Will 2009 be the “Year of Infrastructure”?
As in some other countries around the world, the U.S. is looking to create jobs and revitalize its economy by investing in the nation’s infrastructure. Such reinvestment represents a key component of the economic stimulus package put forward by President Obama and has provided civil engineers and ASCE a unique opportunity for leadership on the direction for such investment. ASCE's long-time, respected leadership on infrastructure issues gave the Society a prime seat for discussions with Congress and the Obama transition team/administration over the need to fund projects of greatest need and greatest potential. In January, ASCE prepared a statement of Principles for Infrastructure Stimulus Investment, and the Society continues to urge ASCE members to support such principles with their elected officials.
Those principles call for investment in projects that, for example, deliver measurable improvements in public health, safety and quality; provide substantial, broad-based economic benefit; are designed and built in a sustainable and cost-effective manner and give proper consideration to life-cycle costs; and have a significant environmental benefit, such as area restoration, improved air quality through reduced congestion, and better watershed management through eliminating vulnerabilities in a system.
ASCE maintained its high profile through an early release on January 28 of the key findings from the new Report Card on America’s Infrastructure. That will be followed by release of the full report on March 25.
ASCE’s 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure again rated the nation’s infrastructure at a D grade and estimated that it will cost $2.2 trillion over five years to bring conditions up to a good level. Also released on January 28 were 5 Key Solutions for improving Infrastructure.
Please visit ASCE’s Report Card website for the following:
- Details of the new Report Card, including grades in the 15 categories, suggestions for solutions, and more here.
- Watch a video of ASCE's press conference announcing the Report Card results, joined by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, here. View and read CNN's report on the Report Card and its findings here.
- Share your comments and track the progress of action in Washington in ASCE's blog, Our Failing Infrastructure.
- Testimony given by ASCE leaders last fall before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (click here).
Don't miss out on your ASCE benefits! Be prepared for what promises to be a huge year in civil engineering by making sure your membership is current. Renewals were due in January 2009. If you haven't already, check that you've renewed to take advantage of the ASCE benefits that will help you thrive.
Click here to ensure that you don't miss a minute of your ASCE membership by renewing today!
Press Briefs
“The Master’s as Income Booster,” Ingenieur Karriere (magazine insert from VDI Nachrichten), by Ruth Kuntz-Brunner, November 2008—With the introduction of the Bologna Accord framework of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Germany, initial salary data show that engineers with the new master’s degrees have higher salaries than those with the traditional Diplom engineering degree, reports an article in Ingenieur Karriere. The new degree holders have only recently established themselves in the marketplace in sufficient numbers for initial data to be meaningful. In Germany, recent engineering graduates with a bachelor’s degree make on average about 37,000 Euros, with Diplom and master’s graduates making about 40,000 Euros, the article says. After two to five years of work, bachelor’s holders make a salary jump to earn about 42,000 Euros. In that same time frame, Diplom holders’ earnings rise to about 45,000 Euros and those with Master’s jump to 46,000 Euros, notes the article. Only in several years will it be possible to analyze the longer-term impact of the new engineering degrees and the corresponding affect on salaries. The supply of new graduates will also influence trends. Relatively greater numbers of students enrolled in engineering during the high-demand years of 1996 to 2003, but since 2006 enrollments have been moving downward, reports the article.
“More applicants for engineering and technology courses,” by Peter Kingston, The Guardian, December 8, 2008—The Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) in the UK reports that the number of students choosing to study engineering and technology has risen by 7% over the past five years, according to an article in The Guardian. That rise is coupled with a more than 2% increase in university graduates with engineering and technology degrees, belying the common notion that engineering graduation rates are declining. Nonetheless, the ETB says that engineering faces challenges in attracting students in the UK. One major concern is the low number of young women engineers, which make up only 17% of new student registrants, the article says. One positive step has been the introduction of diplomas in engineering and technology for 14-19 year olds, but the report suggests the need to target much younger children, such as preschoolers, to inspire them to pursue science and engineering careers. According to the article, technology leaders like Siemens have conducted research showing this age group can be fast learners. Another positive trend shows that engineering graduates stay in the engineering and technology field after graduation. Nine out of ten graduates who find jobs within six months of graduating take up engineering or related occupations, and overall three-quarters of these graduates end up working for employers of engineers, the article reports. That counters the conventional wisdom that engineering is losing many of its graduates to other fields. The report also saw no significant skill shortage in the UK when it comes to degreed engineers. The shortfall is felt in the technician-level practitioners, which are seen as a key group on which engineering depends, says the article.
Read more.“The Green Investment Challenge in China,” by Ray Cheung, World Resources Institute, December 22, 2008—In the midst of the worldwide financial crisis, China’s clean and renewable energy sector is poised for growth, although investors must be cautious of challenges, reports an article from the World Resources Institute. The Chinese government announced a huge, $585 billion economic stimulus package aimed at bolstering its weakening economy, with $36.5 billion to support environmental projects, such as waste water treatment and renewable energy facilities, the article says. The country’s National Development and Reform Commission has reported that in the fourth quarter of 2008 alone, investments in rural water resources and energy facilities exceeded $3.2 billion. Amid these investments, the Chinese green sector remains an extremely competitive industry, and investors seeking to make a quick profit from this growth must realize that perhaps only the strongest companies will survive, the article reports. The Chinese greentech sector will have to overcome many challenges, such as the high cost of raw materials, which can wipe out savings from lower labor costs, the article notes. In addition, many of the country’s best and brightest tend to enter the higher paying finance and information technology fields where companies can realize profits faster, producing a shortage of highly trained human capital. An underdeveloped regulatory system for green technologies has kept the sector fragmented, and enforcement has been inconsistent, despite Chinese gains in implementing environmental laws, the article says. For example, an investigation launched by the Ministry of Environmental Protection found that about 40% of the country’s 500 largest companies failed to adopt the necessary environmental measures promised in their environmental impact reports, and only one-third of the country’s completed waste-water treatment projects are operating at capacity. Pollution remains a problem, with serious pollution incidents increasing by 30% each year, the article reports.
