The Florida Engineering Society's new incoming President, Ron Colas, PE, SI, has a lot of important information for professionals interested in Florida's railroads, highways, ports, and airports. Colas recently sat down with Engineering Florida Podcast host Sam Yates, to discuss these important topics and the challenge of attracting students to the world of engineering.
For intermodal transportation's future, an underlying theme is Florida's power grid. For the next generation of engineering students the theme is STEM and awareness of the value of Engineers in our everyday lives.
The Florida Engineering Society, Engineering Florida podcast, is produced by Yates & Associates, Public Relations & Marketing. Contact Sam Yates, Sam@Yatespro.com.
The Florida Engineering Society's new incoming President, Ron Colas, PE, SI, has a lot of important information for professionals interested in Florida's railroads, highways, ports, and airports. Colas recently sat down with Engineering Florida Podcast host Sam Yates, to discuss these important topics and the challenge of attracting students to the world of engineering.
For intermodal transportation's future, an underlying theme is Florida's power grid. For the next generation of engineering students the theme is STEM and awareness of the value of Engineers in our everyday lives.
The Florida Engineering Society, Engineering Florida podcast, is produced by Yates & Associates, Public Relations & Marketing. Contact Sam Yates, Sam@Yatespro.com.
Engineers are ingenious professionals. Engineers invent, design, verify and qualify, engineers are the professionals who make our lives and businesses prosperous and safe. The Florida Engineering Society is proud to put our engineering professionals in the spotlight so that they may educate, share information and introduce you to the world of engineering that is thriving in Florida. Here's your host of the engineering Florida podcast, Sam Yates, with today's guest.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:it's only been about a year ago that I was sitting here and we began the interview process with the Florida Engineering Society chatting with some of the the key people who really make that organization what it is. And over the course of a year, I know that we've touched on many, many topics. And today, we're touching on the topic of a new president for the Florida Engineering Society. The bar is constantly being raised by the leadership of the Florida engineering society by the leadership at the top and one of those leaders, Ron Cola, he is the leader of the Florida Engineering Society, some of the key people behind him have some awesome things to say, because I've talked with him over the past couple of weeks. And they gave me some some topics to make sure that we touched upon because they know these are important to you. But Mr. Colas, welcome to the program today.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:Glad to be here. Dan, thanks for the opportunity to talk with you. I look forward to our discussions.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:I always start every program with getting to know the guest a little bit better. And I know that you and I had the opportunity a few months back to chat in great detail about your background, but let's share some of that with our audience.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:So by way of hearing my accent, you probably thought thanks for thinking that I am not. I wasn't born in the United States. But I've been living here for quite a long time. Originally from the Caribbean, more specifically Haiti. And I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My father was an engineer out to the borders in the engineering field. My mom was a nurse, and midwife and I have in other words, I have like five former siblings, and it was sitting right in the middle. So I was always told that I was a troublemaker but good trouble. And I've been in the US for over 40 plus years. Went to school in the Midwest, St. Louis University and universal misery well I know called misery science and technology. Great school, we like to call it the MIT of the Midwest. And graduated study my masters at WashU. But went to work for Caltrans in the west coast as a junior engineer, and then a geotechnical engineer and highway engineer, and then move back to the eSports here. Corona small firm and then into went into the Nationals scene scene, we have corporate America, if you will, working with national firms in different aspects of the business. So that's a quick summary of who I am.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:And I always have to go wow, you know that you touched on just a few of the topics, licensed engineer in seven states.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:Yes, one of the one that I keep very dearly is California because you know, it's one of the hardest states because of the seismic another thing so make sure that I keep that license to quite up to date. But yes, I've been making sure that I am. I quit opportunities for businesses, not only for myself, but the from our present in some of the key states where infrastructure is really important for a, you know, some kind of an economy on the state. So California, Florida, somebody made United States, more or less like the central United States, Maryland, Mississippi and Alabama, and also in the Caribbean of the Virgin Islands.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:Having spent majority of my adult life in the Midwest in the great state of Ohio, we sort of think of Ohio is the crossroads of America. I happen to be assigned not only aviation, aerospace, but the transportation sector because into intermodal transportation literally does make the world go round. And we're going to talk about some of that, but I know that you are going to be giving regular updates to your fellow engineers through the FES and I have to pause and say one of the first things that jumped out at me was that The glass family and the tremendous outpouring that shows the Florida Engineering Society has more than just a heart, it has a huge heart.