Rochester Engineering Society Magazine September 2020

www.roceng.org

September 2020 COMET Informatics Collaborating For Rochester's Children

Everyone knows collaborating with your community will create better outcomes forthe children you serve.

Sharing is caring...right?

| 10

Also in this issue: Feature Article Droplet Ejection for 3D Digital Microfluidics

by RIT PhD Student Collin Burkhart | 14

Save the Date: 2021 Engineering Symposium in Rochester has been re-scheduled to Thursday, April 29th |9 Location still at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center; Registration will re-open around February 1st.

COMET Informatics Collaborating For Rochester's Children Everyone knows collaborating with your community will create better

The Rochester Engineer Published since 1922 by

outcomes forthe children you serve. Sharing is caring...right?

ROCHESTER ENGINEERING SOCIETY, INC.

(cover) 10

Founded March 18, 1897

Volume 99, Number 3, SEPTEMBER 2020 (Electronic Copies Only) You can individual copies directly from ISSUU.

purchase

2,500+ Monthly Circulation (11 issues electronically) ISSN 0035-7405

RES Mission Statement: The RES will become the lead organization for improving the image and influence of the engineering community in the greater Rochester area by: Demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of the region’s engineering and technical capabilities; Providing the best clerical support and public relations assistance to our affiliates; Continually communicating the engineering and technical accomplishments to both the engineering and technical community and the public; Providing regular forums and networking opportunities for the exchange of ideas and discussion of issues; and, Providing programs that identify career opportunities to the region’s youth and develop the skills of the practicing engineer.

News items and articles are invited. Materials should be submitted to the administrative director at the society’s office, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607; Phone number (585) 254-2350, e-mail: therochesterengineer@gmail.com.

The web site for the RES is: www.roceng.org.

The deadline is the 10th day of the month prior to the issue. Unless otherwise stated, opinions expressed in this publication are those of contributors, not of the Rochester Engineering Society, Inc. Advertising information may be obtained by contacting the office of the Rochester Engineering Society or going to the website at www.roceng.org.

Published every month but July. You can purchase individual copies directly from ISSUU. Go to www.roceng.org to join the Rochester Engineering Society. Click on the individual membership and you can submit your application on-line.

Board of Directors:

OFFICERS: President GREG GDOWSKI, PhD University of Rochsester / Greg_Gdowski@urmc.rochester.edu First Vice President MICHELLE SOMMERMAN, PE Bergmann Associates / msommerman@bergmannpc.com Second Vice President DENNIS ROOTE, PE CDE Engineering & Environment, PLLC / dennis.roote@cde-pllc.com Treasurer ANDREW C. HIRSCH Retired / andrewcharleshirsch@gmail.com Past President JOSEPH DOMBROWSKI, PE Retired from M/E Engineering / jdombrowski3@rochester.rr.com EIGHT DIRECTORS: CORNELIUS (NEAL) ILLENBERG PE Rail Safety Consulting / nillenberg@aol.com RICHARD E. RICE Erdman Anthony / rriceaquash@gmail.com BRETT ELIASZ, PE Bergmann Associates / beliasz@bergmannpc.com KENTON G. HINES Merrill Lynch / kenton.hines@ml.com MIKE KURDZIEL, PhD (Director on Executive Committee) Harris Corporation / mike.kurdziel@L3harris.com STEVEN W. DAY, PhD Rochester Institute of Technology / swdeme@rit.edu NANCY CRAWFORD Optimation Technology, Inc. / nancy.crawford@optimation.us DANIEL WEAVER Optimation Technology, Inc. / daniel.weaver@optimation.us Administrative Director LYNNE M. IRWIN Rochester Engineering Society / e-mail: res@frontiernet.net or therochesterengineer@gmail.com

contents

4 • RES History - May - September 1972 5 • RES Technical Corner by Brett Eliasz, RES Director & Dan Rusnack 6 • More Good News at Dr. Walter Cooper Academy...

7 • RES Scholarship Application Information

8 • We continue to thank those who stayed commited to being a sponsor of the 118th RES Annual Gala which was cancelled because of COVID19

D

9 • 2021 Engineering Symposium in Rochester - New Date: April 29 10 • COMET Informatics Collaborating For Rochester's Children (cover) 13 • Get To The Point - 10 Quick tips to overcome most common mistakes in technical writing 14 • Droplet ejection for 3D digital microfluidics (Feature) 16 • What's News - NYS partners with ARCADIS to pilot early detection of COVID019 in wastewater.

17-19 • Professional Firms - Employee News 19-20 • News from Professional Firms 21 • Campus News 22-23 • Position Openings 24 • Continuing Education Opportunities (PDHs) 24-25 • Engineers’ Calendar 26 • A Look at the Past...1920's photo's from RES Scrapbook 39-40 • Directory of Professional Services 40 • Directory of Business Services 41 • Affiliated Societies and Corporate Members of the RES Membership Application and Advertising Rates are also on the website: www.roceng.org.

news of the...

• ABCD Association for Bridge Construction and Design.....................33 • ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers....................................................38 • ASPE American Society of Plumbing Engineers....................................27 • EA Electrical Association.......................................................................32 • IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.................34-35 • IES Illuminating Engineering Society....................................................31

2 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

• INCOSE International Council on Systems Engineering..........................36 • IS&T Society for Imaging Science and Technology.............................28 • MPES Monroe Professional Engineers Society......................................30 • RES Rochester Engineering Society............................................. 2-8, 26 • SWE Society of Women Engineers........................................................29 • TERRA TERRA Science & Engineering Fair...............................................37

index

T S p m d h c b 1 c o p p m C g t

D n a R t y c i 1 t s d t R r c a

President’s Message

Greg Gdowski, PhD University of Rochester Incoming RES President June 1, 2020 - May 31, 2022 Dear Fellow Engineers, These are interesting times for the Rochester Engineering Society. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused most professional societies to either cancel or deliver the majority of their events virtually. Even our effort in delivering tutoring and other STEM-related activities have either been suspended or delayed. This has created financial strains within the RES that have not been experienced since the Influenza pandemic of 1918 . In order to weather the pandemic, we have cut our expenditures and have refocused our efforts on reengaging our community through our monthly publication, The Rochester Engineer. Last month we presented a gift to Jean Kendrick for being the first member to locate the 1920s artwork in the magazine.

Congratulations! Like last month, we will provide a small gift to the first RES member to locate the 1920s artwork in the upcoming issue. No repeat winners!

Despite the current crisis, the Rochester community has not been idle waiting for the air to clear. In this issue, and in the upcoming months, we will be highlighting how Rochester has stepped up to the plate to solve problems to keep our community thriving during the pandemic. If you have children, the recent delays in starting in-person classes was not only disruptive but it was surely alarming in terms of ensuring their continual education. On page 10, you will find our lead article about COMET; a group that brought together numerous local organizations to spearhead an effort to develop a software platform to track distance learning in our community. What is striking was that the software was live within a week of conception.

Reading the article was not only inspiring but it was remarkably gratifying to know what Rochesterians are capable of in times of need. Take the time to read the lead article about COMET, you won’t regret it! res news - president’s message

Surely you have heard of the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, or Bacon’s Law. Every day I am reminded of how tightly coupled the engineering community is within Rochester. Last month, I was randomly speaking with my neighbor about current events. In that discussion, I learned that he was the grandson of Harold O. Stewart – the RES President in 1921 during the era of all artwork I have been placing in the Rochester Engineer.

It is likely that Harold Stewart had a large role in starting the magazine – only 4 short years after the 1918 Influenza pandemic in November of 1922.

Ironically, the RES also had 8x10 portraits/photos taken of all 400 members in 1922. To my knowledge, this was the only time this has been done in the history of the RES. The portfolios were placed in four large volumes that are so heavy that I could only bring two volumes home (for scanning purposes). The signed photo of Harold Stewart was on pg. 1 of volume 1! To my even greater surprise was that there was a signed photo on pg. 1 of volume 3 of William Stewart – the great-great grandfather of my neighbor. Given that I will also be the RES President in 2021. What are the odds of my neighbor being related to the RES President that preceded me by a perfect century, and that I would have signed photos of his great and greatgreat grandfather? This must be a good omen. Harold Stewart had a remarkable impact on the RES in 1921-22 – shortly after the Influenza pandemic. I can only hope that I will have a comparable impact on the RES at the conclusion of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All my best, Greg Gdowski RES President

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 3

Rochester History Continuing with the historical sampling of the earlier writings on behalf of the Rochester Engineering Society, the years following "The Great War", into and through the “Great Depression”, continued to be a time of reaching out for the maturing Society, both locally and nationally. The meeting minutes describe a series of technical discussions and presentations intended to broaden the technical horizons of the membership (especially the CE's, ME's and EE's). The RES affiliated itself with a number of National technical societies, adopted local Affiliated Societies, frequently held joint meetings with them and continued taking action on a growing list of public matters. Certain issues of standardization, some crucial to public safety, became the responsibility of the RES and its affiliates. In the pervasive economic downturn of the “Great Depression”, the magazine offered classified advertising for unemployed engineers, technicians and draftsmen and took other steps to try to deal with the crisis. Still, it continued its effort to shape the function, purpose and infrastructure of the City of Rochester, and beyond. World War, again affected the Society, taking away many of its leaders while providing opportunities for others to step forward to fill these vacancies. In an effort to provide even greater perspective on the happenings and concerns of the day, a synopsis, featuring selected items from "The Rochester Engineer" has become an integral part of this series. The Second World War and the Korean Conflict are now history, and the Vietnam War has recently become a focal point. These experiences have changed the face and, no doubt, the future of the community. The Rochester municipal leadership and the industrial community have become immersed in the cold-war, growth economy.

