pittsburgh section bulletin - institute of electrical and
TRANSCRIPT
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 1 of 15
Pittsburgh Section
Bulletin March 2011 Volume 60, No. 3
Included in this issue:
Bob’s Bytes ........................................................................................................................................... 2
Wireless Without Batteries: Purely Passive Microwave Tags and Sensors .............................. 3
Advances In Robotic Automation: Present And Future Directions ............................................ 4
Text Retrieval Support for Concept Location in Software ......................................................... 5
Understanding and Managing Interference inWireless Networks ............................................. 6
Effects of Voltage Regulation on Transformer Loading Capability ............................................ 7
Model-Based Analysis of Human Postural Control ......................................................................... 8
Enabling Architectures for the Service Provider Network, Part 2 ........................................... 9
The Importance of Obtaining a PE License .................................................................................. 10
Mark Your Calendar: History and Award Dinner May 13th ........................................................ 12
Local Job Opportunity ..................................................................................................................... 13
IEEE WCET® Certification Program ............................................................................................. 14
Editor: Philip Cox, [email protected]; Contributors: Bob Brooks, Jason Harchick, Joe Kalasky, Mey
Sen, Dave Vaglia, Matthew Valenti, and Ramana Vinjamuri
All announcements for publication in a particular month’s bulletin are due to the Editor by the 20th of the previous month. The accuracy of the published material is not guaranteed. If there is any error, please
bring it to the Editor’s attention. The Section’s web site www.ewh.ieee.org/r2/pittsburgh has past issues
of the bulletin and lots of other useful information
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 2 of 15
Bob’s Bytes
February 18 marked the start of National Engineers
Week, and the IEEE Pittsburgh Section marked the
occasion as we do every year with our demonstration
table and the IndEEE Robot Car Race at the Carnegie
Science Center. National Engineers week is an
opportunity to celebrate the achievements and
accomplishments of engineers and engineering
professionals, and for all of us who are engineers to
consider and reflect on our impact on society and our
responsibilities.
On a more national level I will be attending the IEEE
USA Annual Meeting this year in Austin, TX, the focus
of which is “Engineering in Motion”. This should be a
good opportunity to gain some insight into
transportation technologies and the policy and
legislative forces that will potentially guide that
technology. As such, engineers have a voice in the
shaping of this policy. Look for opportunities in the
bulletin for programs on learning about grass roots
lobbying and making your voice heard.
Until next month
Bob Brooks - IEEE Pittsburgh Section Chair 2011
Section
Chair – Robert Brooks [email protected]
Vice Chair - Dr. Louis Hart [email protected]
Treasurer – Dr. Rin Burke [email protected]
Secretary - Dr. Jim Beck, [email protected]
Immediate Past Chair – Joe Cioletti PE, [email protected]
Awards Chair - Ralph Sprang, [email protected]
Webmaster – Gerry Kumnik, [email protected]
UpperMon Subsection
Chair: Dr. Natalia Schmid [email protected] (304) 293-9136; Treasurer/Secretary: Dr. David Graham [email protected] (304) 293-9692
Chapters
Communications Society – Co-Chairs: Phil Cox
[email protected] (724) 443-0566 and Dr. Ajay Ogirala [email protected]
Computer Society – Chair: Ralph Sprang, [email protected]
Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology/Electron Devices Societies – Drs. Louis Hart and Rin Burke
Engineering In Medicine & Biology Society Co-Chairs: Bob Brooks (see above), Dr. Zhi-Hong Mao [email protected] (412) 624-9674
Electromagnetic Compatibility Society Chair: Michael J. Oliver [email protected] (814) 763-3211
Power & Energy & Industry Applications Societies Chair: Dave Vaglia, [email protected]; Past: Mey Sen, [email protected] 412-373-0117
Magnetics Society – Chair: Dr. Jimmy Zhu, [email protected]
Nanotechnology Society - Chair: Dr. MinheeYun [email protected]
Robotics Society – Chair: Dr. Guy Nicoletti [email protected] (724) 836-9922
Signal Processing Society – Chair: Dr. Ramana Kumar Vinjamuri;,[email protected]
Society on Social Implications of Technology Chair: Joe Kalasky, P.E., [email protected] (724) 838-6492
Affinity Groups
GOLD – Chair: Jason Harchick [email protected]
Life Member – Chair: Bob Grimes, P.E. [email protected] (412) 963-9711
Women In Engineering – Chair: Dr. Rin Burke [email protected]
Committees
Consultants Network
Professional/Career Activities (PACE) Chair: Joe Kalasky, P.E. (see above)
Student Activities – Rajiv Garg, [email protected]
Membership Development – Dr. Karl Muller P.E., [email protected]
Publicity – Chair: Thomas Dionise, P.E. [email protected] (724) 779-5864
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 3 of 15
Wireless Without Batteries: Purely Passive Microwave Tags and Sensors
Speaker: Greg Durgin, Ph.D.
