ZPMEngineers

8 Free Project Management Courses to Boost Your Skills

2022-10-20T01:23:00.002-07:00

Project management is a field that requires continual learning and development. PMs who stay updated on the latest knowledge and trends see their careers take off.

In this blog post, you will discover 8 free project management courses. These courses are available completely free of charge and they will help you develop your skills as a project manager. If you’re ready to upgrade your career in project management, check out these top 8 free project management courses now!

1- 1-Diploma in Project Management

T This free online diploma course teaches you how to implement project phases like a professional that gets things done. It guides you through every aspect of project management clearly and simply.

Link to the course

2- 2- Free E-mail course for project managers

This is your starting point if you want to expand your field of influence as a leader and see tangible results FAST. A free Course for Project Managers, Program Managers, and Team Leaders delivered straight to your inbox.

Link to the course

3- 3- Google project management professional certificate

In this program, you’ll learn in-demand skills that will have you job-ready in less than six months.

Link to the course

4- 4-Project Management Basics

A YouTube video presented by Strategia Netherlands showcasing a quick guide for project management basics that allows an understanding of project terms, the 5 phases of project management, and the documents needed for the successful implementation of the project management plan

Link to the course

5- 5- Project manager Free learning and resource

T Think of project management as the art and science of making things happen. Project managers are detail-oriented problem solvers who motivate and lead a project team to deliver a client's solution. They initiate, plan, execute, and monitor projects that lead to success.

Link to the course

6- 6- Project Management Updated – PMBOK7

T This course covers:

· The values of project management and the twelve principles that guide behavior

· The performance domains of stakeholders, teams, development approach and lifecycle, and planning

· The performance domains of project work, delivery, measurement, and uncertainty

· The tailoring of projects, and the use of models, methods, and artifacts

Link to register for the course

7- 7- PMP Project Management - Fundamental Concepts for Beginners

This is a free course for newcomers to project management who want to learn what sitting the official PMP exam entails.

Link to the course

8 – Principles of agile project management

This is a free online project management course hosted on the edx platform.

Link to the course

Project management is a challenging yet rewarding career for those who enjoy organization and logistics. To excel in this role, it’s crucial to build your skills with project management courses.

Consider these free project management courses if you want to take on a new project manager position. You can start any of these courses today, at your own pace and conveniently from home.

Visit our website www.zpmengineers.com for more resources and updates.

How to implement successful Construction Management?

2022-10-19T02:15:00.005-07:00

Have you ever felt that you will fulfill your career as an Engineer if you are present on the project construction site, where the action is taking place, and the project is ongoing, and you are part of it? Then this post is for you.

Problems occur on the project site daily and the lack of connection causes mistakes that can delay the schedule and drive additional project costs.

One of the most important aspects of construction management, whether it is for water tanks, bridges, or office buildings, is the scheduling of work crews.

Scheduling requires a detailed view of all the materials, machinery, and workers you should use at every stage since this will allow you to know when to perform each task.

Estimating is a must-do activity for any construction manager.

The most common problem on any project site is communication. Collaboration among the team members is key to the success of any project. If the team members are not in touch with each other, they will not be able to communicate effectively, which might lead to mistakes.

Another common problem is the lack of connection between the team members and stakeholders. This is a prevalent scenario on construction projects where the contractor hires the team members, and stakeholders are the owners or designers.

A construction manager is responsible for overseeing the work on a construction site. He eventually helps reduce the risks of disputes on-site, inconsistent reporting, and coordination hurdles. He should also ensure that the work on site proceeds according to the plan and appropriate standards.

Construction management enables teams to do things quickly and accurately to facilitate the workflow and improve the quality of work.

You might be wondering how the site problems can be solved or reduced. Well, It is critical to implement construction management practices with correct project management software use that streamlines various tasks and minimizes human errors.

Construction management is the process of managing project activities that are directly involved with the construction of a project. It is an integrated management approach directed toward the successful implementation of a construction project within the established cost, time, and quality targets.

Construction management is typically associated with large projects where it is difficult for a single company to provide all the required expertise.