“The Rochester Engineer” (May 1972) This issue featured a report on “Operation RESOURCE”, the recently announced RES report to the County of Monroe, recommending the creation of a position, Director of Solid Waste, reporting to the Public Works Commissioner, to oversee the conduct of a professional survey of the County’s solid waste potential, and the subsequent development of a program for, “maximum recovery of resources”, in our rapidly-growing County. County Executive, Lucien A. Morin, County Legislature President, Joseph N. Ferrari, each praised the RES and the Monroe County Environmental Management Council for the, “great time and effort put forth on behalf of this project of community benefit”. This was followed by the announcement that, “The County is now seeking a man to fill that new position.” Providing a historical view of Rochester in the early 20th Century, in an article, “Engineering in the Pre-Crash Period”, John Utz, Traffic Safety Engineer with NYSDOT, describes a 1927 RES-sponsored project, wherein Rochester area Boy Scouts were recruited to conduct a three-year survey of vehicular traffic conditions in the City. Their task included collecting data on illegal and overtime parking (1,600 of 2,800 cars observed were parked illegally) and traffic flow (vehicle occupancy at West Main and Broad Street was observed at only 1.6 passengers per vehicle; “Wasteful!”). The Scouts also observed that traffic congestion in Rochester was resulting in, “a decentralization of businesses, causing the growth of bank branches, theaters and stores in outlying districts.” The U of R’s College of Engineering and Applied Science announced the selection of eight undergraduates, directed by Dr. Edwin Carstensen, who would be working under an NSF grant in a biomedical engineering research program to apply ultrasonics in heart examinations, testing for circulatory disorders with electrical impedance plethysmography, and the digital processing of bat signals.

June 7, 1972 (Annual Meeting, Rochester Institute of Technology) – Attendance – 26 The RG&E Men’s Chorus, under the direction of Louis Ugino, led off the evening with an excellent half-hour musical program. Following the introduction of the new officers, RES President Edwin L. Anthony, 4 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

A Sampling from the Archives of the Rochester Engineering Society...1897 - 1972

by Lee M. Loomis introduced George S. Beinetti who gave the evening’s address, “The Renaissance of Engineering”.

June 21, 1972 (Board Meeting, University Club) President Edwin L. Anthony presented the organization chart, showing the distribution of responsibilities of the RES officers. Treasurer Howard Jaquith presented the 1972-73 budget, including an approximate $1,000 deficit, due mostly to shortfalls in revenue from “The Rochester Engineer”. Four Regular Members and one Junior Member applications were approved. The Board approved the granting of Honorary Membership to Mr. H.H. Sullivan for, “his long and faithful service to the Society.”

June 29, 1972 (Special Board Meeting, Society’s Offices) President Anthony announced the resignation of RES Secretary, John D. Cooper, for reasons of health. Representing the Nominations and Appointments Committee, Robert Leavitt moved that RES Director, Dr. Richard A. Kenyon be elected as RES Secretary, and that James D. Row be appointed to complete Dr. Kenyon’s term, as Director.

“The Rochester Engineer” (June 1972) This issue introduced two new RES Affiliates; the Rochester Conference of Standards Laboratories and the Association for Computing Machinery, and provided a history and description of the focus of each of these organizations. In a second historical article, “Engineering Under Roosevelt and the Blue Eagle”, John R. Utz describes new automotive innovation (the first automatic transmission), a tour of the new Rochester Main Post Office on Cumberland Street, and the 1937 local introduction of television sets (at $200 - $500 each, engineers’ starting salaries at $25 to $20 per week). It was announced that, due to the considerable cost of printing the comprehensive “Operation RESOURCE” final report, copies of the three-volume report would now be made available at $25. RIT announced that Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Douglas M. Marshall had been named Assistant Dean of the College of Engineering.

September 13, 1972 (Board Meeting, Chamber of Commerce) The Board approved six new Regular Members, one Associate Member, and three Junior Members. It was announced that fifteen RES Luncheon meetings would be scheduled for the coming year; to be held on alternating Wednesdays. The RES Engineers’ Joint Dinner would be held at the Great Hall of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, on February 22nd, with a ticket price of $7.50.

Subsequent articles in this series will describe the RES' continuing outreach to other technical societies as it considered its role in this and the larger community, along with more of the activities of the RES as it moved to be of greater service to its membership, especially those suffering from current economic crises, and adopted a greater role in shaping the future of the City and its environs. Noted also, will be the contributions made by RES members in the struggle to meet the challenges coming out of World War II and the Korean Conflict, as well as a hoped-for period of postwar growth and prosperity. These articles will also feature an impressive array of RES activities in support of post-war re-emergence of Rochester area industry, and the ensuing prosperity of the second-half of the 20th Century.

We welcome your questions and comments on this series.

res news - history

y

Technical Corner I’d like to introduce and thank Dan Rusnack, P.E., LC for contributing to the article this month.

This article will focus on NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. We’ll look at some of the requirements for locating Electrical related Life Safety Equipment within a building.

I’d like to start with a snip it of the Engineers Creed from the National Society of Professional Engineers as this portion of the Creed speaks to protecting the public welfare.

“As a Professional Engineer, I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare. I pledge: To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations."

Adopted by National Society of Professional Engineers, June 1954

Emergency power systems such as generators via Automatic Transfer switches (ATS) are utilized to provide power to building systems to protect the public welfare and human life if normal utility power fails in the case of an emergency. These building systems can range from Emergency Egress lighting, to fire alarm systems, smoke evac systems and the like.

Looking at section 7.2.3 of NFPA 110 it states: Level 1 EPSS equipment shall not be in the same room with the normal service equipment where the service equipment is rated over 150 volts to ground and equal to or greater than 1000 amps. Thus, this section is applicable to systems 480Y/277V but not for 208Y/120V systems. The commentary in blue states section 7.2.3 applies only to service equipment and to the load side of the transfer equipment, therefore life safety and normal panels can be grouped together at other locations (AHJ may say otherwise).

So, what is an EPSS categorized as?

Section NFPA 110 3.3.4 states an EPSS is: A complete functioning EPS system coupled to a system of conductors, disconnecting means and overcurrent protective devices, transfer switches, and all control, supervisory, and support devices up to and including the load terminals of the transfer equipment needed for the system to operate as a safe and reliable source of electric power.

That being said, the Life safety ATS and panelboard serving life safety loads can’t be located in the same room as the service equipment when there is an outdoor generator or (EPS). The reason for separating the life safety and normal equipment is to protect the emergency system in case the normal system has a catastrophic failure such as an arc fault or fire which may in turn, destroy or make the emergency power system not operate when it is needed.

In conclusion, when designing emergency electrical systems for buildings it is important to look at the codes and standards and hold the public welfare and safety to the highest paramount.

Hopefully this article finds you well and can be used as a reference for your project needs. If anyone would like to contribute to the Rochester Engineer publication and add an article or would like to request information on a specific topic (not limited to Electrical) just email me at beliasz@ bergmannpc.com. As always, any comments are appreciated…! Thank you for reading.

Brett Eliasz, P.E., LEED AP BD+C , RES Director res - technical corner

Dan Rusnack, PE

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 5

RES News - Tutoring Team More Good News at Dr. Walter Cooper Academy…

The RCSD Schools’ Modernization Program renovation of #10 School, at 353 Congress Avenue is nearly complete, and the “move-in” has been happening for the past several weeks.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the original plan for the Fall 2020 reopening of our school included a “Hybrid Model” for Pre-K – 4th Grade and a “Distance Learning Model” for the 5th – 6th Grades. However, the Rochester City School District has decided that, for the first ten weeks of this school year, learning for ALL grade levels, at ALL Rochester Schools will be conducted remotely. This plan has the endorsement of all stakeholders.

Nevertheless, for your information (and curiosity), here is a synopsis of the original plan: Under the “Hybrid Model”, Pre-K – 4th Graders are divided into two cohorts (A & B) with “A” attending in-person on Monday & Tuesday, and “B” attending in-person on Thursday & Friday. On days with no in-person learning, there will be specially-designed distance learning programs for the Pre-K – 4th Grade students.

Under the “Distance Learning Model”- Happening five days a week (Grades 5th & 6th) will consist of pre-recorded video lesson presentations by the students’ assigned teachers, video of other teachers presenting a skill, articles for students to read, and to which they will be required to respond, or math & science problem sets for completion and submittal.

While we had hoped that the RES Tutoring Team might be allowed to resume its work this Fall, for reasons of student and community safety, there will be NO VISITORS allowed at the School, for the next several months (possibly even the rest of this school year).

When things begin to happen again, more than ever, we will need the dedicated service of our current RES Tutors and, no doubt, additional tutors, working with the teachers and students, in support of the NY State Education Department’s Science Curriculum.

Does this sound interesting to you, or maybe to some of your friends? Could you see yourself supporting the presentation of science curriculum to students, ages five to eleven? Who was it that showed you how science could “make a difference” in your life? Could you help introduce someone to science, yourself? Do you think you can make room in your life for this important challenge?

Meanwhile, we will continue to build our RES Tutoring Team, for the future…We have been giving “Lunch & Learn” presentations in several Rochester area firms and professional groups, to inform and inspire prospective new tutors. We have “hit the ground, running”, and we need your support...Can we schedule a presentation with your firm, your work group, your church or family group, sometime later, this year?

Even just two hours a week of your time can make a big difference in the life of a Dr. Walter Cooper Academy Scholar…

Questions??? Reach out to RES Past President Lee Loomis and the RES Tutoring Team at…Rochester Engineering Society (585) 254-2350,via website: www.roceng.org, or via email: leeloomis46@gmail.com, (585) 738-3079 (mobile & text)

RES TUTORING TEAM, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (and tentative answers)...

• When will the RES Tutors begin working?

We are hoping to resume in the Spring (else Fall) of 2021 • What is the schedule for the teaching of science (at each Grade level)?

Mornings…

Mid-Day 3rd Grade (9:50AM – 10:30AM) 6th Grade (10:30AM – 11:10AM)

Kindergtn (12:50PM – 1:30PM) 1st Grade (11:45AM – 12:15PM) 5th Grade (12:50PM – 1:30PM)

Afternoons…

2nd Grade (2:30PM – 3:10PM) 4th Grade (1:30PM – 2:10PM)

• Will Tutors be working (exclusively) inside the class rooms?