“The challenges for the development of engineering in Brazil,” by Aquilino Senra Martinez, O Globo online, December 24, 2008—Many of Brazil’s recent technological and engineering advances, such as deep water exploration and production of oil and gas, national self-sufficiency in gasoline production, and the production of biofuels, have been fostered by the growth of the country’s engineering capacity and an interaction between professionals and researchers at companies and universities, reports an article in O Globo online. Also of note in these advances is the multi-disciplinary nature of the work, which required the involvement of both engineering and non-engineering fields. Educating more qualified engineers remains the prime challenge for increasing the technological capacity of the country, the article says. According to estimates from the Conselho Federal de Engenharia, Arquitetura e Agronomia (CONFEA), Brazil has about six engineers for every thousand active workers. By contrast, France has 15, and the U.S. and Japan have 25, notes the article. In looking at the “BRIC” countries, Brazil graduates about 23,000 engineers each year; Russia, 100,000; India, 200,000; and China, 300,000, the article reports. According to the analyses cited, Brazil must create an additional 40,000 new engineers per year to meet its economic potential, even with the current economic crisis. Another challenge for Brazil is that courses tend to focus on the traditional engineering disciplines. This does not help prepare graduates for the multidisciplinary projects that they will face in the new economy. To promote multi-disciplinary approaches, a group of Brazilian universities has created four new courses of study: environmental engineering, computer and information systems engineering, petroleum engineering, and control and automation engineering, but the barriers inhibiting this process were enormous, the article reports. In addition, the system of assessing post-graduate engineering programs slows creation of multidisciplinary courses since universities are reluctant to have their percentage of assessed offerings reduced by new entries. Also of concern for Brazilian technological development is the number of regulations that put a damper on flexibility in public research institutions, the article reports.
Read more. (In Portuguese)
“After 3-1/2 years, U.S. opens Baghdad water plant,” by Peter Graff, The International Herald Tribune, January 21, 2009—U.S. and Iraqi officials opened a $65-million water treatment plant in Baghdad that will meet the daily needs of some 200,000 residents of Sadr City, in the eastern part of Baghdad, reports an article in The International Herald Tribune. The project was begun in July 2005, but security concerns in Sadr City slowed construction of the plant, the article says. Many Iraqis still experience severe water shortages and lack adequate clean water and sewage services, the article reports. To improve the situation, coalition forces helped complete the water treatment plant, with its ten filters that can each clean 400 cubic meters of water per hour. However, the plant still provides water for only a tenth of Sadr City’s population.
News From ASCE
Worldwide, Civil Engineers Deal With Similar Challenges
In December 2008, an ASCE delegation led by ASCE President Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE, traveled to Brazil to attend The World Engineers' Convention (http://www.wec2008.org.br/), hosted jointly by the Brazilian engineering groups CONFEA and FEBRAE, and sponsored by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and UNESCO. The U.S. delegation, including several ASCE Past Presidents, had a unique opportunity to represent ASCE in two international engineering communities, the Pan American Federation of Engineering Organizations (UPADI) and WFEO.
The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, addressed the convention participants, describing the needs for engineers in his country, particularly the need to invest in infrastructure for economic recovery. The issues addressed at the convention revealed remarkable similarities among many countries around the world, including areas such as recruiting the next generation of engineers; education; licensure; sustainability; climate change mitigation and adaptation; development of renewable energy sources; and inadequate infrastructure funding. All these issues impact many fields of engineering—civil, mechanical, electrical/electronic, and chemical, as well as new and emerging areas such as materials engineering and nanotechnology.
In 2011, Geneva, Switzerland, will become the fourth venue of the World Engineers' Convention. WEC 2011 will focus on energy issues with the theme "Engineers Power the World—Facing the Global Energy Challenge". For more information visit WEC 2011 website.
ASCE Takes Civil Engineering Vision Of Change to Leaders Worldwide |
|
ASCE activists involved in reforming the formal education and pre-licensure experience of U.S. civil engineers and in promoting the Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025 have been hosted by numerous forums worldwide for the mutual exchange of ideas.
Recently, ASCE Distinguished Member Stuart Walesh, Ph.D., P.E., answered the invitation of FAAP in Sao Paulo, Brazil—a private university that includes an engineering college—to share his expertise. Walesh brought a wealth of first-hand experience to the table, having chaired the first ASCE Body of Knowledge Committee and having served as a member of the Committee on Academic Prerequisites for Professional Practice and on the steering committee that planned the 2006 Summit on the Future of Civil Engineering—2025. Walesh was also a key part of the team that processed Summit outcomes, ultimately serving as editor of the report The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025.