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:Yeah, as you could see, the glass familiar was with us at our annual conference. And within a week of the conference ending, we were hit by this horrible news with Meredith and a family. So I'm very proud of our members and colleagues that really poured their heart to support that family with young children, as you can imagine. So it was no one expected that it's a young couple. And, you know, we wanted to make sure this families had all the, I guess, infrastructure, if you will, on the financial side, but really, more than financial, if you will, to support the family. You know, the team at FES is very due to our membership and also to the leadership on the board. We've been working for a long time. And it's almost a small family. So I I'm very proud of, you know, the effort that came through in a heartbeat, frankly, that was very fast. And in fact, the results are that we've exceeded the goal.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:And I have to say that, you know, to start your your position as the president and achieve that it speaks, it speaks volumes of what you personally feel about the organization. And I think you hit it right on the head. It is family. So I want to commend you for that.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:Thank you, thank you very much.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:Let's talk some of the areas that I know are very important to you. rail transportation in Florida. I'm sitting here in my office in Stuart, Florida, I look out the window. And during our our conversation, we may hear quietly, the train go by bright line, because this week, as we're recording this, Florida began a Miami to Orlando, quote, high speed rail, it will get faster, but quite an accomplishment from a rail standpoint, your perspective.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:So, you know, back in the days, you thought, right, transportation is just highway bridges, right? People didn't think there were other modes of transportation. And as you see this mass transit system, whether it's a bus or rail, for that matter, people are becoming more open to the idea if you look at Europe for that, for that matter, which is somewhat very much connected because of in terms of different countries, but they have a fabulous system that is interconnected on all particular mode. So I commend breadline for really pushing the initiative to really connect communities. And if you will, they're also from FDT. Leadership, they are very, that's one of their key attributes, they want to make sure communities are connected or reconnected for that matter. So really is important for many ways, for many reasons, not only from a mobility standpoint, and also it creates a larger communities, there will be transit development, orientated facility, people perhaps will be able to leave a little bit further but still be able to communicate. And then the other thing that produces a bit of a netzero, if you will, will be able to reduce our carbon footprint. And, and I think the other thing that's important to me, our younger generation really don't want to drive brand, that's another subject there. So having another way of creating mobility for them is important. So I think this is coming in real time. As we look forward in the future to really develop well, of course, the technologies is going to be smarter will probably will have faster training in the future, but I think it's a good start. And it needs to connect the rest of the state if I were to look at crystal ball, I hear things that bright light is gonna go to Tampa, but if you wanted to look in the future, I would definitely draw draw a triangle from the Miami Orlando Tampa, go back to Miami. You know, those are different alignments that will probably be coming in the future. And also let alone the other areas that are the in developer wonder North Florida as well. Jacksonville, it's another area so I could see, you know, legs of well being developed, where you know, more transportation is provided for people.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:Well, I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed that because right now we're steel on steel on track. Europe and the other countries. big proponent maglev. I know the Northeast Corridor at one point now I'm dating myself because I actually worked on the communications plan for a variation of a maglev have committed our transportation system for the Northeast quarter. It didn't happen. But that's a different engineering technology altogether, though.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:Absolutely, absolutely. And also the maintenance of him too. So when you start having those kind of systems, we got to think about, well, how are you going to build more facilities to maintain this trail? How is it to where the parts are coming from? So I think the Maglev yet it's not necessarily taking ground in the United States. But I would say it's not too far in any future.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:Looking at it from from my background, one of the things that we always did in the news business was to do a comparison to build a mile of infrastructure being highway or being interstate and comparing that cost to a mile of rail, there is no comparison, it's, it's a no brainer, build rail, and we will be saving money for the citizens of Florida ultimately,