The Construction Management process consists of 5 stages – initial planning, strategy and design, procurement, contract management, and closeout.

The initial planning stage

It is the very first stage of construction management where the project owner and key stakeholders identify the project and decide the type of procurement to be used.

The strategy and design stage

It is the stage where the owner and designer decide on the project's design. This stage is closely linked to the procurement phase where the designer and owner must decide on the contractors.

The procurement stage

This is the stage where the owner decides on the contractors and the contractors decide on the subcontractors. This stage is closely linked to the strategy and design stage.

The contract management stage

In this stage, the owner and contractors are responsible for managing the contractual terms and conditions.

The closeout stage

In this stage, the owner and contractors have to wrap up the project...

Indeed, construction management is not always glamorous, but it is a critical part of the project management process. By implementing the construction management plan, the entire project team can be more effective, and the project can be completed on time, on budget, and with quality.

Knowing the construction process sequence will allow you to allocate the right resources so that everything is ready on time.
Knowing how the materials need to be cut, clipped, or stained would allow a construction manager to make sure that each piece of lumber, concrete or decorative brick has been cut in line with specifications and building plans.

There are many aspects of construction management that you need to be aware of, and many tasks that you’ll have to do as a project manager. At ZPMEngineers, we provide you with an overview of all these crucial areas as well as a list of resources and project management courses, software, and practices to ensure the successful implementation of your project.

Top 8 Green projects toward a low-Carbon Future

2022-09-02T06:34:00.005-07:00

It's hard to believe that, as we're writing this post, about 80% of the world still relies on fossil fuels to some extent or another. We know that climate change is a looming crisis and it seems like the transition to cleaner energy sources should be among the most urgent priorities in our time. But let's take a step back and look at the bright side: We have a lot of creative minds working hard to create alternatives to avoid our dependence on fossil fuels.

In today’s rapidly changing global environment, renewable power generation projects have become nimble, sustainable, and innovative. Onshore and offshore wind power, solar, and geothermal

sources contribute to generating clean and renewable energy. Many emerging energy sources like hydrogen, wave and tidal energy already show great promise.

ONSHORE WIND

Onshore wind power generation is the oldest form of renewable energy and more than 60 countries have already started using it. It has the added benefit of being renewable and environmentally friendly, as opposed to green energy sources such as solar or nuclear power. There are a few types of onshore wind turbines that produce electricity for homes and businesses, but these models are too large to provide electricity for smaller communities.

OFFSHORE WIND

You might be surprised to hear that the fastest growing form of renewable energy is wind power – and it's not even close. There are hundreds of billions of dollars going into offshore wind farms all over the world, and many other forms of renewable energy have experienced a surge in growth as well.

The cost of wind turbines has come down over the years and now most installations run at cost-competitiveness with fossil fuel-based power sources.

SOLAR

Solar power generation projects are constantly introducing new technologies and more extensive facilities and, in many countries, the solar capacity has already exceeded the target capacity set for 2022 as governments keep setting ambitious targets for decarbonization. Many projects paused during covid-19 lockdowns are getting back to work which means an increase of 32% in PV capacity according to BloombergNEF.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy is one of the most promising renewable energy sources and its use for power production, heating, and cooling buildings through geothermal heat pumps is increasing.

WAVE AND TIDAL

Ocean wave and tidal current energy are the two types of ocean energy that are most advanced and are expected to contribute significantly to the supply of energy in the future. The global wave and tidal energy market size was valued at USD 1233.21 million in 2021 and is predicted to reach USD 28802.48 million by 2030, increasing at a CAGR of 41.92% from 2022 to 2030.

HYDROELECTRIC

Hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is a renewable source of energy that generates power by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water. Hydropower supplies one-sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined.

BIOENERGY

Bioenergy is one of many diverse resources available to help meet our energy demand. It is a form of renewable energy that is derived from recently living organic materials known as biomass, which can be used to produce transportation fuels, heat, electricity, and products.

HYDROGEN

Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed, produces only water. It can be produced from a variety of domestic resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind. Hydrogen is a key component of future energy systems, especially when it is produced without carbon dioxide emissions.

