| News for and about the civil engineering community |  |
| Top Story |  |  |
|
| Infrastructure Watch | | |
|
- PSE&G to invest nearly $4B to strengthen grid, gas system
PSE&G, New Jersey's largest utility firm, wants to spend $3.9 billion during the next 10 years to strengthen its electric and gas systems against severe storms. "This is about protecting our way of life in extreme weather," PSE&G Chairman and CEO Ralph Izzo said. "Investing in a reliable and resilient energy infrastructure that is better able to withstand powerful and damaging storms like Sandy and other natural disasters will help keep New Jersey competitive and open for business," said New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Bracken. Yahoo/The Associated Press
(2/20)     
- N.J. gets $215M to rebuild storm-damaged Route 35
New Jersey received $215 million in federal funds to rebuild a 12.5-mile stretch of Route 35 that was seriously damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The project, which will include replacement of the stormwater drainage system and road strengthening, will begin in late June and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2015. The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.)
(2/20)
- Neighboring Calif. cities to build 2 bridges to boost economies
The California cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento plan to build two new bridges that could boost their economies. "We are coming out of a recession," said Tim Youmans, a founding partner at Economic & Planning Systems. "A lot [of construction] has been planned on both sides of the river... If you want economic development, you need transportation access." Construction of the bridges could be funded by a $77 million federal grant, for which the two cities have jointly applied. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.) (free registration)
(2/20)
| Trends & Technology | | |
|
- Risk management: Key solution for London Orbital motorway upgrade
In this case study, Chris Bell looks at best practices in risk management. The subject is Skanska's use of ARM enterprise risk management software and how the firm incorporated risk management throughout the $1.6 billion project to upgrade sections of the M25 London orbital motorway. "[T]he team achieved success by planning predictable schedules, collecting accurate progress information, acting on that information, and achieving all key milestones," according to this piece. The project was delivered eight weeks ahead of schedule. CE News
(2/2013)
- Seattle building pioneers SFRC in quake-prone areas
Builders of The Martin Apartments in Seattle wanted to find a less expensive way to build concrete shear walls in highrises in earthquake-prone areas. They used steel fibers as link-beam reinforcing-steel "decongestants." This article, which details the process used, says the technique could have additional applications. "It's very helpful to have these kinds of initial trial applications because that's how one works out any difficulties," said Joe Maffei, a structural engineer. "There were some bumps along the road, but ultimately, it was successful." Engineering News-Record
(2/20)
| Sustainable Development | | |
|
- Chicago kicks off 3rd round of Green Office Challenge
The competition that seeks to reduce waste and the consumption of energy and water by 10% in the Chicago area will kick off its third round this year. The program is part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Sustainable Chicago 2015, and this year the initiative aims to double its impact and the number of participants. ICLEI developed the model in 2008. Since then 11 U.S. cities have adopted it. Environmental Leader
(2/19)
- German technology for wastewater treatment goes global
Germany's pioneering development of new methods of wastewater treatment has made the country the European Union's largest exporter of water technologies. The challenge in developing countries, however, is climate, with many nations in warmer parts of the world unable to use German systems, which are designed for and sensitive to the climate in Germany. This article details research into aerobic and anaerobic treatment. Deutsche Welle (Germany)
(2/20)
| Advancing the Profession | | |
|
- How to lead like a chess master
Former chess star Justin Moore is now CEO of cloud-services company Axcient -- and he says his time at the chessboard helped prepare him to be a better boss. Chess is deeply strategic and involves planning several moves ahead, just as CEOs need to plan for their company's future. "Chess is constantly teaching you to think about what comes next, and what comes after that, and what the repercussions could be," Moore says. Fast Company online
(2/19)
- Assess conflict before attacking it
Savvy leaders know it's critical to assess a conflict before attempting to resolve it, Dan McCarthy writes. Conflicts of emotions, needs and values each have to be handled differently, so first determine the type of conflict and then select the proper response, McCarthy writes. Great Leadership
(2/20)
| News from ASCE | | |
|
-
Explore civil engineering history with ASCE’s new Web-based newsletter
Now you can have an even greater appreciation for the achievements of the civil engineers that your work builds on. ASCE's History and Heritage Newsletter is now a Web publication, exclusively for Society members. Why was a city in Kansas named after a civil engineer? Find out in the January/February issue. Can you guess the bridge from its classic woodcut? Check out the new online newsletter, honoring the rich history of civil engineers and their influence on the development of America and the world through the centuries.
| SmartQuote | | |
|
 | Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."
--Maria Montessori,
Italian physician and educator
|
| |
|
ASCE SmartBrief is a daily news digest produced by SmartBrief, Inc., exclusively for ASCE.
|
| |
|
Read more at SmartBrief.com |
|
A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including:
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| | Recent ASCE SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, February 20, 2013
- Tuesday, February 19, 2013
- Monday, February 18, 2013
- Friday, February 15, 2013
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Jennifer Hicks
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | |
| |
|
| © 1999-2013 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