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:well, and then the other thing you need to look at, well, Florida, in a sense, going to be landlocked, right? You're not going to be able to build any more highways in the future. So I think the agencies that are in this business will look at maintain what we have and think about different modes, in Floyd, also various environmental sensitive areas as well. You know, so there's some sudden, I was the infrastructure construction that will disrupt scenario. So one needs to be mindful of that. So well, and other modes are providing the alternate, if you will, or mobility or volume.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:For there are some naysayers there. But recently, I spoke with the the mayor of Palm Beach County. And he relayed the story of how in the construction of the bright line station in Palm Beach County, that led to the creation of more than a million square feet of space used for some retail, but there was a million square feet in there of residential housing and the interesting part, and you hit upon it, no requirement for those housing projects, part of the bright line complex for on street parking, because today's generation doesn't want to dry they want to come from their house, get into the train, and go where they need to go. interest.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:And you said it, right. So it creates it creates business opportunities for business owners in all those one of getting scenarios, the businesses, and then also it allows residents that are into mixed use facilities to almost play and work and, and get on and get in the system and come back. Can you imagine, if you were driving on a three hour drive, you probably focus on the road, right. But if you take a bright line or rail system for that, you should still do catch on work. Because you have all the other tools at your disposal. And it's a smooth ride. If you do your emails, you do whatever you need to do for work. But and you're more connected than than you would have been if you're driving.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:switch gears a bit to another type of transportation and one that I also have a notice here there's a pattern, Sam is asking questions about things that he's interested in. But it's also engineering too. But that is flight. I'm following very closely Joby aviation out of Dayton, Ohio, that's going to be manufacturing in the neighborhood of 600. Electric taxis, they will either be autonomous, or they will be single pilot. And I know that the Florida engineers totally are preparing for this type of transportation because they helped develop a plan for a verta port. Tell us what that is.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:Well, so this is an interesting topic. And it's still growing. While there are a lot of researches that are taking this around the globe, and also in the United States. So there's evil that people like to talk about, but suddenly, I think it's coming. And it reminds me of the Jetsons. I've always wondered, Is it true perhaps you know, things thought ideas start to be developing from the cartoon and then becomes reality later. But if you think about it, it it is something that's going to provide more opportunities to be more mobile. I think the struggle is from the FAA side is Adi regulate these these flying vehicles, whether it's autonomous or single pilot, so that in an airspace that's not really compromising the larger pool of aircrafts that are flying there. So that's one aspect. The second aspect is If they're going to be electric vehicles, where do you charge? And how do you charge them? Do you have enough of a power grid to make sure that you can service those? And how do you maintain them? So there are a lot of other questions that are coming behind that. But certainly I think the technology is there. It's it's coming, I would say the next 10 years. After they go through the pilots, pilot programs, and they've talked to the FAA, they have certain regulations, put in place at least a certain ceiling floor, I think believe I believe from the auto, whether you call it the AMA, which is the American I wanted to call teams there, there's a 500 foot ceiling for autonomous aircraft. And I happen to be one of the pilots that fly the electric helicopters and passionate about that. But it there's that ceiling, but there will be only be a higher ceiling for other vehicles, as well. So I think there's a lot to come that needs to be regulated, and then to avoid compromises. But it is a acknowledges that there are some it's coming we can't. The question is how far can one go with a single charge.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:This is true. I also fly drones for different purposes. And that's always a concern. When the warning light comes on low battery, low battery, it's like oh my gosh, I hope I got into power to get back home. So you know, that's not a, that's not a luxury option to have if you're flying people or cargo. So that's certainly something that we'll have to watch. But I'm looking at it carefully because I know a lot of our major airports have feeder airports nearby that could accommodate these. So Florida is pretty wide open. I am hoping to see that.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:One more thing I mentioned. So you know, when we talk about transportation in Florida, we also talking about Air Mobility, right? So we talk on the different modes. So the Air Mobility side is key important. We have you know, we're launching spacecraft from Florida. Certainly Florida is well positioned to really have a become a pioneer in this kind of industry.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:I hope so I look forward to to having you back on in the future and talking about the progress that the engineers have helped to make here in Florida, when it comes also to progress on the highways autonomous vehicle. I know, the Florida Turnpike Authority in all of its new planning for new segments of Turnpike, if you look at the plans, you will see every 500 feet a light pole, except it's not technically it is technically a light pole, but it is also a 5g retransmission tower, because right now, that's about the range of autonomous signal pass through. And I think even today, we have already autonomous semis on the Turnpike, is that something that is really going to be ushered in with all the developments we're seeing?
