Presentation reflection

I feel that my presentation on the 5th of November was good but not perfect. I was brimming with confidence during my presentation, and I also enjoyed being the center of attention. However, there were a few critical mistakes which I made.

Firstly, I could have stood at a different spot where I would be facing the audience without turning my head too often. This is the first step to a good presentation, standing at the correct spot! I also feel that because of my bad position, Diyannah and Nurul could not hear me clearly.

Secondly, the most important mistake is the lack of selling the idea. I feel that my team and I could have prepared a richer content for the audience. I initially assumed that we were selling the idea, but I was naive to think so.

Thirdly, I did not provide enough eye contact towards my audience. As mentioned by two of my friends, I only glanced and did not focus on individuals from time to time. By using this style of presentation, I could have a more persuasive persona.

Lastly, as a group, we could have answered the audience immediately even if we did not know how to answer. What we could have said was 'We will get back to you on this.'. I felt like a sitting duck when we could not provide a proper reply towards the audience.

As the presentation content is similar to the technical report, I have to put in more effort in constructing a report that will entice the reader to read on and consider our solutions. A major content change would be needed to refine the technical report.

Looking at my comments from my classmates, I have a long way to go to achieve perfection. I have so many regrets, but I will learn from my mistakes and move on. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped my team reflect and grow by providing construction criticism.

Peace!

Reader Response Draft 3

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shared that Envision is a holistic rating system which acts as a global reference for all types of infrastructure. Envision is the brainchild of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and the Zonfnass program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Nelson mentioned that Envision offers a triple bottom line approach, which focuses on people, profit and the planet. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase, which covers the entire cycle of the project. In addition, projects are graded based on these 5 aspects: Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW).

I believe that organizations should consider Envision for their existing or new infrastructure projects as the benefits of using the triple bottom line approach far outweigh the potentially high initial costs in terms of sustainability.

As mentioned above, projects that incorporate Envision in the design phase enjoys triple benefits i.e., people, profit and planet.  For the “people” benefit, it provides a safe environment for workers and helps to create jobs as engineers are required to run and manage the system.  “Profit” can be measured by the costs savings through reduction in resource usage e.g. energy.  As for “planet”, it promotes a better and sustainable environment.

The first reason to use Envision is the people factor. The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery (WJHSFH) designed their project to improve visitors’ safety which enhances their learning experience (William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, 2015). Jobs were created which also helped to improve the quality of life for people. Another project that used Envision was the construction of the Nuevo Necaxa-Ávila Camacho Highway.  This project had detailed safety measures taken, such as signs indicating the maximum speed for vehicles, evacuation routes and precautionary measures (Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico, 2015, pp. 36, 39). Moreover, vaccine shots were given to the workers to ensure that they were healthy for work. These measures taken created a safe environment for the workers, thus enhancing productivity (Haberman, 2013). Therefore, with Envision focusing on the people factor, organizations and workers will be able to benefit greatly.

Secondly, Envision helps organizations to save cost by using sustainable designs. The WJHSFH used sustainable designs for water re-circulation. They achieved a 95% reduction in water usage as only 5% of water was required to be heated. This helped to reduce water usage thus reducing cost (HDR, Inc., 2013; William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, 2015). Furthermore, with the Envision systems in place, unexpected breakdowns and loss of manpower hours were minimized. Additionally, the Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway project saved cost by prohibiting night activity and used solar panels to power the detour signs (Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico, 2015, pp. 36, 39). With this in mind, Envision aids organizations to optimize the available resources whilst saving cost.

Lastly, Envision helps organization to tackle environmental issues and promotes ways for a healthier and more sustainable environment. The brownfield site which WJHSFH was built on, was restored without contaminating river Ship Creek and damage to any cultural artifacts was prevented (Storm, 2013). Another project that benefitted from using Envision was the South L.A. Wetland Park. It was stated that the project used solar lighting to reduce energy consumption by 77%. Furthermore this wetland project was converted from its original brownfield state into a current urban park which upland plants contribute in restoring species biodiversity (Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, 2015). Consequently, using Envision helps to restore greenery and promote nature diversity.

