The civil engineering undergraduate program in our branch campus in Guayaquil held the webinar: "Modeling and structural analysis in metallic structures and industrial buildings applying the Ecuadorian construction standard".  The aim was to present the structural modeling processes for the design of industrial buildings and their manufacture through the use of specific programs.

The conference was led by Valentina Rodas León, a civil engineer and a private consultant in structural metal modeling. The processes were carried out based on the Ecuadorian construction regulations in force today.

"We cannot do whatever we want, we must be very ethical and professional. We must do things in detail", she stated. 

The topics were:

- Theory of soil behavior, where the industrial building will be built.

- Factors that intervene in the calculation of a metallic structure: dimensions.

- Conceptual idealization of an earthquake resistant metallic armor based on observational analysis.

- Construction site, terrain layout, projection of platforms and slopes.

- Analysis with commercial software: ETABS, CIVIL CAD, among others.

- Construction ordinances in Guayaquil.

During the training course, participants learned about the Ecuadorian Construction Regulations (NEC for its acronym in Spanish), which establishes parameters for the professional practice of Civil Engineers. Understanding the procedures in structural steel construction allows the professional in this area to be aware of the responsibility that it entails.

According to the specialist, Civil Engineers must be trained in carrying out structural calculations to know the rigidity of the materials, the resistance they have to various internal and external loads such as the periods of the soil and the wind to which the structure may be subjected. In addition, she emphasized prudence regarding the use of personal signature once in professional practice, because if there are problems in terms of calculations, the only person responsible will be the one who validated those construction parameters.