Please join Exponent and Vertex's team of engineers
and experts for an afternoon of CLE sessions followed by Cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres.
November 1st, 1-5pm CLE Sessions
Reception from 5-7pm
Attend any or all CLEs that interest you.
Union Station Denver
Applied for Four General Hours of CLE Credit
Valet Parking Covered by Vertex & Exponent
(please pull up to valet in front of Union Station on Wynkoop)
Free to any registrant and attendee!
TRACK 1: Construction and Property Claims
1:00-2:00pm
Where's the Water? Techniques in Evaluating Sources of Water & Its Impact on Foundations, Slopes, and Retaining Walls, taught by Dr. CJ Coccia, Ph.D., PE.
The introduction of water can have significant and costly impacts on foundation movement, and failure of slopes and retaining walls. This course presents innovative techniques used to evaluate sources of subsurface and surface water and an overview of the impact of water on foundations, slopes, and retaining walls.
2:00-3:00pm
HVAC Systems and Managing Indoor Humidity, taught by Dr. Nathan Mayercsik, Ph.D. PE, and Paul Bennett, PE, CBIE.
Proper HVAC system design and operation is critical to indoor air quality and occupant comfort. Poor indoor air quality can affect occupant health as well as cause damage to the building itself. This course presents the basics of HVAC system design and case studies of HVAC system failures and associated building damage. This course also presents case studies where Exponent's analysis has shown that HVAC design itself was not responsible for construction errors.
3:00-4:00pm
Cost Estimating Basics in Construction Defect Matters - Best Practices and Key Considerations, taught by Ryan Phillips, PE, CCM, CEP, LEED AP, CDT.
There are a variety of methods used by estimators to prepare cost of repair estimates - some more effective than others. This presentation will discuss a variety of estimating methods to obtain what most closely resembles the fair market value for a given scope of work within a construction defect scenario. Topics discussed will include scope review, quantity takeoffs, cost estimating software, contingency, contractor fees, professional (design fees) and best practices for thorough and complete estimating. Key questions to ask during depositions will also be discussed at each topic to better understand and/or expose the basis of an estimate and its shortcomings or benefits.
4:00-5:00pm
Human Factors and Premises Liability, taught by Dr. Ben Lester, Ph.D., and Paul Bennett, PE, CBIE.
Human factors is a field of research in which the psychological, and biological characteristics of the human are examined with respect to how these abilities operate in, and interact with the environment. Applying human factors expertise to premises liability can inform topics encountered in slip, trip, and fall incidents, including visibility, awareness, pedestrian behavior and decision-making, design, and safety. In this presentation, understanding how and why human behavior and mental states precipitate slip, trip, and fall events will be discussed along with relevant building code standards.
TRACK 2: Vehicle Accidents, Materials & Fracking
1:00-2:00pm
Forensic aspects of driver perception and response, taught by Dr.Young Bui, Ph.D.
In order to address causation and liability in accidents involving vehicles, its helpful to have an understanding of the many factors that can influence the behavior of vehicle operators. The presentation will discuss the roles of visual perception, environmental conditions, attention, expectancy, and response on driver performance.
2:00-3:00pm
Characterization and Response of Passenger Vehicles and ATDs in Low- to Moderate-Speed Impacts: A discussion of vehicle movement, deformation and energy dissipation, occupant movement, loading, and injury mechanics, taught by Jason Skiera, PE, Janine Smedley.
Low to moderate speed motor vehicle accidents comprise the majority of vehicle crashes that occur on our nation's roadways and highways. Despite the minor nature of these events, occupants may claim debilitating injury to body regions such as the head, neck or back. To further investigate these types of claims, Exponent has conducted full-scale vehicle crash testing using late-model passenger vehicles resulting in delta-Vs between 3 and 12 mph. The vehicle response data and occupant injury potential were assessed, and on and off-board real-time and high-speed video was analyzed. Overall, the magnitudes of occupant loading were low and the injury metrics represented a minimal risk of serious injury.
3:00-4:00pm
Scientific Tools in Litigation Case Studies, taught by Dr. Kaitlin Spak, Ph.D., PE, and Dr. Shane Kennett, Ph.D., PE, CWI.
Litigation often relies on the opinions of experts, but what do experts rely on? This seminar presents litigation case studies from mechanics and materials engineers where the experts used specialized technology, such as scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam sectioning, energy dispersive spectroscopy, data acquisition, accelerometers, x-ray imaging, and computed tomography scanning to test opposing expert theories, witness statements, determine causal factors, and demonstrate important aspects of the case to the judge or jury. Additionally, some common pitfalls and aspects to look for in an opposing expert's approach will be addressed through the case studies and discussion.
4:00-5:00pm
Coexistence of Communities and Fracking, taught by Dr. Nicoli Ames, Ph.D., PE, and Dr. Brun Hilbert, Ph.D., PE.
As the north Denver metro area expands into regions of oil and gas production, conflict between industry, developers, and the community has increased. We will present an informational session on oil & gas extraction in Colorado, including the process of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", to enhance production. We will discuss the layout of a hydraulic fracturing site, typical operations performed there, what happens underground when a well is hydraulically fractured, and surface facilities for production operations. We will also briefly summarize American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practices and Colorado Regulations as the relate to the oil and gas operations and the surrounding residential communities.