| News for and about the civil engineering community |  |
| Top Story |  |  |
|
- Engineers create plan to replace damaged crane in NYC
A team of engineers plans to replace a damaged crane on top of the One57 building in New York City after it came loose due to strong winds from superstorm Sandy. "We have no idea why, but it appears that it did not weathervane like it was supposed to," said Lawrence Shapiro, a crane engineer. "[E]ngineers are leaning toward surrounding the crane's superstructure with netting and scaffolding extending from the face of the tower," reports ENR. "Crews would then use the platforms to access the boom and take it apart, piece by piece, from the bottom up." Engineering News-Record
(11/6)     
| Infrastructure Watch | | |
|
- Nev. to explore alternative ways to build $1.8B highway
The Nevada Transportation Board has approved $3 million for financial and legal advice on the $1.8 billion Interstate 15 improvement project. The consultants will examine construction and funding options for Project Neon, which is slated to begin in 2015 and be finished in 2017. The project is expected to create 4,100 jobs. Las Vegas Sun
(11/6)
| Trends & Technology | | |
|
- BIM, precast used for $475M health care project in Canada
The use of building information modeling technology for a $475 million health care building in Ontario is providing seamless coordination for design and construction services. The design team addressed challenges in coordinating several project components, including the integration of precast concrete panels. "Problems always get solved, but the goal of this process is to end up solving problems sooner at less cost," said Thomas Strong, virtual construction director at primary contractor EllisDon. Daily Commercial News
(11/5)
- Study: De-icing salt's chloride ions to blame for rebar corrosion
Swedish scientists Luping Tang and Anders Lindvall have studied the effects of salt to de-ice roads and bridges over a 10-year period, and their research demonstrates that it is the chloride ions in the salt that corrode the steel rebar and mesh reinforcement in concrete structures. "Chloride induced corrosion of reinforcement in concrete is still one of the main concerns regarding durability and service life of reinforced concrete structures. Prediction of chloride ingress in concrete is one of the important parts in durability design of reinforced concrete structures exposed to the chloride environments," say the researchers. ScienceDaily/Inderscience
(11/5)
| Sustainable Development | | |
|
- Visually tracking stimulus projects
This piece showcases some projects in California paid for with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Projects include wetlands restoration in Huntington Beach, solar panel installation on Alcatraz Island, an affordable housing project in San Diego and wind, solar and other clean energy projects. "On the individual level the void between paying your taxes and the where, why and how these funds are spent is quite large," said Chad Ress, who photographed some of these projects to fill that void. Inhabitat
(11/7)
| Election 2012 | | |
|
- Obama's win is opportunity for 4 years of rebuilding infrastructure
President Barack Obama has said he wants more spending on infrastructure to help boost the economy, but a gridlocked Congress could complicate his plans, these articles note. However, a change in framing the need could prove productive. "We could use concern about [natural disaster] threats to build a new and more resilient system, including most vitally a new energy and information grid, so that we are protected from nature, resilient in hardship and poised for growth," Fareed Zakaria writes. Time.com/Swampland
(11/7), Google/The Associated Press
(11/7)
- Policy proposals to help strengthen U.S. cities
This article discusses eight federal urban policy ideas that the authors say President Barack Obama should consider in order to jump start the U.S. economy and strengthen cities. These include funding high-speed rail, creating an infrastructure bank and funding measures for coastal protection and sea-level rise. The Atlantic Cities
(11/7)
| Advancing the Profession | | |
|
| News from ASCE | | |
|
-
ASCE urges Obama to make infrastructure a priority for second term
In a statement released Wednesday, ASCE extended its official congratulations to President Obama for winning reelection and urged him to make rebuilding America's infrastructure a second-term priority. "With the economy slowly recovering, infrastructure investment will help spark growth and continue our path towards prosperity," said 2013 ASCE President Gregory E. DiLoreto, P.E., P.L.S., D.WRE. "We look forward to working with the President and the new Congress to continue to grow our nation and build the foundation for a 21st century economy." Read the full statement.
-
Understand the changes to ASCE 7-10's nonbuilding structures seismic provisions
The latest edition of ASCE 7 includes several key revisions in sections covering seismic design of nonbuilding structures. ASCE's upcoming webinar, Changes to the Nonbuilding Structures Provisions in ASCE 7-10, will get you up to speed. Among the changes covered are those driven by poor performance in past seismic events, a need to conform to existing industry standards, and confusing language. You will learn how to avoid costly errors when designing large breach openings in reinforced concrete stacks; how to properly apply ASCE 7-10 Chapter 15 to reinforced concrete tanks; anchorage requirements for nonbuilding structures; updated requirements for steel storage racks; how to interpret Chapter 15 for piers and wharves, and more. This webinar will take place Friday, Dec. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. Get more details and register at the course page.
| SmartQuote | | |
|
 | Leave other people's mistakes where they lie."
--Marcus Aurelius,
Roman emperor
|
| |
| |
|
Read more at SmartBrief.com |
|
A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including:
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent ASCE SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, November 07, 2012
- Tuesday, November 06, 2012
- Monday, November 05, 2012
- Friday, November 02, 2012
- Thursday, November 01, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Jennifer Hicks
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
