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Current approaches to the design of structures are based on the concept of target probability of failure. This value is, however, often specified on the basis of comparative studies and past experience only. Moreover, the traditional probabilistic approach cannot properly consider gross errors and accidental situations, both of which are becoming more frequent causes of failure. This paper shows that it is useful to supplement a probabilistic design procedure by a risk analysis and assessment, which can take into account the consequences of all unfavourable events. It is anticipated that in the near future advanced engineering design will include criteria of acceptable risks in addition to the traditional probabilistic conditions.

The fields of ecological engineering, resilience research, and Anishinaabe culture share strong epistemological relationships and common principles. These alignments can be found in worldview, ways of learning, traditional indigenous ecosystem engineering methods, and governance. This article explores how recognizing these alignments enables Anishinaabe cultural knowledge and ways of being to inform and provide the foundation for contemporary engineered design. It also proposes the use of a biocultural engineering design method that integrates the design principles of ecological engineering with indigenous knowledge, cultural relationships, values, and decision-making processes to support contemporary sustainable nation-building.

This project addresses an administrative information system for the Operations Directorate (0D) within federal government agency (which is referred to as the "Agency"). The OD was formed two years ago to combine similar tasks under one directorate. When the 00 was formed there was insufficient time to properly address the information system and many of the OD personnel did not have a clear understanding of their own functional requirements. Now two years later, the OD management would like to incorporate an information system that satisfies all of the users requirements. This project addresses the analysis and design alternatives to the development of an information system that satisfies the OD requirements. The requirements encompass not only the users requirements but logistic, maintenance, environmental and security requirements. The OD information system integrates the concepts and techniques of System Engineering Design. The research encompassed the class work from the System Engineering program, to include System Engineering, Applied System Engineering, Management Information Systems, Human Factors Engineering, Statistics. Software Engineering, and Productivity. These engineering and mathematical disciplines integrate to form the system engineering approach. Three design alternatives were developed from the users requirements and current system configuration. Using the system engineering analysis, a design alternative was chosen based on the users requirements, system life cycle cost and OD yearly budget considerations. The solution is a concise project detailing the analysis, and design of the 0D Information System. The intent of this project is to provide a methodology in developing an information system for this government agency. The functional, technical and operational aspects of the system integrate together to form the system. The goal is to ensure the system provides a more productive, technically efficient, reliable, and user friendly system. The productivity of the system is the measure of the number and quality of reports, publications, and presentations. The system is considered technically efficient when the production of output has taken advantage of all available technology to minimize the inputs of production. A reliable system is one that fails infrequently and recovers quickly when it does fail. A user friendly system is a system where the user interface has been developed to point where an average person can perform the required tasks quickly and without software error. The measuring of the the system in terms of Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF), and Mean Down Time (MDT), user and management feedback determines whether the system has achieved it's defined goals. ; Master of Science

This paper presents some learning support tools for developing spatial abilities in engineering design students. They are based on the previous authors' experience in teaching traditional Engineering Graphics and uses both on-line and batch computer-aided generation of 3D models from 2D freehand sketches. Although these applications can be used with standards PCs, they are intended to be used on Tablet-PCs to provide an experience similar to sketching on real paper. The objectives of these applications are to develop three important elements for the future engineer: spatial visualization, freehand sketching and normalized view generation. The authors present the results of a pilot study that has been realized in some Spanish universities. Two well-known tests for evaluating spatial abilities: Mental Rotation Test (MRT) and the Differential Aptitude TestÐ Spatial Relations subset (DAT-SR), have been used to validate the pilot study. ; 1) Spanish Ministry of Science and Education and the European Union (Project DPI2004-01373) 2) Fundacio Caixa Castelló-Bancaixa under the Universitat Jaume I program for Research Promotion (Project P1-1B2004-02, titled `Gestural interface for the introduction of variational-parametric sketches and for the definition of assem- bly conditions in the computer-aided design of industrial products').