In conclusion, Nelson (2015) was accurate when she mentioned that “The Envision rating system for sustainable infrastructure is the new international reference for best practices for all types of infrastructure”. I believe that Envision is a good tool for new projects as it aids engineers to progressively track and monitor their projects. In addition, by focusing on using the triple bottom line approach, organizations would be able to benefit much more over the high initial cost in terms of sustainability.

References

Haberman, M. (2013, December 19). A safe environment is a productive environment: Ensuring workplace safety and security. Omega hr Solutions, Inc.. Retrieved from http://omegahrsolutions.com/2013/12/4562.html

HDR, Inc.. (2013). First-ever Envision Project award, HDR-designed William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTuueSJvZTg

Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. (2015). South L.A. Wetland Park Receives Envision® Platinum Award. Retrieved 21 October 2015, from https://www.sustainableinfrastructure.org/news/wetland_award_013014.cfm

Nelson, D. (2015, June). Advancing sustainable infrastructure with Envision. Civil + Structural Engineer. Retrieved from http://cenews.com/article/10098/advancing-sustainable-infrastructure-with-envision

Nuevo Necaxa-àvila Camacho Highway - Mexico. (2015) (pp. 36, 39). Retrieved from http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=38832852

Storm, J. (2013). The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery – A marvel of modern science and art. Alaska Business Monthly. Retrieved from http://www.akbizmag.com/Alaska-Business-Monthly/October-2013/The-William-Jack-Hernandez-Sport-Fish-Hatchery/

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (2015). [PDF] Retrieved from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf

Inspire to be inspired

Hi everyone, thank you for coming to my blog. Prepare to be inspired by how I was inspired!

Allow me to shed a little light about my past. As a teenager, I was an adolescent child trapped in a man’s body. Because my parents loved me so much, they provided everything for me. I was grateful and thankful, but sometimes I took their provision for granted.

I remembered that at times, my attitude towards people were cold and insensitive. I did not care much about the people around me and that made me selfish. The word “I” began to revolve around me and I would always think of myself before others.

However, in the 4^th quarter of 2014, I joined Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) and had a great revelation. The pastor, Reverent Daniel Khong, spoke about life. He preached about what life is and he challenged all who were present to have a vision. I recalled hearing this quote from the bible “he will never leave you nor forsake you”.  “He” representing the almighty God. This quote gave me security, wisdom, strength and all that I could have possibly asked for.

I am extremely grateful to Rev. Daniel Khong for his words of wisdom as what he said changed my life, a 180 degrees. Now, I strive to have a passion for life instead of my previous selfish ambitions. I want to change and grow to fulfill my purpose in life. I was given life and I will make full use of it.

To end it off, I would like to challenge all you readers to find your purpose in life and your vision. What do you want to accomplish?

Reader's Response No.2 - Edited

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shared that Envision is a holistic rating system which acts as a global reference for all types of infrastructure. Envision is the brainchild of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) and the Zonfnass program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Nelson mentioned that Envision offers a triple bottom line approach which are people, profit and planet. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase which covers the entire cycle of the project. In addition, projects are graded based on these 5 aspects, Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW).

Much has been said about the benefits of Envision which is effective for new infrastructure projects as it helps to drive down costs and improve efficiency in the long term. Organizations should consider Envision for new infrastructure projects to gain the long term benefits. However Envision is unable to fully support the retrofitting of existing infrastructure as the processes are structured for new projects (Fast Fast Forward, n.d.).

Adding on to the benefits of incorporating Envision in projects, Tanyu (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) mentioned that we should consider the benefits of using sustainable designs and not merely focus on the initial costs as such an approach would benefit the company economically over the long term which in my opinion, makes economical sense.

The first company to use Envision is the “William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery”. It is stated in their brochure that due to the sustainable designs of water re-circulation, they achieved a 95% reduction in water usage as only 5% of water is required to be heated. In addition, their operation cost was reduced through consumption of less energy and resources. By using the Envision program, they were also able to achieve a reduction in reactive maintenance hours as the system provides a stringent process of monitoring the health of the equipment. With the Envision systems in place, unexpected breakdowns and loss of manpower hours are minimized. In addition, by creating a safe environment, workers’ productivity and visitors’ learning experience are enhanced. This demonstrates the effectiveness of adopting the Envision rating system in the project phase. For their effort, they were awarded the Envision Gold award.

