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.

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.

Acadia National Park – A Mountainous Coastal Maine Preserve

 

Acadia National Park
Image: nps.gov

Paul Angelides is a respected presence in the Syosset, New York community who has led an engineering firm since 1987. Passionate about the outdoors, Paul Angelides particularly enjoys exploring America’s national parks through hiking excursions.

While the East Coast does not possess the diversity of national parks found in the western states, it does have some spectacular options, such as the coastal Acadia National Park in Maine. Spanning 47,000 acres, this unique park comprises several islands, as well as a large portion of the mainland Schoodic Peninsula.

With the Eastern Seaboard relatively flat, Acadia is a major exception that encompasses some two dozen mountains. Standing at 1,530 feet, granite-domed Cadillac Mountain is the highest US point along the Atlantic coast.

Established in 1919 as the initial national park east of the Mississippi, Acadia comprises diverse lakes, ponds, and forest areas that complement its rugged coastline. One of the premier viewing spots for the Milky Way region wide, it offers some 175 miles of cycling and hiking paths and is home to numerous terrestrial and marine species. With toads, salamanders, and frogs common inland, marine mammals are particularly abundant in the waters off Mount Desert Island and include whales, seals, and dolphins.

First-Time Snorkeling – Location Tips

 

Snorkeling
Image: aquaworld.com.mx

Since 1987, Paul Angelides has served as the president of his own engineering firm in New York. In his free time, Paul Angelides enjoys spending time in and around the water and likes to go swimming, boating, and snorkeling.

Many elements go into a good first snorkeling trip, but one that few beginner snorkelers should consider is the ideal location. Ideally, a snorkeling novice should start from a beach rather than a boat. Fear and unease, both about the mechanics of swimming and the unique equipment used in snorkeling, can make starting from a boat a nerve-wracking experience. A beach makes it easier for a snorkeler to retreat and reassess.

The spot should also be calm. Generally, this means picking a calm sea early in the morning, as waves can reduce visibility and make almost every aspect of snorkeling more difficult. Finally, the spot should be interesting. Whether it has plenty of fish, interesting coral, or other unique underwater landmarks, the spot should have something interesting to see from behind the mask.

Popular Hiking Trails at America’s National Parks

 

Navajo Loop
Image: nps.gov

Following more than 16 years with Consolidated Edison Company of New York, including 10 years as Division Manager, Paul Angelides established the Syosset, New York, engineering firm Paul J. Angelides, PE, PC. He has led the firm as president for over three decades. Beyond his professional activities, he enjoys staying active by traveling and hiking at various national parks.

When it comes to hiking at America’s national parks, there are few bad choice for trail enthusiasts to make. However, certain parks certainly cater more to the hiking lifestyle than others. The Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park, for example, is one of North America’s most well traveled routes. The trail offers a stunning view of the canyon as hikers follow the 12 mile round trip through stifling heat and varying degrees of difficulty.

The Navajo Loop at Bryce Canyon National Park is not as long or challenging as Bright Angel Trail, but that may be exactly what some hikers are looking for. A three mile loop, the Navajo trail provides panoramic shots of some of the nation’s most unique, visually arresting terrain.

Other trails are more technically or physically challenging. For instance, the Sargent Mountain Loop at Acadia National Park is just 2.75 miles in one direction, but requires hikers to negotiate elevations in excess of 1,370 feet. The John Muir Trail, meanwhile, is one of the most comprehensive hiking trails in the world. Spanning numerous California parks, including Yosemite and Sequoia, the John Muir Trail extends for 211 miles and can be subdivided into a number of shorter day hikes. For those interested in a greater challenge, the trail represents one leg of the much larger Pacific Crest Trail.

Hiking Cinnamon Bay Trail in St. John

 

Cinnamon Bay Trail
Image: nps.gov

Since 1987, Paul Angelides has served as the president of an eponymous engineering firm he founded in Syosset, New York. Alongside his work in New York, Paul Angelides resides part time in the Virgin Islands on the island of St. John.

Known for its national park, which encompasses approximately 60 percent of its landmass, St. John draws visitors to hike a diverse range of trails across the island. These hikes include the Cinnamon Bay Trail.

Beginning east of the historic ruins of the Cinnamon Bay Sugar Plantation and across from Cinnamon Bay Campground, the Cinnamon Bay Trail consists of a challenging one-mile hike through forests with trees such as mango and guava. The trail ends at Centerline Road, but some hikers choose to continue on with the Reef Bay Trail to the island’s South Shore.

Taking a side trip to the plantation ruins provides an insight into the history of the island’s sugar processing industry. A spur trail heads off to the ruins from the highest point along Cinnamon Bay Trail.

Ranger-Guided Hikes at the Virgin Islands National Park

 

Virgin Islands National Park
Image: nps.gov

Paul Angelides is a forensic engineer who since 1987 has managed his own firm in Syosset, New York. Before starting this company, he worked as a division manager at Consolidated Edison Company of New York. When he gets the opportunity, Paul Angelides travels to the Virgin Islands where he enjoys activities that range from hiking and boating to snorkeling and swimming.

Located in the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands consist of Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, and St. John in addition to other smaller islands that cover close to 134 square miles of land. The island of St. John houses the Virgin Islands National Park, a United States National Park that contains 7,259 acres of habitat in addition to 5,650 acres of submerged land.

