Addressing the IT skills gap and finding the right candidate

In February, I had a conversation with a client who had just begun the recruitment process for a senior software engineer. There was nothing unusual about the role: his company required someone with five years of relevant experience in the telecommunications industry. I spoke to the client again in June and he still had not found anyone that fitted the criteria. Finally, in August, my client called to say the role had been filled. He told me that a process, which a couple of years ago ...

Mechanical engineers develop drive-by monitoring system for urban streetlights

Is there a streetlight burned out on your street? Unless you or your neighbours make the right people aware of it, there's a good chance nobody knows about it. Most cities and towns don't have any comprehensive listing or map of where their lights are located, what kind they are, what their expected operational lifetimes are, how high they are, or when they were last replaced. The prevailing system for answering those questions is to send inspectors out, clipboard in hand, to examine the ...

Project management challenges and methodologies in design and construction

Over the coming months, the Project Management Society will publish a series of profiles of project managers in the Engineers Journal. The aim is to explore the similarities and differences between project managers across different industries with regard to skills, challenges and methodologies. [caption id="attachment_32526" align="alignright" width="300"] Fearghal Scanlon, head of quality EMEA, M+W Group[/caption] The series kicks off with a profile of Fearghal Scanlon, head of ...

3D geoscience techniques improve understanding of what lies beneath

Geoscience deals with the geology and subsurface of the earth and involves thinking in 3D. Geological maps are 2D efforts to convey 3D renditions of the subsurface that have tended towards cartoon-like conceptual sketches. Insufficient data and inherent complexity is frequently the cause of such poor understanding and representations. However, modern data collection techniques, coupled with powerful computer generated imagery, have greatly improved our ability to convey and better understand ...

Ireland’s 'engineering ecosystem' must support commercialisation of research

A vibrant ‘engineering ecosystem’ is vital for nurturing innovation in research, which in turn leads to investment and jobs. This was the take-home message from this year’s UCD Engineering Graduates Association (EGA) Autumn Panel Discussion, entitled ‘Engineering Research, Innovation and Job Creation’, which took place in the university last week (6 October). Speaking at the event, which was opened by Seán Kyne, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Prof Orla ...

World expert in advanced manufacturing technologies joins University College Dublin

University College Dublin (UCD) has appointed Professor Fengzhou Fang, a world renowned expert in advanced manufacturing research and innovation, to its School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Professor Fang will lead a cutting edge research programme in UCD, through an investment of €6 million under the Science Foundation Ireland Research Professorship Programme, increasing Ireland’s capability as a global centre for micro/nano manufacturing technologies. His current research ...

Your Committee contacts

Our committees arrange and host technical presentations, discussions, debate and social events in our regions and represent the group at liaison committee. If you are interested in being a part of this committee, please contact our Sector Support team at sectorsupport@engineersireland.ie. You must be logged into the website to display the current committee members below.