FAAP discovered ASCE’s Body of Knowledge and Vision 2025 as they were planning to visit U.S. engineering colleges in search of best practices and ways to undertake general civil engineering education reform in their home country. During that trip, they visited ASCE headquarters for a briefing on the two ASCE initiatives. That led to Walesh providing the keynote address at the first International Engineering and Construction Conference held at FAAP in October 2008 in Sao Paulo.
This is not the first time the decade-old ASCE initiative to reform the education and early experience of U.S. civil engineers has attracted global attention. In recent years, volunteer leaders of the reform effort have also spoken at conferences and other gatherings in Canada, China, Estonia, Korea, Germany, Israel, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Turkey.
At the four-day FAAP conference in Brazil, Walesh delivered a keynote address titled “Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025 and Related Education Reform: The U.S. Experience.” He was also able to learn from his Brazilian colleagues by participating in conference sessions, presenting to and meeting with FAAP faculty, and being part of a panel at the conference’s conclusion. “I enjoyed fabulous hospitality,” Walesh noted.
Stuart Walesh (left) with Prof. Francisco Paletta, Dean of the FAAP School of Engineering and Computer Science |
Francisco Paletta, engineering dean at FAAP, and his colleagues are showing their interest in ASCE’s efforts by undertaking a translation into Portuguese of the Vision 2025 report and The Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge for the 21st Century for distribution in Brazil. The economy of this huge country (population about 170 million with a land mass covering half of South America) has boomed in recent years and needs engineering talent to sustain that growth (also see Press Briefs: “The challenges for the development of engineering in Brazil” ). Says Walesh: “I was impressed with the proactive way Dean Paletta and his colleagues tracked education developments in the U.S., selected some, and quickly implemented them. His commitment to having FAAP develop engineer entrepreneurs and leaders is commendable.” |
In traveling abroad, Walesh continues to be struck by how much engineers have in common, regardless of their nationality. “We share a common scientific and technology foundation. F = ma works everywhere,” he notes. Equally important for Walesh is a sense that a vibrant engineering community is essential to a nation’s quality of life. Several years ago, Walesh read L.R. Graham’s 1993 book The Ghost of the Executed Engineer: Technology and the Fall of the Soviet Union. According to Walesh, the author argues that the Soviet Union failed to become a modern industrialized country, in spite of its vast natural resources and huge number of engineers, because of “misuse of technology and squandering of human energy,” including its engineering talent.
While Walesh reminds about the lingering, scattered opposition within ASCE to the Society’s education and early experience reform efforts, he notes that around the globe the value of engineers and engineering is being increasingly appreciated. In some countries engineers have taken on leadership positions, and improvements in engineering education are being examined, Walesh reports. Most European countries already require more education for engineering than does the U.S., and Walesh speculates that perhaps this American complacency stems from thinking of the U.S. engineer as just that, a U.S. engineer, and not a global professional.
Jeffrey Russell, Ph.D., P.E, F.ASCE, who chairs ASCE’s Committee on Academic Prerequisites for Professional Practice, and who has spoken in five countries, says that young people in particular are most receptive to reform ideas. They seem to view more formal education and improved early experience “as an investment,” he notes. His Korean and Israel audiences indicated that their educations already had technical depth but lacked breadth in professional practice. Richard Anderson, P.E., Hon.M.ASCE, who chaired ASCE’s second Body of Knowledge Committee and has spoken in three countries, observed that ”all were interested in looking to the future and what we need to do to prepare our students.”
Notes Walesh: “As I think about globalization and the related changes, including changes in how we prepare engineers today for their global careers tomorrow, I recall these thoughts of self-taught philosopher Eric Hoffer—‘In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists’.”
Attention ASCE International Members:
CE Magazine, ASCE News Available Online
Please remember that international members can enjoy the profession’s premier magazine, Civil Engineering, and ASCE News online each month with immediate ASCE member access when the publications are released. E-Mails are sent to you when the membership publication is ready. (See below if you also want to receive printed copy.) With your digital publications you can:
- Access information from anywhere at any time at http://www.asce.org/membersonly/civil-engineering.cfm (CE magazine); http://www.asce.org/membersonly/asce-news.cfm (ASCE News)
- Turn each page with a simple click of your mouse
- Search key terms and click directly to the sections and articles that interest you most
- Search dozens of previous issues
- Avoid the delays, loss of the copy and the increasing cost in international mailing.
- Help the environment by decreasing the energy used to produce and send the magazine internationally
To ensure electronic delivery of your publications:
- Make sure that you open the ASCE e-mails to see their content.
- Update your e-mail address with ASCE at www.asce.org/myprofile
- Check your SPAM filter to make sure that the ASCE e-mails do get through to you
- Add member@asce.org to your safe senders list
If you would still like to receive a printed copy of Civil Engineering magazine and ASCE News, please go to www.asce.org/renewal and select and pay the $39 USD* International Air Service Fee. (This ASCE Board approved policy has been in effect since September 2008.) If you are unable to access the online payment, contact Customer Service at member@asce.org for alternate payment methods.
ASCE hopes you enjoy the easy-to-view digital magazine and newspaper.
*NOTE: International shipping fees have increased dramatically in the last two years. Rather than raise the costs of dues for all international members, ASCE has made Civil Engineering magazine and ASCE News available online. ASCE does not retain any of the income for shipping. One hundred percent of these funds are forwarded to the international shippers to ensure that your membership publications arrive in a timely fashion.