As the renewable energy industry continues its upward trajectory, and as concerns about climate change and the demand for cleaner energy sources continue to accelerate, there will be greater emphasis on analyzing, designing, building, and operating infrastructure projects that support the generation of clean energy from natural resources.

7 Best Tools in 2022 for Information Management

2022-06-08T03:51:00.009-07:00

Have you ever considered the advantages of sharing accessible information between your team members? Do you struggle to find free Wiki tools that can help you manage your company information?

In today’s post, we will take you through the 7 best wiki tools that we have tried and they all have a free version.

Guru

Guru’s free starter pack can have up to three users. It’s a manageable wiki that allows sharing knowledge and to-dos through the use of cards. It can integrate with MS teams, slack, and many other applications, making sharing information easier for these apps.

Notion

Notion is a very popular app that allows effective collaboration between teams. The personal version is available for free. It’s very easy to use and the user can benefit from the large collection of community-made templates. It allows any user to design a roadmap, document libraries, meeting notes, a home space, dashboards, and websites all using drag and drop. The app also allows for creating to-do lists and managing enterprise knowledge which helps the company team to stay updated with a clear and valuable context.

Slab

Slab has a secured and integrated design that allows organizing content by topic. You can embed any file or document from other tools and apps quickly for example Asana, Slack, Dropbox, GitHub, and Google Docs. The free package contains limited features but they have a startup plan that can cost up to 6.7$ per month.

Confluence

Confluence is a perfect tool for teams working in multiple countries. It has a special feature that allows real-time editing which makes it possible for employees to work on the same page simultaneously.

It has templates that help to start a project from scratch and documents can be stored or exported into various formats (pdfs, docs, images, etc.) making it a good option for a small-sized company since its free version can offer features for up to 10 users.

Curiosity

Curiosity app for work is a productivity app that allows saving time by connecting with all the tools that you already use to give you a unique place to search all your documents and applications. It connects with tools and apps like google drive or Slack and the shortcut-powered command bar can help you access things quickly.

It has advanced filter features that allow deeper searches. Curiosity is free on windows and mac and you can benefit from the safe use of your data on your pc with the possibility to get a free two-week trial of the Curiosity Pro version.

Nuclino

Nuclino offers a free version for up to 50 users, which makes it the choice of many startups, and the shift to its standard plan will cost $5 per month.

It has an easy interface and offers fast search, easy navigation, and real-time collaboration between teams which allows a better workflow and clear navigation through the company information.

Slite

Slite has a clean interface that allows remote teams to work efficiently. It allows for creating sharable notes and spaces and allows embedding content (videos, spreadsheets...)

It has a collection of free templates which makes it the choice of many growing companies.

If you want your company and teams to save time and improve their productivity by giving them one place to search, work, and share information. Head over our links provided and do not hesitate to download and start working with the best Wiki tools based on user comments, reviews of our own company users, and ratings from other sites.

Cost Management Courses from Autodesk

2022-03-22T08:20:00.005-07:00

Would you like to get concise easy to follow courses that will coach you as you develop your cost control and learn at your own pace?

How about offering a series of free cost management courses delivered to your inbox weekly from Autodesk?

Learn how to get ahead of the competition in construction projects today through the Effective Construction Cost Management Ecourse.

Each course is presented by an industry expert coach focusing on helping to understand what we need in order achieve cost management success at any level. You’ll discover a multi-dimensional approach to cost management in 4 lessons covering:

[Lesson 1] Effective Construction Cost Control: The Ball is in Your Court with Esteban Corrales

[Lesson 2] Standardization: The Cornerstone of Construction Cost Control with Jake Williams

[Lesson 3] Optimization: The Construction Cost Management Superpower with Josh Cheney

[Lesson 4] Your Mission: Transformation through Business Intelligence with Chris Fish

After receiving the courses, you’ll get the Effective Construction Cost Management Playbook -- all the lessons in one, easy-to-use PDF

Considering installing solar panels? Our ultimate Guide is available for you!

