All four steel arch bridges were fully fabricated in Dartmouth and shipped by barge to the project site in Toronto, where they were unloaded and erected onto their final bearings. This presentation will focus on the transportation and erection of the two 56.1 m long fully fabricated steel arch bridges at Cherry Street North from Dartmouth to Toronto, while also outlining the methods and challenges associated with the transport and erect the other two bridges as well. Harbourside developed the procedures and designed the temporary works to load the bridge onto the barge, secure the bridge during transit, rotate the bridges on the barge after arriving in Toronto and finally lower the steel superstructure onto the permanent bearings. 

Engineering Connections: Strategies for Effective Professional Relationship Building

Networking in the engineering world requires strategic and nuanced approaches, similar to solving complex problems.  

This presentation will explore 10 proven tactics to enhance your networking success. From embracing the numbers game and crafting compelling openers to practicing active listening and leveraging mutual connections, you'll learn how to build professional relationships, and advance your career with confidence and precision. Integrating these techniques into your networking strategy will unlock opportunities for growth and collaboration, positioning you for sustained success in your personal life and professional career. 

In March 2024, I addressed three essential questions about generative AI that every engineer should understand: 1) How does it work? 2) What is it good at? 3) What should it never do? (You can find the recording on the Engineers NS YouTube channel.) 

Since then, I have worked directly with several clients one-on-one to implement AI in their processes, delivered numerous keynote presentations, and developed AI courses for Digital Nova Scotia, St. FX University, and Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia. Through these experiences, I have curated the best use cases and tools for engineers and knowledge workers. 

This presentation will feature live demonstrations of the latest technology, showing how it can save you hours every week with practical use cases I regularly utilize and have successfully implemented for others. There will be time at the end of the presentation to have your generative AI questions answered! 

Hot Topic Rapid Round!

Topics – 15 Tables Groups of 10 people

1. AI and Machine Learning in Engineering

Applications: AI is revolutionizing fields like civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering through predictive maintenance, optimization, and autonomous systems.

Rapid Innovation: Machine learning models are being deployed to detect faults in systems, improve design efficiency, and automate complex tasks.

2. Sustainable Engineering and Green Technologies

Energy Efficiency: Engineers are focused on designing energy-efficient systems and products, like electric vehicles, renewable energy sources, and smart grids.

Circular Economy: Designing products and systems that reduce waste and facilitate material recycling or reuse is a major engineering challenge.

3. Quantum Computing in Engineering

Next-Generation Processing: Quantum computing is pushing the limits of processing power for simulations, particularly in material science, cryptography, and optimization problems.

New Algorithms: Engineers are creating new algorithms and error-correcting methods to make quantum computers viable for practical applications.

4. 5G and Beyond (6G)

Network Expansion: Engineers are driving innovation in 5G network infrastructure, which promises faster data speeds, lower latency, and improved network capacity.

Edge Computing: With 5G, edge computing is becoming more prominent. It enables real-time data processing closer to the source and enhances IoT devices.

5. Autonomous Vehicles and Drones

Advanced Sensors: Engineers are refining LIDAR, radar, and other sensors to improve vehicle safety, navigation, and decision-making processes.

Regulatory Challenges: Autonomous vehicles also pose engineering challenges regarding safety, legal, and ethical standards.

6. Biomaterials and Biotechnology

Tissue Engineering: Engineers are developing biomaterials for organ repair and replacement, which can have enormous implications for healthcare.

Wearable Tech: Engineering advancements in biotechnology are leading to new health-monitoring wearables and implantable devices.

7. Cybersecurity in Engineering Systems

Protecting Infrastructure: As industries become more digitized, engineering systems like power grids, water supplies, and industrial systems are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Resilient Design: Engineers focus on building systems with security as a core design element, especially in IoT and smart city infrastructure.

8. Robotics and Automation

Cobots: Collaborative robots are becoming an essential tool in manufacturing and logistics.

AI Integration: Engineers are developing robots with advanced AI for use in healthcare and agriculture industries.

9. 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing

Prototyping: Rapid prototyping with 3D printing is shortening development cycles.

Mass Customization: Additive manufacturing is used for everything from custom medical implants to aerospace parts, pushing the boundaries of traditional manufacturing.

10. Space Exploration and Engineering

Mars Missions: Engineers are developing technologies for long-duration space missions, including propulsion systems, life support, and habitat structures.

Satellite Technologies: Smaller, cheaper satellites are transforming how we collect data on Earth and beyond.

11. Smart Cities and Urban Planning

IoT-Enabled Infrastructure: Engineers are designing intelligent cities with integrated sensors, data analytics, and IoT devices to optimize traffic flow, energy consumption, and public safety.

Sustainable Urbanization: Urban planners and civil engineers are developing solutions for green buildings, smart grids, and efficient public transportation to combat the growing environmental challenges of urbanization.

12. Hydrogen Economy

Clean Energy Source: Engineers are working on ways to produce, store, and transport hydrogen as a clean alternative to fossil fuels.

Fuel Cells: Hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles, industrial applications, and power grids are gaining traction as a critical component in the transition to renewable energy.

13. Energy Storage and Battery Technologies

Next-Gen Batteries: Engineers are developing new energy storage systems like solid-state batteries, which promise higher energy densities, faster charging, and longer lifespans than traditional lithium-ion batteries.

Grid Storage: Advancements in battery technologies are critical for stabilizing energy grids powered by intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar.

14. Nanotechnology and Materials Science

Nanomaterials: Engineers are developing materials at the nanoscale with unique properties for applications in everything from electronics to medicine.

Superconductors and Metamaterials: Advanced materials like high-temperature superconductors and metamaterials are being engineered for more efficient power systems, advanced communication devices, and electromagnetic cloaking.

15. Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

Smart Factories: Engineers are integrating AI, robotics, and IoT into manufacturing, creating fully automated, data-driven "smart factories" that are more efficient and flexible.

Digital Twins: The concept of digital twins—virtual replicas of