Date: Friday, March 4, 2011
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM
Place: Engineering Sciences Building (ESB), Room G102
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
RSVP: Matthew Valenti, [email protected]
Organizer: Upper Mon Subsection
Abstract: What may seem like science fiction may only be a few years away from reality: small,
passive wireless sensors capable of relaying data from over 100 meters away – without batteries,
solar cells, or any on-board power supply. This talk discusses how recent breakthroughs in
energy-harvesting, low-powered semiconductor devices, and backscatter communications are
converging to allow long-distance exchange of information technology. We will discuss basic
research results from Georgia Tech’s 5.8 GHz backscatter radio technology as well as its current
use in high-voltage sensors for realizing “Smart Grid”, localization, and sports telemetry
applications.
Speaker Bio: Gregory D. Durgin joined the faculty of Georgia Tech's
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering in Fall 2003 where he
serves as an associate professor. He received the BSEE (96), MSEE
(98), and PhD (00) degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University. In 2001 he was awarded the Japanese Society for the
Promotion of Science (JSPS) Post-doctoral Fellowship and spent one
year as a visiting researcher with Morinaga Laboratory at Osaka
University. In 1998 he received the Stephen O. Rice prize (with
coauthors Theodore S. Rappaport and Hao Xu) for best original
journal article in the IEEE Transactions on Communications. Prof.
Durgin also authored Space-Time Wireless Channels, the first
textbook in the field of space-time channel modeling. Prof. Durgin
founded the Propagation Group at Georgia Tech, a research group
that studies radiolocation, channel sounding, backscatter radio, RFID, and applied
electromagnetics. He is a winner of the NSF CAREER award as well as numerous teaching
awards, including the Class of 1940 Howard Ector Outstanding Classroom Teacher Award at
Georgia Tech (2007). He is a frequent consultant to industry, having advised many multinational
corporations on wireless technology.
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 4 of 15
Advances In Robotic Automation: Present And Future Directions
Speaker: Dr. Guy Nicoletti, University of Pittsburgh Greensburg Date, Time: 6:30 PM, Thursday, March 10, 2011, Light Refreshments will be served Place: Carnegie Mellon University, Doherty Hall, Room 1212 Sponsors: Robotics Society & Society for Social Implications of Technology Contact: Joe Kalasky [email protected] or 724-838-6492, Leave: Name,
Affiliation, email, and phone number. Open to Members and Non-Members. No Fee. RSVP by EOB Monday, March 7 - Early Registration is Appreciated (Last Fall this Presentation was postponed due to low registration prior to the deadline – Unfortunately an adequate response was received after postponement)
Abstract: Exciting new robots are being developed that will operate in environments different
from traditional industrial factories and/or research laboratories. Researchers around the world
are working to create robotic systems that can be integrated into our daily lives. This presentation
illustrates and describes such robotic prototypes that are already part of lives and environments,
namely: Telerobotics, Deep Sea Robotics, Space Robotics, Unmanned Space Flight, Human –
Robotic Interface, Robotic Perception and Robotic Education.