2022-02-11T03:33:00.007-08:00

Are you considering installing solar panels?

Well, solar systems are becoming more valuable with the high increase of electricity bills and the power shortages some countries are facing like Lebanon.

We got you covered with our expert Engineers. Their advice can pack a punch quite like today’s post.

For most people in Lebanon, Getting a solar panel is a financial decision. Knowing that the benefits of solar are many including reduced electricity costs, avoided carbon emission, and increased home value, it’s also important to talk about the cost of installing it as well as the factors that can affect the price you pay.

So How much does solar cost?

The short answer? It may cost you in Lebanon an average gross price of $10,000 but it depends on several factors:

the quality of the solar equipment you use, where you live, and even where you find that installer.

The cost of solar panels and solar inverters may vary depending on the quality of the equipment. Some have more efficiency, meaning more production per square meter of roof space.

Higher quality panels provide more efficiency when you have space restrictions on building rooftops.

They are priced 20% more than lower efficiency panels and they come in general with longer warranties which mean peace of mind for more than 20 years and better performance regardless of temperature limitations.

It’s important to compare prices by requesting multiple quotes the same way you compare when you purchase a car, a new HVAC system, or any home appliance. Price can differ from country to country depending on the amount of competition they face, the availability of labor, the cost to obtain a permit and equipment availability, and shipping costs.

Get in touch with ZPMEngineers for your free quote.

Below, we’ll present a summary of solar panel systems, as well as the equipment that you’ll need to produce power using the sun.

What are the basics of a solar panel system?

Solar panels are usually made of solar cells (made from the element silicon), wiring, a metal frame, and a glass cover

Solar panel systems work very simply:

· During the day, solar cells in your solar panels absorb the energy from sunlight;

· Circuits within the cells collect that energy and turn it into direct current (DC) energy;

· The DC electricity is passed through a device called an inverter to convert it to the usable alternating current (AC) electricity that comes out of your wall outlets;

Can I store energy using a solar battery?

The primary function of solar energy storage is to store energy produced by solar panels for a later time as a backup source of power in the event of a grid outage.

The main advantage of installing a solar-plus-storage energy system is that it gives you the ability to use your solar electricity even when the sun isn’t shining.

The four components of a solar panel system are:

1. Solar photovoltaic panels

2. Inverters–to convert DC electricity into AC electricity

3. Racking and mounting systems–pieces of hardware that affix your solar panels to your roof.

4. Performance monitoring systems–to track and monitor the output and health of your solar panels and inverters

What is the difference between String inverters and Microinverters?

A single inverter is the least expensive inverter option and is a very durable technology. Multiple strings of panels can be connected to each inverter; however, if the electricity production from one of the panels in a string drops (due to shading), it will reduce the performance of the whole string.

In the microinverters option, one is (usually) installed at each solar panel, which allows each panel to maximize production. If some of your panels are shaded at different times, microinverters will minimize performance issues. The cost of microinverters tends to be higher than the cost of string inverters.

How can we optimize the performance of our solar panel system?

To perform at their best, solar panels should face south and be installed at an angle between 30 and 45 degrees (depending on how far you are from the equator).

Panels facing east or west and at a pitch angle of five degrees or more will produce 20 percent less electricity than those installed under ideal conditions. You can use racking to incline your panels at an angle that is best for capturing the sun’s rays.

Whether your motivation to go solar is economic, environmental, or both, the Benefits are Endless! It’s time to take a serious look at solar.

Do not hesitate to get in touch with our experts today and request your free design and installation quote.

Top 10 Mobile apps to improve productivity and efficiency

2022-02-10T01:35:00.004-08:00

Do you start your day with a plan to achieve a lot and soon find yourself distracted and managing tasks uncontrollable and outside your scope?

Have you tried all kinds of productivity techniques to your working style including setting to-do lists, multitasking, time management , and got no results?

Are you looking to increase the work efficiency in your firm?

While Mobile devices were considered a distraction for most employees, the digital mobile world has brought many advantages like quick and daily access to information, and many applications were developed to boost productivity.