ASCE Geo-Institute Nominates Briaud
For President of Soil Mechanics Society
The ASCE Geo-Institute, as the U.S. national society representative to the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), has nominated Professor Jean-Louis Briaud to be the ISSMGE President for 2009-2013. The Geo-Institute Board voted unanimously for his candidacy, noting Professor Briaud’s strong qualifications. (Read G-I Board's Letter to Members, with Dr. Briaud's Vision for ISSMGE).
If elected, Professor Briaud’s term as ISSMGE president would begin at the conclusion of his term as G-I president. Those who support his candidacy are urged to share your thoughts with international colleagues who might be able to influence a country’s vote. Each country member of ISSMGE has one vote and the election will take place in Alexandria, Egypt on October 4, 2009 at the International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
You can find more information on Professor Briaud’s vision (in English and other languages), as well as detailed biographical data, at http://ceprofs.tamu.edu/briaud/.
ASCE Academy Provides Credential, Recognition to Geo-Professionals |
 |
Professional engineers who seek a voluntary, post-license certification to give them further recognition in the broad field of geotechnical engineering can look to ASCE's Academy of Geo-Professionals (AGP). The academy, which offers the Diplomates (D.GE) credential, was founded in October 2008 by practicing geo-professionals who were members of the ASCE's Geo-Institute.
AGP has begun its inaugural year with the anticipation of inducting the first group of Diplomates (D.GE) at the 2009 International Foundation Congress & Equipment Expo to be held in Orlando, Florida on March 15–19, 2009. Within the next few weeks, AGP will have its website and on-line application system up and running. Requirements for certification will be made available at that time. Information on AGP will be found at www.geoprofessionals.org. Please stay tuned for more AGP news in the coming months.
Earn Your Credential as a Water Resources Engineer |
 |
ASCE's American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) is now accepting applications for the Diplomate, Water Resources Engineer (D.WRE) certification—a voluntary, post-license certification that provides professional engineers an opportunity to gain further recognition in this broad field.
The Academy continues to grow with over 450 water resources engineers already having qualified for the D.WRE credential worldwide, from over 20 different countries. Join your colleagues and peers from around the globe that have earned the D.WRE designation and be a founding diplomate engineer of AAWRE. The D.WRE program's aims to "Raise the Bar" in water resources engineering, improving the practice, elevating standards, and advancing the profession of water resources engineering. Engineers are certified for their specialized knowledge in water resources, ethical practice of water resources engineering at the expert level, continued professional development, and support for positions on water resources issues important to the public health.
All new diplomates will be awarded their certificate of achievement during AAWRE's special 5th Anniversary Induction Ceremony on May 19, 2009, at the 2009 ASCE-EWRI World Environmental and Water Resources Congress in Kansas City, USA.
For more information, please visit the AAWRE website.
For the 2009 ASCE-EWRI Congress click here.
Experience the Convenience, Flexibility of ASCE’s New On-Demand Online Courses
Learn anytime, anywhere at your own pace with ASCE’s on-demand online courses. Take and pass a post-test for each course when it’s convenient for you and earn CEUs or PDHs for P.E. license renewal.
Introduction to Detention Pond Design ~ New
Leadership Development ~ Newly Updated
Perfect Your Negotiating Skills: Increase Your Profitability ~ New
Fundamentals of Earthquake Engineering ~ New
Around the World
Region 10 Director Visits ASCE-Thailand Section
Potenciano A. Leoncio, Jr., P.E., M.ASCE, Chair of the ASCE Region 10 Board of Governors, visited Thailand in January of 2009. Leoncio´s agenda during his visit included meeting with the Board of Directors of the ASCE Thailand International Section (ASCE-TIS) and with officials of the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT). As an outcome of Leoncio´s meeting with EIT, an ASCE-EIT Agreement of Cooperation was renewed.
In many years of operation, the ASCE Thailand International Section has held numerous technical and social activities for its members and become one of the strongest ASCE’s International Sections. Leoncio's visit gave the ASCE-TIS leaders a broad perspective of potential development within Region 10 as a whole and for Asia’s ASCE members specifically.
Click on each image to see a larger version.
 |
 |
|
Pratim
Ghose, F.ASCE, President ASCE-TIS (left) and Potenciano A. Leoncio, Jr., P.E., M.ASCE, Chair of the Region 10 Board of Governors (right) |
Potenciano A. Leoncio with the ASCE-TIS Board of Directors |
ASCE Representative Attends Mexico’s
World Congress on Water, Climate Change
The Federation of Mexican Colegios of Civil Engineers (FECIC) invited ASCE to participate in their 2nd World Congress on Water and Climate Change in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The Congress, held November 26-29, 2008, drew over 200 participants, including many students. The opening address was given by C. Ivonne Araceli Ortega Pacheco, the Governor of the State of Yucatan. Ing. José Luis Luege Tamargo, Director General of Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA), gave the second opening address and focused on the challenges Mexico faces in an era of global climate change.
Representing ASCE President Wayne Klotz was EWRI Governing Board Member Mark Killgore, P.E., D.WRE. Killgore, who is bilingual in Spanish and English, spoke on recent water policy developments within ASCE and EWRI and summarized the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card program. Other international presenters included Dr. Emilio Colon, President of the World Council of Civil Engineers, who gave insights into the role of the engineer under climate change, and Cindy Gretel Rodriguez Mayorquín, who spoke on “Communities and Management of Water Resources in Municipal Projects—the Experience of Sustainable Development in Honduras” and represented the Honduran National Science and Technology Council.