Introduction: Telerobotics is perhaps one of the oldest fields in robotics. Recent advances in
computing power and in communication have led to the emergence of new applications such as
telesurgery, semiautonomous telerobotics, live power line maintenance and others.
In contrast to the industrial robots first developed 50 years ago, to automate dirty, dull and
dangerous tasks, today’s developmental efforts are dedicated to meet the needs of a an ever
growing complex society.. One of these areas is in the Medical and Health-Care field, with
applications to Health-Care robotics, Surgical and Interventional robotics and Robotic – Assisted
Recovery and Rehabilitation. New insights into Robot and human intelligence have given rise to
the field of Cognitive Robotics that seeks to capture humanlike behaviors to expand knowledge
of both neuroscience and robotics. Finally, expert technologists and scientists are already
envisioning the future consisting of a Society of Robots: the trend shown by available marked
data seems to anticipate a future when personal robots will be so many and so ubiquitous that the
core scientific and technical issues might become those of robot – robot interaction.
Author: Guy M. Nicoletti is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Mechanical
Engineering at the Greensburg Campus of the University of Pittsburgh where he also received
pertinent M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. His research interests are in Digital Electronics, Control
Theory and Circuit Analysis. He is the author of numerous technical and research papers which
have been presented nationally and internationally at various professional symposia and
conferences. Dr. Nicoletti is a Life Member of IEEE and the Chair of the Robotic & Automation
Section of the Pittsburgh Chapter. He is also a member of the Computer, Computational Biology
& Bioinformatics, Control, Industrial Electronics, Medicine & Biology and Signal Processing
Societies of IEEE. He can be contacted at [email protected]
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 5 of 15
Text Retrieval Support for Concept Location in Software
Speaker: Andrian Marcus, Ph.D.
Date: Monday, March 14, 2011
Time: 4:00-5:00 PM
Place: Engineering Sciences Building (ESB), Room G102
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
RSVP: Matthew Valenti, [email protected]
Organizer: Upper Mon Subsection
Abstract: Concept (or feature) location in software is the process of identifying the parts of the
source code that correspond to a specific functionality. This process is a prerequisite to program
comprehension and is one of the most common activities undertaken by developers during
software evolution. We are proposing an approach to concept location in software based on
indexing the source code and additional data using Text Retrieval methods. This approach
allows users to formulate queries in natural language and obtain results in form of software
components related to the query.
One of the problems common to all concept location techniques is filtering and ranking the
results such that relevant parts of the source code are quickly identified by the developers. To
address this problem we propose three separate approaches, one that clusters the results of a
search using formal concept analysis, one that merges the results with execution traces, and one
where the search results are used in conjunction with software dependencies. The advantages
and disadvantages of each approach are discussed with respect to results obtained from empirical
studies on existing large software systems.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Andrian Marcus is associate professor in the Department
of Computer Science at Wayne State University in Detroit, USA. He
received his PhD in Computer Science from Kent State University, USA
in 2003. His research interests include software evolution, program
comprehension, and software visualization, focusing on the management
of unstructured information during evolution of large scale software
systems. Dr. Marcus served on the Steering Committee of the IEEE
International Conference on Software Maintenance (ICSM) between
2005-2008 and on the steering Committee of the IEEE International
Workshop on Visualizing Software for Understanding and Analysis (VISSOFT) since 2007. He
is the Program Co-Chair of the 17th IEEE International Conference on Program Comprehension
(ICPC 2009) and the Program Co-Chair of the 26th IEEE International Conference on Software
Maintenance (ICSM 2010). His research is currently funded through grants from the US
National Science Foundation, the US National Institute of Health, IBM, etc. Dr. Marcus'
publications earned a Best Dissertation Paper Award at the IEEE ICSM in 2004 and two Best
Paper Awards at the IEEE ICPC in 2006 and 2007 respectively. He is also the recipient of a
Fulbright Junior Research Fellowship in 1997 and the US NSF CAREER Award in 2009.
