President's Message

Emily Guglielmo, SE, PE, F.SEI

2023-2024 SEAOC President

Thirty years ago today, the Northridge earthquake struck Southern California, marking one of the most tragic and devastating seismic events in the region’s history. In the face of this disaster, our profession showcased vital and timely responsiveness. No one was more influential in this response than SEAOC Fellow, Jim Malley. Today, we are privileged to have Jim share his historical perspective on the Northridge earthquake, offering insights into SEAOC’s lasting impact on our profession and practices.

FEMA P-807-1 Enhances Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit Guidelines for Multi-Unit Wood-Frame Buildings with Weak First Stories

The Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC) encourages the design community and public to delve into the newly published FEMA P-807-1 report . This comprehensive document aims to further the understanding of the behavior of soft, weak, or open front (SWOF) buildings and the associated risks.

This resource comes at a critical juncture when many cities in high seismic regions of California have already implemented retrofit ordinances focused on SWOF structures, demonstrating a commitment to reducing overall risk in our communities. In a continuous pursuit of improvement and safety, the structural engineering community is continually learning and improving with each study or event. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Applied Technology Council (ATC) have conducted intensive studies that provide crucial insights for evaluating and retrofitting SWOF buildings that are presented in the FEMA P-807-1 report.

The report serves as a poignant reminder that significant risk to SWOF buildings still exists in our communities, especially in regions of high seismicity. Our designs, ordinances, and building codes must continue to evolve, even if incrementally, by incorporating the latest information provided by this report. As understanding of SWOF building behaviors increases, we are empowered to develop designs and ordinances that reduce risk in our communities.

Our building codes and design practices have continuously evolved, shaped by the lessons learned from each seismic event and natural hazard. The release of FEMA P-807-1 presents a distinctive opportunity for us to glean insights from a comprehensive study of SWOF buildings. With this valuable resource, we no longer need to wait for the next earthquake to discover ways to enhance the performance of our existing structures.

Submit Abstracts for 2024 SEAOC Convention

The Structural Engineers Association of California invites structural engineering professionals and students to submit proposals to present at the 2024 SEAOC Convention, Sept. 4-7, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency in Portland, OR.

Learning from the Past, Building the Present, Shaping the Future is this year's theme. 2024 marks the anniversary of several major earthquakes: Napa (10 years), Indian Ocean quake and tsunami (20), Northridge (30), Loma Prieta (35), and Great Alaska (60). These catastrophes not only profoundly affected their communities, but also structural engineering practice. Beyond earthquakes, recent wildfires and hurricanes have prompted a reassessment of building designs, emphasizing the crucial need for structural engineers to incorporate lessons from past events in preparing for the evolving challenges posed by natural disasters, the increased focus on community resilience, the acceleration of changes to the climate, and new developments in artificial intelligence.

Key Dates:

Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: March 1, 2024
Notification of Accepted Abstracts: On or before April 30, 2024
Deadline for Submission of Draft Versions of Papers: July 22, 2024
Deadline for Submission of Final Papers: August 22, 2024
Deadline for Submission of Presentation Slides: September 2, 2024

Submission Requirements:

Abstract submissions for papers and presentations should include the following:
Paper/Presentation title
Abstract (300 words or less) in either MS Word or PDF format
List of all authors/presenters, their affiliations, and primary contact email addresses
Brief bios (100 words or less) of each presenter

Additional Notes:

All accepted presenters are required to register and attend the Convention. Other authors that are not presenting are encouraged to attend but are not required to do so.
Papers for publication in the Convention Proceedings are encouraged but optional.
Templates and instructions for papers and presentation slides will be sent to all presenters after notifications of acceptance.
Requests for head shots of presenters of accepted presentations will be sent after notifications of acceptance.

We encourage submission of abstracts tailored for students majoring in structural engineering and early career structural engineering professionals, as well as abstracts on topics of interest to structural engineers practicing in the Pacific Northwest. Each presentation will be 45 minutes inclusive of a questions and answers period.

If you have any questions on the abstract submittal process, please feel free to send an email to the convention committee at seaoc2024@seaoc.org. Please include in the e-mail subject "2024 SEAOC Convention Technical Abstract Submission."

SEAOC offers financial assistance to take part in

NCEES SE Exam Cut Score Workshops

SEAOC is looking for volunteers to help NCEES with setting the grading standards of the new PE Structural Exam (what used to be called the “16-hour SE Exam”). NCEES, the organization that writes and administers the engineering and surveying licensing exams, is seeking structural engineers to participate in the standard setting panels (“cut-score” workshops), that help set the passing scores for the depth portions of the SE Exam. Next year, the test switches to the new format by using a Computer Based Testing (CBT) exam. The depth portions of the exam involve the use of “alternative item types” (AITs) in lieu of the old handwritten (“constructed response”) paper and pencil answers. The standard setting panels will meet the week of May 17, 2024 at the NCEES Headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina.

Scoring panels are scheduled for the “vertical” portion of the exam on May 17 and 18, and an additional two days are scheduled on May 20 and 21 for the “lateral” portion of the exam. Cut-score participants can choose to attend only two days, or all four days. NCEES covers airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation, and meals while in Greenville, in addition to a stipend to cover incidental travel expenses. The stipend ranges between about $390 for a two-day meeting to about $470 for those attending all four days.

SEAOC members have been working with NCEES to develop the new exam, and SEAOC is encouraging its membership to provide support by assisting with the standard setting of the exam. This portion of the process is critical to ensure that the new exam reflects the needs of our profession, and our participation emphasizes SEAOC’s continued commitment to public safety.

Because of the additional travel time required for West Coast engineers, SEAOC is offering an additional $500 for SEAOC members from California who participate in the standard setting workshops. NCEES is required, by policy, to have a diverse panel with regard to gender, age, ethnicity, region, experience type, and number of years licensed. NCEES is particularly looking for engineers that have passed the SE exam in the last 5 years. Final selection of who will participate in the standard setting workshops is at the sole discretion of NCEES.

Any SEAOC member who would like more information about this opportunity or who would like to participate, please contact Carl Josephson S.E., SEAOC Licensing Committee Chair, at cjosephson@jwa-se.com.