ASCE Pittsburgh Section Rocks Roads Ripples n'At

ASCE PITTSBURGH SECTION CELEBRATES ITS 2025 LIFE MEMBERS

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:43:21 GMT

On November 2, 2025, the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers hosted their annual Fall Kickoff and Life Member Banquet at the LeMont Restaurant on Mt. Washington. Engineers, ASCE life member inductees and past life member inductees, professors, students, and parents and families were in attendance.

All were greeted at the door by Nadeen Fatfat, one of ASCE’s Board of Directors, and Alma Rettinger, PE, our past-President, who provided nametags for all attendees.

The banquet started with a social hour from 430 pm until around 530 pm. At that time, Pat Sullivan, PE, our customary emcee, used his microphone like voice to ‘recommend’ that people start their trek to the dining area, complete with a breathtaking view of downtown Pittsburgh.

Pat’s 15-minute monologue discussing what he feels like talking about on that day began…..this year, it was the 128 Crayola crayon colors and a few math problems! Do you know that 10+10 = 20 and 11+11= 20 too?

There is never a dull moment when Pat gets a chance to talk….

As is tradition, Pat invited each of the Corporate Sponsors for the Life Member Banquet to the podium to receive a certificate of appreciation for their gracious sponsorship and to talk about whatever they wanted. Thanks again to our corporate sponsors… Hill International and Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc!

Also, in tradition with the Fall Kickoff theme, Taylor DaCanal, PE, the current President of the Pittsburgh Section, said a few words, thanked the life members for their career contributions and discussing her goals and objectives for her presidency.

This year’s keynote speaker was Adam Taylor from DCI/Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation. His presentation entitled ‘The Revitalization of the Carrie Furnace Sites’ provided some unique history, design aspects and photographs of the furnaces, which were built in 1884 and operated for nearly 100 years. Did you know that Henry Fownes, the original owner, sold the steel facility to Andrew Carnegie in 1898, and used the money to build Oakmont Country Club? Many thanks to Adam for presenting.

Following a great sit-down dinner of filet, chicken or salmon, and vanilla cake for dessert, the induction of the life members began. Unlike any of the previous induction ceremonies, where a “Q and A” of their life is administered by Pat, each life member stood at the podium and spoke freely about their lives, thanking everyone who influenced and supported their professional careers, the exciting projects they worked on, and their involvement in ASCE. Thanks to the 2025 life member award winners who attended.

Dave Briskey, PE Ken Greb, PE

Mark Pavlick, PE

Pat Sullivan, PE

Let us also thank the other 2025 Life Members for their contributions

John Nedley, P.E Carol Tasillo, PE

John Tkacs, Elizabeth Dwyre, PE

Leonard Casson, PE John Wood, PE

Following the life member ceremony, student chapter officers in attendance from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie-Mellon University and Slippery Rock University were invited to the podium to talk about their upcoming goals, objectives and events for 2026.

The event concluded with a second thanks to our Corporate Sponsors and also to our Gold Sponsor HDR Engineering. The event concluded with a prize raffle of 5 gifts, and was again highlighted by the annual humongous CEC food basket.

Please visit the ASCE website www.asce-pgh.org for all of the pictures from the banquet.

Thanks to everyone who attended.

Liberty Tunnels Ventilation System: ASCE National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 01:49:19 GMT

To help celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the 1924 opening of Liberty Tunnels in Pittsburgh, the ASCE Pittsburgh Section History & Heritage Committee, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), nominated in 2024 the Liberty Tunnels Ventilation System for recognition as an ASCE National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark (NHCEL). This particular feature of the Liberty Tunnels was selected for nomination after extensive consultation with the ASCE National History & Heritage Committee. The nomination was approved by the National History & Heritage Committee and final approval was provided by the ASCE Board of Direction at their March 2025 meeting. The NHCEL plaque was subsequently installed on the Fan House building entrance above the tunnels and officially dedicated on September 4, 2025. The dedication ceremony, which was covered by various Pittsburgh television and print media organizations, involved PennDOT Secretary Michael Carroll, PennDOT District 11 Assistant Executive Lori Musto, PennDOT District 11 Tunnel Manager Todd Caddy, Pittsburgh Section President Taylor DaCanal, Pittsburgh Section Past President Alma Rettinger, and the members of the Pittsburgh Section History & Heritage Committee: David DiGioia, David Dzombak, Greg Scott, and Todd Wilson. In her remarks at the dedication ceremony, Pittsburgh Section President Taylor DaCanal said: “The recognition will now be a permanent reminder of the impact that the City of Bridges and Tunnels has had on infrastructure worldwide. It will also serve as an inspiration to future engineering generations to drive improvement of infrastructure forward through innovation.” David Dzombak, Chair of the Pittsburgh Section History & Heritage Committee, concluded his overview of the path-breaking features of the Liberty Tunnels and the ventilation system with: “Thanks to the forward-looking design of the Liberty Tunnels, and the committed effort of Allegheny County – the constructor and original owner – and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation – owner since 1962 – the Liberty Tunnels have provided important and safe service to our city and region for the past 100 years and are poised to do the same for the next 100 years.”

Historic Significance

The twin-bore, four-lane Liberty Tunnels opened to automobile traffic in January 1924. This was America’s first twin-bore auto-exclusive tunnel, and one of the first automobile-only tunnels. At over a mile long, the Liberty Tunnels comprised America’s longest auto tunnel upon opening. The need for new kinds of public safety systems, including cross-passages and a ventilation system, for such a long tunnel were recognized from the start of the design. As little was known about human health impacts of gases discharged by motor vehicles in tunnels, a significant research and development effort was initiated to support the design of a ventilation system that would protect the public. The tunnel design engineers, led by civil engineer Almos D. Neeld (an 1875 civil engineering graduate of the University of Pittsburgh), engaged and collaborated with the U.S. Bureau of Mines research lab, which was located in Pittsburgh. The collaborative research and design effort developed knowledge and methods that advanced tunnel ventilation engineering nationally.

Novel Design

To ventilate the tunnels, the design included a shaft with four compartments above each tunnel. The ventilation shafts extend 200 feet vertically from the top of the tunnels to the Liberty Tunnels Ventilation System Fan House building floor located in the Mt. Washington neighborhood above the tunnels. Assisted by the air flow induced from moving vehicles, fresh air is pulled in from each entry portal and pulled to the center where the polluted tunnel air is drawn into the ventilation shafts via the fan-house-induced draft flow and ultimately discharged through a tower 110 feet above grade at the Fan House building. Fans also push fresh air through a different compartment of the same shaft down into the tunnel, with discharge above the moving traffic at a point 50 feet from the location of the intake vents in the direction of the exit portal. The moving traffic induces air flow toward the exit portal, providing a second location for discharge of polluted air. Wind breaks at the exit portals reduce interference of cross currents in outside air from interfering with the air flow exiting the tunnels.

ASCE National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Program: Recognizes historically significant national and international civil engineering projects, structures, and sites. For more information, visit www.asce.org/about-civil-engineering/history-and-heritage/historic-landmarks

ASCE NHCEL Plaque Inscription

Liberty Tunnels Ventilation System

The 5,889-foot-long Liberty Tunnels were the longest automobile tunnels in America when they opened to traffic January 30, 1924. The concentration of exhaust in the long tunnels from early 20th Century motor vehicles created hazardous conditions for the vehicle occupants. Tunnel design engineers, led by civil engineer Almos D. Neeld, collaborated with the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh to develop a solution. The pioneering Liberty Tunnels Ventilation System incorporated a unique combination of induced air draft and forced air exhaust and intake. The research on exhaust emissions informed the design of subsequent vehicular tunnels.

Summary of Pittsburgh's Sustainability Conference

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:49:26 GMT

On October 22, 2025, EWRI Pittsburgh hosted our 12th Sustainability Conference. (Photo: 12^th Sustainability Welcome Sign – event signage was made from recycled materials.)

Day one of the event featured speakers and panelists discussing a wide range of sustainability topics including multi-modal transportation, local university initiatives, recycling & reuse, water resources, and sustainable construction practices. It was headlined by keynote speakers Dr. Costa Samaras, Director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, Ms. Karen Kabbes, ASCE Sustainability Committee, and Ms. Gisele Barreto Fettermen, founder of The Freestore15104. The event also included a student poster competition that celebrated innovation and awarded two outstanding university students with scholarships.

(Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee Chair Justin Kerns introducing the two-student poster competition winners.)

(Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee Vice Chair Noel L. Rangel moderating the sustainable construction practices panel.)

Day two included an exclusive tour of Advanced Drainage Systems’ (ADS) state-of-the-art plastic recycling facility in Clarion, PA. This event offered a unique opportunity to explore how recycled materials are transformed into high-performance stormwater drainage pipes used in infrastructure projects. Attendees were able to see ADS’ sustainability initiatives and environmental stewardship firsthand. As one of North America’s largest plastic recyclers, ADS removes over half a billion pounds of plastic from the waste stream annually, repurposing it into high-performance products designed to last for decades. (Photo: A look at ADS’ recycling facility, where the sorting line ensures contaminants are removed before post-consumer plastic materials are transformed into HDPE pipe.)

As EWRI Pittsburgh, we are proud to have hosted this impactful Sustainability Conference. We remain committed to fostering conversations that engage, educate, and motivate our community to pursue sustainable pathways at work and in life—and look forward to building a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand.

ASCE PITTSBURGH SECTION AND CEC HOST JEOPARDY WITH CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY ASCE STUDENT CHAPTER

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 01:13:37 GMT

After a successful round of "JeopardEngineering" at the 2024 ASCE Region 2 Assembly in Reston VA Pat Sullivan, PE, Program Director for the Pittsburgh Section, AND a Water Resource Principal with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc., brought the real-life game board to CMU. On April 15, 2025, Mr. Sullivan, with financial assistance from Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. treated 20 students with pizza and cookies, and followed dinner with the game of Jeopardy. Following the same rules as the TV show, Pat did his best impersonation of the great Alex Trebek, divided the students into 4 teams, and played Jeopardy. Pat brought with him 4 buzzers and with the help of CMU officers Jordyn Le and Lillian Keith functioning as judges to identify which team buzzed in first, started the show.

The Jeopardy round provided 5 categories…. UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS, WHAT I LEARNED IN COLLEGE, SPORTS, ENGINEERING MATERIALS, and ASCE.

The categories for Double Jeopardy round included “IT WAS ‘MENT’ TO BE, CIVIL ENGINEERING MARVELS, REGION 2 ASCE, FOOD AND DRINK, and EXTREMELY RANDOM CALCS.

Throughout the game, some students ignored, or bent the rules a bit. Some answers were not made in the form of a question, resulting in the disqualification of the team’s answer. Other teams buzzed in quickly using their answer, but in the correct form of a question. Other teams buzzed in to provide the answer, not in the form of a question, and were quickly reminded by their team members to phrase it in the form of a question. Pat gave them a pass on that last-second adjustment. Some of the CMU students did not accept the official answers and went to AI to verify. They received a stern look from me! We had daily doubles, just like in the show, and Final Jeopardy. The category for Final Jeopardy was US GEOGRAPHY. If you want to know the answer….come to the next show!

Winners were presented with a championship certificate to proudly display in front of their defeated classmates, and some CEC bling items!

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Lilian and Jordyn and Dr. Jerry Wang for helping arrange the event.

Authored by: Pat Sullivan, PE

ASCE PITTSBURGH SECTION CELEBRATES ENGINEERS WEEK

Fri, 30 May 2025 21:07:15 GMT

On February 17, 2025, the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers hosted their annual Engineers Week banquet at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania in downtown Pittsburgh. Engineers, award winners, professors, students and student award winners and parents and families were in attendance. All were greeted at the door by Nadeen Fatfat, ASCE’s newly appointed member on the Board of Directors (effective May 2025), who provided nametags for all attendees.

The banquet started with a social hour from 5 pm until around 6:10pm. At that time, and with the help of ESWP President Dave Teorsky dimming the lights, Pat Sullivan, PE, our customary emcee, used his microphone like voice to ‘recommend’ that people start their trek upstairs to the banquet room.

Once upstairs, Pat’s 15-minute tradition of freelancing what he feels like on that day began…this year, it was new and vintage cartoon TV shows! Pat spent numerous hours doing research to identify 11 TV shows from his childhood days. Then he asked the attendees under 50 years old (Pat’s decision) to quickly yell out the name of the show once it appeard on the screen, for a chance to win a gift card. Pat was impressed by how many ‘youngsters’ recognized the characters of the shows. How many of you remember….Underdog, The Banana Splits, Beanie and Cecil, Speed Racer, Pebbles and Bam-Bam, The Jetsons, and Yogi Bear?

Then Pat turned the tables! He asked the over 50-year-olds to identify TV shows that Pat’s grandkids watch. Many parents and grandparents knew Bluey and Miss Rachel, but Pat stumped everyone who did not know ‘Superkitties’!

There is always fun to be had at the ASCE Eweek banquet!

As is also his tradition, Pat invited each of the Corporate Sponsors for the Eweek Event to the podium to receive a certificate of appreciation for their gracious sponsorship and to talk about whatever they wanted. Thanks again to our corporate sponsors… American Geotechnical and Environmental Services, DLZ, and Alcosan!

This years’ keynote speaker was Cam Baker, PE, from Sippel Steel Fab. Cam’s presentation discussed some of the unique design aspects and construction of the new Pittsburgh International Airport Landside Terminal and Victory Heights, the new athletic center on the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus. Many thanks to Cam for presenting.

Following a great buffet dinner of Chicken, Italian pasta, prime rib and vegetables, and chocolate AND vanilla cake for dessert (dessert selection was under a last-minute agreement between Pat and Alma Rettinger, ASCE President), the awards portion of the banquet began. ASCE Pittsburgh Section Past President Tom Batroney, PE and President-Elect Taylor DeCanal, PE provided the introductions for the ASCE and Student award presentations, respectively.

The 2024 award winners are as follows:

SAF American Bridge Leadership Award Amber Mauer, Slippery Rock University
SAF Italo V. (Ody ) Mackin Achievement Award Trey Blystone, University of Pittsburgh
SAF Honorable Mention Awards Kate Volna, University of Pittsburgh Mia Constantin, Carnegie-Mellon University Amina Tandukar, Slippery Rock University Jacob Singer, PennState University

2024 Civil Engineering Achievement Award Charleroi Locks & Dam
2024 Sustainability Award Dornbush Road GSI Project
2024 Project Award of Merit Chestnut Street Rehabilitation Project

2024 Professor of the Year Award Steven Sachs, PhD, EIT
2024 Civil Engineer of the Year Award Mark Styler, PhD, PE
2024 Young Civil Engineer of the Year Award Dan Phillips, PE
2024 Young Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award Mike Panzitta, PE
2024 Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award Ben DeVore, PE
2024 Service to the People Award Lisa Werder Brown
2024 Journalism Award Ed Blazina
2024 Employer of the Year Award Alcosan

The event concluded with a second thanks to our Corporate Sponsors and also to our Gold Sponsors, Kleinfelder, the University of Pittsburgh and Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. The event concluded with a prize raffle of 7 gifts, and was again highlighted by the annual humongous CEC food basket.

Please visit the ASCE website www.asce-pgh.org for all of the pictures from the banquet.

Thanks to everyone who attended, and we will see you at the next Section event, the Lifetime Member Recognition Banquet, at the LaMont Restaurant in September or October.

Author: Pat Sullivan, PE

ASCE Pittsburgh Section’s Educational Outreach at the Carnegie Science Center

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 21:22:09 GMT

By Shirley Tang

During the 2024-2025 program year, the ASCE Pittsburgh Section has supported educational programming events hosted by the Carnegie Science Center. These outreach events bring students from schools across Western Pennsylvania to provide exposure and connection to different STEM fields.

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section recently participated in the February and March SciTech Days, a monthly event that engages students and connects them with industry professionals. The February Theme was Physics & Engineering in conjunction with National Engineers Week and the March theme was Women+ In Stem in combination with the Carnegie Science Center’s Tour Your Future (TYF) program for girls and non-binary youth.

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section prepared several demonstrations including the Environmental and Water Resources Institute’s (EWRI) enviroscape model, illustrating the concept of watersheds and discussing the role of engineers in designing and managing water systems. The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) prepared demonstrations of structural building kits and a wind tunnel, which emphasized the importance of applying physics and engineering principles in structural design. Additionally, ASCE volunteers participated in career connection panels, which connected professionals and students to discuss career questions and how students can prepare for future professions.

Each SciTech Day hosted over 500 students in addition to the hundreds of museum visitors throughout the day, making them a great opportunity to connect with the local community about ASCE and the field of civil engineering.

In April, the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF) was held to showcase the projects of over 400 6-12^th grade students. The range of topics covered by these students included astronomy, biology, computer science, engineering, health sciences, robotics, and much more.

ASCE Pittsburgh Section members participated as Sponsor Judges to award two outstanding projects across the two-day fair. Judges evaluated the projects during a poster session and had the opportunity to interview individual students to determine the standout projects.

One awarded project was Effect of AMD and Road Salt on Plant Growth for which the student grew plants of several varieties with water collected from local sources, including a tap water control, road salt impacted, and AMD impacted water. The growth rate and quality of growth were evaluated to compare the impact of the water source. The second awarded project was How Prepared Is the City of Pittsburgh Prepared for Climate Change? Part 2, which reviewed historical and projected changes in weather patterns and city plans to combat the effects of climate change. The student then prepared an assessment of the degree of severity that these effects will have on the living conditions of the city.

PRSEF is an excellent program to encourage students to pursue topics they are curious about – the students all demonstrated a strong connection and interest in the topics they had researched. This included a wide range of applications, from a study of which common materials are best for filtering water to a comparison of tensile strength of different materials to optimize design of a 3D printable fitness tool. These students’ effort and creativity in developing these experiments was impressive and the event was a successful showcase of their hard work.

City of Bridges hosts Legacy Conference

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:08:37 GMT

Pittsburgh had the distinct privilege of hosting the 2024 ASCE GeoInstitute GeoStructures Conference, which took place from November 17 to 20 at the Sheraton Hotel in Station Square. This legacy conference, held only once every 8 to 10 years, brought together engineers, contractors, and educators from around the world. In addition to numerous insightful technical presentations, the conference provided invaluable opportunities for networking and collaboration with industry professionals.

On Monday, November 18, the local ASCE GI Pittsburgh Chapter hosted a Young Member’s social event at the Hard Rock Café in Station Square. This event provided an opportunity for the next generation of leaders to network, socialize, and build long-lasting professional relationships. With 36 attendees, the gathering was a great success and offered a fun and engaging atmosphere.

Pittsburgh Future Cities Competition - Above the Current

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 22:54:42 GMT

The 2025 Pittsburgh Future Cities Competition was held on January 25th at the Fed Ex Headquarters in Moon Township. Grades 6 th -8 th STEM students were tasked with designing a future city capable of floating above water that showcased innovative engineering design and that kept citizens safe and healthy.

13 Pittsburgh area schools participated in the competition and the top three overall finishing schools included Fort Couch Middle School (1 st ), Marion Center Jr/Sr High School (2 nd ), and Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (3 rd ). The Special Awards winners included Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School for the most Innovative Design of Infrastructure Systems, sponsored by the Pittsburgh ASCE Section, and Fort Couch Middle School for Excellence in Resilience Engineering, sponsored by the Society of American Military Engineers.

ASCE Pittsburgh Board members Erin Cowen, PE, (left), Connor Gibson, PE, (middle) and Alma Rettinger, PE (right) represented ASCE as judges for the Pittsburgh Future Cities Competition.

Author: Conner Gibson

PITTSBURGH SECTION CELEBRATES ENGINEERS WEEK 2024

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 01:30:21 GMT

On February 17, 2024, the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers hosted their annual Engineers Week banquet at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania in downtown Pittsburgh. Engineers, award winners, professors, students and student award winners and parents and families were in attendance. All were greeted at the door by Alma Rettinger, PE, ASCE’s President-Elect, who provided nametags for all attendees. The banquet started with a social hour from 5 until a bit after 6; that is about when the Emcee for the event, Pat Sullivan, PE used his microphone like voice to ‘recommend’ that people start their trek upstairs to the banquet room.

Once upstairs, Pat, in what has become a tradition at this event, spent ‘about’ 15 minutes talking about whatever he had on his mind…this year it was dress attire!

Pat pulled out his bright red sport jacket with his red, white and blue patriotic tie! Thinking he was the best dressed, he had to give kudos to Dr. Jerry Wang from CMU, who sported a red and black plaid sport jacket with a matching tie! He also had to close a loose end from last years’ presentation of “Who were they before they became ASCE officers?”, by showing a picture of his lookalike, a University of Louisville quarterback from 2011. Pat had to embarrass himself, since he wasn’t able to do it last year. Pat also took credit for working the room during his annual monologue, noting that the Society’s President-Elect, Feniosky Peña-Mora, copied his routine at the recent ASCE Region 1, 2, 4 and 5 conference in Miami, FL! The attendees got a good laugh from Pat’s ‘antics’!

Thanks again to our corporate sponsors… Anser Advisory, Michael Baker International, Slippery Rock University, and Civil & Environmental Consultants!

This years’ keynote speaker was Carolyn Sponza, from Gensler. Carolyn’s

presentation discussed the design and construction of the FNB Financial Center,

located in the Lower Hill District, whose grand opening is scheduled for late 2024-early 2025. Many thanks to her for presenting.

Following a great buffet dinner of Chicken, Italian pasta, prime rib and vegetables and a vanilla cake with chocolate icing dessert (Pat always has the final word with dessert, despite resistance from our Maître de Mike Gaetano of ESWP and Alma, Pat’s special assistant for the banquet), the awards portion of the banquet began. Pat and ASCE Pittsburgh Section President Bill Trimbath, PE provided the introductions for the award presentations.

The 2023 award winners are as follows:

The event concluded with a second thanks to our Corporate Sponsors and also to our Gold Sponsor, Honor Engineer Co. and our Silver Sponsor, Transystems. The event concluded with one of our largest prize raffles ever, which included 8 prizes, and was again was highlighted by the annual humongous CEC food basket.

Thanks to everyone who attended, and we will see you at the next Section event, the Lifetime Member Recognition Banquet, at the LaMont Restaurant in October.

ASCE Pittsburgh Section participation in the 2024 ASCE Multi-Region Leadership Conference for Regions 1, 2, 4, and 5

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:19:57 GMT

By: David A. Dzombak, PhD, PE, BCEE, BCWRE, Dist.M.ASCE

Summary of ASCE Pittsburgh Section participation in the 2024 ASCE Multi-Region Leadership Conference for Regions 1, 2, 4, and 5 in Miami, Florida, January 26-27, 2024

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section was very well represented at the 2024 ASCE Multi-Region Leadership Conference (MRLC) for Regions 1, 2, 4, and 5 in Miami, Florida, January 26 and 27. Representatives included Pat Sullivan,

a Region 2 Governor and Chair of our Section Program Committee; Greg Scott, an EWRI leader and Chair of our Government Relations Committee; David Dill and David Dzombak, current Section Board members; Kaitie DeOre, President of our Younger Members Forum; and Andrew Dawson, Connor Gibson, and Justin Komp, current YMF members.

The MRLC had plenary sessions for all attendees, and separate sessions and workshops for the different leader groups at the conference.

The plenary presentations included informative and motivational talks by ASCE President Marsia Geldert-Murphey and ASCE Executive Director Tom Smith; a thought-provoking talk by ASCE President-Elect Feniosky Pena-Mora on “The Five Ps” for professional and personal success; and a two-part, inspirational talk on “Leader Lessons” by Colonel Aaron Hill, Professor and Head of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the U.S. Military Academy, and Chair of the ASCE Committee on Education.

All attendees also experienced a preview of the ASCE-sponsored new Imax movie “Cities of the Future”, which premiered on February 16 in theaters across the country, including at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh. Our Pittsburgh Section representatives engaged with other ASCE section, branch, and institute leaders in focused workshop and breakout sessions, sharing what we are doing in our section and getting a lot of ideas about new kinds of activities and approaches from others. The Pittsburgh Section is a leader in a number of ways, such as having five active local chapters of ASCE institutes (EWRI, Geo-Institute, SEI, T&DI, UESI), active engagement with numerous student chapters, and a very active Younger Members Forum. It is the enthusiastic involvement of our Pittsburgh Section members that makes our Section so vibrant. Please attend Section events, get involved, and help keep the vibrancy of our Section going!

Seth Pearlman Elected to National Academy of Engineering

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:39:52 GMT

Pittsburgh, PA -- Seth Pearlman, P.E., D.GE, NAC, has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering Class of 2024. Pearlman is the North American Director (CEO) for Menard and is on the board of Menard’s global group. He is directly responsible for management and board oversight of Menard USA, Menard Canada, Earth Tech (Florida), Farrell Design-Build (California), and ConeTec.

Election to the NAE is one of the highest professional honors accorded an engineer. NAE members are among the nation’s most knowledgeable engineering experts and have distinguished themselves in business and academic management, in technical positions, as university faculty, and as leaders in government and private engineering organizations. Pearlman is being recognized for ground improvement technologies, geostructural design, and geotechnical construction techniques.

“Being elected to the National Academy of Engineering is an honor, but an honor that comes with a service obligation,” explains NAE President John L. Anderson. “As leading experts in their field, NAE members volunteer their time on initiatives that help guide the development of federal laws and regulations, improve the effectiveness of government programs, shape the direction of research fields and engineering education, and inform public knowledge and dialogue about issues of critical importance,” he noted.

Commenting on the prestigious honor, Pearlman said, “I am surprised and honored that my work has been recognized. This could only have been possible by the tremendous efforts of all the people that I have been able to work with over the last 40-plus years. I very much look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the betterment of our collective practice.”

Pearlman has more than 45 years of engineering experience with the last 38 in the geotechnical design and build construction industry. Pearlman joined Menard in 2003. He is active in numerous industry organizations and served as the president of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) from 2006-2008. He has been honored many times. Among his awards are the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Henry Michel Award for Research in Industry in 2015, the ASCE Geo-Institute Wallace Hayward Baker Award for achievements in ground improvement in 2020, and he was elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2022. He has also won several Vinci and Soletanche Freyssinet awards for innovative solutions. Pearlman is a member of the ASCE, the Moles, and the American Concrete Institute. He currently serves on the DFI Scholarship Trust Board, where he helps establish funding for university scholarships. He earned bachelor's and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He was honored with alumni service awards from Carnegie Mellon University and the CMU Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He and his family reside in Pittsburgh.

About Menard

Menard USA is a subsidiary of the Menard Group. The Menard Group operates in more than 80 countries, developing and implementing foundation solutions based on ground improvement and reinforcement technologies. Menard’s proven solutions eliminate the need for the deep foundations traditionally used to support structures. Contact Menard USA at info@menardusa.com or www.menardusa.com/contact-us

About the National Academy of Engineering

The mission of the National Academy of Engineering is to advance the welfare and prosperity of the nation by providing independent advice on matters involving engineering and technology, and by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and public appreciation of engineering.

Sabrina Steinberg, MPH
Communications/Media Associate
National Academy of Engineering
SSteinberg@nae.edu

ASCE Pittsburgh Section at the Future City Pittsburgh Regional Competition

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 19:44:46 GMT

By: Shirley Tang

On January 20th, the 2024 Future City Pittsburgh Regional Competition was held in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania. This STEM program involves teams of middle-school students addressing sustainability issues to design and build a future city. This year’s theme was “Electrify Your Future”, with participants tasked to build a 100% electrically powered city with energy generated from sources that prioritize the safety of the citizens and environment. The challenge involved producing a city plan and essay, constructing a scale model of the city complete with moving parts, and presenting their city to the judges.

Eight teams from Western Pennsylvania participated in this year’s Future City Pittsburgh Regional Competition. The overall award went to Fort Couch Middle School, whose team designed a comprehensive city of multiple renewable energy resources, various options for accessible public transit, and a high priority for healthcare access and availability of emergency services. The team will advance to the National Competition in Washington D.C. in February 2024.

The special awards for this year included recognition for Best Use of Green Construction, Outstanding Future City Project Plan, Most Innovative Design of Infrastructure Systems, and many other achievements. Members from the ASCE Pittsburgh Section attended to judge the overall competition and two special awards.

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section presented the special award for Quality of Life, recognizing a team that incorporated concepts such as accessibility, community, and equity within their city design. The award went to Derry Area Middle School, which had an impressive city layout that prioritized accessibility of residents to public services and promoted traveling by foot or bicycle as an energy generation method. This team’s city also incorporated a disaster mitigation plan to address the proximity of their future city to a dormant volcano and to prioritize the safety of the residents.

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section also presented the special award Best Visualization of a Smart, Sustainable City on behalf of ASCE National. This special award was won by The Ellis School which incorporated multiple sources of renewable energy integrated with an AI system to efficiently harness available energy. Their city design also incorporated smartwatch technology to connect residents directly to city resources such as healthcare, community information, and updates regarding energy accessibility.

The event was an impressive showcase of the students’ awareness of the renewable energy sources and technologies that may be implemented in the future for the benefit of our communities. Some recurring solutions included: wind turbines, solar panels, maglev trains, and vertical farming.

This event also aligns with ASCE’s Future World Vision initiative, which reimagines the potential of infrastructure into various future scenarios with a focus on the impact of six key trends. These six trends are: alternative energy, autonomous vehicles, climate change, smart cities, high tech construction, and policy & funding. The film based on Future World Vision research, Cities of the Future, premieres locally at the Carnegie Science Center in February 2024. Read more about ASCE’s Future World Vision Initiative here: https://www.futureworldvision.org/

From Left to Right: ASCE Pittsburgh Members Erin Feichtner, Shirley Tang, Taylor DaCanal, and Kenneth Anderson.

ASCE Pittsburgh Section at Carnegie Science Center Educational Events

Fri, 12 May 2023 23:33:50 GMT

ASCE Pittsburgh Section at Carnegie Science Center Educational Events – By Shirley Tang & Ben Briston

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section recently sponsored and participated in two educational events hosted at the Carnegie Science Center. These educational outreach events brought students in from dozens of local schools to showcase a wide range of STEM topics and engage with professionals to learn about careers in various fields.

In March, the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF) was held to showcase the projects of over 500 6-12^th grade students. A wide range of topics were covered by these students including Biology, Computer Science, Engineering/Robotics, and Medicine/Health/Microbiology.

ASCE Pittsburgh Section representatives participated as Sponsor Judges to present an ASCE Pittsburgh Section award for the Senior Division of the fair. At the fair, judges got an overview of the projects during a poster session and had the opportunity to interview individual students to determine an award winner. The ASCE Pittsburgh Section Selected Outstanding Project Award went to the project Abandoned Mine Drainage Water Bioindicators, for which the student monitored the reproduction rate of Daphnia in water samples to determine the impact of different filtration methods on water pollution and subsequently, the microorganisms’ quality of life.

Many other projects showed the impressive work done by students, including Measuring Exposure to Atmospheric Chemicals Using Passive Samplers: Problems with PFAS, in which the student tracked exposure levels of participants to Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to health issues widely used in consumer products. Another notable project was A Novel Computer Vision Based Device for On-Site Detection of Microplastics in Water, in which the student designed and 3D-printed portable system that detects microplastics using a microscope USB camera and a trained custom computer-vision model.

The students’ interest, creativity, and skillfulness in developing these experiments was very inspiring to see and the event was very successful in highlighting the hard work put in by the participants.

Left, From Left to Right, ASCE Representatives Shirley Tang, David Ulmer, and Ben Briston at PRSEF.

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section also participated in the April SciTech Day, a monthly themed STEM event held at the Carnegie Science Center. The April theme was Earth and Environment as a celebration of Earth Day. The students were engaged in different booths and activities to learn about various topics such as natural sciences, the importance of pollinators, wildlife conservation, engineering, and mine reclamation.

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section hosted a booth demonstrating through an enviroscape model how watersheds work and how different processes in our environment are connected. ASCE Volunteers also discussed the role of engineers in developing solutions such as designing proper drainage systems and addressing and mitigating water pollution. Additionally, the ASCE volunteers participated in career panels, which were roundtable discussions between professionals and small groups of students to answer questions on their professional work.

Above, ASCE Representative Ben Briston discusses his work as a Senior Project Manager at Gannett Fleming with students.

Below, ASCE Representatives Ben Briston, Shirley Tang, Tom Batroney, Taylor DaCanal, and Matt Stevens at the ASCE booth.

Over 600 students from local middle and high schools attended the event in addition to the over 500 visitors to the museum throughout the day. The event was a great opportunity for students to explore different topics with a focus on appreciating, celebrating, and preserving our environment.

The PRSEF and SciTech events were both great events to interact and discuss the field of civil engineering with students. The ASCE Pittsburgh Section appreciates the opportunity to participate in these educational events and engage with students and the public about the impacts of civil engineering in our communities.

2023 Multi-Regional Leadership Conference

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 22:00:28 GMT

By Connor Gibson (2022-2023 Pittsburgh Section ASCE YMF President) and Tom Batroney

I had the pleasure of attending the Multi-Regional Leadership Conference in Charlotte, NC from Jan. 20^th-21^st alongside fellow ASCE Pittsburgh YMF Board members Daniel Phillips (Past President), Jayne Marks (Treasurer), and Kaitie DeOre (President Elect). I personally had an awesome time attending insightful presentations, networking with fellow engineers, and getting in some ballroom dancing in at the Awards Banquet! The primary purpose of the conference is to encourage collaboration with ASCE headquarters staff in Reston, learn best practices from other sections and chapters, and generally understand how we can make the Pittsburgh Section better for our membership.

Over the course of the two-day conference, we developed three key takeaways and recommendations to the ASCE Pittsburgh Board of Directors for how to improve our Section and increase our young membership and engagement:

Key Takeaway 1: Many Sections and Chapters are struggling with getting involvement from young members and students. To encourage student and younger member participation we need to be a coordinated effort from the Section as a whole including faculty advisors, practitioner advisors, and institutes.

Recommendations to the ASCE Pittsburgh Board:

Organize more activities that are low cost and on campus. Free food that’s not pizza and events that are fun are better. Have to go to them. Needs to be more than just YMF hosting events, need institutes, and Section there as well.
Develop a shared student engagement calendar for tracking ASCE student activities and section events on campuses. Recommend a single point person who would be in charge of the calendar possibly under the Outreach committee. Updating the calendar will be the responsibility of the current faculty advisors, practitioner advisors, student chapter presidents, YMF, and institutes. Host the calendar on Section website so that everyone can view. Recommend creating the calendar using the Sections gmail address.

Key Takeaway 2: Our Section needs to focus more on membership transition from student member to Associate member. This transition can be a difficult and sometimes confusing process for early career professionals. This transition is where ASCE loses most of its engagement and membership. Especially when dues increase after the first year.

Recommendations to the ASCE Pittsburgh Board:

Every year obtain list of graduating seniors from the Universities. Email them about how to get involved in YMF, how to approach their employer about paying for membership when they start their job, and the benefits of early career involvement at ASCE.
Considering hosting a “principals” breakfast meeting to discuss the state of the industry and listening to their needs. Invite one or two high level principals from firms to ask them what they need from ASCE and learn how to encourage involvement from their employees, both young and more seasoned.

Key Takeaway 3: More personalized engagement with our young members.

Recommendation:

Consider reviving member bio templates for highlighting current members to student chapters and the section as a whole. Use these to serve as testimonials for why people should become ASCE members and showing the benefits to students and younger members.

In addition to our recommendations to the board, other fun highlights of the conference included listening to Brock E. Barry give two phenomenal presentations on nonverbal communication and the art of giving an effective presentation. For more information, here’s a link to a video interview from ASCE with Mr. Barry on the importance of non-verbal communication in the workplace. Also, the Committee on Younger Members round table discussions on topics such as membership, social media networking, and professional development were extremely helpful and provided a great deal of insight in how our local ASCE chapter can better serve and reach out to its younger members. Finally, the presentation on the Charlotte Whitewater Design and Hydrology project was fascinating and shed light on how a few people with a vision and determination can get a project approved, designed, and built in their local community.

Lastly, I wanted to give a shout out to fellow ASCE Pittsburgh Board members Tom Batroney, Shirley Tang, and Pat Sullivan for also making it out to the conference and showing off their incredible dance moves at the Carolina Panthers stadium social event.

Pictured from left to right: Pat Sullivan, Tom Batroney, Daniel Phillips, Connor Gibson, Marsia Geldert-Murphey, Jayne Marks, Kaitie DeOre, and Shirley Tang

Pictured from left to right: Connor Gibson, Jayne Marks, Kaitie DeOre, and Daniel Phillips

Pictured above: All the happy and enthusiastic ASCE Younger Members at the 2023 Multi-Regional Leadership Conference!

March 2023 FLY-IN and Advocate Award: Part 2

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 01:09:38 GMT

PART 2 – A Recap of the Legislative Fly-In and Congressional Visits

Every spring, ASCE holds its Legislative Fly-In in Washington, DC, an exclusive and intensive two-day event providing participants with professional development in honing their skills in the public policy process and advocacy, as well as valuable peer-to-peer networking with fellow ASCE Key Contacts. Members who engage in advocacy aren’t just doing a favor for ASCE— they are also building valuable personal skills that will help advance their career.

In addition to accepting the Outstanding Civil Engineering Advocate Team Award on behalf of the Pittsburgh Section at Thursday’s breakfast, Immediate Past President Jonathan Shimko, and Section PR Chair Jodi S. Klebick spent time alongside Pittsburgh Section members David DiGioa, T&DI Chair, and Greg Scott PE, PMP, Government Relations Chair, participating in numerous events at the 2023 Legislative Fly-In from March 1-3.
A round up of some of those opportunities included a Welcome from ASCE President Maria Lehman, P.E.; keynotes from Administrator Shailen Bhatt of the Federal Highway Administration, and Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; workshops such as Storytelling Training by Brad Fitch, President and CEO, Congressional Management Foundation, and Storytelling with Local Media by Joe St. George, National Political Editor, Scripps News. Other opportunities included Issue Briefings on: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization, Resilient infrastructure, and National Dam Safety Program reauthorization. Additional panel discussions were also held, as well as time given for representatives from each state to network and coordinate their state’s legislative outreach efforts as part of the Fly-In.
A total of ten ASCE representatives from the Pittsburgh, Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, and Central PA Sections coordinated their outreach efforts for legislative visits. Individuals attended in-person meetings with their respective Representatives and the entire Pennsylvania team attended in-person meetings with legislative aides from the offices of Senators Casey and Senator Fetterman. The key points the ASCE advocates made with every Congressional they made were:

Approve a bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill before the program expires on September 30, 2023 which will increase the Airport Improvement Program and eliminate the federal cap on the Passenger Facility Charge, and accommodate alternative delivery and advanced construction methods to expedite projects and reduce costs.
Support the development, adoption and enforcement of a national model building code as a key method of creating disaster resilient communities; fully fund FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program; and the reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program.
Reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program through at least 2028; increase its authorized funding to $43 million annually; and remove current statutory limitations on states receiving more than 50% of costs to implement state dam safety programs, which will assist smaller state programs.

March 2023 FLY-IN and Advocate Award: Part 1

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:59:01 GMT

PART 1 - Accepting the national American Society of Civil Engineers Outstanding Civil Engineering Advocate Team Award on behalf of the Pittsburgh Section

In the snowy early morning hours of Friday, January 28, 2022, the 447-foot Fern Hollow Bridge located in the busy East End of Pittsburgh collapsed. While thankfully no fatalities occurred, ten people were injured and the incident quickly become a national news story, as it collapsed mere hours before President Biden was scheduled to go to Pittsburgh to talk about infrastructure.

As soon as word broke that the bridge had collapsed, the ASCE Pittsburgh Section jumped into action and had organized its government and media relations efforts within two hours of the event. The leadership team, led by then Section President Erin Feichtner P.E., Immediate Past President Jonathan Shimko, President Elect Tom Batroney, Section PR Chair Jodi S. Klebick Klebick, and Government Relations Chair Greg Scott PE, PMP quickly reviewed the known facts, researched more information, identified a Section speaker, prepared talking points, and crafted an action plan. Jodi began coordinating all responses and Jonathan became spokesperson. Before 9:00 am that morning, the section was organized and already fielding its first media inquiries and skillfully answering questions concerning the bridge collapse.

The section response team also closely collaborated with ASCE staff in Reston, Virginia and following President Biden’s remarks on the incident in Pittsburgh, began to coordinate local and national requests, ranging from radio, TV, newspaper, and online news outlets like NPR and the New York Times. Because of their quick thinking, and due to the foundational training provided by ASCE and resources inherent in the way the Pittsburgh Section operates, what could have been a weak or poor response from the Section to a tragic local event was transformed into a proactive, coordinated, and professional response by ASCE to a major crisis on a national scale.

Jonathan Shimko and Jodi Klebickwere honored to accept the national American Society of Civil Engineers Outstanding Civil Engineering Advocate Team Award on behalf of the Pittsburgh Section from Dennis D. Truax, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, D.WRE, F.ASCE, ASCE Past President, at the 2023 ASCE legislative Fly-In in Washington, D.C. on March 1-3, 2023.

Pittsburgh Geo-Institute Chapter-February Dinner Meeting “3D Slope Stability Analyses in Practice”- Dr. Timothy Stark

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 22:16:00 GMT

Taylor DaCanal, Timothy D. Stark, George Chammas and Nick Melvin after the presentation at Penn Brewery North Shore.

The Pittsburgh Geo-Institute Chapter held its February 23, 2023 meeting at the historic Penn Brewery. The dinner event was attended by 43 practitioners. The meeting featured G-I 2023 Cross-USA lecturer Timothy D. Stark, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who spoke on “3D Slope Stability Analyses in Practice”. Dr. Stark presented an overview of 3D limit equilibrium slope stability methods, slope width/height ratios where 3D analyses are significant (greater than 6), new 3D software, and four examples of practical uses of 3D stability analyses. In particular, field case histories were presented to illustrate the use of a 3D analysis in inverse stability analyses of slope failures, modeling variable shear strength conditions, accommodating anisotropic geosynthetic reinforcement in factor of safety (FoS) calculations, and slope stabilization techniques using drilled shafts and shear walls. The audience asked many questions throughout the presentation and shared their slope stability experience, which brought a fresh appreciation of the intricacies of slope stability analyses.

PITTSBURGH SECTION CELEBRATES ENGINEERS WEEK

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:54:50 GMT

By Pat Sullivan March 30, 2023

On February 18, 2023, the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers hosted their annual Engineers Week banquet at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania in downtown Pittsburgh. The engineering community, family members, and friends came out to show their support of the Section’s Award and Student Award Foundation recipients. Nadeen Agag, ASCE’s newly appointed Deputy Program Director, greeted event attendees and offered lapel flowers to the award winners.

The banquet started with a social hour, but like all other previous banquets ran a bit long because “Engineers, love to talk, catch up with old friends and meet new people. But the show needed to go on o in keeping with recent tradition, the Emcee for the event, Pat Sullivan, PE used his microphone like voice to ‘recommend’ that people start their trek upstairs to the banquet room.

Tom Batroney, PE, Pittsburgh Section President, ‘permitted’ Pat to dish out a 10-minute monologue about whatever Pat had on his mind… And this year it was toilet paper! You had to be there. Pat’s monologue also highlighted a pictorial presentation of “Who were they before they became ASCE officers?” that really got the audience engaged! Of course Pat went a bit long….you know how HE likes to talk, but unfortunately no one was going to tell him that he was done! Past Past president and Awards Chairman Jonathan Shimko tried, but to no avail!

However, ASCE was excited to see four Past Presidents in attendance; Jonathan Shimko, Kemal Nitzik, Bob Dengler … and of course Pat Sullivan! We hope to see (most of) them again soon! ;-)

Corporate Sponsors were recognized with a certificate and true to form, Pat invited them to say a few words about whatever they wanted. Thanks again to our corporate sponsors Anser Advisory, Arcadis, HDR, and Michael Baker International.

Because Pat does not like to sit down, UESI Pittsburgh Chapter Chair Alma Rettinger, PE (Pat’s special assistant for the banquet) implemented some last minute seating changes to allow a few friends to sit together, resulting in Pat sitting at the Arcadis table, where everyone enjoyed a great buffet dinner of chicken, Italian pasta, prime rib, salmon, and vegetables. Dessert was vanilla or chocolate cake with chocolate icing (Pat lobbied hard for this dessert!) Did we mention that Maître de Mike Gaetano of ESWP is the powerhouse behind these events?

Following dinner, the real reason for the Engineer’s Week banquet commenced: To recognize the achievements of projects, people, students, and companies in our Section. This year, Jonathan Shimko, Erin Feichtner, PE, President-Elect Bill Trimbath, PE, and Jeff Argyros, PE did a marvelous job presenting the awards. Thanks for their help!

The 2022 award winners are as follows:

SAF American Bridge Leadership Award Cain Pfoutz, University of Pittsburgh

SAF Italo V. (Ody ) Mackin Achievement Award Josephine Reott, Slippery Rock University

Civil Engineering Achievement Award Fern Hollow Bridge Emergency Replacement Project

Award of Merit Highland No. 2 Reservoir Liner and Cover Replacement Project

Sustainability Award Somerset Dam Rehabilitation Project

Service to the People Award Rick Obermeier

Journalism Award Margaret Krauss

Young Government Civil Engineer Award Anna Bennett

Government Civil Engineer Award Barry King, PE

Young Civil Engineer Award Erin Feichtner, PE

Civil Engineer Award Brad Duda, PE

Distinguished Civil Engineer Award John Yadlosky, PE

Employer of the Year Award Langan

The event concluded with a second thanks to all of our sponsors, including our Gold Sponsors: Langan, Wade Trim and Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. and the prize raffle, which again was highlighted by the annual humongous CEC food basket.

Thanks to everyone who attended, and we will see you at the next Section event, the Lifetime Member Recognition Banquet at the LaMont Restaurant in October.

Pittsburgh Geo-Institute Chapter-January Joint Dinner Meeting ASCE/PGS/AEG

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 23:44:47 GMT

“Montgomery Locks and Dam Subsurface Investigation”-James R. James, P.E.

Write up By: George Chammas and Taylor DaCanal

On January 19, 2023, the ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute (GI) held its

annual joint meeting with the Pittsburgh Geological Society, and Association of Environmental Engineering and Geologists. The event was held at Cefalo’s Banquet and Event Center. This was the first GI meeting in 2023, and the turnout was tremendous with over 115 people registered. The presenter was Mr. James R James, P.E. of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, his presentation was titled “Montgomery Locks and Dam Subsurface Investigation". Mr. James focused on the geotechnical subsurface exploration for the locks and dams of the Ohio river.

The presentation focused on the geotechnical challenges that were presented during the subsurface investigation for the navigation structures on the Ohio River. The project was located at the new lock chamber at the Montgomery Locks and Dam in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The subsurface investigation consisted of rock coring, soil sampling, pressure meter testing, water pressure testing, optical televiewing, and acoustic televiewing. In addition to the field investigation, extensive laboratory testing was performed on the rock core samples and soil samples.

One of the challenges in the subsurface investigation included recovery of soil samples in a traditional hollow stem auger. To better characterize the upper soil layers, the investigation utilized sonic drilling methods. Sonic drilling utilizes high frequency inside a sonic head to advance a core barrel.

The other geotechnical aspects of the subsurface investigation involved the testing of rock samples specifically the coal seams. To better determine the shear strength parameters of the coal, direct shear tests and rock pullout strength testing was performed. The selection of the rock core samples was a critical part to the testing. This helped achieve more accurate shear strength parameters for the analysis of the concrete wall.

Overall, the January event was an informational event to attend and learn about the different methods of subsurface investigations. It was interesting to learn about the subsurface investigation methods not typically used on every project. We hope to see more engineers, students, and anyone interested in learning more about the geotechnical field at upcoming events!

Future City Pittsburgh Regional Competition 2023 and ASCE’s Future World Vision Initiative

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 01:14:24 GMT

By: Erin Feichtner, Shirley Tang, and Ben Briston

On January 14, 2023, the Future City Pittsburgh Regional Competition was held at in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania. This middle-school STEM program involves teams of students using project management skills and engineering concepts to address sustainability issues and build a future city. This year’s students took on the climate change challenge, designing futuristic cities to be adaptable and mitigating the challenges from climate change. Participants were tasked with brainstorming creative solutions to construct healthy and sustainable living environments, which involved producing a city plan and essay, constructing a scale model of the city complete with moving parts, and presenting their vision to the judges.