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 6 of 15
Understanding and Managing Interference inWireless Networks
Speaker: Venu Veeravalli, PhD, Professor Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering Director, Illinois Center for Wireless Systems (ICWS) University of
Illinios at Urbana-Champaign
Date: March 14, 2011
Time: TBD, contact Ramana Vinjamuri, [email protected] for details.
Place: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh
Sponsors: Signal Processing Society and Communications Society Chapters
The understanding of point-to-point wireless communications channels with fading and receiver
thermal noise is mature. Recent advances, particularly in the area of multiantenna
communications, have led to significant increases in the capacity and reliability of point-to-point
links. However, modern wireless networks are limited by interference from other links. While
the information theory for interference networks is still in its infancy, several techniques are
being explored in the research community for managing interference, while maintaining high
spectral spatial reuse efficiencies in these networks. These techniques include spatial user
separation, interference cancellation, user cooperation and relaying, dynamic spectrum access,
and interference alignment. The first half of this talk will be an overview of these techniques.
In the second half of this talk, we will discuss some of our recent results towards an
understanding of the information-theoretic capacity of interference networks. We first discuss a
partial solution to the capacity of the two-user interference channel in the weak interference
regime, a problem that has been open for more than thirty years. We also discuss new techniques
for exploiting transmitter cooperation in interference channels in optimal ways.
Bio: Venu Veeravalli received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992. He is currently a Professor
in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and a
Research Professor in the Coordinated Science Laboratory at the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was on the faculty
of the School of ECE at Cornell University before he joined
Illinois in 2000. He served as a program director for
communications research at the U.S. National Science Foundation
in Arlington, VA during 2003-2005. His research interests include
wireless communications, distributed sensor systems and
networks, detection and estimation theory, and information theory.
He is a Fellow of the IEEE, and a recipient of the IEEE Browder
J. Thompson Best Paper Award and the U.S. Presidential Early
Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 7 of 15
Effects of Voltage Regulation on Transformer Loading Capability: From the Users Perspective
Speaker: Jeffrey C. Wright, P.E., Pennsylvania Transformer Technology, Inc.
Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Time: Social 6:30 PM, Program 7:00 PM
Place: Westinghouse Energy Center
4350 Northern Pike, Monroeville, PA 15146
RSVP: Required to Dave Vaglia ([email protected]) by March 9, 2011 with each
attendee’s Name, Affiliation, email, and phone number. If you would like to receive PDH, please
bring a copy of this announcement for verification of your attendance. A non-Member who
would like to receive PDH is required to pay $10 to IEEE Pittsburgh Section. A Member who
would like to receive PDH is required to show membership ID.
Organizers: Power & Energy Society/Industrial Applications Society
Abstract: Voltage regulation can have a significant effect on the loading capability of a power
transformer. Under certain conditions, the measured kVA can differ from the effective kVA seen
by the unit. The magnitude of this difference depends on the impedance of the unit, the power
factor of the load, and the location of the equipment measuring the load.
During periods of heavy loading, if the effective kVA is significantly greater than the measured
kVA, the transformer could unknowingly be loaded beyond its nameplate rating. During
contingency events, the effective load could exceed established limits resulting in unacceptable
temperatures and possible failure of the transformer.
Several sample cases are presented to illustrate the conditions when this can occur. Effects are
analyzed for typical substation transformers with and without Load-Tap-Changing capabilities.
Speaker: Mr. Wright is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Pennsylvania, and a
member of the Power and Energy Society of the IEEE. He obtained his Bachelor of Science
Degree in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1976. Jeff joined
McGraw-Edison Company upon graduation where he worked as a Power Transformer Design
Engineer and Supervisor for 18 years. From 1994 through 2008 Jeff has held various engineering
and consulting positions in the transformer industry with ABB Power T & D Company, Qual-
Tech Engineers, Weidmann-ACTI, and Allegheny Power. He is presently employed as a Design
Engineer for Pennsylvania Transformer Technology, Inc. in Canonsburg, PA.