Yes, they will be supporting the teachers & assisting the students, during and following the science lessons. They will be working in the classrooms, with small groups of students (3 – 5), and (occasionally) with individual students • Will there be week by week DWCA “Science Lesson” schedules for the school year?

Yes, the teachers, at each Grade level, will provide this information for the tutors • What if I cannot begin tutoring until after the October 28th “start date”?

You may become an RES Tutor, and begin whenever your schedule allows; we can "fit you in" to our tutoring schedule.

6 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

res news - tutoring

RES Scholarship Application Information The Rochester Engineering Society (RES) is an umbrella organization for engineering societies in the Rochester area. The goals of the society are: to advance the art and science of engineering for the general public welfare in Monroe County and the adjoining counties; to foster in practicing and prospective engineers excellence as professionals, as citizens, and as individuals; and, to promote communication and cooperation among all branches of engineering.

Multiple scholarships, sponsored by a variety of organizations and administered through the RES, are awarded annually ($1,500 each) to recognize outstanding engineering, engineering technology, science or technology students. These are merit-based scholarships. Scholarships from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) require applicants be student members of their respective organization. Please visit our website at www.roceng. org to find out more on the individual scholarships available. Eligibility: Applicants must meet the following qualifications: 1. Be an undergraduate student in good standing who has completed two years/or achieved Junior standing in an ABET-accredited engineering, engineering technology, science or technology program.

2. Have an overall grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0 (or equivalent) or better.

3. Plan to continue engineering, engineering technology, science or technology studies in an undergraduate ABET accredited program in September 2021. Scholarship recipients will be individually notified by February 1, 2021, announced at the RES Gala on April 17, 2021 and funds will be mailed ~August 1, 2021.

4. Be a resident of Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne, or Wyoming Counties of New York or enrolled in an ABET accredited engineering, engineering technology, science or technology curriculum in a college in those counties. The Rochester Chapter of IEEE allows applicants from Corning and Alfred sub-chapters.

5. Not be a previous recipient of this scholarship.

Application: Applicants must submit the six required items listed below. All items must be submitted together. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all the necessary data are submitted by the deadline in one package and will be immediately disqualified from judging, with no further follow-up, if these instructions are not followed. The applicant should notify those persons supplying reference letters that timely response is critical.

Reference letters may be submitted in individually sealed envelopes within the application package or emailed directly to RES with the applicant's name in the subject line.. Deliver, mail or email to res@frontiernet.net all items by December 11, 2020 to: The Rochester Engineering Society, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607.

Required Data and Instructions 1. Certificate of Interview from a member of the Scholarship Committee - Request an appointment for interview by sending an email to the Scholarship Chairperson, Michelle Sommerman, PE, at msommerman@bergmannpc.com or go to www.roceng. org/scholarships and fill out the scholarship application. In your email, include your full name, phone number, and the day(s) and time(s) you are available for an interview. Attach your resume to the email. Contact Michelle Sommerman at 585-498-7896 if you have not received a reply within three days. The interviewer will provide a certificate that the interview was conducted after September 1, 2020 and before Novemberber 30, 2020 (the interview deadline).

2. Transcript - Official copy of applicant’s current transcript showing grades for the entire enrollment in current school and if a transfer student, courses taken and accepted from his/her prior college or university.

3. Resume - The same resume the applicant would use if applicant were applying for employment. Be sure to include the following information: name, permanent address, school address, college, degree and program, anticipated date of graduation, and any professional society memberships.

4. Applicant’s Letter - A letter written by the applicant addressed res news - college scholarship application

to the Chairman of the Scholarship Award Committee of the Rochester Engineering Society. This letter shall not be more than one typewritten page in length and should discuss the applicant’s position with respect to the following: a. Why the applicant is studying engineering and chose his/her particular field. b. Why the applicant is applying for the scholarship. c. The applicant’s involvement in professional society activities, the leadership positions held and describe active involvement in other extra-curricular activities. d. Statement that the scholarship will be used in engineering, engineering technology, science or technology studies in an undergraduate ABET-accredited program in September 2021 should an award be presented.

5. Reference Letter #1 - Letter from the applicant’s faculty advisor in his/her current school. This letter should indicate the applicant’s standing in the class relative to other students, his/her course load and involvement.

6. Reference Letter #2 - Letter from a current or former employer who is not a relative, OR, a professor of engineering, science or technology in whose class the applicant has been or is presently enrolled.

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 7

We continue to thank those who stayed committed to being a sponsor of the 118th RES Annual Gala which was cancelled because of COVID19!

DIAMOND

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

PROGRAM ADVERTISERS

8 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

res - thank you gala sponsors

Save the NEW Date for the:

2021 Engineering Symposium in Rochester www.engineeringsymposiumrochester.com

Earn up to 7 PDHs Sponsored by Rochester's Technical and Engineering Societies and RIT

Thursday, April 29, 2021 Courses available in: Civil, Electrical, Lighting, Mechanical, HVAC, and Plumbing.

SAME LOCATION AS THE LAST SYMPOSIUM (2019): Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center 123 East Main Street, Rochester, NY Time: 7:30 am to 6:30 pm $140 Advance Registration (Plan to go back online ~February 1st) $20 Student Registration $170 AFTER April 1, 2020 and at the Door Registration will re-open online at www.roceng.org about ~February 1st

The Monroe Chapter of NYSSPE, in accordance with ADA compliance, will make every attempt to provide reasonable accommodations for those requiring additional services to participate in our educational programs. If you should require such services, please contact Lynne Irwin at the Rochester Engineering Society (res@frontiernet.net or 585-254-2350) to request support by April 1, 2021.

2021 symposium

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 9

COMET Informatics Collaborating For Rochester's Children Everyone knows collaborating with your community will create better outcomes for the children you serve. Sharing is caring...right?

by Andrew Remillard and Samantha Lape Taking all of the information, demographics, living situation, academic performance, outside of school time program attendance, ketchup or mustard on a hot dog preference, and creating a 360-degree view of every child in your community can only bring good things. There is one slight hiccup in the plan. It's hard. Like really hard. Speed bumps like multiple data collection sources, consents, and willingness to participate can feel like unclimbable mountains.

The good news is the wave of cooperation is spreading. The reality of better outcomes, less duplication of services, and the better use of resources and broader access to funding sources are becoming less of a rumbling and more of a conversation. There are great examples of collaboration brewing in our local communities. The coming together of schools, community-based organizations, and for-profit entities to provide improved services helps create a more resilient system to support our children.

More Than Just "Absent" Or "Present"

In April, the Rochester City School District (RCSD) and COMET 4 Children (COMET) expanded their collaboration with the Children's Institute led Rochester Early Childhood Assessment Partnership (RECAP) to develop a custom attendance module specifically for the distance learning environment created in response to the Corona Virus pandemic.

Due to the existing (expansive and impressive) child-centric collaboration structure in Rochester (see image to the right), this software was developed and in the "hands" of teachers within days.

Ann Marie White, Executive Director of Children's Institute, describes why this technology supports the wellbeing of children in Rochester. "During this pandemic, families with young children have faced crises on many fronts, as daily supports for their children's health, education, growth, and enrichment became remote. Despite these massive COVID-19-related disruptions, Rochester's universal pre-K system of school- and community-based providers has continued to partner with parents to support each child and family's wellbeing. Pre-school professionals work daily to connect in new and meaningful ways with families' children as they shelter in place at home. We are pleased to support this system of caring educational contacts between pre-school professionals and families during this crisis. This new record system we commissioned and designed with partners will help pre-school teachers and programs continue to forge high quality supports across early childhood education programs even during such difficult times for all."

COMET programmed this custom attendance software commissioned for RECAP to allow RCSD Pre-K teachers to 10 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

cover article

c

e

track distance learning sessions. The software was live within a week (from requirements through production) due to consistent communication and instant feedback. Thanks to this collaborative effort, distance learning users now have customization options that allow Schools, OutOf-School-Time (OST's), and Community Based Organizations (CBO's) to track contacts by customizable parameters such as Livestream (group or individual), phone call, text, email, no contact, etc. to track and report interactions with their kids.

Dr. Robin Hooper, Executive Director of the Office of Early Childhood at the Rochester City School District, praised the work of COMET and the staff, "In these unprecedented times, where the lives of our youngest students and their families have been so upended, we much appreciate the fast, thoughtful work the COMET team provides for our students, their families, our classrooms and our staff. Over the years, we have counted on COMET in times of unusual need; and to date, they have always come through to support our work with families and students."

"The children in our community needed us to step up, and we did," says Leonard Gingello, COMET CEO. "We worked very hard to develop this technology with our partners at RCSD and Children's Institute in a very short period of time because we believe in the work being done every day in our community using collaborative data to improve outcomes for our children."

Building Blocks of Successful Community Collaborations Our experience in the for-profit software development space has yielded a unique perspective on what it takes to create a successful collaboration. Being the data collection software for a few collaborations around the country has helped us understand the key areas which lead to a smoother start and more reliable information exchange. cover article

In no particular order, here are the foundational blocks we see the most thriving communities are built on: 1. Purpose To paraphrase some wise puppets, "purpose is the spark that lights the flame under your‌" You get the point. The purpose of a collaborative community lies beyond the walls of a specific out-of-school-time group or community-based organization. For some communities, it's rooted in systemic change. For some, it's a singular problem like graduation rate, immunization rate, or access to quality child care. The answer lies within your community and the groups who are willing to entertain the idea of collaboration. Having and communicating a clear purpose will not only help other organizations get on board but also help you see the light at the end of the tunnel shine a little brighter when you're stuck in an endless number of meetings hashing out the details of consent or minimum data set requirements. Reality is, in most communities, a single child can be enrolled with multiple organizations.