Eighteen teams from Western Pennsylvania participated in this year’s Future City Pittsburgh Regional Competition. Members from the ASCE Pittsburgh Section helped judge the overall competition and the special awards. The special awards included recognition for Best Integrated City, Best Transportation System, Best Use of Green Construction, and many other achievements. The ASCE Pittsburgh Section sponsored the special award Best Future City Project, recognizing a team with an impressive use of engineering concepts and consideration to essential infrastructure systems such as stormwater drainage, landscaping, and utilities. This special award was won by Team Phamborough Sweden from West Mifflin High Area School, which made use of innovative city planning concepts as well as the use of multiple forms of renewable energy.

The event was an impressive showcase of the students’ awareness of the issue of climate change as well as their understanding of the technologies that may be implemented in the future for the benefit of our communities.

From Left to Right, Board Members Ben Briston, Shirley Tang, and Erin Feichtner at the Future City Pittsburgh Regional Competition

Asking young people to consider how the built world will function in the future is not unique to the Future City competition. One of Professor John Sebastian’s University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) engineering undergraduate class recently presented their semester final projects to several ASCE Pittsburgh Section members. Inspired by ASCE’s Future World Vision initiative, the topic of their undergraduate project was to develop design concepts and ideas for how to make Pitt’s campus functional 50+ years in the future. The class divided into 10 teams with various focus areas such as; Water & Environment, Construction & Materials, Transportation, and Energy & Utilities. Researching materials, technology, and systems currently in development they presented master plans that would help Pitt flourish despite predicted future challenges like climate change, alternative energy needs, advanced materials options, and autonomous vehicle integration.

For those ASCE members that attended both events, it was impressive to observe specific futuristic concepts that both the middle schoolers and undergraduate engineering students identified as being viable. Some of the recurring solutions were; vertical farming, EcoBricks, living/self-healing concrete, and Maglev Trains. As professionals we cannot just leave it to the next generation of engineers to come up with new innovations. We have a responsibility to do our own research and stay open to integrating new concepts into the industry so that we provide the public with the best built environment to survive the ever-changing world.

Read more about ASCE’s Future World Vision Initiative here: https://www.futureworldvision.org/why-future-world-vision.

Infrastructure Report Card, My Personal Experience, and Talking Money

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 20:24:16 GMT

Written by: Xinchao “Steven” Wei, Ph.D., P.E. who is the Director and a Professor at the School of Engineering in Slippery Rock University.

As many of you ASCE members already know, Pennsylvania’s infrastructure for 2022 received a grade of C minus, according to the 2022 ASCE Pennsylvania Infrastructure Report Card. As civil engineers ourselves, a grade of C- is not something we should be very proud of. It does however emphasize the challenges we are facing and great opportunities for us to make significant contributions to our community, our country, and our profession.

Due to my work and family reasons, I travelled frequently to many places in China in the past two decade (except the past two years due to COVID). I personally witnessed the sea of change to infrastructure that occurred in almost every corner of the huge country (China is as big as the United States) from small villages to megacities. I would say China has been a wonderland for civil engineers and designers in the past two decades; with amazing highspeed rails, highways, bridges, and buildings being built. Some of the infrastructures are so creative, with stunning aesthetics, that they look alien or even crazy to a certain extent. In almost every front, investing in infrastructure has definitely been a way for China to modernize its economy, develop its workforce, and stimulate growth in the science and engineering industries.

While amazed by the rapid infrastructure modernization in China, the typical response from political figures or ordinary citizens is we cannot afford it! I think the questions that are posed should be: How can China afford it? Where does the money come from?

The secret is investment by public funds. Building our nation’s infrastructure is an investment which might not have immediate return but is made for the generations to come. Its impact can be profound; penetrating almost every sector of the economy, just like how it has transformed China in the past two decades. I am glad to see our government made significant investments in the future of this country’s infrastructure through multiple legislations including The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and The Inflation Reduction Act. All of this is exciting news for us as civil engineers and ordinary citizens. We need to give credit to the ones who have worked hard to draft, pass, and sign these legislations to funnel money into infrastructure. But will it be enough? Probably not. Just like our own houses, we need to keep investing in repairs, updating, and lobbying for renovation.

Together Let’s Rock Engineering!

Congratulations to Frank Strittmatter, PE with Markosky

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 22:59:52 GMT

Markosky are pleased to announce the promotion of Frank as our Structures Department Manager. Frank has been with Markosky for over six years serving as a Project Manager and Lead Bridge Engineer on numerous transportation projects. Frank’s extensive engineering experience in structures and bridge design is invaluable to the Markosky team and has helped him in serving as our Assistant Department Manager. Frank has completed over 60 structures projects through construction, and numerous projects to various stages of design. Frank has built and maintained various client relationships for Markosky and plans to continue to grow those relationships and to expand our structures services to new markets. We are confident that with Frank's leadership and technical skills that he will excel in growing our Structures Department and that he will help to continue to guarantee top of the line work from Markosky.

Young Member Perspective from the 2022 ASCE National Convention

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 01:29:09 GMT

By: Jayne Marks, PE

Jayne is a Structural Engineer in the Transportation Department of AECOM in Pittsburgh, PA. She was the Pittsburgh ASCE Younger Members Forum (YMF) President 2020 – 2021 and is the current Treasurer of the YMF, as well as the Winter Banquet Committee Chair.

On October 23-26, 2022, ASCE hosted their annual ASCE Convention at the Disneyland Hotel in sunny Anaheim, CA. I was fortunate enough to be a part of an amazing team of contributors who won this year’s ASCE Collingwood Prize; an award given to younger members under the age of 35 who are the author or authors of a paper (1) describing an engineering work with which the author(s) have been directly connected, or (2) recording investigations contributing to engineering knowledge to which the author(s) have contributed some essential part, and (3) containing a rational digest of results. Our paper is titled “Finite-Element Fatigue Analysis of a New Rib-to-Floor Beam Connection for Orthotropic Steel Decks” and was published in the February 2021, Volume 26, Issue 2 of the ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering. Thanks to the generosity of my company, AECOM, and the Pittsburgh ASCE Section, I was able to attend the Convention with my co-authors and accept my award in person from outgoing ASCE President, Dennis Truax, and Executive Director, Tom Smith.

Pictured: Dennis Truax, Jayne Marks, Yixin Chen, Joe Saunders, Tom Smith

Attending the Convention was an amazing experience filled with many opportunities to gain new perspectives, form new goals, and keep my finger on the pulse of my profession. A large focus of the programming was on President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill. Signed in November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is set to inject trillions of dollars into infrastructure over five years and presents a unique opportunity to the civil engineers who will be responsible for making this plan a reality.

The opening keynote was a panel of various government officials assembled to discuss implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law. I found this presentation to be particularly engaging because it offered a perspective on a facet of my job that I don’t think I personally give enough thought to during the day-to-day: how do the decisions we, as civil engineers, make affect our communities? How can we ensure that this new wealth of resources is spent equitably and efficiently to enact the most positive change?

The Director of Los Angeles County Public Works, Mark Pestrella, stressed the importance of making data-based decisions when deciding how to utilize the money from the infrastructure bill. He mentioned that in LA, they’ve found that communities predominantly occupied by marginalized groups tend to be left behind when it comes to infrastructure spending; a conclusion they were able to come to based on data collected specifically to investigate this. Because of this, it’s important for civil engineers and decision makers to think creatively as we begin to utilize the funding provided by the bill: provide resources for smaller communities to help them navigate the grant writing processes, lump smaller projects in with larger projects to help them attain funding, combine smaller infrastructures systems into larger systems to avoid unnecessary segmentation, and provide education to communities so they’re able to properly maintain the systems they do have.

Pictured: Dennis Truax, Becky Keogh, Mark Pestrella, Laura Hanson

A similar message was reiterated during the Industry Leaders Forum event on the second day of the convention, with a strong focus on how racial inequality is a large component of this conversation. The newly appointed ASCE President, Maria C. Lehman, also highlighted the ongoing issue of gender inequality in our profession today during her acceptance speech. This was an inspiring address coming from someone so accomplished in her field. President Lehman has even been appointed to President Biden’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council which brought the conversation full circle. I sincerely appreciated these reminders that civil engineering is more than calculations done in a vacuum and that our choices and actions mean something beyond the obvious and important function of our jobs.

In addition to the larger presentations, I had the opportunity to learn more in the smaller presentations throughout the convention. I took a journey into ancient Rome to learn more about the Colosseum and a project that endeavors to use modern technology to recreate a moveable version of the ancient wooden flooring system that was lost to time. I also have a better appreciation now for the fake phishing email tests my company sends out every couple of months after sitting in on the session “Understanding Cyber Security Threats from a Hacker’s Perspective.”

Overall, attending the Convention was an incredibly valuable experience, not only for the things I learned, but for the people I met and the experiences I had. Disneyland was an amazing backdrop for a conference focused on innovation, creativity, and creation. Walt Disney once said:

“I don’t believe there’s a challenge anywhere in the world that’s more important to people everywhere than finding solutions to the problems of our cities. But where do we begin? How do we start answering this great challenge? Well, we’re convinced we must start with the public need.”

I made sure to keep this in mind as I got my picture taken with Mickey.

Pictured: Jayne Marks, Mickey Mouse, Scott Pickrell

SEI visits progress at the Charleroi Lock

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 23:18:37 GMT

On August 25, 2022 a group of 15 industry professionals took a tour of the Charleroi Lock and Dam, a project owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The lock is on the lower Monongahela River and is currently being modernized to include a new, larger River Chamber which will better accommodate today’s river traffic. Participants learned about several unique construction means and methods required for the project while viewing active construction within the dewatered lock chamber. Attendees were also treated to panoramic views of the construction site from the top of the new control tower. The existing lock chambers were constructed in 1932 and the new lock chamber is expected to be completed in 2024.

ASCE Region 2 Spring Newsletter

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 12:06:07 GMT

Check out the Spring 2022 Region 2 newsletter to learn what Director Jack Raudenbush has been doing, updates from around the Region, and even a Governor spot light of our very own Angela Mayer!

Spring 2022 Newsletter

2022 YMF Winter Banquet Recap

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 17:23:21 GMT

By Edward J. Major II, EIT, A.M.ASCE

The 2022 YMF Winter Banquet was held on January 20th and I’m happy to report it was a SUCCESS! Previously, the Younger Member Forum (YMF) organized an annual networking and technical event called the December Dinner. This year, the YMF hosted the event in January to allow professionals and students the freedom to attend without possible schedule conflicts due to the holidays or final exams. While we were limited in capacity, we had 42 attendees come out to Penn Brewery on the North Side for an evening of food, networking and an informative lecture. Our keynote speaker, Jeff Argyros, gave a wonderful talk on the ALCOSAN Wet Weather Plant Expansion project. Attendees were also able to attend one of two tours of the brewery to learn about Penn Brewery’s history and process. The night concluded with several raffle prizes, including tickets to some great Pittsburgh places such as Phipps Conservatory and the Children’s Museum.

The YMF also wants to give all our Sponsors a huge THANK YOU! We were blown away by the generosity of these companies. Thank you to Arcadis for being the exclusive event sponsor of the Eisenhalle Room! Thank you to our bar sponsors, Colliers Engineering & Design and GHD! Thank you to our brewery tour sponsors, AECOM and Michael Baker International! And last but certainly not least, thank you to our dinner sponsors: Civil & Environmental Consultants, DLZ, Erdman Anthony, Geosyntec Consultants, Pennoni, and Venture Engineering!

We hope to see everyone at next year’s event! Until then, stay safe and remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on all the YMF happenings!

Pictured from Left to Right: Daniel Phillips (YMF President), Connor Gibson (YMF Treasurer), Rama Pandkar (YMF Secretary), Jeff Argyros (Keynote Speaker), and Jesse Doss (YMF Social Chair)

ASCE Members share on local STEM focused Podcast

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 16:03:40 GMT

To all with a curious mind,

Recently, as creator and host of the Everything STEAM Podcast, I published an episode called Sinking Cities that featured Sebastian Lobo Guerrero, a key member of the American Society of Civil Engineer’s Pittsburgh Chapter (ASCE) and employee of American Geotechnical & Environmental Services. In 2020 he was voted Civil Engineer of the Year for ASCE’s Pittsburgh Chapter. Sebastian recently served as the Director for the chapter as well as served as the President of ASCE’s Geotechnical Institute. In the episode, Sebastian and I discussed many causations of sinking cities, while pointing out case studies all over the world where sinking cities are such as; Mexico City, Bogota Colombia and much more. To finish out the episode, we covered engineering and environmental approaches to slow or remediate these sinking cities.

Another episode that may be of interest to fellow members is an interview with Dr. Kent Harries. Dr. Harries is a tenure Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and is an active Fellow of ASCE Pittsburgh, ACI and IIFC. He will be featured in Woke Talk Podcast’s upcoming episode, Materials of the Future where we plan to discuss building materials that are used now, and showcase materials that could shake up the way we build our infrastructure in the future due to climate change action.

In many episodes to come, we plan to shine a spotlight on many other important members of Pittsburgh’s ASCE Chapter. These episodes include; Public Transit, US Infrastructure, The Importance of Engineering, Diversity in Engineering, Women in STEM and much more. If you would be interested in being involved in these conversations please, feel free to go to the Contact Us page on our website (https://everythingsteam.org), or email us at everythingsteam3.14@gmail.com. To stay up to date with the podcast, connect with me on LinkedIn, or look up Everything STEAM on social media.

To listen or watch the interview with Mr. Guerrero, head to Our Streaming Platforms. You can listen to our podcast episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Anchor by Spotify, Stitcher and Amazon Music. To view our video content, look us up on YouTube or use the link above! We hope that you enjoy our content and support us in our cause to make our society more STEAM informed, thank you.

About the Author: My name is Sam Stanford, and I am a Physicist, Structural EIT and alumni of the University of Pittsburgh. For more background information about myself, I was a member of Pitt ASCE, awarded top Civil Engineer of the Spring 2021 Graduating Class, Summa Cum Laude at the University of Pittsburgh and Slippery Rock University, and was inducted into the Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society.

Woke Talk Podcast is not an ASCE sponsored program and the views expressed are their own and may not reflect the views of ASCE.

Recap of 11th Sustainability Conference

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 12:28:59 GMT

Building and Planning for a Healthy and Equitable Future in Pittsburgh

When it comes to measuring the health and well-being of a community, there’s likely no better metric than the average life expectancy of its residents.

What would you guess are the average life expectancies in total years of residents from the places listed below? As you read along, just go with whatever first intuitively pops into your head; try not to overthink it.

A. A resident of the United States of America

B. A resident of Allegheny County

C. A resident of the City of Pittsburgh

D. A resident of Highland Park neighborhood of Pittsburgh

E. A resident of Larimar neighborhood of Pittsburgh

Ok, do you have your guesses written down? Now click here for the answers.

How did you do? Were you at all surprised at the results and the disparity between the residents who live in Highland Park and Larimar despite the fact that their communities are immediately adjacent to each other in Pittsburgh’s East End?

They say "Time is the most valuable thing a person can spend." They also say "You can always earn more money, but you cannot earn more time." ‘Not sure who first coined those sayings, but they are undoubtedly true. What is also true is that some communities in Pittsburgh are literally being robbed of decades of their time.

As Dr. Nobel Maseru explained during the 11th Annual Sustainability conference, there are many complex factors that go into these numbers, but the underlying social fabric is woven with threads of historical systemic racism. It's clear that this is the case simply by quick comparison of the bottom five and top five neighborhoods in the previously linked graph. As civil engineers, this is history that we must acknowledge. All of us, myself included, should educate ourselves on this critically relevant history. For example, the history of transportation civil engineering projects and the history of redlining of neighborhoods, disinvestment, and increased flooding. The first step in fixing a problem is acknowledging it exists. After that, education and learning. Then hopefully informed action.

On May 7 and 8, 2021 ASCE Pittsburgh Section, EWRI Pittsburgh, and Sustainable Pittsburgh held its 11th Annual Sustainability Conference, "Building and Planning for a Healthy and Equitable Future." The conference was held virtually and included experts from around the region and nation. If you were unable to attend both sessions were recorded and can be found here on YouTube: Go here for Day 1 and here for Day 2.

Below are some of my own personal reflections from the conference.

1. I've been on the conference planning committee for just about all eleven Sustainability Conferences. The racial equity panel discussion on Day 1 was one of the most important and eye-opening discussions I think this conference has ever had. If I were to recommend one session to watch one from the videos above, I would recommend this one. This was the first ever panel comprised entirely of BIPOC presenters that we've ever hosted at the conference and it was long overdue.

Some of the key items that stood out to me during this discussion is how Allison Acevedo, Director of the Office of Environmental Justice at Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, is making social justice and equity more of a priority for future funding decisions at the state level. Her group is also working towards decoupling this policy from future political regime changes. Likewise at the local level, Majestic Lane, Chief Equity Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff at City of Pittsburgh the City of Pittsburgh, stated how the City is in the process of developing neighborhood equity indicators and a framework for future City planning purposes. As engineers and planners, we now have the data to make better informed decisions regarding placement of investments in communities that need it most. Now it's a matter of top-down policy implementation at all levels of government as well as support from the engineering profession in order to make this type of action happen.

2. Our keynote speaker Carolyn Kousky, Executive Director at the Wharton Risk Center, University of Pennsylvania, presented how climate related disasters are perpetuating deeper poverty and greater inequality across the nation. To break this cycle, we need systematic changes to federal disaster recovery funding policies - especially for disaster recovery loans and grants. We also need more affordable and timely insurance mechanisms so that climate risks in disadvantaged communities are considered.

3. To address inequities perpetuated by climate change, communities will need infrastructure investments and budgets that are adaptable and flexible to a changing climate. Also, bold policy decisions are needed that may not be always popular with some key stakeholders, developers, and politicians. The City of Houston faced two major disasters and is moving forward with policy decisions that are requiring more from the development community in order to make their city more resilient. See Day 2 keynote speaker Carol Haddock MPA, PE - Public Works Director - City of Houston. See also the excellent climate resilience panel hosted by Grant Ervin, Chief Resilience Officer at the City of Pittsburgh where panelists talked about climate resilience initiatives underway as part of the City of Pittsburgh OnePGH Resilience Strategy.

4. All of us, myself included, need to do a better job communicating to the public the health and climate related challenges we are facing. We need language that is more understandable, accessible, and relatable. We need less scientific jargon and more plain language. We also need to find ways to empower the local community as part of the decision-making process so that there is grass roots community level ownership. Just about all of Day 2, but especially the panel discussions, spoke to this issue. Dave Rosenblatt, State Chief Resilience Officer in the State of New Jersey, Will Pickering, CEO of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, and Ariam Ford, Executive Director at Grounded all spoke to the critical need for addressing this issue.

5. Creating lasting institutional change is very difficult. But for it to happen, it needs to start with leadership and a vision. Executing that vision also does not happen overnight and requires many years of partnerships and collaboration. Howard Neukrug, current Executive Director of the University of Pennsylvania Water Center and former CEO of the Philadelphia Water Department, talked about his multi-decade vision for the Office of Watersheds in the Philadelphia Water Department. As a result of the creation of the Office of Watersheds’ vision, eventually came the award winning and transformational "Green City, Clean Waters" plan for the City of Philadelphia. It's a terrific and motivating story. For young professionals this one is particularly worth watching.

Overall, the conference left me with a sense of optimism for the future of the Pittsburgh region. As this conference demonstrated, we have some tremendous regional leaders in Pittsburgh. It's great hearing a quote like this from Will Pickering, CEO of Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority: "When it comes to climate change and the future health of our communities, it's plain to see from our perspective that the 'do nothing' option isn't one that's acceptable."

Or this quote from Ariam Ford, Executive Director from the Pittsburgh based non-profit Grounded Strategies: "The process of empowering local residents and addressing historical inequities that Grounded is doing unfortunately isn't one that fits into the traditional engineering design process. The key is finding ways to bridge that gap between the grass roots communities and larger institutions."

Finally, as civil engineers, we are in many ways responsible for the future health and well-being of our communities and the people who call them their home. As we go about our daily work planning, designing, and building critical infrastructure projects, we should never forget the following words of wisdom and inspiration which I feel summed up the conference in just two succinct sentences. The first is from Dr. Nobel Maseru, and the second is from Ms. Carol Haddock:

"When inequality is too great, the idea of community cannot be obtained."

"It's the people, not the pipes."

On behalf of the conference planning committee, I would like to thank our conference speakers and all those that attended. We would also like to thank our partners: The City of Pittsburgh (especially Grant Ervin's team), American Public Works Association, and the Local Government Academy.

Tom Batroney, PE

President-Elect ASCE Pittsburgh

The Sustainability Conference Planning Committee Consists Of:

Jason Baguet, PE, Sci-Tek Consultants

Tom Batroney, PE, AKRF

Ben Briston, PE, Wade Trim

Ana Flores, EIT, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority

Jim Price, Sustainable Pittsburgh

Greg Scott, PE, CDM Smith

Society voting closes June 1!

Tue, 25 May 2021 12:29:10 GMT

Good day Pittsburgh Section, my name is Pat Sullivan and as some of you may know, over the last 3 years, I have been one of the Region 2 Governors for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Region 2 covers the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Northern Virginia and also Washington DC. There are 7 sections in Region 2: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Delaware, Lehigh Valley, Maryland, National Capital and Central Pennsylvania. I am up for re-election and I would appreciate your support in helping me continue my duties as Governor. One of these duties is to meet with and aid sections and branches in enhancing their programs and providing opportunities for collaboration, sharing, and access to national resources. But the duty I most enjoy is the collaboration with the students at the approximately 25 colleges and universities in our region. My bio and ASCE resume is available to view on both the section website www.asce-pgh.com and the national website www.asce.org/elections .

As an ASCE member, please consider voting. In addition to voting for the Region 2 Governor, you can also vote for ASCE National President and there is also a referendum that will allow students to vote.

As you can see from the photos below, I have had an absolutely wonderful time being Governor. Starting back in September of 2018, as master of ceremonies for the Pittsburgh Sections’ 100^th anniversary celebration and the Pittsburgh Sections’ 100^th Anniversary book signing “Engineering Pittsburgh” to attending the Region 2 Student Conference at George Mason University in November of 2018 with the University of Pittsburgh student representatives.

Then it was off to the Region 1, 2 4 and 5 MRLC Conference in Orlando FL in January of 2019. It was cold that week, but I had a chance to catch up with student representatives from the University of Pittsburgh and emcee the lunchtime session, where I had a chance to ‘chat’ with over 500 attendees.

Of course, it isn’t all fun and games…occasionally there is work to be done, here we are hard at work at Bill Brittle’s house in central Maryland. And it is also necessary to support the ASCE Pittsburgh Section during important announcements, such as the 2018 Pittsburgh Section Report Card press briefing.

But as I said above, I enjoy talking to students, both at the university level and the high school level. I absolutely enjoy speaking to the high school students about civil engineering and how it started for me.

I hope to be able to continue these activities for the next three years. Thank you for your support.

Pat

Interested in Public Policy?

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 13:04:56 GMT

In 2022 the four Pennsylvania ASCE Sections (Central Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) will be releasing a new Report Card for Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure, however the work behind the scenes to develop the Report Card will be commencing late this Spring. The 2018 Report Card for Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure graded 18 categories of infrastructure and can be viewed at www.pareportcard.org as a reference as to the nature of the end product that is the goal to develop.

Volunteers are needed to join the infrastructure category committees. We are seeking to connect with members who have experience public policy or are interested in learning more about:

● The current condition of public infrastructure;

● The legislative and regulatory environment it is developed in;

● Infrastructure’s operations and maintenance and;

● How Public agencies and private corporations fund construction; operation; and renewal.

This is an opportunity to work in a team environment of like-minded professionals. The committees will work with staff from ASCE National and ASCE’s Committee on America’s Infrastructure to provide a snapshot of our infrastructure as it relates to us locally and on a national level. The volunteers will gather background information for each of the categories – including reports, studies, surveys and other research materials – from professional societies, non-profit associations, and local, state and Federal agencies, in order to determine grades for each category.

Grades will be developed in a simple A to F school report card format. Assigned letter grades are based on the following eight criteria: capacity, condition, funding, funding need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation. The grades are an evaluation of the current state of the physical infrastructure itself and are not a reflection on the agencies responsible for the infrastructure, who are often working with limited resources. Historically, small teams of ASCE volunteers coordinate and meet with public agencies in the development and advance of the Report Card release to seek their input and notify them of the findings.

This is a wonderful opportunity for professionals as well as students who are interested in developing a deeper understanding of public policy and be acknowledged in a published report. Anyone interested should contact the Report Card for Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure Co-chairs, David DiGioia at ddigioia@mcmahonassociates.com or Michelle Madzelan at memadzelan@elagroup.com.

Geo-Institute: Engaging the Geotech Community Through the Pandemic

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 22:58:37 GMT

When the ASCE Geo-Institute Pittsburgh Chapter (G-I) started planning the 2020/2021 program year we did not know if, when, or how we could even hold events. The Pittsburgh ASCE-GI dinner lecture series have always been very popular with the local geotechnical community. The series provides a chance to socialize, network, and learn from informative presentations. Cancelling the program year was not an option. New G-I committee members were elected to the G-I Board in Spring 2020 and knew that they had to find a way to carry on the torch of the dinner series and was immediately tasked with the challenge of finding new ways to engage with the geotechnical community during the COVID pandemic.

We decided that the best and safest way to proceed was to begin hosting the dinner series as virtual webinars. We all missed the typical food, drink, socializing, and networking of the normal dinner series; but the presentations to the geotechnical community could continue. The Pittsburgh Geo-Institute worked hard to line up engaging and exciting guest speakers for the 2020/2021 webinar series.

After organizing such a great speaker line up the GI board members wanted to ensure that the platform and time they picked for their webinar series ensured the highest quality for all members. After a thorough review of all the available platforms the Geo-Institute decided to use Zoom for their webinars. While after work hours were always best for the in-person presentations, it was decided that the best time for virtual presentations was during the lunch hour. The mid-day presentations were chosen because they would add a nice break to everyone’s standard working from home day and allow our members to take a break from their computer screens and spend time with their families after work.

The virtual program year was kicked off in September with the University of Pittsburgh’s IRISE Landslide Seminar; this was a collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Geo-Institute. The University of Pittsburgh hosted the platforms of these seminars.

On October 15, 2020, the ASCE Geo-Institute Pittsburgh Chapter kicked off their Zoom webinar programs with Fatma Ciloglu, Ph.D., P.E., with Michael Baker International. Dr. Ciloglu presented on Combi Piles-Lessons Learned to Manage Active Piping Erosion at Deep Foundations. This event was open to all members and non-members at no cost. A total of 144 professionals registered for this event, making it one of the largest events ever hosted by the ASCE Geo-Institute Pittsburgh Chapter to date.

After the success of the first two virtual meetings the Pittsburgh Geo-Institute was pleased to host the 56th Terzaghi Lecture by Edward J. Cording on November 19, 2020. The Tergazhi lecture was titled Observing and Controlling Ground Behavior During Tunneling. This event was once again open to all members and non-members at no cost. This virtual presentation set another registration record for the Pittsburgh Geo-Institute attendance with 188 people registering for the event.

On January 20, 2021, the Pittsburgh Geo-Institute was pleased to cohost the always popular annual joint meeting with AEG and PGS. Richard L. Beam, P.G. presented on Pennsylvania’s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Emergency Program and drew in approximately 145 attendees across the three organizations.

While the start of the 2020/2021 program year looked bleak and uncertain, it has turned out some of the most well attended presentations of the ASCE Geo-Institute Pittsburgh Chapter. The virtual presentations allow professionals from outside of just the Greater Pittsburgh Area to benefit from the educational presentations, including those from faraway states like California, Arizona, and Utah. The ASCE Geo-Institute Pittsburgh Chapter thanks all their presenters and members for helping to make this year a successful program year. We look forward to the eventual restart of the popular in-person dinner meetings so that members can once again socialize and enjoy each other’s company, but until then please continue to join virtually from your home or wherever you may be!

Region 2 Director's Report

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 15:44:56 GMT

Jack A. Raudenbush, P.E., M.ASCE, your Region 2 Director, is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Section. Jack represented you at the Oct. 26-27 board meeting. Use the following link to read his highlights from the ASCE Society board meeting which included such items as ASCE Code of Ethics and Life Membership.

http://message.asce.org/Region2Oct20

PA State Council 2020 Virtual Legislative Day

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 13:57:45 GMT

In November of 2018 the four sections of ASCE in Pennsylvania (Central Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh) released the 2018 Pennsylvania Infrastructure Report Card via the ASCE Pennsylvania State Council. The dire grades the Commonwealth received under the category of Transportation spurred Representative Martina White into forming a House Transportation Infrastructure Task Force in July 2019. The Task Force of 10 House members, representing a diverse cross section of the state, conducted a comprehensive overview of the status of Pennsylvania’s transportation system and its funding mechanisms. The resulting House Transportation Infrastructure Task Force Report issued in the Fall of 2019 cited the 2018 Pennsylvania Infrastructure Report Card extensively and led to the creation of 10 bills implementing some of the recommendations in the Report.

In August of this year, the ASCE PA State Council decided to change its Legislative Day, traditionally held by conducting legislative visit in the Capitol of Harrisburg, to a series of virtual legislative visits. The Council hired the firm of Mulberry Public Affairs LLC (Mulberry), to provide logistical support for the effort. Mulberry has had a long-standing relationship with ASCE’s Report Card efforts. Their experience and expertise in helping to shape the meetings issue briefs, and strategically scheduling the meetings, was instrumental in authoring a letter of support for the package of bills and facilitating the virtual meetings.

Between September 1st and October 13st this Fall, a dozen ASCE members from all four Pennsylvania Sections participated in 10 virtual legislative meetings with key House and Senate members. The message the ASCE members delivered was that ASCE supports enacting the Transportation Task Force bill package as a vital first step to address the transportation funding shortfall in Pennsylvania, and would allow for critical investments in the state’s infrastructure. In particular, ASCE Pennsylvania was supportive that the legislative package:

• Expands critical innovative project delivery methods such as bundling projects and design build;

• Provides county governments more flexibility to raise revenue for vital transportation projects;

• Creates new revenue streams for local governments and county infrastructure banks;

• Extends the use of public-private partnerships for eligible municipalities; and

• Develops a pavement condition committee to ensure the safety of our state’s roads.

In addition, during meetings with Senate members, ASCE members expressed support for the passage of HB 2101 which amends the Engineer, Land Surveyor, and Geologist Registration Law that had previously passed the PA House by a unanimous vote of 202-0.

The virtual format of this year’s outreach proved to be very successful and provided both ASCE members and the Elected Officials a mechanism for open and detailed conversations. The overall tone was one of recognition of the challenges infrastructure faces in the state as well of support for creative and innovative means of addressing its needs. While Pennsylvania is facing significant economic impact due to the pandemic, and this year marks the end of this Legislative Session, the ASCE members made significant contributions to ensuring these bills either move before the end of the year or are reintroduced in next year’s session.

President Elect Erin Feichtner’s Take-A-Ways: 2020 ASCE Presidents and Governors Forum

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 13:16:22 GMT

The 2020 Presidents and Governors Forum (PGF) was held this year on September 10-12, when 147 Section and Branch Presidents, Regional Governors, Society Directors, Board Members, and Institute Leaders from across the country and abroad convened virtually. This annual event, sponsored by the Leader Training Committee, provided opportunities for attendees to learn about ASCE resources, network with other ASCE leaders, and develop skills that benefit their Sections/Branches, Regions and Institutes.

Though I have attended previous ASCE leadership conferences for younger members, this was the first time I have attended the PGF. I found this conference to be very motivating and had several notes from each section. I think what struck me the most throughout the time was the reminder of the purpose of ASCE. The opening speaker summarized that the purpose of ASCE is to Foster Engineering Leaders: Help you matter more and enable you to make a bigger difference. This goal really stayed in my mind during the many discussions on boosting membership, communicating with members, and engaging students.

Sometimes I think it can be so easy to get caught up in the membership numbers, or attendee counts for events, that we lose sight of our purpose for coming together as civil engineering professionals. We have extremely bright engineers and academia in the Pittsburgh area who are challenging and advancing the civil engineering profession in order to help make our world safer and more accessible. I hope through this coming year, and the next while I am section president, to refocus our efforts on highlighting the research and projects happening in our area while also connecting our regional members with resources, and each other, on topics they find useful.

The overall community of ASCE is globally reaching and has compiled leadership and technical resources for all. Please remember to regularly take advantage of your membership benefits by browsing the ASCE.org website for free webinars and information. I also encourage you to post discussion topics on our Pittsburgh Discussion Forum at http://www.asce-pgh.org/page-349473, and to begin thinking about nominating any deserving student leaders or projects for 2020 ASCE Pittsburgh Awards or national awards. All award categories and information can be found on our Section website http://www.asce-pgh.org/awards.htm and the Society page https://www.asce.org/awards/.

For more information about the PGF, please visit LTC’s website at:

http://regions.asce.org/leader-training-committee/pgf.

Jack A. Raudenbush, P.E., F.ASCE, Region 2 Director on ASCE Historic Site - Mason Dixon Line

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 16:54:02 GMT

Jack A. Raudenbush, P.E., F.ASCE, your Region 2 Director is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Section. Jack will be representing you at the next Board meeting on October 27 and 28, 2020.

Visit an ASCE designed historic site! These sites illustrate the creativity and innovative spirit of civil engineers. Visit https://www.asce.org/landmarks to find sites near you. Share photos of your travels with me and I will post in Region 2 correspondence and on our Region’s social media pages.

The Mason Dixon Line

The Mason Dixon line, commonly referenced as the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, also includes a portion of the northern boundary of West Virginia and the western boundary of Delaware. It was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. The Mason–Dixon line was marked by stones every mile 1 mile and "crownstones" every 5 miles, using stone shipped from England. The Maryland side says "M" and the Delaware and Pennsylvania sides say "P". The parallel (latitude line) was established as 15 miles south of the then southernmost point in Philadelphia.

Mason and Dixon started off with a crew of five, but by the time they got towards the end of the survey the party had grown to about 115. They thought at the end of the survey that the stones were accurate within 50ft. But what is realized today is that some of them are as much as 900ft off. The reason is not because Mason and Dixon were inaccurate in their execution nor because the equipment was faulty. It was actually gravity. Gravity had an impact on the plumb bob they were using. They had a 6ft telescope and it used a plumb bob on a fine wire. But gravity varied from location to location because of the influence of mountains.

Jack A. Raudenbush, P.E., F.ASCE, our Region 2 Director Spring Report

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 18:09:10 GMT

Jack A. Raudenbush, P.E., F.ASCE, your Region 2 Director is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Section. Jack will be representing you at the next Board meeting in Washington, DC on March 14 and 15, 2020.

Leadership and Management Training Opportunity for Young Civil Engineers

Region 2 is offering to reimburse Sections and Branches for the cost of purchasing ASCE’s Professional Skills Series in Leadership and Management training modules. Please contact me if interested in learning about this limited time reimbursement offer.

https://www.asce.org/supercharge-your-career/

Module = $249/Each Reimbursement from Region 2 = $249/Each

Your Final Amount = $0!!

Pittsburgh Section Shout-Out

The Pittsburgh Section was awarded the Outstanding Section and Branch Award for Large Sections and Branches. The award, presented in January at the MRLC in Philadelphia, recognized the Pittsburgh Section for its exceptional activities and engaged Board Members, Student Chapters and various Committees as presented in their Annual Report.

The Pittsburgh Section of ASCE has nearly 1,700 members and hosts over 50 events per year including the Annual Kick-off Dinner, the Life Member Recognition Banquet, and the Engineers Week Awards Banquet. It has five technical institutes and a very active Younger Member Forum as well as very supportive activities for the local Student Chapters.

Visit an ASCE designed historic site!

These sites illustrate the creativity and innovative spirit of civil engineers. Visit https://www.asce.org/landmarks to find sites near you. Share photos of your travels with me and I will post in Region 2 correspondence and on our Region’s social media pages.

In February, I visited the historic Rockville Bridge. This railroad bridge was built in 1900-02 and continues to carry rail freight across the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, PA. It is the longest stone masonry arch railroad viaduct in the world. Constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad, it has forty-eight 70-foot spans, for a total length of 3,820 feet.

I look forward to seeing you at ASCE events.

Jack A. Raudenbush, P.E., F.ASCE

Director, Region 2

jraudenbush@navarrowright.com

717.944.0883

Recap of Volunteer Event at Carnegie Science Center Feb. 2020

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:30:27 GMT

Thanks to all of our ASCE volunteers, we had a great Engineers Week with regional students! This annual two-day activity took place at the Carnegie Science Center from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Thursday and Friday (Feb 20-21). Over 20 Pittsburgh Section members came out to donating a few hours of their day by encouraging middle and high school students with a potential interest in becoming a Civil Engineer.

The watershed model was once again popular with the students! For those not familiar with it, the students interact during the watershed model demonstration by simulating rain while Section volunteers discuss how Civil Engineers develop methods to control storm runoff pollution and help keep our drinking water sources as clean as possible. Dousing the volunteers in water is always an added bonus for most enthusiastic students!

This year we also brought back the wind tunnel to simulate wind effects on structures. This model presents the need for Civil Engineers to consider wind loads during the design process and demonstrates how the shape of the structure might influence the effects of wind forces. Students had a great time with this display, assembling their own ‘masterpieces’ from various geometrically-shaped foam panels and testing them in the wind tunnel. As with any scientists, students were not deterred by failure. Instead they observed the consequences and went back to the drawing board time and again until they constructed a structure that outlasted those of their classmates.

We also had a handful of volunteers participated in small group speed networking sessions with students, where engineers of various backgrounds and levels of experience shared their day-to-day roles as a Civil Engineer in hopes of sparking interest and answering questions that students may be curious about. Five rounds of speed networking were performed, each in one hour sessions.

Overall it was a great two days. Thank you to all that participated! For those of you that missed this opportunity and would like to participate in future ASCE Educational Outreach programs, please continue to check out our Outreach webpage and Section calendar as there are sure to be other opportunities on the horizon that may be a fit for you.

Brian Heinzl, P.E.

ASCE Pittsburgh Section

Educational Outreach Chair

EWRI Pittsburgh Section Highlight

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 21:50:36 GMT

The Pittsburgh Section EWRI has been recognized by national with the 2020 Outstanding Institute Chapter Award! The award will be presented to the Chapter Institute during the World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2020 in Henderson, Nevada, held on May 18, 2020. The Pittsburgh EWRI chapter has completed several outstanding events during 2019 which earned them this recognition. One such recent successful event brought together students and working professionals on the topic of orthophosphate in drinking water.

Undergraduate, graduate students and faculty members from local universities and professional engineers, more than 45 people in total, enjoyed a fructiferous evening at the Roland’s Seafood Grill on November 20^th, 2019. The evening featured a keynote presentation from Dr. Sarah Haig, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, and Ronal Bargiel, Chief of Water Quality at the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, who are collaboratively working on a project to understand the impacts on urban stream health of controlling lead in drinking water with orthophosphate.

The joint presentation delved into the history of orthophosphates in water treatment, as well as the chemistry behind orthophosphate treatment. Orthophosphate is a common corrosion inhibitor used by water suppliers to prevent lead pipes from leaching. When orthophosphate is added to a water source, it reacts with lead to create a mineral-like crust inside of the lead pipe. This crust acts as a coating which prevents further lead corrosion. Ron Bargiel provided an in depth summary of PWSA’s efforts to reduce lead levels in tap water via their orthophosphate program that started in 2019. Dr. Haig provided a summary of her current research into assessing the ecosystem impacts of drinking water orthophosphate addition. She provided her preliminary research results. You can learn more about Dr. Haig’s research at www.haiglab.net.

The event also provided networking opportunities among the attendees in a casual environment, not only between students and working local professionals, but students from different universities also had a chance to connect. These types of networking opportunities strengthen the engineering community in our region and is one of the many benefits that ASCE Institute membership offers.

During the presentation, there were multiple questions from the audience and engaged discussions that brought the audience even closer and enhanced the experience of students and engineers likewise.

By Tania Lopez-Cantu

2018 PA Infrastructure Report Card Anniversary: Year in Review

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:39:37 GMT

According to a new poll from Build Together, a nonpartisan organization, 91% of voters in Pennsylvania support a plan to invest trillions of dollars over the next decade to rebuild and modernize infrastructure (1). Last year, the 2018 Report Card for Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure gave the state an overall GPA of C-, with infrastructure categories Stormwater, Wastewater, Drinking Water, and Inland Waterways highlighted as opportunities for improvement. The Report Card intends to serve the public by “educating Pennsylvanians about the status of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure so they can, in conjunction with elected officials, make educated decisions on how to prioritize funds to meet current and future needs. The Report Card also makes recommendations to owners and civil engineers on how improve the state’s infrastructure” (2). Although a comprehensive federal infrastructure package has not been passed in the year since the release of the Report Card, as had been expected, efforts to improve continue in Pennsylvania.

The following accomplishments have been completed since the release of the 2018 Report Card for Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure last November:

Bucks and Montgomery County residents, along with Horsham officials, have nearly completed their ambitious project to build six water filtration systems to remove PFAS contamination (3) related to the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, now closed.

Aqua Pennsylvania completed an $8 million wastewater plant rehabilitation in Treasure Lake (4). Additionally, Aqua plans to invest $550 million in 2019 for the communities it serves [Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia] with infrastructure investments of roughly $1.4 billion through 2021 in existing operations that will rehabilitate and strengthen systems (5).

In our legislature:

Around the time the Report Card was released, the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (S. 3021 (155)) was passed into law (6).

April 2019, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed Restore Pennsylvania, a comprehensive $4.5 billion infrastructure plan (7).

May 2019, PA House Bill 1392 was introduced to, “amend Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in size, weight and load, further providing for maximum gross weight of vehicles; in liquid fuels and fuels tax, further providing for definitions and providing for electric vehicle road use fee; and making editorial changes” (8).

More recently, Representative Mike Kelly was a lead co-sponsor on the Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act (H.R. 2440) which was passed by the U.S House of Representatives (9).

On October 29, 2019 the U.S House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act (H.R. 1497) by voice vote. The bill would reauthorize and increase funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, an essential tool for communities to provide safe water for residents and businesses. The bill would also extend the authorization of sewer overflow control grants and enable communities to better manage their wet weather flows and invest in green infrastructure, stormwater diversion/infiltration, water and energy efficiency projects (10).

In the November election, Philadelphia voters approved a local ballot question authorizing the city to borrow $185 million in capital funding for infrastructure projects (11).

Although much work remains to be done, ASCE is encouraged by the progress made in 2019 and looks forward to advancing the efforts in the next year.

To read the full Report Card, learn more, and take action - visit: http://www.pareportcard.org/PARC2018/default.html#

Also, follow the ASCE Philadelphia Section on any of our platforms for the featured Category of the Month and use #ASCEPAReportCard and #InfrastructureMatters when sharing.

Sources:

Israel, Steve, and Ryan Costello. “Infrastructure Is the One Issue Washington Needs to Focus On.” TheHill, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2019, https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/468300-infrastructure-is-the-one-issue-washington-needs-to-focus-on.
“Report Card for Pennsylvania's Infrastructure.” Pennsylvania Council, American Society of Civil Engineers, 14 Nov. 2018, http://www.pareportcard.org/PARC2018/downloads/ASCE-PA-report_2018.pdf.
McDaniel, Justine, and Laura McCrystal. “How Three Towns Outside Philly Became 'Trailblazers' on Clean Drinking Water.” Https://Www.inquirer.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 30 Aug. 2019, https://www.inquirer.com/news/horsham-pfas-wells-warminster-water-contamination-20190830.html.
Haskins, Elaine. “Aqua Pa. Cuts Ribbon on Newly Rehabilitated Treasure Lake West Wastewater Treatment Plant.” TheCourierExpress.com, 8 Nov. 2019, http://www.thecourierexpress.com/news/aqua-pa-cuts-ribbon-on-newly-rehabilitated-treasure-lake-west/article_9fc07d11-bcd7-5af9-aa2b-e9329bc71e23.html.
“Aqua America Reports Financial Results for Q3 2019.” Business Wire, 4 Nov. 2019, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191104006044/en/Aqua-America-Reports-Financial-Results-Q3-2019.
Klobuchar, and Amy. “S.3021 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018.” Congress.gov, 23 Oct. 2018, https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3021.
Hughes, Sarah Anne, et al. “Restore Pennsylvania, Explained: Everything You Need to Know about Gov. Tom Wolf's Infrastructure Plan: Pennsylvania Capital.” Star, 14 June 2019, https://www.penncapital-star.com/energy-environment/restore-pennsylvania-explained-everything-you-need-to-know-about-gov-tom-wolfs-infrastructure-plan/.
Legislativate Data Processing Center. “Bill Information (History) - House Bill 1392; Regular Session 2019-2020.” The Official Website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly., https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2019&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1392.
“Investing in America: Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act: The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.” Issues | Committee Activity | The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, https://transportation.house.gov/committee-activity/investing-in-america-unlocking-the-harbor-maintenance-trust-fund-act.
“Water Infrastructure Bills Advance in House.” CitiesSpeak, 5 Nov. 2019, https://citiesspeak.org/2019/11/05/water-infrastructure-bills-advance-in-house/.
Madej, Patricia, and Anna Orso. “Marsy's Law Got Wide Support in Pa., Even Though It Won't Count Yet.” Https://Www.inquirer.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 Nov. 2019, https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philadelphia-2019-ballot-questions-marsys-law-20191106.html.

S.R. 0030 EMERGENCY LANDSLIDE REPAIR, A GEOTECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 12:00:00 GMT

On September, September 26rd, 2019, the ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute and Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG) – Greater Pittsburgh Chapter held a joint kickoff dinner meeting at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania. An outstanding 98 ASCE and AEG members gathered for a presentation regarding the S.R. 0030 Emergency Landslide Repair from Brian Heinzl, P.E.. Mr. Heinzl, a Geotechnical Project Manager for Gannett Fleming Inc. The exceptional attendance marked one of the largest kickoff dinners for both organizations. Mr. Heinzl recounted the events that led to the April 2018 landslide event which left damaged homes and the closure of a principal artery to Pittsburgh.

The presentation focused on the geotechnical aspects of the project and the expedited schedule of the repair design. The initial work included engineering evaluation while the slope was actively accelerating vertically and laterally, leading to a road closure of S.R. 0030 and an evacuation of surrounding dwellings. Just one day after the evacuation and closure, a major landslide occurred, ultimately resulting in total movement of the slope 300 feet laterally and 50 feet in depth. Mr. Heinzl discussed the work that Gannett Fleming did which allowed them to prepare a comprehensive design package in just ten days, in turn allowing PennDOT to quickly bid and construct the landslide repair. He also described the construction of the repair itself, which took place over the course of only 62 days. The roughly two month repair included the excavation of over 35,000 CY of existing material, over 30,000 CY of rock embankment, and construction of a 400-foot long anchored solder pile and lagging retaining wall.

Mr. Heinzl also acknowledged the significant cooperation between Gannett Fleming Inc., Golden Triangle Construction, Inc., PennDOT District 11-0, and dozens of subcontractors, vendors, and organizations. The collaboration between all involved in the project limited the impacts of the landslide and reduced the out of service time of S.R. 0030 to 80 days. Aside from re-opening the road an importance was also placed on the well-being of the individuals displaced from their homes and business because of the landslide. Many local organizations were essential in recovering items for displaced residents, providing relocation assistance, and keeping local residents informed.

The event concluded with a discussion with the attendees on slope monitoring and landslide mitigation methodologies that could be utilized for similar events moving forward. A timely topic of discussion was the use of drone technology in the surveying and monitoring of the landslide. Both the presentation and discussion allowed attendees to gain insight on the expedited design and construction process and the integration of advanced technologies to assist in the monitoring and repair of landslides. With the number of landslide events that have occurred in the Greater Pittsburgh Area, the Pittsburgh ASCE Geo-Institute and AEG are pleased to provide membership with presentations such as Mr. Heinzl’s for the continued education and awareness of relevant topics happening in the region.