Upscale your productivity and increase your efficiency level with these 10 best mobile apps:

1.     OfficeSuite
2.     PDF Extra
3.     Evernote
4.     Notability
5.     SlideShark
6.     Slack
7.     Krisp
8.     Flexibits
9.     Asana
10. Xtensio

OfficeSuite is a complete solution that combines 5 + 1 premium products: documents, sheets, Slides, PDF, drive, and mail with the calendar. You can work with any document and format, anywhere. Supported on Windows 10, 8, 8.1, and 7, Android and iOS tablets and smartphones.

OfficeSuite pricing starts at $29.99 as a flat rate, per year. There is a free version and it works very well also. You can transfer from pc to tablet and phone very easily.

Reasons for Switching to OfficeSuite:

OfficeSuite has more features on Android than Office Mobile, you can switch between windows and mobile very easily.

It has full compatibility with all popular formats including Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Txt), Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides & Adobe PDF.

PDF has scan, signature, file conversion, and file browser.

Additional features:

· Spell check: all errors are automatically underlined in red color to help you make corrections.

· Dictionary: There is an embedded dictionary for an instant definition of your new words.

· Conditional formatting (on excel). OfficeSuite has almost everything you need from a computer version when it comes to conditional formatting. Other android excel apps don't give you much or they don't have the feature at all.

· There is a freehand feature where you can scribble naturally with a stylus or finger.

· Very handy: You can also add your hand signature to your files. The signature will be automatically applied on any document you choose to sign for, you won't have to literally sign on every file, or print a document, just to apply a signature on it.

· There is a Text to speech feature to read you aloud.

PDF Extra

A free downloadable version for PDF Extra is available and the personal yearly plan is priced at $49.99 - $4.16 per month.

Reasons for Switching to PDF Extra :

PDF Extra has more features on Mobile than Other pdf apps. You can easily:

· fill in forms digitally.

· Signify vital document status & details by inserting checkmarks or stamps to your pdf

· Add, resize, arrange or rotate any local image. You can even insert pictures from the web.

· Have access to 50 GB MobiDrive storage at your disposal as a Premium feature offered in the subscription plans.

· Control the flow of ideas and teamwork by using our powerful annotation features.

· PDF to word & excel conversion available

· Enjoy ebooks articles and catalogs with a simple conversion from PDF to ePub

· Secure important work and personal PDFs with passwords, encryption, and digital signatures.

PDFExtra is ideal for Employers, Teachers, Technicians, Inspectors, Contractors, Researchers, Writers, Editors, Engineers, Bloggers & Business Owners.

Evernote & Notability

Two of the best note-taking and organizational applications. While they have a different user interface, they can be both used to brainstorm and document projects from beginning to end.

Both apps allow using of Sketches, quick photoshoots, and pdf files that can be integrated with google drive or dropbox.

Evernote allows group chats and project communication.

SlideShark

SlideShark is an application that allows showing your PowerPoint presentation from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. It can be integrated into your dropbox account which makes creating and sharing presentations easy.

You can broadcast over the Web in real-time and share your slides online via email or social media.

Sign up for a free SlideShark account on their website or register on the login page when you launch the App. A single SlideShark account can be used for all your iOS devices.

Slack

Slack is a business professional platform made for communication between working teams. It includes chat rooms organized by groups and by topics and can provide direct messaging and video calls

The free plan is sufficient if you own a small business. It includes access to 10,000 of your team’s most recent messages and integrations with other apps like Google Drive, Office 365, and many more...
It also allows one-to-one voice and video calls between teammates. Premium and business versions are priced starting at $6.67 /mo**Per active user.

Krisp

Krisp is a noise cancellation app for remote workers. You can remove the hassle of dealing with background noise from kids playing, watching tv, or dogs barking through Krisp.

By using Krisp noise-canceling app together with Zoom or any video conference, you can enjoy more productive and efficient conference calls.

It also works well for call centers and can suppress the noise also for the one calling from a noisy location so it can work on both incoming and outgoing audio.