The congress featured two days of technical presentations on global climate change and related issues, such as energy and water conservation and improved sanitation.
The main Congress concluded on Friday with the Gala Dinner, where several prizes were awarded to FECIC members for outstanding service to the Federation and to civil engineering. The Colegio officers gathered on Saturday to elect new officers for 2009 and conduct federation business.
Click on each image to see a larger version.
 |
 |
|
| Ing. José Luis Luege Tamargo (left), Director General of Mexico’s National Water Commission, greets Mark Killgore of ASCE | Mark Killgore presents at the Congress | |
 |
 |
|
Left to right: Engineer Maria Estela Rosique Valenzuela, FECIC President; Emilio Colon, President of the World Council of Civil Engineers; and Engineer Ruben Manuel Compañ Fernandez, President of the Colegio de Ingenieros del Sureste. |
Mark Killgore is presented with a certificate of recognition for his participation in the program. On either side of Killgore: Engineer Ruben Manuel Compañ Fernandez, President of the Colegio de Ingenieros del Sureste, and Engineer Maria Estela Rosique Valenzuela, FECIC President |
CE Historian Meets with ASCE Jordan Group
Civil engineer historian Kenneth Wright, Dist.M.ASCE, of Denver, traveled to the ancient Nabataean capital of Petra in Jordan and met with ASCE member Abdallah Husein Malkawi, Ph.D, M.ASCE, who heads the Jordan ASCE group. At the December 24 meeting, the two discussed the genius of the Nabataean civil engineers of 2000 years ago. They inspected ancient flood control construction, which included a 290-foot-long tunnel cut through solid rock, and the location of a rock diversion dam.
Dr. Malkawi serves as Vice President of the prestigious Jordan University of Science and Technology and founded the Jordanian ASCE group, which has about 100 members. Malkawi and Wright concluded that the ancient Nabataean civil engineers’ work at Petra richly deserved its recent naming as one of the Seven Modern World Marvels. The Jordan ASCE group is planning to nominate Petra as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Click on each image to see a larger version.
 |
 |
|
| The 2,000-year-old Nabatean flood control tunnel is still in use at Petra. Petra Regional Authority Director of Planning Saad Al-Rawajfeh (left), Ken Wright (center), and Abdullah Malkawi of the Jordan University of Science and Technology (right). |
The “Treasury” in downtown Petra is protected by the original upstream flood control tunnel, though more needs to be done to ensure preservation. |
ASCE Leaders Participate in Zero Meters
Cities Summit, Meet with Japan Section
In December 2008 two ASCE leaders traveled to Japan, to participate in the Summit of World Zero Meter Cities. The conference brought together specialists from cities that are at or below sea level to address issues of rising sea levels and climate change adaptation (read more in the January 2009 ASCE News). During their visit to Japan, ASCE Past President William Marcuson III, Ph.D., P.E., Hon. M. ASCE, and ASCE Deputy Executive Director Lawrence Roth, P.E.,G.E., F.ASCE had an opportunity to meet with the officers of the ASCE Japan Section in Tokyo and visit the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) on a technical tour.
Click on each image to see a larger version.
 |
 |
|
| Technical visit to RTRI. From left to right in front: Asako Togari, Secretary, ASCE Japan Section; Dr. Fuminao Okumura, Past President, ASCE Japan Section. From left to right in back: William Marcuson, 2007 ASCE President; Professor Michele Jamiolkowski, Technical University of Turino, Italy; Lawrence Roth, ASCE Deputy Executive Director; Masaaki Yamamoto, Ph.D., Immediate Past President of the ASCE Japan Section; and Norio Fukushiro, Executive Director, RTRI | William Marcuson, 2007 ASCE President (left), presents gifts to Fuminao Okumura, Past President of the ASCE Japan Section (middle), and to Masaaki Yamamoto, Immediate Past President, ASCE Japan Section | |
Singapore’s Construction Sector Impacted by Economic Trends
In Singapore, private sector construction demand is projected to weaken significantly, down to $5~$9 billion in 2009 from $20.1 billion in 2008, given the weakened economic outlook. However, public sector construction demand is anticipated to rise to between $17 billion and $19 billion, largely fuelled by infrastructure projects, such as the Mass Rapid Transit project, major roads, and public housing, according to a report from the Sinagpore Building and Construction Authority. Read the report .
Student News
Save on Test Preparation Courses
ASCE’s partnership with Kaplan entitles members and their immediate family to a $50 savings on all GMAT, GRE, LSAT and SAT courses. This discount is available for all classroom and online test preparation courses offered by Kaplan as well as their private tutoring programs. For additional information or to register, go to www.asce.org/conted/distancelearning/prefkaplan.cfm
ASCE Publications
|
Beyond Failure: Forensic Case Studies for Civil EngineersEngineering failures get a lot of attention—inciting morbid curiosity and fueling concern over the condition of our infrastructure. But every engineering loss is the start of a forensic investigation into how, why, and what can be done to prevent future failures. As with scientific failures, engineering failures can be very instructive in teaching what does not work. |
Beyond Failure, by Norbert J Delatte Jr., presents the circumstances of important failures that have had far-reaching impacts on civil engineering practice. Each case study narrates the known facts: design and construction, the failure, subsequent investigation or analysis, and, where appropriate, additional issues such as technical concerns, ethical considerations, professional practice issues, and long-term effects. The case studies are organized around eight common topics of undergraduate engineering courses and include teaching points and a reading list, so this book is useful to engineering faculty and students. With more than 40 full cases, including the Silver Bridge collapse in Point Pleasant, WV; the levee breaches in New Orleans, LA; and the Challenger space shuttle explosion, this book will also appeal to practicing engineers with an interest in forensic investigations or the analysis of historic failures. Read more/purchase Stock # 40973 List Price $75.00 / Members $56.25 |
|
International Articles in ASCE's Civil Engineering
The following international-related articles appeared in the December and January issues of ASCE's Civil Engineering magazine. (Please log in as a member at www.asce.org ["Members Only"] before logging into the magazine pages.)