Prepared by: Shirley Tang, E.I.T. – ASCE Pittsburgh Geo-Institute Vice Chair

Edited by: Taylor DaCanal, E.I.T. – ASCE Pittsburgh Geo-Institute Member-At-Large

A Lesson in Leadership: Key Takeaway from the Presidents and Governors Forum

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 13:01:10 GMT

By Jonathan Shimko

While there were many takeaways from each session, one particular topic stuck out to me as beneficial to everyone. Gerald Galloway, P.E., Ph.D., Dist.M.ASCE presented the 11 Principles of Leadership that were first published in an Army Field Manual on Leadership in 1951. These principles are still used, essentially in their original form, by all of our Armed Forces in basic training and officer training. These Principles are:

1. Know yourself and seek self-improvement.

2. Be technically and tactically proficient.

3. Develop a sense of responsibility among your subordinates.

4. Make sound and timely decisions.

5. Set an example.

6. Know your people and look out for their welfare.

7. Keep your people informed.

8. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.

9. Ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.

10. Train your people as a team.

11. Employ your team in accordance with its capabilities.

These 11 Principles are relevant to the work we do every day. As engineers and project managers, our day-to-day often involves working on teams that include a diverse blend of personalities, competencies and disciplines. Our projects are often complex with specialized technical and logistical considerations. Success is often dependent upon our ability to effectively and efficiently manage, communicate, delegate and mentor our colleagues.

I challenge everyone reading this to post these principles in your workspace as a constant reminder. An expanded summary of the 11 Principles of Leadership can be found in an article published by Tom Deierlein on the Academy Leadership website: https://academyleadership.com/news/201406.asp

Summary of 2019 ASCE Presidents and Governors Forum

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:07:33 GMT

By: American Society of Civil Engineers & Jonathan Shimko

On September 22-23, 2019, 107 Section and Branch Presidents, Region Governors and Society Directors from across the country and abroad attended the annual Presidents and Governors Forum (PGF) in Reston, VA at ASCE Headquarters. This Leader Training Committee sponsored event provided opportunities for attendees to learn about ASCE resources, network with other ASCE leaders, and develop skills that would benefit their Sections and Branches.

This year’s PGF was well attended by branch, section and regional leadership from across the country and even a few attendees from Region 10 (International Sections outside of North America). Pennsylvania is divided into four Sections: Pittsburgh, Central Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia.

The photo above is of the attendees representing the sections and branches of Pennsylvania in front of ASCE Headquarters. Starting from the left, John Caperilla from Lehigh Valley; Jack Raudenbush from Central Pennsylvania; myself from Pittsburgh; Greg Kuklinski from Lehigh Valley; Kazi Hassan from Philadelphia; and Tim Carre from Central Pennsylvania.

The program began on Sunday, with an icebreaker followed by several sessions including an “Introduction to your Presidency,” “How to Utilize your Governors,” “An Introduction to Region 10,” “Leadership in the Century of Disruption” by ASCE Distinguished Member Gerald Galloway, Ph.D., P.E., Hon.D.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE; “Legal Issues for Sections and Branches” and the “Philadelphia Section Mentoring Program.” President-Elect Kancheepuram Gunalan, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE and Executive Director Tom Smith, CAE, ENV SP, F.ASCE shared their thoughts and experiences on Society activities. On Sunday evening, the attendees attended a networking social and dinner in Reston Town Center.

Monday continued with additional Best Practice sessions on Struggling Sections and Branches; Developing a State Infrastructure Report Card; Student Transition Strategies; Running a Successful Section/Branch; and Creating a Successful Website and the Effective Use of Social Media. Some of the attendees also attended breakout sessions on becoming a Region Governor and learning about ASCE Institutes. The program continued with a Roundtable Discussion sharing measurable goals for their Section/Branch and Resource Breakouts from Society Staff members, followed by a competitive game of JeopardASCE. Closing remarks were made by President-Elect Elect Jean-Louis Briaud, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, Dist.M.ASCE.

After two solid days spent with ASCE, attendees left with new knowledge that will be useful in their upcoming year as a Section or Branch leader.

For more information about the PGF, please visit LTC’s website at: http://regions.asce.org/leader-training-committee/pgf and if you are interested in leadership opportunities within the Pittsburgh Section please email sam.shamsi@gmail.com.

The History of Civil Engineering at University of Pittsburgh

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 19:32:13 GMT

By Kaitie DeOre

Hugh Henry Brackenridge was granted a charter by state legislature to start the Pittsburgh Academy in 1787. It was originally housed in a log cabin downtown and moved to a two-story brick building in 1790. A recreation of the original log cabin stands on Forbes Avenue next to the Cathedral of Learning, which serves as a reminder of the university’s roots. The charter was amended in 1819 to transform the Pittsburgh Academy into the Western University of Pennsylvania, a sister institution to the University of Pennsylvania.

The Great Fire of 1845 destroyed 20 blocks in downtown Pittsburgh, including all the university buildings, during which time Trinity Cathedral served as a temporary home for studies. In 1846, the first two engineering students graduated from the university, J.B. Stilley and Isaac Morley. After this, there was much debate as to the purpose of the university, if it were meant to be for classics or technical education. The debate was interrupted by another fire, until classes resumed in 1855.

A four-year engineering degree was created in 1867 after Congress passed an act to install military officers at major universities to “maintain readiness in the event of another war.” After the installment, the university moved to a site adjacent to the Allegheny Observatory which it had taken over in 1865. There were 11 graduates including Stilley and Morley, and the first credited graduate in 1883 with a civil engineering degree was William Carey Coffin Jr.

The Western University of Pennsylvania became the University of Pittsburgh in 1908, after moving to Oakland the previous year. That year the student body consisted of 34 students in the School of Mines, 102 in Engineering, 99 in Arts and Sciences, and 863 in the four professional schools (Law, Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy). The Co-Op program started in 1910, which was the second in the country, was a program that allowed students to gain a year’s worth of industry experience prior to graduation. The program was suspended in the 1930s but was reinstated in 1987 and has prospered since as a university staple.

During World War I, the university lead a training camp, Camp Hamilton, which provided ten weeks of military and engineering training for civil, sanitary, mechanical, electrical, and railway mechanical engineering students. Classes were also modified to include military training. As of October 1,1918, there were 1,351 students who completed training as a member of the Students’ Army Training Corps (SATC).

The Student Chapter of ASCE was initiated in 1918, concurrent with the organization of the Pittsburgh Section of the Society. The program was first accredited in 1936 by the Engineers Council for Professional Development as part of the first cohort of accredited programs. Other University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) programs accredited were Mechanical, Aeronautical, Electrical, Chemical, and Industrial Engineering.

During World War II, Pitt hosted a program that was designed to prepare civilians for technical assignments anticipated for war. They were non-credit courses that were offered in the evening, tuition free, and were on topics such as engineering drawing, surveying, and structural design. By the time the program concluded in 1944 nearly 25,000 men and women had been trained at Pitt. After the war, tuition skyrocketed with GI Bill recipients. In 1945, there were 592 engineering students; in 1948 there were 2,682 engineering students.

After the GI Boom leveled off, and enrollment leveled off to graduate 30 students a year on average, the university elected to become a “state-related” institution. This provided the school with annual, non-preferred financial appropriations in exchange for offering tuition discounts to in-state students. The effects were immediately obvious, as graduates of Civil Engineering more than doubled in the 1970s. Graduate school enrollment at Pitt also soared during this time, as it ranked 12th nationally for the number of Master’s Degrees awarded as well as 21st in Ph.D. degrees conferred. Benedum Hall was built in 1971, which is still home to the school today.

The Civil Engineering Department established a Construction Management Program in the early 1990s, led by Alumnus Jack Mascaro and Dr. John Richards, at the urging of local construction firms. Today the program is led by John Sebastian. The Environmental Engineering program became a separate major recently, being accredited in 2016 as part of the push led by current Civil and Environmental Chair Dr. Radisav Vidic. The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation was established in 2003 and has been a research power-house ever since, supporting both student summer research endeavors and year-round innovative research. Its faculty developed a University-wide certificate in sustainability and a MS degree in sustainable engineering.

The introduction of the concrete canoe competition took place in 1990, resulting in the start of their team for the 1991 races, a competition that still has strong roots at Pitt. Some recent awards that the Pitt Chapter has received include Distinguished Region II Chapter Award in 2013 and a Letter of Honorable Mention in 2014. Pitt took home Second Place Overall at the Ohio Valley Student Conference in 2015, and a Third Place Overall in 2016. During 2016, Pitt was also selected as one of two finalists for the Richard J. Scranton Outstanding Service Award.

They have also continued to progress their community outreach, partnering heavily with Pitt’s Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. In March of 2019, Pitt’s Student Chapter hosted their first large-scale outreach event for high school students interested in Civil Engineering, an event sponsored by the Pittsburgh Section, Region II, and CEC. The University of Pittsburgh’s Student Chapter received Distinguished Region II Awards in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In addition, the chapter has been a Top Five Finalist for the Robert Ridgeway Award in both 2016 and 2017, an award given to the single most outstanding student chapter in the world. Pitt also received an Honorable Mention Chapter in 2019, as well as First Place Overall at OVSC, and also the Spirit Award.

Additionally, Pitt ASCE’s current president, Kaitie DeOre, was recently awarded the 2019 Region II Most Outstanding Student Member Award for her involvement with the chapter. To date, there have been 4,130 Civil Engineering Bachelor’s graduates, 1,449 Master’s graduates, and 234 Ph. D. graduates.

H2P!

Reflections on the 10th Annual Sustainability Conference, Smart Cities: Transforming Cities for a New Era

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 18:00:34 GMT

By Thomas Batroney

On March 6, 2019, ASCE Pittsburgh along with Sustainable Pittsburgh, the City of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University's Metro21 held the 10th Annual Sustainability Conference, Smart Cities: Transforming Cities to a New Era. Over 120 registrants ranging from all disciplines from private practitioners and engineers, academia, public sector and non-profit employees were in attendance. To me, it’s a good sign when we attract such a diverse audience to a civil engineering conference. I don’t think I’m being presumptuous in stating that most of us engineers aren’t the coolest people to mingle with for an entire day.

It’s been a couple months since we held the conference but the subject matter discussed still reverberate in my mind. Before I share those rattling thoughts, if you are just first hearing about the conference, or you were unable to attend, feel free to read up on what you missed. Here’s a link to my pre-conference blog post explaining the importance of smart cities technologies and the greater role they are playing across the planet. Also, terrific post wrap-up articles detailing some of the conference highlights were also published by Sustainable Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Business Times (subscription required), and Fourth Economy.

One the primary reasons I find Pittsburgh such a great city is the immense density of super talented, passionate and smart people. This was on fully display at the conference not only in our lineup of speakers but also in the highly engaged audience. I was really amazed by the collective brain power in the room. I’m pretty sure several people in the room could have powered the USS Requin Submarine that sits on the river by the Carnegie Science Center.

Upon reflection, one common theme throughout the day from just about everyone is the critical importance of the human element as we continue to implement smart technologies as part of our infrastructure projects. Smart technologies, if not implemented in an equitable, transparent and fair manner for all people, no matter how great the technology, will run the risk of resulting in a failed outcome. We are seeing the warning signs of this now in Toronto as Don Carter described in his keynote address.

So how do we ensure that the appropriate steps are taken in the implementation of fair and just smart technologies?

Several of the conference speakers including Grant Ervin, City of Pittsburgh Chief Resilience Officer, and the panel discussion led by Karen Lightman, Executive Director at Carnegie Mellon Metro21, discussed the potential road map to get us there in the Pittsburgh's OnePGH plan and the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UN SDGs). If you have not yet read up on OnePGH or the UN SDGs you should start today, as in right after you are done reading this blog post. Both are roadmaps and examples of how to look at the broader picture regarding building the future of our cities. We should be continually referring to and reminding ourselves of the 17 goals set forth in the UN SDGs and the goals within OnePGH. We should be considering how each of the goals are potentially being addressed – or not – by implementing this project or smart technology. We should be using them to better guide our decisions and engineering moral compass. This includes both public and private sectors.

It should also be stressed that ASCE national headquarters have made sustainability a fundamental cornerstone of its engineering code of ethics. Directly from ASCE's website: "ASCE and its members are dedicated to ensuring a sustainable future in which human society has the capacity and opportunity to maintain and improve its quality of life indefinitely, without degrading the quantity, quality or the availability of natural, economic and social resources. Whether you are just beginning to explore the benefits that a focus on sustainability can bring to your community and your engineering practice, or you are looking for the tools to take it to the next level, we can help you build a better future."

As the ASCE Sustainability Committee moves into planning the 11th edition of the conference, we may explore the UN SDGs in greater detail. What are they and how do we begin to implement these on our projects? What kind of measurable impacts can they have on our cities? This is just a single idea amongst many in our collective minds; we’d love to hear your ideas for next year’s conference theme as well. If you have interest in participating in our conference organizing committee, please do join us! ASCE or Sustainable Pittsburgh membership is not required to participate but much encouraged. The ASCE Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee prides itself on generating innovative, creative, and thought-provoking topic ideas around the topic of sustainability. If this sounds like something that interests you, please join us! For more details, contact me at thomas.batroney@mottmac.com or on twitter @TomBatroney.

ASCE Inspires the Next Generation of Civil Engineers at Keystone Oaks High School’s Engineering Career Day

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 08 May 2019 19:36:49 GMT

By Pat Sullivan, PE

On Thursday, February 21, 2019, Pat Sullivan, PE, an ASCE Region 2 Governor and a Past President of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section, visited Keystone Oaks High School to talk to a group of sophomores and juniors who signed up to learn about a future in civil engineering. Over the course of the 90-minute session, Pat and the 15 students discussed the various disciplines within civil engineering and looked at examples of each discipline. Pat also provided samples of a dozen construction materials, including engineered beams, steel angles and rebar, HDPE and PVC geomembranes and piping, woven and nonwoven geosynthetics, clay, gravel, sand soil samples and various sized stone aggregates. The students were given the opportunity to explore these materials and ask questions about each.

Additionally, the students were put through several math and engineering hands-on exercises that included calculating the number of M&Ms in a clear plastic cylinder (using engineering calc paper and mechanical pencils of course!), the connection and support of formwork used in the construction of concrete retaining walls, determining the distance between two objects using a transit (pre-GPS), and the construction of a truss bridge using nothing but popsicle sticks, binder clips and clothespins. Winners of the exercises received the cylinder of M&Ms, and two Starbucks gift cards were raffled off at the conclusion of the talk. Heather Scanlon, the Coordinator of Community Service & Career Readiness at Keystone Oaks High School, commented on Pat’s presentation. “It was wonderful having him! The students were actively engaged and really were excited to be working with him. He is welcome back any time!”

Pat was invited to present to the students by Scott Albert and Linda Handley who are volunteers of the UcanB Education Program that brings professionals who talk about their careers together with high school students interested in such careers. Heather Scanlon, the Career Readiness Advisor at Keystone Oaks arranged the presentation at the school. If you are interested in getting involved in high school outreach, or would like to have ASCE present at your local school, please contact ASCE Outreach Chair Brian Heinzl.

Pat is a Principal and the Water Resource Practice lead at Civil & Environmental Consultants in Pittsburgh, PA

Engineering Pittsburgh Review by The Pittsburgh Quarterly

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 02 May 2019 18:19:12 GMT

By John Allison, Repost from Pittsburgh Quarterly

Without civil engineers, our world would fall apart. They are hidden brains behind what we civilians take for granted — all the marvelous methods for getting us from here to there, safe and sound. To observe its 100th anniversary, the Pittsburgh section of the American Society of Engineers has produced an indispensable survey of what has been built around here since, oh, 1681. Helpfully illustrated with maps and lush black-and-white photos, it starts with borders for Pennsylvania’s charter and takes us all the way to Uber’s self-driving vehicles, born out of Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute.

The subtitle promises the history of roads, rails, canals and bridges. The “more” is even longer: the formation of Pennsylvania’s borders, public transportation, airports and aviation, drinking water and wastewater, navigation and flood control. The 16 contributing authors are either professional engineers or communications officers from the field. They have all struck a fine balance, giving the reader detailed information and history but not in excruciating detail. This is the best kind of coffee table book. You can pick up a chapter and read one passage, and find out something you are surprised to know by the time your coffee is finished.

Such as: How many bridges are in the city of Pittsburgh? This popular bar trivia question is answered with precision: 370 … to 700. “The total depends on the specific definition of a ‘bridge,’ ” which might sound like a Bill Clintonian answer, but it’s complicated. It’s 370 by “engineering standards,” and 700 if you count ramps, minor structures less than 20 feet, and other crossings that might be considered bridges to the amateur eye. “Any way you count it,” concludes the writer Todd Wilson, P.E., “there are a lot of bridges.” As I said, this book ends up serving the general audience.

Other various stuff I didn’t know: There used to be a 1 million gallon reservoir Downtown where the Allegheny County Courthouse is located today. (To be fair, “used to be” means 1828, way before Downtown had swank.) The first proposal for the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus building was “an interlocking labyrinth of six-story buildings with a skyscraper at one end.” The architect was one Edward P. Mellon, nephew of Andrew and Richard, who had purchased the land for the school. That inside job was somehow sidelined, and Charles Klauder’s Cathedral of Learning watches over Oakland today. And why did no one ever tell me that my high school, Fox Chapel Area, was the site of an airport, Rodgers Field, from 1924 to 1934? Further, Amelia Earhart once landed there — and foreshadowing a famous Pittsburgh’s characteristic, her plane hit a pothole on the landing field.

“Engineering Pittsburgh” will please civil engineers and those who use their products every day.

This article was taken from The Pittsburgh Quarterly. See the original article.

Engineering Pittsburgh is available for purchase.

Pittsburgh Members Participate in ASCE Fly-In

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:40:45 GMT

Last month, 258 ASCE members from across the country converged on Washington D.C. to take part in the ASCE 2019 Legislative Fly-In. All 50 states, and including D.C. and Puerto Rico, were well represented by ASCE members eager to talk about infrastructure in their regions. Pennsylvania was very well represented with 13 total attendees, including two of our very own from the Pittsburgh Section, Greg Scott and Justin Brooks.

The two-day event kicked off with advocacy training and legislative insights from many notable speakers from Capitol Hill. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) shared with us his recent sit down with President Trump, and their shared view on needing a path forward on funding for transportation infrastructure. Then Representatives Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke to us about the bipartisan work Congress is doing to get a federal infrastructure package put together.

After the advocacy training and speakers, all 258 attendees were sent to Capitol Hill to meet with their Members of Congress and Representatives. Each attendee was given an advocacy packet, containing the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, issue briefs, and Legislative Priorities. Pennsylvania attendees also brought copies of the PA Infrastructure Report Card (PA Report Card) which was just issued in November 2018.

It was a busy afternoon with more than 320 meetings scheduled over a four-hour period, and most attendees meeting with at least two of their Legislators. We were very fortunate to have beautiful weather in the Capitol this day, which made for great sightseeing between meetings.

This year’s Fly-in focused on ASCE’s three Legislative Priorities for this 116^th Congress, as follows.

First, ASCE strongly encourages Congress to fix the Highway Trust Fund in order to provide long-term stability and modernize our nation’s roads, bridges, and transit systems for the 21^st century. To accomplish this, ASCE supports raising the motor fuel tax, which has not increased since 1993, by 5 cents for the next five years.
Second, ASCE believes that in order to improve America’s Infrastructure, Congress should return to a regular appropriations cycle to provide adequate funding for existing federal infrastructure and research programs. This would continue to support programs such as National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works, and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) just to name a few.
Lastly, ASCE believes that the development and implementation of a comprehensive infrastructure plan is critical in addressing our nation’s infrastructure. Also, all infrastructure programs and projects must provide substantial long-term benefits, consider total life-cycle costs, be sustainable and resilient, and should leverage state, local, and private investment.

What makes the Annual ASCE Fly-In so successful each year are the hundreds of ASCE members who make it their job to shed light on issues that are important to the profession and industry, and to share their local experiences on the subject matter with their legislators. Justin Brooks, first time attendee says, “Coming from an individual who has only ever had an outside perspective from news outlets about what Congress does, I was pleasantly surprised to see how welcoming and attentive the legislators and staffers were to hear our concerns. They appreciated the time we took as constituents to share our concerns with them, and they also respected us as professionals on the subject.”

To stay informed about state and federal level legislation and learn how you can make a difference, become an ASCE Key Contact today.

Learning Pittsburgh's Civil Engineering History at the YMF December Dinner

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 13:56:02 GMT

On December 5, 2018, the Pittsburgh Section Younger Members Forum (YMF) held their annual December Dinner event at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA. Of the 62 members and non-members in attendance 11 students were students. The evening began with a networking hour featuring free professional level headshots. Quality, up-to-date headshots are often undervalued or forgotten by some professionals. However, in this age of information sharing and telecommunication having a polished and professional headshot on-hand makes a good impression; be it within a statement of interest, job application, or award nomination.

Dinner followed the networking hour allowing time for more in depth connections to be formed. Catherine Bazan-Arias began the presentation part of the evening with an introduction to “Engineering Pittsburgh: A History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges and More”, an ASCE Pittsburgh Section publication written by 16 professionals to celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the formation of the ASCE section in Pittsburgh. Ms. Bazan-Arias spoke about the challenges and great rewards that come from undertaking a publication of this type. Without the tools of email, teleconferencing, and other information sharing approaches this project that required the coordination of 16 authors likely would not have been accomplished within the 2 year schedule. Learning how to appropriately use these tools is important to advancing one’s career and the civil engineering profession as a whole.

Following Ms. Bazan-Arias introduction, we were fortunate enough to have two of the 16 authors give a summary of their individual chapters. Sam Shamsi began by speaking on the history and progression of the wastewater collection, conveyance, and treatment in the Allegheny County. The first public drinking water system in Pittsburgh began in 1802. In the 1950s Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) wastewater treatment plant was constructed as part of the “Pittsburgh Renaissance”. Now ALCONSAN and Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PSWA) are challenging the traditional wastewater infrastructure of pipes, pumps, and storage tanks by supporting sustainable projects that include rain gardens, green roofs, and porous pavement.

Todd Wilson then shared several before and after pictures of bridges and intersections familiar to the downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland landscape. He explained that some of the odd intersection configurations or topography around Pittsburgh resulted from the previous existence of a bridge or industrial route. He gave tips on how to spot areas where an old bridge has been filled in and/or buried to allow new development on flat ground.

After the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to enjoy the grounds of the beautiful and historic Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, including the winter garden and light show display. Donations of toys for school age children were collected and gifted to The Brashear Association.

The ASCE YMF leaders fervently thank all those who sponsored the event. Our sponsors’ generosity allow the YMF to provide these great networking and learning opportunities to college students and young professionals. Thank you for investing in the future of the civil engineering industry!

The Smart City Revolution, Right Here in Pittsburgh

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 16:06:04 GMT

Tom Batroney, PE, ASCE Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee Chair

On Wednesday March 6^th, 2019 ASCE Pittsburgh will be hosting it's 10^th edition of its Sustainability Conference. This year's theme is Smart Cities: Transforming Cities to a New Era.

When you ask a regular citizen what first pops into their head when they hear the words "smart technology" or "artificial intelligence", the answer you will likely hear back is "driverless vehicles" or "Uber". Autonomous vehicles have certainly grabbed most of the attention recently in the headlines, especially after the tragic accident in Arizona last year. Admittedly, autonomous vehicles themselves are attention grabbing and are prominently visible when seen on the roads. Nowhere is this more evident than right here in Pittsburgh being one of the leading test beds on the planet for their development.

But underneath the surface, "smart technology" goes much deeper than just transportation applications. Entire city operations are beginning to find ways to incorporate smart technology that rely on thousands of sensors and artificial intelligence driven computing power. Cities (and even Nations) are considering it a race to become the "smartest" and most technologically advanced as way to attract investors and drive economic growth.

Needless to say, "smart city" is not some throwaway buzz word catchphrase. This is real and forecasted future investment in 2021 is expected to hit $135 billion. Yes, that's with a B.

I ask that you read (or at least skim) the articles linked above. It will provide you an idea of why this topic is so important and why you as a civil engineer should begin to prepare yourself for this changing future or prepare to be left behind. The implications of these technologies are across all civil engineering disciplines and every engineer will likely need to adapt in some fashion.

You may be asking yourself what does "smart cities" have to do with "sustainability"? And the simple answer is people and efficiency. Research is showing that smart technologies are connecting people in new innovative ways and resulting in more efficient energy systems, more efficient water usage, more efficient waste management, more efficient traffic control, more efficient structural assessments. Increased efficiency means reduced pollution and fewer carbon emissions. During this year's conference we are going to be exploring these technologies with leading experts and learn how smart technologies are at the beginning stages of impacting the Pittsburgh region. ASCE Pittsburgh is once again partnering with Sustainable Pittsburgh and the City of Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto's office. We are also bringing in as a partner Carnegie Mellon's Metro21: Smart Cities Institute, one of the leading research institutes in the world on this highly evolving subject.

You as an engineer should consider registering and attending the conference to learn about how your profession is on the brink of experiencing a revolutionary sea change in the very near future.

For more information on the conference and how to register please visit: http://www.asce-pgh.org/event-3254280

Engineers Without Borders - Grow as an Engineer

ASCE Blog Editor — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 14:03:40 GMT

By Joao “Jay” Pereira, PhD, PE, and Charles “Chuck” Lanigan

Compared to ASCE, Engineers without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a new kid on the block. Organized in 2002 by Dr. Bernard Amadei, a world renowned civil geotechnical engineer, EWB-USA harnesses the skills of engineers to tackle the challenges that keep the world’s poorest people from living healthy, productive lives. The Pittsburgh professional chapter (EWB-PPC), established in 2008, is one of nearly 500 chapters around the country.

ASCE partners with EWB-USA and contributes more than $100,000 annually to the organization. The two organizations collaborate on several programs including The Community Engineering Corps, an alliance of EWB-USA, ASCE and the American Water Works Association. According to EWB-USA, this program unites more than 200,000 technical professionals and students in designing engineering solutions for underserved communities in the U.S.

The ASCE Pittsburgh Section (ASCE-PGH) helps sponsor the EWB Pittsburgh professional chapter with a contribution of $500 annually. A number of EWB-PPC members belong to both ASCE and EWB local chapters, and many aspects of the groups’ missions overlap. ASCE-PGH funding helps support EWB-PPC’s current water treatment and delivery project in Curingue, Ecuador, as well as our local Hilltop Men’s Association Sustainable Farmhouse Project.

ASCE-Pittsburgh not only supports and funds the local EWB projects, our members and officers also participate in those projects. Sam Shamsi, current President-Elect was the founder and mentor for an EWB-CMU project in India during 2010-2012; Cathy Bazan-Arias, 2015-16 President was a mentor for the EWB-PPC / EWB-Pitt joint project in Mali (Africa) and for the EWB-PPC / EWB-CMU joint Emerald Park project in Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh.

EWB-PPC’s membership includes professionals with backgrounds in civil, nuclear and electrical engineering. The chapter also enlists volunteer efforts of non-engineers from fields such as healthcare and education. Pittsburgh chapter members range in age from 20 to more than 60 years old and come from across the country and the world including Oregon and Florida, Portugal, Spain, El Salvador, Mexico, India, and the UK.

Involvement in EWB-PPC projects gives members opportunities for mentorship and learning, and to gain invaluable hours of professional experience. The EWB-USA $100/year membership is discounted to $35/year for ASCE national members. EWB helps engineers become better-rounded practitioners through collaboration with professionals of different backgrounds. Participation in projects and tasks outside of their field of expertise allows cross-training among volunteers. Recent opportunities include the use of surveying instruments and basic HeartSaver first aid field certification through the University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University both sponsor EWB student chapters. This support provides students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with seasoned professionals who bring a wealth of experience and dedication.

Roger Lee Price, who recently retired from Penn State Outreach, says of his involvement with EWB-PPC, “I have been meeting and working with a great group of young engineers during the initial stages of an exciting project to provide safe drinking water for a community located in Ecuador. During March 2017, I completed an awesome, highly successful one month assignment working on a project performed in support of the EWB Engineering Service Corps-USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program in Kosovo.”

Following his retirement, Dennis Mialki uses the engineering and project management skills gained over a lifetime to improve the lives of others. His most recent project with EWB has allowed him to add Ecuador to the list of countries where he has had the privilege to work.

Emily Eichner, a practicing civil engineer who formerly acted as EWB-PPC’s liaison to ASCE, came to Pittsburgh from the EWB Portland Chapter. She says her EWB involvement has helped her grow professionally. Says Emily, “[EWB] has allowed me to work on an entire project start to finish, concept plan to design to construction. It is rare that a ‘regular job’ will have room for employees to work on so many different aspects of a project. [EWB] helps its volunteers learn and understand the engineering process more thoroughly.”

Similiarly, Mike Krepsik is a civil geotechnical engineer who serves on ASCE’s Continuing Education Committee. He was heavily involved with EWB in Florida before serving as a reviewer for one of the Pittsburgh professional chapter’s projects in Ecuador. Mike says his experience volunteering with EWB, “…Provided me with leadership, management, and design opportunities during the early stages of my career. As a young engineer, working with EWB thrust me into these roles, providing the experience I needed to manage small projects. My experience translated into an earlier promotion to a project manager role.”

Although a volunteer organization, EWB-PPC relies partly on fundraising and grants such as those ASCE provides to pay for travel and materials. Recent fundraising efforts include Whiskey for Water and golf outings that support the current clean water project in Curingue, which will supply potable water to a community 12,000 feet (3,657 meters) in the Andes. Residents currently trek 250 meters each way daily to carry water from a spring that was found to contain e. coli contamination. The project team and community members secured funding, completed a survey, and excavated and poured concrete for the pumphouse. Project manager Ken Hornfeck says, “That community has inspired me in countless ways with their dedication, work ethic, selflessness, and continual demonstration of contentment and optimism. It is that spirit that drives me and our project team.”

EWB participates only on projects where its assistance is requested. Projects are subject to standard engineering practices and Professional Engineer (PE) oversight, and not all projects are accepted. The chapter often collaborates with other local groups in addition to ASCE. For example, EWB-PPC is partnering with the Hilltop Men’s Group in on the Sustainable Farmhouse project in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood. The project will use solar energy, recaptured rainwater, and green design to build community meeting place and grow fresh produce. Additionally, a new Wilkinsburg project is underway in partnership with Community Forge, where EWB will help replace retaining walls and redesign the play area. Lastly, the Esser Plaza Revitalization project in the South Side is entering its final design and is expected to be constructed in the Summer of 2019.

Although the engineering experience EWB-PPC volunteers gain participating in the design, field data collection, and construction phases of projects is invaluable, EWB-PPC strives additionally to see the work done by its members count toward Professional Development Hours (PDH). EWB provides technical experience on diverse engineering projects around the world. EWB-PPC chapter members work in different states and countries and become familiar with a variety of engineering regulation, standards, and practices that help them become well rounded professionals.

Links with further information:

Engineers Without Borders USA: https://www.ewb-usa.org/

Engineers Without Borders - Pittsburgh Professional Chapter: https://www.ewb-pitt.org/

Engineers Without Borders – Carnegie Mellon University Student Chapter: https://pittewb.wordpress.com/

Engineers Without Borders – University of Pittsburgh Student Chapter: https://pittewb.wordpress.com/

What Will the Next Century Hold?

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 17:38:22 GMT

By Cathy Bazan-Arias

In 1876 the United States of America turned 100. Likely, several celebrations were held, good cheer went around, and then it was back to “business as usual”. Or perhaps not: many other outstanding achievements were still coming our way. And, gratefully, people continued to work dutifully on another great century, which was celebrated in 1976.

Similarly, our ASCE Pittsburgh Section just celebrated our 100^th Anniversary and we strove to hold a memorable Celebration and publish a worthy Publication to mark our first centennial. But more is to come! Developments that we can only imagine – for civil engineering and Pittsburgh. Thus, now that the centennial festivities are past, our ASCE Pittsburgh Section is back to our “routine”: busily and strategically coordinating, managing and promoting events, activities, and networking. We must! It’s the foundation of the next century’s achievements!

Please continue to contribute to our Section’s achievements. The foundation and infrastructure that has made our Section the award-winning organization we just celebrated was built on your participation, your ideas made reality, and your commitment to sharing experience, knowledge, resources and creativity with colleagues, students and the public.

As we start on a new century, the Section aims to provide opportunities from professional development and participation based on our understanding of the needs and requests of our members. These valuable input is only possible through your communication with us: at technical seminars, holiday gatherings, mailings, or – even better – by joining our Board and Committees. (More on this latter point in the next few weeks).

On behalf of the Centennial Celebration and Publication Task Committees: *thank you* for a great century. Here’s to the next one being even better!

Special gratitude to the Giants in our profession that provided the shoulders that several of us stepped on including – among many worthy others – Mr. Michael A. Gross, Dr. Elio D’Appolonia, Dr. Larry Cartwright and Dr. Alfred Ackenheil. Dr. Ackenheil is also our “Centennial Member” having turned 101 in October of this year.

G-I Opens 2018-2019 Program with “Emergency Rock Slide Stabilization with Shear Pins: Design, Construction, the Media”

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 15:24:24 GMT

By: Carolyn Wehner

The Pittsburgh Geo Institute Chapter opened the 2018-2019 program year on September 27th at ESWP with the presentation “Emergency Rock Slide Stabilization with Shear Pins: Design, Construction, the Media” by Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D. P.E. The presentation covered the emergency response to stabilize a massive rock slide in Central Pennsylvania that was endangering a shopping plaza, a gas line, and electrical utilities located at its toe. The potential impact to these features made quick action to fix the slide critical. Due to the threat, the project received significant media attention that played both a positive and negative role in the project.

The permanent remediation of the landslide involved the design and construction of shear pins (uncased micropiles). The remediation involved partial top down excavation of the landslide. This excavation removed the top portion of the landslide mass to unload the slope. The material removed was used to construct a buttress to provide temporary support of the slope until shear pins could be installed. The shear pins were installed to cut off the landslide slip plane.

The presenter, Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero Ph.D., P.E., is currently a project manager and laboratory manager at American Geotechnical and Environmental Services’s (A.G.E.S.) Pittsburgh, PA headquarters. Sebastian has more than 16 years of experience as a geotechnical engineer and has authored more than 40 technical papers published in scientific journals, geotechnical magazines, and conference proceedings worldwide. He is a former chair of the Pittsburgh G-I chapter, and a former Director of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section.

In addition to the technical presentation, the incoming G-I Chapter Chair, Greg Braun, P.E., introduced the 2018-2019 Pittsburgh G-I Chapter board members and highlighted the program year. The Geo Institute’s new board members along with upcoming G-I dinner meetings can be viewed on the Chapter’s webpage.

ASCE-Pittsburgh President Elect Attends the 2018 ASCE Presidents and Governors Forum

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 19:48:15 GMT

A Message from ASCE-Pittsburgh President-Elect Sam Shamsi

On the evening of September 22, as I was celebrating ASCE-Pittsburgh’s 100^th Anniversary at the beautiful Hotel Manco in downtown Pittsburgh, my mind was contemplating a safe time to depart for another important ASCE event in Reston, Virginia. I wanted to have sufficient time to rest but not miss a 10 A.M. round-table discussion on the potential challenges faced by incoming Section Presidents. I ended up resting for five hours before a 5 AM departure for ASCE PGF 2018.

On September 23-24, 2018, 103 Section and Branch Presidents, Region Governors and Society Directors from across the country and abroad attended the annual Presidents and Governors Forum (PGF) in Reston, VA at ASCE Headquarters. This event was organized and moderated by the Leader Training Committee (LTC) and provided opportunities for attendees to learn about ASCE resources, network with other ASCE leaders, and gain useful training that would benefit their Sections and Branches.

The purpose of the PGF is to provide a venue for current Section/Branch President-Elects and Region Leaders to gain the knowledge to effectively and efficiently run their local units. The conference provides an opportunity for attendees to network and brainstorm with each other, gain leadership skills, learn about ASCE resources from other ASCE volunteers and staff and discuss Best Practices to take back to your Section/Branch. Networking receptions were held on both Saturday and Sunday, with a group dinner on Sunday attended by most of the conference attendees.

On Sunday, topics included an Introduction to your Presidency and How to Utilize your Governors; an Introduction to Region 10; Roundtable Discussions on Section and Branch Challenges; and How to Be A Great Leader at Work and in ASCE. Seasoned ASCE leaders spoke about their experiences with Social Media and Student Transition Activities in their Section and Branch. President Kristina Swallow, President-Elect Robin Kemper, and Executive Director Tom Smith also shared their thoughts and experiences. Monday continued with additional Best Practice sessions on Struggling Sections and Branches, Developing a State Infrastructure Report Card, Attracting Younger Members through Diversity Programs, Student Transition, and Successful Section and Branch Operations. The program continued with a presentation on Legal issues for Sections and Branches and an update on Dream Big, followed by a competitive game of JeopardASCE. Closing remarks were made by President-Elect Elect Kancheepuram Gunalan (Guna).

My favorite part of the meeting was a guided tour of rather modest Headquarters building. I downloaded the GroupMe Social Media App for event announcements but was eventually annoyed by the large number of notifications as other members were joining or leaving the group. I showed our hot off the press 100^th Anniversary “Engineering Pittsburgh” book to organizers and attendees and was asked to submit a report for the section/Branch Best Practices Guide. After two solid days spent with ASCE, I left with some new knowledge that will help me next year as the ASCE-Pittsburgh Section President. I gained a better understanding of the National resources available to the Section. I think this meeting should be mandatory for all incoming Branch and Section Presidents and Region Governors.

ASCE President, Kristina L. Swallow, P.E., ENV SP, F.ASCE was in Pittsburgh on the night of September 22 to join our 100^th Anniversary celebrations. Like me, she too had to be in ASCE Headquarters next morning for PGF 2018. I arrived before her despite the fact she took a flight whereas I drove. I promise I was not speeding!

For more information about the PGF, please visit LTC’s new website.

Sam Shamsi, PhD, PE, F.ASCE

President-Elect 2018

ASCE-Pittsburgh

A Night Worth Remembering 100 Years from Now

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 20:34:51 GMT

By Jodi S. Klebick, ASCE Pittsburgh Section Publicity & Public Relations Chair

After two years of planning, and more than a century in the making, the Pittsburgh Section of ASCE held its once-in-a-lifetime 100th anniversary celebration event at the Hotel Monaco on Saturday, September 22, 2018.

With almost 200 members and guests in attendance, Section past president Pat Sullivan kept the crowd engaged as Master of Ceremonies as everyone enjoyed entertainment by Pittsburgh’s Boilermaker Jazz Band and outstanding food stations provided by The Commoner. The party featured a special social media hashtag, “#ascepgh100”, and a centennial book launch and book signing by the civil engineers and professionals that co-authored the Section’s 2018 commemorative anniversary publication, “Engineering Pittsburgh: A History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges & More”. The publication aims to record some of southwestern Pennsylvania’s engineering and infrastructure challenges and triumphs.

Memorable moments included a Proclamation by the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh William Peduto, and remarks from current ASCE National President Kristina Swallow and former ASCE National President Andrew Herrmann. Pittsburgh Section Past Presidents and Life Members were also acknowledged for their contributions to the growth, achievements and award-winning standing of the Section. The section was further pleased to thank all of the celebration sponsors by presenting each of them with a commemorative plaque. The entire crowd joined in singing “Happy Birthday” as Section President Robert Dengler and National President Swallow cut the custom cake creation from the legendary Prantl’s Bakery. This joyous moment was followed by a “Celebration Selfie” – a group photo with as many party goers as could fit!

Attendees had the unique opportunity to contribute historic photos, articles, small instruments or devices, videos, books, letters to the future leadership of ASCE, along with engineering “doodads or trinkets” to be placed in a special 100^th anniversary time capsule. The capsule will be sealed and stored at the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) to be re-opened at the 200^th ASCE Pittsburgh Section Celebration in 2118.

The 100th Celebration Subcommittee also held a centerpiece design competition among the Section’s Institutes, Committees, YMF and Student Chapters. The winning centerpiece was selected by our gala guests’ popular vote and the winning design was that created by the University of Pittsburgh Main Campus (Pitt) Student Chapter. The ambassadors of the Pitt Student Chapter received a $500 prize sponsored by the Section. Guests were further treated to a 50/50 raffle and door prizes provided by local firms AECOM, DiGioia Gray, and Williams.

Special recognition was given during the event to the 100^th Celebration Subcommittee dynamic trio who gave their time, experience and boundless energy to plan, manage and execute the massive undertaking and made the evening a success: Lauren E. Terpak, Angela Mayer, and Sara Mullaney. *Thank you*, ladies!

Our Section is duly grateful to each person who contributed to the event’s success: a night to remember- 100 years from now!

EWRI Joins the “Imagine a Day Without Water” Effort

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 18:10:25 GMT

By Nemi Vora, edited by Ben Briston

The fourth annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” water awareness day took place on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. The Environmental and Water Resources Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section, once again joined the effort to raise awareness about how water is essential, invaluable, and worthy of investment.

The Pittsburgh region has been experiencing above average high-intensity rainfall events, so it may be difficult to imagine a day without water. Though our region may be water rich, we are using more water than we think, albeit indirectly. We consume water from all over the country and the world through the products and services we use. A standard (1.5 oz) chocolate bar requires on average 197 gallons of water to produce; a large egg requires around 52 gallons of water, and 1 lb of beef requires on average 1,847 gallons of water. [1, 2] In fact, an average American uses 750 thousand gallons of water as part of the goods and services consumed over a year, and, of the water we consume, 20% comes from products produced outside the U.S.A., mainly China.[3]

Imaging a day without water can be difficult in Pittsburgh due to more frequent, intense rainfall events, but it is essential to recognize our reliance on water outside of this region. We are indeed connected to the world through the products we consume and should be conscious of the fact that the places that produce these goods face water scarcity. Next time you buy a product, look at the packaging to see where it's coming from. Doing so may help to reduce over-consumption and waste of water.

1. Mekonnen, M.M. and A.Y. Hoekstra, The green, blue and grey water footprint of crops and derived crop products. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 2011. 15(5): p. 1577-1600.

2. Mekonnen, M. and A. Hoekstra, The green, blue and grey water footprint of farm animals and animal products. 2010.

3. Mekonnen, M. and A.Y. Hoekstra, National water footprint accounts: the green, blue and grey water footprint of production and consumption. 2011.

ASCE-Pittsburgh Celebrates 100 Years of Engineering

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 13:29:13 GMT

By the 100^th Celebration Committee

Since the Pittsburgh Section was founded a hundred years ago, in 1918, our membership has grown to nearly 1,500 members and our members have accrued multiple notable achievements, experiences, and awards. The Section has a strong commitment to the advancement of civil engineers, which is demonstrated through organization of professional development opportunities to recognizing outstanding achievements of area civil engineers. ASCE Pittsburgh throughout the century has a longstanding history of fostering the growth of civil engineers while celebrating their successes.

During this centennial year, the Section is going to further focus on celebrating civil engineering accomplishments in one evening. This event will be occurring on September 22nd at Hotel Monaco to celebrate the Section’s 100 years of history. The occasion will start at 5:30pm and last throughout the evening till 10:00pm. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take home a little bit of history in the form of a table book “Engineering Pittsburgh” that features memorable civil engineering projects from the region’s past.

The 100^th Celebration Committee aims to further capture these outstanding moments in time and place them into the “ASCE Pittsburgh Section Centennial Time Capsule” which will be presented at our Centennial Celebration on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Hotel Monaco. Thus, our committee is asking all members to donate historic photos, notable articles, small instruments/devices, videos, books, letters to the future leadership of ASCE, etc. along with engineering doodads or trinkets. The donated items will be collected during the event and will be displayed throughout the evening. After the event, a blog article will be posted on the Pittsburgh Section website with a brief description of the collected items alongside photographs. The items will then be placed in the “ASCE Pittsburgh Section Centennial Time Capsule” and sealed, to be re-opened at the 200th ASCE Pittsburgh Section Celebration in 2118. The “ASCE Pittsburgh Section Centennial Time Capsule” will reside in the basement of the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP). A group photo will be taken during the 100th Celebration at 8:00pm; this photo will also be placed in the “ASCE Pittsburgh Section Centennial Time Capsule”. Take this once in a century opportunity to leave a piece of our history and present for the future!

EWRI Urban Green Infrastructure Workshop

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 16:19:49 GMT

By: Christina Urbanczyk and Lauren Cook

Increasing rainfall intensity in Southwestern Pennsylvania has brought stormwater management to the forefront of the public eye. As a result, Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) has gained more attention as a cost-effective solution to help manage the impacts from wet weather. On July 26, 2018, the local Environmental Water Resource Institute (EWRI) Pittsburgh chapter partnered with representatives from the EWRI National Technical Councils to host an afternoon workshop on Urban Green Infrastructure. The workshop provided national and local expertise on Low Impact Development in combined sewer overflow (CSO) areas, operation and maintenance of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI), and stormwater management in the ultra-urban environment.

National and local speakers presented a variety of topics related to GSI, including pilot studies, funding mechanisms, research, and lessons learned. Speakers included Shirley Clark, Penn State University; Tim Prevost, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN); Barton Kirk, Ethos Collaborative; Matt Zambelli, MLZDesign; Ruth Hocker, City of Lancaster; Greg Scott, Buchart Horn, Inc; Ryan Quinn, Pittsburgh Sewer and Water Authority (PWSA); Rosanna LaPlante, City of Baltimore; and Jordan Fischbach, RAND Corporation.

Shirley Clark (Penn State University) discussed numerous case studies of GSI in CSO areas across the U.S., including in Portland, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Seattle, and St. Louis. She emphasized that a combination of green and grey infrastructure is more cost effective than a grey only solution, even when co-benefits of GSI are excluded. She also highlighted that municipalities should focus on using public right-of-ways for GSI, rather than relying on private owners to maintain the infrastructure.

Rosanna LaPlante (City of Baltimore) discussed the importance of public outreach and using the National GI Certification Program to train individuals that inspect and maintain GSI. Also, the City of Baltimore uses an urban waters interactive map to show locations of existing BMPs and identify locations where BMPs may not be as feasible due to existing conditions such as site soils, existing utilities, etc.

Ruth Hocker (City of Lancaster) provided lessons learned from Lancaster’s stormwater program, which includes a stormwater fee, regulations of development at any scale, and the ability for residents to “Adopt a BMP.” According to Hocker, training and participation of field staff is a vital part of a successful GSI program. She recommended designing GSI with maintenance in mind, inspecting regularly, and using appropriate plant material by considering the effect of surrounding surface areas and localized pollutants like road salts. Adopting these recommendations may contribute to the success of GSI implementation nationwide.

Barton Kirk (Ethos Collaborative) and Matt Zambelli (MLZDesign), professionals with experience in design, monitoring, and maintenance of GSI, provided an overview of several local GSI projects in Pittsburgh, including: bioswales, porous pavement, and street planters with an underdrain. Recent monitoring of a project at Oakwood and Batavia during a 10-year storm event (2.9 inches of rainfall over 11 hours) showed an infiltration rate of 7 inch/hour. Some of these projects are summarized on the Westmoreland Conservation District’s Interactive Best Management Practice (BMP) map.

Greg Scott (Buchart Horn, Inc) discussed the design of a GSI project that will help address extensive flooding in the Shadyside neighborhood near Maryland Avenue in Pittsburgh. The ongoing project is a neighborhood-level stormwater project that uses an integrated design approach with several elements including new inlets and conveyance, green infrastructure, and underground storage. They are also evaluating the possibility of connecting residential downspouts to the integrated GSI system.

Jordan Fischbach (RAND Corporation) presented a research study about “Robust Stormwater Management in the Pittsburgh Region,” which evaluated combinations of green and grey infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflows under current and future conditions. RAND worked with ALCOSAN to simulate CSOs and analyze vulnerability of their existing system to future rainfall, population and land-use changes. Results emphasize the need to evaluate a range of uncertain, future changes to inform near-term stormwater and wastewater infrastructure investments. The full report is available on RAND’s website.

The workshop also covered the importance of funding opportunities for GSI in Southwestern PA. Tim Prevost (ALCOSAN) discussed the GROW program, which awards grants to customer municipalities to implement stormwater reduction projects. The program, currently in its third cycle, has awarded 9 million dollars in project funding. Ryan Quinn (PWSA) emphasized prioritizing partnerships to fund GSI projects, referencing PWSA’s previous and ongoing partnerships with ALCOSAN, the Saw Mill Run Watershed Association, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and neighborhood groups.

