| News for and about the civil engineering community
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- Port of Seattle reorganizes construction division
Engineers and construction managers at the Port of Seattle will join a new Capital Development Division aimed at preventing the kind of waste and fraud that have plagued the port authority for months. Chief executive Tay Yoshitani said the centralized unit for new capital projects will allow for better oversight and coordination, from the bidding process to construction. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
(2/28)
- Virginia port outlines critical expansion plans
Hampton Roads, Va., the third-largest container port on the East Coast, is looking for billions of dollars to complete five projects viewed as vital to the port's future. Col. Dionysios Anninos, head of the Norfolk district for the Army Corps of Engineers, told local leaders that it is important to start soon on projects ranging from dredging a deeper shipping channel to expanding port terminals. "If we don't start today, we might be caught short in the future," he said. The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk-Portsmouth-Virginia Beach-Chesapeake)
(2/29)
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- Virtual border fence gets mixed reviews
A virtual fence at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona has had mixed results in testing, and the scope of its implementation will be limited, officials said this week. Crossings at the fence trigger cameras that transmit pictures and radar to Border Patrol. Those images have not always been sharp and the system has not been consistently reliable, officials say. A virtual fence will be installed in other border areas, although not along the border's entire 2,000-mile stretch. The New York Times
(2/29)
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| Sustainability | | |
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- Good to the last drop: Rainwater collection gains popularity
Some property owners, including eco-minded homeowners, hoteliers and golf course operators, are considering rainwater collection systems to make better use of every drop of water as it becomes more scarce and expensive. Systems of roof gutters, drain filters and underground piping can be elaborate, and the results impressive. Experts say a typical 2,000-square-foot roof outfitted with a sophisticated collection system can save 50,000 gallons of water annually. Landscape Management magazine
(2/2008)
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- Shell proposes an energy plan for the nation
Shell Oil President John Hofmeister announced his company's 12-point energy plan for the nation, addressing energy supply, demand and the environment. Progress on energy requires "national political will, technological and human energy, and major financial investments," he said at a conference in Houston this week. Oil & Gas Journal
(2/28)
| Critical Infrastructure | | |
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- Business leaders call for infrastructure investment
Business executives at the Reuters Manufacturing Summit said the U.S. must spend tens of billions of dollars to update its infrastructure, including shipping ports, bridges and nuclear power plants. Business leaders said additional spending would benefit not only their companies but the nation as a whole. "I can tell you if it is not done, I think it is going to be bad for the economy in general," said John Stropki, CEO of Lincoln Electric Holdings. InformationWeek/Reuters
(2/28)
- Group seeks sweeping review of Missouri River management
Seeking better management of the Missouri River, a coalition of states and American Indian tribes has asked for a comprehensive study of the river by the Army Corps of Engineers. "We're asking for a federal agency to study whether or not it's truly meeting its goals, and whether we are expending water to the country's advantages," said John Cooper, chairman of the Missouri River Association of States and Tribes. The study would be the first of its kind under Section 216 of the Flood Control Act of 1970, which allows for reviews of projects that may have grown outdated due to changes in geography, environment or economics. The Columbus (Neb.) Telegram/Associated Press
(2/28)
| News from ASCE | | |
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Gerald E. Galloway Jr., Ph.D., P.E., Hon.D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE, NAE is OPAL winner for government
Among his many accomplishments, Gerald E. Galloway Jr., Ph.D., P.E., Hon.D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE, NAE, public administrator, educator and geographer, has led large organizations in successfully executing key activities in water management in the U.S. and abroad. He was a consultant to the Executive Office of the President, and assisted the U.S. Water Resources Council, the World Bank, the Organization of American States, TVA, the Army Corps of Engineers and various states. He will receive the 2008 ASCE Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Lifetime Achievement Award for Government. Learn more about his achievements. The award will be presented on April 30 during ASCE's annual OPAL Awards Gala at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va. Learn more and register.
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ASCE offers easy way to connect with legislators
ASCE's Leadership Training in Government Relations Program (also known as the "Fly-In") will begin on March 5. This will be a great opportunity for key contacts to develop relationships with their elected officials, but ASCE members don't have to travel to Washington, D.C., to participate. They can visit ASCE's "Six Clicks (or less)" advocacy Web site to take part in public policy activity and learn about ASCE's infrastructure-improvement priorities.
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National Concrete Canoe Competition to head north
Civil engineering students will travel to Canada for ASCE's 21st Annual National Concrete Canoe Competition (NCCC). Competitors and fans will gather at École de technologie supérieure in Montreal, June 19 to 21. During the competition, civil engineering students will race their canoes across the Olympic Basin on Notre-Dame Island for a chance at $9,000 in academic scholarship money. Learn more about the 2008 competition.
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