Without a full view of that child, it's almost impossible to see what interventions worked to improve their life, let alone understand what other children might be traveling down the same trajectory where a simple intervention could make a similar impact. You know this. You're passionate about this. Please don't lose sight of it.

Continued on page 12...

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 11

2. Stakeholder Engagement Plan Anyone who has spent any time with kids will agree a child will be more willing to participate when they directly benefit from the "So, what?"

It turns out, organizations that help kids are very similar. In very few instances, it happens organically. A round table discussion leads to (virtual) handshakes and (socially-distanced, air) high-fives, and everyone runs back to their headquarters to get the data sharing consents signed. It is more likely you will meet with some like-minded community members, and the rumble to collaborate will start with a small group looking to do great things. Collaboration (like getting your kids to pick up their room) will be far more likely to happen if there is a dedicated plan to make sure the groups who would benefit are strategically engaged from the beginning. A plan like putting a primary school principal on a Kindergarten Readiness team. A plan like engaging the head of pediatrics in your local health system for your early childhood screening and intervention program.

Making a smart, strategic plan will help smooth the path toward the ultimate goal.

3. Leadership Although your whole community is coming together to make a bigger and better impact, someone needs to own the effort. Between deciding votes on critical topics, data quality assurance, and consent guidance, your community will need to have an arbiter who will keep the overall purpose of everyone involved. That role can come in many forms from funders, CBOs, advocacy organizations, or government entities. It certainly isn't the easiest position to hold, but with a strong sense of purpose and excellent stakeholder engagement, you won't be standing alone.

4. Flexibility in Data Collection From million-dollar custom platforms to handwritten attendance entered into a Google Sheets document, every organization has its way of collecting data. Coupled with funder mandated collection and reporting platforms, to launch a community-wide collaboration with yet another data system that creates a second, third or fourth place to enter little Susie's attendance at day camp will create a collaborative mutiny before you email off your first report.

Finding a platform that can play well with all of the agencies involved and not require them to change their already effective and ingrained system is critical. Experience has shown me eliminating the hassles of data collection will pay dividends when it comes to overall buy-in from the organizations you are looking to include in your effort.

Our current climate has shown a spotlight on issues in every community. The good news is there has never been a better time to start planning a community-wide collaboration. Sharing resources with like-minded partners, reducing duplication and unnecessary hurdles through thoughtful planning leads to meeting the needs of the kids in realtime, coming together as a community, in the truest sense of the word, and is more critical now than ever. Like all things in life, if it were easy, you'd already be doing it. Make a plan. Share that plan. Make your community a better, healthier, more inclusive place to live. www.comet4children.com | info@comet4children.com | 585.673.3200 Stay updated on our work in Rochester and subscribe to our newsletter.

Andrew Remillard, COMET Informatics Sales & Marketing Manager Samantha Lape COMET Informatics Communications & Public Relations Manager 12 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

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Get to the Point!

Ten quick tips to overcome the most common mistakes in technical writing.

Over the years of teaching engineers how to write, we see the same issues. Lori Marra, a Vice President with RGI, has compiled a list of elements that will help you with your writing. Use this list and these suggestions when you write your next technical report.

1. Proofread your documents. Typos, whether in texts, emails, or reports, look sloppy. They create a careless image and your clients expect perfection.

2. Take out all the extra fluff words. In business writing, you need to be clear, concise, and complete. The key is to keep it as short as possible yet answer all of your reader’s questions. Extra words confuse the message and take up way too much of your reader's precious time.

3. Don't state your opinion unless you support it. Specifics and data add credibility. Without proof, it's just your opinion, and in the world of business, that only counts in brainstorming or creative work.

For example, if you are asking for additional time or money, you better explain exactly how much, why you need it and what you will do with it.

4. Use topic sentences to show structure. The first sentence in each paragraph must tell the reader what the topic of that paragraph is. That's why it's called "the topic sentence". This is good business writing and helps a reader easily skim a piece of writing.

5. Use a transition sentence to lead the reader. At the end of each paragraph, write a sentence that transitions smoothly to the next paragraph. This ensures you have a logical flow to your message.

6. Avoid wishy washy phrases. These add no meaning and undermine your confidence as a communicator. Here are some examples:

-"I think..."

-"I believe..."

-"I like..."

-"I wish..."

State your claim then back it up with data that supports it. That way, there's nothing wishy washy.

7. Show your reasoning process. Don't just state an opinion. Lay out a reasonable argument: If a=b and b=c then a=c.

This is the basis of all critical thinking, so be sure you develop your thoughts logically.

8. Design your information for readability. Pay attention to your page layout and the visual elements of your messages. It builds confidence and professionalism, and it helps your reader. Your readers will be attracted to pleasant design and are more likely to read it. Here are some tips: -Whether email or documents, use and then be consistent with section titles and report headings. get to the point

-Use white space to break up big blocks of text. Most people will skip right over a big block of text.

-Use bulleted and numbered lists to break up large blocks of text.

These are really easy visual cues for a reader, and they make you, the communicator, look very organized.

-Be consistent in your layout. Make sure that you don't change fonts or font sizes right in the middle of a document. Attention to this type of detail makes your message easier to read, and it makes you look like a professional communicator.

-Don't get sloppy with page breaks. Take the time to see how the pages break so related content and images are kept together.

-Use page numbers and other header and footer information that helps your reader know where he or she is in the document. This is of course only relevant for reports, not emails, but it's really important.

9. Give credit when you use other people’s work. Use a valid citation and referencing formats and list your of sources at the end of the report (or at the bottom if you choose to use footnotes). If you use an image or drawing make sure you cite where it came from.

10. Always communicate in a way that your audience prefers.

This is what strategic flexibility in communication is all about. This goes for the message too. You need to think of the type of language and sentence structure that works best for your audience. Are you writing an informal message to a colleague, an internal email, a more formal email that may go beyond your immediate work group, a short report that will be shared in many areas of the company, or a long report that may be presented to high levels in the company or to a client. Each of these require different approaches to communication and you, as a professional communicator, must determine the best way that your audience consumes its information.

There you go. Ten tips for better, more professional business and technical writing.

Lori Marra is Vice President of RGI International. She completed a thirty-year career in technical communication and leadership development, working for several international companies including Johnson & Johnson, Kodak, and Carestream. In 2015, Lori launched RGI International’s Center for Technical and Engineering Leadership (CTEL). She is a full-time professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology where she teaches Technical Communication. Lori is an Associate Fellow of the Society for Technical Communication. © 2020, RGI Learning Lisa Moretto, President, RGI International, Inc. Visit www.rgilearning.com or call 866-744-3032 to learn about RGI's courses.

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 13

Droplet ejection for 3D digital microfluidics

by Collin T. Burkhart, PhD Candidate, RIT People around the world must frequently cope with a variety of health issues. Pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites can all cause diseases if they infect the body. For instance, the disease malaria is a result of a bite from a mosquito carrying Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Malaria can quickly become life-threatening and requires immediate treatment. Some pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, are also contagious and can spread from an infected person to an uninfected person through direct or even indirect contact. People can also be afflicted by a number of disorders, such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and hemophilia. These types of conditions can all be traced to one or more genetic mutations that arise over time or are inherited at birth. Depending upon the particular genetic mutation, people can pass along a disorder to their children without necessarily having it themselves.

Diagnosis is a critical first step in the treatment of these conditions. Rapid and accurate diagnosis can improve outcomes by quickly identifying infected individuals so treatment can begin and further spread can be mitigated.

Unfortunately, testing can be costly depending on the equipment, tools, and personnel required. As the cost of diagnostic testing increases, accessibility to high-quality health screening decreases. As a result, researchers have been developing new “lab-on-a-chip” devices for rapid, low-cost diagnostic testing. These devices seek to miniaturize and automate tests performed in traditional laboratories on individual palm-sized chips. The reduced form factor reduces reagent costs while providing faster results since chemicals have shorter diffusion lengths and higher surface area-to-volume ratios. These devices are also suitable for point-of-care testing, particularly in remote regions without access to traditional laboratories.

Digital microfluidic (DMF) devices are a class of lab-on-a-chip device where individual droplets are manipulated using electrical signals to perform diagnostic tests. These devices manipulate droplets via the electrowetting phenomenon. A typical device is built on a glass or silicon wafer substrate and consists of a grid of electrodes coated with different polymer layers (Fig. 1).

Droplets rest over the coated electrodes which receive actuation signals to deform the droplets. Depending on the configuration, the circuit can be completed by a thinly coated top electrode, an inserted wire, or by one or more separate coplanar electrodes.

The dielectric layer over the actuated electrodes delays the onset Figure 1. Side-view diagram of an open coplanar of electrolysis in the droplets, and hydrophobic coatings allow electrowetting setup. for more significant deformation during actuation. As voltage is applied, a radially outward “electrowetting force” spreads the droplet due to charge buildup along the three-phase contact line. This reduces the apparent contact angle of the droplet. Higher root-mean-square voltages cause more significant reductions up to a system-dependent saturation point.

By positioning droplets over multiple electrodes, electrowetting can be applied to select regions of the droplet.

This can be used to change the shape on one side, while leaving the rest of the droplet relatively unaffected.

The difference in curvature across the droplet gives rise to a pressure gradient that pulls droplets toward active electrodes. Electrowetting can be used in this way to position droplets over an entire array of electrodes.

Electrowetting on dielectric devices can merge, split, or mix droplets. Sequences of these simple operations have been used to perform complex biomedical protocols, including: synthesizing chemicals, separating target particles, and running immunoassays. A generic electrode grid can be readily automated for a wide variety of applications.

Electrowetting on dielectric can also be used to eject droplets off of the device surface to pass them between two opposing electrode grids. The electrowetting response in millimeter-size, aqueous droplets is typically underdamped. As such, droplets reach a more spread position in the first milliseconds of actuation before settling to their steady-state position. The time for a droplet to reach its widest position is referred to as its spreading time.