This workshop provided a wide range of information about local and national GSI implementation in urban areas. Key take-aways included: (1) a combination of green and grey infrastructure is more cost-effective than grey only, (2) design of green infrastructure systems should be robust and adaptive (3) green infrastructure performance often exceeds expectations, (4) a dedicated maintenance team is vital for continued success, (5) GSI can help enhance resilience in cities that are susceptible to increases in extreme rainfall.

The event was hosted at the Engineers Western Society of Pennsylvania in downtown Pittsburgh, PA in partnership with ALCOSAN, Allegheny County Conservation District, Allegheny Watershed Alliance, American Public Works Association, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, PWSA, Saw Mill Run Watershed Association, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Water Resource Center, Stormworks, Westmoreland Conservation District, and 3 Rivers Wet Weather. Thank you to these sponsors for helping make this workshop possible.

EWRI Congress will be held in Pittsburgh on May 19-23, 2019. Abstracts are being accepted until September 10^th.

ASCE Pittsburgh Participates in Legislative Day

ASCE Blog Editor — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 15:16:46 GMT

By Greg Scott, P.E.

On Wednesday June 13^th, a group of ASCE Members in Pennsylvania gathered in Harrisburg to meet with their state legislators. After gathering for issue briefings and advocacy training, members met with their elected officials to discussed transportation, storm water, and licensure issues. Attendees were specifically seeking the passage of bills that would enable municipalities to create stormwater utilities by allowing the municipalities to collect a reasonable fee without having to create a separate municipal authority, if they so choose.

Also discussed during the ASCE Members’ visit was House Bill 1106 (HB1106), “an Act amending the act of May 23, 1945 (P.L.913, No.367), known as the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law, further providing for definitions, for continuing professional competency requirements and for exemption from licensure and registration”. This measure is necessary due to a recent court case that calls into question who can perform structural inspections, environmental impact studies, and other activities that have been traditionally considered the purview of Professional Engineers. Please add your voice to theirs on HB 1106 by contacting you State Senator and requesting passage of the bill before the end of the year.

Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering Inc. (LSSE) Announces Internal Ownership Transition

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 15:30:49 GMT

From Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering Inc.

LSSE, a 90 person civil engineering firm, headquartered in Coraopolis PA, founded in 1985 announced ownership and management transitions completing implementation of the firm’s Strategic and Ownership Transition Plans adopted in 2008. Effective on Friday, June 15, 2018 Lawrence J. Lennon, P.E., DWRE, Daniel S. Gilligan, and Larry W. Souleret, P.E., PLS, have sold their interest in the firm. They have transferred 100% ownership of LSSE to Kevin A. Brett P.E., Ned Mitrovich P.E., and Jason Stanton, P.E., longtime Principals and owners in the firm. In addition to each having 1/3 ownership of LSSE, they will assume the following management and corporate officer roles; Chief Executive Officer & President: Ned Mitrovich; Chief Operating Officer & Treasurer: Kevin A. Brett; and Chief Financial Officer & Secretary: Jason E. Stanton. Kevin Brett and Ned Mitrovich have accepted Directors positions formally held by Larry Lennon and Dan Gilligan, and will join Jason Stanton on the Board. Larry Lennon and Dan Gilligan will assume the role of “Principal Consultant”, while maintaining employment with LSSE.

ASCE Pittsburgh Hosts a Civil Engineering Booth at E-Week

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 18:27:00 GMT

By William Confair, P.E., Outreach Committee Chair

From February 22nd through February 24th, 2018 the Carnegie Science Center celebrated National Engineers’ Week by hosting “Engineer the Future”. This three-day event was comprised of 40 tables staffed by local professionals who provided presentations and hands-on activities. ASCE-Pittsburgh hosted a booth on the second floor, next to Robo-World. While Robo-World was a bit of a distraction, it also kept the students and participants lingering in our booth for longer periods. ASCE provided engaging hands-on activities for the school groups and families to watch, learn, and understand what civil engineers do every day. Our group of 14 volunteers were engaging ambassadors and held their own during the busy three days.

ASCE Pittsburgh had several props and demonstrations:

Draw Bridge Activity – demonstrated the concepts and basic background of a draw bridge.
Foundation Activity – demonstrated the concepts and basic background of selecting a deep foundation versus a shallow foundation.
Landslide Activity – demonstrated the concepts and basic background of how landslides occur and some measures that can prevent them.
Watershed Activity – demonstrated the concepts and basic background of water runoff and how to prevent pollutants from entering our drinking water. This was by far the most popular activity – perhaps in part because there was water and food coloring involved.

“Engineer the Future” is an emblematic event for Pittsburgh and an excellent opportunity for our ASCE Section to increase awareness of our profession and encourage young students to become civil engineers. For more information on the 2018 “Engineer the Future” event, check out the Carnegie Science Center description.

Emergency Rock Slide Stabilization with Shear Pins

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:39:16 GMT

By Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D., P.E., From American Geotechnical and Environmental Services

On Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016, a landslide initiated in an existing rock cut located uphill from a shopping plaza in Altoona, Pa. The landslide created tension cracking along the existing rock cut, and during a period of weeks the tension cracks expanded from inches to feet (mm to meters). Survey readings indicated that portions of the slide were moving at a rate of approximately 2 in/day (5 cm/day). In addition to the shopping plaza, high voltage electric lines and an underground gas line ran along the base of the rock cut, further prioritizing the need to mitigate the failure as quickly as possible. Due to the rate at which the rock mass was sliding and the associated potential danger below, a plan was rapidly implemented to secure the hillside. The plan involved constructing a temporary rock buttress, removing most of the slide mass, securing the bedrock upslope of the tension crack with shear pins, and final reconstruction and grading of the slope. The inherent danger that quickly developed from the slide failure led to intense media coverage, with some positive and negative impacts.

Slope Failure and Preliminary Investigation

The failure of the slope was first observed when tension cracks were discovered along the top of the rock cut, which was constructed more than a decade before the failure. Once the failure was identified, the site owner quickly began an investigation and contacted The EADS Group for engineering services (slide monitoring and project coordination) and A.G.E.S. for geotechnical design of the slide remediation. The site investigation was performed as quickly as possible, and revealed that bedrock along the cut consisted of sandstone with interbedded shale with a bedding dip of about 16 degrees. The orientation of the dip was downslope along and toward the cut.

A drainage ditch was present upslope of the failure scarp, and was intended to divert water from wetlands upslope. It was noted that trees were growing along the drainage ditch. Water flow within the ditch seemed to “disappear” in the region closer to the scarp. It was believed that surface runoff had been flowing into the slide rather than following the path of the constructed drainage ditch. Water could be heard flowing within the tension cracks of the slope failure, and seepage was observed along the slope. In an effort to reduce future movement, the water in the ditch (region of groundwater infiltration) was temporarily diverted by pumping until the ditch and slide could be repaired.

Read full article here.

EWRI Hosts Seminar on Chloride Impacts on Urban Land and Waterways

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 14:02:40 GMT

By Christina Urbanczyk

On February 26, 2018, the Environmental Water Resource Institute (EWRI) Chapter of ASCE-Pittsburgh hosted a morning seminar on the Impacts of Chlorides on Urban Land and Waterways. The event was hosted at the Engineers Western Society of Pennsylvania in downtown Pittsburgh, PA in partnership with 3 Rivers Wet Weather, Three Rivers Quest, 3 Rivers Proud, Allegheny County Conservation District, American Public Works Association, Allegheny Watershed Alliance, Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Saw Mill Run Watershed Association, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Water Resource Center, and Westmoreland Conservation District.

The morning seminar was a series of presentations discussing the impacts of the elevated use of roadway salts in cold weather climate watersheds on surrounding land and waterways, and included perspectives on local, regional and national levels. Presentations and follow-up discussions focused on quantifying salt loading and impacts overtime as well as how to reduce loading by improving winter BMP maintenance.

The seminar began with a presentation by Robert Hirsh, a research hydrologist with the US Geological Survey, Washington DC Office. Hirsh’s data from the past few decades indicates that an increase in chloride concentration in streams has outpaced urban growth. His data also demonstrates an increase in chloride concentration in groundwater and lakes. Hirsh further emphasized the need for continuous stream flow data to monitor chloride loading in conjunction with chloride concentration.

The second presentation was delivered by Brady Porter of Duquesne University and 3 Rivers QUEST. Porter provided an overview on the seasonal chloride concentrations in the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. Porter’s group is involved in the periodic sampling of numerous surface water locations along these rivers, as well as continuous monitoring with YSI probes.

The impact of chloride toxicity in urbanizing watersheds was discussed on a regional level by James Houle of the University of New Hampshire. Houle discussed data collected from his research group on the performance of various best management practices (BMPs) on reducing chloride loading from salt applications. Because parking lots are a major source of chloride loading, Houle’s research primarily focused on salting of parking lots and the resulting friction resistance of various lot surfaces. Houle’s presentation indicated that salt reduction may be possible with no loss in surface skid resistance using alternative mechanical methods of application.

While a majority of the presentations focused on the impacts of chloride, Dan Bain from the University of Pittsburgh provided a different perspective by focusing on sodium impacts. Bain’s presentation highlighted that roadway salt applications cause legacy contamination, because both sodium and chloride alter metal mobility in soils. This discussion on the alteration of soil and water chemistry due to salt provided insight into the long-term effects of the roadway salt applications on the environment.

The presentations at the seminar introduced a wide range of data and recommendations for further research from the local, regional and national level on the impacts of roadway salts. Erin Kepple Adams from the Southwestern PA Commission concluded the seminar with a discussion on the importance of improving winter BMP management with training and workshops, which may decrease salt use for deicing of roadways. Adams also provided seminar attendees with a useful resource guide on winter maintenance BMPs.

Thanks again to our sponsors of this event, without which this seminar could not have been possible.

ALCOSAN's Tim Prevost named 2017 Civil Engineer of the Year by ASCE-Pittsburgh

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 19:23:27 GMT

From Alcosan Communications

February 20, 2018 - Working diligently to bring solutions to the region's issue of overflows caused by excess groundwater and stormwater, ALCOSAN's Tim Prevost, manager of Wet Weather Programs, is a champion of making our rivers and streams cleaner and healthier through the authority's Green Revitalization of Our Waterways (GROW) program. Because of his efforts, Prevost has been named the 2017 Civil Engineer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Prevost, who has been with ALCOSAN for 20 years, is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology. At ALCOSAN, Prevost oversees the GROW program and leads the Authority's compliance with the EPA's combined sewer overflow (CSO) and sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) policies. He also received the ASCE-Pittsburgh's 2012 Government Engineer of the Year award.

The GROW program, which recently received the 2018 National Environmental Achievement Award by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), provides reimbursement grants to the authority's 83 partner municipalities and authorities for projects that reduce the amount of excess groundwater and stormwater that enters the sewer collection system and ultimately leads to the problem of overflows during wet weather events. Annually, approximately 9 billion gallons of mixed stormwater, groundwater and sewage enter the region's rivers and streams during wet weather. ALCOSAN is under a federal consent decree to reduce these overflows throughout its system.

ALCOSAN's Executive Director Arletta Scott Williams applauded the awardee saying, "I have been privileged to watch Tim grow up in the ALCOSAN family. He has never wavered in his enthusiasm and determination for the program, projects and people, consistently assuming more responsibility through a unique combination of creative thinking and technical reasoning."

"I am excited and humbled by this award," said Prevost. "But I know this honor wouldn't have happened without our GROW team. I cannot thank them enough, because everyone doing their part and working together to make the GROW program a success is the main reason for this recognition. This award is for all of us."

Since inception in 2016, the GROW Program has undergone two funding cycles, providing $18 million in grants for 59 projects that will annually remove nearly 109 million gallons of stormwater and groundwater from the ALCOSAN system. A total of 43 municipalities and 14 city of Pittsburgh neighborhoods have taken part in the GROW program. Cycle Ill of the GROW program will begin later this year.

ALCOSAN is the clean water agency for most of Allegheny County, treating wastewater for 83 Allegheny County communities, including the City of Pittsburgh. The authority, which is Green by Mission and Green by Choice, enhances the c:ummu11ily' environment, quality of life and safety by working to protect drinking water, rivers and streams, and making the Pittsburgh region a great place to live, work and play. ALCOSAN's 59-acre treatment plant processes up to 250 million gallons of wastewater daily and is one of the largest such facilities in the Ohio River Valley.

ASCE Adopts the Diversity Canon

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 22:59:42 GMT

By Angela Mayer, EIT

ASCE Board of Direction voted unanimously in July to adopt a new cannon in the Society’s Code of Ethics. The newly adopted Canon 8 in the Code of Ethics expresses a professional obligation to provide fair and equal treatment for all. It states:

Engineers shall, in all matters related to their profession, treat all persons fairly and encourage equitable participation without regard to gender or gender identity, race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or family, marital, or economic status.
Engineers shall conduct themselves in a manner in which all persons are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.
Engineers shall not engage in discrimination or harassment in connection with their professional activities.
Engineers shall consider the diversity of the community, and shall endeavor in good faith to include diverse perspectives, in the planning and performance of their professional services.

ASCE’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and the Committee on Ethical Practice began collaborating on the new canon in 2016, seeking to provide a basis for enforcing ASCE’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The new cannon has been given the nickname the “Diversity” Canon. This addition is the first revision to the ASCE code of ethics since 2006 and is the first addition of a new Canon in over 65 years.

YMF-Pittsburgh Learns About Innovative City Improvement Projects at the National Aviary

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:58:32 GMT

By Erin Feichtner

On December 7, 2017 the Younger Member Forum hosted the annual December Dinner. This year the dinner was held at the National Aviary. Attendees were able to explore the exhibits, learn about the various birds, and even take a picture with one of the Aviary’s penguins, Disco. The evening also allowed for great networking and discussions during a delicious buffet dinner.

The keynote presentation was given by Sean Luther of Innovate PGH and Jeremy Waldrup of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. Mr. Luther, who was formally with the Envision Downtown committee of Downtown Partnership, started out by presenting how Pittsburgh is using Private/ Public Partnerships between local residents, business owners, and the Mayor’s office to create and test projects with the goal of continuing economic growth and improving the overall experience for all within the “golden triangle”. They do this with small scale projects, collecting data and feedback, proposing improvements, implement projects, and collect data on how effective those changes are. Some examples of completed projects are the remake of Strawberry Way and improving the busy Penn and 11^th St intersection. Both projects pedestrian traffic safer and more enjoyable in under developed areas. Using local artists and well placed pavement markings, these projects made pedestrian travel ways more clear, safe, and attractive. This also improves motorist’s ability to navigate intersections in Pittsburgh’s notoriously confusing downtown grid.

The project at the Smithfield & 6^th St. bus stop took the “simple” task of providing more space and amenities to accommodate queued passengers at one of Pittsburgh busiest transit stops. This needed to be accomplished in a complicated roadway footprint of transitioning lane count and on street parking. The project was completed by looking at the street and intersection as a whole, and realigning the pavement marks and roadway widths. This allowed for a wider sidewalk with shelter, all without negatively impacting traffic flow patterns.

Such projects move downtown Pittsburgh into the modern age of urbanscapes that are multi-use, safe, and reflect the history and local art of a community. Mr. Waldrup spoke on the projects that are currently in conception and design. “Life on Liberty” is a project under way that is trying to increase the use of Liberty Avenue through identifying short comings of current amenities, encourage foot traffic, and promote local businesses. Broad scope projects include 1) looking at the data on traffic flows through the central downtown area to identify if bus stops are in appropriate locations, 2) identify if the street’s typical sections are fitting for the primary user and vehicle type, 3) finding a sidewalk surface material that is durable and attractive, and 4) trying methods for business owner’s trash disposal that are attractive and safe to the overall city system. As the new Pittsburgh City Department of Mobility and Infrastructure develops Mr. Waldrup hopes it will use the data and projects Envision Downtown has done to continue the great work done.

More about Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership can be found at http://downtownpittsburgh.com. Also consider attending a community feedback meeting if you live or work downtown and are interested in any of the projects of Envision Downtown or the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. For ages, visitors and longtime residents have asked engineers “Why would someone design things this way?” or “Why can’t someone fix this so it works better?” Whether you are a traffic engineer or water treatment engineer, we all have skills and knowledge that can be useful in these conversations and projects that are taking action to fix and answer these common questions about Downtown Pittsburgh.

An event like this is never possible without the support from company sponsors. Our Gold Level sponsors this year were Borton-Lawson Engineering and Architecture and Tetra Tech. The Silver Level sponsors were Gannett Fleming, MS Consultants, Inc., and SAI Consulting Engineers. The penguin bird encounter was sponsored by University of Pittsburgh Johnstown Alumni.

2017 Sustainability Conference - Engineering a Sustainable Economy: Innovating Solutions for the 21st Century

ASCE Blog Editor — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 13:35:15 GMT

By Jason Baguet and Ben Briston, Photos courtesy of Sustainable Pittsburgh

On November 16, 2017, the Environmental Water Resource Institute Chapter (EWRI) of ASCE-Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Champions for Sustainability (C4S) came together for the 9th Annual Sustainability Conference. The conference was presented in partnership with the City of Pittsburgh Office of the Mayor and the American Public Works Association - Western Pennsylvania Chapter and included a series of seminars and panel discussions focused on “Engineering a Sustainable Economy”. The theme of the day was how Pittsburgh and other communities across the globe are positioning for greater resiliency through innovation and technology, from sustainable traffic infrastructure to smart stormwater systems.

The all-day conference was held at the August Wilson Center, and had a line-up of engineers, public works professionals, sustainability professionals, educators, and policy makers presenting forward-thinking initiatives. In the opening segment, Tom Batroney set the stage with a historical look back at previous years of sustainability, and reminded us all of the ASCE Principles of Sustainable Development in that we have to “do the right project” and “do the project right”. Rather than sprinkle green features on conventional projects, we have to properly engage all stakeholders and have the mindset to address sustainability more holistically.

The keynote speakers, John Stanton, President and CEO at the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and Rosanna D'Antonio, Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, discussed the ENVISION Rating System, which was designed to evolve with the changing concept of sustainability, and is driving change throughout the world. John comprehensively described the ENVISION system, stating that it usually is used as a free self-assessment tool and can be a cost-efficient way to guide quality assurance and control on a project level. Cities such as Kansas City and large agencies such as New York City Transit are starting to adopt ENVISION concepts as normal practice. John stated that the Pittsburgh region needed a catalyst to embrace ENVISION as well as leaders that would accept visibility and transparency of their performance to make this a reality. It was noted that the ENVISION system can also be applied to existing infrastructure, and one local opportunity to apply the system could be for a capital bridge replacement program which considers full lifecycle replacement of structures. This may be possible with the right policy partnerships as Allegheny County owns and maintains over 500 bridges.

Rosanna D’Antonio followed John’s description of ENVISION with examples of how the system is being applied on the local level within the LA County Department of Public Works. The agency has started to use the system internally for all projects, but the county has submitted one project for verification by ENVISION and that project gained platinum status. D’Antonio summed it up best by saying, “In the past, our main focus was project delivery at the lowest cost. Today, with a focus on the environmental, economic, and social benefits of a project, i.e., the triple bottom line, we are using public infrastructure as a vehicle to improve the overall quality of life for the residents of Los Angeles County.”

Also included during the day were two lively panel discussions, the first titled: “Sustainability and Innovation in the Pittsburgh Region.” This panel discussion included Karina Ricks, Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure with the City of Pittsburgh, James Ritzman, Deputy Secretary of Planning with PennDOT, Chris Hendrickson, Director of the Traffic 21 Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, and Dan Cessna, Senior Vice President with Michael Baker International. The panel discussion focused on transportation innovation and sustainability in the Pittsburgh region. One comment that registered came from Dan Cessna, who said, “We often become engulfed in maintenance contracts and it is easier to manage change than manage crises.”

The second panel discussion included Michael Barnard, Project Director with Oxford Development Company, Daniel Bonk, Senior Engineer with Montauk Energy and Dhaval Bhalodia, Director of Asset Optimization with EverPower Wind Holdings. This panel focused on endeavors that local private companies are taking to build resilient cities and healthy, sustainable communities of the future.

The future of smart transportation, led by Chris Hendrickson and smart water solutions, led by both Viktor Hlas, Business Team Lead with Opti Stormwater Controls and Megan Zeigler, Green Infrastructure Project Manager with Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, were also topics of discussion. A highlight from the first presentation was that smart spine traffic signals could improve travel efficiency by reducing vehicle bunching and also help address air pollution. As for smart water solutions, smart valve systems could improve green stormwater infrastructure system performance by increasing storage efficiency and reducing costly maintenance of these systems.

Students from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University had the opportunity to display their research posters during breaks. Several posters were displayed ranging in topics from a Systems-level Approach for Integrated Shale Gas Produced Water Management; Sustainable Design of Carbon Nanomaterials: Decoupling the Role of Material Structure and Surface Chemistry on Electrochemical and Biological Activities; and Food-Energy-Water Nexus: Irrigation Impacts of Domestic Food Trade.

The Sustainability Conference is an annual conference focused on bringing together sustainability experts in science, engineering, and public policy. Click here to find out more about the Sustainability Committee.

Protecting the Environment with Geosynthetics: 53rd Terzaghi Lecture hosted by the Geo-Institute

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 13:53:38 GMT

By Maria C. Jaime, Ph.D., E.I.T., Edited by: Vishal Patel, M.S.C.E., P.E.

On Thursday, November 30th, 2017, distinguished Professor Kerry Rowe from Queens University in Canada delivered the 2017 Terzaghi Lecture at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) club in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. The ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute Chapter had the honor to host Dr. Rowe and more than 40 ASCE members and non-members who gathered to enjoy this dinner meeting and lecture at the outstanding ESWP venue.

Drawing together results from extensive research such as field observations, long-term experimental data, and theory, the prestigious lecture highlighted the importance of carefully considering the implications of design and construction decisions in ensuring long-term performance of geosynthetic liner systems for environmental protection in landfill barriers. It explored well-understood concepts and examined common misconceptions and consequences. It emphasized the importance of the geosynthetic material selection, accounting for the interactions between different geosynthetics and other barrier system components. It demonstrated that the obvious is not always expected.

Dr. Rowe is a pioneer in the field of geosynthetics and has made immeasurable contributions to the development of new technologies and methods to prevent the contamination of water sources by mining and landfill activity. He is the author of over 350 peer-reviewed journal papers, 3 books, 15 book chapters, and more than 330 full conference papers. Additionally, he has been recognized by numerous awards including the Giroud Lecture (2002), Rankine Lecture (2005), Manuel Rocha Lecture (2006), Casagrande Lecture (2011), the Ferroco-Terzaghi Oration (2012), and the ASCE Karl Terzaghi Lecture (2017). The International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering has created the ISSMGE R. Kerry Rowe Lecture. He has been elected a Fellow of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scientific society, the Royal Society (of London, UK) as well as been elected a foreign Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Fellow of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering. He is also a member of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engineering and Professional Societies in Australia, Canada, and USA. He is a past president of the International Geosynthetics Society, the Canadian Geotechnical Society and the Engineering Institute of Canada.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Greg Rumbaugh (ASCE G-I Chair) presented Dr. Rowe with a gift of a Pittsburgh Geo-Institute polo shirt (as seen in the photograph).

ASCE Continuing Education and ESWP Host a Successful PDH Bootcamp

ASCE Blog Editor — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 21:51:13 GMT

By Jessica Bladow

Earlier this year, on August 24, 2017, ASCE’s Continuing Education Committee partnered with ESWP (Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania) to provide all local Professional Engineers a full day’s worth of courses from which to earn up to 7.5 PDHs (Professional Development Hours) for the upcoming Pennsylvania Professional Engineer License Renewal deadline (September 30, 2017). The Pennsylvania State Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists requires Professional Engineers to obtain 24 PDH units during the biennial renewal period. For more information on Pennsylvania’s Professional Engineer requirements, please see the Continuing Education Made Easy Blog at http://www.asce-pgh.org/page-1812230 by Sam Shamsi.

This day-long event allowed attendees the opportunity to attend up to seven lectures, offered under three concurrent breakout sessions. Attendees could choose a full-day registration, or just the morning, or afternoon session. The morning sessions included Geotechnical, Transportation and Water; the afternoon sessions included Industrial, Legal & Ethics, and Technology. Attendees were free to attend sessions from any of these tracks and mix and match according to their interests.

When asked what brief description attendees would give a colleague about the Boot Camp, the following were some representative responses:

“Worthwhile professional development information; a reasonably priced alternative for continuing education; good networking and interaction with other engineers.”
“A great opportunity for professional development in a great setting.”
“Good way to earn relevant PDH hours at a reasonable cost. Worth the day.”

Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback, ASCE and ESWP will definitely be hosting another PDH Boot Camp; so, keep your eye out for more information in the upcoming year!

A lot of people helped make this event possible: thanks to everyone who volunteered on the program committee and as a speaker! Click here for the full brochure.

Program Committee:

Jessica Bladow
Dave Teorsky
Sam Shamsi
Doug Clark
Dawn Spence
Tom Bice

Finally, one last big thank you to all of the sponsors that supported this event!

Embankment Stabilization with Drilled Shafts

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 13:34:15 GMT

By Vishal Patel, M.S.C.E., P.E., Todd DeMico, P.E., and Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D., P.E.

INTRODUCTION

Common techniques for stabilizing large scale slopes (i.e. rock toes, buttresses, soil nails, retaining walls, etc.) are sometimes impractical from both a constructability and stability point of view. Slope stabilization with deep foundations, while effective, are not widely used due to a lack of published standardized design procedures. American Geotechnical and Environmental Services (A.G.E.S.), Inc. had the opportunity to design an embankment stabilization system using drilled shafts. Drilled shafts were chosen for the site based on unique construction conditions and the overall scale of the proposed embankment. A.G.E.S., Inc. was also involved during construction of the project and had the opportunity to observe the general performance of the system.

CASE STUDY

This case study involves the installation of a pipeline at the toe of an existing 110-foot-tall embankment (see right) constructed within a known ancient landslide. Construction for the project required excavation for the pipeline in addition to a 50 foot wide bench near the existing toe for construction access. In order to accommodate the bench width, an additional 45-foot-tall embankment below the existing 110-foot-tall embankment needed to be constructed. The size of the embankment and the inherent weakness of the soil within the ancient landslide required consideration of techniques beyond the traditional slope stabilization methods to meet an acceptable factor of safety and a very limited time frame for construction. A total of 75, 3-foot-dimeter, drilled shafts reinforced with W beams, embedded into bedrock, were designed and constructed in 3 rows along the embankment to provide adequate stabilization.

Analyses for excavations along the proposed final slope were performed along the existing embankment. The analyses were performed to ensure the pipeline excavation, the 50-foot-wide by 300-foot-long bench, and the proposed treatments below the pipeline, would not result in instability of the existing embankment. The space for the bench resulted in the final slope extending approximately 45 feet lower in elevation to reach flatter grade. As a result of the bench, the pipeline was to be installed in a backfilled excavation consisting of both the upper 110 foot tall existing embankment and the 45-foot-high stabilized embankment. The slope at the lower portion was to maintain the 1.3H:1V orientation of the existing ground surface.

GEOTECHNICAL ANALYSES

Drilled shafts were proposed to minimize disturbances to the existing soils. Design for the proposed slope retrofit consisted of performing geotechnical and structural analyses for both global stability of the proposed treatment and lateral analysis of the proposed drilled shafts. The two analyses were performed sequentially to ensure that the proposed layout satisfied these geotechnical and structural requirements.

Stability analyses were performed using SLIDE for both the upper slope (the existing embankment above the pipeline) and the lower slope (the proposed slope treatment region below the pipeline). The slope treatments were designed to satisfy a factor of safety of 1.3 for the temporary condition and 1.5 for the permanent condition. These analyses were performed to ensure that the proposed embankment work would be stable for both construction and permanent conditions. In an effort to minimize soil disturbances at the toe of the slope, rigid elements (drilled shafts) were chosen as the preferred option. The drilled shafts were modeled in SLIDE as a resisting force. Based on the required resistance, the pile layout was determined from the SLIDE analyses. Lateral analyses (p-y model) were performed using LPILE in order to size the rigid elements and ensure drilled shafts extended deep enough in order to satisfy a fixed condition.

The drilled shafts consisted of W-piles encased within concrete (see left). Bending and shear resistance were analyzed considering the 50 ksi steel piles only. The analysis considered a spacing of the drilled shafts along each row equal to three times the drilled shaft diameter (3xD) in order to maximize passive resistance due to soil arching. The spacing in between rows was chosen to avoid “shadowing” and group effects that could potentially reduce the shaft resistance.

CONCLUSION

The design procedures for stabilizing slopes with deep foundations such as drilled shafts are still in their infancy. Although several publications exist for this stabilization technique, none are widely accepted nor considered design standards. This manuscript described a simplified design procedure based on global stability and lateral deformation analyses as suggested in the literature (for example FHWA and ODOT design manuals). A.G.E.S., Inc. was able to witness the constructability of this design alternative and did not find any indications of instability. This suggests that the implemented design procedure provides and adequate factor of safety. As projects like these begin to gain momentum, particularly in the public sector, the procedures for design will become more common.

A manuscript describing in detail the implemented design procedure is being developed by the authors and it is expected to be presented at ASCE-GI/DFI/ADSC/PDCA International Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo (IFCEE) 2018 in Orlando Florida.

Geo-Institute Seminar Discusses Geohazard Assessment Methods for the Appalachian Region

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 14:42:02 GMT

By Brian Tittmann, Edited By Greg Rumbaugh

More than 60 ASCE members and guests gathered at Cefalo’s Restaurant on Thursday, October 19th for an ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute Chapter meeting. As part of the meeting, Mr. Martin Derby, a senior geohazard practice leader with Golder Associates, presented the lecture “Performing Geohazard Assessments and Pipeline Monitoring Methods.” The presentation focused on assessing geohazards, including unstable slopes, seismic events, subsidence and hydrotechnical (water erosion), which have the potential to adversely impact infrastructure, including pipelines, in the Appalachian region.

Performing geohazard assessments along pipeline corridors assists owners and operators in determining if a natural hazard may impact their assests. Mr. Derby went on to outline a three-phase approach used to identify, characterize and ultimately mitigate/monitor potential geohazards. Phase I begins with a regional-scale desktop assessment to identify, initially characterize and qualitatively classify geohazards. Phase II involves a non-intrusive ground reconnaissance completed at targeted sites that warrant additional assessment. Finally, Phase III involves subsurface investigations such as drilling, test pitting or geophysical surveys carried out at specific sites of concern. Phase III also involves the collection of sufficient data to plan for and design site specific mitigation and/or monitoring such as in-situ pipeline monitoring (e.g. strain gages), slope monitoring (e.g. inclinometers, tilt meters, etc.), InSAR (satellite and ground based), LiDAR (airborne) and fiber optics. Overall, Mr. Derby’s presentation illustrated how important assessing geohazards can be for a client to determine if a natural hazard may impact their assets. Geo-Institute is grateful to Mr. Martin Derby for sharing his experience and depth of knowledge on this subject as well as to Cefalo’s for their delicious food and great atmosphere.

Pittsburgh SEI Tours the Empire Apartment Building in Oakland for SteelDay

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:04:17 GMT

By Greg Holbrook

September 15, 2017 marked the Annual American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) SteelDay Construction Tour presented by the Pittsburgh SEI Chapter. SteelDay provides the opportunity for individuals from various professions and expertise to see how the structural steel industry contributes to building America. This year’s tour was in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh at the new Empire Apartments Building (Empire Building) mixed-use building complex.

The Empire Building is a 17-story structure with a six-story parking structure holding 381 parking spaces. There will be 723 apartments of one, two, and three-bedrooms with amenities such as in-suite washers and dryers, granite countertops, “robust” internet and WI-FI, a pool and patio entertainment space, and even a golf simulator. The building will also have 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the ground floor. The structure boasts great views of adjacent neighborhoods, such as East Liberty, Shadyside, Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, and Oakland and the Universities. Tour participants were able to witness some of these views from the 16th floor level, which included great photo opportunities of the Cathedral of Learning, which were particularly appealing to University of Pittsburgh alumni attendees.

Approximately 35 participants met at the construction field office adjacent to the site to begin the tour. Project managers and members of the team talked about the speed of construction and the requirement to adhere to the project schedule. This included one important detail: Staging of the materials brought on site to minimally impact traffic in Oakland. This was accomplished by closing off a side lane of Centre Avenue thus allowing trucks to deliver materials out of the traffic’s way and then to exit onto the roadway after delivery. The construction began in the spring of this year, and through a time-lapse video everyone witnessed the expeditious foundation and steel construction to date. You can also view the same time-lapse video highlighting the building’s progress.

Attendees also learned that the entire project is being built directly by companies here in Pittsburgh. Sippel Fabrication (Sippel) is the steel fabricator for the project. As some of the SEI members may remember, a past SteelDay event included a tour of Sippel’s facility in Ambridge, PA. Century Steel Erectors (Century Steel) is conducting the building erection and the Massaro Construction Group (Massaro) is the construction manager for the project. Through their collaboration, these three firms showcase Pittsburgh as a leading 21^st century “Steel City.” Their work focuses not on past laurels but rather on what is now and what is yet to come in Pittsburgh’s skyline.

2017 was another successful year for SteelDay’s mission: to gather individuals from various industries to share how the Steel Industry contributes to building America. I thank our generous hosts, Massaro, and the local contributors, Sippel and Century Steels for a job well done!

Women-Water Nexus: Where Water Research Meets Women Leaders

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 12:57:22 GMT

By Djuna Gulliver

Dr. Vinka Oyanedel-Craver, Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Rhode Island, became interested in water research during her undergraduate degree. Starting with waste water treatment, her research interests slowly moved to point-of-use water treatment technologies in rural areas. “Water is essential for both individual health and community development,” Dr. Oyanedel -Craver says. “However, most of the time it is overlooked because most infrastructure is so out-of-sight.” When infrastructure is updated, Dr. Oyanedel-Craver argues that consequences are often not researched or communicated to the public. “New technologies are usually a black box to the people and most the time we implement them without figuring out the long-term implications.”

While Dr. Oyanedel -Craver was driven to increase research in this subject, she also recognized the worldwide lack of women in leadership positions in the water sector, both in academic and industry. “Without women in leadership positions in the water sector and policy, it is not possible implement development strategies that can benefit everyone,” she explains. Dr. Oyanedel -Craver set out to increase awareness of the effect of water on the community, while also promoting women in leadership. She became one of the founding members of the Women-Water Nexus (WWN) Committee at the ASCE Environmental and Water Resource Institute. Now, she is the Chair of the Women-Water Nexus, which aims to develop a network of women scientists and engineers in developed and developing countries that promote research in water treatment and water resources. The group also focuses on the education of future women scientists and engineers.

Dr. Laura Schifman, a National Research Council postdoctoral fellow became involved in the Women-Water Nexus when Dr. Oyanedel-Craver, her former Ph. D mentor, asked if she would become vice-chair. “Of course I said yes,” she says. “Throughout pursuing my PhD, I was always aware that I was one of a few females in the room during engineering conferences, we had significantly more men in the geosciences department that I graduated from, and men were being highlighted more for their work in the field I was working in. The WWN seemed like a perfect way to work with other female scientists and engineers to empower women internationally and give them a trusting network they can rely on when it comes to mentoring.”

Dr. Schifman understands the power of decision-making in the water section. “Water is the ultimate currency. Everything we do, whether it is industry related, agriculture, or constructing a new building, it relies on water.” And for her, the ties between water and women are clear. “In the global south, women are usually the ones tasked with maintaining the water source in the house. This is a very important role, but somehow there is a huge disconnect between what happens in the transition from those situations and who ends up in the decision-making roles for water resources management of a city, county, or country.”

Dr. Schifman was not always passionate about this subject, and instead dreamed of becoming a dentist. But to meet her undergraduate class requirements, she signed up for Aquatic Ecology. In that class, there was one lab experiment that stood out. “We stood in a stream, kicking up larvae of insects. Because some insects are better at tolerating poor water quality, you can get an understanding of water quality depending on the kind of insects you find,” Dr. Schifman explains. “That got me hooked and instead of applying to dental school I pursued a MS in Hydrology and Water Resources Management followed by my PhD in Environmental Science.” She now works on sustainable city planning, researching the physical and chemical processes in urban soils and tying it into urban green spaces and green infrastructure. She can then use this research to understand how the use of the natural water cycle can lead to improved air and water quality, access to green space, and flood mitigation. “Overall, I hope to highlight the value of urban green spaces so we can start to incorporate more of them in the (re)design of our cities.”

The Women-Water Nexus, still in its early phase, is currently recruiting members, and planning its first few programs. “We are starting to develop our network, hopefully by early next year we can start our mentoring program and support activities looking to create gender inclusive training for the water sector,” Dr. Oyanedel-Craver says. One of the aspects of this mentoring program will be to give women assistance and feedback on preparing presentations for international conferences. The Women-Water Nexus is also hoping to perform an international survey to inform them on the current number of women leadership positions, the pathway they took to get there, and the common hurdles. “Bringing this information to light can hopefully inspire the next generation of women to aim high,” Dr. Schifman says. Both Dr. Oyanedel-Craver and Dr. Schifman hope the Women-Water Nexus will grow into a vibrant community that provide support to women around the world achieve their full potential.

If you are interested in participating with the Women-Water Nexus, visit the Women-Water Nexus website for more information.

Predicting Geotechnical Drilled Shaft Capacity: Are We Close?

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 01:24:01 GMT

Article from DFI Deep Foundations

Recently modified design equations used in the transportation industry to calculate side friction and end bearing capacity for drilled shafts are now providing more realistic estimations of capacities than did previous methods. Using multiple case studies and test results from various projects, a more realistic design approach was formulated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which resulted in greater values of ultimate capacity for side friction and end bearing and in a more efficient design overall.

In 2010, the FHWA published GEC-10 – Drilled Shafts: Construction Procedures and LRFD Design Methods, which illustrates a different method of calculating side friction and end bearing resistance and results in greater values for design. In 2014, the Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) adopted the method put forth by FHWA, which was included in its LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 7 Edition. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently adopted and incorporated the similar methodology as AASHTO for calculating side friction and end bearing for drilled shafts in rock, and these changes are reflected in the 2015 edition of the PennDOT Design Manual, Part 4 (DM-4). This article discusses the past and current design methodology along with a project case study with results from Osterberg Cell (O-cell) load testing, which presents a comparison between the design resistances of ultimate side friction and end bearing and the measured capacities at failure.

Read full article here.

ASCE-Pittsburgh Continuing Educations Learns to Use DISC During Leadership Training

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 13:03:07 GMT

By Mike Krepsik, PE

In May, the Continuing Education Committee for the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society for Civil Engineers hosted the leadership training seminar Performance DISCovery at Roland’s Seafood in the Strip District. Presented by national speaker and renowned performance consultant, Chris Flickinger, the seminar coached ASCE members how to use advanced behavioral science to get farther, faster and be more effective during their interactions with others.

Internationally ranked among the top 1% of performance consultants in the world, Flickinger works with large Fortune 500 companies as well as family-owned businesses and mid-sized companies. Chris’ background includes the Fox News Channel, Dale Carnegie Training (former leadership training instructor), the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Psycho-Metric Analysis and Positive Psychology Coaching under the guidance of Harvard’s world famous professor, Dr. Ben Tal-Shahar.

Attendees learned techniques and honed their abilities through group interaction to quickly “read” and adapt to people to easily anticipate and connect to their interests, needs, wants, challenges, and expectations using DISC personality traits and identifiers. From simple things, like a person’s style of dress or grooming to mannerisms and word choice while speaking, these and other identifiers provide clues as to that person’s dominant DISC personality profile. Once you’ve identified the dominant DISC personality profile, you’ll gain insight into the best way to modify your sales pitch or negotiation tactics by addressing those aspects of the conversation your receiver cares about most. By learning these skills, the attendees increased their negotiation power and leadership potential during business and interpersonal interactions.

Twenty-seven attendees received attentive instruction and practiced what they had learned in group role-playing exercises during the three hour seminar over dinner, earning 3 PDH credits.

Feedback from the group was overwhalmming positive. with numerous requests requests for additional material from our presenter. “Chris is very knowledgeable and very good at presenting the material in a way I could understand,” said one participant. “This was by far the most useful/beneficial professional seminar I've attended,” another participant added.

The ASCE Board graciously sponsored the event by defraying the cost of a national speaker and allowing the Continuing Education Committee to offer Chris’s insightful instruction at a reasonable cost to members. Performance DISCovery comprises part one of a three-part lecture series Flickinger has developed on leadership in the professional arena. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events section of your ASCE Pittsburgh Section e-mails for the announcement of the second installment of our leadership training series presented by Chris Flickinger in the spring of 2018.

ASCE Younger Members Discuss Leadership and Communication in Reston VA

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:33:03 GMT

By Edward Major II, E.I.T. (YMF Technical/Employment Chair) and Max Wallack, E.I.T. (YMF Community/Outreach Chair)

On August 4-6, 2017, the ASCE Committee on Younger Members hosted the annual Younger Member Leadership Symposium (YMLS) at the ASCE headquarters in Reston, VA. Younger Member Forum (YMF) members Max Wallack, E.I.T. (YMF Community/Outreach Chair) and Edward Major II, E.I.T. (YMF Technical/Employment Chair) had the opportunity to represent the ASCE Pittsburgh Section at this year’s event. The conference brought together nearly 50 younger members from across the nation to network, learn about different communication and personality styles, and discuss the hot issues facing the civil engineering profession today.

“Raise the Bar” Brainstorming Session

While Max attended a pre-conference technical tour (see below) of various legislative and ASCE offices in Washington, D.C., Edward had the opportunity to meet with ASCE’s “Raise the Bar” director, Kelly Dooley. “Raise the Bar” has been an initiative by ASCE since the 1990s to elevate professional licensure requirements to match their current body of knowledge definition (“body of knowledge” referring to the set of knowledge gained during a typical undergraduate engineering curriculum). Through this brainstorming session, we learned of three possible actions that ASCE has considered:

Accept that the current body of knowledge definition established by ASCE is greater than current licensure requirements and do nothing,
Attempt to elevate licensure requirements to match the body of knowledge, such as requiring an advanced degree or additional coursework to take the P.E. exam, or
Offer something, such as special certifications, in addition to the professional license that, when held in conjunction with the license, will equal the current body of knowledge definition.

Option 2 is currently being explored by ASCE through lobbying of state legislatures. This option, in its current form, specifies a master of science or 30 credits of coursework beyond the bachelor of science as requirements to sit for the P.E. exam. Efforts have been made in several states to reach out to the local ASCE sections and branches, and even legislators themselves. Although this is the direction that ASCE is currently pursuing, the other two options and potential others could prove valuable as well. It is our hope that the feedback offered by Edward and others will help ASCE proceed successfully.

Technical Tour

During the technical tour, ASCE younger members toured the capital building with former Representative Bob Carr and visited the ASCE Government Relations Department in Washington, D.C. The ASCE Government Relations Department advocates for infrastructure, sustainability, and education and licensing requirements for civil engineers. ASCE encourages younger members to attend the Legislative Fly-In to meet with members of Congress to discuss ASCE initiatives in-person and gain valuable experience interfacing with government.

Friday Evening

After the technical tour and Raise the Bar session, YMLS attendees developed a personal vision, which is “everything you would like to be, do, and have in your life/career. It is a vision of your future based on your personal values, purpose, influence from mentors, and life goals.” (Kelly Doyle, YMLS 2017)

Saturday / Sunday

At the ASCE headquarters in Reston, Virginia, younger members discussed a variety of skills that could be implemented in the workplace. One of the main focuses of the weekend was how identifying our personal communication styles, in addition to coworkers’ communication styles, can help facilitate better interactions. These styles are based on assertiveness, the degree to which we ask or tell, and emotional responsiveness, the degree to which we control or display our emotions. These four main communication styles are:

Analytical (which represents approximately 38% of engineers),
Driver (28% of engineers),
Expressive (23% of engineers), and
Amiable (11% of engineers).

A more in-depth explanation of these four styles can be found here.

Edward determined that his personal communication style can be classified as Analytical-Amiable. Analyticals are classified by a desire to always know the correct answer, to always have all the facts in front of them during a discussion, and are sometimes seen as rather detached. Amiables are typically very approachable and cooperative, good listeners, and tend to use opinions more during discussions.

Max identified his personal communication style as Analytical-Expressive. Expressives are enthusiastic, approachable, want to develop relationships, and are sometimes seen as impractical or make quick decisions based on emotion. The last style, Drivers, which neither Edward or Max identify as, is generally classified by being organized, decisive, and sometimes critical of work.

Other topics of interest during the weekend were negotiating skills, work-life balance, difficult decisions, and a mentorship panel consisting of vice presidents, directors, and project managers from various public and private entities. The panel responded to a series of questions from younger members. The advice from these mentors was relatively consistent across the board – most recommended joining multiple professional organizations, learning to communicate across multiple generations, and presenting information concisely.

YMLS is held annually at ASCE Headquarters in Reston, VA. You can read more about Pittsburgh’s participation in the event last year here.

Swanson School of Engineering Offers New Environmental Engineering Major

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 12:57:04 GMT

Edited from a Press Release by Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh

As the demand for energy grows and the human impact on natural resources like fresh water becomes more profound, public and private entities are relying on environmental engineers to address current and future challenges facing our society. In order for its students to capitalize on this changing job market, the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering offered a new environmental engineering major beginning the 2016-2017 academic year, and plans to seek ABET accreditation in October, 2017.

The degree launched in the fall of 2016, and the first graduates adjusted their course requirements to graduate in April 2017, says Leonard Casson, associate professor and academic coordinator of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The environmental engineering major joins bioengineering, chemical and petroleum engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science engineering, and engineering sciences in the Swanson School.

“Recently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that there’s going to be a great demand for environmental engineers, and many of our alumni and employment partners have indicated this to us as well.” he says. “Civil engineers in particular need to adapt quickly to evolving societal needs, and our Department realized that we were poised to create a specific major to give our students an advantage.”

According to recent BLS data, “employment of environmental engineers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations.” California, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida and Texas currently lead the U.S. in the highest employment level of environmental engineers.

Casson added that there are currently 67 ABET accredited environmental engineering programs in the United States. And, locally, he continued, environmental engineers—who use the principles of engineering, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems—will likely have job opportunities in many professional areas including water and wastewater treatment, site remediation, solid and hazardous waste management, energy, green building design and construction, and mining.

“Developing this program was possible thanks to the depth and breadth of our faculty, many of whom are nationally and internally recognized for their research in water and wastewater management, sustainability and green design and unconventional resources such as Marcellus and Utica shale,” Casson said. “Additionally, we have found that women and minorities with a passion for the environment are greatly interested in this program, and so we anticipate it to be an advantage when recruiting future undergraduate students.”

The Department has approximately 300 undergraduate students (sophomore, junior and senior) and 150 graduate students (MS, PMS and PhD). It is also one of Pitt’s oldest academic programs, established in 1867 as a direct result of the impact of the civil engineering field during the Civil War.

Joe Miksch, News Director, University Communications

Contact: Paul Kovach

ASCE-Pittsburgh creates “The Giving Tree” out of cans

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 12:47:02 GMT

By Linda Kaplan and Karen Mueser

For the fifth year in a row, the Pittsburgh Younger Member Forum teamed up with the Keystone-Mountain-Lakes Carpenter’s Union to enter the annual CANstruction Pittsburgh competition.

This year’s entry “Giving Everything to End Hunger” was a 3D version of the cover of Shel Silverstien’s classic book “The Giving Tree”. The design was selected to fit with the competition theme of “Food for Thought.” Constructed over the course of six hours by Karen Mueser, Linda Kaplan, and Erin Feichtner of the YMF along with members of the Carpenter’s Union, the display was eight feet wide and eight feet tall with the tree and leaves projecting out. It all starts with a sturdy trunk of potatoes sitting on a verdant hill of spinach, green beans and peas. The sky comprised of chicken broth and a variety of beans. The tree’s canopy comprised of almost 500 cans of tuna – that’s nearly 140 pounds of fish.

Perhaps the best part of CANstruction is the cause. All of the cans used in the structure were donated to our food bank partner, The Brashear Association, which is located in Pittsburgh’s Southside. With more than 2,000 cans of food weighing over 1,600 pounds, this Giving Tree will live up to its name, providing many meals for the families of Pittsburgh. We are pleased to be donating so much good food to the members of our community that need it.

