Author: CU Denver Engineering

We are the CU Denver College of Engineering and Applied Science, offering degrees in five disciplines: bioengineering, civil engineering, computer science and engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

Martinez named Haselden March MVP

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn Alumni, NewsLeave a comment

image002Lauren Martinez, a recent graduate of the construction engineering and management program, was named Haselden Construction’s March MVP. She was nominated by members of the UCHealth Longs Peak project team because of her tireless efforts assisting the entire team with quality assurance/quality control, punchlist, and general issues that come up every day on-site.

Haselden MVPs are nominated by their peers and selected based on the following combination of company values, entrepreneurial spirit, and core behaviors: Entrepreneurial Spirit, Action, Humility, Passion, Bravery, Adaptability and Vulnerability.

From the nomination letter: Lauren not only pioneered utilization of QR codes with BIM 360 at Haselden, she also worked diligently with the owner, design team, her fellow Haselden team mates, and the BIM 360 help desk to ensure the system flowed seamlessly. Due to her efforts, punchlist on this 220,000 SF building is being recorded and completed in record time. The UCHealth Haselden team has received numerous compliments from the owner and the design team regarding the efficiency and organization of the punchlist process, and this is due in large part to Lauren’s efforts.

Not only are the QR codes being utilized for punchlist, they will remain in place after turnover of the building so that the owner can walk up to a room, scan the QR code, and pull up relevant information regarding the equipment in the room and any QC, maintenance, or warranty issues within that space.

Congratulations!

 

Benninger and Yakacki awarded tenure

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn Faculty, NewsLeave a comment

The University of Colorado Board of Regents approved tenure appointments for two College of Engineering and Applied Science faculty:

  • Richard Benninger, bioengineering
  • Christopher Yakacki, mechanical engineering

In addition, the Regents approved the appointment of Martin Dunn as the new college dean (effective January 1, 2018), who will also join the mechanical engineering department.

Congratulations on this acheivement.

Richard Benninger
Christopher Yakacki

Marxhausen awarded NSPE Colorado 2017 College Educator of the Year

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn Faculty, NewsLeave a comment

0615172110aPeter Marxhausen, instructor in the Department of Civil Engineering, was awarded the National Society of Professional Engineers – Colorado 2017 College Educator of the Year. In addition to teaching at CU Denver, Marxhausen is a licensed professional engineer with Higgins & Associates Forensic Engineering Consultants and the City and County of Denver Building Department, which enables him to bring a real-world perspective to the classroom.

Congratulations on being recognized for your hard work and contributions to the college and university.

Regents approve Dunn’s appointment as new CEAS dean

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn NewsLeave a comment

Dunn HeadshotDenver (June 16, 2017) – The University of Colorado Denver announced today the appointment of Martin Dunn, Ph.D.  as dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Dunn, who was hired following a national search, will succeed Marc Ingber who is stepping down after serving as dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) for seven years and taking a faculty position in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dunn will assume the dean position in January 2018.

“Dr. Dunn will bring a new viewpoint to CEAS that directs academic scholarship toward creating and translating knowledge that broadly impacts both academia and industry,” said David Engelke, acting provost and dean of the Graduate School.

 

Dunn joins CEAS from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) where he is currently the associate provost for research.  In this role he designs, builds and manages the research and innovation enterprise for the university. He also directs the SUTD Digital Manufacturing and Design Research Centre.

Previously, Dunn has worked for the Boeing Company, Sandia National Laboratories and the National Science Foundation.  He also has held a faculty position at the University of Colorado Boulder since 1993 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

“The significance of universities – and in particular engineering colleges – has never been greater,” said Dunn. “At CU Denver I will champion experiential technical learning with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurial and global perspectives, holistically integrated with the development of human and social skills like creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking.  The CU Denver engineering experience will be continually contemporary and allow our students to differentiate themselves and stand out in the market.”

With his extensive background in academia, government and industry, Dunn will bring a rich perspective to CEAS. He will champion contemporary experiential learning with emphasis on entrepreneurial and global perspectives. He aims to support scholarship and partnerships that create and translate knowledge to have an impact both locally and internationally.

Stephen Gedney, professor and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering, will lead the college from July 1 until January 2018 when Dunn will begin his tenure as dean.

Connors receives faculty mentor award at RaCAS 2017

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn Faculty, NewsLeave a comment

Dan Connors 223Dan Connors, associate professor of electrical engineering, received one of three faculty mentor awards at the 2017 Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS). He was the only faculty from CU Denver to receive an award.

This year marked the first time RaCAS honored faculty from CU Denver and CU Anschutz for outstanding mentoring of student research. From 23 nominations, three recipients were picked based on the extent of their engagement with undergraduate and graduate students, their impact on research and creative activities, and the potential importance of their students’ work.

