July 2023 Technical Noon Webinar

Zoom (Registration is Required - Click on ORANGE button above to register)
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

"Don’t Thumb Your Nose at Rules of Thumb

Their Roots & Roles in the Practice of Engineering"

Chuck Easterling, P.E.

ABSTRACT: 

Brewster’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable defines a rule of thumb as “a rough guestimate measure, practice, or experience, as distinct from theory, in allusion to the use of the thumb for rough measurements. The first joint of the adult thumb measures almost exactly 1-inch (2.5cm)”. Engineers need such rules of thumb to guide decisions, set goals, check results and to help answer such questions as: 
• How can I quickly and confidently obtain an approximate answer? 
• How might I obtain a reasonable approximate estimate of the cost? 
• How do I know if a computer model is giving reasonable results? (Which input variables are most likely to result in the biggest errors if incorrect?)
• How can I quickly check the reasonableness of someone else’s results?
Rules of Thumb can include unit conversions, plausible ranges of factors in common equations, times to complete various tasks, unit costs of various construction and operational quantities.  Experience (both personal and shared) and making lots of guesses are the best way to fill your toolbox with valuable Rules of Thumb.  

SPEAKER BIOGRAPY:

Charles (Chuck) Easterling, P.E. has been “practicing” engineering for over 50 years in a wide range of Civil Engineering roles – principally in hydrology and hydraulics, but also including municipal engineering, infrastructure planning and design, and in the development of design and construction standards and policies.  He has worked in both government and private practice and currently serves as Senior Technical Advisor for Respec Engineering. 

REGISTRATION:

Membership in AWWA or WEF is not required. All attendees must pre-register for this webinar by Tuesday evening, 7/18/23 at 5:00 p.m. This is required to maintain a record of those attending to satisfy training requirements for PE licensure or Water/Wastewater Operator Certification. Operators will be asked for NM Operator Certification number on the online registration form. Continuing Education is only available in New Mexico.

UPCOMING WEBINAR:

TBD