While CANstruction is ultimately a food charity, there is a healthy dose of competition between the teams and six awards from the ‘Best Use of Labels’ to ‘Fan Favorite’ were up for grabs. This year, “Giving Everything to End Hunger” won the 2017 award for “Juror’s Choice” as the favorite of the 5 local judges. The structure will now go on to compete in the National level competition via photos.

We would like to extend a special thanks to everyone that donated to the project including: friends, family, and members of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section, Giant Eagle Parkway Center, The Greater Pennsylvania Regional Carpenters Unions with special thanks to Locals 443, 432 and 441, Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc., and HDR.

Angela Mayer has won the Daniel W. Mead award for her essay on ethics

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:35:41 GMT

By Djuna Gulliver

Angela M. Mayer, EIT, and Director of ASCE-Pittsburgh has won the prestigious 2017 Daniel W. Mead prize. “Initially I just wanted to challenge myself to write the Daniel W. Mead ethics paper,” Ms. Mayer says. “However, for ASCE National to recognize my efforts by presenting me with this award is exciting!”

The Daniel W. Mead prize was established in 1939, and is annually awarded to the author of the best paper on professional ethics in civil engineering. “Engineering has evolved over time largely in part to the efforts of Daniel W. Mead,” explains Ms. Mayer. “He was tasked by ASCE to develop ethical guidelines that would meet the needs of all members of the profession. These efforts have evolved into the current ‘Code of Ethics’ that all in the profession should hold paramount to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of the public”.

This year’s topic was “Is it ethical for university engineering faculty to teach technical subject matter to engineering students without obtaining professional licensure?” Ms. Mayer submitted a paper titled Assurance through Licensure. In the paper, Ms. Mayer says that there is a disconnect between licensure and the hiring process of Universities. She writes:

Universities tend to recognize and reward faculty with published scholarly works; not educators with practical industry experience and licensure. Over time, an obvious development of disconnection has occurred between industry experience, faculty qualifications, and licensure at institutions.

Ms. Mayer argues that educators are not only responsible for teaching proper technical material, but educators also serve as role models. So, while some professors are not directly involved in the practice of engineering, educators have an ethical obligation to obtain their license. Meanwhile, Universities should place more emphasis on professional experience.

Even though they are not clearly involved, professors’ influence on students have a direct impact on society. Engineering faculty act as role models for engineering students that aspire to become licensed. Nevertheless, if the public holds future engineers to licensure standards their educators should be held to the same criteria.

Ms. Mayer’s full paper will be available to read on the ASCE website.

What inspired Ms. Mayer’s essay response to this year’s topic? “Coupled with research, my personal pursuit to obtain a P.E., and viewpoints I held over from college all compiled to formulate my response to the Mead paper’s topic this year,” she explains.

Ms. Mayer has over 10 years of engineering experience, and is currently an asset integrity engineer at Williams, Pittsburgh. She previously worked as a project engineer at KU Resources, and a staff engineer at Phillips and Associates. She is an active member of the Diversity Committee at ASCE-Pittsburgh and the Young Member Forum. She has been recognized throughout her career for her professional achievements and leadership, and has received the ASCE Edmund Friedman Young Engineering Award and the ASCE-Pittsburgh Young Engineer of the Year Award. And while she feels a sense of accomplishment looking back at her career, “I look forward to what the future holds!” she exclaims.

ASCE YMF Year in Review

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 25 May 2017 13:00:37 GMT

By Erin Feitchner, ASCE Pittsburgh Section YMF President

The Pittsburgh ASCE section Younger Member Form (YMF) closed our 2016-17 year in April. This year continued the long standing tradition of providing several events and opportunities for young engineering professionals and students to expand their professional network, gain technical knowledge, and partner with community outreach.

FALLING FOR YMF

In the Fall, we kicked off the year with our annual family picnic at Highland Park where, members and their families enjoyed sunshine and relaxation. This was followed by a partnership with ESWP, SAME, ASHE, EWB, and TauBetaPi for a networking mixer at ESWP. Other networking opportunities for students and young members included the Pirates tailgate and game, a camping trip in Tionesta, PA, enjoying Oktoberfest at Wiggle Whiskey Barrelhouse, and our bowling tournament. These events allow networking in a relaxed setting while helping to showcase businesses and regions within our vibrant city.

DINNER ON THE RIVER

In December we held our YMF annual dinner on the Gateway Clipper, where beloved University of Pittsburgh professor Dr. John Oyler, PE presented on the “Civil Engineering Heritage of Western Pennsylvania.” He discussed the development and significance the National Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks that are in the Western Pennsylvania area, including the survey of the Mason Dixon Line, the PA Turnpike, and Smithfield Street Bridge. Engaging the audience, he provided the perspective from being on the History Heritage Committee for some of the applications and discussed some other significant regional Civil Engineering accomplishments that could be nominated for this honor. Dr. Oyler concluded with a challenge to the young professionals to pick up the torch of engineering advancements and creativity to create future historic landmarks.

GETTING FIRED UP IN 2017

The YMF then rang in the new year at January’s general body meeting which included a highly anticipated presentation on the Sept. 2, 2016 Liberty Bridge Fire and Emergency Repair by Nick Burdette (HDR) and Joe Plummer (PennDOT). Burdette and Plummer discussed the timeline of the fire, assessment, and repair; sharing analysis models alongside details of the complex jacking system used to reset and repair the deformed member.

FOCUS ON THE FORUM

The Eastern Region Younger Members Forum (ERYMC) was also held in January and the YMF sent three members who participated in lectures on ASCE national organization, initiatives, and tips. Events also included practical tips on networking, and a presentation on contract liability language, BEAST. During the annual business meeting a leading vote of abstention was closed on the region’s support towards legislature being submitted in New Jersey this year. This bill would increase the education requirements for taking the PE exam. Additionally, at the ERYMC awards dinner Jeff Jalbrzikowski was recognized for winning the National Outstanding Young Civil Engineer Award in the Public Sector.

DREAMING BIG

The YMF ERYMC attendees also brought back the excitement of the sneak peek of ASCE’s Dream Big movie and synergized a group of younger members (and a couple kids too!) to attend the Dream Big Premiere at the Carnegie Science Center on February 17. On the topic of the Science Center, the YMF held a casual event at the 21+ night at the Science Center on Construction on April 28, 2017 and where some of the YMF members who missed the Premiere of Dream Big had an opportunity to see it.

FIELDING QUESTIONS IN GREENFIELD

In March the YMF members and students from Geneva College were given a site tour of the Greenfield Bridge. Representatives from Mosites, the City of Pittsburgh, and design firm HDR explained design considerations, construction methods, and answered questions about this historic and publicly identifiable bridge.

GETTING SOCIAL

Also in March the YMF started to reach out to members outside of the Pittsburgh downtown area by holding some roaming happy hours. The first social event was held at the South Pointe All Star Sports Bar & grill on March 3. The second was held in Monroeville at the Rivertowne Pour House on March 30. We plan to have one more social event this year in the Uniontown area and to continue to reach out to members in the upcoming year, so if you work or live outside of the city and have a suggestion for a venue please contact our YMF leadership or leave a comment below!

LEADING THE WAY

The Pittsburgh section and YMF supported young professionals in developing their leadership skills with positions within the board and committees and in leadership programs and conferences. The YMF sent members Azekah Giffiths, Emily Eichner, and Scott Duda to the Younger Member Leadership Symposium in August. The symposium brought together over 40 YMF members from across the U.S. Over the course of the weekend, attendees participated in workshops designed to improve leadership abilities, refine communication skills, and identify areas for further personal growth and development. President-elect Erin Feichtner was introduced and participated in the nine-month Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) Pittsburgh. This program brings together emerging young professional from several different industries across the Pittsburgh region. Participants attend lectures one several key elements that help one become an effective leader in work and in community involvement. The program culminates with a PopUp! event in one of the neighborhoods in the Pittsburgh limits where participants work with a community to host a customized event. This year LDI is working with the community of Carrick with the PopUp! event on May 6th.

Throughout the year LDI students lead classes and participated on the ACE mentorship program that introduces high school students to the career opportunities in architecture, construction, engineering, and related areas of the building design and construction industry. This is done by designing mock projects, tour local construction sites, and visit architectural, engineering and construction offices.

THE WINNER IS…

This spring younger member and section director Angela Mayer won the Daniel W. Mead Prize for Younger Members and will receive her award at the National Conference in New Orleans.

We ended the spring similarly to how the year started with a Joint Social with ASHE, CAWP, ESWP, PSPE, SAME, & EWB at Mario’s Shadyside on May 5th.

So what are you waiting for? If you are a Pittsburgh civil engineer under the age of 35, then join the YMF now by contacting Erin Feitchner, ASCE Pittsburgh Section YMF President.

Spotlight on Diversity and Inclusion in the Professional Setting

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 18 May 2017 12:27:47 GMT

By Linda Kaplan

ASCE Pittsburgh was recently recognized by National as the winners of the 2016 ASCE Section and Branches Diversity Award for continued focus on and attention to this important issue. This is the second year in a row that Pittsburgh has won this award. “The groundwork for our efforts to increase diversity and inclusion within our section and to communicate the matter to our members began four years ago when one of our board members, Lauren Terpak, opined that the Pittsburgh Section needed to be at the forefront of this matter and volunteered to chair the Diversity committee,” says ASCE-Pittsburgh Past President, Pat Sullivan. “Thanks to her initial efforts and the effort put forth by the Pittsburgh section to recognize diversity at selected events throughout the year, we are grateful to be the recipient of the award for a second consecutive year.”

When most people think of diversity they typically are referring to “primary diversity” factors – those characteristics you are born with, such as age and ethnicity. However, when addressing diversity in a professional setting, there are actually 4 levels of diversity factors that should be considered.

Primary Factors	Secondary Factors	Workplace Factors	Style Factors
Those traits you are born with and are unlikely to change.	Those differences that are the result of choice made throughout your life.	Those factors developed by workplace structure and roles.	How you show and present yourself differently from others.
Age Physical Abilities Race Ethnicity Gender Sexual Orientation	Education Class/Income Language/Accents Marital Status Parental Status Military Experience Religious Beliefs Geographic Location Nationality	Organizational Occupation Job Level Job Classification Department Work Location Work Shift Skills Years with Organization	Leadership Style Work Habits Performance Expectations Personality Type Communication Style

It is only by recognizing and learning to value differences across all four of these categories, and then using them to leverage superior results for our organizations, that we can truly be inclusive. A diverse population that is not included will not contribute, and may leave the organization. A non-diverse population, even if fully engaged, will never produce change. A successful organization will desire differences, rather than just tolerate them, knowing that this produces healthier, more open dialogue and superior performance.

The Pittsburgh Section has made an effort to encourage dialogue on this important topic through the use of the “Diversity Minute” at major events. By sharing a quote related to diversity, and allowing members the opportunity to respond, we begin to recognize diversity and foster an inclusive atmosphere.

If you are interested in becoming more involved with Diversity and Inclusion efforts through the Section, please contact President Coreen Casadei.

Geo-Institute & DFI Host Short Course on Augered Cast-in-Place and Drilled Displacement Piles

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 11 May 2017 16:11:11 GMT

By Vishal Patel, P.E., Edited by Gregory Rumbaugh, P.E.

Seventy-four Geo-Institute & Deep Foundation Institute (DFI) members and guests gathered at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 for an ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute and DFI Chapter short course. The course was presented by members of the DFI Committee on Augered Cast-in-Place (ACIP) and Drilled Displacement Piles, led by Morgan NeSmith, P.E. (right), presented latest advancements in design methodology, testing, quality control and assurance, and recent case history regarding ACIP piles.

A total of ten presentations were presented during the Saturday short course. Morgan NeSmith, P.E. started off the morning session by introducing the committee projects, the development of ACIP, and current installation procedures. He also talked about their commitment to introduce ACIP and its usefulness to various Department of Transportation entities. Following Mr. NeSmith’s presentation, various DFI Committee members of ACIP piles presented about quality control and assurance, design methodologies, case histories, non-destructive testing, challenges in ACIP construction, grouting, and applications of ACIP. A full list of speakers and their background is available online at ASCE Pittsburgh Geo-Institute web page.

Feedback of the survey handed out during the short course offered us a highly positive response from the attendees. Many attendees were extremely satisfied with the technical presentations offered at the short course while some even said ‘It was one of the best I have ever attended- and I have been to a lot.’

The short course took place from 8am to 5:30pm and included a continental breakfast and lunch. The Geo-Institute & DFI were happy to be able to provide up to 7.5 PDHs, including 6.75 hrs accredited for New York professional engineers.

ACE 2016-17: Reconnecting Communities and Opportunities

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 04 May 2017 12:36:46 GMT

By Linda Kaplan, PE

The Western Pennsylvania ACE Mentoring program introduces interested High School students to various disciplines within the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering fields. The program runs from October to May, with the students meeting every other week. For the first 6 weeks of the program the sessions focus on introducing some of the major ACE fields: architectural design, civil/site engineering, structural engineering, urban planning, MEP engineering, and construction management. ASCE representatives provided the background presentations and activities for both the civil/site engineering and structural engineering sessions in Fall 2016.

For the second half of the program students split into teams to develop the design of a real life local project. Team members will each take on different roles: architect, civil engineer, structural engineer, urban planner, contractor, or mechanical/electrical engineer based on their preference from the first half of the program. Over the course of 4 working sessions the students will meet first with experts representing their assigned project roles to learn more about that field and develop the design. Students will then meet with their teams to coordinate the overall efforts of each discipline. At the end of the program project teams will present their work to a panel of judges and one team will “win” the contract.

This year’s project

In the 1960s, access between two neighborhoods, Downtown Pittsburgh and the Hill District, was severed by the construction of I-579 also known as Crosstown Boulevard. With the demolition of the Civic Arena and construction of PPG Paints Arena, redevelopment of the area aims to help revitalize the Hill District. Part of those plans include reconnecting the Hill District to Downtown by ‘capping’ I-579 to eliminate the physical barrier between the neighborhoods. Restoring the connection between the communities will offer more convenient and safer access to opportunities for residents of the redeveloping Hill District including jobs, education, and connections to other neighborhoods and services. Special thanks to HDR Engineering for sharing project information with the students.

Each team is to develop a concept for the 3-acre (52,800 square foot) project site. The project will consist of the construction of a new structure spanning over a portion of the below-grade I-579 highway, a developed pedestrian and bicycle network, and an urban open space for gathering, along with a building. The students received an RFP that included deliverables from each of the 6 disciplines. This format allowed the interested students to get more in-depth with their chosen discipline than previous years and allowed the mentors to introduce more advanced concepts and realistic material.

ASCE members Linda Kaplan, PE and Karen Mueser, PE led the students of the structural engineering team. These students were responsible for development of the design of the spanning structure over I-579. Students used portions of the AASHTO and AISC code, as well as PennDOT standard templates to develop a Type, Size & Location report for their structure. Their final product included load calculations to size the main members, plan and elevation drawings, as well as a written report.

“Working with a small group of students who had an expressed interest in structural engineering made this one of the more rewarding ACE experiences for me.” Linda observed. “The students worked really hard and we were able to take these concepts further than is typical in a high school mentoring environment.”

Member Nicholle Piper, PE organized the activities for the civil/site engineering group. This group’s deliverables included a site topography plan, stormwater runoff calculations, a site utility plan, and a site plan. The students followed PADEP regulations, City of Pittsburgh code requirements, and a sample zoning ordinance to prepare their deliverables.

The students will be presenting their final projects on May 10th, starting at 5:00 pm at the Carpenters Training Center of Pittsburgh off of the Parkway West. The event is open to the public, and ASCE members are invited and encouraged to attend to see the impressive work of these students, future members of our profession.

Pittsburgh Section ASCE Civil Engineers volunteer to mentor regional high school students. To join them for the 2017-2018 ACE program. please contact Linda Kaplan or Karen Mueser.

The Structural Engineering Institute’s Vision for the Future

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 12:49:39 GMT

By Greg Holbrook, P.E.

A few years ago The Structural Engineering Institute created a “Vision for the Future”, which is the institute's long term strategy to ensure a vibrant and dynamic future for the structural engineering profession. The SEI envisions a future where, as stewards of the built environment, structural engineers will make key contributions to the advancement of society on a global scale. The vision is also for structural engineers to be leaders and innovators that play a critical role in improving the safety and well-being of the global population. To achieve these goals the SEI has established the following key initiatives:

Reform structural engineering education. Adopt new educational models to equip students with the broad technical, communications, and critical thinking skills they will need to compete in the global economy.
Improve mentoring and continuing education. Develop a national, standardized framework to launch the careers of young professionals, and create a meaningful platform for lifelong learning and constant professional growth.
Create a new SEI global activities division. Expand the influence of SEI and our standards overseas, address the needs of a worldwide membership, and position our members as global leaders in structural engineering research and practice.
Promote performance based codes and standards. Give structural engineers new tools to liberate them from the limitations of prescriptive code-checking, encourage innovation in their designs, and increase the value of their services.
Lead multi-disciplinary summits on technical matters of broad interest. Think outside of the traditional boundaries of structural engineering to identify and apply the most advanced new technologies and science to the practice.
Promote the structural engineer as a leader and innovator. Support and encourage the expansion of members’ roles to recognized positions of leadership in society by equipping them with the tools they need to succeed and be recognized by the public.
Advocate for structural engineering licensure. In partnership with our peer associations, advance the implementation of the SE license as a post-PE credential to ensure public safety and recognize the unique qualifications of structural engineers.

The Structural Engineering Institute also has the SEI Futures Fund, which helps to advance the art, science, and practice of structural engineering. The SEI undertakes a broad range of activities that build a brighter future for our profession, and since some of these activities fall outside the SEI annual budget the Futures Fund was established to provide philanthropic support for these activities from individuals and organizations. The following strategic initiatives were created by the SEI Futures Fund Board:

Promote student interest in Structural Engineering
Support younger-member involvement in the SEI
Provide opportunity for professional development
Invest in the future of the Structural Engineering Profession

The 2017 Fundraising effort helped to support SEI’s new Global Activities initiatives to grow SEI global presence through resource workshops, an international practice guide, and increasing international sessions at Structures Congress. The fundraiser also created a new SEI Student Competition and provided scholarships for young professionals to attend Structures Congress. Proposals are currently being accepted for new initiatives.

As a fundraiser for the SEI Futures Fund, CSI (Computers and Structures, Inc.) has hosted a gala event for the past two years at the SEI Structures Congress. This year, the event was at the Denver Art Museum and had hor d'oeuvres, cocktails, live music and door prizes. The event is sponsored in full by CSI and all proceeds for the event go directly to the Futures Fund. The founder and CEO of CSI, Ashraf Habibullah, attended the event and is a proud supporter of the Futures Fund, and big promoter of the structural engineering profession.

I strongly encourage you to consider a donation to the SEI Futures Fund, as it provides the opportunity for our profession to continue to grow and expand to build a vibrant community of structural engineers. You can find out more about the Futures Fund and all of its initiatives at the SEI Futures Fund Website.

Geo-Institute and DFI Meeting Uses Improv Exercises to Improve Communication

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 13:47:19 GMT

By Vishal Patel, P.E., edited by Brian Heinzl, P.E.

More than 55 ASCE members and guests gathered at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania on Thursday, March 23rd, 2017 for an ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute and Deep Foundation Institute - Women in Deep Foundation (DFI – WiDF) Chapter meeting. Nancy Watt, a communications professional, writer, trainer, speaker and a graduate of Second City Comedy Improv Conservatory in Toronto, presented a lecture on how to enhance an employee’s communication skills for efficiency, integrity, and achievement at all levels of an origination.

Ms. Watt started the presentation discussing the value of noticing gender differences in communication being critically important to stemming the tide of women leaving the geotechnical and foundation industry. Long seen as soft skills, the cost of poor communication inevitably results in increased employee turnover, poor customer service, ineffective change of management, failed project delivery and high litigation costs.

The presentation was orientated around various improvisational activities and discussions between attendees to improve communication, expand women’s mobility in the workplace, and cultivate integrity and achievement in all facets of an organization. It was a very atypical civil engineering gathering. In fact, the speaker pointed out that it was very unusual for the men to be the minority of the group in technical meetings.

The meeting was very interactive with several one-on-one improvised conversation skits and other thought-provoking communication activities engaging all of the participants. Ms. Watt presented a brief discussion of the results to provide feedback regarding body language and other nonverbal communication observations. Congratulations to all of the participants and thank you for your enthusiastic support of the Women in Deep Foundations and the Geo Institute!

The Geo-Institute & DFI-WiDF were happy to provide 1.0 PDH for the presentation along with a great venue for social hour and dinner.

Infrastructure, clean water, and dam safety amongst topics discussed at the 2017 ASCE National Fly-In

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 17:23:52 GMT

By Gregory Scott, P.E., Government Relations Committee Chair

Every spring, ASCE holds its Legislative Fly-In Program in Washington, DC, an intensive two-day program that provides participants with an inside look at the public policy process. On March 15th, while Winter Storm Stella wreaking havoc along much of the Northeast, over 200 ASCE Members representing 49 different states attended the 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Legislative Fly-In. Many of the attendees were impacted by the storm but still found a way to DC, a testament to their passion for advocacy concerning what they know best.

The 2017 Legislative Fly-in program featured a day and a half of in-depth briefing sessions on the recently released 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, key legislative action in Congress, training on raising awareness and influencing elected leaders, networking with ASCE peers from across the country, a Younger Members Program, and tips on continuing relationships with elected officials after returning home. The program culminated in one-on-one meetings on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and their staff.

The delegation from Pennsylvania included Mr. Jason Bowes, Central PA Section Government Relations Committee Chair and State Advocacy Captain; Mr. Jesse Gormley, Philadelphia Section Member; Mr. Joseph Natale, Philadelphia Section Member; Ms. Adrienne Nikolic, Philadelphia Section Member; Mr. John Caperilla, Lehigh Valley Section Government Relations Committee Chair and Mr. Gregory Scott, Pittsburgh Section Government Relations Committee Chair and Federal Advocacy Captain.

The ASCE Government Relations staff scheduled meetings for each of the attendees with their Senate and Congressional Representatives within a short window on Wednesday afternoon. After being dropped off at Capitol Hill, Team Pennsylvania was off to the races to meet with both Senator’s and every team member’s Representative, as well as other Pennsylvania Representatives with a numerous ASCE member constituents. As the afternoon progressed, the group had an opportunity to engage in spirited and encouraging discussions with staff and Representatives from their home Districts as well as those identified as staff of ‘key’ Representatives who serve on infrastructure related and appropriations committees. The meetings lasted 15 to 30 minutes each, and a leave behind packet was given to the Legislator or staff member containing an overview of current key issues.

Most discussions began with a brief overview of the results and conclusions of the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, which assigned America an overall grade of a D+, unchanged from 2013 and indicating the continuing needs for infrastructure investment. The Report highlighted that while the benefits were seen in seven categories where investments were made, three categories continued to fall short, and the remaining categories were holding steady, resulting in a lower of grades. The focus of all discussions was the need for consistent and sufficient funding, and the requirement of bold leadership from all.

One of the key items discussed were the FY17 and FY18 Spending/Appropriations Bills so that the FAST Act’s increased funding can take effect during this fiscal year and next. Congress passed the five-year surface transportation act in December 2015 and included an increase in funding to help improve the nation’s highways, bridges and transit systems. Most of the legislators were on board with the appropriations, however there seemed to be a lack of commitment without knowing what the new Administration’s Budget would contain. If a Continuing Resolution (CR) is passed, then Pennsylvania will miss out on over $115 million dollars for FY17 alone due to the lack of a Fast ACT Appropriations Bill ($1.58 billion up to $1.69 billion).

Additionally, the team discussed several water issues with the Representatives and staffers that included the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. We asked the Representatives and Senators to reauthorize the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF’s which hasn’t been done since 1990 and 1994. With most of America’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in need of repair and many areas dependent on these funds, the team advocated for both SRF’s to be tripled in appropriation from $1.39 Billion to $4.17 Billion for the Clean Water SRF and $863 million to $2.58 billion for the Drinking Water SRF in accordance with President Trump’s commitment to triple the SRF’s.

In 2016 after years of work the Water Infrastructure Investment for the Nation (WIIN) Act passed through Congress and was signed by the President. WIIN supported previous pieces of legislation but Congress has yet to appropriate the promised funding in any of them. In 2014, Congress reauthorized the National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) and established new High Hazard Dam Rehabilitation Program to provide grants to high hazard non-federal dam rehab repair or renewal. The NDSP program is authorized at $13.9 million a year until 2019 and the federal rehab program is authorized at $445 million over 10 years though neither have received any funding. In addition to dams, the team discussed the Levee Safety Program. With the WRDDA Act of 2014, Congress established a new levee program to promote consistent safety standards, create levee guideline, and provide funding assistance to the state for establishing participating levee safety programs. The program is authorized for $395 million dollars over 5 years however it has not received any appropriations for funding.

Lastly, with the push for tax reform and the discussion that is forthcoming including all tax exemptions, ASCE took the opportunity to remind legislators that tax-exempt municipal bonds are often relied upon for municipalities to complete infrastructure projects. The team discussed the importance of maintaining their tax-exempt status as just one of many ways to trim our infrastructure deficit.

This year will be a busy one for the ASCE PA Government Relations team, with a State Infrastructure Day (Fly-In) scheduled for May 9th and efforts for the 2018 Report Card for Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure kicking off in the fall. If you are interested in participating in either of these events, please contact the Pittsburgh Section Government Relations Committee Chair, Greg Scott, at gscott@bucharthorn.com.

For more information concerning the ASCE National Fly-In please visit http://www.asce.org/legislative_fly-in/. Also, consider becoming a Key Contact at http://www.asce.org/keycontacts/ to stay engaged with advocating for infrastructure and public policy.

Geo-Institute Technical Meeting: The New Baltimore Landslide

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:24:56 GMT

By Vishal Patel, P.G., edited by Brian Heinzl, P.E.

More than 75 ASCE members and guests gathered at the Gaetano’s Banquet Restaurant on Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 for an ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute Chapter meeting. Dr. Suresh K. Gutta, P.E. of American Geotechnical and Environmental Services, Inc. presented the lecture “New Baltimore Landslide Remediation – Design Perspective.” The presentation focused on monitoring an active landslide, remedial design methods, and construction observations.

In 1940 the Pennsylvania Turnpike was constructed mostly along the path of the original alignment of the old South Penn Railroad, and thus passed through the Borough of New Baltimore, PA, and the Allegheny Mountains. The original construction reactivated an ancient landslide, referred to as the ‘New Baltimore Slide’ that had occurred in the geologic past due to undercutting of the mountain slope by the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, which lies in the valley just beyond the limits of the present Turnpike alignment. This reactivated slide zone extends to 800 feet along the roadway alignment and 1,500 feet upslope. An average of 60 feet of soil and bedrock overburden has been slowly sliding along a weathered clay-rich siltstone failure plane for over 70 years, resulting in a recorded movement of 13 feet and causing major cracks along the mountainside.

The current widening and the reconstruction of the Turnpike required the removal of the toe support of this active slide. Dr. Suresh Gutta talked about the how the design involved characterizing the failure mechanism, the challenges of installing geotechnical instrumentation in the rugged mountainous terrain, and the technologies used to record and report the data remotely. The talk also addressed the design treatments required to stabilize the slide mass, including the development of a specific sequence of construction, and safety systems necessary for the protection of traffic during construction. Construction of the remediation was completed in September 2016.

Attendees earned 1.0 PDH for the presentation.

The February meeting also brought out a number of the past Pittsburgh Geo-Institute Chairpersons. We seized the opportunity to capture a ‘geotechnical cross-section’ of these stewards of our professional society. Thank you all for your contributions in making our local Geo-Institute Chapter such a longstanding, successful program.

From left to right in the picture:

William R. Adams Jr., PhD, PE, PG;
Andrew T. Rose, PhD, PE;
Don Splitstone, PE;
Craig W. Steigerwald, PE;
Suresh Gutta, PhD, PE;
Brian F. Heinzl, PE;
Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero PhD, PE;
James V. Hamel, PhD, PE, PG.

Winners of YMF's Annual Hockey Ticket Raffle

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 02:24:20 GMT

Announcement from YMF

The YMF would like to announce the winners of their annual Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Ticket Raffle. Hockey tickets were donated by HDR, Inc.. The tickets were pulled at this year's YMF bowling tournament held on 2/25/17 at Noble Manor Lanes. Two winners were selected, each winning a pair of tickets to the March 17 Penguins game. The winners were Shirley Clapperton, who bought her ticket from YMF President, Lou Gualtieri, and John Buechli, who bought his ticket from EWB Liason, Emily Eichner. Congratulations Shirley and John.

Construction Legislative Council (CLC) Discusses the Repeal of Act 44

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 23:03:28 GMT

By Greg Scott, PE

The Pittsburgh Section of ASCE participates as a member organization of the Construction Legislative Council of Western Pennsylvania (CLC). The CLC’s goal is to promote the legislative interests of Western Pennsylvania's construction industry by actively participating in the legislative process and to present a unified voice in government regarding legislative matters of concern to the entire construction industry. Recently the CLC has been actively advocating for the Pennsylvania Legislature to address a very serious concern about PennDOT funding under Act 44. The CLC Chairman James Mall, wrote a very informative article which was published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in December. ASCE encourages every member to read this article and join us in advocating for this issue to be promptly addressed. Stay tuned for more information as the Section’s Government Relations Committee and the CLC advocate on this issue. If you are interested in getting more active in Government Relations please sign up for free to be an ASCE Key Contact (http://www.asce.org/keycontacts/) and/or email the Section’s Government Relations Committee Chair Greg Scott (gscott@bucharthorn.com).

Human-Machine Interaction and the Future of Structural Engineering

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 14:32:29 GMT

By Greg Holbrook, PE

David Lattanzi, PhD, PE is an Assistant Professor at George Mason University, specializing in robotics, 3D visualization, and artificial intelligence as it relates to Civil and Structural Engineering. He presented at the annual Pittsburgh SEI Chapter and ABCD Organization joint meeting on these topics and how they are changing the industry.

One emerging technology is the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, to assist with the inspection, analysis, and review of structures during most phases of construction and maintenance. A camera or similar recording device can be connected to a drone to capture video of the entire structure from multiple angles as the UAV is flown around the structure. The recorded data is detailed enough to review individual images of small components such as bolted connections, as well as larger components such as steel or concrete girders. Additionally, the data can be processed to develop 3D point clouds of the entire structure. With this information, one can review overall dimensions, full-system interaction, and potential structural defects. The user also has the ability to zoom into select details of the structure and access the pictures taken from the drone at that specific location.

Dr. Lattanzi also shared some lessons learned while conducting a case study using UAVs to analyze a bridge or structure. First, planning is key. The team quickly determined that having a plan of the expected flight routes and the camera views/orientations was extremely important. To capture all the components of the structure and make a complete 3D model requires overlapping images from multiple angles and directions. Another lesson learned was that communication between team members is extremely important, both during the inspection and while manipulating the data to create the 3D model. Finally, the entire team agreed that one thing is certain: Inspectors aren’t being displaced anytime soon. For inspectors and engineers, drones are a new tool and the data they provide is the product. UAVs can capture data, but inspectors are required to understand the photo content and determine the importance and requirement for additional analysis or repair. This is similar to how engineers have come to embrace computers and technology for assistance in designing structures. Computers don’t design an entire structure; design requires input and judgement from an engineer to determine what is appropriate and how to analyze the output .

While it is encouraging that the industry embrace UAVs to streamline the construction and inspection processes there is still an uphill battle before full implementation can be achieved. First and foremost, there are a lot of regulations limiting where flights are allowed and how UAVs are used in the field and on construction sites. Additionally, measurements of defects can be estimated from images and data, but actual physical testing (such as hammer sounding, chloride tests, field measurements of cracks) can’t be accomplished. Furthermore, until operators have more experience and better understanding of the required process and approach to use while recording video and data, there is the potential that certain items may be missed that would have been found if inspectors physically reviewed all the connections and members in person.

The presentation served to bring awareness to the use of UAVs and the data they collect to structural engineers, inspectors, and contractors who may be considering using drones to streamline inspections and construction for upcoming projects. This is just an overview of some of the benefits and limitations of UAVs in the construction industry. It is important to contact trained professionals that are knowledgeable in the use of UAVs when determining the applicability for a project and the appropriate information required to make its use successful.

New Blog about Pennsylvania's Bridge Construction

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 18:11:00 GMT

Stay up to date with the latest news in the P3 Rapid Bridge Replacement Project.

Pennsylvania had approximately 4,500 structurally deficient bridge as of 2012; to try to address a portion of these bridges PennDOT took advantage of a public-private partnership (P3) known as the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project (RBRP). RBRP is a project to replace 558 structurally deficient bridges across Pennsylvania in three years and then maintain the following 28 years. As the project continues and a very busy construction season for RBRP this upcoming summer, you can follow all the work on the RBRP blog here. Also on the site, you can search each county to see what bridges are near you and what the schedule is for them as well as current pictures of the structural deficient bridges and once completed of the new structures.

Hat Trick! Pittsburgh’s Civil Engineers Win Top Honors Third Year in a Row

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 13:15:50 GMT

ASCE Pittsburgh Section Honored Again with National Outstanding Large Section Award

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) received the 2016 Outstanding Large Section Award presented by the National office of ASCE. The national ASCE organization bestowed this award to the Pittsburgh Section for outstanding achievements in the areas of diversity and inclusion, community service, volunteer efforts, outreach, and advocacy of the profession.

“I have witnessed it firsthand; this group of people strives to be the best in every activity and every goal they endeavor to pursue. I enjoy observing the passion, enthusiasm, and step-up attitude that our officers, Board members, Institute Chairs and Committee leaders possess. Having an opportunity to work with so many outstanding professionals who take time out of their professional and personal lives to promote our section and its members makes me proud,” says Pittsburgh Section President, Patrick J. Sullivan, Jr., P.E., Principal, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.

The Pittsburgh Section of ASCE has nearly 1,700 members, represents engineering and construction interests for communities throughout western Pennsylvania, and hosts over 50 local events per year. Signature events include the Annual Kick-off Dinner and Life Member Recognition Banquet in the Fall and the Engineers Week Awards Banquet each February. The Younger Member Forum inspires and informs the newest members of the profession, sharing experience and practical knowledge through networking and professional development events, while the Section’s five technical institutes also produce seminars and dinner events that provide the opportunity for all members to build and maintain their technical and professional skills while also earning Professional Development Hours. The Institutes represent major Civil Engineering branches:

Architectural Engineering (AEI)
Environmental And Water Resources (EWRI)
Geotechnical Engineering (GI)
Structural Engineering (SEI)
Transportation and Development (T&DI)

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ABOUT ASCE: Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) (www.ASCE.org) represents more than 140,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide and is America's oldest national professional engineering society. ASCE's Mission is to provide essential value to our members and partners, advance civil engineering, and provide factual information to assist in the formulation of sound and responsible public policy. ASCE advances technology, encourages lifelong learning, promotes professional performance, develops leaders, and advocates infrastructure and environmental stewardship. For more information about the ASCE Pittsburgh Section, please see: www.asce-pgh.org.

Diversity Drives Innovation – Keynote Address by Frans Johannson at the 2016 ASCE National Convention

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 15:29:39 GMT

By Pat Sullivan, P.E.

During my time at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) National Convention in Portland, OR, I was able to attend the keynote address by Frans Johansson, international author of the best-selling books “The Medici Effect” and “The Click Point.” Mr. Johansson, a Brown University graduate (BSCE in Environmental Science), popularized the term “Medici Effect.” “The Medici Effect is the result of the phenomenon that happened in Florence, Italy when diverse concepts, cultures, and disciplines intersected, leading to one of Europe's most creative eras, the Renaissance. This ‘intersection’ is where groundbreaking innovation happens.”

Mr. Johansson, is the founder of The Medici Group, a firm that specializes in mentoring and advising corporations on “how to innovate and grow, even when the rules are changing; develop next-generation leaders that can execute, even in the face of uncertainty; and create a self-sustaining culture of innovation that can withstand even the most volatile markets”.

At the National Convention, Mr. Johansson’s topic was “Diversity Drives Innovation”. Mr. Johansson states that diverse teams develop and create exponentially more ideas than teams comprised of personnel with the same experience, background and thought process.

A few examples of diverse thinking and innovation are as follows:

BREAK NEW GROUND

An architect was tasked to design a seven-story apartment building in Zimbabwe. The temperatures in Zimbabwe can exceed 100 degrees F in summer months, so the building needed to be air-conditioned. But the cost of providing this service would make the apartments unaffordable. While walking through the proposed area, the architect spotted an anthill. He thought, “How can ants survive with the sun beating on the surface of their home.” After some research, he discovered that ants use a series of tunnels to cool air from outside, distribute the air throughout the anthill, and discharge warm air from the top. The architect then developed a design that utilized the same process, thereby eliminating the need for air conditioning to provide moderate temperatures in the apartment.

COME UP WITH IDEAS TO CHANGE THE GAME

In order for a specialized surgical team in the United Kingdom to properly and efficiently perform an operation, each member of the team has a specific purpose and must be able to move accordingly within the operating area to complete their responsibility. The surgical team met with members of a McLaren Formula 1 pit team. There are similarities in the two methods of organization. The pit crew knows where and when they need to be at a specific location during a pit stop. The surgical team studied the movements and their practices, and became more efficient in their profession.

A woman of Muslim heritage moved to a beach side town in Australia, where the population is traditionally non-Muslim. She wanted to swim, but could not wear a conventional swimsuit because of her religious beliefs. She invented a burqini, a full body swimsuit with a hood for covering her hair and of a color matching Islamic beliefs.

EXECUTE FAST AND SMALL

An entrepreneur named Yngve Bergqvist wanted to popularize the winter season for tourists in his hometown of Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, north of the Arctic Circle. He created a series of outdoor ice exhibits, and then added additional exhibits from artists across the world to create a snow gallery. He staged his snow gallery in an igloo. When someone new to Sweden asked if they could spend the night in the igloo, something Yngve did not think would be desirable, he created the Icehotel, a CO2 negative building, where you can sleep in a room hewn from ice at a temperature of 20 degrees F. It is one of the most popular destinations in Sweden.

These examples urge you to look for and come up with ideas that change the game. Be flexible, rethink standard practices, and ask “Why do we do it this way?” Buy a magazine that you would never buy or subscribe to, preferably that is outside of your expertise and look at the ideas that they have in their field. Ask yourself the question, “Can any of those ideas be applicable to the field of Civil Engineering?”

More ideas are a significant predictor of innovative success. So pay attention to surprise and the unexpected. It may lead to amazing innovation.

Geo-Institute Hosts Meeting on How Hydraulic Fracturing Changed Industry

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 13:53:27 GMT

By Vishal Patel, Edited by Brian Heinzl

More than 50 ASCE members and guests gathered at the Gaetano’s Restaurant on Thursday, December 8^th for an ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute Chapter meeting. As part of the meeting, Dr. Andrew Bunger, professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, presented the lecture “How Hydraulic Fracturing Changed an Industry and How Research is Changing Hydraulic Fracturing.” The presentation focused on hydraulic fracturing technology for stimulation of oil and gas recovery over the past seven decades and its current on-going research.

Technology for hydraulic fracturing has evolved over nearly seven decades. Most recently it has been credited with unlocking vast resources that were previously uneconomical to produce. In doing so, hydraulic fracturing has revolutionized the industry and become one of the most influential innovations of our current century.

The engineering and innovation involved in today’s approach to hydraulic fracturing is intertwined with the decade old origins. Dr. Bunger talked briefly talked about the historical strives and advancement made in hydraulic fracturing technology. He also talked about the on-going research at the University of Pittsburgh regarding how to effectively stimulate a 5,000 to 10,000 feet of horizontally-drilled wellbore that are in many cases 40% ineffectively stimulated.

The presentation illustrated how an understanding of hydraulic fracturing mechanics, developed through the use of hydraulic fracturing models, has led to a proposed way forward with the potential to drastically reduce unstimulated sections of wellbore with a subtle, no-cost modification of standard practice.

The Geo-Institute Chapter was happy to be able to provide free drinks in a great venue, and of course, one (1) PDH for the presentation. Be sure to check the ASCE Pittsburgh website for more fun and informative Geotechnical Institute events in the future at: http://www.asce-pgh.org

Finding Success in a Balanced Lifestyle

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 13:39:42 GMT

By Linda Kaplan, PE

On November 10th-12th, 2016, I had the opportunity to represent ASCE-Pittsburgh at this year’s Emerging Leaders Alliance Conference in Falls Church, VA. The opening session was titled: “Personal Vision: Becoming an Indispensable Leader” and was given by Bob Heavers of Priority Management. The overall conference goal was to developing better leaders, and started with asking participants to take a closer look at what’s important to them and how they can be fully engaged as individuals. We all want to be “successful,” but everyone has a different idea of what that means.

How do you define success? Most people will come up with a goal-based definition – I’m successful when I accomplish a set goal. However, most will also recognize that they can be successful without accomplishing the goal, as long as they made progress. This leads to the definition of success given by Mr. Heavers as “little more than moving, at whatever pace you choose, in the direction of things that are most important to YOU.” Therefore, the first step in being successful is determining what is most important to you.

So how do you define what’s important to you? One way to do this is through the use of a Personal Balance Wheel. Most of life can be simplified into 7 basic categories:

Spiritual: Includes any religion based activities, as well as other community service and giving back
Career: Includes your job, job growth and career path, and the time and hours dedicated to it
Family: Includes time with significant others, children, and extended family
Financial: Includes salary, savings, and overall financial security and satisfaction
Health: Includes time exercising or taking care of one’s health
Personal Growth: Includes self-driven learning, betterment, and other time focused on self-improvement
Recreation: Includes time spent with friends, engaging in other social activities, and relaxing

While this is certainly not a complete list, and other subgroups could be developed, it covers the basics and allows for an easy method of self-reflection. Visualize these categories in a wheel, as shown below (or print out a copy if you’d like to try the exercise):

Each category is scaled 0 to 10, with zero at the center of the wheel representing “I spend no time on this part of my life,” and 10 at the outer edge representing “I spend a lot of time on this part of my life.” Draw a line across each section for where you think you are currently. Is your life balanced? Or are you spending too much time on certain areas and not enough on others? Now use a different color to draw a line across each section for where you would like to be. How big are the differences? This will allow you to see where you are failing yourself and where you should focus your energy to change.

While the numbers vary, it is believed that up to 80% of all illness and disease in the US is related to stress. Stress is a sign that your wheel may be out of balance and you should consider making a change. There is no need to make big changes all at once – drastic changes have been shown to be harder to maintain. Instead, strive to move your lines one step closer together and see where it takes you. You may begin to feel more successful by making just small changes in your life.

The above information was presented at the 2016 Emerging Leaders Alliance, co-sponsored by ASCE National. The Emerging Leaders Alliance is a partnership among leading engineering and science-based organizations that provides high quality leadership training. Their mission is to provide an interdisciplinary Leadership Conference for select professionals, promoting the development of great leaders to guide our professions in addressing the needs of people in the 21st century. Section Director Linda Kaplan, PE attended the conference and is sharing materials with our membership.

A Big WIIN: Congress passes the Water Infrastructure Improvements for Nation Act

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 18:46:30 GMT

From ASCE-National, Edited by ASCE-Pittsburgh Government Relations

On Saturday, Dec. 10, the U.S. Senate passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which included a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) title by a vote of 78-21. The vote was one of the final acts of the 114th Congress. The House passed the same bill a few days earlier by a vote of 360-61. President Obama signed the bill into law on December 16th.

This bill had been months—and in some ways years—in the making. Since the beginning of this year, ASCE has been actively working on getting a water resources bill passed, and restoring it to a two-year cycle. In February, ASCE provided Congressional testimony before both the Senate and House on the importance of passing a new water resources bill. The final bill includes several ASCE priorities, includingthe creation of a High Hazard Dam Rehabilitation program and other important infrastructure programs, including authorization of 30 new projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ASCE members sent nearly 5,000 emails to Capitol Hill urging passage during the final days of debate on the bill.

Those final few days before the bill’s passage were fraught with consternation as a provision inserted last minute to assist with drought relief to western states rattled environmentalists and the bill’s primary Democratic author, California Senator Barbara Boxer, who worried that water transfers could affect the health of fishery populations. Those concerns did peel off nearly two dozen democratic votes in the Senate, however, the bill ultimately passed with strong bipartisan support.

While Congress has vowed to pass a water resources bill every two years (the last one passed in 2014, but before that 2007) the authorization components of the bill still must be funded through annual appropriations. The 114th Congress concluded by passing a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open and running through April 2017. This sort of stopgap funding measure is not the type of major injections of infrastructure investment necessary to reduce the estimated $1.6 trillion infrastructure funding gap that is expected by 2020. We are hopeful that the 115th Congress will work diligently to fund infrastructure programs and increase federal appropriations to important programs.

Constructing the Future with Ultra-High Performance Concrete

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 14:13:06 GMT

By Greg Holbrook, EIT

Greg Nault, PE, SE, a representative and engineer from Ductal Engineering, a component of LafargeHolcim, presented to the Pittsburgh SEI Chapter last month on Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), most specifically it’s applications in Bridge Structures. He discussed many of the advantages and disadvantages of the material, as well as best practices and applications.

One of the most notable differences between conventional concrete and UHPC is the compressive strength. UHPC has a capacity upward of 25,000 psi compared to a range of 4,000 – 6,000 psi for conventional concrete. UHPC also has post-cracking tensile strength of 1,200 psi compared to 0 psi for conventional. In addition to holding higher loads, this is also a very useful feature to consider for accelerated construction - as typical design strengths are achieved very quickly with some products reaching 14,000 psi compressive strengths in as little as 12 hours.

Another distinguishable advantage of the product is it’s durability due to a finer and denser pore structure as the cement hydrates. Its dense structure reduces permeability and potential corrosion of the reinforcement. Below is an image depicting two specimens, one of UHPC and one of conventional concrete, exposed to seawater in an abrasive environment for 10 months:

Another benefit of UHPC is a substantially reduced development length of reinforcement, which can be of great value in reducing the size of bridge joints. Additionally, this reduced development length can eliminate the need for hooked reinforcing bars in joints, which results in simpler detailing and easier construction methods. Typical joints and details for UHPC used in bridge joints are shown.

Due to its high compressive strength, UHPC structural components can be much smaller in size than their typical concrete (both precast or cast-in-place) counterparts. Here is a comparison of the different girders that can support the same loading:

While Ultra-High Performance Concrete does have many distinct advantages, it is important to account for some deterrents of the product. Most specifically the price of UHPC is substantially higher than conventional concrete in a direct volume comparison. However, it is important to note that less volume of UHPC is required for the same strength as typical concrete.

UHPC also requires batch mixing on-site and can only be done in small batches. Since it is a flowable material, it is necessary to be aware that large pours spanning long lengths of joints in bridge decks can create uplift pressure at the lower elevation points of the pour, which must be resisted by formwork. Specialty sub-contractors are typically necessary for this work.

The presentation served to bring awareness of Ultra-High Performance Concrete to structural engineers who may be considering this product as a potential option for upcoming projects. This is just an overview of some of the advantages and disadvantages of UHPC and it is important to contact vendors and engineers that are extremely knowledgeable in all the aspects of the product when determining its applicability for a project.

The Pittsburgh SEI Chapter is planning a presentation on the Accelerated Bridge Replacement of State Road 30 here in Pittsburgh, which used UHPC. This event will be held in the spring, and we encourage you to join us!

The 2016 ASCE National Convention - Inspire, Embrace, Innovate

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:30:22 GMT

By Patt Sullivan, P.E., ASCE-Pittsburgh President

This past October, I represented the ASCE-Pittsburgh Section at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) National Convention in Portland, OR.

The Keynote Speaker for the event was Frans Johansson, international best-selling author of the book “The Medici Effect” and “Click Moment”. Mr. Johansson spent an hour discussing the importance of diversity as a key driver in domestic and global innovative success. Look for an article on Mr. Johanssons’ presentation in a future blog.