Created in 1956, the Virgin Islands National Park welcomes close to half a million visitors each year. In addition to traditional beach activities that include swimming, scuba diving, sailing, and camping, visitors have access to a number of hiking trails as well as ranger-guided tours. These guided hikes include:

– L’Esperance Hike (November through April) – A hike through the earliest ruins and plantations on the island that allows visitors to experience St. John’s tropical forests as well as its desert-like landscapes.

– Reef Bay Trail (year round) – A hike that focuses on the tropical forest in the Reef Bay Valley in addition to ruins and evidence left behind by pre-Columbian Taino natives.

– Discover Bird Watching Hike (every Friday) – A weekly hike that tours Francis Bay Trail and Salt Pond, allowing visitors to observe local and migrant bird species.

The National Academy of Forensic Engineers

 

National Academy of Forensic Engineers
Image: nafe.org

Based in Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides is the president of Paul J. Angelides, PE PC, an engineering firm. As a forensic specialist, Paul Angelides maintains membership with the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

At its core, forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles and knowledge to address and investigate failures and performance problems, which can include catastrophic events such as building collapses but also more systematic issues, such as analyzing failures in the operations or machinery that aren’t performing to expected standards.

The National Academy of Forensic Engineers seeks to advance ethical and professional practices of forensic engineering and promote the development of forensic engineers through education and publication of technical literature. Additionally, the academy provides a professional society for engineers who offer testimony in the judicial system on findings of forensic engineering investigations.

Membership with the National Academy of Forensic Engineers is open to individuals who belong to the National Society of Professional Engineers and are registered professional engineers. Additionally, members must have appropriate levels of education and experience.

National Academy of Forensic Engineers Professional Education Programs

National Academy of Forensic Engineers
Image: nafe.org

A forensic engineer, Paul Angelides currently operates his own New York firm, where he serves as president. A former division manager for Consolidated Edison, Paul Angelides is also an active member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, as its name implies, represents the interests of members of that profession. In addition, the Academy certifies qualified engineers and serves its membership through peer-reviewed publications and educational programming.

The Academy hosts a summer and a winter educational seminar each year. The seminars, which cover two full days, consist of a regular session on Saturday and a special session on Sunday. The Saturday session covers 10 technical forensic engineering papers, while the Sunday session features advanced topics and an engineering ethics segment. Breakfast and lunch are provided to registrants, who can earn 14 continuing professional development credits. For additional information on the seminars, visit www.nafe.org.

Amateur Radio Service Operator Classes

Amateur Extra Class License
Image: arrl.org

Paul Angelides leverages decades of forensic engineering experience as the president of his own engineering firm in Syosset, New York, where he is responsible for daily operations and quality control. Outside of his professional work, Paul Angelides enjoys amateur radio and holds an Amateur Extra Class License.

The Amateur Extra Class License, and the other licenses issued to “ham” operators, are administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington DC. The classes are designed for individuals of any age who have a personal interest in radio operation. These main classes include:

– Technician – Allows the operation of amateur radio equipment on frequency bands above 50 MHz, as well as four lower-frequency bands. Requirements include a written examination.

– General – Allows operation on all amateur frequency bands. Requirements include the Technician written examination and a General written examination.

– Amateur Extra – To obtain the Extra license, an individual must pass the Technician and General exams prior to completing a new 50-question exam. Once passed, a radio operator has access to additional high frequency bands.

– Novice – One of three “grandfathered” classes from previous years, the Novice license allows access to four high frequency bands, one very high frequency (VHF) band, and one ultra-high frequency band.

The National Academy of Forensic Engineers 2018 Winter Conference

 

National Academy of Forensic Engineers
Image: nafe.org

Paul Angelides serves as president of the engineering firm Paul J. Angelides, PE, PC, in Syosset, New York. To remain current with industry-wide changes, Mr. Angelides maintains senior membership with the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE).

Part of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), NAFE seeks to advance the ethical and professional aspects of forensic engineering. To fulfill its mission, NAFE offers educational sessions, networking opportunities, and peer-reviewed technical publications.

The organization will hold its annual winter conference January 12 through 14, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix in Arizona. The three-day conference features committee meetings and round-table discussions. In addition to earning continuing professional development credits during the technical presentations, attendees have a chance to network with other forensic engineers.

The last day of the conference features a question-and-answer session moderated by Robin Davies, PE, and the 2018 NAFE president, Martin Gordon, PE, will speak.

Federal Communication Commission and Amateur Radio Service

Amateur Radio Service
Image: fcc.gov

A professional engineer and the president of an engineering consulting firm that is registered as a special inspection agency with the New York City Department of Building, Paul Angelides has garnered over five decades of experience in his field. Outside his professional sphere, Paul Angelides also serves as an amateur radio operator with an extra class license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC is an independent federal agency overseen by Congress. It is accountable for executing and administering US communications laws and regulations pertaining to radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. The agency also issues licenses to amateur radio operators through its Amateur Radio Service.

The Amateur Radio Service offers satellites for use to any qualified individual interested in radio techniques ranging from self-training to intercommunication and technical investigations. However, these satellite services are limited for personal and non-commercial purposes. Currently, there are millions of amateur radio operators all over the world who use the service to transmit over 1,300 digital, analog, pulse and spread-spectrum emissions. The service also provides a broad platform for all users to communicate with each other and share their messages and creations.