However, there are limitations to what Envision can offer. According to Bishop, (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) organizations need to find ways to manage retrofitting their systems, reconfiguring structures and adopt best practices for deconstructing. If such cannot be achieved through Envision, organizations need to find ways to manage around these limitations so that they can continue to reduce operation and maintenance costs and improve sustainability.

To conclude, Envision is a good tool for new projects as it aids engineers to progressively track and monitor their projects. As mentioned above, projects that incorporate Envision in the design phase enjoys triple benefits i.e., people, profit and planet.  For the “people” benefit, it helps to create jobs as engineers are required to run and manage the system.  “Profit” can be measured by the costs savings through reduction in resource usage e.g. energy.  As for “planet”, it promotes a better and sustainable environment.

On a side note, how can organizations and individuals contribute to make sustainability a way of life for consumers and for themselves?  It is now time for responsible stewardship which organizations and individuals can play a part.  Some companies have started to source for raw materials that are obtained via sustainable sources and individuals can help by supporting these companies.

References

Nelson, D. (2015, June). Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision. Civil + structural Engineer. Retrieved from http://cenews.com/article/10098/advancing-sustainable-infrastructure-with-envision

Hardin, W. (2015, January 13). Can a Rating System Ensure Infrastructure Sustainability? Building and Construction. Retrieved from http://www.insights.globalspec.com/article/349/can-a-rating-system-ensure-infrastructure-sustainability

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (n.d.). William jack Hernandez sport fish hatchery [Brochure]. Retrieved from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/ knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf

Fast Fast Forward.  (n.d.). Envisioning Sustainable Infrastructure: An Interview with Tim Psomas. Retrieved from http://xlgroup.com/fast-fast-forward/articles/envisioning-sustainable-infrastructure-an-interview-with-tim-psomas

Additional Bibliography

Institute For Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI): Rating System. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.org/rating/

Our strategy for sustainable business. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/the-sustainable-living-plan/our-strategy/

Haberman, M. (2013, December 19). A Safe Environment Is a Productive Environment: Ensuring Workplace Safety and Security. Retrieved from http://omegahrsolutions.com/2013/12/4562.html

Reader's Response Draft No.2

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shared that Envision is a holistic rating system which acts as a global reference for every form of infrastructure. Nelson further stated that Envision offers a triple bottom line approach which are people, profit and planet. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase which covers the entire cycle of the project. In addition, Envision focuses on 5 aspects which are Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW). These 5 aspects are used as benchmark to grade each project. However, while Envision is able to provide comprehensive approaches towards sustainability, there are limitations to what the Envision rating system can offer. Therefore, organizations should be aware of the limitations of incorporating Envision.

The following is a case study of a project awarded with Envision, Gold. The first company to achieve an Envision award was the “William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery”. The William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery brochure states that due to the sustainable designs, they achieved a 95% reduction in water usage as only 5% of water is required to be heated. Therefore, by using Envision, William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery reduced their operation cost through consumption of less energy and resources.  The brochure further states that by using Envision, the company helps to contribute to the economy as more jobs are created.  The safety features of their facilities are enhanced. There is also the reduction in reactive maintenance as the system provides a stringent process of monitoring the health of the equipment.

With the Envision systems in place, unexpected breakdowns and loss of manpower hours would be minimized. In addition, by ensuring a safe environment, there would be an increase in workers’ productivity and visitors’ learning experience would be enhanced (Haberman, 2013).

Furthermore, organizations have looked towards Envision for economic advantages. Tanyu (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) mentioned that we should consider the benefits of using sustainable designs and not merely focus on the initial costs as such approach would benefit the company economically over the long term. Hence, organizations ought to start using sustainable designs to reap the benefits and they will reap cost savings in the long run.

However, there are limitations to what Envision can offer. In the design phase of every project, there are many considerations such as climate change, physical constraints, maintenance, etc. According to Nicholas Bishop (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015), Envision would need to find ways to manage retrofitting systems, reconfiguring structures and find the best practices for deconstructing. This would enable projects to further reduce operation and maintenance costs and improve sustainability.

In conclusion, I believe that Envision is a reliable tool which aids engineers to progressively track and monitor their projects. Moreover, projects that incorporate Envision in their designs help to improve sustainability which benefits the environment and aid the economy by creating jobs. However, it has its limitations as well and companies should look into separate processes where Envision is lacking, for example, retrofitting, to ensure efficiency to their operations.