When a direct current (DC) actuation signal is applied for this duration, the droplet is allowed to maximize its surface 14 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

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energy. When the DC signal is released, the contact angle reverts toward its unactuated position causing the droplet to return toward its initial position. A capillary wave travels from the contact line to the apex of the droplet, and the excess surface energy can be sufficient to induce detachment. Combined with horizontal movement, this allows droplets to be routed in 3D space. This enables more sophisticated routing patterns that can minimize reagent cross-contamination and increase overall operation density in a given device footprint.

Figure 2. Experimental facility used to eject droplets via electrowetting.

Electrowetting-based detachment is currently being studied in greater detail in the DMFL to understand how different factors impact droplet ejection in air (Figure 2). Droplets are actuated at increasing voltage until detachment is observed. Threshold voltages between cases are then compared to observe how a variable such as droplet size impacts the energy required for ejection. As detachment occurs in a matter of milliseconds, a high-speed camera records all trials. Frames are reviewed to determine the lowest voltage at which separation between the droplet and the device is visible. This voltage threshold is used as a metric to compare performance between trials. Results from testing are used to develop improved models for detachment that incorporate droplet size and electrode design.

In testing thus far, salt solution droplets between 3 and 15 ÂľL have been successfully detached from DMF devices (Figure 3). This has been done on single electrode devices with a ground wire and on coplanar multi-electrode devices.

While previous coplanar detachment in air has required more complex actuation to induce perturbations in the droplet prior to detaching, droplets ejected here are detached using single pulses. This is attributed to the electrode geometry of the devices used (Figure 2 inset). The radial symmetry allows droplets to spread outward in all directions so minimal energy is wasted on azimuthal oscillations as the droplet is released. Gap space in the design is also kept to a minimum so a droplet on the device rests primarily over regions charged by the electrodes.

Experimental results have shown that the detachment threshold increases with droplet size, contrary to previously reported findings that accounted only for surface energy in the detachment process. New models for ejection have been developed based on these results that now also account for changes in gravitational potential energy since the droplet’s center of mass rises throughout detachment.

Understanding the droplet detachment process is critical in the development of new 3D DMF devices that can minimize crosscontamination Figure 3. Captured frames during the ejection of a 3 ÂľL droplet of sodium chloride solution.

Frames are approximately 3.3 ms apart from left to right. in biological applications. By manipulating the droplet and electrowetting device, actuation requirements can be minimized and detachment made more predictable. The next focus in the DMFL is studying the role of electrode geometry in greater detail. The findings of this investigation will be incorporated with previous results to develop more complete models of droplet ejection.

Mr. Collin Burkhart is an Engineering PhD candidate from the Discrete Microfluidics Laboratory at the Rochester Institute of Technology

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SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 15

What's News Arcadis News

New York State Partners with Arcadis to Pilot Early Detection of COVID-19 in Wastewater Game-changing approach will help inform decision-making, protect public health in upstate communities

The New York State Department of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have partnered with Arcadis for a pilot project to identify and track SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in municipal wastewater collection systems in Onondaga County, Albany, Newburgh and Buffalo.

systems to identify strategic sampling locations and use best-in-class techniques for safe sample collection. Samples will be analyzed by Quadrant Biosciences, using the fastest, most affordable technology available. The team will use a new data modelling platform to understand and report on the virus’ prevalence.

Arcadis will identify and monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, alerting the state and participating cities to prepare for the virus’ potential spread and to inform critical reopening decisions. The project is a collaborative effort with Syracuse University, Quadrant Biosciences, SUNY ESF and Upstate Medical University.

“Tracking the coronavirus in wastewater provides a cost-effective method of understanding community-level transmission dynamics,” said Syracuse University epidemiologist Dr. David Larsen, who leads the SARS2-EWSP team that developed the platform. “We now need to coordinate and scale this type of monitoring into a centralized and statewide platform to better inform responses to the coronavirus pandemic.”

SARS-CoV-2 is spread by symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. Monitoring the wastewater collection system can help a community understand where the virus is present at a low per-capita cost, even in the absence of physical symptoms or delays in testing. Early detection of transmission allows officials to take precautionary safety measures that can prevent future spread while maintaining a layer of anonymity for residents. When transmission decreases, monitoring wastewater confirms the decline and eases anxiety.

“The power of this partnership is in the unique blend of engineering and epidemiology coming together to safeguard public health through rapid detection,” said Alex Rothchild, Arcadis’ CEO in North America. “As communities move to reopen safely, this collaborative effort will be instrumental in helping the state and local communities make informed decisions to protect residents’ physical and economic wellbeing.”

To maximize results for the state, team members will each lean heavily on their respective strengths. Arcadis’ wastewater engineers and scientists will use knowledge of collection 16 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

“This can be a real game-changer in the detection and monitoring of COVID-19,” said Quadrant Biosciences CEO Richard Uhlig. “Information from this testing will allow municipalities to estimate COVID-19 transmission in real time, provide instant feedback on social distancing and reopening phases, help predict hospitalizations and provide confidence for locations with zero transmission to resume normal activity.”

The project began in August and is valued at $500,000. The team has been performing similar work throughout upstate New York since May. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the project as one of a series of new initiatives related to COVID-19 testing.

"As New Yorkers remain vigilant in stopping the spread and our communities cautiously reopen, we continue to aggressively focus on testing in order to detect and control any new coronavirus outbreaks," Governor Cuomo said. q

what's news

Professional Firms Employee News GPI News

GPI Announces New Hires

Robyn Cierniak, CPESC has recently been hired as a Project Manager in the firm's Western New York branch.

An environmental engineer with more than 20 years of experience, Robyn is adept in guiding all aspects of planning and design for both public and private Robyn Cierniak, clients.

Her experience encompasses CPESC the development of site/civil engineering design documents and reports, stormwater management systems and utility planning, SEQR process completion, presentations to municipal boards, and regulatory review agencies for approval. She will be a key member of the land planning department working from our Buffalo office.

Danilo Diaz has joined the structural condition inspection team as an Assistant Team Leader (ATL) Trainee.

Throughout his training, he will split his time shadowing and assisting overhead sign structure inspection teams and Danilo Diaz participating in independent study to learn the art and science of structural condition inspection. Upon completion of this program, Danilo will meet the NYSDOT qualifications for an Assistant Team Leader in their overhead sign structure

inspection program. Danilo holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He will work from our Rochester office.

We are also pleased to have two engineering interns join our team.

Jemishaw Pierre-Lewis

Jonathan Wardner

Jemishaw Pierre-Lewis is a civil engineering technology undergraduate student at Rochester Institute of Technology. She joins us for a double block co-op position through the summer and fall of 2020 supporting our roadway/highway engineering team, and work from our Rochester office.

Jonathan Wardner is currently a graduate student at University at Buffalo (UB) where he will earn a master’s degree in civil engineering. His area of focus is in structural and earthquake engineering. Jon will provide support to GPI’s bridge design group, working from our Buffalo office. q

Foit-Albert Associates News

Foit-Albert Associates Announces New Vice President and Expanded Services Foit-Albert Associates, Architecture, Engineering and Surveying, PC announced the addition of Andrew Andrew S. S. Taylor, PE, FPE Taylor, PE as vice president of the newly formed building systems engineering division at the firm.

Mr. Taylor has worked in the industry for nearly 30 years and will be responsible for growing the new building systems engineering group.

"Foit-Albert is growing in all our architecture, engineering, surveying and enviromental service areas. professional firms employee news

Expanding into this discipline is wellsuited for our continued growth," said President Greg Carballada.

"Andy is a perfect fit and will be instrumental in our continued expansion, service-wise and geographically," he said.

Mr. Taylor, who most recently managed the piping, plumbing and fire protection services department at Erdman Anthony, earned a BS in mechanical engineering technology from Rochester Institute of Technology, and holds professional engineering licenses in both mechanical and fire protection disciplines.

"I have enjoyed working with the

professionals at Foit-Albert for the past 20 years and I am now honored to join their team. The addition of building systems engineering service will allow us to offer a full slate of design and construction related services that will meet the ever changing needs of our clients and set ourselves apart from our competition," said Mr. Taylor.

His professional affiliations include: Professional member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, past Corporate Representative to the National Fire Protection Association and Member of Architects, Engineers, and Building Officials Section of NFPA. q

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 17

Professional Firms Employee News SWBR News

SWBR Employee Receives NYS Architectural Lincense / SWBR Employee Earns LEED Green Associate / SWBR Welcomes Three New Team Members SWBR announced that Gianfranco Pietrantoni recently received his New York State architectural license from the New York State Education Department. Pietrantoni is a project architect at the firm.

As a newly licensed architect in SWBR’s workplace studio, Pietrantoni develops a variety of Gianfranco Pietrantoni science, technology, and industry projects from early concept through design development. He is also responsible for producing drawing sets and construction documents, architectural studies for new and existing buildings, and coordinating multiple subconsultants and disciplines on projects.

Requirements for this licensure include a minimum degree requirement in architecture and a certain number of years of experience under a licensed architect based on the level of education. Pietrantoni completed six New York State exams to receive his license and holds a bachelor of science in architectural technology from Alfred State College and a master of architecture from University at Buffalo.

Of his additional responsibilities, Pietrantoni says “The experience and mentorship I’ve had within our workplace studio has prepared me for more responsibility and helped me feel comfortable with my new role.”

Sana Shanob

SWBR also announced that project designer Sana Shanob has earned her LEED Green Associate accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

This LEED credential denotes proficiency in today’s sustainable design, construction, and operations standards and validates sustainability knowledge and experience in the global green building community.

Shanob, who joined the firm’s Rochester office in 2019, provides architectural design on a variety of multi-family projects in the firm’s Housing studio. She earned a 18 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

bachelor of architecture from Calicut University, India and a master of architecture (Advanced Design) from Manipal University, India.

SWBR also welcomes architectural designers Alli DiGiacomo and Grace Ferris, and structural designer Cassidy O’Brien.

