| News for and about the civil engineering community
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- Engineers cite flaws in athletic facility
An athletic complex at Texas A&M University was built with a flawed design that did not meet code and left it unable to withstand winds of 90 miles per hour, according to a report prepared by an engineering firm. The structure was designed by the same company that built the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility that collapsed in May. A series of cables that allowed the facility to meet building code standards were later added to its steel frame. The school is also emptying the facility during severe weather as a precaution. Google/The Associated Press
(11/5)
    
- Plan to top up Three Gorges reservoir is put on hold
A plan to increase water levels at China's vast Three Gorges reservoir has been put on ice, managers say, because less water than anticipated is entering the reservoir from the upper Yangtze River. Engineers had hoped to boost water levels to maximum capacity, but a drought and increased shipping increased demand for water downstream. BBC
(11/5)
- Opinion: Ports must keep up with Panama Canal expansion
 The world's largest ports must continue to improve and expand to meet growing transportation demands, writes Joe Reeder. Reeder, a member of the Panama Canal's International Advisory Board, notes that ports that do not expand will not have the ability to serve the larger ships capable of moving through the Panama Canal once expansion is complete. The Miami Herald
(11/6)
| Technology and Trends | | |
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- Innovations cut ice arena's energy use in half
An innovative building structure and the use of earth science technologies allow the South Interlake Recreation Center in Manitoba to use half of the energy of a conventional ice arena. Winnipeg's Tower Engineering Group, which helped design the arena, recently received top scores for technical innovation in the 2009 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards for its work on the project. Daily Commercial News
(11/5)
- Scientists: Desert forest could curb global warming
A group of scientists believes a plan to transform the Australian outback and Sahara Desert into forests could eliminate the threat of global warming. The plan, outlined in a paper published in the Journal of Climatic Change, calls for fields of fast-growing eucalyptus trees to cover the desert. The trees would be watered by seawater treated by coastal desalination plants and would create their own water system and rainfall and draw down more than 8 billion tons of carbon emissions per year. The Guardian (London)
(11/4)
- Opinion: U.S. must overhaul approach to infrastructure
Highway, bridge and road projects will receive more than $20 billion in stimulus funds, writes Brandon Borgna. He notes, however, that this funding will not adequately address the need to overhaul the nation's aging highway system. To solve the problem, he suggests a national approach that first addresses the nation's worst traffic bottlenecks as well as a system that links infrastructure investment to system performance. BizCentral.org/American Trucking Association Blog
(11/3)
| Sustainability | | |
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- Author: Increase in world's population requires more eco-engineering
 With the planet's population expected to increase by 1.8 million people during the next 12 years, eco-engineering will be vital to meeting increased demand for products, writes Dave Douglas in his book "Citizen Engineer: A Handbook for Socially Responsible Engineering." Today, eco-engineering is not widely taught in engineering schools, leaving the world ill-equipped to contend with a dramatic increase in the number of consumers around the world, he notes. GreenBiz.com
(11/3)
- Green floor space will grow 40% in 2009, report says
Floor area certified under the LEED green rating system is estimated to grow by more than 40% in 2009 from year-ago levels, according to a report by LEED expert Rob Watson. He reports that LEED buildings are reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.9 million tons on an annual basis. That figure is expected to grow to 320 million tons annually by 2030. GreenerBuildings
(11/5)
- Owners hope building's green features attract tenants
Two years ago, the owners of the Boland Building in Grand Rapids, Mich., began a green renovation as part of an effort to attract more tenants and boost rents. Today, the building has just one tenant and still has not received LEED certification. At this point, executives say weakness in the commercial real estate market makes it unclear if the building's green status will command a rent premium in the near future. Separately, recent research suggests that focusing on energy efficiency offers the biggest payback in green construction. The Grand Rapids Press (Mich.)/Blog
(11/4)
, Environmental Leader
(10/27)
| Management Practices | | |
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- Your biggest business battle is with yourself
Business leaders are faced with a constant stream of internal battles, writes Terry Starbucker -- and they have to win every single time if they're going to reach their true potential. It's by overcoming our own private doubts and weaknesses that we can lead others to greatness, he writes. TerryStarbucker.com
(11/1)
| Policy Update | | |
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- Senate committee brushes off Republican boycott, passes climate bill
Democrats on the Senate's Environment and Public Works Committee voted 11-1 to clear the climate measure, dismissing a boycott from Republican panel members. The move indicates that the U.S. will "do what it takes to advance this issue" ahead of a U.N. summit in Copenhagen, said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., the panel's chairwoman. Republicans opposed the action, saying the Environmental Protection Agency should have performed a more extensive economic review of the bill. The Washington Post
(11/6)
, Reuters
(11/5)
| News from ASCE | | |
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Registration filling up for first seismic-performance conference
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Come to San Francisco this Dec. 9-11 for the Improving the Seismic Performance of Existing Buildings and Other Structures conference. The Hyatt Regency room rate has been reduced until Nov. 12. The challenges to improving the seismic performance of existing buildings and other structures are as broad and varied as the individual structures themselves. How should they be evaluated and strengthened? What assumptions were made? Were they built as designed, and if not, what modifications were made but possibly (probably) not documented? The Applied Technology Council and ASCE's Structural Engineering Institute are organizing this inaugural conference. More than 20 poster displays are scheduled. Attend and earn up to 16 PDHs. Make your room reservation before the Nov. 12 reduced-rate deadline. Get more details at the official conference site. Check out the great technical program. The schedule also features six keynote plenary speakers and two luncheon speakers, plus a special black tie gala celebrating recent innovations in seismic strengthening.
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Help ASCE salute excellence in engineering journalism
Have you read a good civil engineering-related news story lately, or know a journalist who consistently covers local projects and activities well? If so, nominate him or her for the 2010 ASCE Excellence in Journalism Award. Through this award, ASCE honors journalists for outstanding news coverage that enhances public understanding of civil engineers and the profession. English-language, U.S.-based, regional or national stories from daily or weekly newspapers, general circulation (non-trade-related) magazines, radio or television programs, and electronic/Web-based (non-trade-related) news outlets are eligible. To be eligible, stories must have been published or broadcast between May 1, 2008, and Oct. 31, 2009. Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 1. For more information on the award, e-mail ASCE's Karen Albers at kalbers@asce.org or go to the award page to download a nomination form.
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