December 2008
Proposed Aberdeen Art Center Features a Top-Down Design
Asymmetrical Landmark Bridge to Open Near Dresden
Shipping containers Used to Construct Two Hotels near London
Pivoting Bridge Will Permit People to Ride Along
Outriggers Lend Strength to Supertall Structure in South Korea
January 2009
‘Ziggurat’ Plan Envisions City within a Pyramid
Rotterdam’s Red Apple Features Dramatic Cantilever
Sustainable Design Makes Inroads in Kiev
Conferences from ASCE, International Partners, Agreements of Cooperation
Plan to Attend ASCE’s Annual Conference!
It’s never too early to start planning for ASCE’s 139th Annual Civil Engineering Conference, being held from October 29–31, 2009, in Kansas City, Missouri. Take part in exploring the identity of civil engineers—global communicators, leaders, managers, and technology experts. Join ASCE as the profession shapes the master builders of the past into the master integrators of the future.
International attendees: Apply for your Visa today! Visit the Conference Web site for more details on International Attendees.
EWB-USA 2009 International Conference
Transformative Education: Creating Opportunities for Knowledge will be the theme of the EWB-USA 2009 International Conference. This conference will feature three days of exciting programs and events.
Registration is now open! Click here for more information.
Continue to visit the EWB-USA website to see the full agenda and to view the list of sponsors, speakers, workshops, and exhibitor information.
March 26–29, 2009
Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel & Convention Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
CSCE, ASCE, ICE 2009 Triennial Conference
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering invites you to the 2009 Triennial Conference of the CSCE, the ICE and the ASCE - Coastal Engineering: Future Challenges and Risks.
This important international event, hosted in Canada every nine years, is being held at the Fairmont Hotel in St. John’s, Newfoundland on June 1 and 2, 2009. The theme of the conference, Coastal Engineering: Future Challenges and Risks, will focus on coastal hazards and challenges due to the impacts of climate change and other global or regional concerns.
An impressive cadre of invited speakers will share the latest knowledge and insights on what the future holds for coastal areas and discuss ways of adapting practices to better strive towards sustainability.
To learn more about the 2009 Triennial Conference, visit the conference website.
Attend 2009 International Foundation Congress and Equipment Expo
The Geo-Institute of ASCE, the Pile Driving Contractors Association, and the International Association of Foundation Drilling invite you to attend the International Foundation Congress and Equipment Expo (IFCEE ’09) on March 15–19, 2009, at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA.
Fifteen organizations from around the world have joined as official supporters of the conference including organizations from Canada, China, Japan, Russia, and Singapore, as well as virtually every foundation engineering and construction association in the U.S.
The program will feature over fifty 90-minute technical sessions, six pre-Congress short courses, the prestigious Peck and Terzaghi Lectures, a student Geo-Competition, and an outdoor and indoor Exhibit Hall.
Featured on Saturday, March 14, is the U.S.– China Workshop on Ground Improvement Technologies, the ISSMGE Board Meeting, and the G-I/ISSMGE Reception.
To reserve your hotel room, call 866/397-6516 before February 23, 2009.
To register for the conference, visit the conference website at: www.ifcee09.org.
Join 2009 Structures Congress
Austin, Texas hosts this year’s Structures Congress. As one of the most exciting cities in the United States, the capital of Texas boasts one of the liveliest music scenes, world-class museums, regional cuisine, and vibrant art collections.
This year’s Congress offers more than 10 concurrent technical sessions, demonstrating the redefining of structural engineering in the areas of bridge and transportation, buildings, and advances in research as well as strategies to meet the changes in today’s global economy.
Notable events include civil engineering experts, keynote speaker John Breen, P.E., University of Texas; Santiago Calatrava, P.E., world renowned architect, artist, and engineer; and Dr. Shyam Sunder, of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Apply for your Visa today! Visit the Conference Web site for more details on International Attendees.
April 30–May 2, 2009
Austin, Texas
EWRI International Events
Plan to Attend the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009 May 17–21, 2009 Kansas City, Missouri |
|
Water Engineering for a Sustainable Environment—33rd International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research Congress August 10–14, 2009 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada To submit your abstract, or learn more about the 33rd IAHR Congress, visit the conference website at www.iahr2009.org. |
|
International Conference on Automated People Movers
Don’t miss the 12th International Conference on Automated People Movers, May 31–June 3, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. Its theme, “Connecting People, Connecting Places, Connecting Modes – APMs” reflects the focus on APMs and driverless transit systems as connectors for people, places and modes in cities, airports and private developments. APM and automated transit professionals from around the world will share their recent project experience, advanced technologies, and innovative ideas on planning, design, implementation, and operation of fully automated systems.
For details click here.