Alli DiGiacomo

Grace Ferris

Former summer intern, DiGiacomo develops drawings and 3D models for a variety of higher education and K12 projects as part of the firm’s education studio.

She believes meaningful design is universal, inclusive, and well thought-out. In addition to a bachelor of arts in architecture from Miami University, DiGiacomo is a Certified Passive House Consultant.

As part of SWBR’s housing studio, Ferris assists the team from project conception to construction completion for multi-family housing projects. She was drawn to architecture after touring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West Complex in the fourth grade. Ferris received a bachelor of science in architectural technology from Alfred State College.

O’Brien, also a former summer intern, is responsible for the structural design and detailing on a variety of building types throughout the firm. She sees meaningful design as designing functional buildings while never losing touch with how people connect with the space. O’Brien received a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Cassidy O'Brien Clarkson University and will be starting her master of science in civil engineering at University at Buffalo in the fall 2020. q

professional firms employee news

Beardsley Architects + Engineers News Naber Joins Beardsley

Beardsley Architects + Engineers announced that Michael S. Naber, E.I.T., has joined the firm as Structural Engineer.

Michael S. Naber, EIT

Mr. Naber is a 2016 graduate of Clarkson University with a degree in civil engineering.

He comes to Beardsley by way of Fredericksburg, VA, where he served as department manager and staff engineer with a focus on construction materials testing, special inspection, and small-scale engineering design for commercial and residential projects.

With 5 years of experience, Mr. Naber brings his diverse experience in both design and management. Mr. Naber will be working on commercial and parks and recreation projects. q

News From

Professional Firms

HUNT Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors News

A Look at the New Mixed-Use Housing & Retail Model - by Senior Project Manager Tom Bailey Affordable infill housing and targeted retail outlets with limited square footage will be the community development model for the next 10-15 years, according to HUNT Engineers and Architects’ Senior Project Manager, Tom Bailey, AIA. “Even in mid-sized cities like Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, the developers have come close to exhausting the available old manufacturing buildings and are already building residential units in what were Class A office spaces as recently as five to ten years ago,” asserts Bailey.

Bailey and their partners at Vecino Inc. are at work on a multi-story, infill project in Ithaca, NY that is immediately adjacent to the Ithaca Commons and Center Ithaca. The initial phase is a four-story addition to the existing Green Street garage creating a sustainable facility with EV charging stations, car-share parking spaces, and an “emptyspace-locating” light system.

Phase II will include retail space on the ground floor, a convention center, and a twelve -story housing development.

“The Vecino Group’s and Ithaca’s reputation for thoughtful and progressive development is welldeserved”, reports Bailey, “and despite its fairly dramatic size, they

have embraced this housing and parking garage as a way of taking the Commons and residential life there to another level”.

“If you look at the development in the Washington Beltway and New York City’s boroughs you can get a real feel for where we are all going.

Young adults and families want the neighborhood feel and to be within a train or bus ride of work and worldclass entertainment”.

Before joining HUNT, Bailey was a key retail designer and architect at Rochester’s Bergmann Associates and Smith Associates, and he also brings planning and national mixeduse development experience to his perspective.

“Our local development partners like the DiMarco Group and JADD Mgmt. are reporting that with the right mix of retail offerings their strip plazas are becoming vibrant community centers”.

DiMarco’s BayTowne Plaza in Webster is a dramatic example of Bailey’s vision, where the developers have literally broken through an existing building and created a main-street-style retail venue capped by a pocket park.

A Fairport resident for 25 years, Bailey holds onto a tinge of a southern drawl that underlines

professional firms employee news | news from professional firms

his Auburn University degree and post-college career in the southeast. As a founder of the planning department in Kissimmee, FL, he developed regulations to help control development created by the opening of Disney World, as well as initiating the Downtown Historic program and the design for Kissimmee Lakefront Park.

From there, he led regional and national design and development efforts for GM, Ford, Goodyear, NASCAR, and the Robert Lee & Associates petroleum retail design group. His ability to bring together this eclectic mix of interests came to fruition as Planning Director in Valdosta, Georgia, where he spearheaded the development of an 1,100-acre, multi-use residential development that included a 400acre, man-made lake.

At the Rochester office, his musicloving colleagues will tell you they are equally intrigued by Bailey’s role as President of the Fiddlers of the Genesee, founding member of “Sawgrass” bluegrass band, and host of bluegrass jams at a downtown music shop. q

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 19

News From

Professional Firms

Bergmann Associates News

Bergmann to conduct indoor air quality audit for St. John Fisher College National architecture, engineering and planning firm Bergmann was awarded one of a limited number of contracts from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to perform Energy Efficient Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) audits for three clients, including St. John Fisher College. This fast-track project is an extension of the College’s Campus Reopening Task Force’s plan for a full campus reopening this fall. Bergmann has begun to conduct building surveys and audits of mechanical equipment to evaluate the existing conditions of HVAC systems within 12 of the 20 academic buildings, with the goal of identifying ways to improve air quality without increasing utility costs.

“The Campus Reopening Task Force is working every day to ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and staff in response to COVID-19,” said George Stooks, Director of Facilities Planning and Construction Administration, St. John Fisher College.

“As air quality and circulation can have major health impacts, this study is an important component of our planning process and we look forward to Bergmann’s recommendations for ensuring our HVAC systems meet our current and future needs in a cost-effective manner.”

Throughout the process, Bergmann will continuously provide updates and short-term guidance, alerting College officials to any urgent concerns and immediate changes that should be made. Upon completion of the study, Bergmann will provide the College with a comprehensive report that describes existing HVAC/ mechanical conditions, evaluates those systems against the proposed guidance from New York State,

provides recommendations on what changes can be made to achieve better compliance, and assesses the costs associated with each enhancement. These recommendations might include ways to increase filtration, bring in more outside air, and achieve greater air turnover.

“From the onset of this crisis, Bergmann’s approach has been to identify solutions to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on campuses today and help clients prepare for similar future disruptive events,” said Valerie Christianson, Education Markets Principal, Bergmann.

“We look forward to working with St. John Fisher College to provide recommendations for addressing those immediate and long-term challenges.”

HVAC system evaluation is just one element of Bergmann’s Resilient Design Team's program developed specifically for education facilities. The firm’s experience with research labs and cleanrooms has uncovered best practices that can be applied to classrooms and education spaces to vastly reduce the transmission of viruses and kill bacteria.

“Quality HVAC systems are important in mitigating airborne infections. We appreciate the opportunity to bring this important program to St. John Fisher College and support its campus reopening plans with proposed energy efficient solutions for creating a safe environment,” said Charles Bertuch, PE, LEED AP, CEM, Principal, Bergmann.

As part of the NYSERDA program, Bergmann will also conduct IAQ audits for The Harley School in Rochester and AXA Towers in Syracuse, New York. q

Barton & Loguidice News

Barton & Loguidice Recognized as a "Hot Firm" in 2020 Barton & Loguidice (B&L), an engineering, planning, environmental and landscape architecture firm with over 300 employees throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, has been recognized as one of the 100 fastest-growing Architect/ Engineering/Construction (AEC) firms in the US and Canada. B&L landed at #71 on the “Hot Firms” List, compiled by the Zweig Group – a leading industry research and benchmarking firm.

This list honors the fastest growing firms in the AEC industry. Firms are ranked based on three-year growth in revenue, by both percentage and dollar growth. This recognition comes on the heels of also being recognized as one of the “Best Firms to Work For” in the AEC industry for the third year in a row. According to Barton & Loguidice President and CEO John F. Brusa, Jr., “Being recognized as one of the fastest growing firms in the industry is a

20 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

reflection of the continued hard work and dedication by our employees.

Given the current economic climate, we understand the importance of growing revenue, creating jobs and providing opportunity while continually striving to remain an employer of choice.” Winners will be honored at the 2020 Elevate AEC Conference in September.

The complete list of 2020 Hot Firms can be accessed here: https://www. zweiggroup.com/2020-hot-firm-list/ news from professional firms

Campus News Rochester Interdisciplinary Team Collaborates on NSF-Funded Study of the Creative Design Process at the Human-Technology Frontier Due to advances in technology, the nature of work and jobs is changing in every domain. Creative skills are being ranked as most valuable for future workers across the board, but how can we prepare students to develop those skills when Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) are changing the creative design process itself? A one-year $150,000 planning grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the University of Rochester aims to address this question, starting September 1, 2020.

The project, called “Exploring Creative Design at the Human-Technology Frontier Through the Emerging ‘ArtistTechnologist’ Occupation,” is funded by the NSF Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier (FW-HTF) program, one of 10 interdisciplinary programs established in 2016 by NSF to pursue long-term research ideas to advance investment in science and engineering. The overarching vision of the FW-HTF program is to support convergent research to understand and develop the humantechnology partnership, design new technologies to augment human performance, illuminate the emerging socio-technological landscape, understand the risks and benefits of new technologies, understand and influence the impact of artificial intelligence on workers and work, and foster lifelong and pervasive learning.

To explore the creative skills needed by tomorrow’s workforce and how these skills can be best developed, the Rochester project will study the emerging occupation of “artisttechnologist,” with an initial focus on musicians and composers. As experts in both arts and technology campus news

who see no barriers between these two fields, artist-technologists are in a unique position to design previously inconceivable media products with relevance and applications, not only for arts and entertainment but for many other fields as well, including education, health care, marketing, and new product development in most industries.

This study brings together an interdisciplinary team of 24 researchers and practitioners from across the Rochester region. The team includes faculty, students, and staff from the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education, Eastman School of Music, College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering, Goergen Institute for Data Science, Greene Center for Career Education and Connections, Ain Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (CEIS), Center for Disability and Education, Center for Learning in the Digital Age, and Institute for Music Leadership, as well as RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios and School of Individualized Study, and Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Center for Workforce Development.