Congratulations, Dan.

Read more in CU Today.

CU Denver hosts international seminar in Santiago, Chile

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn Events, Faculty, NewsLeave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Planning transmission systems expansion: a review of good practices around the world

In July 2016, the Government of Chile passed a bill that radically modified the planning and operation of the Chilean electric power system. Among the various changes, the now Law 20.936 mandates that the planning of the transmission system expansion shall be performed by Chile’s “Comisión Nacional de Energía” (CNE), the equivalent of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the United States. Centralized planning of the transmission system expansion has been widely recognized around the world as a key enabler for the penetration of renewable energy, and for lowering prices for final users.

With funds from the Inter-American Development Bank, CNE hired CU Denver to conduct a study to identify ad-hoc methodologies and good practices to serve as a “toolbox” for the drafting of technical regulations that properly capture the spirit of Law 20.936.

A key milestone within the project was the hosting of an international seminar in Santiago, Chile to discuss transmission expansion planning processes elsewhere in the world. The event was held on April 10, 2017 at the SOFOFA Center and was attended by more than 150 local people, many of them CEOs of electric companies and high-ranking government officials. The conference brought together experts from Mexico, Brazil, and the United States.

Mr. Andrés Romero, CNE director, opened the seminar, followed by an overview of the project from the project PI, electrical engineering professor Fernando Mancilla-David. The event continued with keynote speeches from international experts, and various roundtable discussions about specific subjects within Law 20.936.

The research team includes project PI electrical engineering professor Dr. Fernando Mancilla-David, Dr. Gabriel Olguín (Director of Power Business Chile), Dr. Alejandro Angulo (electrical engineering professor at Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Chile), and a  number of project engineers, including CU Denver doctoral student Héctor Robles-Campos.

 

For more information, contact Dr. Fernando Mancilla-David or visit https://www.cne.cl/seminario-internacional-planificacion-de-la-transmision/.

 

ASCE Rocky Mountain Regional Student Conference Results

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn News, StudentsLeave a comment

On April 6 – April 8, the CU Denver ASCE Student Chapter competed in the Rocky Mountain Student Conference hosted by the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. This annual competition brings together civil engineering programs from 14 institutions across the intermountain West.

  • Concrete canoe: Despite suffering a crack in transit from Denver to Salt Lake, the concrete canoe team passed their submergence test and successfully competed in numerous races. Our 2016/2017 concrete canoe team included Wesley Engel (captain), Ahmed Aljamal, Mustafa Alogaili, Kahlil Elarier, Stephanie Espinoza, Miranda Mooney, Phil Taylor, and Nathan Werner.

971

  • Steel bridge: After a final practice assembly on the green between the North Classroom and Science buildings, our steel bridge team passed their horizontal deflection test and earned 3rd place in Steel Bridge Display. Our 2016/2017 steel bridge team included Aaron Blahut (captain), Erik Causey, Ben Johnk, Xavier Montoya, Jackson Pedziwiatr, Stephen Sowal, and Dahria Uwamahoro (who also rowed for the concrete canoe team).

421a

 

Both teams vanquished their cousins from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Congratulations to our ASCE students!

Team Epiphany wins Rookie, Best Design awards at NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn News, Students, UndergraduatesLeave a comment

Epiphany AwardsLast weekend, a team of mechanical engineering students traveled to Huntsville, Alabama with their senior design project to compete in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge. It’s the first time CU Denver participated in the event.

Team Epiphany—Carl Bergstrath, Kristen Bonifield, Skyler Bunce, Binh Dao, Lesley DiMarco, Derique Duran, Jason Fuqua, Jared Harper, Josh Leyendecker—designed and built a three-wheeled, two-person vehicle designed to navigate the harsh terrain found in space.

At the event, the team navigated their rover through an obstacle course. Epiphany competed against 99 teams (high school and college), and won the college-level Rookie Award and the Best Design Award.

Congratulations!!

Learn more about the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge.

Comcast contributes $5 million to establish innovative media center

On By CU Denver EngineeringIn NewsLeave a comment
comcast-center-2

Architectural rendering of the new Comcast Media and Technology Center, located in the Tivoli Student Union.

 

The University of Colorado Denver has announced the launch of the Comcast Media and Technology Center, a new academic facility made possible by a cash and in-kind contribution from Comcast Cable valued at $5 million.

The multidisciplinary academic center located in the Tivoli Student Union is a partnership between Comcast and CU Denver’s College of Engineering and Applied Science and  College of Arts & Media. The Comcast Media and Technology Center will be a place for students, researchers, Comcast employees, and the greater community to work together to develop new technologies and learn from one another, such as the new program in Computer Graphics and Visual Effects.

Read the CU Today story.
Read The Denver Post story.
Read the Denver Business Journal story.