Flexibits

Flexibits offers best-selling productivity apps Fantastical and Cardhop for Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad that are enjoyable and flexible. The Flexibits Premium subscription combines the value of these two award-winning apps.

Fantastical: a beautiful, clean, and easy to use calendar app that allows users to manage events, share calendars, and stay organized
Cardhop: an incredibly intuitive contacts app that lets you search, add, edit, and interact with your contacts

Both are available with a 14-day free trial and subsequent subscription to Flexibits Premium. A single subscription unlocks all features in both Fantastical and Cardhop across your devices. Your calendars, tasks, and contacts will be more powerful, more productive, and more fun.Sign Up for Flexibits Premium with Fantastical today

Asana

Asana is a web and mobile work management platform designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work. It has a free plan very functional for small businesses and project management. It can support unlimited teams, projects, messaging, activity logs, file storage, multiple project views, and more. If you have less than 15 users and manage basic projects, you can stay on the free plan forever.

Xtensio

Xtensio is a platform developed for teams to create, share, and manage all of their business documents. You can manage your business by creating sales sheets, reports, case studies, agendas, and more, with no design experience. Xtensio is ideal for consultants, Agencies, startups, sales teams, educators, and students.

A free plan is available on their website with free demos to help you get started.

Elements to consider in decorating your space

2022-01-19T08:39:00.008-08:00

A sense of comfort is all that you have to achieve in the decorative scheme of any space. You can do a lot to make a room look more spacious such as playing with colors, texture, and lighting – natural and artificial – as well as using reflective and transparent surfaces.

Color

The points given below will help understand how color can be used to break up an area, to define certain parts, unify a space, and to also add ambiance. It can make a space feel larger or smaller.

Warm and cool colors

Colors such as green, blue and purple are cool colors while red, orange, and yellow are warm. You can sense a warm cozy room just when you walk into it. A warm red can be cooled if you add some blue and a cool green can be warmed if you add some yellow. Walls painted in blue make a small space look larger and the reverse is also true.

Lights effect on colors

The quality of light may affect how the color appears in a room. A room facing the sun for instance will look warmer than another room away from the sun. You can use a cool color such as blue if your room is naturally exposed to sunlight, and artificial lighting also affects color. Ordinary incandescent bulbs will make the colors in a room look warmer and more yellow than they are. They will also make blues look more green and reds look more orange. Fluorescent makes colors look colder while halogen gives out a closer effect to sunlight. Taking into account your artificial lighting when planning your color scheme is therefore very essential.

Color can appear different depending on the color that is next to it and the larger the area that is covered by color, the more that color will take the lead in a scheme.

Tints & shades

A Tint is made when u add white to a color and a shade when you add black. Lighter colors reflect light while darker colors absorb it.

White and pale colors

What works best in your designed space are in general the white and pale light-reflecting colors as they have a space-defying effect. Be careful a warm white can make a sunny room feel uncomfortably warm. Instead, try cool neutrals such as cool off-white, pale grey, green-grey, and lavender greys or any pale cool green, blue, or mauve. These colors look best in rooms with good natural light. Please bear in mind that the white scheme is high-maintenance and not ideal for a family with children and pets.

Using strong Colors, Patterns & Texture

Strong colors can be used and textures can add interest to what are essentially monochrome schemes.

You can introduce an accent color in the form of accessories like for example a collection of vases or some cushions. A fabric panel or a two-tone wallpaper can also do the trick.

A strong color can be used also to paint one wall or to divide a panel and can be employed in the form of a brightly colored rug and perhaps a red chair in a pale grey room.

The pattern most commonly appears in textiles, flooring, and wallpaper. If you want a narrow room to feel wider, a few boards, contrasting horizontal stripes painted on the wall will do the trick.

Large patterns in small spaces work better than small-scale patterns. You can use large tiles laid in a diagonal way which will give your space a stretching effect and a feeling of liveliness, unlike small patterns that look too busy.

Ensure always to use patterns of similar scale and tone. So if you have a collection of objects, avoid displaying them if they don t form a unified pattern such as their shape or color. You can instead use a single over-scaled piece and light it well.