The team will leverage their complementary expertise in the arts, AR/VR, AI, engineering, learning sciences, education, business, entrepreneurship, career education, ethics, and disabilities to explore how specific applications of AR/VR and AI may affect artist-technologists’ creative process, professional identity, overall work experience, preparation, as well as related equity and inclusion issues.

The study will include interviews with key stakeholders (modeled after NSF’s I-Corps program) to gain a better understanding of their experiences

and to identify unmet needs for artisttechnologists. The team will then form three taskforces centered on the following focus areas: impact of AI and AR/VR on the artist-technologists’ design process, effectively preparing future artist-technologists to make the best use of AI and AR/VR in their work, and increasing access to this occupation by underrepresented populations. A series of team learning experiences and workshops will inform this collaborative work, while also supporting the project team in creating synergies among the necessary interdisciplinary expertise and strategies with the ultimate goal of formulating a competitive proposal for a major FW-HTF grant.

Principal investigator Raffaella Borasi, Frederica Warner professor of education and LiDA Center director, is heading the team. Co-principal investigators include: Mark Bocko, distinguished professor in electrical and computer engineering and CEIS director; Zhiyao Duan, associate professor in electrical and computer engineering; James Doser, director, Institute for Music Leadership; and Joseph Testani, associate vice provost for career education and Greene Center director.

“It is so exciting to work with a team representing so many different areas of expertise,” says Borasi, former dean of the Warner School for 18 years. “I am looking forward to what we can learn from each other, not just for this project, but as a springboard for future projects—in the spirit of our new dean Sarah Peyre’s goal of increasing interdisciplinary collaborations across the University of Rochester and the region.” q

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 21

Position Openings...Pages 22-23

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1530 JEFFERSON ROAD ROCHESTER, NY 14623

CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT The New York State Department of Transportation is continuously recruiting engineering candidates at all levels, entry level through Team Leader. To apply, visit the New York State Department of Civil Service website at https:// www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/public/licensing.cfm, select Engineering Positions, specifically Civil/Transportation Exam Series, which includes Engineer Trainee, Assistant Engineer, and Professional Engineer 1. For general inquiries, please email R04-Design@dot.ny.gov.

22 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

Save the Date Annual Engineering Symposium in Rochester Re-scheduled to Thursday, April 29, 2021 Rochester Riverside Convention Center Additional details will be posted on the RES website: www.roceng.org Registration will re-open around February 1st.

position openings

Save the Date 118th RES Annual Gala Saturday, April 17, 2021 Rochester Riverside Convention Center Additional details will be posted on the RES website: www.roceng.org

position openings | RES news

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 23

Go to the RES Web Site for Updated Details On All Meetings - www.roceng.org

Continuing

Education Opportunities

Thursday, April 29 (Re-scheduled)

2021 Engineering Symposium in Rochester Earn up to 7 PDHs

p9

Place: Rochester Riverside Convention Center, 123 East Main Street, Rochester Time: 7:30 am to 6:30 pm Cost: $140 Advance registration; $20 Student registration; $170 AFTER April 1, 2021 and at the door.

Registration will re-open at www.roceng.org around the 1st of February.

BE SURE TO CHECK IF A MEETING IS STILL SCHEDULED BECAUSE OF COVID-19 To post continuing education opportunities on this page please contact the Rochester Engineering Society, 585-254-2350, or email: admin@roceng.org

Engineers’ Calendar

The engineering societies are encouraged to submit their meeting notices for publication in this section. The deadline for submitting copy is the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. Please email to: admin@roceng.org. The meetings offering PDHs are highlighted in blue. Details about the meeting and affiliate (if in this issue) are on the corresponding page listed next to the affiliate name.

Tuesday, September 1

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)

Friday, September 11 p 35

EXCOM Meeting Place: On-line via webex conferencing.

Time: 11:50 am to 1:00 pm Registration links for our events are at: http://sites. ieee.org/rochester/. Vtools# is 234897

The RES website (www.roceng.org) has a calendar of events for this month's meetings and meetings that are received or updated after print deadline. Please refer to the website for updated information. If you wish to be listed in the calendar please send details to res@frontiernet.net 24 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Annual 18-Hole Scholarship Golf Tournament

Place: Webster Golf Course – East Course, 440 Salt Road, Webster, NY 14580 Time: Registration, lunch, and social hour from noon to 1:15 pm; Shotgun start at 1:30 pm. Dinner will be served following the tournament.

Cost: Four-person Scramble Format. $95/person includes lunch, driving range, 18 holes, cart, dinner and drink tickets.

Registration: To register or sponsor a hole, contact Josh Rodems, 585-232-5135 or jrodems@bergmannpc.com.

Reservations and payment due by August 28, 2020.

Website: https://sections.asce.org/rochester.

Support Your Affiliate Attend a Meeting continuing education calendar | engineers' calendar

Saturday, September 12

International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Annual Banquet Meeting

Wednesday, September 16 p 36

Speaker: TBA Place: It was originally planned to be held at Cornell’s Statler Hotel, however, it will nowbe virtual.

Time: 12:30 pm Comments: More information will be available as we get closer to the event, please contact Teresa Froncek, INCOSE FLC President, bears04@frontiernet.net.

Monday, September 14

Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) p 31 Annual Buffalo and Rochester Joint IES Golf Outing

Place: Stafford Country Club, 8873 Morganville Road, Stafford, NY 14143 Time: Shotgun start at noon; Lunch served starting at 11:00 am.

Online registration will soon be available at www.iesrochester.org

Monday, September 14

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) TBD

p 38

Wednesday, September 16 p 27

Lab Safety Design Including Emergency Gas Shut Off Speaker: Joe Marohn, Emerson Swan Place: At print time this tentative meeting will either be held at Valicia’s Ristorante or via webinar.

Time: Noon Reservations: ASPE will let the members know details as soon as they are available. www.aspe.org.

engineers' calendar

p 28

A Review of the 2020 IS&T Electronic Imaging Symposium Speaker: Mojgan Rabbani Place: The meeting will be held online.

Time: 6:00 pm Reservations: To receive the Zoom invitation please email to: RochesterIST@gmail.com.

Tuesday, October 6

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) EXCOM Meeting

p 35

Place: On-line via webex conferencing.

Time: 11:50 am to 1:00 pm Registration links for our events are at: http://sites.ieee. org/rochester/. Vtools# is 237403

Thursday, October 15

International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)

p 36

Systems Engineering and Product Management

Place: Virtual Meeting. More information available soon and on the website: Rochester.ashraechapters.org.

American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)

Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T)

Speaker: Dr. Nancy Li, Director of Product-Edge Cloud Computing, Cox Communications Place: All meetings being held virtually until further notice.

Time: Meetings begin at 6:00 pm and run to approximately 7:30 pm Reservations: We use Globalmeet2 for our monthly meetings (GlobaMeet Join Details – Join as a GUEST).

Meeting details web address: https://incose.primeet.com/ INCOSE_GMTwo. Access number – 1-719-457-6209.

Guest passcode: 519 731 6920.

Tuesday, October 27

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)

p 35

2020 IEEE Rochester Section Joint Chapters Meeting

Place: On-line via webex conferencing.

Time: 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm Registration links for our events are at: http://sites.ieee. org/rochester/. Vtools# is 220441 The agenda is on the website along with speakers and session titles.

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 25

A Look at the Past...

A couple of pictures (1920's) that current President Greg Gdowski found in a scrapbook in the archives at the RES.

26 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

res...a look at the past

t

aspe news

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 27

Rochester Chapter

Society for Imaging Science and Technology Website: http://rochesterengineeringsociety.wildapricot.org/ISandT

Our meeting locations have changed and additional details will be available monthly. The September meeting will be held online. To receive the Zoom invitation for this program please email to RochesterIST@gmail.com.

Venue ideas requested - we are soliciting input regarding other possible venues for our meetings.

September 16, 2020 - 6:00 pm

Title: A Review of the 2020 IS&T Electronic Imaging Symposium Speaker: Mojgan Rabbani, Xerox Corportion Abstract The IS&T 32nd annual International Symposium on Electronic Imaging (EI) was held in January of this year in Burlingame, CA and consisted of 17 conferences. The 617 participants represented 31 countries and broad disciplines spanning industry, academia and government labs.

Since 1989, the diverse and comprehensive set of conferences of the EI Symposium have been widely considered a premier venue for learning from the leading world experts about the cutting edge technologies covering the entire electronic imaging ecosystem. Examples of application areas included stereoscopic displays, human and machine vision, security, mobile imaging, virtual reality, data analysis, imaging sensors, autonomous driving, and food and agricultural imaging. The symposium hosted 354 oral presentations, 31 interactive papers, 10 exhibitors, and 20 industry demonstrators. The technical highlights included three Symposium plenary presentations, 22 conferencespecific keynotes, 24 short courses, and an unprecedented 21 joint sessions.

In addition to being a regular attendee of the EI Symposium, I have been in charge of authoring the Symposium report for the IS&T Reporter for the past five years. In this talk, I aim to provide an overview of the Symposium events alongside its technical strengths and highlights. I would consider my talk successful if I could persuade any of my audience to attend the upcoming EI Symposium, which will be held virtually in January 2021!

28 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

Biography: Mojgan Rabbani received her M.S.EE from the ECE department of University of WisconsinMadison in 1983 and joined Eastman Kodak Company the same year. In the course of her 12 years at Kodak as an image scientist, she worked in a diverse set of departments such as Consumer Electronics, Imaging Science Research, and Commercial and Government Systems. She enjoyed working on exciting products such as the digital camcorder, digital cameras, the Kodak Still Video Transceiver System, Photo CD, Kodak Thermal Dye Sublimation printer, and developed algorithms for the enhancement of satellite images.

In 1995 she joined the ink jet development research of Xerox Corporation, her current employer. She has been closely involved as an image quality subject matter expert in the development of various ink jet platforms such as Thermal, Acoustic, Solid, and Piezo. She was a key member of the Xerox’s Women’s council for 4 years, which advised the Xerox Research management in recruiting and maintaining women scientists in STEM disciplines. She is Green Belt certified and holds five US patents.

