It is already July! Much has been accomplished these past six months and much more will be achieved by year’s end.
ASCE is taking a strong position on bribery and corruption through ASCE’s President William (Bill) Henry’s initiative on Global Principles for Professional Conduct, to globally address these issues in the construction industry. Henry has been traveling abroad promoting this initiative by meeting with Agreement of Cooperation Societies (AOCs). This past March he visited Latin America, specifically Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Panama City, Panama and Mexico City, Mexico.
In Brazil, the ASCE delegation, including Executive Director, Patrick J. Natale and International Director Jaime Santamaria Serrano met with several representatives of civil engineering organizations. This prestigious list included: Eduardo Lafraia, President of the Institute of Engineering, Brazil (IE), R. Ortiago, Jr. President of the Brazilian Federation of Engineering Societies (FEBRAE), Raymond de Oliveir, President of the Clube de Engenharia do Rio de Janeiro (CE), Joa Carlos Pimenta, President of the Associacao Brasileira de Engenheiros Civiles (ABENC), and Claudio Dal’Acqua, President of UPADI. CE and ABENC signed an Agreement of Cooperation with ASCE, including special language supporting anti-corruption initiatives.
In Panama, the delegation met with members of the ASCE Panama Section, including the Section’s President Abelardo Vincente Bal Renau, President Abdiel Cano and Secretary General Leyda Ortega of the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects (SPIA). Henry gave a lecture at the Technical University of Panama.
The trip ended in Mexico City with the NAACE Council Meeting attended by the Presidents of each of the Societies participating in the North American Alliance for Civil Engineering, Henry (ASCE), Robledo (FECIC) and MacKenzie (CSCE). Attending the meeting was also Lic. Martinez from the Comision Nacional Del Agua, Secretariat to the 4th World Water Forum, March 16-22, 2006.
In June, Henry travelled to the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Western Europe to gain support on this initiative among the engineering societies in these regions. In Cairo, Henry (pictured in the middle of ASCE Executive Director Pat Natale and Prof. Mostafa Soliman, President o
f the ASCE Egypt Section) addressed an international audience at the IV International Symposium on Environmental Hydrology and IV Regional Conference on Civil Engineering Technology. The Symposium was jointly organized by the ASCE Egypt Section and the Egyptian Society of Irrigation Engineers (ESIE). Efforts were coordinated by Professor Mostafa Soliman, President of the ASCE Egypt Section (pictured to the left of ASCE President Bill Henry).
In Poland, the officers of the Polish Society of Civil Engineers (PZITB), and the President of the Chamber of Polish Engineers, jointly hosted the ASCE delegation in a meeting organized around the Global Principles for Professional Conduct. The Chamber of Polish Engineers represents over
100,000 Polish engineers and technicians and is also the Polish licensing body.
The twelve day journey ended in Rome where a meeting, hosted by the National Council of Engineers (CNI), was held at the Cassa Forense with Monsignor Zagnoli, as the guest of honor representing the Vatican. Joining the meeting on June 14, were: Professor Emeritus Clemente Saenz, President of the Asociacion de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, and Vice- President of the Colegio de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Spain; Yrjo Matikainen, President of the European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE); Dr. Quintiliano Valenti, Transparency International-Italy; Professor Carlos Brebbia, President of the ASCE-UK International Group and the host, Dr. Ing. Sergio Polese, President of CNI. View stories about the trip on the ASCE website: www.asce.org
As for ASCE’s involvement in Capacity Building, the UNESCO Executive Board met in April and adopted a resolution on “Cross-Sectoral Activities in Technical Capacity Building” which will strengthen engineering roles within the UNESCO structure and, more specifically, focus on those elements in the Millennium Goals that pertain to safe drinking water and poverty reduction.
A major thrust emerged in the areas of strengthening existing engineering programs and training for educators in developing countries. This is the culmination of a two-year effort led by ASCE, AAES and supported by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) to enhance UNESCO’s engineering and technology programs, which have been greatly reduced in recent years.
What are the Agreements of Cooperation (AOC) doing?
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) held its annual meeting in Toronto, Canada, June 2-4, 2005. Among the attendees was ASCE President Bill Henry.
Mark your calendar for the 7th International Conference on Short and Medium Span Bridges sponsored by CSCE. The conference will take place August 23-25, 2006 in Montreal, Canada. Focus will be on the design and construction of new bridges and the condition of existing bridges around the globe. Please visit: www.bridgeconference2006.com/main.html.