Textures also add variety and depth without creating fussiness. Soft textures are essential to provide comfort to your home like for example, thick wool throws, fluffy towels, and large squashy cushions.

Lighting and Windows

Lighting should form an integral part of our planning whatever the size of the space is. the first and most important is the access to natural light from windows, doors, and other openings.

Increasing the size of windows and openings as much as possible will bring more natural light into your space. You can also consider removing internal walls and doors to provide yourself with a greater sense of space and more exposure to natural light.

Avoid using a solitary ceiling light, it leaves the corners of the room bathed in gloom. Use recessed downlights instead they make the room look larger. Add decorative lighting through the use of spotlights, strip lights, or wall washers. Those are usually used for illuminating paintings, houseplants, bookshelves. The directional lighting can be used in the form of downlights fitted beneath a wall cabinet for working or reading.

Backlight a bathroom mirror or cabinet and set light flush in the treads of the stairs or in the wall flanking the stairs so that they help direct the eye from zone to zone.

Create a sense of movement through the space via lighting by adding a row of spotlights for example along a corridor floor or ceiling to lead the eye away from the narrowness of the corridor and into the next space.

Reflection and transparency

Use Reflective surfaces such as mirrors and metals, they will give a sense of spaciousness by bouncing the light around.

Work with see-through surfaces such as glass and Perspex, they also let the light flow in the room.

Employ materials with a reflective quality on your walls and ceiling for example high-gloss paints, lacquers, and varnishes. When applied to the ceiling with good lighting it can be particularly space-enhancing.

Wallpapers with a light-reflecting metallic finish as well as mirrors can be also used on walls. Mirrors with good lighting can provide a better effect, locate them opposite a window or door and try using them for example with decorative lighting in bathrooms or behind a shelf that holds a display of your favorite objects.

Tiles are another option to be considered for your walls. Glazed ceramic tiles are available in a wide range of colors and formats, the white or fairly neutral ones often work in any space especially small spaces.

Glass tiles are better employed in bathrooms and have a watery look whereas metal tiles in stainless steel and copper come with a textured finish that can be used on walls and countertops.

Glass wall panels can also be incorporated in your design in different patterns like the sandblasted design, etched, textured and screen printed glass, for example, the latter offering interesting design and color opportunities.

Be aware of the structural quality installed since safety is always an issue with sheet glass, make sure to hire professionals like ZPMEngineers.

Whether you are a contractor or you’re decorating your home, I advise you to seek help by consulting our Homepage. Our experts can bring everything together to make the entire job successful. Managing projects, organizing your crew on your own can get messy, and it takes valuable time out of your day. Our Engineers will help keep all of that on track, so your project runs smoothly.

Reflection in floors

The first and most common option is to use quality glazed ceramic tiles for floors and avoid the slippery finishes in areas that get wet.

Stone is a more costly alternative that can be used on floors and walls. A highly polished finish most commonly found in granite can have higher reflecting qualities. Stone can come in a huge range of types and colors but its weight can cause a problem if the floor structure is weak.

Metal flooring or stairs are also reflecting surfaces and are worth considering. They are structurally tough available in different styles and are easy to clean. Polished concrete became also a luxury material used in galleries shops and restaurants giving a cutting edge industrial look and can be colored or laid in panels. Poured Resin is also durable and offers a highly glossy surface that can bounce light and color and can be used in treads or floor panels.

Tips to address challenges faced in Engineering jobs.

2021-12-20T15:05:00.004-08:00

Getting a job in Engineering can be very tricky these days. Whether you are looking for a remote Engineering job, hybrid, or on-site many challenges may face you and you will have to pass several assessments and a face-to-face interview. Employers will always want to hire the best engineer, usually because the jobs are limited and require a lot of skills and specific experience that a recent graduate may not have. Many Engineers may face challenges while building their careers, they try to learn new ways to solve problems and sometimes they find themselves in a profession that is not a good match for them.