DIRECTIONS TO WESTINGHOUSE ENERGY CENTER
From Pittsburgh take Interstate 376 East (Parkway East). Take Exit 84A to Monroeville. Cross
Business Rt 22 at the traffic light and proceed on Rt 48 South (Moss Side Blvd) approx ½ mile
(two traffic lights). The 2nd
traffic light is at a 4-way intersection with an Exxon station on the
right. Turn left onto Northern Pike. Proceed approx 0.2 miles and turn right at the 1st traffic light
onto Westinghouse Dr. Travel 0.7 miles (past the guard stand) to the 3 flags where the building’s
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 8 of 15
main entrance is located. Parking in the evening will be plentiful. Use the main entrance and
check with the security guards inside. You will be directed to the proper room for your meeting.
From the PA Turnpike, take Exit 57 (Monroeville). After the toll plaza, get in the left lane to get
on Business Rt 22 West. At the first light, turn left onto Rt 48 South (Moss Side Blvd) and
follow the above directions.
Model-Based Analysis of Human Postural Control
Speaker: Patrick Loughlin, PhD, Professor, Department of Bioengineering, Department of
Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh
Date: March 18, 2011
Time: 11:30 to 12:00 – Refreshments; 12:00 to 1:00 - Presentation
Place: 360 Benedum Engineering Hall, University Of Pittsburgh
Presenters: Signal Processing and Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society Chapters
Abstract: For most of us, standing upright is a skill we acquire very early in life, and don't think
much about unless we develop a balance disorder or are injured by a fall, the likelihood of which
increases in elderly adults. For example, disorders of the vestibular system and dizziness are one
of the most common complaints of elderly persons. Falls can be a very serious consequence of
balance disorders, particularly in the elderly where hip fractures due to falls are common and
debilitating, with significant associated costs that are projected to increase if effective
interventions are not found. Thus, an understanding of human balance function (or postural
control) and identification of the causes of and treatments for various balance disorders could
have a great impact on public health. This talk will discuss an engineering systems analysis
approach to the study of human balance, through experiments and model development, and the
insights that such an approach has provided over the years. Differences in balance function in
young versus older adults will be discussed, as will the development and analysis of a
vibrotactile balance prosthesis.
Bio: Patrick Loughlin is a professor of Bioengineering, and Electrical
& Computer Engineering, at the University of Pittsburgh, which he
joined in 1993. He has made contributions to signal processing and
bioengineering, including the development and application of
nonstationary signal processing methods (especially time-frequency
distributions); analysis and modeling of human postural control;
control of inhalation anesthetic delivery; and development of a physical
model of anesthetic uptake, for which he holds two US patents. Prof.
Loughlin is Associate Editor and member of the editorial board for the
IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering; past chair of the signal
processing chapter of the IEEE (Pittsburgh Section); and member of
the technical committee on acoustic signal processing of the Acoustical
Society of America. He is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological
Engineering (AIMBE), the Acoustical Society of America (ASA), and the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 9 of 15
Enabling Architectures for the Service Provider Network, Part 2
Speaker: David J. Malfara, Sr., President and CEO, ETC Group, LLC
Date: Thursday, March 31, 2011
Time: Pizza: 6:00 PM, Talk: 6:30 PM
Place: University of Pittsburgh, School of Information Science, 135 Bellefield Ave., first
floor conference room 1A04 (opposite the elevators)
Sponsors: Communications Society and University of Pittsburgh
RSVP: to Philip Cox, [email protected].
Abstract: This is a continuation of last month’s lecture, focusing on the control layer. Today's
Service Providers are challenged with the dual task of evolving their legacy network to that of a
“Next Generation” network (NGN) and rolling out new, revenue generating features across that
ever-evolving network. In this session, we will explore evolutionary advancements in
technology at virtually every layer of the OSI reference model and view the ways in which
Service Providers are attempting to modify their network architecture and business framework in
order to readily adopt these advancements as quickly as they emerge. We’ll review current
advancements in Service Provider Access, Aggregation and Transport network technologies as
well as ways in which Applications can be quickly and efficiently deployed using an IP
MultiMedia Subsystem (IMS) approach.