CSCE will hold its 2006 Annual Conference Towards a Sustainable Future in Calgary, Alberta, May 23-26. Please visit: csce2006.ca/
The Mongolian Association of Civil Engineers (MACE) held its 2005 Annual Meeting and Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 18-21, 2005. A series of international activities were planned, including a Joint Seminar on Concrete Technology organized by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) and the Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering (CICHE), Taiwan. Please contact Ganzorig Erdene, President, of MACE at midiid@magicnet.mr.
The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IE) and the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) joined efforts in organizing a three day seminar on Advances in Bridge Engineering with specific attention to Steel and Composite Construction. The seminar is scheduled in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 10-12, 2005. Contact Dr. A.F. M. Saiful Amin at amin@bdcom.com.
The Turkish Chamber of Civil Engineers (TCCE) is hosting the Computer Applications in Civil Engineering Sector Symposium in Ankara, Turkey, September 16, 2005. TCCE has executed educational programs related to civil engineering and is striving to improve professional education and make progress in each sector. Please visit: www.imo.org.tr.
The Civil Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) will
host the International Conference on Bridge Engineering-Challenges in the 21st Century, November 1-3, 2006. Contact Conference Secretariat Ann Wu at conf3@hkie.org.hk.
The South Africa Institution of Civil Engineers (SAICE) organized and conducted a workshop on Water and Sanitation Capacity Building as part of the Africa Engineers Forum. This first phase of the Africa Engineers Forum identified challenges to water sanitation in South Africa. The Forum sought to develop and administer courses to remedy these issues across the South Africa Development Community (SADC), as well as develop Best Practice documents. A formidable list of countries were represented outside of the SADC, including Dr. Russell Jones (USA), Chair of the Committee on Capacity Building of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and Doug Oakervee, past president of the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK) and Peter Matthews of Engineers Against Poverty (UK).
SAICE has moved headquarters to its new permanent 
home in Midrand, Johannesburg. A celebration for the official opening of the new building was recently hosted by President Mike Deeks. The new address is: Building 19, Thornhill Park, Bekker Street, Vorna Valley X21, Midrand. Contact: Marie Ashpole, Outreach Officers of SAICE at mashpole@saice.org.za.
What are the ASCE International Groups/Sections doing?
The ASCE Japan Section successfully held its Annual Meeting on April 18, 2005. The program included a lecture by Mr. Nishimura, of Central Consulting Inc., on the Asian Highway Project.
On February 3, 2005, the ASCE Japan Section held its third lecture series on the Chuetsu Earthquake in Nigata Prefecture. Leading the lecture was Dr. Masayuki Takemura of the Kobori Research Institute (Kajima Corporation). Please contact Ms. Togari at togari@jreast.co.jp for more information.
Congratulations to the ASCE Thailand Section!
The ASCE Thailand Section had cause for celebration in April when, fresh out of his second reelection, Section President Pratim Ghose announced that Louis Berger Group, Inc. would be sponsoring them for 2005 and will allow them to use the Louis Berger Group’s office in Bangkok for the TIS meetings as well as its address for any communications.
ASCE thanks the Louis Berger Group and Roger Bryan, Director of Engineering in Bangkok.
ASCE-TIS won the “Best International Section for Recruitment and retention of ASCE Members” in 2004. They were awarded a banner proclaiming the achievement in addition to a check for $250.00.
The Section members also met with the ASCE team who visited Thailand after the tsunami disaster of December 2004. Thank you Tim!
Contact Patrim Ghose at pratim.ghose@pckage-cae.com.
ASCE Western India International Group Organizes Ground Breaking Seminar.
The ASCE Western India International Group held an important seminar “Emerging Trends in the Construction Instruction” on February 19, 2005 in Mumbai, India. Cost-effective and cutting edge Indo-USA technologies that will shape and influence the current and future growth within India’s booming construction industry headed the agenda. Please visit: www.civil.iitb.ac.in/~rsinha/2005-02-19WIIG-Seminar.pdf.
The Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) held its 11th Executive Committee Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, May 25-26. Dr. Alfred Ang, ASCE Past International Director, past-member of the International Activities Committee and current member of the ASCE Council on Disaster Risk Management, was appointed the ASCE representative to ACECC and attended the meeting. Part of the meeting addressed Report on Sumatra Offshore Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami. Visit the ACECC website at: www.hanjintravel.com/pco/3rdcecar/ACECC.asp.
The 12th Executive Committee meeting of ACECC will be hosted by ASCE in Los Angeles, California, October 23, 2005, in conjunction with ASCE's Annual Conference.
The North American Alliance for Civil Engineering (NAACE) will meet in Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 19-20, 2005. Please visit www.asce.org/inside/naace/ for more information.