On a side note, how can organisations and individuals contribute to make sustainability a way of life for consumers and for themselves?  It is now time for responsible stewardship which organisations and individuals can play a part.  Some companies have started to source for raw materials that are obtained via sustainable sources and individuals can help by supporting these companies. i.e. Unilever

References

Nelson, D. (2015, June). Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision. Civil + structural Engineer. Retrieved from http://cenews.com/article/10098/advancing-sustainable-infrastructure-with-envision

Hardin, W. (2015, January 13). Can a Rating System Ensure Infrastructure Sustainability? Building and Construction. Retrieved from http://www.insights.globalspec.com/article/349/can-a-rating-system-ensure-infrastructure-sustainability

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (n.d.). William jack Hernandez sport fish hatchery [Brochure]. Retrieved from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/ knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf

Haberman, M. (2013). A Safe Environment Is a Productive Environment: Ensuring Workplace Safety and Security. Retrieved from http://omegahrsolutions.com/2013/12/4562.html

Additional Bibliography

Institute For Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI): Rating System. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.ord/rating/

Our strategy for sustainable business. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/the-sustainable-living-plan/our-strategy/

Reader’s Response Draft No. 1

In the article “Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure with Envision”, Nelson (2015) shares that Envision is a global rating system for every form of infrastructure. It promotes end to end documentation from the design phase to the completion phase. The writer further describes that Envision has 5 general aspects and encompasses a 60 credit system with 4 award levels where 6 projects have received awards and completed third-party verifications. Furthermore, the writer noted that attaining memberships and ENV SP credentials can done through the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). While I agree that sustainability is important and Envision caters much in that area, we as individuals will need the right attitude and vision to commit ourselves to build and maintain a sustainable environment.

I believe that Envision is an extremely reliant tool which aids engineers in designing a sustainable environment for civilization. Envision focuses on 5 aspects: Quality of Life (QL), Leadership (LD), Resource Allocation (RA), Climate and Risk (CR) and Natural World (NW). Grading on these 5 aspects will encourage flexible designs to meet the needs of the population. The first company to achieve an Envision award was the “William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery”. As stated in the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery brochure, there was a 95% reduction in water usage and only 5% of energy is used for water heating. This is due to the sustainable designs in place. 

Furthermore, incorporating Envision has not only increased cost efficiency but improved the public’s quality of life by creating economic benefits, improving safety features and building design.

Adding on, organizations have looked towards Envision for economic advantages. Tanyu (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015) mentioned that we should consider the benefits of using a sustainable design and not only the costs. Therefore, projects using a sustainable approach would be able to cover the extra cost over the long run.

However, in the design phase of every project, there are many constraints to think about such as physical constraints, maintenance, climate change, etc. According to Nicholas Bishop (as mentioned in Hardin, 2015), Envision would need to find ways to manage retrofitting systems, reconfiguring structures and find the best practices for deconstructing. This would enable projects to further reduce operation and maintenance cost and improve conservation to the environment.

In conclusion, Envision is an extremely reliable system. Projects should incorporate Envision systems in their designs to improve sustainability. The benefits of applying a sustainable design using the Envision rating system would benefit both the environment and our economy. That being said, it takes two hands to clap and we as individuals will need to play our part in providing responsible stewardship towards planet Earth.

References

Winn Hardin (2015, January 13). Can a Rating System Ensure Infrastructure Sustainability? Building and Construction. Retrieved from http://www.insights.globalspec.com/article/349/can-a-rating-system-ensure-infrastructure-sustainability

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. (n.d.). William jack Hernandez sport fish hatchery [Brochure]. Retrieved September 24, 2015 from http://www.hdrinc.com/sites/all/files/assets/ knowledge-center/wjh-sport-fish-hatchery-brochure.pdf



Bibliography

Institute For Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI): Rating System. (n.d.). Retrieved September 24, 2015 from http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.ord/rating/

Mechanics Questions with Solutions

Hey guys!

I want to share something I found online. I believe its a treasure to most of us now.

Below is the link containing a plethora of  Mechanics questions with solutions!
Enjoy practicing and learning!

TIP: As I have forgotten where I downloaded the file from, please feel free to contact me if the link is down.

Hurrah!

Mechanics Questions Link