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:Well, you know, I think they've been talking about autonomous vehicle more like a private vehicle and so forth. And as I was talking to some other colleagues, then the whole thing is, well, they will be autonomous. But how do you create? How do you we energize vehicles? Right? So and I think that's the key question there. So do you have enough power on the you could do a test pilot project, say less than a mile on a highway and where you could provide some filters to charge the batteries? What does that look like if you're driving a truck, right? And it's not even a semi yet some kind of a four wheel drive this thing on much higher? So are you going to get the same amperage to charge your batteries? And then when you get to the semi? What does that look like again? So I think from an autonomous vehicle in terms of what Google has been doing, and other key folks they are, it's proven that the vehicle can self drive itself. With some management, I think the bigger parties are do maintain energy into vehicles so that you can get more for your miles. And recently I drove one, I just happen to be renting and they give me one vehicle. And it was not a Tesla, you will some other brands. And I had a hard time finding a super charging station. So I panicked. I had a 200 miles, you know capacity. But after what the heck am I going to charge the vehicle so I had to drive outside at 10% battery? Can you imagine? Well, then I told myself Well, the thing happened, I'll just leave it on the side of the road. But but the point is the point the point is, we as we are developing these new technologies from our former self driving vehicle, we also need to think about the energy sources right though is the greed, strong enough to provide ministrations? Right. And then another thing too? How do you transition the combustion engine into the vehicle? So are you going to have notice stations that will have perhaps provide gasoline or diesel and at the same time, they also provide electric? So there are a lot more questions, but I think it's coming. The idea is, is doing research, how to really make the highways a little bit smarter. And smarter means just the vehicles or communicating with some other devices, but at the same time charging, right?
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:touching upon all the the avenues, shoreline, Florida is rich in Shoreline, I would not be doing my job if I didn't ask about engineering ports. And what can we see from Europe? Notice I'm also asking you to project some vision here to what's up with the ports.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:So most of our, well, Florida is ready to get with an artist offline. But Florida is good with the Caribbean and Latin America. Yes, there are a lot of ships that are coming through our shores, and important, you know, or exporting goods. And also, it's allowed Florida to really be a major player in the global economy because of trade. So ships and ports are allowed allowing trades to be a little bit more enhanced in Florida. With that said, the major ports are also looking at upgrading the infrastructure is because the the manufacturers of the chips are making their chips, much smaller, much, much much smarter. And we talked about energy a while ago. So, you know, there's also a thinking, well, will the ships have liquid nitrogen fuel? Right. So LNG is something that's very much being discussed, I think South Africa has the largest hub for LNG. So I could see those ships visiting the ports in Florida thinking about that way. But one of the areas that they've been looking at is really shore power, to the point where when a ship comes in, plug in right away, you know, power to the ships without really impeding the power grid. So I see that being done in, in South Florida, put in South Florida, Jacksonville is looking at that Tampa is doing it that is also looking at that. So the you know, from a technology point of view, I think that's what the maritime world is looking at. The other part I see going on is how do you protect this footprint from a resiliency side, I think we would not do our service, too, if we didn't touch that part of it on the port side, because Florida is well located, you know, always under threat of hurricane and sea level rise, etc. So there are ways that the ports of thinking is to retrofit their footprint against, you know, those challenges that come with resiliency. And the ships are gonna keep on being smaller and smaller. So from that investment, I think the port facilities will have to continue upgrading their their infrastructure, you know, us having mega ships now that are bringing more cargo in, you have to perhaps we can add having better and smarter cranes from from a cruise line, people are taking the cruise and the cruise ships are getting bigger as well. So there are a lot of areas where I believe that ports will will continue to improve their facility. And we're talking about inland ports to, you know, for example, soft border port Miami Port Everglades, what a waste point they'll have, they'll have, they'll need capacity. So if you want to trade more, where do you store those goods? More to come on.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:In each of the areas that we have touched upon. There are so many engineering tentacles that reach out in so many different areas. Do we have enough engineers to do what needs to be done? And if not, how do we get more students, more professionals into the engineering world?
