The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) is one of nine specialty Institutes of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The mission of SEI is “to advance and serve the structural engineering profession.” The SEI Boston Chapter helps support this mission by helping our members advance their structural engineering careers through learning and networking opportunities that stimulates technological advancement and improves professional practice.
Typically, SEI Boston’s events are held in person, however, this year has been unlike any previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic required us as a group to adapt to the changing environment by providing events on a virtual platform to continue serving our members. With everything now virtual, SEI Boston held a free lunchtime webinar this past May entitled “LRFRed: Demystifying the Load and Resistance Factor Rating of Bridges” which covered the fundamentals of load rating bridges using the LRFR method.
Through the summer, we began to adapt to the new way of planning and holding events and are currently in the process of planning several virtual events for the upcoming year. They include the “MBTA New Tunnel Inspection Manual Training” to be continued throughout November, a presentation on the Champlain Bridge to be held in December, an event on high-rise concrete use, as well as a few others. Keep an eye on the BSCES Events Calendar for more information on these upcoming events.
We have also started planning on the 25th Fall Lecture Series with a theme of Rehabilitation and Repair of Structures to be held in the Fall of 2021. The bi-annual Fall Lecture Series is a very popular and long-standing tradition started by the BSCES Structural Group, which pre-dates SEI. The Fall Lecture Series typically consists of five to seven evening lectures by prominent speakers, which occur in consecutive weeks, typically starting in October. The committee is currently considering other types of formats for the upcoming lecture series.
The SEI Boston Chapter executive committee is comprised of 25 members with a wide range of experience, and includes professionals with building, bridge, and academic backgrounds. Each member of the executive committee serves on one of the following four subcommittees:
- Lecture Series Subcommittee – Focuses on planning the Biennial Fall Lecture Series.
- Programs Subcommittee – Focuses on the planning events such as technical lectures and case study presentations.
- Membership Subcommittee – Focuses on SEI membership, the executive committee, and typically teams up with BSCES’s Younger Member Group to a plan a structural themed social event every year.
- External Affairs Subcommittee – Focuses on community service, outreach, and publicity.
The full executive committee typically meets once a month on the first Wednesday of each month. Each subcommittee also meets once a month prior to the full executive committee meeting.
If you have a question regarding SEI Boston, want to attend an event, or get involved, please feel free to contact any member of the current executive committee leadership:
Scott Bruso, PE, Chair – brusos@wseinc.com or sei@bsces.org
Shanta Keller, Vice Chair – Skeller@VHB.com
Peeyush Rohela, PE, Secretary – Prohela@benesch.com