What Is Forensic Engineering?

Paul Angelides, a graduate of the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, serves as the president of his own engineering firm. To stay up-to-date with the latest trends in his profession, Paul Angelides is a member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE).
The phrase “forensic engineering” means applying engineering principles to uncover failures and other performance issues. Forensic engineers attempt to discover why structures, components, or machines failed to function as intended and led to human injuries, property damage, or economic losses. Forensic engineers use reverse engineering, a procedure that helps them retrace the cause of the defect, failure, or accident. Forensic engineers also try to find ways to prevent failures from recurring.
Depending on the consequences of the failure, criminal or civil legal actions may follow. The findings of forensic engineers may serve as evidence in court. Further, forensic engineers may provide expert opinions to legal clients, opposing parties, judges, and juries. Occasionally, forensic engineers may testify in trials.

Forensic Mechanical Engineering – Types of Forensic Investigation

A resident of Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides leverages an almost five-decade long career in engineering to serve as the president of his engineering firm Paul J. Angelides, PE, PC, where he oversees a team of professional engineers, ensuring that their work fulfills quality requirements. He also belongs to the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

Forensic investigations are complex scientific procedures that frequently need the use of specialized instruments to examine and evaluate defective equipment or design. To prevent the destruction of vital evidence, these investigations usually begin by isolating the failure site. A root cause study, which involves interviews and documentation collecting, begins once the scene and equipment have been separated and basic troubleshooting has been completed.

Machines are important manufacturing tools, and are also tested and analyzed by forensic mechanical engineers. Due to the intricacy of most machinery, accidents can occur, destroying property, injuring or killing people, and disrupting business.

Forensic mechanical engineers can help in minimizing machine failure rates, make machine components safer, offer expert testimony to help the court comprehend technical situations, and also provide conclusions that allow claims adjusters and assessors to calculate compensation.

Forensic Engineering – Who Uses Report?

An accomplished engineering executive, Paul Angelides has served as the president of his own Syosset, New York-based engineering firm Paul J. Angelides, PE, PC, since its inception in 1987. In this role, he oversees the firm’s daily operations, customer interactions, and maintaining quality control of professional work products produced by staff engineers. To augment his career, he holds membership with several engineering associations, including the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

The study of property loss and injuries caused by failures in materials, components, construction, and designs is known as forensic engineering. These can range from simple occurrences like a crankshaft cracking to catastrophic events like a collapsed bridge. Understanding what went wrong or what component failed to perform as expected is the foundation for better design, dependable operation, and safer constructions.

In the prosecution and defense of civil and criminal claims, forensic investigations are critical for legal decision-making. Forensic engineering is used to determine the facts in instances where there are financial claims. Manufacturers, builders, insurance companies, and law firms get forensic engineering investigations’ findings in situations involving property damage, personal injury, economic loss, or death. Forensic evidence, together with the investigator’s testimony, may be submitted in a court of law, arbitration, and other crucial forums.

Maho Bay Beach Offers Excellent Snorkeling with Turtles

St. John features excellent snorkeling at beaches around the island, including Maho Bay Beach on the north shore. Especially suitable for those with children or beginning snorkelers, this beach has shallow waters and extensive sea grass beds. Its protected nature also means few waves, placing it high on many lists of snorkel beaches.

In addition to its good snorkeling conditions, Maho Bay has also become known for its sea turtles, which seem not to mind company swimming beside them. Green sea turtles in particular appreciate the habitat provided there by the sea grass. The best times to view the turtles are late afternoon and early morning.

Other creatures to watch for range include stingrays and sea urchins. It is also possible to spot an octopus hiding in one of the crevices among the live coral.

Exploring Water Island in the US Virgin Islands

Paul Angelides is a Syosset, New York engineer who maintains longstanding membership in the National Academy of Forensic Engineers. With an affinity for island activities such as boating, Paul Angelides is a part-time resident of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

One of the most unusual areas in the USVI is Water Island, which is situated in the Charlotte Amalie harbor, just a seven-minute ferry ride south of St. Thomas. Spanning 500 acres and with a year round population of less than 200, the island is completely residential and has no stores, hotels, or public transportation.

