APETT Committees APETT has convened several committees to execute some of our current and mandatory objectives. A listing of some of these are as follows:

The functions of this committee are to advise on structure and content and to assist in the administration and implementation of a viable CPD programme for engineers in Trinidad and Tobago.

All Engineers are encouraged to be part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program. You may call or fax Ms. Noreen Mitchell at 627-6697 for more information on CPD and information on who else one can call regarding CPD.

The following extract is also useful for an understanding of CPD:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can be defined as: “The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge, understanding and skill, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout the individual’s working life.”

Engineers and Technicians need to enhance their professional competence throughout their careers, taking into account changes in technology and business practice. Each engineer and technician is responsible for updating and developing knowledge and skills relevant to his/her current job and career interests, and to anticipate future requirements. The process of CPD is essential in maintaining and developing professional competence.

The central aims of CPD are to contribute to employment performance and the enhancement of career prospects. The benefits to the individual are the ability to provide a high quality service, to achieve greater job satisfaction and to improve employability.

The CPD programme requires engineers to undertake a recommended minimum of 10 hours of formal CPD or its equivalent per year but not less than 30 Professional Development Units (PDUs) in a 3 year cycle. PDU credits are assigned to each approved activity by the CPD committee (comprised of a joint APETT/BOETT team ). The most important aspect is the knowledge or skill, which is acquired. Activities covered include: study leading to a successful examination, attendance at seminars, conferences, presentation of lectures and conference papers, reviewing of articles for technical journals, industry visits etc. There is no limitation on the range of subject that can count as CPD. Activities should develop the engineer’s technical knowledge in her/his area of specialization, broaden technical knowledge beyond area of specialization and acquire professional life skills and knowledge (e.g. Management techniques, Law, Finance, Languages etc.) These activities are categorized into Technical, Management and Professional Events and the engineer is required to ‘earn’ at least 5 PDU’s from each of these three categories in the three year period.

This committee is currently being set up and was constituted in late August 2002. The main objective of this committee would be to advise the relevant stakeholders on the structured training requirements to take a newly graduated engineer to professional engineer status.

The committee was created after the last Annual Technical Conference on Disaster Management where it was strongly recommended that a committee be set up to assess regional seismic hazards characteristics as well as to update local seismic codes to comply with updated international codes.

The Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago has formed a committee on Seismic Engineering called SECA. The committee was created after the last Annual Technical Conference on Disaster Management where after the final Q & A session the feature speaker on seismic hazards Dr. S. K. Ghosh strongly recommended the formation of a committee to determine the regional seismic hazard and the updating of local seismic codes to comply with the updated international codes.

APETT took the lead in setting up such a committee. The terms of reference for the committee will be as follows:

1) To determine the Seismic Hazard for Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the Windward Islands and prepare the appropriate Seismic Hazard maps and Response Spectra. It is the intention to later include all Commonwealth Caribbean Countries.

2) To prepare the base information for the Seismic Engineering Parts of the CUBiC. This should be under continual review with formal statements made not less frequently than once every 3 years.

3) To provide a document for approving agencies on seismic design and detailing.

4) To improve awareness within the profession of seismic design requirements.

5) To host a one day APETT seminar to present its interim recommendations and findings.

6) To assist the CCEO in hosting a Caribbean Earthquake Engineering Conference.

There have been fundamental changes in the hazard assessment and design and detailing requirements for seismic engineering in the last ten years. The shift by the ICBO from SEAOC to NEHRP provisions have in 2000 has changed the method of hazard assessment. Engineers in the region need to be aware of these changes and the seismic provisions of the Caribbean Code CuBic are in urgent need of update. The SECA committee will be addressing the above and is in contact with the CCEO and all its affiliated member organisations to coordinate and streamline our work.

The following are the members of the Committee:

Mr. Mark Francois–Chairman – APETT Vice-President-Structural Engineer
Prof. John B. Sheppard – Head – Seismic Research Unit
Dr. Derek Gay – Geotechnical Engineer
Dr. Ian Khan Kernahan – Structural Engineer – Bridges & Civil Structures
Mr. Tony Gibbs – Consultant Seismic and Wind Hazards
Mr. Anthony Farrell – Structural Engineer – Buildings

Comments and offers of assistance can be sent to Mark Francois at marfra@opus.co.tt

One of APETT’s longest running committees set up to advise on problems with engineering practice and practitioners.