ASCE's Pipelines 2009 – Infrastructure’s Hidden Assets
| The worldwide market and demand for infrastructure materials and other economic events in recent times forces agencies, engineers, manufacturers, contractors and operators to evaluate all aspects of their pipeline infrastructure projects. All stakeholders associated with pipelines are considering “Sustainable Infrastructure” and managing their “Hidden Assets.” |  |
ASCE's Pipelines 2009 will be held in San Diego and is expected to draw interest from all facets of industry—owners, consultants, academia, contractors, and manufacturers. Participants are expected from around the world. Based upon the conference subject matter, previous ASCE Pipeline specialty conferences, and other industry symposiums, it is expected that the Pipelines 2009 conference attendance and participation will be upwards of 600 pipeline and related professionals and 60 to 70 exhibitors.
Randy Hill, International Pipelines Conference 2009 Chair, and the Steering Committee invite you to attend Pipelines 2009 in San Diego. They welcome you to participate as a paper presenter, a sponsor, an exhibitor or an attendee.
International participants can obtain answers to their questions or more data about this conference from Dr. Jey K. Jeyapalan, P.E., International Participation Chairman of the conference by contacting him at jkjeyapalan@earthlink.net.
Pipelines 2009
August 16–19, 2009
Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel and Marina
San Diego, California, USA
Save the Date for Cold Regions Engineering Conference
ASCE’s Technical Council on Cold Regions Engineering and the Duluth Section are sponsoring the 14th Conference on Cold Regions Engineering, which will be held August 29–September 2 in Duluth, MN.
The theme, “Cold Regions Impacts on Research-Design-Construction,” will explore how prolonged cold weather affects the ways civil engineers do their jobs and highlight advancements in cold regions engineering technology.
With its Midwest setting, the conference offers an ideal opportunity for attendees to exchange ideas on weather-related issues unique to the “snow belt” states as well as Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and Europe.
For more information on the conference, click here.
Save the Date for Electrical Transmission
and Substation Structures Conference
ASCE/SEI’s fourth Electrical Transmission and Substation Structures Conference will be held November 8–12, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. This conference is the premier event where transmission/substation engineers can meet with their peers and industry suppliers to learn about the art and science of utility structural engineering.
The conference theme of “Technology for the Next Generation” emphasizes the unprecedented challenges the industry will face in training new engineers and technical talent. In keeping with this theme, cutting-edge technical sessions, workshops, exhibits, tours, and social events will provide four full days of value-added activities for attendees at every stage of their career.
Click here to view the conference web site.
Conference on Improving Seismic Performance
of Existing Buildings and Other Structures
Save the date!
This inaugural conference, organized by the Applied Technology Council and the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE, is dedicated solely to improving the seismic performance of existing buildings and other structures. The conference will take place in San Francisco, CA, from December 9 to December 11, 2009. For full details visit the conference website.
Call for papers
The Conference Program Committee is accepting abstracts for individual presentations and proposals for complete sessions until February 27,2009. The conference will include both oral and poster presentations. Novel session formats, such as panel discussions and debates, are encouraged. For more details on topics and how to submit a proposal click on click here.
Exhibits and Sponsorships
If your organization provides goods or services to the structural engineering or design and construction industry, this conference provides an excellent opportunity to develop new customers through sponsorship and exhibiting. The prime sponsorships will go quickly and the exhibit hall is limited to 43 booths, so sign up today!
Turkey Hosts World Water Forum 2009
The World Water Forum, organized every three years by the World Water Council in close collaboration with the authorities of the hosting country, is the largest international event in the field of water. It serves four main purposes:
- To raise the importance of water on the political agenda
- To support the deepening of discussions towards the solution of international water issues in the 21st century
- To formulate concrete proposals and bring their importance to the world's attention
- To generate political commitment
The Forum offers the water community and decision-makers from all over the world the unique opportunity to make recommendations for ensuring the security of water resources in the different parts of the world.
March 15–22, 2009
Istanbul, Turkey
|
ACECC Executive Committee MeetingThe Executive Committee Meeting of the Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) will be held in Hanoi Horison Hotel, Hanoi City, Vietnam on April 19–20, 2009. ACECC members and observers will attend this event hosted by the Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations (VFCEA). In addition to the Executive Committee Meeting, VFCEA will organize an International Round Table—“Infrastructure in the context of finance crisis – Experiences from ACECC member countries”. Invitations to the event have been sent to ACECC member organizations. International participants can obtain answers to their questions or more data about this event from Mr. Tran Dinh Ha, Chief, VFCEA International Affairs Division Tel: 84.4.37721049; Fax: 84.4.38314735 Email: tonghoixdvn@yahoo.com.vn |
 |
Wessex Institute of Technology,ASCE UK Group Announce EventsInternational Conference on Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures (ERES 2009) May 11–13, 2009 Cyprus For further information please contact: Jenna Solanki, Conference Secretariat, at jsolanki@wessex.ac.uk International Conference on Optimum Design of Structures and Materials in Engineering (OPTI 2009) June 8–10, 2009 Algarve, Portugal For further information please contact: Rachel Creasey, Conference Secretariat, at rcreasey@wessex.ac.uk Disaster Management 2009 First International Conference on Disaster Management: Reducing Risk, Improving Outcomes September 23–25, 2009 New Forest, UK For further information please contact: Rachel Swinburn, Conference Manager, at rswinburn@wessex.ac.uk |