Bio: Mr. Malfara is President and CEO of ETC Group, a
business management and engineering consulting
company which leverages its significant experience in
the management, operation and deployment of a wide
range of emerging technologies and business practices
used to support the evolving business models of
telecommunications service providers. Mr. Malfara
directs all strategic business/business line creation,
modeling, planning & design as well as development,
adaptation and deployment of next-generation
technologies and networks for the company’s
carrier/service provider clients.
Prior to founding ETC Group, LLC, Mr. Malfara served as President/CEO of Remi
Communications, a service provider offering broad-ranging communication and IMS-based
application services, over its Carrier Ethernet, QoS-based network infrastructure, throughout the
Northeast US. Prior to founding Boathouse and Remi, he was the founding President of Z-Tel
Network Services, Inc. In 2001, Z-Tel Network Services, Inc. was one of the largest consumer-
based CLEC in the U.S., achieving annualized revenue of nearly $300 Million, with more than
340,000 subscribers, prior to his departure.
In 1979 Mr. Malfara co-founded of one of the first third-tier long distance carriers, Vector
Communications, Inc. He has served in engineering and management positions at National
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 10 of 15
Computer Corporation, Honeywell Information Systems, and GTE Telenet. In 1983, Mr.
Malfara formed Pennsylvania Alternative Communications, Inc., a nationwide long distance
telephone company which he later sold to LCI International (Qwest). In 1995, Mr. Malfara co-
founded Pace Network Services, which became the largest supplier of SS7 connectivity to the
Interexchange Carrier market with over 100 carrier-customers prior to its sale to ICG Telecom
Group, Inc. in 1996.
Mr. Malfara has addressed telecommunications issues before members of the U.S. Congress and
Administration as well as state and federal regulatory agencies and legislative bodies. He served
for more than 10 years as a Director of COMPTEL (The Competitive Telecommunications
Association, www.comptel.org) and chaired the association’s Technology Task Force. He is a
member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the IEEE Standards
Association. He also sits on the Executive Advisory Boards of multiple service providers.
The Importance of Obtaining a PE License
Speaker: Joseph M. DeSalvo, P.E.
Date: Thursday, April 14, 2011
Time: Social 6:30 PM, Program 7:00 PM
Place: Westinghouse Energy Center
4350 Northern Pike, Monroeville, PA 15146
RSVP: Jason Harchick, [email protected] or Dr. Kal Sen, P.E., [email protected] by
April 7, 2011
Organizers: Power & Energy Society/Industrial Applications Society and Graduates of the
Last Decade
This talk is for Engineers who want to become Professional Engineers and those that are
Professional Engineers. Licensure for engineers is important to the engineer, to the public, to
employers, and to the profession. We have invested a lot of time and money to obtain our
education and work experience. Becoming a licensed PE is an insurance policy that will help us
protect our career, our employment security, and the safety and welfare of the public.
The speaker will discuss many reasons and benefits for being a PE including: (1) it is a legal
necessity, (2) it improves our employment security, (3) it provides opportunities for
advancement, and (4) it is for personal satisfaction.
The presentation will cover the process and qualifications for licensure/registration. It will
describe the specifications and formats of the PE exams and advise how to best prepare for FE
and P&P exams.
The current Pennsylvania registration law, Act 25 of 2010, mandates PEs licensed in
Pennsylvania must complete 24 Professional Development Hours, PDHs, of continuing
education in each two-year renewal cycle as a condition of license renewal. The Engineer board
CE goes into effect for the 2009-2011 Renewal Cycle. 24 PDHs must be completed by
September 30, 2011. However the board has granted a moratorium from disciplinary action
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 11 of 15
provided any and all CE credits short of the mandatory 24 credits are completed by April 1,
2012. Included in this presentation will be information on how to gain PDHs, the activities
acceptable to earn PDHs, the conversion process from CREDITS and CEUs to PDHs, and future
changes to the state registration laws in regards to exemptions, continuing education, minimum
requirements of education and experience, and reciprocity of registration among the states.