The conference began with an opening plenary session and concluded with a general closing session and luncheon; sandwiched in between were nine concurrent technical sessions, each consisting of four to six sub-sessions of consistent themes. The themes, similar to last year’s conference consisted of the following ways civil engineers can take steps to maximize taxpayer value while simultaneously elevating industry outcomes and the professional as a whole:

Assessing the state of the civil engineering industry and profession
Developing professional leadership and technical training
Learning about cross-discipline technical products
Solving and responding to natural and man-made catastrophes
Communicating and understanding strategic issues and public policies
Learning to use lessons of significant projects
Learning from History and Heritage

ASCE is also supporting two initiatives in 2016-2017. The first is the “Raise the Bar” initiative, which seeks to advance the profession and the public welfare by actively supporting the national movement to raise educational requirements for licensure of future professional engineers. More information about it can be reviewed at the following website: http://www.asce.org/raise_the_bar/.

The second initiative, the “Grand Challenge,” calls upon all civil engineers to solve this problem: “Investments needed to improve our infrastructure continue to increase well beyond available funding. Find methods to 1) Significantly enhance the performance and value of infrastructure projects over their life cycles by 2025 and 2) Foster the optimization of infrastructure investments for society”.

To address this, ASCE is asking civil engineers to do the following:

Focus on innovation
Rethink life cycle costs
Drive transformational change - from planning to design to delivery
Influence major policy changes and infrastructure funding levels.

You can learn more at the following website: http://www.asce.org/grand-challenge/

The opening reception Wednesday evening featured the foods of Portland, an evening of networking and socializing, and a welcome from ASCE President Mark Woodson. The highlight of the evening was the premiere of the unedited version of the 45 minute movie produced by ASCE entitled “Dream Big.” The premiere of this movie is scheduled for February 17, 2017 in the Imax theatre at the Carnegie Science Center. To get excited about the future that our youth can bring to civil engineering and some of the spectacular projects we have constructed across the world, watch this two minute trailer: http://www.asce.org/dream-big/

Informational and project-related sessions attended during the three-day event explored topics such as

“Calculating Your Professional Risks”,
“Green Infrastructure in Resilient Cities”,
“A Business Perspective-The Only Constant is Change” and
“How Clear Communication leads to Engineering Success.”

The ASCE Convention is the Society flagship membership event. It is the single annual opportunity for which the entire Society is represented together, and it reflects the diversity that ASCE encompasses. I was honored to represent our Section this year, and encourage you all to consider being a part of next year’s annual event in New Orleans on October 8th - 11th, 2017.

The “Raise the Bar” Initiative – What it Is, and What it Isn’t

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 13:59:43 GMT

By Linda Kaplan, PE

“Raise the Bar” is one of three Strategic Initiatives set by the National office of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). According to National, “The Raise the Bar initiative seeks to ensure that those who practice engineering as licensed professionals (PEs) in the future have attained the body of knowledge necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Since entry into professional practice is regulated by state engineering licensure laws, the Raise the Bar initiative aims to amend state law so that additional education beyond the bachelor’s degree—a master’s degree or an equivalent 30 credits of graduate or upper-level undergraduate courses—is required of those who become licensed engineers in the future.”

The case for additional education requirements is strong and well represented by the following series of graphics:

Engineering used to be one of the most highly education intensive professions. However, over the past 100 years the engineering education requirements have been surpassed by those of other licensed professions. Many have expressed concern that increasing the education requirements will drive the “best and brightest” from choosing engineering as a profession. This is not the case in other licensed professions, and the fear is without factual support. In fact, the opposite effect may be seen: by “raising the bar,” engineering will gain prestige as a profession that clearly competes with medicine and law.

So why not just increase the credit hours required for the Bachelor’s Degree?

The total number of credit hours required for a degree is set by those outside of the engineering profession. State governments are often the decision making party, mandating a maximum number of credit hours for a degree in publicly funded universities – regardless of what that degree is in. To maintain enrollment, privately funded universities have followed the policy of the publicly funded universities, so the issue is universal. Additionally, the credit hours earned for an engineering Bachelor’s degree now have a higher percentage of non-technical content. While such non-technical content is essential to developing high quality engineering graduates able to advocate for and communicate their work to others, the technical content has diminished as a result. To protect the public, technical engineering education requirements that have been deleted in the baccalaureate degree must now be required in post-graduate education to earn the professional status of Professional Engineer (PE).

Pages in an engineering or building code are one example of how much the body of knowledge has expanded. New technology has provided more material for students to master.

Examples of technical knowledge that is often expected of entry level engineers today that wasn’t necessary in the past include:

computer-aided design (CAD),
geographic information systems (GIS),
building information modeling (BIM),
sustainability, and
nanotechnology

These subjects are in addition to the core engineering mechanics foundation which we all know and love. Overall the profession has “more to know and less time to learn it.”

The process to update the licensure laws is long and takes many years to accomplish. No one with a current license, or even currently enrolled in an engineering education program, will be impacted by these proposed changes. The first step in this process is to build relationships with state government public policy makers and gain their support for the Raise the Bar initiative. Establishing a “licensing board liaison” within the state is one action that will enable efficient flow of information from professionals to those public policy makers who govern the professional practice requirements.

ASCE has identified a few states that have shown interest in moving forward to Raise the Bar. At this time, no legislation has been brought up for vote on the initiative. Currently, the focus is on New Jersey where legislation is anticipated within a couple years. ASCE estimates that 5 years may pass before the first state laws change, and another 3-5 after that before the second state changes. Research reveals that when 7 states adopt a change, an initiative has reached “critical mass”, and other states start to follow more quickly. Estimates on getting to critical mass for Raise the Bar are around 15 years.

The Raise the Bar initiative is about the future. Society will continue to expect more from its engineers and we need to be prepared to provide it. The current engineering education has served us well, and no one is questioning the ability of currently licensed professionals to perform their jobs well. But we recognize that the world and industry are changing and that future engineers need to be equipped with a larger Body of Knowledge to continue to serve at the same level of expertise and public safety, and cost-effectiveness that we presently achieve.

On September 9 & 10, 2016, Pittsburgh Section Members Azekah Griffiths, P.E. of FZA, LLC and Linda Kaplan, P.E. of TRC attended the Raise the Bar Advocate/Champion Workshop in St Louis, Missouri. Twenty ASCE members attended from the contiguous United States. The objective of the workshop was to train attendees on how to communicate the Raise the Bar for Engineering initiative in their home state to ensure that accurate information is provided both to ASCE members, public policy makers and other interested parties.

ASCE has many good resources available in a Raise the Bar tool kit. To learn more or contribute your expertise, contact Azekah and Linda, both of whom are familiar with these resources and are available to answer additional questions about Raise the Bar. The section is actively seeking interested parties to help move this initiative forward.

Pittsburgh Civil Engineers Learn Sustainability First Hand

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:42:57 GMT

By Sam Shamsi, PhD, PE,

Located in Richland Township, PA (about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh) and home to the Falk School of Sustainability, Chatham University's Eden Hall Campus is far more than a 388-acre plot of land. It's the embodiment of a commitment Chatham makes every day to support sustainability and environmental education. At Eden Hall, the campus doesn't just house classrooms, it is the classroom. The 20- to 25-year development plan for the residential campus aims to:

Be self-sustaining in every way,
House up to 1,500 students,
Achieve zero carbon emissions,
Produce more energy than it consumes, and
Manage all stormwater and wastewater on site.

On October 24, 2016 the Section’s Continuing Education Committee provided an opportunity to see these sustainable facilities. As the Section’s Continuing Education Committee Chair and a Director, I attended the event along with dozens of other people. The event began with a guided walking tour of the campus led by the Dean of Falk School of Sustainability, Dr. Peter Walker himself.

Eden Hall’s Stormwater Management is especially unique, and earned the ASCE-Pittsburgh’s 2015 Sustainability Award in the annual Engineers Week Awards Banquet held on February 20, 2016.

Eden Hall’s Stormwater is managed by:

Five rain gardens that collect and direct water flow,
Gravel walkways that allow rainwater to flow to the underlying soil, and
A rainwater harvesting system that gathers and cleans the water.

The collected rainwater is then utilized for crop irrigation. Eden Hall also treats wastewater onsite through a six-step process that mimics nature. The system can handle up to 6,000 gallons each day. Read more here.

Following the tour, I delivered a lecture on Green Stormwater Infrastructure. The attendees and I discussed both the opportunities and challenges of green infrastructure, and I related them to region’s interest in using green solutions for solving local wet weather problems such as combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and flooding. Our first canon of ASCE’s Code of Ethics requires compliance with the principles of sustainable development. I encouraged the audience to share their green infrastructure concerns, and challenged the civil engineers to address those issues. Civil Engineers, after all, are the best problem solvers. They believe every challenge is an opportunity in disguise.

The lecture was followed by a panel discussion. The expert panel included the following members:

Deborah Gross, City of Pittsburgh Councilwoman (District 7) and PWSA Board Member and Assistant Secretary / Treasurer
Tim Prevost, PE, Manager, Wet Weather Program / Green Infrastructure Projects, ALCOSAN, Government Engineer of the Year Awardee, ASCE-Pittsburgh, 2012.
Mark Wolinsky, Deputy Director, 3 Rivers Wet Weather, Inc.
Dr. Peter Walker, Dean, Falk School of Sustainability and the Environment, Eden Hall, Chatham University
Carol Hufnagel, PE, National Wet Weather Practice Leader, Tetra Tech
John Buck, CPSS, Certified Professional Soil Scientist, Eden Hall Green Infrastructure Project, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.

The lively panel discussion conducted by these distinguished members included a variety of perspectives on sustainable development.

Pittsburgh Seventh Ward Councilwoman Deb Gross indicated that City of Pittsburgh’s newly released wet weather plan is based on green infrastructure. In addition to stormwater management, green infrastructure will also help with community building, safer streets, and people-scaled development.
Tim Prevost mentioned ALCOSAN’s Green Revitalization of Our Waterways (GROW) program that provides matching grants to service area municipalities for green infrastructure projects.
Mark Wolinsky indicated that continued funds must be set aside to maintain green infrastructure
Dr. Walker indicated that “my right or my responsibility” issue makes the green infrastructure governance challenging.
Carol Hufnagel said green infrastructure helps restore civic pride but can be more expensive than gray infrastructure if planned and designed improperly.
John Buck talked about the design of Eden Hall’s green stormwater infrastructure and stressed the importance of soil testing before design and green infrastructure performance monitoring after construction.

The panel discussion was followed by audience questions, which led to a thought-provoking discussion among attendees and panel members. The event was concluded by a buffet dinner prepared onsite by Eden Hall’s chef Chris using ingredients from Eden Hall’s own certified organic farm. No disposable tableware were used. In fact, a disposable plastic water bottle I brought with me magically disappeared somewhere!

For questions or comments, please contact event organizer and chair of Continuing Education committee Sam Shamsi at sam.shamsi@gmail.com

Geo-Institute Hosts Technical Meeting on Landslides

ASCE Blog Editor — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 12:32:21 GMT

By Vishal Patel, Edited by Brian Heinzl

More than 30 ASCE members and guests gathered at the Bettis Grille Restaurant on Friday, September 23rd for a ASCE Pittsburgh Section Geo-Institute (GI) Chapter meeting. As part of the meeting, Dr. Timothy D. Stark, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE., F.ASCE, presented the lecture “Stability of Natural and Man-made Slopes.” The presentation focused on the March 22, 2014 Landslide near Oso, Washington, discussing the geotechnical aspects of the slide and its potential triggers.

This major and tragic landslide exhibited some interesting geo-mechanical behavior, including a runout of over one mile from the base of the slope that devastated the adjacent Steelhead Haven Community. The presentation focused on the events that occurred before the landslide, the triggering of the landslide, and the initiation and run out of the landslide. Dr. Stark focused on the geotechnical investigation (field investigation, lab testing, and analysis) after the landslide to determine the triggering mechanism of the 2014 landslide, as well as the shear strength and dynamic analysis used to explain the flow slide volume and runout distance. The results provided a better understanding of risk and hazard assessment of this landslide.

The Pittsburgh Section GI was also honored to have Mr. Brad Keelor, the National Director of the Geo-Institute, attend our meeting. Mr. Keelor introduced himself to the audience and provided brief remarks regarding goals being pursued at the national level. We appreciate the interest and support of National GI members at our local functions. The Geo-Institute Chapter provided 1.0 PDH for the presentation along with great venue for social hour.

Following the conclusion of the presentation and network-building hour at Bettis Grille, many attendees including Dr. Stark and his wife were able to attend the YMF’s Pirate tailgate and the baseball game. The following day Dr. Stark acknowledged our hospitality by sending a note: “Thanks for a really enjoyable day, which was capped off by a "Walk-Off Win" in the 11th!!!! Great game!!!”

A special thanks goes out to all of the GI and YMF committee members for making this a successful event.

ASCE Younger Members Learn Leadership Skills

ASCE Blog Editor — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 13:01:45 GMT

By Scott Duda, PE (YMF Budget Chair)

On August 5-7, 2016, ASCE Headquarters in Reston, VA hosted the 2016 Younger Member Leadership Symposium (YMLS). Younger Member Forum (YMF) members Azekah Giffiths, PE, Emily Eichner (YMF Social Co-Chair), and I had the opportunity to represent the ASCE Pittsburgh Section at this year’s event. The conference was organized by the ASCE Committee on Younger Members (CYM), and it brought together over 40 YMF members from across the U.S.

Over the course of the weekend, attendees participated in workshops designed to improve leadership abilities, refine communication skills, and identify areas for further personal growth and development. Attendees were also given the opportunity to network with ASCE members from other regions of the country. We exchange of ideas for improving individual chapters and discussed solutions for common issues faced by civil engineers every day.

One focal point of the two-day symposium was identifying different types of personal communication styles, both within ourselves and within others. No two individuals communicate ideas the same way, and a clear set of directions for one person may be a confusing jumble of nonsense to another. The types of communication that truly resonate with people are governed by their personality type. By learning to identify an individual’s unique personal style, one is able to determine the most effective means of communicating an idea among any audience.

In general, an individual’s personality style may be characterized as a blend of four broad behavioral types:

Analytical,
Driver,
Amiable, and
Expressive.

Each individual’s unique combination of behavioral types is also known as social style. This framework for classifying individual personalities was pioneered in the 1960’s by psychological researchers David W. Merrill and Roger H. Reid. You can learn more about their work here.

While an individual’s social style tends to favor one or two of these behavioral types over the others, all four may come into play when describing someone’s unique character. Identifying which behavioral types best describe a person requires careful observation of the person’s typical patterns and means of communicating. Once an individual’s behavioral type has been identified, one is able to tailor their message to meet their specific needs, improving the overall effectiveness of communication. Learning how to effectively communicate with people from a wide range of different social styles is an essential skill for leaders of all types, especially civil engineers.

During the training, I learned that my social style can be classified as Analytical-Driver. I tend to prefer systematic and precise communication, and I favor facts over feelings when making decisions. In order to communicate more effectively with my Expressive-Analytical co-workers, I can focus on developing a relationship with them, presenting them with ample data to support my statements, and providing testimony from others to further bolster my assertions.

In addition to learning about communication and personality styles, symposium attendees also worked on improving presentation and speaking skills, developing a unique personal vision, and managing change in the workplace effectively.

YMLS is held annually at ASCE Headquarters in Reston, VA. You can read more about Pittsburgh’s participation in the event last year here.

Imagine a Day without Water

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 12:46:14 GMT

Published in Pittsburgh Post Gazette

The Pittsburgh region recently experienced several intense rainfall events that caused flooding in many areas. In neighborhoods like Whitehall, we have seen this happen “too many times.” In Connellsville, flooding was so extreme the school year had to be delayed.

The primary cause of flooding is our aging infrastructure, resulting in decreased abilities to respond to intense rainfalls. Our combined storm and sanitary infrastructure was built over 50 years ago. Unfortunately, clogged and undersized storm drains are all too common in our region.

Storm and sanitary infrastructure is located underground, out of sight and out of mind, not easily showing its age. These systems must work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to bring clean, safe water to us and take away used water to be treated before it is safely released back into the environment. What happens when these systems fail to keep up with our needs?

Imagine a day without water. You would not be able to provide your dog with water, or make your coffee. Forget about teeth brushing, flushing your toilet or taking a shower. Nonresidential enterprises, from schools to corporations, breweries to hospitals, factories to power plants, car washes to aquariums, also need water.

The Environmental and Water Resources Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section, has joined the nationwide effort “Imagine a Day Without Water.” Hundreds of organizations across the country, including water agencies, mayors, engineers, schools and business and labor leaders are joining forces today to raise public awareness and spark action to solve water and wastewater problems.

Without your voice advocating this work, our water systems will continue to be ignored. Please visit www.thunderclap.it/projects/45997-imagine-a-day-without-water to sign the petition. Demand investment in water systems. Pittsburghers can imagine a day without water if needed, but should never have to live it.

LIWEI ZHANG
Vice Chair
Environmental and Water Resources Institute
American Society of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section
South Park

Angela M. Mayer Honored with Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 12:24:06 GMT

From ASCE News

ASCE has honored Angela M. Mayer, EIT, A.M. ASCE with the 2016 Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement. She is recognized for professional achievement in service to the advancement of the profession, evidence of technical competence, high character and integrity, and contributions to public service outside their careers.

Mayer was the 2015 Pittsburgh Section Young Engineer of the Year and was nominated for the 2016 ASCE Eastern Regional YMC Outstanding Young Engineer in the Private Sector Award.

She serves as the director of the Pittsburgh Section, supporting numerous committees including the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Survey Committee. Furthermore, Mayer served as the point of contact and national judge for the National Concrete Canoe Contest at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown in 2014.

Mayer is a graduate of the Leadership Development Initiative and an active member of Toastmasters International. Mayer also volunteered to be a civil engineer role model as part of Wow! That’s Engineering! For Girls and Parents, an outreach event for middle school girls held by the Society of Women Engineers.

The Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement is made to younger members of ASCE (35 or younger) who are judged to have attained significant professional achievements by the degree to which they have served to advance the profession; exhibited technical competence, high character, and integrity; developed improved member attitudes toward the profession; and contributed to public service outside their professional careers.

Timothy O’Loughlin is the ASCE-Pittsburgh 2015 Young Government Engineer of the Year

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 15:13:51 GMT

By ASCE Awards Committee

Congratulations to Timothy O’Loughlin, P.E., ASCE-Pittsburgh’s 2015 Young Government Engineer of the Year. Timothy has demonstrated the depth of experience and knowledge required to successfully complete a variety of significant government-based civil engineering projects in the Pittsburgh region. Timothy began his career with the Pittsburgh District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an intern in 2008 following his graduation from Penn State University. He quickly moved into positions of leadership and was soon assigned Senior Design Engineer for the Monongahela River Charleroi Lock chambers. This project consisted of constructing a new gated dam on the Monongahela River at Braddock, PA, and constructing two new locks at Charleroi, demolishing the old Locks and Dam No. 3 at Elizabeth, PA. For the project, Timothy also had to manage utility relocations, dredging of the riverbed and subsequently raising the Braddock pool five feet, and lowering the pool below Charleroi three feet to maintain navigation.

Timothy obtained his P.E. license in 2013, and was the Project Engineer for the completion of the River Chamber. As Project Engineer, he coordinated the development of plans and specifications for the new 84’x720’ river chamber and over twenty monoliths for the dam, among other key features. The overall design package consisted of 700 drawings, 3,000 pages of specifications, and 5,500 pages for the design report. Timothy coordinated with the eight separate Corps of Engineer Districts that were involved in this monumental design effort with much of the design coming from the Pittsburgh District. Timothy’s work with Project Management, Construction, Environmental, Real Estate, Contracting, and the Office of Council was essential to the successful award of the Base Contract and Awardable Options totaling $241 million.

In addition to performing his role a Project Engineer, Timothy served as the Senior Structural Engineer responsible for the design of drilled shaft foundations, monolith wall reinforcement, high mast light anchorages, and quality control for several design features.

Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority’s Sustainability Program is the Recipient of the 2015 ASCE-Pittsburgh Merit Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 16:11:36 GMT

By ASCE Awards Committee

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA), recipient of the 2015 ASCE-Pittsburgh Merit Award.

PWSA’s Department of Sustainability works to foster an authority-wide culture of sustainability with respect to environmental enhancement, economic development and civic engagement. The PWSA strives to be a world-class utility and set the benchmark for sustainability in the industry.

As a water and wastewater utility, PWSA employees are dedicated stewards of one of the most valuable resources on the planet. PWSA’s Green Infrastructure (GI) Program is a regional leader in efforts to improve the water quality of our rivers, streams and tributaries. Green infrastructure can be used to meet water quality standards and save ratepayers money while providing social, economic and environmental benefits. Through the GI Program, the PWSA is committed to making green infrastructure part of their solution to improve water quality affected by stormwater runoff. The GI team focuses on planning and implementing stormwater management projects in the places where they can provide the most benefits.

The PWSA Green Infrastructure Grant Program provides grants of $5,000 - $50,000 to non-profit organizations, community and civic groups, and property owners for projects in the City that advance the objective of attaining Clean Water Act compliance for water quality. The grants support local, grassroots efforts that employ green infrastructure practices to improve water quality, enhance conservation, restore habitat, stimulate economic growth, and educate people about stormwater issues and associated stewardship actions. Find out more information about PWSA’s grant program.

Congratulations John W. Schombert, ASCE-Pittsburgh’s 2015 Recipient of the Service to the People Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 13:42:38 GMT

By ASCE Blog Editor and ASCE Awards Committee

John W. Schombert is 2015 ASCE-Pittsburgh recipient of the Service to the People Award. John is the executive director of the 3 Rivers Wet Weather (3RWW), a non-profit organization, created in 1998 to help municipalities in the Pittsburgh region to address their aging and deteriorating sewer infrastructure. Funded by federal, state and local governments and private foundations, 3 Rivers Wet Weather helps communities by benchmarking wet weather technology and creating regional solutions to sewage and stormwater overflow issues.

“John was instrumental in establishing this organization which assists local municipalities address their aging sewer infrastructure needs,” says colleague, Ralph Gilbert. “He initiated the 3RWW Conference, an annual event that brings representatives of government, industry and the consulting community together to exchange ideas and highlight successful projects from across the country.”

“He is an outstanding leader with years of experience who has toiled tirelessly on the wet weather issue that is critical to the vitality and sustainability of our region,” adds colleague, Jonathan Shimko. “I truly believe that the regional wet weather progress has been so significant, in great part, because John is at the helm.”

Prior to joining 3 Rivers Wet Weather, John worked for nearly three decades in the Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD) water pollution, public drinking water and waste management programs where served as Program Chief in his last 12 years with ACHD. John is chairman of the Coraopolis Water and Sewer Authority, chairman of the Riverview Sanitary Authority and a member of The Pennsylvania State Board for the Certification of Sewage Treatment Plant and Waterworks Operators.

“He has been a champion in our region for reducing Combined Sewer Overflows and Sanitary Sewer Overflows, promoting the clean rivers campaign,” Mr. Gilbert says.

John is a graduate of Theil College with a B.S. in physics. He also serves on the Board of the Local Government Academy in Pittsburgh.

“John exudes enthusiasm in all he does, from meeting with civil engineers and regularly serving as guest speaker in local university environmental classes to providing input to elected officials,” says Mr. Shimko. “He inspires everyone around him.”

DiGioia, Gray & Associates is the 2015 Employer Recognition Award Recipient

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 15:24:39 GMT

By ASCE Award Committee

DiGioia, Gray & Associates, LLC (DiGioia Gray), is the recipient of ASCE-Pittsburgh’s 2015 Employer Recognition Award. DiGioia Gray is led by internationally respected engineers and geologists. The firm provides comprehensive consulting services by using an interdisciplinary approach to provide full-service expertise from planning and design through construction, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation. Their commitment is to provide practical, economical, reliable and, when appropriate, innovative project life cycle solutions that exceed their clients’ expectations.

In addition, as part of the firm’s commitment to their employees’ professional development, DiGioia Gray proudly sponsors ASCE memberships, attendance to conferences, one-day seminars, technical dinners and special events such as Engineer’s Week and the ASCE Pittsburgh Section Kick-Off dinner. DiGioia Gray’s founding fathers, two ASCE Distinguished Members, Anthony DiGioia and Richard Gray, were the organizers for the 2008 ASCE National Conference, past Section leaders, and have contributed to several one-day interactive seminars and technical dinners.

DiGioia Gray actively promotes publications in several technical journals and newsletters, and through the years has sponsored senior technical staff s’ leadership in ASCE at the local and national level.

“It has been through DiGioia Gray’s encouragement and support that several of my colleagues and I have been so active within ASCE at various levels,” states past Pittsburgh Section president N. Catherine Bazán-Arias. “Our founders advocate and foster our participation. Moreover, they lead through example; I can only hope to someday achieve their ASCE level of involvement.”

Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus Stormwater Management is the Recipient of the ASCE-Pittsburgh 2015 Project Sustainability Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:38:33 GMT

By ASCE-Pittsburgh Awards Committee

The Eden Hall Campus is situated on 388 acres in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. Originally a farm and retreat for working women of Pittsburgh, Eden Hall was gifted to Chatham University in 2009 by the Eden Hall Foundation. The 20- to 25-year development plan for the residential campus calls for it to be self-sustaining in every way; housing 1,500 students, achieving zero carbon emissions, producing more energy than it consumes, and managing all stormwater and wastewater on site.

University president Esther Barazzone proclaimed that “… Eden Hall [would] be the first community in the world built from ‘below the ground up’ for the study of sustainable living, learning, and development.”

Critical to realizing this endeavor has been the management of that which falls on the ground from above. Unique to the project was the implementation of a decentralized “treat it where it falls” approach to stormwater, preventing any singular large concentration of runoff. The stormwater management system is comprised of a series of separate rain gardens strategically placed around the site to manage small individual drainage areas. Each rain garden discharges excess water over a concrete level spreader to further mitigate concentrated runoff. Captured roof runoff is connected to a 50,000-gallon underground retention tank and later reused for landscape irrigation. Stormwater is also infiltrated into the north parking lot by using a permeable surface and underground stone infiltration beds.

Stormwater is not the only source for reuse applications. A biological wastewater treatment system is utilized for sanitary sewer waste produced by the campus. This system includes a series of primary treatment tanks at each building and secondary treatment consisting of a trickling filter, subsurface wetlands, a sand filter for polishing, and UV filter disinfection.

The primary tanks dose effluent to a trickling filter for nitrification. This effluent is then directed into two subsurface constructed wetland cells. Treated water is stored for reuse as flushing water in campus buildings. Any excess water is safely disposed of via an underground drip irrigation system. The treated water is also connected to a campus greenhouse for use in limited applications.

The overall system allows for extended contact times for the effluent at each stage of treatment. This increases the effectiveness of treatment and overall water quality. The system is designed to be expandable by simply adding additional wetland cells as needed.

The incorporation of these best-management-practice approaches has enabled Eden Hall to meet its project goal of having no point discharges from the developed site. The Eden Hall Campus masterplan allows for flexibility in design and engineering solutions so that future technologies can be integrated into the existing infrastructure. The campus acts as a living laboratory for sustainable design and operations.

Find out more about the Eden Hall Campus or to take a tour of the site.

Congratulations Gregory Rumbaugh, ASCE-Pittsburgh's 2015 Government Engineer of the Year

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 14:40:54 GMT

By the ASCE Blog Editor and ASCE Awards Committee

Mr. Gregory Rumbaugh, M.Sc., P.E., M. ASCE, is the ASCE-PGH 2015 Government Engineer of the Year. “The award is really a testament to the endless opportunities to be involved with the organization, whether it is at the section-level, technical institutes, Student Award Foundation, or Younger Member Forum,” says Greg. “It is also reflection on the caliber of the mentors that I’ve been fortunate enough have throughout my career, working in both the federal government and in private industry.”

“Greg is truly deserving of this award,” says colleague Angela Mayer. “I am confident that he will continue to serve as a role model for other young Civil Engineers in the greater Pittsburgh area.”

Greg has been active with ASCE and the Geo-Institute since his graduation from the University of Pittsburgh with his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2006. He subsequently earned his M.S. in Engineering Management from Robert Morris University in 2012. Greg is currently a Civil Engineer with the Department of Labor in the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in Pittsburgh.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career with the agency to have the opportunity to work with both surface and underground mine operators extracting various products such as coal, ores, and aggregates,” he explains. “The most enjoyable part of the job is working with our technical or enforcement personnel, in conjunction with mining engineers in the industry, to solve difficult ground control issues.”

Greg has demonstrated noteworthy performance and meritorious achievement as demonstrated by his selection in 2013, and again in 2014, for the “Certificate of Excellence for Historic Achievement” presented by the U.S. Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. He was also recognized as the 2013 Outstanding Young Engineer in the Public Sector by ASCE’s Eastern Region Council.

“Greg is a very matter-of-fact person with a sense of humor,” say Ms. Mayer. “When working with Greg, he creates an open environment where he injects humor with work.”

While in college, Greg was the University of Pittsburgh ASCE Student Chapter President and remained involved with ASCE following graduation through the YMF, GI, and ASCE Section. He was chair of the YMF Technical Committee for five years where he organized numerous presentations on such topics as networking, financial management, and leadership for younger engineers.

He also organized the YMFs first Mock Interview Workshop Session in 2012. This Workshop, held at the University of Pittsburgh, provided Junior and Senior engineering students the opportunity to practice their interviewing skills with several practicing engineers. “I don’t think I realized the impact that these workshops would have with students at the time we were organizing them,” he says. It was later recognized by ASCE National as one of the best practices by an ASCE organization. “Only after [the event], and through the feedback from the students, did we get a sense for how beneficial these types of events were for the students involved,” says Greg. “I think the students that attended the event were able to leave with more confidence in their ability to interview with prospective employers.”

Greg is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Geo-Institute. Greg has attended numerous ASCE sponsored conferences including the National Convention and the Eastern Regional Younger Members Council (ERYMC) as a Pittsburgh Section Representative. He also works with the Student Award Foundation (SAF) as a past Trustee and Treasurer. “The Student Award Foundation is one of the most worthwhile causes I have had the opportunity to be involved with in our industry. Each year, the group manages to recognize students that either reside or attend colleges within the Pittsburgh Section’s area,” explains Greg. “The most enjoyable part of working with the SAF is participating in the selection of each year’s awards. I am amazed at the achievements and ambition of the civil engineering students in the Pittsburgh area.”

Daniel Moore is the Recipient of the 2015 ASCE-Pittsburgh Journalism Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 13:51:47 GMT

By the ASCE Blog Editor and ASCE Award Committee

Congratulations Daniel Moore, the 2015 recipient of ASCE-Pittsburgh’s Journalism Award. “As a journalist, it's an honor to receive recognition from an organization of experts,” says Daniel. “The award to me is recognition that I was not only able to appeal to a broad readership but also successful in reaching the people who are immersed in the topic on a daily basis.”

Daniel grew up in the hills of southern Ohio and graduated with a journalism degree from Kent State University in 2014. He has previously interned at the Spokane Spokesman-Review in Washington State, the Student Press Law Center in Washington, D.C., and the Lexington Herald-Leader in Kentucky.

Currently, Daniel covers energy, transportation and labor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He’s written a wide range of stories about infrastructure, including how the power grid will evolve to meet environmental regulations, how different cities approach sewer overflows, and how railroad track inspections can improve.

“I'm most proud of my story on how railroad track is inspected and how inspectors are sometimes pushed to do quicker inspections when rail traffic is heavy,” Daniel explains. “As we've seen across the country, a missed rail defect is a matter of life-and-death when it comes to derailments of crude oil trains. I analyzed federal accident data and found track defects were the most common cause of derailments. I then spent weeks gathering track inspector sources– on- and off-the-record –who could verify some of the on-the-ground issues, such as arguing with dispatchers about the need to inspect a section of rail.”

Many journalists would consider such research a tedious task. However, Daniel is willing to put in the effort to breakdown the complexities of everyday infrastructure challenges.

“Infrastructure is so ubiquitous that it's largely overlooked. Some people even think it's boring,” he says. “But that is precisely why I think it's important to bring to the public consciousness. For example, people may see trains carrying crude oil when they go to work every day, but what are the track inspectors doing to ensure safe transport? And what are the business models driving how many oil trains are put on the tracks? These things are critically important to being an informed citizen because it affects everyone.”

Of course, learning about the details of an engineering complication is never easy, and to break it down into article for the public is even harder. Says Daniel, “The biggest challenge for me is, quite frankly, learning the science behind the stories enough to write it in a broadly appealing way. Of course, that's also what makes my job fun. I always try to have someone walk me through a piece of infrastructure or technology in person so that I can pull visual details and get an idea of scale. That way I can describe it in terms readers can understand.”

The Pittsburgh Section of ASCE will also be nominating Daniel for the National ASCE Excellence in Journalism Award in September. Since 1994, this award is presented annually at the Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Award Gala in Washington, D.C. in March. The award honors newspaper journalists for outstanding articles that enhance public understanding of the role and impact of civil engineering in designing solutions for clean water, transportation, the environment, and other public works projects. In 2006, the award was expanded to include journalists and producers from English-language, general-interest regional and national newspapers, radio and television stations, magazines, and electronic and Web-based news outlets.

The news media wield tremendous impact on public opinion about civil engineers and civil-engineering-related issues. For example, news coverage can influence vital infrastructure legislation, licensing laws and building codes. Coverage also can affect talented young people's decisions to pursue careers in civil engineering.

Through this annual national award, ASCE hopes to encourage continued coverage of civil engineering and related issues as a means of engaging the public in civil engineering initiatives impacting their community.

The Pittsburgh Section is proud that Jon Schmitz from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette won the ASCE Excellence in Journalism Award in 2012, and is proud to nominate Daniel Moore for the prestigious award this year.

Pitt ASCE Makes Waves at OVSC 2016

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 03:08:02 GMT

By Nick Cvetic, Pitt ASCE Vice President

The University of Pittsburgh American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter has had another successful year competing at the Ohio Valley Student Conference. This year, 47 students and 3 faculty advisors from the Swanson School of Engineering Civil & Environmental Engineering Department attended the student conference hosted by Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. This year’s conference was held across the Ohio border in the charming town of Lawrenceburg, Indiana during the first weekend of April. Students from 14 schools located throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Western Pennsylvania participated at this year’s conference. Many aspects of this conference allowed us to take technical knowledge from the classroom and apply it to real-world situations - and we had a great time building camaraderie while doing that!

Without a doubt, the Pitt Concrete Canoe team made the most progress since last year. After passing a swamp test, this year’s patriotic-themed canoe (nicknamed Ol’ Glory) floated to some exciting finishes. Even after some injuries, Pitt was able to come in first place during our heats for the women’s sprint and co-ed sprint races. Finding other unconventional uses for building materials, we also participated in the Concrete Baseball Bat and Concrete Bowling Ball competitions.

After a trip to the Steel Bridge National Competition in 2015, the Pitt Steel Bridge team faced a significant amount of adversity prior to this year’s regional conference. Due to unforeseen conditions at our fabrication facility, it was unclear whether we would even be able to successfully compete at this year’s conference. However, our dedicated students were ultimately able to safely and effectively design, fabricate, and construct our bridge at this year’s regional competition.

Most awarded of all of our competition teams, the Environmental Team earned a 1st Place Overall Award. Additionally, the superb water filtration treatment system designed by Pitt students was given the 1st Place Award for Most Sustainable Apparatus, the 3rd Place Award for Most Creative Apparatus, the 3rd Place Award for Best Technical Review Paper, and the 3rd Place Award for Best Poster Display.

Furthermore, with the support of our unique professor Dr. Budny, the Surveying Team measured up for the 1st Place Surveying Award. An innovative housing plan design and a quality change order completion yielded a 3rd Place Civil Site Design Competition Award. Due to all of these successes and also due in part to our participation in the Balsa Wood Bridge Competition, the Geotechnical Competition, and the Technical Paper Presentation, Pitt ASCE took home the 3rd Place Overall Conference Award. This accomplishment made the long bus ride back to Pittsburgh seem much more enjoyable!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with each of the competition teams for their months of hard work and perseverance. Best wishes to everyone competing next year and carrying on traditions of excellence at the 2017 Ohio Valley Student Conference.

Congratulations Lauren Terpak, Recipient of the Michael A. Gross Meritorious Service Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 31 May 2016 11:25:31 GMT

By the ASCE Blog Editor and the ASCE Awards Committee

Congratulations Lauren Terpak, A.M. ASCE, the 2015 recipient of ASCE-Pittsburgh’s Michael A. Gross Meritorious Service Award. “Lauren embodies meritorious service,” says colleague, Angela Mayer. “She has devoted copious volunteer hours to the Pittsburgh Section for over 12 years."

Lauren obtained a B.E. in Civil Engineering with a focus in Environmental Engineering from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio in 2002. Upon graduation, Lauren was hired by Metcalf Eddy, Inc. in Pittsburgh, which later became AECOM. Lauren works in the Water division, and specializes in wet weather planning, consent-order-driven collection system asset management, and condition assessment programs. Lauren has been with the company since 2003.

Aside from her career, Lauren has been actively involved with the Pittsburgh Section of ASCE since she first moved to Pittsburgh. She started off as Chair of the Younger Member Forum (YMF) Employment Committee in 2003. She then advanced to become Technical Committee Chair, Secretary, Vice President, President, and Past-President of the YMF. Subsequent to her YMF Past-Presidency she was elected to the Section Board of Directors (BOD) as a Director and completed her 3-year term in 2014. During her term as Director Lauren served as Section BOD Outreach Committee Co-Chair, Nominations Committee member and Membership Committee member. “The Pittsburgh Section would not be where it is today without Lauren Terpak’s meritorious service, “ Ms. Mayer adds.

A few of Lauren’s notable ASCE accomplishments include:

Implementation of the Section-wide electronic survey which encompassed nearly 3 years of planning.
Compilation and contribution to various award nomination packages resulting in several award wins, including: The Younger Member Forum first ever Peer Group Award, and the National Committee of Younger Members Employer Recognition Award for AECOM.
Creation of the Section Diversity and Inclusion Committee which resulted in the National awarded Section and Branch Honorable Mention Diversity Award.
Secured partnership with Leadership Pittsburgh Inc., which has since led to two graduating ASCE members and $2,000 in scholarships.

Pittsburgh wasn’t Lauren’s first introduction to ASCE, as she served as Secretary of her student chapter and was named Outstanding Senior of the Year from ASCE’s Cleveland Section. Lauren’s current role is Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee where she promotes diversity and inclusion awareness amongst the civil engineering community and asks that you engage her in a “Diversity Minute.”

But above all, it is Lauren’s positive attitude that stands out. “Lauren is a very devoted person to all tasks she takes on, but above all Lauren just likes to have fun! “ says Ms. Mayer. “When working with Lauren she creates an uplifting environment of progress and lightheartedness.”

The Southern Junction Interchange is the Winner of the 2015 ASCE Award of Merit

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 26 May 2016 14:50:46 GMT

By the ASCE Awards Committee

The South Junction Interchange project, designed by HDR (prime consultant) and constructed by Golden Triangle Construction (prime contractor), was an integral part of PennDOT District 12-0’s ongoing initiatives to make safety and capacity improvements to the entire I-70/I-79 corridor.

The project’s primary safety improvement was the elimination of the previous substandard loop ramp that was used to maintain the I-79 northbound movement. This loop ramp contributed to many significant accidents over many decades – and was the primary reason that Reader’s Digest Magazine once labeled the South Junction Interchange as one of the seven most hazardous interchanges in the United States.

The elimination of the previous substandard loop ramp by way of the new high-speed flyover eliminated the need for unassuming drivers to reduce traveling speeds from in excess of 60 mph hour to 20 mph just to maintain travel on the I-79 northbound direction. Through the reconfiguration of this ramp, the South Junction interchange no longer requires appreciable reductions in speed in order to maintain the continuous northbound I-79 movement. It is much more aligned with driver expectations, and, consequently, a much safer facility through which to travel.

During the construction phase, Golden Triangle, in collaboration with their construction engineering partner Mackin Engineering, conceived the innovative idea of constructing a tunnel underneath the existing I-70 overpass structures that would maintain the ramp traffic without disrupting the four lanes of I-70 traffic.

Since the tunnel would be continuous and much wider than the old bridge decks, there would be enough room to shift I-70 traffic lanes from side to side in order to completely remove the old superstructures and rebuild the interstate without the use of conventional temporary median crossovers. Golden Triangle’s outside-the-box innovation saved over $1 million in construction costs – and improved work zone traffic control safety by eliminating the need for high-speed median cross-overs within a curved portion of the I-70 interstate.

PennDOT District 12-0 staff worked very closely with designer and contractor throughout all phases of the South Junction project delivery to ensure a much needed, cost-effective, and innovative improvement to this Washington County transportation facility.

PROJECT TEAM

Owner: PennDOT District 12-0

Prime Design Consultant: HDR, Inc. Subconsultant Design

Team Members: Burns Engineering, Inc., Raudenbush Engineering, Inc., Santangelo & Lindsay, Inc., Pedersen & Pedersen, Inc., Christine Davis Consultants. Inc.

Contractor: Golden Triangle Construction Construction Engineering: Mackin Engineering, Inc. Construction Inspection: JMT

Congratulations ASCE-Pittsburgh 2015 Professor of the Year - John Brigham

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 24 May 2016 12:22:57 GMT

By the ASCE Blog Editor and the ASCE Awards Committee

Professor John Brigham is the 2015 ASCE-Pittsburgh Professor of the Year. “I truly love being an educator,” says Dr. Brigham. “So, to know that it is appreciated is a great feeling.”

Dr. Brigham received a BE from Vanderbilt University in 2003, and a MS and Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from Cornell University in 2006 and 2008. After his doctorate, he joined the University of Pittsburgh as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering where he was promoted to associate professor in 2015.

Focusing on computational mechanics and inverse problems, Dr. Brigham’s research group is actively involved in a number of diverse projects, including kinematic analysis of the heart for improved diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, novel design concepts and optimal design strategies for smart material morphing structures, and efficient and accurate quantitative nondestructive evaluation algorithms. “One of my newest projects, that is of course very exciting, is to develop the computational tools to design smart material morphing building surface tiles for more energy efficient building envelopes,” he explains.

“Dr. Brigham brings to the CEE Department energy, fresh ideas and a willingness to lead the way in getting initiatives implemented,” says colleague, Dr. Julie Vandenbossche. “He is a great person to collaborate with on projects. You can rely on him for significant contributions and he will always put the needs of the project and the team before his own needs.”

Dr. Brigham researches other fields, such as simulation modeling of nuclear reactor components, estimation of pathological variation in heart mechanics, and evaluation of well-bore cement integrity. He leads the Computational Diagnostic and Inverse Mechanics Group at Swanson School of Engineering at University of Pittsburgh.

As a teacher, Dr. Brigham has focused on courses involving structural analysis and computer aided engineering. “I also enjoy all of my classes,” Dr. Bingham explains. “Right now, Introduction to Structural Analysis is probably my favorite class I am teaching.” Dr. Brigham also teaches the undergraduate class Computer Methods in Engineering, and the graduate classes Fundamentals of Finite Element Methods and Advanced Finite Element Methods.

“I believe that he is one of the most clear, helpful, challenging, and all-around best teachers I have ever had,” says Senior Civil Engineering student, Scott Overacker. “The majority of Pitt civil engineering students agree.”

“Dr. Brigham is one of the best teachers in the Department both in and out of the classroom,” Dr. Vandenbossche adds. “His commitment to the students and his contributions to both the Department and in his field of study are immense. I feel honored to have Dr. Brigham in our Department.”

Engineers Without Borders Brings Water to Village in the Andes Mountains

ASCE Blog Editor — Fri, 13 May 2016 13:13:52 GMT

By Emily Eichner

At 12,000 feet above sea level, a three-hour drive from the city of Quito will take you to the small village of Curingue, Ecuador. This village is a one-hour minimum hike away from the nearest water source. This community of approximately 150 members works hard to feed their families through household farms. A small government stipend pays for household water but it must be fetched by walking the hour distance, each way, on mountainous terrain to a spring.

This long trip take a significant portion of the villager’s time each week. But even more alarming, Engineers Without Borders - Pittsburgh Professional Chapter (EWB-PPC) discovered the spring water to be unfit for consumption, as it was contaminated with harmful bacteria. The spring water continually causes a number of health problems for many people in Curingue. EWB-PPC is determined to reduce the community’s time spend collecting water and to provide the community of Curingue with a readily available, uncontaminated source of drinking water.

In 2014, a group from EWB-PPC traveled to Curinque to explore solutions. A group returned in 2015 for another assessment trip before the finalizing designs to build two groundwater intakes, two pumps, a pipeline, and two pump houses. The pipeline will bring water from the spring to Curinque, and the two pump houses will sit along the pipeline path, near the town. At the first pump house, the water will be treated through chlorination. Once the water reaches the second pump house, it will go through a clear house and be pumped the remainder of the way to a storage tank near Curingue.

The design plan has been approved by EWB-USA and the Pittsburgh Professionals will be traveling for the first implementation trip in June 2016.

The community of Curinque has also been preparing for the project and will continue to work on the pipeline and other features between the next two trips. Future trips are tentatively scheduled for fall 2016 and early spring 2017.

Despite the great progress, EWB-PPC has more work to do. There will be two more implementation trips after the June trip, for which EWB-PPC will need volunteers to travel, help with potential design changes, and work on fundraising for the project. Anyone interested in helping with the Ecuador project may contact Albert Cheng, the EWB-PPC President at albertzcheng@gmail.com.

ASCE-Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh to Address Climate Change Resilience Engineering at Annual Conference

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:22:10 GMT

Tom Batroney, PE, ENV SP, M.ASCE – ASCE Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee Chair, Mott MacDonald

Greg Scott, PE, M.ASCE – Environmental and Water Resources Institute – Pittsburgh Chapter Chair, Buchart Horn

On Thursday, May 19^th at 8:00 AM at the August Wilson Center in downtown Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Pittsburgh Chapter of Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI), and Sustainable Pittsburgh/Champions for Sustainability (C4S) will be hosting its annual day-long Sustainability Conference. Now in its 8^th year, the Sustainability Conference has presented cutting edge themes and topics associated with the ever changing topic of sustainability in civil engineering. The very first ASCE-PGH/EWRI/C4S Sustainability Conference in 2008 explored the potential impacts of climate change on regional infrastructure. Since the inaugural conference in 2008, the overall landscape and dialogue relating to climate change has greatly changed. No longer is the dialogue about whether or not climate change may exist or potentially pose a threat to critical infrastructure. The dialogue has now shifted to developing real and tangible infrastructure protection strategies against the impacts climate change while at the same time finding new and innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

According to scientists from many reputable government agencies, including the National Air and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is a weight of evidence indicating that the Earth’s climate is undergoing a change that may have serious future consequences on our lives and infrastructure. In response to these growing concerns, the ASCE national headquarters adopted Policy Statement 360 in 2015 on the impact of climate change on the civil engineering profession. The policy statement reads:

“Civil engineers are responsible for the planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance of physical infrastructures, including buildings, communication facilities, energy generation and distribution facilities, industrial facilities, transportation networks, water resources facilities and urban water systems. These physical infrastructures have long service lives (50 to 100 years) and are expected to remain functional, durable and safe during that time. These facilities are exposed to and are vulnerable to the effects of extreme climate and weather events. Engineering practices and standards associated with these facilities must be revised and enhanced to address climate change to ensure they continue to provide acceptably low risks of failures in functionality, durability and safety over their service lives.”

The above policy statement is definitive in stating that the civil engineer practice and its practitioners have a duty to consider the impacts of climate change. As we go forward with new critical infrastructure projects and upgrades to existing infrastructure, we as civil engineers must consider if climate change may pose a substantial risk to the “functionality, durability, and safety” on the project.

The following is a brief outline of the speakers and topics for 8^th Annual Sustainability Conference. To see the full agenda and to register visit the ASCE-PGH website.

Grant Ervin, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Pittsburgh and the City’s Resilience office will provide an update for how the city is progressing in their on-going (and near complete) city-wide resilience assessments, transportation via complete streets initiative, and resilient stormwater management.
Duane Verner from Argonne National Laboratory’s Global Security Sciences Division will provide insights on conducting site-level vulnerability assessments and developing climate change adaptation strategies for cities and critical infrastructure.
National ASCE’s Committee on Adaption to a Changing Climate released a free publication in 2015 titled “Adapting Infrastructure and Civil Engineering Practice to a Changing Climate”. Carnegie Mellon University Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor, Costa Samaras, served as one of the lead authors in the publication. Costa Samaras will be in attendance at the conference and will present on the publication and the overall impacts of climate change on regional infrastructure.
The afternoon will include an international case study from Amsterdam, Netherlands. Andre Struker from Waternet will provide groundbreaking waste to energy strategies that are transforming the way cities think about climate impacts and infrastructure.
Lively audience breakout sessions and panel discussions will be conducted with speakers.
Poster sessions from area university students along with the first ever Scholarship Award for Best Student Poster.

