can be hard to see when the engineer goes back through the drawings, but they can make a significant impact in the field. Then, during the construction phase, questions arise and potential change orders roll in.

This webinar shows engineers the value of structural detailing in the early stages of a project, including various case studies where detailing controlled over pure calculations. It also focuses on how to implement structural detailing into your design workflow.

Primary Discussion Topics

  • Show the reason why there is value in structural detailing completed by the engineer
  • Discuss numerous case study examples where the calculated numbers show a certain component size works, but, when you actually draw full-size details, it's apparent it's not the best design
  • How our calculations don't necessarily provide a full design in and of themselves
  • Show several ways to achieve calculations that accurately reflect a complete design by incorporating this into their work flow
  • Discuss specific case studies that show how to establish common working points, the use of and modification of typical details, and how to incorporate detailing into the design phase

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify the value and benefits of the engineer being more directly involved in the structural detailing process
  • Explain how to incorporate the structural detailing process as part of the overall design process
  • Produce better construction drawings with less field issues

Webinar Benefits

  • Discover the value of structural detailing through specific case studies of common structural projects
  • Learn to incorporate structural detailing into your design process
  • Prepare to be better suited to work with your CAD/BIM technicians by understanding what they need to draw the perfect detail
  • Through case studies, see how some common field issues can be avoided through simply sketching out the details
  • Discover a new way to design and detail simultaneously in order to provide a better product to your clients

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

  • Structural and civil engineers
  • Architects

Webinar Outline

  • Introduction to the value in structural detailing
  • Case studies of various projects where detailing is key
    • Constructability of the details
    • Coordination with other trades
    • Existing conditions
    • Similar or a new detail required
  • Sketching techniques
    • Napkin sketches
    • Hand sketches
    • CAD based sketches
  • Calculations versus detailing
  • Establishing common working points
  • Ways to succeed using typical details
  • Making your CAD/BIM technicians an extra set of eyes
  • Conclusion
  • Final questions and answers

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]