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- Debate arises in Senate over $60B Sandy relief aid
Legislation that would set aside $60 billion for superstorm Sandy relief efforts is in danger of stalling in the Senate, as Republican leaders on Tuesday expressed opposition to the bill. "Sixty billion dollars at this time when we’re trying to solve the deficit problem ... That’s an awful big bite to swallow," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., the Republican whip. The bill is included in a list of items that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., hopes to pass by the end of the year. The Wall Street Journal/Metropolis blog
(12/11)     
| Infrastructure Watch | | |
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- Over $7B in midstream shale fuel projects under way in Ohio
The Ohio construction industry is being kept busy with major projects because of the shale gas and oil boom as energy companies prepare to ramp up production in 2013. More than $7 billion in work is under way on seven processing-separation facilities and four pipelines, with $5 billion in new pipelines in the offing in the coming years. Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)
(12/9)
- Study: Chicago needs to spend $2B annually on transit
Spending $2 billion annually on Chicago's mass transit system is necessary to avoid further deterioration of the network, according to a study by DePaul University. "Investment in infrastructure is a must if we’re going to grow the economy in Illinois," said State Rep. Elaine Nekritz. WBBM-TV (Chicago)
(12/10)
- Mass. breaks ground on $1.1B Green Line extension project
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick led the groundbreaking for the $1.1B Green Line extension on Tuesday. The ceremony went ahead even though the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is still in the process of finding a construction manager/general contractor to handle the project. The project will add six new stops to the public transit line. Wicked Local
(12/10), WBZ-TV (Boston)
(12/11)
- Experts discuss disaster preparation and rebuilding
A panel of experts at a Harvard School of Public Health forum discussed the challenges in post-disaster rebuilding and preparation for future disasters, as well as the public perception of climate change after the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. "The challenge now is that looking back to determine future preparations will not be enough" because "the future is changing," said Paul Biddinger, director of the school's Emergency Preparedness and Response Exercise Program.  The Huffington Post
(12/10)
| Trends & Technology | | |
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- How BIM is transforming the construction industry
The role of building information modeling in design and construction projects is evolving from an efficient project delivery tool into a "disruptive" kind of technology, writes John Tobin, director of architecture for EYP Architecture & Engineering. "Our best strategy is to embrace the full power of BIM, to recognize its disruptive potential, and to explore its power to address many of the issues we currently face as we attempt to re-imagine design and construction," Tobin writes. Building Design + Construction (free registration)
(12/9)
- Lafarge's Thermedia0.6B, a lighter form of concrete
Thermedia0.6B was developed by Lafarge after four years of research and a three-year test run in France. This piece discusses the product's qualities, in particular, the fact that it is four times lighter than regular concrete. It also "reduces heat loss due to thermal bridging by four times when combined with internal insulation" and "reuses almost 50 times more waste than it generates." Architects' Journal (U.K.) (free content)
(12/10)
| Sustainable Development | | |
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| Advancing the Profession | | |
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- 11 ways to become a better leader
You don't have to be in charge of a large team to be a leader, but there are certain qualities that will make you more effective and inspirational, Margaret Buj writes. Stating your vision clearly, being passionate and positive, and always striving to improve can help you become a "transformational leader," she writes. CareerRocketeer.com
(12/10)
| News from ASCE | | |
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Bridges 2013 calendar highlight: Bow Bridge, N.Y.
The oldest cast-iron footbridge in New York's Central Park may also be its most romantic. One of more than three dozen footbridges designed for the park by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, the Bow Bridge seems to invite passersby to pause for conversation or simply to enjoy the view. The 87-feet long structure, which has appeared in numerous films, was built between 1859 and 1862. Its ironwork was formed by Janes, Kirtland and Company, the same firm that cast and erected the iron dome of the U.S. Capitol. The ornamental railing features gothic, neoclassical, and renaissance motifs. More interesting facts about the Bow Bridge are in ASCE's Bridges 2013 calendar. Order today. Don’t miss a great way to promote your business with a Bridges 2013 custom imprint calendar.
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