We look forward to your attendance on Thursday, May 19^th regarding an important topic for the future of the Pittsburgh

Geo-Institute and EWRI Host Joint Technical Meeting on Little Blue Run Disposal Area

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 14:30:19 GMT

By Alex Potter-Weight

ASCE members and guests gathered at the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania on Thursday, March 17^th for a joint dinner meeting of the Geo-Institute and the Environmental and Water Resources Institute. As part of the meeting, Doug Clark, P.E., and Brianne Jacoby, P.G., of Civil and Environmental Consultants presented the lecture “Groundwater Modeling and Settlement Analysis for Closure for of the Little Blue Run CCP Disposal Area.” The presentation covered various aspects of the rigorous design and analysis required to facilitate the closure of a large disposal area for coal combustion products (CCP).

The Little Blue Run (LBR) disposal area is a 900+acre impoundment located in both Beaver County, PA and Hancock County, WV that has been used since 1975 for the disposal of CCP from FirstEnergy’s nearby Bruce Mansfield Generating Station. In 2012, FirstEnergy and PADEP agreed to a cessation of all disposal operations by the end of 2016, along with the development of a closure plan to be completed by 2031. The closure will eliminate disposal pumping and greatly reduce infiltration into the CCP, resulting in a significant drop in the water table. This change in effective stress would likely result in very large settlements that could impact the surface drainage and final cover system both during and following closure. In order to analyze this potential, a detailed groundwater modeling and settlement analysis program was undertaken.

Ms. Jacoby presented the groundwater flow modeling portion of the project, which was performed using MODFLOW-2000, a three-dimensional finite-difference model developed by the USGS. After calibration to the observed groundwater levels, the model was constructed to perform a 250-year analysis of the water table draw-down. It encompassed an area of 27,000 ft by 27,000 ft and extended approximately 400 feet deep. The resulting predicted drop in the groundwater table exceeded 100 feet in some locations, with the greatest amount of draw-down occurring in the areas of the thickest CCP deposits.

Mr. Clark presented the analysis of the ensuring settlement that would occur as a result of the expected drop of the groundwater table. Between 2002 and 2012, CEC undertook five separate subsurface investigations and four laboratory testing programs. The subsurface investigation programs included 38 cone penetration test soundings and 34 borings for undisturbed sampling. The laboratory testing programs included 77 consolidation tests on CCP sample and numerous other tests. The scale and sophistication of the groundwater model allowed for a detailed settlement calculations with over 2,600 discrete points of analysis. The resulting prediction included a maximum settlement of over 30 feet at the location of the thickest CCP deposit, where the draw-down was the highest. The significant grade change as a result of this predicted settlement necessitated major modifications to the post-closure surface drainage system and the final geosynthetic liner cover materials.

The presentation was based on a paper first published for the 2015 World of Coal Ash Conference in Nashville, TN. The Geo-Institute and Environmental and Water Resource Institute Chapters of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section were happy to be able to provide 1.0 PDH for the presentation. This annual joint technical dinner meeting between the two societies also included a social hour and a sit-down dinner.

Congratulations Thomas Leech, ASCE-Pittsburgh's 2015 Distinguished Engineer

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 00:54:32 GMT

Article by ASCE Awards Committee and ASCE Blog Editor

Thomas Leech, P.E., S.E. is the 2015 ASCE Distinguished Engineer. “This is a humbling experience,” says Tom. “The award could not be possible without the assistance of many dedicated mentors and colleagues, clients who challenge, and the benefit of a superior university education.”

Tom is the (retired) Chief Bridge Engineer of Gannett Fleming, Inc., Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering of Carnegie Mellon University, and a part of the continuing education faculty of the Pennsylvania State University. During his 48 years at Gannett Fleming, he designed major bridges, tunnels, and highways and conducted forensic studies prior to his retirement. “[I enjoy] the satisfaction of seeing what is visualized and expressed only in pen and paper realized in the form of physical construction, which many can view, but few can appreciate,” Tom says.

“I was fortunate enough to work closely with Tom over the past 5 years,” says colleague, Linda Kaplan. “He is an excellent teacher and mentor, continually breaking complex problems down into simple concepts and basic principles so that they could be easily understood.”

“Tom was not just an engineer,” adds Gannett Fleming Vice President and National Highway Practice Manager, Eric Veydt. “He is creative, always trying something new, always looking for a better way to convey a thought or idea. Simply put, Tom always challenged us and made us better.”

Tom has led various infrastructure design projects throughout Western Pennsylvania, including the Bloomfield Bridge, the Joe Montana Bridges, the Hulton Bridge, the Toll 43 Monongahela River Crossing, the North Shore LRT Viaduct at Allegheny Station, the Fort Pitt and Squirrel Hill Tunnel Rehabilitations, and the forensic evaluation of the collapse of the Kinzua Viaduct. He has published over 50 articles in national and international journals, conference proceedings and magazines, and has delivered numerous presentations at national and international conferences. Tom was also the lead technical author of the Bridges of Pittsburgh Art Mural that is presently displayed at the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport. He recently was the editor of the book Reflections...of the Greatest Engineers and Architects of the 20th and 21st Centuries as well as a contributing author to the Geology of Pittsburgh.

“Tom has instilled in every engineer a wonderment for the science of bridge engineering, an eye for the beauty of bridge aesthetics, and a passion and determination for the problem solving,” says Senior Structural Engineer for Gannett Fleming, Jonathan McHugh.

For the past ten years, Tom has been a magazine editor for ESWP’s Summer Magazine, with each edition focusing on separate and unique topics related to the bridge industry. “Engineers have a story to tell,” he explains. “Writing to peers, the language of precision is necessary, and the nuance of detail is important. Writing to the lay reader interested in science and technology, visualization of concept, human interaction, and conciseness true to the endeavor become the overarching challenges.”

Tom has actively served the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania. “Tom’s leadership through the ESWP – IBC enabled that organization to develop into an internationally recognized association,” says Mr. Veydt. Tom has also been active in the International Bridge Conference Committee, the Association for Bridge Construction and Design, and the Association of Highway Engineers.

“Tom’s influence on the Engineering Profession in the Pittsburgh Area will live on through future generations and his contribution through projects will provide lasting improvements to the region.” Mr. Veydt asserts. “I count it a great privilege to have work under Tom at the start of my career and alongside Tom throughout my career.”

The 2016 Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Congress: A Unique Look at Collaboration of Civil Engineers

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:30:28 GMT

By Greg Holbrook & Linda Kaplan, P.E.

In February 2016, several Pittsburgh ASCE Section members attended the first ever Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Congress, held in Phoenix, AZ. This conference was unique in that it was a joint conference between ASCE’s Structural Engineering Institute and Geotechnical Institutes, marking the 20^th anniversary of the founding of each. This combination provided the opportunity for topics and discussions on how the two civil engineering disciplines interact and what can be done professionally to increase collaboration between the fields.

The conference opened with a lively panel discussion about the interaction between the two disciplines, titled: “Soil is Not a Spring, Buildings are Not a Load.” Three representatives from each Institute discussed issues with collaboration in design. Discussions included degrees of uncertainty in geotechnical capacities vs. structural loads and how to ensure we’re not unknowingly over-designing, and questions of responsibility for the final product including a debate about whose professional seal should stamp foundation drawings or that they should be jointly sealed. The differences in work flow between private (primarily buildings) projects where the structural and geotechnical engineer are often hired separately by the client, and public (primarily transportation) projects where the geotechnical and structural engineer are likely to be working for the same firm, or one as a sub of the other, was also a major point of discussion.

The conference included 15 technical tracks with presentations on a variety of technical and professional issues in the structural and geotechnical fields. One discussion stood out, related to professional licensure and the attempt by some states to remove the requirement for Professional Engineering licensure for structural design. This debate lead to comments as to how the profession could protect itself from lawsuits due to incompetent individuals designing projects, and the public image of losing the expectation of structures to not fail. Additionally, another discussion spurred from the occurrence in some states that require an S.E. license for certain structures and how that doesn’t allow a geotechnical engineer with a P.E. to design foundations and retaining wall systems in that state, yet they have the ability to design those same structures in other states.

Nine members of the Pittsburgh Section attended. Two members, Greg Holbrook, P.E. of CDM Smith, and Don Cunningham, P.E., of HDR, were able to attend the conference courtesy of SEI Young Professionals Scholarships. This competitive scholarship program is offered annually by the SEI Young Professionals Committee to allow 10 younger members who would otherwise not have the opportunity, to attend. Additionally, Don Splitstone, P.E. and Bruce Roth, P.E., both of GAI, attended to present their paper “Micropiles Ease Historic Bridge Replacement”; Linda Kaplan, P.E., of TRC, and Greg Braun, P.E. of Gannett Fleming, attended and presented “Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Collaboration on a Large Scale Bridge Project: A Case Study of the Hulton Bridge”; Jonathan McHugh, P.E., of Gannett Fleming presented “PHX Sky Train Phase 1 – The Interaction of Structural and Geotechnical Design Considerations”; Dick Gray, P.E., and Robert Hanna, P.E., of DiGioia Gray and Associates, attended as well.

Highlighting the conference was a series of special events and receptions.

The exhibit hall reception on the first night included a Champagne toast by ASCE National President Mark Woodson, PE to commemorate the 20^th anniversary of the institutes and this landmark joint Congress.
On the second evening, at a reception at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, colleagues from around the country networked.
The final night of the conference featured the SEI Futures Fund Reception, hosted by Ashraf Habibullah, President of Computers and Structures, Inc. The event was held in the Phoenix Art Museum and included live music, dancing, and door prizes.

Following the conclusion of the conference, some of the Pittsburgh Section members got a chance to take advantage of the warm Phoenix weather prior to heading back to Pittsburgh. Greg H., Greg B., Jon, and Linda decided to hike Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak) to take in the view.

Three Section Members Join ASCE on Capitol Hill

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 23:44:03 GMT

From ASCE National, edited by Gregory Scott

On March 16^th more than 200 ASCE members from 49 states descended on Capitol Hill to advocate for infrastructure and the civil engineering community. Armed with their everyday civil engineering experiences, issues briefings from the ASCE Government Relations team, and insight from two keynote speakers. Joining them were three members from the Pittsburgh Section, Nat Hayes, Gabby Briffa and Greg Scott. Fly-In attendees spent Wednesday afternoon advocating for a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), water infrastructure funding, and the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization (FAA). In her presentation on Tuesday night, Marion McFadden, deputy assistant secretary for grants programs in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development highlighted Rebuild by Design and HUD’s $1 billion nationwide design competition for infrastructure projects and community programs open to areas affected by natural disaster from 2011-2014. ASCE assisted HUD in the competition this past summer by providing cutting edge engineering expertise in designing resilient infrastructure.

On Wednesday morning, Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) a member the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a former congressional staffer provided not only insight on the current political climate of infrastructure policy in the House but he also offered tips on how to improve the outcomes of Congressional meetings. ASCE members meet with roughly 230 congressional offices this week, including a visit to every congressional in PA. Don’t forget to add your voice to theirs by sending an email to Congress in support of infrastructure investment.

Congratulations Tom Batroney, ASCE-PGH 2015 Young Engineer of the Year

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 00:35:17 GMT

By the ASCE-Pittsburgh Awards Committee and the ASCE Blog Editor

Tom Batroney, PE, ENV SP, is the ASCE-PGH 2015 Young Engineer of the Year. “The Pittsburgh region has so many impressive civil engineering professionals,” says Tom. “To be recognized amongst a great group of professionals feels good.” Tom is currently a Project Engineer with Hatch Mott MacDonald in Pittsburgh where he works on a variety of environmental and water resources related projects. He received his B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Wilkes University in 2001 and his M.S. in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Villanova in 2007. He obtained his P.E. license in 2012. Tom has demonstrated technical, organizational, and managerial skills that have been recognized by his employer and his clients as outstanding.

“Tom has been an exemplar of a civil engineer ever since he came to Pittsburgh,” says colleague, Gregory Scott. “Besides his professional competency, he has demonstrated his leadership with the EWRI Pittsburgh Chapter and then on a National level with EWRI.”

As a member of ASCE, Tom currently serves as a Director for the Pittsburgh Section’s Board and is the Past Chair of the Pittsburgh Section’s Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI). Tom was a key person in expanding the EWRI’s reach through organizing numerous technical and industry-relevant seminars and conferences. He was instrumental in creating the first EWRI graduate student chapter at Carnegie Mellon University. “Fresh and new ideas are needed in all organizations and businesses,” he explains. “Contributions from EWRI student chapters at Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh are perfect examples. Motivated and active new members often will stimulate the entire group and spur new ideas that eventually improve ASCE as a whole.”

He continues to provide unselfish contributions to ASCE and EWRI activities, collaborate with other technical groups and institutes, mentor new members, and provide valuable guidance to the Pittsburgh EWRI Student Chapter. More recently, Tom has risen to the challenge of forming and leading the Pittsburgh Section’s Sustainability Committee, addressing one of the Society’s strategic initiatives. “There are tools out there that civil engineers can use to evaluate the sustainability of their projects,” Tom says. “My goal is turn the somewhat nebulous word 'sustainability' into something more clear for engineers to understand how it relates to their projects.”

In addition to these professional achievements, Tom has shown a very strong commitment to various community activities, most notable of which are the Regent Square Gateway Project Team, and the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association.“It was no surprise to me to volunteer for a stream clean up last fall and run into Tom there volunteering along with many local community members,” says Mr. Scott. “He is a terrific person who deeply cares about the environment.”

Pittsburgh Hosts Eastern Regional Younger Member Council

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:32:39 GMT

By Linda Kaplan.P.E., Gregory Holbrook, P.E., and Karen Mueser, P.E.

On February 12 & 13, 2016 the Pittsburgh Younger Member Forum hosted the 2016 Eastern Regional Younger Member Council (ERYMC) at the Multi-Region Leadership Conference (MRLC) for Regions 1, 2, 4, & 5.

The MRLC also included the Workshop for Section and Branch Leaders (WSBL) and Workshop for Student Chapter Leaders (WSCL).

The entire conference brought over 450 leaders from across the nation to the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh to attend business meetings, leadership training, and networking events. We also had the pleasure of hosting ASCE Executive Director Tom Smith, 2016 ASCE President Mark Woodson, P.E., 2016 ASCE President-Elect Norma Jean Mattei, P.E., and two ASCE 2017 President-Elect nominees, Kristina Swallow, P.E., and Robin Kemper, P.E.

Highlights of the conference included a Presentation on Professional Ethics by ASCE Legal Counsel Tara Hoke, who used case studies to illustrate multiple ways in which conflicts of interest can come up and best practices to address them. Following Tara’s presentation an Order of the Engineer Induction Ceremony was held. Seven Pittsburgh Section members, including 3 students, participated in the ceremony, vowing to maintain the highest of ethical standards in all engineering pursuits. Other presentations included “Digital Etiquette,” discussing proper e-mail and cell phone usage in the workplace, and “What Makes a Leader?” which discussed how ability and motivation must be used together to successfully lead. Roundtable sessions and Best Practice breakouts rounded out the technical program.

The Conference also included the Annual ERYMC Business Meeting, a time when the Council comes together to make proposals to ASCE National, discuss industry issues, and make recommendations for future conferences, including location. This year’s meeting included a lively discussion on ASCE’s “Raise the Bar” initiative to require 30 credit hours past the Bachelor’s Degree before obtaining a Professional License. Younger Members were split on their support of the initiative, with some feeling strongly that more education is required and would bring us in line with other respected professions, while others felt that the cost was prohibitive and working experience applying the sciences was more important towards licensure. The meeting also included a vote to add a new award next year to recognize a younger member who has done outstanding work in government relations and advocacy. Finally, the council was charged with deciding the location of the 2018 conference - in a vote between Orlando, FL and Buffalo, NY - Buffalo was selected.

Two off-site networking events were included with the conference. The largest event, the joint social, was held at the Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36, www.jeromebettisgrille36.com, on the North Shore and was attended by over half of the conference attendees – nearly 250 people! Food and drinks were included, and attendees as they were able to mix and mingle in a less formal setting that also included a photobooth by which to remember the conference! The more formal ERYMC Awards dinner took place on Saturday night at the LeMont Restaurant on Mt. Washington. The evening began with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner and the presentations of six awards. The award winners were:

Outstanding Practitioner Advisor: Mr. Alex Hinkle, E.I., Florida Section, East Central Branch
Outstanding Young Civil Engineer in the Private Sector: Mr. Brett Manzie, P.E., Florida Section, Jacksonville Branch
Outstanding Young Civil Engineer in the Public Sector: Ms. Sarah Missenda, P.E., Pittsburgh Section
Outstanding Younger Member in Community Activities: Mr. Jesse Gormley, P.E., Philadelphia Section
Outstanding Younger Member Group Project: Nashville Younger Member Group, The Salvation Army Angel Tree Activity
Younger Member Peers Group Award: Pittsburgh Younger Member Forum

Section member Lauren Dziagwa, EIT attended the conference and said, “Overall, the ERYMC conference was a great networking and leadership event. I had the opportunity to meet and reconnect with younger engineers from across the eastern U.S., learn more about ASCE and its operations, and develop professional and leadership skills that will help me throughout my career.”

Conference feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and the YMF is proud to say it was a resounding success! It was possible with the hard work of the planning committee and the generous support of our sponsors including:

Thanks to the support of the Pittsburgh engineering community we had a fantastic and memorable conference!

Hulton Bridge Replacement Project Wins Civil Engineering Achievement Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 12:26:52 GMT

Press Release from Gannett Fleming

March 22, 2016 (Pittsburgh, Pa.) The Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers has awarded the Hulton Bridge Replacement Project the 2015 Civil Engineering Achievement Award. Gannett Fleming served as the prime consultant on the replacement bridge.

The Hulton Bridge is a vital connection between the communities of Oakmont Borough and Harmar Township across the Allegheny River. It provides efficient access to the regional transportation connections, as well as the PA Turnpike. However, the condition and functionality of the existing Hulton Bridge, built in 1908, did not meet the traffic demands of the growing communities, was structurally deficient and continued to deteriorate at a costly rate.

Located in PennDOT District 11-0, the new Hulton Bridge, a 1,633-foot-long multi-span, steel, haunched girder structure, represents a close collaboration between the owner and community resulting in a structure which is both elegant and efficient. The new structure improves safety, traffic level-of-service, and functionality. The bridge aesthetics are unique, resulting in a structure which will become both a gathering point and an icon to the community.

The design and construction timing for this high-profile project was critical, as Oakmont Country Club will host the United States Golf Association U.S. Open tournament in June 2016. When Oakmont hosted the tournament in 2007, more than 250,000 spectators, as well as golfers, staff, and media members, flocked to the community for six days. The original two-lane Hulton Bridge contributed to heavy congestion and traffic problems throughout the week. In anticipation of the 2016 tournament, the final design was accelerated for a 2013 completion, allowing two-and-a-half years for construction to finish before the U.S. Open.

“The Hulton Bridge Replacement Project demonstrated sensitivity to the community needs, safety, and aesthetics and will provide a vital link as it replaces the over 100-year-old Jonathan Hulton Bridge,” said N. Catherine Bazán-Arias, Ph.D., PE, F.ASCE, president of the Pittsburgh Section of ASCE.

The Civil Engineering Achievement Award is presented to a civil engineering project that contributes to the well-being of people and community, utilizes resourcefulness in planning and solutions of design problems, pioneers the use of materials and methods, uses innovations in construction, take impact on the environment into consideration and has unusual aspects and aesthetic values.

Gannett Fleming has served as an engineering consulting partner in global infrastructure for 100 years. We improve communities through transportation, environmental, water, power, and facility-related projects in more than 65 countries. Our 2,000 employees deliver innovation and excellence in planning, design, technology, and construction management services for a diverse range of markets and disciplines. From more than 60 offices around the world, we embrace sustainability and innovation, finding the best solutions and the most efficient processes to meet our clients’ complex challenges. Founded in 1915, Gannett Fleming had $352 million in revenues in 2015. We are proud to be ISO 9001:2008 Certified. For more information, visit www.gannettfleming.com.

10th Annual Dodgeball Tournament Highlights Teamwork and Creativity

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:50:16 GMT

By Louis Gualtieri, P.E.

The Pittsburgh Section American Society of Civil Engineers Younger Member Forum (YMF) hosted their 10^th Annual Dodgeball Tournament on Saturday February 20^th, 2016 held on CMU’s campus.

This year 6 teams partook in the tournament. The tournament began with a round robin to seed the teams going into the playoffs, similar to what you would see in FIFA’s World Cup. The eventual winner was Slumdodgeball Millionaires (seen left with their championship trophy) defeating Off Constantly, and yes those were the team names.

In the Mass Dodgeball tournament in between the round robin round and the playoff bracket, it was every man (and woman) for themselves. The last man standing was Sam North, a student from the University of Pittsburgh team (The Dodgefathers).

The prize, in addition to the medal and bragging rights, was tickets to the Mattress Factory contemporary art museum and experimental lab.

The YMF’s annual Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Ticket Raffle (tickets donated by HDR, Inc.) was pulled at the dodgeball tournament with two winners selected, each winning a pair of tickets. The winners were Shirley Clapperton (ticket sold by YMF President Elect, Lou Gualtieri) and Mark Burkhart (ticket sold by YMF Treasurer & Dodgeball Committee Chair, Jeff Argyros.)

The YMF also thanks Papa John’s Pizza who donated pizzas for the event; the pizzas were sold as a fundraiser.

All participants had inspired fun exercising mind and body, and making new friends and colleagues among the next generation of Pittsburgh Civil Engineers.

Follow YMF to see what they will do next year!

Beyond Timbuktu: Stepping Outside the Engineering Comfort Zone

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 22:36:16 GMT

From CE News, by Cathy Bazxn-Arias

After dusk, we were limited to sparkling conversation and viewing what flashlight illumination allowed. It was probably for the best: Every day, as soon as daylight broke, the roosters and oxen would greet one another from one end of the village to the other, and thus, most mornings began early.

Welcome to Makili, Mali. Located a few hundred kilometers southwest from the fabled city of Timbuktu, Makili is an agricultural village with approximately 1,400 people. The seasons fluctuate between dry and rainy and cool and hot. Because of its relatively flat topography, there is limited storage of water in the form of lakes or ponds for fishing, one of the main sources of protein for the community. Thus, in 2007, through a contact from the Peace Corps, the University of Pittsburgh Student Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-Pitt) endeavored to aid Makilians in addressing their nutritional needs by providing technical, educational, and financial assistance.

During my stay as mentor, the EWB-Pitt team conducted a detailed survey for a future permanent fish pond site; held meetings with community leaders and members; interviewed health officials; and integrated into village life, which included getting used to well water and ground latrines. These conditions quickly become part of the daily routine alongside sleeping under the stars and working around the hottest hours of the day, which easily reached well above 110° F. But what I’ll remember most is the warmth and courtesy that everyone from the village chief to the Peace Corps volunteers to the smallest toddler extended to us—the spirit of hospitality is alive and active in Makili.

All aspiring and experienced engineers should work at least once during their careers in a project that challenges their comfort zone. Whether it is on a greater-than-life project or addressing the fundamental infrastructure needs of a village community, it is not until you are charged with effectively understanding and communicating with contractors, regulators, community members, scientists, and engineers in another part of the country or the world that one appreciates what civil engineers do and the impact our work makes. How often do you think that your work is not significant or just "routine," or that people don’t understand what you do? It is because of this lack of understanding and low sense of appreciation that I think we contend with several issues in our profession ranging from bidding procedures and commodity-versus-professional services to outsourcing and professional licensing.

The main challenge for engineers to gain this experience is the willingness to step outside our comfort zone. "Why do I need to work elsewhere (even temporarily)?" "What can I do/learn in another state/country?" "My language/writing skills will limit my experience/contribution in the project." These are expressions of apprehension rather than lack of ability. The saying, "Where there’s a will there’s a way," is applicable now more than ever for engineers willing to experience unique projects—from EWB to the Peace Corps to Habitat for Humanity and disaster-relief volunteer opportunities. It really is a matter of mind over matter.

If you can step outside your comfort zone, then perhaps, as you watch the brightly lit stars lying on your yoga mat (memo to self: invest in an air mattress) through mosquito netting and ponder, "What am I doing here?", you will likely recall something throughout the day that will provide the answer. Remember the neighbors’ questions as they watch you take survey readings, or the children’s laughter as they curiously eye your calculator and notes. You will remember being extra careful with tools and machinery so that no one is hurt (OSHA would be proud) and the sense of responsibility on your shoulders because the best hope for the community’s needs is your work. And you will more than likely enjoy a good night’s rest. Until the oxen and roosters rouse you.

Tanana River Bridge: The Impacts of Globalization and Sub-Zero Temperatures on Construction

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:24:41 GMT

By: Greg Holbrook, P.E.

Approximately 80 members and guests attended the Annual Joint Dinner between The Pittsburgh Association for Bridge Construction & Design (ABCD) and the ASCE Pittsburgh Section SEI Chapter at Cefalo’s Banquet and Event Center in Carnegie on January 21, 2016.

The technical presentation of the evening was the “Design and Construction of the Tanana River Bridge” located near Salcha, Alaska.

Robert Stachel, P.E., Executive Vice President of HRV Inc., discussed the challenging characteristics of the design and construction of this bridge.

The Tanana River Bridge is Alaska’s longest bridge at 3,300 ft in length, and cost $188 Million for design and construction. The bridge, owned by the Alaska Railroad, consists of over 20 structural steel 165 ft. long spans. The structure provides the military with year-round ground access to training ranges and to supply fuel to bases in the future.

Mr. Stachel focused on the unusual fabrication of the structure. With a winning bid from an Asian fabricator, the design and construction team traveled across the Pacific to witness the magnitude of fabrication opportunities that the Asian market has to offer; economies of scale, high-tech equipment, new facilities, etc. Attendees became acutely aware of the necessity for equipment and facilities of this nature in the United States to compete with global steel fabricators and manufacturers. In this case, the fabricator for the Tanana River Bridge constructed a new facility specifically for this project with state-of-the-art equipment and QA/QC measures.

Mr. Stachel also discussed the challenge of transporting the components and construction on a remote site. After shipping the components of the superstructure to Alaska without issue, the team then had the task of transporting the components from the coast to the project site. This meant moving large members on trucks, traveling down highways and roadways with little traction, or in some cases completely ice covered roads (think Ice Road Truckers!). In one instance a steel girder fell off the bed of the truck and sat off to the side of the road, contorted in many directions, for a lengthy amount of time before being able to be hoisted back onto a truck and continuing to the site. After much professional discussion and testing, this specific girder was determined to be straight and usable in the final structure.

Additional project challenges stemmed from the sub-zero temperatures, including difficulties driving sheet piles into frozen ground, causing them to bend at shallow depths. Additional factors not normally seen on construction projects here in the Pittsburgh Area included weather related welding issues and issues for construction workers on site.

The social hour for colleagues and professionals to interact continued to the dinner hour.

Attendees earned 1.0 Professional Development Hour (PDH).

We extend appreciation to Robert Stachel, P.E. and HRV Inc. for sharing their knowledge and experience, and the joint efforts of all ABCD & Pittsburgh SEI Chapter committee members and leadership for their work on another successful Joint Dinner opportunity for Civil Engineer members to build and maintain technical and professional skills.

Congratulations Bill Gross, ASCE-PGH 2015 Engineer of the Year

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 13:57:31 GMT

Article by ASCE Awards Committee and ASCE Blog Editor

Bill Gross, P.E. is the recipient of the 2015 ASCE-Pittsburgh Engineer of the Year Award. “Any successes of which I’ve been a part are the result of working for a company that tries to do the right thing – and of working within a western Pennsylvania Engineering community rich with talented and dedicated engineers who continue to accomplish great things!” says Bill. “I’m truly humbled that ASCE considered my contributions worthy of such an honor.”

Bill Gross is a Vice President and Transportation Section Manager at the Pittsburgh office of HDR. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University in 1984, he began his career in the New York/New Jersey area before returning to his western Pennsylvania roots in 1988 to take on many challenging opportunities with HDR where he’s remained for the last 28 years. “Managing HDR’s transportation section allows me to work closely within an exceptional team to meet our clients’ needs – while providing staff members with opportunities to achieve their personal goals and expand horizons,” Bill explains.

Bill’s other professional endeavors include having dedicated many years of service to ASCE and other professional societies toward the advancement of the Pennsylvania transportation industry. Bill recently completed 8 years in leadership roles of the Pittsburgh Section of ASCE, including President of the Section, 2012-13, during which time he prioritized the expansion of the Section’s Program of Educational Outreach to school students. He received the Section’s Service to People Award in 2008.

“Bill has always been the consummate professional in all of his endeavors, whether in his role as a Section Manager, or in leadership roles with ASCE or other professional organizations,” says Ralph Gilbert, friend and colleague for over 25 years. “The best thing about working with Bill is that you know he is going to do the right thing in every situation and that he can be depended upon to get the job done right, no matter what it takes.”

Bill has been active in leadership roles in a number of other professional societies including Director and President of the Pittsburgh and Southwest Penn Sections of ASHE and Director of ACEC. He has also been very involved in the Western Pennsylvania Coordinator for the Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition, a group which greatly contributed to the successful passage of the Act 89 Transportation Funding Bill in 2013.

Bill is a native Pittsburgher, having grown up in the Hazelwood section of the city. “My favorite part of growing up in Pittsburgh is the warm and friendly – yet strong-willed and determined people who inhabit this little corner of Pennsylvania!” he says.

He is an active member of St. Teresa of Avila Parish, where he coached the grade school junior varsity program. As the father of three daughters, Bill found his love for coaching youth sports far more rewarding as a family activity when he had to opportunity to manage his daughters’ fast-pitch softball teams for a decade.

Bill is also an avid runner who logs twenty to twenty-five miles per week (or as many as PennDOT’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project will allow!), and enjoys trying to eclipse his personal bests in the Pittsburgh Half-Marathon and other annual events. Bill has resided in an early 19th century Ross Township farmhouse for the past 25 years and is the very proud father of Ally (25), Katie (22), and Kimmie (20).

Envision Part Three - A Rating System for Sustainable Infrastructure

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:28:06 GMT

Tom Batroney, PE, ENV SP, M.ASCE – ASCE Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee Chair

Jason J. Borne, PE, CPSWQ, ENV SP, M.ASCE – ASCE Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee Vice Chair

This is the third part in a series of ASCE-Pittsburgh articles related to the Envision Rating System. The first part of the series introduced the Envision Rating System and how it can be a valuable tool for engineers to evaluate the sustainability of projects.

Sustainable Development includes the four interconnected domains: Ecology, Economics, Politics, and Culture. Sustainability is the capacity to endure and can also be defined as a socio-ecological process characterized by the pursuit of a common ideal.

Part One introduced the vision and goals of the Envision rating system. Part one can be read here.

Part Two, provided a high level overview of the specific sustainability categories and subcategories within the Envision Rating System. Part two can be read here.

Envision, developed partly by the American Society of Civil Engineers, is a rating system that provides engineers a standardized tool for evaluating the level of sustainability for the diverse sectors of civil engineering infrastructure projects including:

Transportation
Parks
Dams
Energy
Stormwater
Water
Wastewater

Envision includes a series of companion tools to help engineers evaluate the sustainability metrics of their projects. These companion tools are independent tools developed to assist and compliment the Envision Rating System itself. The following companion tools are discussed within this third installment of the Envision Rating System article series:

The Envision Self-Assessment Check List
The Envision Business Case Evaluator Tool for Stormwater and Transit Projects

The Envision Self-Assessment Check List is a companion tool that provides project engineers and designers with a quick and easy way to evaluate the potential sustainability of project in a series of “Yes-No” questions pertaining to the categories and subcategories with the Envision Rating System. The checklist is not meant as a replacement for the category scoring criteria within the Envision Rating System; however the checklist is a valuable tool for providing the project team with a high-level assessment of potential sustainability elements that can be addressed during the planning and design phase. The value of the checklist tool is that it provides “sustainability self-awareness” at the beginning stages of a project. By using the checklist tool potential overlooked sustainability elements can be identified at the early stages of the project to potentially be incorporated into the design.

The Self-Assessment Checklist is a spreadsheet based tool in Excel format. As the user progresses with each individual “Yes-No” question in the checklist, the percentage potential sustainability credit categories addressed in the Envision Rating System are graphically displayed as percentage of potential Envision categories addressed. As previously stated, the checklist is not a replacement for the Rating System itself because many of the categories within Envision are scored differently and have varying points depending on the credit addressed. The checklist is available at the ISI website upon registration (https://sustainableinfrastructure.org/).

The Business Case Evaluator (BCE) is an Envision Rating System companion tool developed to provide economic value-based and risk-adjusted analyses of infrastructure projects. The BCE was developed in conjunction with the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s (ISI) Economics Committee and ISI Charter Member and Envision Qualified Company, Impact Infrastructure.

Two modules of the BCE for two civil engineering sectors currently exist: Stormwater and Transit. The Stormwater BCE is currently on Version 3, while the Transit BCE released its first version in December 2015. These BCE tools are directly linked to related Envision Rating System credits, providing the ability to understand the potential economic impact in conjunction with specific sustainability elements within Envision.

The Stormwater BCE module is designed to evaluate the economic value of stormwater management projects particularly with respect to green infrastructure to produce triple bottom line (Social, Environmental, Economic) benefits. The results of the Stormwater BCE provide an estimated monetary value for triple bottom line green infrastructure benefits including, but not limited to:

Potential increased property value in the project location,
Economic value of the reduction in water quality pollutant loads,
Economic value of added green space, and
Economic value of air pollution particulates reduced.

The tool also calculates “negative” economic values such as capital construction and operation and maintenance costs. All costs are performed on a user-entered project life-span basis.

The Transit BCE module is very similar to the Stormwater BCE but instead of green infrastructure, the Transit BCE evaluates the benefits of transit improvements on a neighborhood or region. The Transit BCE evaluates potential new transit infrastructures of different types, as well as operational improvements in existing transit, and calculates the potential economic benefits of the transit improvements relative to a base transportation case.

The Stomwater and Transit BCE modules contain explanations of assumptions and calculation methods, as well as provides direct references to the economic studies used to develop the assumptions made in the calculations.

Both the Stormwater and Transit BCE modules provide a Monte Carlo simulation to determine the uncertainty in the range of input assumptions and will calculate confidence levels for the calculated economic return value. If desired, the input economic variables in each module may be modified by the user to further refine the calculations. The property value estimates are pulled from online housing data for nearly all major cities within the United States and Canada based on the zip code of the project location.

The primary benefit of the BCE Envision companion tools is that they provide a way to estimate the possible economic return value of a project based upon the project’s location. Knowledge of this value in the planning and design phase can be extremely useful for engineers for obtaining project buy-in from public officials and neighboring residents. Additionally, the results of the BCE analysis are directly linked to the Envision Rating System to determine the sustainability credits which can be obtained by the project and relative “worth” of an Envision credit.

The BCE tool is a spreadsheet based tool in Excel format. The BCE is hosted and maintained by Impact Infrastructure on the Impact Infrastructure website. Impact Infrastructure has also developed software called AutoCASE that streamlines the BCE analysis outside of Excel in an easy to use web-based platform, as well as provides the ability to directly link to AutoCAD designs and quickly perform BCE analysis based on various design alternatives. AutoCASE also provides detailed reporting summary analysis and customizable graphing ability for displaying results for presentation purposes.

This Part Three of the article series has provided a short summary of some of the companion tools that are available within the Envision Rating System for evaluating the sustainability of civil infrastructure projects. In the upcoming (and final) (?) Part Four of the article series we will take a look at how the Envision Rating System is being used locally by civil engineers within the Pittsburgh Region.

For more information on becoming involved within ASCE Pittsburgh’s Sustainability Committee visit our webpage at: http://www.asce-pgh.org/SustainabilityCommittee

Geo-Institute and PGS Hosts ”Preventing Coal Waste Impoundment Breakthroughs into Underground Mines”

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 16:12:10 GMT

By Alex Potter-Weight

More than 80 Pittsburgh Geological Society and ASCE members and guests gathered at the Foster’s Restaurant on Wednesday, January 20^th for a joint meeting of PGS and the Geo-Institute. As part of the meeting, Peter R. Michael, PG, presented the lecture “Preventing Coal Waste Impoundment Breakthroughs into Underground Mines.” The topic featured a famous case study of a breakthrough in eastern Kentucky in 2000, and included recommendations for preventing future events and recent research on the subject of coal waste flow.

On October 11, 2000, over 300 million gallons of water and coal waste slurry drained from a coal waste impoundment in Martin County, Kentucky into an adjacent underground coal mine. Most of that material then discharged from two mine portals and affected more than 75 miles or rivers and streams in the surrounding area.

To prevent future catastrophic events, the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) and partnering agencies undertook a significant investigation of possible causes and an assessment of current coal waste impoundment practices. Mr. Michael took part in this project with OSMRE and one of the key points in his presentation focused on proper initial accounting of all mineable coal seams in the vicinity of the facility. He demonstrated why sole reliance on existing mine maps should be avoided and that other methods such as local interviews, drilling, and geophysical investigations should be considered. These practices allow for more accurate and complete identifications of underground mines that could affect the stability of the impoundment. Next, Mr. Michael discussed the importance of analyzing the quality of the existing barriers preventing breakthroughs. Finally, the presentation concluded with an in-depth discussion of the properties of coal waste slurries and the features that would indicate high flowability. An analysis of flow properties of coal waste was recently performed by Dr. David Zeng of Case Western Reserve University. The research focused primarily on the moisture content and plasticity of the material in determining the susceptibility of the waste slurries to high flow rates.

Attendees earned 1.0 Professional Development Hour (PDH) for the presentation from the Pittsburgh Geological Society and the Geo-Institute Chapter of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section. This annual joint technical dinner meeting between the two societies also included a social hour to network with other professional leaders, and a buffet dinner.

Roadblocks remain for autonomous cars

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:48:05 GMT

By Stephanie Roman from Public Source

Ninety percent of car crashes are preventable.

As it stands, about 30,000 people die in car crashes every year in the United States, said Mark Kopko of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation [PennDOT]. “If you could reduce that by 90 percent, that’s huge.”

Autonomous cars have the capacity to do that.

In Allegheny County, that could mean a vast reduction in the roughly 12,000 crashes in 2014 — especially of those attributed to driver error, like drunk or distracted driving and speeding.

The technology isn’t a distant dream. Much of it is being researched and designed here in Pittsburgh.

Ride-sharing app company Uber and Carnegie Mellon University [CMU] announced a partnership to work on autonomous cars a year ago. Uber set up an Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh, where they have access to CMU’s talent as well as its National Robotics Engineering Center.

The cars could reduce congested parking and allow commuters to prepare for work. Eventually, they might even provide people unable to drive with access to safe and reliable transportation from their doorsteps.

But Pittsburgh’s varied weather, the resulting pothole problem and the city’s erratic streets may throw up roadblocks for these smart cars. And, the overall safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and other motorists is already a concern without the added factor of cars governed by nascent technology.

Figuring out how to legislate a cutting-edge technology poses another challenge. Some states have passed regulations creating safety measures for the testing of autonomous cars, but not Pennsylvania.

A state workgroup is making preparations to be ready for self-driving cars by the year 2040.

“There’s still too many questions and the potentials are there, so that’s the beauty,” said Kopko, PennDOT manager of traveler information and advanced vehicle technology.

The car decides

In 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defined five stages of vehicle autonomy, with level 0 being that the driver has full control of steering, brakes and throttle, and level 4 meaning that the car performs all functions independently.

Some commercial vehicles are already considered levels 1 and 2, with functions like automatic braking, adaptive cruise control and self-parking.

But there’s much to be achieved before level-4 cars chauffeur people around town.

Fully autonomous vehicles need to cover two domains: highway driving and urban driving.

“Technologically, we’re pretty much there in terms of highway driving,” said John Dolan, principal systems scientist at CMU’s Robotics Institute. The demands of urban driving are “problematic,” he continued. “Nobody’s really claiming they’ve solved it.”

There are three major fields when it comes to teaching cars to drive themselves: perception, behaviors and motion planning.

Perception is how the cars see. They do that with sensors, like cameras, lasers testing distance, and radars detecting speed.

Behaviors are how the car makes tactical decisions, like choosing to merge into the Fort Pitt Tunnel or moving ahead at a stop sign.

Motion planning is the time the car has to make those decisions. It’s the most difficult aspect to design. While a car's sensors would be able to detect if a deer leapt out unexpectedly, it still may not be able to avoid a collision.

Many automakers are working on models of autonomous cars, and liability is a major concern.

“There’s reliability issues. Kind of like NASA and the space industry, they’re going to test it rigorously over the course of several years,” Dolan said. “They need redundancy.”

The cars also need massive computing power, which Dolan said may be the most expensive feature.

It’s likely that the first autonomous cars on the market will be luxury vehicles, and the costs will increase from there. Dolan estimated prices will start at about $60,000 to $75,000.

Street talk

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk says his company will have autonomous cars road-ready in about two years.

Some autonomous car and tech developers say city planners shouldn’t get carried away with changes to infrastructure to make way for these cars as their capabilities will continue to evolve.

Certain changes would help, though. Cities, including Pittsburgh, may need to consider standardizing traffic signals and redesigning “problem intersections.”

For example, bizarre on-ramps, traffic lights and one-way signs between Bedford Avenue, Crosstown Boulevard and I-376 in the Hill District could confuse car computers just as much as they do humans — unless it’s been extensively mapped.

Another improvement would be to install dedicated short-range communication in traffic lights, which would signal cars when to go or slow down.

Cooperation among states may also be needed.

“There’s a huge amount of variations on [street] signs between states,” said Blaine Leonard, program manager for intelligent transportation systems at the Utah DOT. “We need to do a better job of figuring out how to make those more consistent.”

PennDOT doesn’t have major investments planned, although the agency is staying abreast of the technology. Eventually, it may look at reducing lane width or cutting out interstate lanes entirely.

One suggestion in PennDOT’s 2040 outline is to reduce the width of the Squirrel Hill tunnel lanes to 10 feet, and to add a third 9-foot lane for autonomous cars.

Kopko said the only near-term project would involve line painting.

“Some [vehicles] look at lines and some don’t,” he said.

Leonard added that white line paint isn’t as visible at night or in inclement weather, and it fades. One solution, he said, might be to put radio frequency identification, known as RFID, in the line paint.

If autonomous cars truly revolutionize the way people get around, what happens to all the parking?

“Because of the way that they circulate, the demand for parking may go down in the city. Those types of vehicles may park on the fringes for free or for cheap,” said Justin Miller, a senior planner for the city of Pittsburgh.

Miller said planners may have to consider making new parking structures adaptable, in case they become unneeded.

PennDOT agrees.

“In an urban setting, the amount of parking garages could be potential green space,” said Kurt Myers, deputy secretary of PennDOT driver and vehicle services.

Legislating the unknown

Legislating autonomous vehicles is a hurdle because of the liability involved.

“[The government willl] start to or need to get involved from a safety perspective, at least to make sure this stuff is deployed responsibly,” said Dean Pomerleau, an adjunct robotics professor at CMU and pioneer of self-driving technology. “And despite whatever Elon Musk and the tech guys say, there will be crashes.”

California and a handful of other states have enacted regulations permitting autonomous vehicle testing on public roads and establishing baseline safety measures — primarily that licensed drivers need to be in the car to take control if necessary.

In January, President Barack Obama and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced they would pump $4 billion into autonomous car development over the next decade.

Foxx said the proposal will ease legislative and financial obstacles for auto and tech companies developing the cars.

PennDOT formed the Pennsylvania Connected and Automated Vehicle Working Group in 2012. It includes lawyers and representatives from the Turnpike Commission, the Federal Highway Administration and CMU.

The 2040 outline is the most official item on the books right now. There are no state regulations regarding autonomous cars in place.

With the rate of car turnover, Leonard, of the Utah DOT, said it could take 40 years for autonomous cars to become the norm.

“Even when autonomous vehicles are available and in operation, it will be a long time before they are fully integrated,” Myers said.

Removing a barrier

Autonomous cars will need a licensed driver in the seat — at least at first. But someday people who are unable to drive on their own could have the same access to cars.

Peri Jude Radecic, CEO of the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, said this could be life-changing for people with disabilities.

“In rural areas, the problems are magnified, so having another transportation option available to us would be a great advance forward,” she said.

Radecic said transportation departments and the government should ensure autonomous cars are developed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“It would save a lot of money and headaches down the road if we’re able to have these conversations ... now,” she said.

Many experts say that, like an Uber, autonomous vehicles will probably be available to order as taxis at first. They could become a choice alternative for people who live too far from their bus stop to walk or bike, but still want to be economical about transport.

“This really has the potential to impact the quality of life from a mobility standpoint for individuals literally across the world,” Myers said.

Leonard thought about how it could change his and his cohort’s future.

“I really think for [the Baby Boomer] generation the driverless car thing is really going to make it possible to participate in society when we can’t be driving,” he said.

The dream for many involved in the development of autonomous cars is that people without licenses will be able to get around without having to rely on friends or public transportation.

“It may very well be where people look back and say, ‘How archaic it is that you had to sit behind a wheel,’” Myers said.

Reach PublicSource reporter Stephanie Roman at sroman@publicsource.org. Follow her on Twitter @ShogunSteph. Read the original article here.

ASCE Courses as State Licensing Board-Approved Continuing Education Courses for FL and NY

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:20:43 GMT

By Michael Krepsik

Anyone with a PE license in a state requiring Board-approved courses can tell you about the difficulties they’ve had finding, traveling to, and registering for courses. If you are an out-of-state PE trying to maintain a license, the opportunities to achieve the required continuing education credits can be daunting. The states of Florida and New York are notability difficult and the regulations are confusing. As a Florida license holder and co-workers with several New York PE’s, I set out to learn the continuing education requirements for the 2015-2017 renewal cycle and, specifically, if local and National ASCE courses and webinars would count for continuing education credit for either state.

Florida

For the 2015-2017 renewal cycle, Florida has completely dropped the requirement for 8 PDHs in Board-approved courses. Instead, a total of 18 PDHs are now required, 1 hour of which must cover ethics and 1 hour of which must cover laws and rules. While waiving the Board-approved course requirement initially sounds promising, the language in Florida’s statues about qualifying continuing education courses is vague and outdated. And of course, if you are audited and fail to supply sufficient back-up information, your license maybe revoked. For example, a continuing education course is typically considered acceptable if the provider is registered as a continuing education provider with NCEES, a regionally accredited educational institution, a commercial educator, a governmental agency, or a state of national professional association whose primary purpose is to promote the profession of engineering. Based on my conversation with a contact at the Florida Board of Engineers, MOST courses offered by ASCE on the local or national level will qualify towards license renewal. I include the caveat MOST, as item 9 under Non-Qualifying Activities includes such language as “Courses the content of which is below the level of knowledge and skill that reflects the responsibility of engineer in charge.” Bad punctuation and grammar aside, this statement leads me to believe that if the Florida Board doesn’t feel a particular course is not presented at a high enough level then that course will not be counted towards bi-annual credits.

Take-Away – ASCE courses should count but make sure you obtain more PDHs than you need as not everything may count!

New York

For the 2015-2017 renewal cycle, New York will continue to require 36 hours of continuing education for engineers, with a minimum of 1 hour on ethics. A minimum of 18 hours must be obtained through courses and a maximum of 18 hours may be in educational activities, such as preparing and teaching courses, publishing a journal or book, making a technical presentation, obtaining a patent, and a few other options. To be considered acceptable, the courses/education activities must be:

Administered by an approved New York State provider
About an approved subject area
Submitted in an approved format
Include opportunity for immediate interaction with an instructor/presenter.

While the ASCE National live webinar series seem to meet the above requirements, I was unable to ascertain if ASCE National is an approved provider. The Metropolitan Section of ASCE is listed as an approved provider of courses, in order to provide their members with local presentations which yield valid PDHs. The only reference on the ASCE National website (and the general consensus when I called) concerning the suitability of ASCE national webinar courses for continuing education requirements was that engineers are advised to check with their state licensing boards before registering for a course to determine eligibility. The few out-of-state New York PE’s I spoke with indicated that they usually booked a 2 or 3-day seminar in New York state each year to fulfill the bulk of their requirements; then looked for specialty on-line courses from vendors who are approved providers.