NAACE has been invited to participate in the 4th World Water Forum
to be held in Mexico City, March 16-22, 2006. ASCE EWRI Task Committee on WWF4 leads the effort in conjunction with colleagues from the Canadian (CSCE) and Mexican (FECIC) partners.
Please visit www.worldwaterforum4.org.mx/home/home.asp for more details.
ASCE will hold its Annual Conference in Los Angeles, California, October 26-29, 2005.
International Highlights include:
- Symposium on Disaster Management with special reports on the tsunami disaster of December 2004.
- Jelena Pantelic, World Bank, will key note the International Luncheon.
- Erik VanMarcke, of Princeton University and Chair of the ASCE Council on Disaster Risk Management, will chair the International Roundtable together with a panel of illustrious experts.
- Bill Henry, ASCE President will report on the Global Principles for Professional Conduct.
For more information, please visit: www.asce.org/conferences/annual05/.
Dr. Ram Goel to receive Hind Rattan Award
ASCE Fellow, Dr. Ram Goel will be awarded the prestigious Hind Rattan award on January 26, 2006 in New Delhi, during the celebration of India’s Rebublic Day. HIn Rattan translates into “Jewel of India” and honors a non-resident Indian’s (NRI) outstanding achievement and contribution in the honorees profession.
After graduating with honors from the University of Roorkee, earning a B.S. in civil engineering, Dr. Goel left India for the United States in 1969 to pursue a Masters in engineering at the University of Nebraska. He has gone on to obtain two Doctorates in civil and mechanical engineering and presented a paper on Nuclear Power Plant Design to the Atomic Energy Commission in Mumbai, India. He is lauded for his extreme dedication and guidance to young NRIs in helping them pursue excellence in academic achievement. Dr. Goel currently works for Northside Engineering Services, Inc. in Clearwater, Florida, where he is the Senior Engineer.
Visiting International Fellowship 2006
Accepting all applications! The purpose of the Visiting International Fellowship is to assist faculty, professionals or graduate researchers in developing countries to participate in the World Water and Environmental Resources Congress 2006 in Omaha, Nebraska, May 21-25. Increased participation in EWRI conferences is the main objective of the fellowship. Fellowships will be applied to 1) one year membership in EWRI and/or ASCE; 2) conference registration fees: 3) hotel fees to attend the conference. Contact Laurel Saito at lsaito@cabnr.unr.edu.
Civil Engineering Award Finalists Span Discipline and Globe
A Water Pumping Station in Egypt with a discharge capacity of 1.2 million cubic mete
rs per hour; a dam in San Diego that can withstand an earthquake magnitude of 7.25; a Light Rail System in New York’s JFK Airport spanning 8.1 miles; a bridge traversing the Gulf of Corinth from Rion to Antirion; and a 2.1 million square foot Center with 54 floors in New York. What do these civil engineering feats have in common? They are not only superb examples of how civil engineering can improve quality of life, they are the finalists for the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) Award.
Since 1960, the OCEA program has recognized projects on the basis of their contribution to the well-being of people and communities, resourcefulness in planning and design challenges, and innovations in materials and techniques.
For more information, please contact Jill Dixon (jdixon@asce.org or Joan Buhrman (jbuhrman@asce.org).
Engineers Without Borders - International Meets in Paris
Engineers Without Borders - International (EWB-I) conducted a general networking meeting at UNESCO in Paris, May 11-12, 2005. The meeting provided a unique opportunity for current EWB-I network and prospecting members, observers and others to meet face-to-face, interact and shape the future through strategic planning. The goal of the meeting surrounded agreeing on a joint vision and mission, agreeing on a common set of values and developing a mode of future operation for the network.
For more information, visit: www.ewb-international.org.
UN Marks World Water Day with New Effort to Spread Clean Water Access
The United Nations declared March 22 World Water Day and launched an initiative to halve the number of people worldwide without access to safe drinking water and sanitation - a number that now stands at 1.1 billion and contributes to more than three million deaths a year. The UN hopes to complete this initiative by 2015.
Members of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) from around the globe will meet in Puerto Rico this October to confer over scientific sessions, exhibitions and social activities. In addition, members are meeting to elect the upcoming president of the organization. ASCE Immediate Past-President, Patricia D. Galloway, is one of the candidates running in the election.
For more information, please visit: www.wfeo2005.org/registration.html.
The National Academy of Engineering has just released its summer 2005 publication, The Bridge. This edition, currently available for download, analyzes and reflects on global engineering challenges related to the December 26 Tsunami in Thailand. Experts weigh in on the design of civil engineering structures in tsunami-prone areas. Visit www.nae.edu/nae/bridgecom.nsf/weblinks/MKEZ-6DJKL9 for the complete list of articles.
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