She has been a regular participant at the IS&T Electronic Imaging Conference, and, for the past five years, has authored the EI Symposium report for the IS&T reporter.

is&t news

swe news

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 29

657 East Avenue, Rochestter, New York 14607 Dedicated to Professionalism in Engineering in the Interest of Public Safety and Welfare 2020-21 Officers: President Arthur Reardon, PE, President-elect Scott Wolcott, PE, Vice-President Michael O. Ritchie, PE, Secretary Martin Gordon, PE, Treasurer Chris Devries, PE, Membership Chair Michael O. Ritchie, PE Past Presidents: Chris Kambar, PE , David Roberts, PE, Directors: Barry J. Dumbauld, PE, Robert K. Winans, PE, Joseph Dombrowski, PE, Jim Drago, PE, Neal Illenberg, PE, Douglas R. Strang Jr., PE

COVID-19 STATE ACTIONS

NSPE is tracking and identifying executive orders and legislation related to Covid-19 and has created one-page printable reports for the majority of the states. For the entire United States click here: https://www.nspe.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-resources/covid-19-state-actions For NEW YORK, click here: https://www.nspe.org/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/c19/NewYork-C19.pdf These are all dynamic resources that NSPE continues to update on a daily basis, so please check back regularly for new/ additional information.

Access the information for Licensure (https://www.quorum.us/spreadsheet/external/XzccVELfzzrFQYyqEmxn/) Access the information for Small Business Legislative https://www.quorum.us/spreadsheet/external/GQuvKPGmWdIYzQPSUkaO/ Click here for more Resources: https://www.nspe.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-resources

2020 ENGINEERING SYMPOSIUM

The 2020 Engineering Symposium has been officially cancelled for 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. If you have already registered for the event, please email res@frontiernet.net and we will process a refund. Lynne will be processing checks monthly. Note: If you are registered and wish to keep your registration you do not have to do anything - you are automatically registered for the 2021 Symposium. Our goal is to host a great event in 2021 under better circumstances.

Thank you for your understanding and stay safe.

WHY GET LICENSED?

https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/why-get-licensed

Message from the MPES President

We will continue to utilize a virtual monthly meeting rather than meeting in person at RIT to minimize the possibility of Covid-19 transmissions to board members. Mathcounts, TEAMS, and the Symposium have all continued to evolve with many improvements along the way.

Several states have issued waivers for continuing education licensing requirements: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, New jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Some others, such as Wisconsin, have allowed an extension for the time frame in which continuing education credits can be earned. Be sure to check back regularly for updates on continuing education requirements as changes take place. In New York the changes that have been implemented can be found here: http://www.op.nysed.gov/COVID-19.html.

Dr. Arthur C. Reardon, P.E., President, MPES As always, we encourage active membership in the Monroe Professional Engineers Society. We are constantly striving to improve your membership but we always need more help. If you are interested in becoming an active member or have any questions, please email me at artreardon@gmail.com or contact MPES through our website at www.monroepes.org/contactus/.

Dr. Arthur C. Reardon, PE, President, MPES 30 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

mpes news

ies news

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 31

32 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

ea news

abcd news

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 33

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ieee news

ieee news

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 35

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incose news

terra news

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 37

Rochester Chapter

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Rochester ASHRAE website: rochester.ashraechapters.org

SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

President's Message In our new normal, we will not be having our kickoff Clam Bake event at Burgundy Basin this year.

Instead, we will have another virtual meeting! In an attempt to keep our membership engaged, we will continue to offer education credits for licensing/certification needs. Our website www.rochester. ashraechapters.org and Facebook (search ASHRAE Rochester) are the best resources for the latest meeting information as well as the latest contact list for our new year. Scott Edwards is working on filling our calendar of events. If you have any suggestions for the program, he can be reached at scott.g.edwards@jci.com.

The Chapter Regional Conference was to be held in Maine, but as is the trend, has been moved to a virtual conference. On the weekend of August 15th, the CRC holds training for various committee chairs as well as regional business meetings. A summary of the weekend will come in next month’s letter.

Thank you to all the volunteers who agreed to both join us and stay on for another year! I am looking forward to my tenure.

Michael Benedict ASHRAE Rochester Chapter President 2020-2021

The Rochester ASHRAE Chapter is currently scheduling monthly meetings for the 2020-2021 year.

For the fall months and due to the current pandemic, we will be hosting virtual presentations on the following dates:

o o o o

Monday, September 14th Monday, October 19th Monday, November 9th Monday, December 14th

More information will be available next month but we anticipate PDH approved presentations for each meeting. Save the dates!

38 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

ashrae news

d

s

Directory of Professional Services

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directory of professional services

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 39

Directory of Professional Services

Solving soils problems for over 40 years.

46A Sager Drive, Rochester, NY 14607 Tel: 585-458-0824 • Fax: 585-458-3323 www.foundationdesignpc.com

Advertising Rates and Membership Application is Available at www.roceng.org

Directory of Business Services Philip J. Welch

First Vice President - Investments

Wells Fargo Advisors Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC

Member FINRA/SIPC

40 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2020

200 Meridian Centre Blvd.

Suite 260 Rochester, NY 14618 Direct: 585-241-7546 Fax: 585-241-3986 Toll Free: 877-237-6201 philip.welch@wellsfargoadvisors.com

directory of professional services | director of business services

s

Affiliated Societies of the Rochester Engineering Society American Consulting Engineering Companies of New York President, David J. Meyer, 585-218-0730 Email: dmeyer@pathfinderengineers.com American Public Works Association Monroe County/Genesee Valley Branch Chairman, Peter Vars, PE Email: PVars@bmepc.com American Society of Civil Engineers, Rochester Section President, Joshua T. Rodems, PE, Bergmann, Rochester, NY. 585-498-7944.

Email: jrodems@bergmannpc.com American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Rochester Chapter President, Mike Benedict, mike@airsystemsbalancing.com. Email: ashraerocnews.com Website: rochester.ashraechapters.org

Association For Facilities Engineering, Rochester Chapter President, Matt Knights, Constellation Brands, Inc. Email: Matt.Knights@cbrands.com Electrical Association Executive Director, Karen Lynch Email: karen@eawny.com President, Russ Corcoran, Landmark Electric, 585-359-0800.

Email: russc@landmarkelectric.net.

Genesee Valley Land Surveyors Association President, Jared R. Ransom, LS 585-737-6881 Email: jaredransomls@gmail.com Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Inc., Rochester Section President, Rob Gleason Email: rgleason@cscos.com

American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Rochester Section Chairman, Joseph Lawson, joey@rocmarchforscience.org

Imaging Science & Technology, Rochester Chapter President, Bruce Pillman, 585-748-6006 Email: bruce.pillman@gmail.com

American Society of Plumbing Engineers, Rochester New York Chapter President, Jennifer Wengender, PE, CPD, Clark Patterson Lee, 205 St. Paul Blvd., Rochester, NY 14604. 585-454-7600.

Email: jwengender@clarkpatterson.com

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Rochester Section Chairman, Eric Brown Email: eric.t.brown@ieee.org

Website: https://www.aspe.org

Association for Bridge Construction and Design President, Michael D. Davidson, PE JM Davidson Engineering, DPC Email: mdavidson@jmdavidsoneng.com

Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, Rochester Chapter President, Poojith Kalluru, Alstom Email: poojith.kalluru@alstomgroup.com International Council on Systems Engineering, Finger Lakes Chapter President, Jack Riley Email: jackri2139@hotmail.com

Monroe Professional Engineers Society President, Arthur C. Reardon, PE Email: artreardon@gmail.com New York State Association of Transportation Engineers, Section 4 President, Paul J. Spitzer, PE, NYS DOT Region 4, Genesee Valley, 1530 Jefferson Road, Rochester, NY 14623. 585-272-4890.

Email: paul.spitzer@dot.ny.gov Website: www.nysate.org

New York Water Environment Association Inc., Genesee Valley Chapter (www.gvcnywea.org) President, Bill Davis, 585-381-9250 Email: william.davis@mrbgroup.com Sheet Metal & Air-Conditioning Contractor’s National Association-Rochester, Inc. Executive Director, Aaron Hilger 585-586-8030. Email: mzin@smacnaroc.org Society of Plastics Engineers, Rochester Section President, Brett Blaisdell Email: zippel@frontiernet.net Society of Women Engineers President, Marca J. Lam, RIT Email: mjleme@rit.edu Terra Rochester Finger Lakes Science & Engineering Fair Director, Harold R. Clark, PhD Email: tasasef@terraed.org Website: TerraFairs@terraed.org.

Corporate Members of the Rochester Engineering Society Bergmann (Enterprise) BME Associates CHA Consulting (Champion) Clark Patterson Lee Erdman Anthony Associates Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce (RBA) Champion) Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.

Hunt Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors, Inc.

Rochester Institute of Technology, Kate Gleason College of Engineering

IBC Engineering, PC (Champion)

Stantec

Kistner Concrete Products Inc.

TY-LIN International (Champion)

M/E Engineering, PC (Enterprise)

VJ Stanley

MRB Group (Champion) Optimation Technology, Inc.

IS YOUR COMPANY LISTED HERE? Call 585-254-2350 for information.

Passero Associates

affiliated societies & corporate members of the rochester engineering society

SEPTEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 41

PUBLISHED BY ROCHESTER ENGINEERING SOCIETY 657 EAST AVENUE ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14607

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IMPORTANT DATED MATERIAL Please do not delay

BE SURE YOU CONTACT YOUR AFFILIATE BEFORE ATTENDING ANY EVENTS! WITH THE COVID-19 CRISIS MANY EVENTS ARE BEING CANCELLED OR RE-SCHEDULED. WE HOPE EVERYONE STAYS SAFE AND HEALTHY! ~ RES Board of Directors

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