Originally inhabited by Taino Indians, the island was named by European settlers for its abundance of fresh water, which was scarce on other islands in the vicinity. Claimed by the Danish in the 18th century, it became a home to former slaves over the next century. In 1944 it was purchased by the United States government, as a way of safeguarding the St. Thomas submarine base.

Having been returned to the territorial government in 1996, Water Island is now a popular tourist destination best known for Honeymoon Beach and rugged Limestone Bay. With trails offering views that extend to Puerto Rico, the coral reef fringing the island is home to abundant marine life that includes sea turtles.

One site particularly worth exploring is Fort Segarra, which the United States never completed building, as the war ended and the project was halted. Remnants include underground tunnels and a pillbox that is now a viewpoint.

NAFE Policy on Accident Reconstruction

Paul Angelides is an accomplished mechanical and forensic engineer who served more than 15 years as a division manager with the consolidated Edison Company of New York. Since 1987, he has served as president of his own engineering firm based in the Long Island hamlet of Syosset. Paul Angelides holds membership in the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

The National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) is composed of committed and accomplished forensic engineering professionals who seek to share knowledge and further the best interests of the forensic engineering field. It has maintained its active stance on accident reconstruction for the past two decades.

Briefly defined, “accident reconstruction” refers to the on-site analysis and subsequent reporting of the aftermath of an automobile accident on the highway or in other environments. Police officers at the scene are typically responsible for on-site investigation, and some of these officers have received specialized training to do so. NAFE firmly supports this type of specialized police training.

However, NAFE also maintains that with the limitations of this training, it is unlikely to give police officers the proper tools to perform accurate accident reconstruction for complex accidents. It further insists that dedicated experts in the field of forensic engineering should have prompt and thorough access to accident scenes in order to ensure the highest quality of accident reconstruction.

Excellent Snorkeling at St. John’s Henley Cay

The president of his own engineering firm in Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides has more than half a century of experience in the field. Residing part of the year in St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he also maintains licensure, Paul Angelides enjoys visiting the Virgin Islands National Park and spending time snorkeling.

The island of St. John boasts numerous beaches with excellent snorkeling, but one lesser-known option called Henley Cay offers some of the best reefs to explore. Located inside Virgin Islands National Park, this 11-acre island can only be reached by boat.

Many snorkelers take kayaks out to Henley Cay’s western shore and pull them up on the beach there before venturing into the nearby waters. It typically takes about half an hour to paddle out to the island.

With shallow depths ranging from three to 15 feet, the water around Henley Cay provides excellent viewing of the brilliant reefs covered with coral, sea fans, and sponges, while fish ranging from angelfish and parrotfish to sturgeon swim through. Snorkelers also report seeing nurse sharks.

Breathing Tips for First Time Snorkelers

Paul Angelides has led his Syosset, New York, engineering firm since 1987. Aside from his work managing daily operations and engaging with clients, Paul Angelides enjoys a variety of hobbies that range from amateur radio to snorkeling.

At first glance, the act of breathing while snorkeling might seem easy: It appears to be a simple matter of breathing through one’s mouth, rather than one’s nostrils. However, there are several tips and tricks that can help first time snorkelers minimize the chances of any breathing issues.

To start, individuals should make sure their equipment is properly functioning and correctly sized. Despite the relative simplicity of snorkeling gear when compared to scuba diving equipment, a damaged or undersized snorkel can result in significant discomfort while under the water. When it comes to size, snorkelers should ensure that they don’t need to use their mouth to keep the snorkel in place. If they do, the device is likely too large or loose.

After getting into the water for the first time, individuals should begin calmly breathing through their mouths. It can take some time to establish a comfortable rhythm, and snorkelers may take in some water through their nostrils or mouth in the process. Once a normal breathing pattern has been achieved, individuals can attempt to dive to the ocean floor for a better look at fish. During this descent, the snorkeling tube will fill with water. Snorkelers should hold their breath during the dive and remember to clear the tube of water at the surface before continuing to breathe.