We have limited control over our work environment and our employer's goals. However we do
have some control over our education, our life experiences, and whether or not to be a PE. Being
a Professional Engineer, adhering to the Code Of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct, and
making Continuing Professional Competency a part of our lifestyle will be the ingredients
needed to protect our job and engineering career.
Speaker: Joe DeSalvo is a Professional Engineer with degrees in
Electrical Engineering (Pitt) and Industrial Management (Carnegie
Mellon). He is a Senior Life Member of the IEEE and is presently
on the adjunct faculty of Pennsylvania State University where he
teaches FE (EIT) and P&P(PE) review courses and several
engineering and economics courses in the Advanced Power
Engineering Program. Mr. DeSalvo is retired from Allegheny
Power where as Manager of Substation and Methods Standards, he
had responsibility for substation designs and industrial engineering
studies for three operating companies serving five states.
He has served on the Board of Directors of IEEE and over 60 positions at all levels during the
last 45 years. He was Chairman of Pittsburgh PES Chapter when it received an “Outstanding
PES Chapter award.” He is a past Chairman of Pittsburgh Section and a past Director of Region
2. He received the IEEE Centennial Medal of Honor in 1984. In addition to IEEE activities, Mr.
DeSalvo is a senior member of the IIE and a member of Eta Kappa Nu and Sigma Tau Honorary
Societies.
The FE Review Course
As a service to our community, the IEEE Pittsburgh PES/IAS Chapters in partnership with Penn
State New Kensington plan to sponsor a 26-week long FE Review Course starting in April 2011
so that the trainees will be prepared to take the FE exam in October 2011. To become a PE one
must pass two exams: Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam – referred to as the EIT Exam
and Principles and Practice of Engineering (P&P) Exam – referred to as the PE Exam. Our local
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 12 of 15
expert Joe M. DeSalvo, P.E., who has been teaching Penn State Continuing Education classes for
over 45 years, will teach these classes. We can project that the cost will be $950 per person if
there are 10 participants in the class; books are separate and run approximately $150 for the three
books used: FE Review Manual, FE-Supplied Reference Handbook, and NCEES FE Other
Disciplines Sample Questions and Solutions Manual. The classes are scheduled for Tuesday,
April 19, 2011 to October 11, 2011 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at 1 Monroeville Center, Monroeville,
PA 15146. Seating is limited to 20. If we have 20 participants enrolled prior to the start of the
first class, a $150 discount will be given. If you are interested, please contact Nancy Miller,
Continuing Education Representative, Penn State New Kensington, 3550 Seventh Street Road
Route 780, Upper Burrell, PA 15068. Phone: 724-334-6014, Fax: 724-334-6110, Cell: 724-
331-4985, E-mail: [email protected], Campus Website: www.nk.psu.edu. Deadline to register is
April 15. You may attend an information session titled “The Importance of Obtaining a PE
License” on April 14. The speaker will discuss many reasons and benefits for being a PE
including: (1) it is a legal necessity, (2) it improves our employment security, (3) it provides
opportunities for advancement, and (4) it is for personal satisfaction. Details are in the April
bulletin of the IEEE Pittsburgh Section.
Mark Your Calendar: History and Award Dinner May 13th
This year’s dinner will include a talk by Georges F. Montillet on “The life of Nikola Tesla,
and its inventions. A man out of his time. The Wizard of the West”. See next month’s
bulletin for details.
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 13 of 15
Local Job Opportunity
RF, Wireless Communications, Network Engineer
The Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) is one of the most technologically advanced mining health and safety research laboratories in the world. We are a division of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The OMSHR is seeking a highly qualified technical person for a full-time position in the Electrical and Machine Systems Safety Branch. The branch is currently working on a number of research projects related to enhancing underground coal mine wireless communications and electronic tracking. We seek an individual with a demonstrated record of achievement in RF engineering, wireless communications, or network design and evaluation. This person will be a strong technical leader as well as an individual contributor. Exceptional writing and oral presentation skills are required. A minimum of an MS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field is required.