It’s completely possible to change paths and below are tips that will help:

1 – Perform Self-assessment regularly to clarify your interests, skills, and values. It’s known that our interests may change over time. You might want to further your education in management. My advise is to check Brain Sensei they offer PMP and CAPM Exam Prep Free Trial.

2- Use Online platforms and resources to learn more about each discipline. Civil Engineering Jobs, Mechanical and Electrical engineering jobs may vary depending on the market, the country, and the demand and availability within the overall economy. For instance, the American society of civil engineers estimates that $3.6 trillion should be invested in the US infrastructure next year which means a higher demand for civil engineers specializing in infrastructure.

3- Research companies and industries that might interest you. Try to reach out and offer your services. “ In today’s job market, an undergraduate degree in engineering can take you down almost any career path.” Try to enlarge your network by contacting new persons in your field and enrolling yourself in mentorship programs for empowerment and self-development.

4- Benefit from the well-developed professional recruiting platforms such as linked in and monster to enhance your career search. Be passionate and dedicate your time to building your career and Invest your time and energy in your professional life to be able to reach your goals.

5 Useful Addresses for General Furnishings

2018-08-08T00:07:00.001-07:00

Are you looking to furnish your home and need ideas?

Whether you have a classic, modern & contemporary or traditional style, I grabbed a list of useful addresses for your use. You may get inspired by the varieties of furniture offered and find what you’re looking for to get your own space designed.

B&B Italia

www.bebitalia.com

Various branches: contemporary living, dining and bedroom storage furniture.

Unique designs and ideas are offered to suit most of the needs creating special identities for each design in addition to breaking away the set patterns of the sector and merging new creative ideas.

John Lewis

www.johnlewis.com

Various branches: stacking and sofa beds, storage furniture and accessories, folding and stacking chairs, folding, extending, glass and nesting tables, kitchen appliances, freestanding modular kitchen units, Trolleys.

Habitat

www.habitat.net

Specialized in home improvement, Habitat brand is directed by a French designer Pierre Favress who is leading a team of designers in collaboration with external partners to produce more innovative and functional articles in order to create individuality for each client.

BoConcept

www.boconcept.com

Boconcept offers complete solutions for your interior space design. They have more than 260 stores in over 60 countries. Check their online 2018 catalog for the latest trends.

B&Q

www.diy.com

B&Q is an international home improvement and garden living retailer with 1,100 stores across Europe. Their Orange brand is greenly awarded and they are committed to sustainability in design as well as execution providing the best eco-friendly designed solutions.

9 easy steps to make your designed space feel bigger

2018-07-20T08:06:00.002-07:00

Are you faced with a small space that needs to be made liveable?!
You will need to think about your priorities and follow these simple steps to make your living area more spacious. At the top of the list, of course, don't forget the basics - areas in which to sleep, bathe, cook and sit but it's not about that only, it's about relaxation and with that comes a wide range of stuff - books, CDs, DVDs, Sports gear, computer equipment and so on... And for this, you will need a lot of storage, a high priority in any small space.

follow these 9 steps to make your space feel bigger:

Choose space-saving, mobile or dual-purpose furniture wherever possible.

Put your TV on a wall bracket, or have a plasma screen that lies flat on the wall, and keep the tabletop free for something else.

Rethink your lighting (Nothing is worse than using a solitary ceiling light to provide your ambient lighting: it leaves the corners of the room bathed in gloom). A better solution is to install lots of recessed downlights in the ceiling, they will make a low-ceilinged room look larger.

Devote more space to mirrors or other reflective surfaces.

Choose light-enhancing colors to decorate the space. A room with plenty of warm, natural lighting can take a cool color such as blue, while a room that faces away from the sun would feel chilly with blue walls. Artificial lighting has an effect on color, too, and you'll need to take that into account while planning your lighting, as well as thinking about a color scheme.

Use low-level furniture to keep sightlines free so that you don't feel closed in.

Consider using sofas and chairs with legs rather than those that come down to the floor. Being able to see the floor beneath them will give the illusion of more space.

Avoid furniture with fussy detail and trims.

Underlighting bulky pieces of furniture, such as beds and built-in storage, will prevent it from looking so heavy.

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