NAFE Journal Provides Peer-Reviewed Technical Information

The president of his own engineering firm headquartered in Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides also maintains licenses in Connecticut and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Professionally, Paul Angelides belongs to organizations such as the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE).

Affiliated with the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards, NAFE promotes ethics and education for those in the field of forensic engineering, thereby benefiting the jurisprudence system and the public. The organization also publishes its NAFE Journal, a peer-reviewed journal of technical literature.

The NAFE Journal addresses topics such as traffic accidents. One volume looked at computer software and hardware technologies providing 3D animations to help provide possible answers to the question of how specific accidents occur. Another volume examined four judicial cases involving aspects of driver perception with issues such as glare and peripheral vision. A third volume sought to understand an accident between a school bus and a tractor-trailer through GPS data, school bus video data, and accident simulation software.

Other topics addressed in the NAFE Journal have ranged from evaluating officer-involved shootings to defective surgical equipment. Past volumes may be purchased for $25.00 each through the organization’s website at www.nafe.org.

Biannual NAFE Seminar Educates and Inspires

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An engineering professional in Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides has spent the last three decades as president of his engineering firm. In addition to overseeing the daily operations for the company, Paul Angelides maintains membership in professional organizations such as the National Society of Forensic Engineers (NAFE).

Committed to promoting high professional standards and offering continuing education, NAFE offers professional development courses such as the NAFE Seminar. Held each summer and winter, the two-day seminar covers a variety of forensic engineering topics. During the first day, participants learn from 10 technical papers about actual court cases, while the second day focuses on a range of advanced topics related to forensic engineering. Additionally, the seminar includes a Sunday segment on ethics within the field.

The annual NASM Seminar not only provides continuing professional development credits but also offers powerful networking opportunities that broaden each participant’s perspective and capabilities. For information about the next event, visit www.nafe.org.

St. John’s Top Snorkeling Destination – Waterlemon Cay

The president of his own forensic engineering firm in Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides is a licensed engineer in the states of New York and Connecticut, as well as the US territory of the Virgin Islands. As a part-time St. John resident and an avid snorkeler, Paul Angelides enjoys the multiple snorkeling destinations that the island has to offer.

The most popular place to snorkel on St. John is Waterlemon Cay. Located along the northern coast of the island, Waterlemon Cay supports a large amount of aquatic wildlife, including green sea turtles, rays, Cushio starfish, conch, and fish species that range from Atlantic blue tangs and bluehead wrasses to parrotfish and squirrelfish. It also features an array of coral and beautiful purple sea fan.

In order to access this relatively remote spot, snorkelers must hike a mile along Leinster Bay and enter the water through a sandy beach just west of Waterlemon Cay. While wading and swimming into the Cay, snorkelers should be wary of dangerous rocky conditions and ample sea urchins. Because certain sections of the Cay have strong currents, snorkelers should also always keep a buddy close by.

Securing an Extra Class Amateur Radio License from the FCC

American Radio Relay League
Image: arrl.org

A former division manager with the consolidated Edison Company of New York, Paul Angelides has operated his own Syosset-based engineering firm since 1987. In addition to his professional pursuits, Paul Angelides is a dedicated amateur radio enthusiast who holds an amateur extra class license through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

In order to gain access to all amateur bands on the VHF, UHF and HF spectrum, many operators choose to upgrade to an extra amateur radio class license. Interested parties with an existing general class license can obtain an extra class license by completing a 50-question multiple-choice FCC examination. Topics covered in the extra class exam include obscure ham radio regulations, electronics theory, radio equipment design, and specialized operating practices.

The American Radio Relay League can help aspiring licensees study for all extra class exam subject areas through its Extra Class License Manual with online supplements. This key resource includes a sample exam with a full answer key and detailed explanations for all questions that cite specific FCC rules and regulations.