|
Improving Construction and UseThrough Integrated Design SolutionsImproving Construction and Use through Integrated Design Solutions (IDS) is a new Priority Theme of CIB, the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction. The IDS Priority Theme complements and unites Sustainable Construction, Performance Based Building, and Revaluing Construction themes, and aims to bring together specialists of different sectors of the built environment to establish a smooth-functioning value network and to recognize the most important business development opportunities. June 10–12, 2009 Espoo, Finland |
|
Papers for Earthquake & Tsunami 2009The Turkish Chamber of Civil Engineers is organizing an international joint conference, Earthquake & Tsunami 2009, in association with the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) and the World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE). The conference will be held in Istanbul in June 2009. Earthquake & Tsunami 2009 will bring world experts together to advance the UN Millennium Development Goals by contributing to risk mitigation activities related to these natural disasters. June 22–24, 2009 Istanbul, Turkey |
|
Euroinfra 2009—Current State and Challenges for Sustainable Development of InfrastructureIn the current era of globalization, active discussions among different countries and different parts of the world are needed, especially in technology. Also needed is interaction between research and practice in the exploitation of new knowledge. Sustainable energy policy and the mitigation of climatic change are key issues for society. October 14–15, 2009 Helsinki, Finland |
Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies International ConferenceCall for Papers, Conference Website Deadline for abstracts submission—April 15, 2009 December 10–12, 2009 14th Internatinal Conference of HKSTS Hong Kong |
|
Conference Summary
March 15–19, 2009 2009 International Foundation Congress & Equipment Expo Orlando, FL |
March 15–22, 2009 5th World Water Forum Istanbul, Turkey |
March 23–25, 2009 International Conference on Engineering and Education in the 21st Century Organized by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (sec@iem.org.my) Kuching, Malaysia |
April 30 – May 2, 2009 Structures Congress 2009 Austin, Texas http://content.asce.org/conferences/structures2009/index.html |
May 17–21, 2009 The World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2009 Kansas City, Missouri |
May 27–30, 2009 2009 CSCE Annual General Meeting and Conference St. Johns, Newfoundland |
May 31– June 3, 2009 Automated People Movers 2009 Atlanta, GA |
June 1–2, 2009 2009 Triennial Conference Coastal Engineering: Future Challenges and Risks |
June 8–10, 2009 International Conference on Optimum Design of Structures and Materials in Engineering (OPTI 2009) Algarve, Portugal |
June 10–12, 2009 Improving Construction and Use through Integrated Design Solutions Espoo, Finland |
June 11–13, 2009 Mongolian Association of Civil Engineers (MACE) Annual Meeting Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia |
June 22–24, 2009 Earthquake & Tsunami Istanbul, Turkey |
| June 24–27, 2009 2009 ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering Austin, Texas http://www.caee.utexas.edu/asceIT2009/Template/site_flash/index.html |
June 24–27, 2009 Joint 2009 ASCE-ASME-SES Conference on Mechanics and Materials Blacksburg, Virginia |
June 28–July 1, 2009 Lifelines Earthquake Engineering Conference Oakland, CA |
July 22–24, 2009 Engineering Solutions for Sustainability: Materials and Resources Lausanne, Switzerland |
August 10–14, 2009 33rd International Association of Hydraulic Engineering & Research Congress Vancouver, Canada |
August 16–19, 2009 International Pipelines Conference 2009—Infrastructure’s Hidden Assets San Diego, CA |
August 30–September 2, 2009 Cold Regions Conference Duluth, MN http://content.asce.org/conferences/coldregions2009/index.html |
September 2–4, 2009 2009 Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) Annual Meeting Fukuoka University, Fukuokua Kyushu Island, Japan |
September 23–25, 2009 First International Conference on Disaster Management: Reducing Risk, Improving Outcomes New Forest, UK http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2009/disman09/index.html |
October 14–15, 2009 Euroinfra 2009—Current State and Challenges for Sustainable Development of Infrastructure Helsinki, Finland |
October 21–23, 2009 Korean Society of Civil Engineers (KSCE) 2009 Annual Conference & Civil Exposition Hyundai Sungwoo Resort Gangwon-do, Korea |
October 29–31, 2009 139th ASCE Annual Conference Kansas City, MO |
November 2–6, 2009 General Assembly, World Federation of Engineering Organizations and Engineering Congress on Alternative Energy Applications Kuwait City, Kuwait http://www.ec2009kuwait.org/ |
November 8–12, 2009 2009 Electrical Transmission and Substation Structures Conference Fort Worth, Texas http://content.asce.org/conferences/ets2009/submissions.html |
November 10–15, 2009 Forensic Engineering Congress Washington, DC http://content.asce.org/conferences/forensics2009/index.html |
December 9–11, 2009 Conference on Improving the Seismic Performance of Existing Buildings and Other Structures San Francisco, CA |
| May 21–29, 2010 2010 ICOLD Annual Meeting Vietnam |
June 3–5, 2010 GeoShanghai 2010 Tongji University Shanghai |
Submit Articles for the April 2009 issue!
Please send us current news and events from your organization and be sure to include a Web link and the email address of the contact person. Articles should be sent to Katerina Lachinova at klachinova@asce.org no later than March 15, 2009.
NOTICE FROM ASCE: You are receiving this e-mail as an information service that is integrated with your ASCE membership. If you would rather receive ASCE e-mails at another e-mail address, please go to www.asce.org/myprofile to update your profile or call (800) 548-ASCE (2723), (703) 295-6300, or e-mail member@asce.org. Thank you for your membership and support of the civil engineering profession.