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:So I've touched on this. That's a great question, Sam. And also that question is tied to workforce development, right? Which is something that everybody's noticing that there's a need for so I would take that question and add to it with what will future engineers look like? You know, in my days, we had to take all the prerequisites, take the car ballistic, did the differential equation and everything else to become an engineer. And then how much am I using that today? You know, so I think the new engineers they would have, and that's working with the academia, working with others as well. And the new genius will have to be able to be educated in the ways that they can compete with the new technologies, and be fully ready to address those challenges. And, you know, AI is is a big element of it. So I know that some a lot of universities are talking about how to introduce that into their curriculum. But to your call the call your questions, do we need more? Yes. And it starts with the the STEM program, you know, on early education, that we need to keep promoting the studies of mathematics, science, to, you know, to encourage more younger students to get into the field of engineers, engineering. It's a phenomenon, field, if you will. It's not something very understood. It's not sexy, compared to architecture that they get to see. But it's really the backbone of everything that we see whether it's infrastructure with buildings, or just energy, I think that it needs to be talked by the leadership of society's professional societies, owners, the private sector, the public sector, we need more engineers. And when and then also, perhaps, like I said, briefly, is modifying their code their curriculum for for the study of engineers, if you look at other countries, China, actually, when I used to work in Caltrans, in the West Coast, there are a wave of engineers coming from Vietnam, you know, China and those other places. So a lot of Asian engineers were coming, because there was still meet having that challenge. There were not enough people. So we need to encourage our youngest students to study engineering.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:We've covered a lot of material today. And, you know, frankly, I wanted to say that for our audience, you're going to be spared, because otherwise, Ron and I would be sitting here for another couple of hours just carrying on conversations about different topics here. But is there anything that we have not touched upon that you wanted to make sure that we covered today?
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:That was awkward to talk about a lot of of the things that are really keeping a lot of people awake? I think transportation of all is a key element of, of development, if you will. And I know the Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is very concerned about upgrading, improving floor infrastructure for that, for that can become at least the 10th global economy in the world, currently 14. And it's just not transportation, but overall, you know, workforce development, education, and an increasing trade trade development. I think we've covered a number of things. But one of the things I would say, looking ahead is how engineers are giving back to our communities as well. We need to wait, that's an important element of it. So we need to be part of our communities to provide support and stay connected.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:I'm going to save that for a standalone topic for when we have you back on and that leads to the question, will you come back for another episode?
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:I'd love to I think this topic is exciting. And because we don't know what it will look like, but suddenly, we could shape it as engineers and other business owners and educators. We can shape the future. So I look forward to an invitation.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:I will make that invitation looking forward to it myself. Ron Cola, president of the Florida Engineering Society. Welcome aboard. I want to say that because I don't know if I said that to begin with at the beginning of the program. I'm proud to be part of the effort that the Florida Engineering Society does to help educate our public, our legislative leaders and our fellow engineers. So thank you for being here.
Ron Colas, PE, PI, President, Florida Engineering Society:I thank you. And I think I'm very humbled to be leading the this great group of people and you know, on the roadmap here, so I can do with with with without the support of our staff. So I'd like to kind of echo that and say that the stuff that we have added here, and also our colleagues in the ACC side has been very tremendous. So thank you for the opportunity.
Sam Yates, Host, Florida Business Forum, Florida's Number One Business News Podcast:My pleasure. I'm Sam Yates, your host until our next episode, have a great day everybody.
Sam Yates:Thanks for listening to another informative episode of the engineering Florida podcast. Our goal is to help educate and inform everyone who listens to our podcast about our members and topics of interest to the Florida Engineering Society. On behalf of the Florida Engineering Society, and the engineering Florida podcast, have a great day everybody