The position is in the 180-acre Pittsburgh, PA campus. Pittsburgh is a modern metropolis that is rich in culture, history, sports, and education and is noted for affordable, low cost of living and award-wining schools. Pittsburgh has been rated as the ‘most livable city in the United States’ by Places Rated Almanac.
If you would like to learn more about this position, contact [email protected].
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin, March 2011 Volume 60 No. 3 Page 14 of 15
IEEE WCET® Certification Program
Examination to be held 20 March to 16 April 2011
IEEE ComSoc Launches New Virtual and In-Person Training Programs to
Help Professionals Advance Their Knowledge of Wireless Communications
The next testing cycle for the IEEE Wireless Communication Engineering Technologies (IEEE
WCET®) Certification Program Examination has been announced as 20 March to 16 April 2011.
Introduced by the IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) in 2008, the IEEE WCET Program
is dedicated to certifying the expertise of wireless communications professionals worldwide. All
interested individuals are urged to visit the newly refreshed IEEE WCET website at www.ieee-
wcet.org for the latest program updates and to register for the next test period by the deadline of
4 March 2011.
In addition, IEEE ComSoc has announced several new virtual and in-person training programs
designed to help professionals expand their overall knowledge of wireless communications
engineering practices. The next in-person training sessions on “Practical Wireless
Communications Engineering” will be held March 7 at the International Wireless
Communications Expo (IWCE 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada and April 15 at the 30th IEEE
International Conference on Computer Communications (IEEE INFOCOM 2011) in Shanghai,
China.
Each full-day course offers high-level, end-to-end information on current wireless
communications technologies and practices from a combination of engineering, architectural,
operational, standards and management perspectives. Recommended for a broad audience of
professionals with an engineering background, the sessions were also developed to provide a
comprehensive overview of how different facets of the wireless field fit into the overall design,
implementation and operation of wireless networks. For more information please visit
http://www.comsoc.org/training/in-person-training.
From March 21 – 25, 2011, IEEE ComSoc will also offer a five-day intensive virtual course on
wireless communications engineering designed to cover technology basics as well as offer a
comprehensive review of RF engineering, propagation, antennas, and signal processing; wireless
access technologies; network and service architecture; network management and security;
facilities infrastructure; agreements, standards, policies and regulations; and fundamental
knowledge. These are the seven technical areas on which the WCET program is based.
Additional course details and registration information can be found at
http://www.comsoc.org/training/online-training.
IEEE Pittsburgh Section Bulletin January 2011 Volume 60 No. 1 Page 15 of 15
2011 Calendar – Meetings of IEEE Pittsburgh Section Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec
Executive
Committee
20
Panera,
Wilkins
Twp.
17
TBD
17
Panera Bread
Wilkins
21
Panera Bread
Wilkins
19
Panera Bread
Oakland
16
Panera
Miracle
Mile
21
TBD
18
Panera Bread
Oakland
15
TBD
20
WVU
Section 19
Eng. Week
13
History
Dinner
Communic
ations
3
Network
Arch.
31
Network Arch
14
Wireless
Computer
EMBS 18
Brain-
Computer
Interface
18
Human
Posture
EMCS
PES/IAS 19
Capacitors
23
Storage &
Hydro
16
Voltage Reg.
14
PE License
13
History
Dinner
Magnetics
Robotics 10
Advances in
Robotics
Sig.
Processing
18
Brain-
Computer
Interface
18
Human
Posture
14
Wireless
CPMT/ED
Social Impl
Technology
10
Advances in
Robotics
Upper Mon 28
Cyber
Attacks
4
Wireless
14
Software
Women in
Eng’ing
Life Mem.
GOLD 14
PE License
PACE 19
Legislative
Student Act