2008 promises to be another fantastic year for CSI customers around the world. Our products continue to set the standard for structural and earthquake engineering software tools, and will see even further enhancements in the coming year.

The next generation of SAPFire, our unmatched analytical engine that powers our products, will feature 64-bit multi-processor and real time computing capability, again raising the bar in analytical speed and capacity.

Our SAFE product has been completely restructured and enhanced. SAFE v11 is in the final stages of development. With the design features extended to post-tensioned slabs and foundations, this release brings a new level of sophistication and integration to the design, reporting and detailing of slab systems. This release of SAFE is a preview of the new levels of productivity solutions in the works, where complete structural drawings in the form of plans, elevations and sections are automatically generated directly from a structural BIM model.

Reiterating our commitment to bridge engineers, the soon to be released SAP2000 v12 features our enhanced Bridge Information Modeler, BrIM. This is an object-based productivity tool that streamlines and integrates all aspects of the structural engineering of bridges.

Also, we are especially proud to start the year off in a new partnership with the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. We have developed a plan to collaborate with EERI on a number of projects that will benefit both EERI members and CSI customers. Please read on for details.

The online software training courses that were unveiled in the second half of 2007 have been enormously popular. By popular demand, we have added new dates for both ETABS and SAP2000 courses into the spring. See below for dates, and be sure to register early. Enrollment is limited and courses sell out fast.

We appreciate the opportunity to be your partner in achieving professional excellence. We wish you a successful and prosperous 2008!

Sincerely,

Ashraf Habibullah, President & CEO
Computers & Structures, Inc.

IN THIS ISSUE:

• CSI Announces Extensive Partnership with EERI
• CSI Sponsors Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition
• CSI to Exhibit at NASCC
• Online Training for ETABS and SAP2000 – New Dates Added

CSI has joined the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute as the organization’s first platinum subscribing member. As a platinum member, CSI will help support EERI projects aimed at reducing earthquake losses around the world. CSI will also offer EERI student members an 80% discount on CSI software when they renew their EERI membership at the young professional level, and will offer all EERI members a discount on select CSI seminars and publications.

Details of the partnership were announced at EERI’s annual meeting on Feb. 8 in New Orleans, La. Thalia Anagnos, EERI president, expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration. "EERI looks forward to a close collaboration with CSI. Through this partnership, we will be able to further EERI's goal of reducing seismic risk, and we will have the opportunity to share new ideas and emerging technology with EERI's members around the world."

For more information about EERI, click here.

CSI provided a $10,000 matching grant to support the Seismic Design Competition for Undergraduates in Civil and Structural Engineering. The competition, first launched by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER), was hosted by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) at its annual meeting Feb. 6-8 in New Orleans, La.

The competition provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to design, analyze, and fabricate a scaled model of a high-rise office building and then subject it to earthquake motions. Teams construct the model using balsa wood, and judging is based on the annual income of the building. The annual income is calculated by rental income, initial costs, and seismic cost. There are also architecture, poster, and presentation components to the scoring.

Of the 17 entries, there were three winners plus two special recognition awards. Profiles of the winning entries will be posted soon at http://peer.berkeley.edu/students/Seismic.html.

Computers & Structures, Inc. will exhibit at the North American Steel Construction Conference in Nashville, Tenn. More than 2,700 professionals from various sectors within the steel industry will converge on the Music City, April 2-5, 2008.

NASCC is a premier education event aimed at providing structural engineers, steel fabricators, erectors, and detailers with practical information and the latest design and construction techniques. In addition, the Steel Conference offers an extensive trade show, featuring products and services ranging from fabrication machinery, galvanizing, and connection products to detailing and engineering software.

Be sure to stop by and see CSI at booth 919! To register for NASCC, visit the website of the American Institute of Steel Construction here.

Due to popular demand, new dates have been added for ETABS online training. You will experience live over-the-web training led by an expert CSI software instructor. Space is limited, so register early!

Intro to ETABS
Fee: $35 per person

This introductory course will cover ETABS' features and capabilities, including: Definition of Material & Frame Section Properties, Lateral Load Cases Definitions, Diaphragm Assignment, Load Combinations, Meshing, Frame Analysis Output, and Design Capabilities.

Enrollment is limited. Click here to register.

ETABS Steel Design for AISC360-05/IBC2006
Fee: $95 per person

This three-hour online course is intended for ETABS users who want to become more familiar with the new steel design provisions that have been adopted into the AISC360-05/IBC2006 code. We will cover topics related to steel beam and column design, including the direct analysis method, effective length method, calculations of nominal strength and design of members with combined forces.

Enrollment is limited. Click here to register.

ETABS Concrete Shear Wall Design
Fee: $95 per person

This three-hour online course covers topics related to shear wall design using ETABS, including meshing. Other topics to be discussed include uniform reinforcing, simplified tension/compression reinforcing, design for torsional effects in shear walls, and flexural and shear design for piers and spandrels.

Enrollment is limited. Click here to register.

Intro to SAP2000
Fee: $35 per person

This introductory course will cover SAP2000's features and capabilities, including: Object Based Modeling Using Templates, Definition of Frame Section Properties, Lateral Load Case Definitions, Edge Constraints, Extrusion Options, Section Options, Shell Meshing, Load Combinations, and more.

Enrollment is limited. Click here to register.

SAP2000 BrIM: Bridge Information Modeling
Fee: $35 per person

This 90-minute demonstration will cover the steps necessary to develop a bridge model using SAP2000. Three different types of bridges will be presented: concrete box girder, steel, and cable stayed.

Topics include: Layout Line Definition · Deck Section Definition · Abutment Definition Bent Definition · Diaphragm Definition · Cable Property Definition · Hinge Definition Parametric Variation Definition · Bridge Object Definition · Updating a Linked Model ·Lane Definition Vehicle Definition · Live Loads · Adding Vehicles · Adding Analysis Cases · Cable Property Definition · Pylon Section Definition · Analysis Cases… and more.

Enrollment is limited. Click here to register.