A Successful First Seminar: ChatGPT-Assisted Engineering Spreadsheets

On March 27, 2026, RHCES — RHCepeda Engineering Services held its very first online seminar, ChatGPT-Assisted Engineering Spreadsheets, and the turnout exceeded all expectations. With over 90 participants joining from across the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the event marked a milestone for RHCES and a clear signal that Filipino engineers are ready to embrace AI in their daily practice.

90+Participants

4Hours

7+Spreadsheets Built

3Countries

The Event in Photos

Here are some snapshots from the live Zoom session showing the energy and engagement of our participants:

Seminar 1 - Zoom participants group screenshot

Participants and the resource speaker during the live session

Seminar 1 - Zoom participants and speaker

Engineers from across the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE joined the seminar

A packed Zoom room with 90+ registered participants

What Happened

The 4-hour seminar was led by Engr. Ruel H. Cepeda, structural engineer and founder of RHCES. The session covered everything from the fundamentals of using ChatGPT for engineering spreadsheets to live, hands-on development of real structural engineering tools.

Participants learned how to:

Plan spreadsheets and write effective prompts for ChatGPT
Generate accurate engineering formulas using AI
Build professional-grade spreadsheets from scratch
Apply AI-assisted workflows to beam analysis, ACI 318-19 design, deflection checking, crack width verification, column capacity checks, and quantity estimation

The highlight of the evening was Module 4, where participants followed along and built real engineering spreadsheets live — from simply supported beam analysis to a complete rebar and concrete estimation tool.

Spreadsheets Developed During the Seminar

        Simply Supported Beam with UDL Analysis — Shear and moment calculations
Shear/Moment/Deflection Diagrams — Graphical representation of internal forces
Beam Deflection Checking — Serviceability checks per code requirements
Crack Width Checking — Crack control verification for RC beams
Beam Section Design (ACI 318-19) — Complete flexural and shear design
Column Section Capacity Checker — Axial-bending interaction verification
Rebar and Concrete Estimate of Beam — Quantity takeoff spreadsheet

      

What Participants Are Saying

“This was exactly what I needed. I have been making spreadsheets for 15 years and ChatGPT just showed me a completely new way to work.”
— Seminar Participant

“Very practical and well-organized. The live workshop was the best part — I actually built a working spreadsheet during the session.”
— Seminar Participant

What Participants Received

Full RecordingComplete 4-hour session video available via the RHCES Portal

7+ SpreadsheetsReady-to-use professional engineering spreadsheet templates

Course HandoutStep-by-step guide with prompt templates and references

30-Day RHCES ToolsFull access to the complete RHCES Tools engineering suite

CertificateCertificate of Participation for all attendees

Portal AccessLifetime access through the RHCES Seminar Portal

Looking Ahead

The success of this first seminar has paved the way for the RHCES Practical Learning Programs series. Following this event, RHCES has lined up more seminars to continue equipping engineers with practical AI skills:

ChatGPT-Assisted Engineering Web Tools — April 10, 2026
ChatGPT-Assisted Engineering Portable EXE Apps — April 24, 2026
ChatGPT-Assisted Engineering Spreadsheets 2.0 — May 1, 2026
Introduction to RHCES Tools — May 8, 2026

Missed the Live Session?

The complete recording package is still available — including the full 4-hour video, all 7+ spreadsheets, course handout, and a 30-day RHCES Tools license. Register through the link below to get access via the RHCES Seminar Portal.