In this episode, Owen Keenan sits down with Brooks Smith, Chartered Structural Engineer, open-source contributor, and Head of Engineering R&D at ClearCalcs.

Brooks shares his unconventional career journey, from testing software at Ansys to conducting forensic investigations at the Empire State Building, before moving into cold-formed steel design and engineering platform development. Together, they explore how the engineer’s toolkit is evolving, from spreadsheets and hand calcs to cloud-based systems, AI-driven workflows, and data-informed design standards.

Whether you’re a design engineer, software-savvy practitioner, or just curious about the future of engineering, this episode dives into the mindset and tools shaping our profession.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Introduction

• 1:20 – Brooks Smith’s background

• 5:40 – Open-source projects and programming journey

• 7:20 – Transition into structural engineering

• 10:20 – Evolution of engineering tools over time

• 17:50 – How tools have improved practice

• 22:01 – Defining AI in the context of structural engineering

• 26:25 – AI’s role in structural design workflows

• 29:17 – What is emergent design?

• 31:36 – How innovation shapes standards and practice

• 33:47 – ClearCalcs tools and what’s next in development

• 38:30 – AI host summary and closing thoughts🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• 🔧 ClearCalcs
  https://www.clearcalcs.com/?utm_source=owenkeenan&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_campaign=podcast-feature

• 
  

  👤 Brooks Smith – LinkedIn
  www.linkedin.com/in/smithbh

• 
  

  💻 Open-source tools
  anaStruct (GitHub)
  pyCUFSM (GitHub)

• 
  

  📽️ CFSEI Presentation Slides (2024)
  Google Slides

• 
  

  📄 CFSEI Abstract
  Read the Abstract

Disclaimer: This episode was generated using AI, specifically NotebookLM, and is based entirely on the publicly available contents of CROSS Safety Report 1335. The dialogue you hear is fully AI-generated, no real people were involved in the voice or scripting. This format is an experimental tool designed to present technical safety insights in a more accessible, audio-first way for engineers, students, and construction professionals.

In this episode of Structural Intelligence, we explore the key lessons from CROSS Safety Report 1335, which investigates a serious incident involving the collapse of a precast concrete floor during an in-situ concrete pour.

While no serious injuries occurred, the event highlights critical safety and engineering insights about temporary works design, site supervision, and the importance of proper sequencing on construction sites.

We’re grateful to CROSS-AUS — the Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety initiative — for making this content publicly available. CROSS plays a vital role in sharing knowledge and improving safety outcomes across the built environment.

We encourage listeners to explore the full report and CROSS resources for deeper understanding:

👉 Original Report: Deficient design and oversight of temporary works leads to collapse – Report ID 1335
👉 Learn More about CROSS-AUS: https://www.cross-safety.org/aus

All credit to CROSS for their work in publishing this important information. This episode is a non-commercial reinterpretation designed to extend the reach of CROSS reports through an audio-first experience.

Can data‑driven design make mooring operations safer than the rule‑book ever imagined?
Senior Structural & Maritime Engineer Jordan Butler (WGA) explains how 20 terabytes of snapback simulations are rewriting global standards—and why engineers must look beyond compliance to manage real‑world risk.

Guest bio: Jordan chairs PIANC Working Group 251, leading the creation of international guidelines for snapback arresting systems. He combines hands‑on design with cutting‑edge computational modelling of mooring‑line failure at ports worldwide.

Episode guide
00:00 Intro – the hidden danger of snapback
01:28 How the “10° cone” became gospel
08:00 What is snapback analysis?
11:25 Conditions that trigger failure
14:17 Early guidance vs today’s standards
18:50 The Zagar incident (case study)
20:48 Building a 20 TB simulation pipeline
25:26 Site‑specific zoning vs blanket MEG‑4 rules
35:42 Engineering beyond the code
40:00 Key take‑aways

Links & resources
• Jordan on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbutlerengineering/
• Video: Dangers of Mooring Line Snapback – https://youtu.be/AHMdYf7XL14
• Demo: Snap Back Arrestor by TIMM Ropes – https://youtu.be/ULmn6tJO7Lk

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Credits

Podcast Studio - https://www.instagram.com/nevverlandstudios/Editor - Austin Grader - https://nevverlandstudios.com/