Take-Away – Research carefully before registering and learn the approved course sponsors: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pels/pecesedsponsors.htm (Tip: most approved courses will proudly announce they are approved in New York; obtaining an approved course certification is not easy.)

Envision - A Rating System for Sustainable Infrastructure

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:52:20 GMT

Tom Batroney, PE, ENV SP, M.ASCE – ASCE Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee Chair

Jason J. Borne, PE, CPSWQ, ENV SP, M.ASCE – ASCE Pittsburgh Sustainability Committee Vice Chair

This is the second part in a series of ASCE-Pittsburgh articles related to the Envision Rating System. The first part of the series introducing the system can be read here.

The Envision Rating System, developed in part by the American Society of Civil Engineers, provides engineers a standardized tool for evaluating the level of sustainability for the diverse sectors of civil engineering infrastructure projects including:

Transportation
Parks
Dams
Energy
Stormwater
Water
Wastewater

The intention of the rating system is to provide a holistic method for evaluating sustainability metrics throughout the life cycle of projects.

This installment of the article series discusses the five categories within the Envision Rating System: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Risk. Each category is further subdivided into subcategories that include detailed credits. In total, the rating system is made up of 60 subcategory credits that evaluate a specific project component related to sustainability. The categories and subcategories are intended to capture the level of sustainability in a simple and understandable credit system approach. As more credits are accumulated within the categories and subcategories, the greater the overall sustainability rating of the project. These credits can then be applied for achieving an official Envision Certification Award for the project (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze). The following is a short description of each category and subcategory.

Quality of Life

Quality of Life addresses a project’s impact on host and affected communities. These impacts may be physical, economic, or social. Quality of Life focuses on assessing whether infrastructure projects align with community goals, are incorporated into existing community networks, and will benefit the community in the long term. Community members affected by the project are considered important stakeholders in the decision-making process. The category is further divided into three subcategories: Purpose, Wellbeing, and Community. Many of these questions address the question: “Are we doing the right project?”

Leadership

The Leadership category addresses a team’s ability to communicate and collaborate with a wide variety of people in fostering ideas for a successful project. The category is subdivided into three subcategories: Collaboration, Management, and Planning. The credits for Collaboration pertain to involving stakeholders to capture ideas and foster innovation across project groups. The intent is to improve communication across teams and stakeholders allowing for cross pollination of ideas. The Management subcategory deals with creating collaborations between various systems within a project, thus reducing waste and often times cost. The Planning subcategory is intended to increase the project team’s awareness of long-term factors which may impact the project. Understanding planning issues, such as the regulatory environment and future growth trends in the area, can lead to a project that avoids pitfalls and plans effectively.

Resource Allocation

The Resource Allocation category addresses the materials used in the construction and operation for the lifespan of the project. The category is subdivided into three subcategories: Materials, Energy, and Water. For each subcategory, the quantity, source, and characteristics of these resources and their impacts on the overall sustainability of the project are assessed. In general, the category assesses the ability of the project to limit the amount of:

Finite materials used on the project,
Non-renewable fossil fuel energy sources, and
Water consumption.

There are also additional credits for emphasizing monitoring systems during operations.

Natural World

Infrastructure projects have an impact on the natural world around them, including habitats, species, and nonliving natural systems. The way a project is located within these systems can create unwanted impacts if not properly accounted for in design and operation. The Natural World category addresses how to understand and minimize negative impacts while considering ways in which the project can interact with natural systems in a positive way. The Natural World category is subdivided into three subcategories: Siting, Land and Water, and Biodiversity. In general, these subcategories address the project’s ability to limit the environmental impact on the surrounding landscape and habitat.

Climate and Risk

The Climate and Risk category addresses potential short term and long term climate change and risk management of the project. The category is divided into two subcategories: Emissions and Resilience. The Emissions subcategory evaluates the projects ability at reducing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions during the full life span of the project (construction and startup activities, operations, and decommissioning.) The Resilience subcategory evaluates the projects ability to be adaptable to potential changes in environmental conditions, both in the short term and the long term.

The intent of the second part of the article series was to provide a high level overview of the credits within the Envision Rating System. For more in-depth information, visit the Envision website at http://www.sustainableinfrastructure.org/. The next installment of the Envision Rating System article series will focus on the companion tools available within the Envision Rating System, including the planning level Self-Assessment Checklist Tool, and the Business Case Evaluator Tool for assessing economic return benefits for sustainable design.

For more information on becoming involved within ASCE Pittsburgh’s Sustainability Committee visit our webpage at: http://www.asce-pgh.org/SustainabilityCommittee

Brian Sekula Receives ASCE Life Membership Recognition

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:51:00 GMT

Brian Sekula, P.E., P.L.S., M.ASCE was celebrated at the 2015 ASCE Pittsburgh Kick-off Dinner for his commitment to civil engineering. At the Kick-off Dinner, Brian received his life membership recognition.

Mr. Sekula earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Drexel University in 1973. During his cooperative education periods, he worked with a construction company and several consulting engineering firms. In 1980, he then went on to obtain a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Geotechnical Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University in 1980. While at Penn State, he was able to include in his course work classes in Airport Engineering, Solid Waste, Hydrogeology, and Agronomy soil classes. He went on later in his career to obtain a Master of Business Administration from Clarion University in 1996.

His professional career began in 1974 as a project engineer with Lee-Simpson Associates, Inc. a consulting engineer in DuBois, Pennsylvania where he worked on sanitary engineering projects, geotechnical projects, and airport projects. During his tenure at Lee-Simpson, he obtained his license as a Professional Land Surveyor and Professional Engineer, and also obtained his Pennsylvania Operator’s Licenses for a Water System and Sewage Treatment Plants.

His next position was as Energy Coordinator at North American Refractories Company (NARCO) in Curwensville, Pennsylvania, where he identified and designed energy saving projects that dealt with natural gas, oil, propane, or electric. Following NARCO, he worked for 8 years in the bituminous coal industry preparing surface mine permit applications. After the mining position, he returned to consulting engineering in the sanitary/municipal field with deep involvement with sewage and water treatment plants, water distribution systems, and sewage collection systems.

His current position is with The EADS Group, Inc. as a Principal, Vice-President, and Office Manager. He also oversees the Sanitary/Municipal, surveying, and environmental departments, and is very involved with oversight of design reviews, mentoring of younger engineers, and assisting with project management and client coordination. He still works with mining permitting, environmental permitting, geotechnical engineering, and provides technical assistance and mentoring to the surveying department.

Mr. Sekula’s is active in the community, including being a board member and Secretary of the Clarion County Economic Development Corporation, a member of the Clearfield County Planning Commission, Treasurer of the Union Township Fire Company, a member of the City of DuBois Watershed Committee, and a volunteer at St. Catherine Church in DuBois. He was also the past Chairman of the DuBois Red Cross Board of Directors, past Treasurer of the DuBois Area Jaycees, and former member of Parish Council of St. Catherine Church.

Mr. Sekula took the time to answer a few questions on the occasion of his life membership recognition.

What are some of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on?

I worked as an expert witness for the defendant in a professional liability case. The case revolved around the design of a mine drainage treatment system and whether it met the standard of practice. In that case, I used my civil engineering and mining experience, chemistry, knowledge of water treatment systems, and experience as a water system operator. It was challenging and fun. The defendant won the case which was upheld upon appeal.

I performed a sewage plant re-rating for a DEP Water Quality Management permit which included an Engineer’s Report, plans, permit modules, and specifications. Upon DEP completing the technical review and issuing a revised permit, the plant received a re-rated hydraulic capacity of 2.4 MGD without any capital investment required. The initial hydraulic capacity of the plant was 1.6 MGD.

How has ASCE impacted your career?

I recall early on where ASCE promoted civil engineering as a “People Serving Profession”. That concept was interesting and somewhat a puzzle. After having worked in the field for now over 40 years, I believe I understand it. We design and see projects built that impact people all of the time. Whether it is a highway, bridge, water system, building, airport, or sewage system they all impact the general population. In our business pursuits, we interact with people I believe a good bit more that many of the other engineering disciplines. To get our projects done, we need to work with Councils, Supervisors, Authority members, and the general populace. The design part is relatively easy compared to the personal interaction we need to do.

ACE Mentoring Part 2: Introducing High School Students and Future Community Leaders to Site Development and Concrete Design

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 19:31:42 GMT

By Linda Kaplan, P.E., and Nicholle Piper

The second session for the Civil Engineering Western Pennsylvania ACE [Architecture, Construction, Engineering] Mentor Program was held at Mascaro Construction on November 18, 2015.

This year’s project is the design of a summer camp, with a focus on sustainability and using the natural landscape (previously reported on here). Each student was responsible for a cabin design, and each group was responsible for the design of central camp elements. Approximately 40 students attended the second session to further the design of their camps by preparing civil engineering site layout plans.

The second session began with a presentation that provided an overview of civil engineering, describing the history and the sub-disciplines, including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, site/civil engineering, transportation engineering, structural engineering, and water resources engineering. In addition, a natural resources scientist from Langan Engineering explained landscape architecture, identifying wetlands and stream boundaries, and permitting impacts to aquatic features.

After the presentation, the students divided into their groups and were provided a 24”x 36” site background plan and a sample ordinance. The site background plan provided existing features including a stream, wetland, and road as well as contour lines that represent elevations. The ordinance provided design criteria for the proposed sidewalk access, parking spots, loading areas, drop-off locations, and dumpster areas. In addition, the ordinance provided instructions for the stormwater management design, wetland and stream encroachments, and utility layout (including sanitary sewer, electric, water, and gas service). Each group used color pencils to layout the various site utilities, following the APWA/CGA color code (per ANSI Standard Z535.1). The groups then presented the civil engineering design of each camp, describing the iterations since the October 21, 2015 preliminary plans.

The students met again on December 2, 2015 at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania, this time to learn about Structural Engineering, led by SEI Pittsburgh.

The session concentrated on concrete design since steel has been presented the past several years. Beginning with a presentation about structural engineering, the focus then shifted to the details of concrete mix design. Each of the four main components of concrete were discussed: Portland Cement, large aggregates, small aggregates, and water. Additionally, various forms of concrete tests were presented, including compression tests and slump tests. Then, using the calculations presented, each group was charged with developing a mix design for the bridge abutments that would be on their camp site. The students were tasked with designing their concrete to meet a specified slump. The students had to scale down their design to determine the ratio of components they would need, assuming 1 pound of Portland Cement.

After their mix design was “approved” the students had the opportunity to mix a small batch of their concrete and test their slump. Each group was given 1 pound of Portland cement and could then request their required amounts of large and small aggregates, and water. They then mixed their concrete in 5 gallon buckets, and used a modified slump cone to test the workability of their design. This hands on activity gave the students a thorough understanding of concrete variability and the application of their design.

The ACE mentoring program is an opportunity for students to learn about various ACE disciplines before picking a college program. A majority of the participants enroll in Architecture or Engineering undergrad programs. ACE is well respected by various college admissions personnel and offers some significant scholarships at the end of the year.

Our appreciation to ESWP for allowing us to mix concrete in their banquet hall, and to the Keystone-Mountain-Lakes Carpenters Union for their assistance with supplies, set up, and clean up.

Where Are They Now: Nathan Toohey is Making Seismic Waves

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 15:09:07 GMT

By Djuna Gulliver

Nathan Toohey, P.E., was an undergraduate student in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Carnegie Mellon University in the year 2000 when he won the ASCE Pittsburgh Section Student Award Foundation Grant. “It was a great feeling, to be acknowledged by my peers, colleagues, and especially my mentors,” Nathan says.

By 2003, Nathan had graduated and taken a non-profit job in Fort Collins, CO, with Village Earth to work on community-based sustainable development practices with civil engineering applications. This job gave him the opportunity to travel to Purulia, India to assess the hydrologic needs for three rural villages through water quality analysis, geologic reconnaissance, and topographical surveying. There, he also assessed necessary structural and cosmetic refurbishments for an abandoned community center.

In 2007, Nathan decided to pursue a Master’s degree at the Colorado School of Mines researching the ability to geomechanically characterize chemically-stabilized soils using a seismic wave-based technology. In December 2015, at School of Mines, he finished a Ph.D. specializing in dynamic (low-frequency), poromechanical characterization of saturated sands. With his Ph. D. adviser, Nathan developed a real-time monitoring system of a vibratory plate, used to compact foundation soils on the seabed floor in Venice Lagoon, Italy after the seabed was dredged for retractable floodgates. Amidst his research, Nathan also co-patented two methods (one accepted, the other pending) that characterize subsurface fractures networks to provide treatment completions evaluations using passive seismic signals during hydraulic fracturing stimulation.

Nathan took the time out of his busy schedule to talk about what he loves about his field and what he misses about Pittsburgh.

What do you enjoy most about your current job?

Collaborative, inter-disciplinary research. Contemporary engineering solutions require knowledge and insight from multidisciplinary teams to bridge gaps between civil, environmental, mechanical, and electrical engineering knowledge to incorporate the advancements provided by the systems control and computing science communities.

In tandem with graduate school, I work for an oil and gas service company that provides geophysical monitoring and completions evaluation for hydraulic fracturing. It is very rewarding to be a part of this energy industry with the ability to interactively contribute to technological innovation and improvement.

What advice would you give other young engineers?

Get practical experience, but aspire for higher education. Pursue advancing the state-of-art, once you have a well-developed understanding of current practice. Innovate! Learn to communicate with those who do or do not have a similar technical background. The consulting world can be notoriously resistant to change and innovation. Develop and communicate new ideas and integrated solutions. Civil engineering is advancing in so many new and exciting directions, be a part of it!

I have also benefited from working professionally with colleagues in Sweden, Italy, Canada and India. I encourage engineering students to seek international experience, either in academia or industry. Institutional impedance can often blind US developments with respect to what the rest of the world is developing. Listen, observe, and collaborate.

What is your best memory of being a civil engineering student?

Working with the Carnegie Mellon Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty. Jim Garrett, Susan Finger and Larry Cartwright played instrumental roles in how my professional choices ultimately guided my career trajectory.

I also spent my junior year studying abroad at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. This was a fantastic opportunity to engage engineering from a different perspective, and to also identify the ties that bind us.

What classes and activities did you participate in that have most influenced you?

I wanted to be a civil engineer because of the practicality of building. Designing a project and seeing the results always held great reward in my eyes. Senior Design and Construction was a literal realization of this process. I also participated in an Independent Study semester doing timber design and construction, with Larry Cartwright advising. Both of these experiences gave me considerable insight into what might actually be incongruent with respect to an expected engineering design and physical construction constraints.

Is there anything you miss about Pittsburgh?

So many good things...family, friends, culture. Pittsburgh has such a wonderfully diverse culture, and the seeds for amazing technological development. But I mostly miss good old-fashioned pierogies and them Stillers!

To contact Nathan Toohey email him at: ntoohey2e@gmail.com.

In 1988, members of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section founded the Student Award Foundation (SAF) of the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineering. Since that time, the SAF has given awards to emerging leaders who call the Pittsburgh Section home. In 2007, American Bridge Company provided a donation of $75,000 and, since, the primary award is the American Bridge Leadership Award. Thanks to the donation by American Bridge, the SAF annually confers the American Bridge Leadership Award of $5,000 or more. In addition to the American Bridge Leadership Award, the SAF bestows

ACE Mentoring: Introducing High School Students to Architecture, Construction, and Engineering

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 13:21:31 GMT

By Nicolle Piper and Jonathan Shimko

The Western Pennsylvania ACE Mentoring program kicked off in early October again this year. About 40 high school students from over 10 area schools are participating. This year's project is to create a summer camp in the hills of Western Pennsylvania

The focus this year will be on sustainability. Each team must design their camp to be as environmentally friendly as possible – design considerations include structures arrangement on the site, types of materials used, types of natural resources harvested, and a respect for the surroundings. Each session will not only introduce new Architecture, Construction, and Engineering disciplines, but also incorporate sustainable initiatives. While the overall camp layout and central facilities will be designed as a group, each student is required to design their own cabin within the camp.

The first session of the year was held at Boy Scouts of America Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg where the team project was introduced to the students. During the session, the students got to learn more about the LEED Silver rated McGinnis Education Center from Gary Moshier, the architect of the building. They also got to tour the camp grounds. As a team activity, each group designed their own camp flags.

In the site and project planning session, the students prepared preliminary site layout plans. The session began with a presentation on project planning from an architectural perspective and then transitioned to describe the coordination required between engineers and architects to plan an effective site layout.

ASCE Pittsburgh Section Younger Member Forum (YMF) members served as presenters. After the presentation, the students met with their groups and were provided with architectural building blocks and a site background plan. The building blocks consisted of rectangles drawn to-scale that represented the footprints of the five required buildings and the minimum six required cabins.

The site background plan provided contours and existing features including a stream, wetland, and road. Using an ordinance as a guideline, the groups began to plan the layout of the buildings and the site features that would comprise each of their camps.

Mentors offered guidance during the session, but each group created unique and creative camps, with the plan to update the site layout during the Civil Engineering session on November 18, 2015. The session wrapped up with every group taking a few minutes to present their site layouts.

The ACE Mentoring Program continued on November 4, 2015 at the Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania for a session on Water Resource Engineering, hosted by the ASCE Pittsburgh Section Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI). Students learned about the Eden Hall Campus’s sustainable design and operational considerations, as well as, stormwater issues that engineers consider when building in or near potential floodplains.

The session began with a tour of the Campus. Kelly Henderson, Sustainability Education Coordinator for the Faulk School of Sustainability at Chatham University, provided the walking tour that included many innovative technologies and design elements that are employed at the campus, such as:

Sustainable agricultural
Stormwater management
Irrigation
Water reuse and recycle
Energy facilities

After the tour students returned for a presentation and activity prepared by Jonathan Shimko who represented EWRI and Tetra Tech, Inc., that provided insight to methods used to calculate stormwater runoff and peak stream flows. The goal of the exercise was for the students to calculate the potential floodplain associated with their camp designs. The student were given a real set of data to develop a calculation to provide for a more sound and comprehensive design for their camps.

Our appreciation to Chatham University and Tetra Tech, Inc., for providing support for this session.

Geo-Institute Hosts "Fixing the Crack in the Wanapum Dam"

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 14:27:19 GMT

By Alex Potter-Weight

More than 50 ASCE members and guests gathered on November 19^th at Cefalo’s Banquet and Event Center for the Pittsburgh Geo-Institute’s monthly dinner meeting and technical presentation, titled “Fixing a Crack in the Wanapum Dam”. Dr. Rick Deschamps, Vice President of Engineering for Pittsburgh-based Nicholson Construction Company, presented the fascinating case history of a large dam remediation project that Nicholson performed in Washington State. The presentation also included first-hand accounts of the construction from project engineers, Abigail Stein and Nathaniel Witter.

The Wanapum Dam is on the Columbia River in Washington State, with a spillway 820 feet long and a hydroelectric capacity of nearly 1,100 Megawatts. In February of 2014, after more than 50 years in service, a fracture was discovered on the upstream side of the concrete spillway. The fracture ran the entire 65-foot width of one of the monoliths and was up to two inches wide. After the dam was immediately lowered, a subsequent investigation showed that the primary cause of the fracture was an underestimation of the hydrostatic forces, resulting in an insufficient pre-construction design. Dr. Deschamps praised all of the parties involved with the investigation for readily admitting the miscalculation, which allowed for an efficient and transparent remediation process.

Nicholson Construction was brought into the project to repair the crack and prevent future damage so that the dam could be put back into service. The first step in the repair work was coring of the dam to map the existing cracks. This took place from a small gallery within the dam and the results of the exploration indicated that the problem was widespread as cracks were found within all of the monoliths. Next, these cracks were grouted with either cement or chemical treatments. The construction from the gallery also included the installation of uphole drains to relieve and monitor hydrostatic pressure. Following the mapping and grouting from the gallery, construction continued from atop of the dam crest and spillway. From there, large steel tendon and bar anchors were installed, each with a capacity of over 1,200 tons. These anchors were drilled into the underlying bedrock and firmly locked the dam in place. A final, challenging piece of the construction involved the installation and testing of the remaining bar anchors underwater, by divers.

Ultimately, the complex repair work was completed safely and on schedule, allowing the county public utility department to raise the water level back to its previous levels. This raising of the water level not only returned the hydro-electric dam to its full operating capacity but also prevented depletion of the salmon population that migrates past the dam by way of a fish ladder.

Dr. Deschamps has given this presentation to different organizations since the completion of the project, including the Chicago Geo-Institute. Hosted by the Geo-Institute Chapter of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section, the event included a social hour for exchanging professional insight and a buffet dinner. Attendees earned 1.0 PDH hour for this presentation.

YMF Members Witness Greenfield Bridge Implosion

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 21:39:55 GMT

By Linda Kaplan

On December 28^th, several ASCE Pittsburgh Section Younger Member Forum (YMF) members eagerly waited to catch sight of the Greenfield Bridge implosion. Best known as the site of the “bridge under a bridge,” the Greenfield Bridge has been a poster-child for failing infrastructure in the area and the necessity for smarter investing.

Originally constructed in 1921, the Greenfield Bridge carried Beechwood Boulevard over I-376 (Parkway East) near the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. The concrete open spandrel deck arch had a 466’ total length with a 274’ main span over the Interstate. When chunks of concrete began falling off of the structure causing safety concerns for traffic on I-376 below, $700,000 was spent to build a simple steel structure below the bridge, to catch the falling debris. The situation even gained national attention when it was featured in a 60 Minutes piece and a Last Week Tonight episode on failing infrastructure.

A contract for full replacement of the structure was awarded in August of 2015, and on December 28^th, the existing structure was demolished. A large soil “pad” consisting of 4000 cubic yards of fill was piled 10 feet high on the section of 376 that was below the bridges and both the Greenfield Bridge and the “catch” bridge were imploded, collapsing onto the Interstate below.

YMF members joined 1000s of other spectators in Schenley Park to watch the implosion live. When asked why they were there two hours early, section Director and YMF Past-President Linda Kaplan, PE, told WTAE news “We really wanted to make sure we got a good spot for the view, and being a bunch of bridge engineers, we really thought it was going to be very crowded because we assumed everyone would be this excited about it.” Ms. Kaplan was also interviewed for the on-air reporting and can be seen discussing the implosion at the end of the video here. All members who attended agreed that it was well worth the cold 2 hour wait to see the implosion live. Other members reported feeling the shockwave as far away as Greentree.

Material from the demolished bridge is part of a massive reuse and recycling project. Concrete will be ground down to be used as fill, and the steel is being trucked to Josh Steel Co in Braddock. A Post-Gazette article describes the details of the program.

Construction will now begin on the new steel arch structure designed by HDR, Inc. The new bridge is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2017 at an approved cost of $15,500,000. Included in the design are nods to the historic nature of the old bridge, including urns and ornate lampposts. Considering the extensive repairs that were done on the existing structure over the years, Section History and Heritage Chair, Todd Wilson says “At least in some ways, the new bridge might pay more tribute to the original idea of the bridge than the previous bridge in its current state.”

5 Year, $305 Billion Transportation Bill Passes

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:06:40 GMT

By Gregory Scott, P.E.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate both approved a five-year, $305 billion highway, transit and railway authorization bill. The overwhelming, bipartisan vote was 359 - 65 in the House and 83 - 16 in the Senate. President Obama signed the bill into law later on Friday December 4th.

In the run-up to the vote, ASCE members urged adoption of the bill known as the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The FAST Act provides nearly $233 billion for highways, $49 billion for transit and $10 billion federal passenger rail. By the end of the bill’s five-year duration, highway investment would rise by 15% and transit spending would grow by nearly 18%. The FAST Act is the longest surface transportation authorization bill since the enactment of a previous five-year bill in 2005.

The bill includes:

Creation of a dedicated $1.25 billion freight program to help ensure federal investments are targeted at improving U.S. economic competitiveness;
Providing $900 million per year for large-scale projects under a new, nationally-significant freight and highways program;
Cutting the TIFIA program from $1 billion annually to around $300 million per year. TIFIA helps leverage billions of dollars in private sector capital for investment in our nation’s infrastructure;
Innovation initiatives, such as establishing a national program to explore surface transportation funding alternatives to the fuels tax; and
Investment in transit by creating a new research and deployment program, increasing funds for fixed guideways, and establishing a new bus facility program.

Further details on the bill’s content is availableat ASCE’s Infrastructure Blog: http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/asce-news/infrastructure-in-the-news-infrastructure-on-the-fast-track-to-improvement/

The bill was paid for through $70 billion in general fund money, which came from sources unrelated to transportation. The largest offset came from spending down a capital surplus account in the Federal Reserve. The bill does not “Fix The Trust Fund” as ASCE advocates, because it does not provide a sustainable source of revenues to support the HTF. The Highway Trust Fund is now slated to experience a $24 billion annual shortfall starting in fiscal year 2021 should Congress fail to provide a future funding fix to this looming crisis. ASCE’s President Mark W. Woodson, P.E., issued the following statement following the bill’s approval noting that despite its passage, Congress still has to address the long term solution for surface transportation funding.

"After nearly a decade of short-term bills and numerous extensions, ASCE congratulates Congress on delivering a five-year authorization bill that will start to address our nation's backlog of surface transportation needs. States will be able to plan, design, and build long-term projects because the bill increases funding and offers certainty that the federal government will continue to be a trusted investment partner. The FAST Act increases federal investment into our aging roads, bridges, and transit systems, creates a national freight program, improves innovation, and streamlines the environmental and permitting process. However, it does not provide a long-term fix to the Highway Trust Fund crisis. ASCE urges Congressional leaders to start seriously exploring ways to fix the Highway Trust Fund in the long term now, so that in five years that solution can be implemented."

Thank you to all our members’ efforts over the past several months in helping to secure program certainty and nominal funding for our nation’s federal surface transportation programs!

How ASCE Sections Can Spread the Word on Social Media

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 13:03:54 GMT

By Kate Luce Angell

Some of you might remember me as the person who helped to develop the 2010 Pennsylvania Report Card. Since October 2015, I’ve been leveraging social media to help the four PA sections of ASCE promote the current campaign in support of the Highway Trust Fund and spread the word about the 2014 PA Report Card.

This autumn, as part of that effort, I audited all of the social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) currently used by the Pennsylvania sections and gave a report to section leaders on where their social media efforts stand. At the end of the year, I’ll take a step back and look at how successful we’ve been in advancing our Highway Trust Fund and Report Card efforts.

Looking at sections’ social media accounts, it was great to see people posting reminders for ASCE and Young Member activities, pictures from get-togethers, and job opportunities. In the Social Media Playbook, ASCE says that the first two principles of social media efforts should be connecting with members (communicating locally), and acting as stewards of the society and its mission (promote events, share photos, celebrate member successes). Everyone was doing a pretty good job on these two. Kudos to all the hard-working volunteers who maintain these accounts! It isn’t easy, I know.

However, ASCE social media also has a third principle: Promote civil engineering. That involves “sharing civil engineering news and interest stories so your community can understand the importance of your members’ work.”

This goal is a little harder to meet for most sections. But it doesn’t have to be! I’ve put together a few tips to make it easier and more intuitive for you—whether you’re in charge of your section’s social media efforts or even just want to use your personal accounts to spread the word.

1. Think of yourself as a citizen advocate for ASCE and the profession. You’re part of a profession that of which people don’t automatically understand the critical importance. You have to help them out and educate them. If you’re handling your section’s social media, that means keeping on top of the efforts of ASCE National, as well as what’s going on at the state and local level, and lending your social media voice to help make people aware and take action. It means recognizing the cool things engineers are doing in your community and posting about them. If you are using your personal account, you can post about civil engineering topics to your friends and family. And, if you’re game, you could even be tweeting out to your legislator about causes like infrastructure funding.

2. Like, Follow, Repost, Re-tweet. There’s a lot of great civil engineering social media content out there, ripe for re-posting and re-tweeting. Here are some ASCE options you may already be following:

Save America’s Infrastructure/ASCE Government Relations: https://www.facebook.com/SaveUSAInfrastructure/ https://twitter.com/ASCEGovRel
ASCE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASCE.org/

ASCE Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASCETweets

But there’s also AASHTO, the Society of Women Engineers, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PennDOT, and so many more. Make it easy on yourself—if civil engineering news shows up in your Facebook and Twitter feed, you can amplify the message with just a click of the button. Or join the conversation at hashtags like #FixtheTrustFund.

3. Ask for help and get the OK. ASCE National has a nifty Social Media Playbook that can help you navigate the social media world. If a section wants to begin a new social media effort, ASCE National asks that you let them take a look first. But even if your section’s social media is well-established, you can always consult ASCE’s social media experts at socialmediahelp@asce.org.

4. Don’t expect big results right away. Social media can be a powerful tool to amplify important messages, but payback in the form of more followers or Likes might not come easily or quickly. Still, it’s worth it to have a social media presence that can work to raise awareness of all the great things civil engineers do, and how important you are to your communities. That’s a message that bears repeating.

Pittsburgh Geo-Institute Hosts 2015 Terzaghi Lecture

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 13:14:28 GMT

Article by Alex Potter-Weight

More than 60 ASCE members and guests gathered at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association on Thursday, October 29th for the most recent installment of the Terzaghi Lecture series. The lecture was given by Donald Bruce, Ph.D., C.Eng., D.GE, M.ASCE. Dr. Bruce is the President of Geosystems, L.P. His presentation, “The Evolution of Construction Techniques: The “Great Leap” Theory,” proposed that the field of specialty geotechnical construction primary advances in bold “leaps,” rather than slow and steady evolution.

The lecture began with an introduction to the “Great Man” theory, which considers that history is defined by the actions of a select cast of legendary figures. Dr. Bruce discussed the lecture series’ namesake, Prof. Karl Terzaghi, as one of these preeminent men in human history for his pioneering contributions to geotechnical engineering. He then suggested that within the branch of specialty geotechnical construction, a related trend shows that courageous, project-based paradigm shifts drive the industry forward. The presentation listed six criteria that these “Great Leaps” must meet in order to truly propel geotechnical construction into the future: 1) developed for a large project, 2) constructed by an innovative contractor, 3) approved by a responsible agency aware of the risk, 4) successful execution, 5) publication, and 6) codification.

Dr. Bruce used one primarily example to illustrate this process: the monumental Wolf Creek Dam remediation in Kentucky. In addition to the massive scale of the works to fix significant signs of distress in the dam, this project met the other criteria for a great leap forward in the industry.

To build the project, a successful joint venture was put together between European geotechnical construction giants Trevi ICOS and Soletanche, and specialty subcontractor Hayward Baker was employed for part of the grouting operation. The two-phase project included emergency remediation by Advanced Construction Techniques and Gannett-Fleming in the first phase, followed by grouting of the dam’s foundation in the second phase. The solution utilized a 6-foot wide, 535,000 square foot “disposable” diaphragm wall through the embankment into bedrock. The actual cutoff was created by drilling nearly 1,200 50-inch diameter secant piles through the diaphragm wall. The US Army Corps of Engineers and a Board of Consultants were responsible for oversight of the design and construction, and took on a considerable amount of risk in ultimately approving the innovative solution. The project was successfully completed 9 months ahead of schedule with nearly perfect technical results to date. Since project completion, the project team has helped meet Dr. Bruce’s final two criteria by creating 12 technical papers so far, and providing a benchmark for new dam safety codes that are currently in progress.

As the 2015 recipient of the distinguished Terzaghi Lectureship, Dr. Bruce has given his presentation to different ASCE sections throughout this year. Hosted by the Geo-Institute Chapter of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section, the event also included a social hour and a sit-down dinner. The Section was happy to be able to provide 1.0 PDH hours for this presentation.

Disruptive Thinking: Highlights from 2015 ASCE National Conference Keynote Speaker Luke Williams

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 00:16:00 GMT

Article by Patrick Sullivan

During the ASCE National Convention in October 2015, Keynote Speaker Luke Williams, international best-selling author of the book “Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business,” spent 90 minutes discussing innovative leadership, entrepreneurship, and cultural change. Below are some of the highlights of Mr. Williams’ oratory and slide presentation.

Self-Similarity Principle

At conferences or social gatherings, individuals tend to migrate to or surround themselves with other professionals with education similar or identical to their own. An experiment was conducted that brought hundreds of people from a wide variety of professions to a gathering. During the course of the event, individuals with similar educations found each other, and conversations associated with their profession ensued.

Ideas Needed

To have growth in professional development, financial performance and technical advancement, you need innovators. The tasks that we work on every day are not the same as “ideas.” Ideas are recipes that we use to reconfigure items to make them more valuable so that they provide increasing returns. We then share these ideas with our profession in the form of presentations. It is important to have your ideas mix with other ideas; that is why we present and meet with others who have their own ideas. A good idea can become a better idea through the sharing/blending of two ideas.

Skip the Umbrella

Business is like the weather—we can’t accurately predict what will happen days, weeks or months from now.

The Speed of Change

There is a disease in today’s world called “no-phone-bia.” We are constantly searching our body to make sure our phone is somewhere on our person. Phones are the newest connection to information. What did we have only 15 years ago? It was simply a mobile phone – that’s all. Back in 2000, who could have predicted that smart phones would be owned by everyone? The speed of change is unbelievable. Williams refers to it as the “Pace of Disruptive Change.” In the phone industry, what happened to Nokia and Motorola? What happened to the Blackberry, now known as the “Antique Canadian Communication Device?” (He saw a Blackberry in a pawn shop on sale for $20 with a tag indicating that title.) Different professions do not look at the pace of change with respect to other professions; engineers do not see the same pace of change that the financial market sees. Change that occurs when one is forced to change is called complacent or incremental change. A company that did not change is Blockbuster Video, once a leader in its market.

Disruptive Change

Don’t spot and react. We focus on short-term patterns of activity and thinking. Williams challenges us to “be or lead the Disruptive Change” (though we likely will not be comfortable doing so). One of the elements of Disruptive Change is the “Turning Point.”

Spark their curiosity
Innovator has discovered a Turning Point
Take data from the past and use it in the future
Arrange data to make it more valuable

Disruptive Thinking

Pay attention to things that are ignored. Surface the clichés. In Engineering, you have “Best Practices.” These are nothing more than accepting the standards. This is not Disruptive Thinking. Instead, take standards of practice of other professions and apply them to your profession/practice. Try not to make decisions based on historical continuity. The unbroken aspects of what we do are what we should focus on—not the problems.

Disruptive Thinking involves a five-step approach:

1. Craft a descriptive hypothesis

2. Define a descriptive opportunity in the market

3. Generate descriptive ideas

4. Shape a descriptive solution

5. Make a descriptive pitch, but sell the benefits and not the novelty

Disruptive Thinking starts with a disruptive hypothesis. If a hypothesis is a reasonable prediction, then a disruptive hypothesis is an unreasonable provocation.

Three questions you should ask in generating a disruptive hypothesis:

1. What can you invert? Example: Coke or Pepsi versus Red Bull. Coke and Pepsi have traditional advertising, they taste good, and they are reasonably priced.

2. What can you deny? Example: Rental cars versus Zipcar. For rental cars, you reserve, travel to their facility, pick up the car, give them your license and credit card, and return the car upon completion, typically at same location and at least one day later. Zipcar uses an app and “zipcard” held over a UPC code on a car window. Pick-up and drop-off occur at many designated locations, and use is typically only an hour or two.

3. What can you scale? Example: Expensive versus free or heavily discounted. The company LittleMissMatched Socks sells three socks in a package, all of which are of a different color and style. Young girls in the 8 to 12 year-old range apparently love to mismatch socks.

After disruptive hypothesis, follow with the remaining four steps.

Per Williams’ remarks, we need to have an instinct for change. Remake your landscape and use the turning points that are all around us.

News from the ASCE National Convention

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:00:23 GMT

Article by Patrick Sullivan, Vice President, ASCE Pittsburgh Section

From October 11 to October 14, 2015, I was honored to attend the ASCE National Convention in New York City on behalf of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section. The conference began with an opening plenary session, closed with a general luncheon, and sandwiched in between were nine concurrent technical sessions, each consisting of five sub-sessions of consistent themes. The themes were selected by ASCE and based on feedback from attendees at previous conferences. The feedback suggested a consistency in content and identified seven areas of study:

1) Natural or man-made catastrophes

2) The state of the civil engineering industry and profession

3) Professional leadership and technical training

4) Cross-discipline technical products

5) Significant projects

6) History and heritage

7) Strategic issues and public policies

ASCE has determined that, until further notice, these seven topics will be the basis of the concurrent sessions every year. ASCE is also supporting two initiatives in 2015-2016. The first is the “Raise the Bar” initiative, which supports the national movements to raise education requirements for licensure of future professional engineers.

The second initiative is that of “Above and Beyond.” This initiative uses the ASCE Foundation and asks members of ASCE to provide financial support for programs that promote lifelong leadership and learning, infrastructure investment advocacy, and sustainability.

The Keynote Speaker for the event was Luke Williams, international best-selling author of the book “Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business.” Mr. Williams spent 90 minutes discussing innovative leadership, entrepreneurship, and cultural change. Look for an article on Mr. Williams’ presentation in a future blog.

The opening reception Sunday evening featured one of New York’s most favorite districts, Chinatown. Finger foods from some of Chinatown’s famous restaurants were on display during an evening of networking and socializing, which included music and a presentation featuring the Azure Dragon, one of the four symbols of the Chinese Constellations, or the Chinese dragon, a legendary creature in Chinese mythology and Chinese folklore.

Informational and project-related sessions during the three-day event explored such topics as “Diversity and Inclusion in the Civil Engineering Workplace,” “So You Have Been Sued: How to Document Project Files,” “Innovations in Engineering,” “The History of Niagara Falls,” and “The Evolution of Engineering Licensure.”

The convention closed on a funny note with speaker Don McMillan, a Stanford-educated electrical engineer turned comedian. Don McMillan combined his high-tech roots with humor, referencing Avogadro’s number and XML in stand-up routines that have landed him spots on the Tonight Show and comedy clubs around the country.

Click here to learn more about the 2015 ASCE National Convention.

Envision - A Rating System for Sustainable Infrastructure

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 22:28:21 GMT

Article by Jason Borne and Tom Batroney

In today’s environment, the conditions and constraints under which infrastructure must perform are becoming an increasing challenge. Examples include an exponentially increasing global population (particularly within urban centers), increased severity in weather patterns and extreme events, and increased consumption of resources (some of which are becoming scarce). All of these challenges are further exacerbated by the poor condition of our infrastructure that we depend on as part of our day-to-day lives, as evidenced in the 2014 Pennsylvania Infrastructure Report Card. To maximize quality of life and minimize costs to taxpayers under these increasing challenging conditions, we need to follow sustainable design principles where possible. Many public agencies and cities are now requiring it. How do we truly evaluate how “sustainable” a project really is? Civil engineers have the answer to this question.

Growing sustainability awareness from the public and clients is bringing about an increased interest in the ability to quantify the financial, environmental, and social impacts within the life cycle of projects. Industry leaders recognized the need for engineers, designers, and related practitioners to be able to evaluate the level of sustainability for all areas of civil infrastructure using an objective and standardized tool. In response to this growing need, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and the American Public Works Association (APWA), leveraged their organizations’ support in the creation of the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). The ISI is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, structured to develop and maintain a sustainability rating system for civil infrastructure. That system, called Envision, is a collaboration between ISI in Washington, D.C., and the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Envision establishes a holistic method to evaluate and rate the sustainability of infrastructure projects while simultaneously considering the entire project life cycle at a systems level, and the values of the community in which the project resides. Prior to the release of Envision, available sustainability rating systems were largely sector specific addressing singular infrastructure elements (such as a building or road) versus a project’s entire contribution to the overall system in which it resides (such as the surrounding community or the below ground sewer and water infrastructure network).

Envision is a comprehensive sustainability rating system that is designed to supplement and complement sector specific rating systems, bringing them consistency and uniformity. Envision does not replace the common industry-accepted sustainability-based systems that currently exist, but provides an overarching framework which allows for the integration of the results derived by these other systems.

The Envision rating system objectives include:

Improve the performance and resiliency of infrastructure projects from technical, social, environmental, and economic perspectives.
Stretch traditional design boundaries
Ensure community and environmental priorities are addressed
Assess costs and benefits over a project’s expected life cycle
Guide decisions about investment of scarce resources

Sustainability assessment methods have historically focused on assessing “sustainable performance”. System efficiency is stressed and consideration is predominantly given to the implications of the project impact on resource use and associated capital and operation and maintenance costs. The guiding mantra being…“Are we doing the project right?” These assessments are typically limited to resource consumption concerns such as energy, water, and recycled material.

To have truly sustainable infrastructure, the scope of our perspective regarding sustainability must be expanded to include the “sustainable pathway”. We need to ask ourselves not only “Are we doing the project right?” but additionally address the fundamental question…“Are we doing the right project?” Envision is structured in a manner that brings to light potential design or operational “traps” that may affect how sustainable a project remains over its life cycle. These concerns regarding project resiliency may include 1) resource traps, 2) configuration traps, and 3) standards traps.

For example, project “resource traps” may involve increased community dependence on resources that could become very scarce and expensive.

“Configuration traps” address configurations that are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, natural disasters, economic conditions and/or actions by others.

“Standards traps” involves the application of design standards and methodologies that are not in alignment with new conditions or concerns.

The Envision rating system for sustainable infrastructure provides an objective and standardized method to begin to address ever increasing infrastructure complexity as civil engineers. The contents of the system provide a systematic way to gauge a project’s level of sustainability and affords infrastructure owners, engineers, and designers an opportunity to develop higher performing solutions by using a life cycle perspective and working with communities in which the project resides. For public infrastructure owners, Envision helps to cut long term costs and keep taxes supporting infrastructure low.

This article is the first of a three part series, providing a comprehensive overview of the ISI Envision sustainability rating system. Part 2 will present the structure and contents of the rating system itself explaining the categories of credits and providing an understanding of the evaluation criteria.

For more information on becoming involved within ASCE Pittsburgh’s Sustainability Committee visit our webpage at http://www.asce-pgh.org/SustainabilityCommittee

ASCE Pennsylvania Social Media Campaign Updates

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 12:55:16 GMT

Article by Kate Luce Angell

Since September, the Pittsburgh section and other Pennsylvania sections of ASCE have been working on a statewide social media and public relations campaign aimed at raising awareness about the critical need for a long-term fix for the Highway Trust Fund, and about the findings of the 2014 Infrastructure Report Card.

As you’re probably aware, Congress is facing yet another deadline before the Trust Fund runs out of money November 20. As a result, it’s been a busy time for infrastructure news, and there’s both good and bad. Below is a summary of what’s been happening recently and what has been going on with the campaign so far.

First the good. The 6-year Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 passed Nov. 5 in the House by a vote of 363-64. The Act maintains current funding levels for highway programs, increases bus funding by almost 40% to reverse cuts in the last transportation reauthorization, increases railway-highway grade crossing funding, and continues current funding levels for the Transportation Alternatives Program. It will also create a program to fund large freight projects.

Now the bad. The Senate and House must now resolve the differences between their 2 versions of the legislation before the Highway Trust Fund runs out of money Nov. 20. Also, although it is 6-year legislation, there’s only funding in place for 3 years, and all of that comes from the Fed’s surplus capital, $29.3 billion as of Oct. 29. An increase in the federal gas tax, which many business leaders point to as the best way to guarantee long-term funding (as well as long overdue, last raised in 1993), was rejected by Republican leaders. Finally, pretty much everyone agrees that maintaining any infrastructure funding at the current levels is woefully inadequate.

Public Relations News. ASCE Pittsburgh Government Relations Committee Chair, Greg Scott, had his Letter to the Editor imploring legislation to pass the Act printed Nov. 5 in the Post-Gazette. Additionally, the Post-Gazette editorial board also printed a strong support for long-term transportation funding on Nov. 3. Lastly, this article in the New York Times gives a good overview on current proceedings.

Social Media News. The ASCE PA Facebook page has been regularly updated since the beginning of September with breaking infrastructure news and a series of infrastructure- and Trust Fund-related memes. Over the last week, ASCE Pennsylvania debuted another new meme on the ASCE PA Facebook page, this one focused on the need for transit funding, and we’ll release new memes in the upcoming weeks. There have also been several substantive articles from different publications on the nation’s infrastructure crisis. Check out the human cost of crumbling infrastructure in the Times, and a support for raising the gas tax in Mother Jones.

How you can help.We’re still working under a ticking clock. To that end, the social media campaign going forward will focus on urging legislators to meet that new November 20 deadline. The Trust Fund website is a great place to start, but if you know your federal legislators, reach out to them personally and tell them how important it is for them to get this bill finalized and into law.

Thanks for everyone’s ongoing efforts!

YMF Roots on the Pirates

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:30:10 GMT

Article by Greg Holbrook

The YMF hosted their annual Pirates Tailgate on October 2, 2015. This year’s later date was a great way to close out the season in what was an important series for the Pirates to clinch home-field advantage for the playoff wild card game. Additionally, it helped kickoff the YMF’s social events for the fall (you can find what other events are coming up on the Pittsburgh Section’s Calendar). The Pirates won the game in a thrilling extra innings affair, winning 6-4 in the 12^th inning.

There were approximately 30 attendees for the tailgate who braved the cold weather to come out to socialize with friends and colleagues. Additionally, some students from the local universities attended, which is great to see as one of the Pittsburgh YMF’s main long-term goals is to increase student interaction and make students aware of all the benefits of being a Pittsburgh ASCE member.

More pictures from the tailgate can be seen on the YMF’s Facebook page. For more information on future sporting events, contact Greg Holbrook, Pittsburgh ASCE YMF Sports Chair.

YMF represents Pittsburgh at the Annual Younger Member Leadership Symposium

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 23:09:39 GMT

Article by Jeff Argyros and Louis Gualtieri

Jeff Argyros (YMF treasurer) and Louis Gualtieri (YMF President-Elect) represented ASCE-Pittsburgh at the annual Younger Member Leadership Symposium (YMLS) hosted by The Committee on Younger Members (CYM). This year, YMLS was held at ASCE Headquarters in Reston, VA from September 19^th through September 21^st. YMLS educates ASCE younger members from across the country on how to develop and utilize leadership skills at a professional and personal level. Additionally, younger members network with civil engineers from different regions of the country, giving our representatives an opportunity to promote the upcoming ERYMC in Pittsburgh this February.

An important lesson that was learned at the YMLS was that a leader must understand the personalities of those with whom he or she works. In order to understand the personality of those around you, you must first understand your own personality traits. Take the survey at this link to get an idea of your Myers-Briggs personality classification.

Once you understand your own personality and become knowledgeable of the personalities of those around you at work, progress will ensue. You will understand how you approach different coworkers with problems and also how and when to congratulate them when they do a good job. But remember, a leader does not always have to be a manager, and a manager does not always have to be a leader.

Other topics discussed at the YMLS were how to be a leader, how to work as a team, how to utilize effective presentation and public speaking skills and healing “sick” projects that young engineers may encounter/inherit as the advance in their careers.

YMLS is a two-day event held every year at the ASCE Headquarters in Reston, VA. You can read about last year’s event here.

Giant Sinkhole Swallows Corvettes in a "Swallette"

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 11:28:27 GMT

Article by Alex Potter-Weight

On September 24^th, 2015, Michael J. Marasa, P.E., Business Development Manager at Hayward Baker Inc., presented the fascinating case study of the National Corvette Museum sinkhole remediation in Bowling Green, KY. More than 50 ASCE and DFI members and guests gathered at the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania for his lecture titled “Investigation and Treatment of a ‘Swallvette’”, which cleverly combined the term “swallet” (meaning sinkhole) and “corvette”.

The project gained significant national attention in 2014 when eight valuable Chevrolet Corvettes were swallowed by a large sinkhole. The collapse of a large portion of museum floor slab was captured by security cameras and the video quickly went viral, shining a spotlight on the remediation efforts. The ensuing investigation discovered that the surface rock and soil supporting the museum was underlain by a large cave of karstic subsidence. The surface rock eventually gave way and broke structurally, collapsing into the cave, bringing the building with it.

Mr. Marasa and Hayward Baker joined the project team shortly after the collapse. A plan to isolate and support the remainder of the building with micropiles was quickly put in place, preventing additional collapse during reconstruction. After further investigation of the cave by geologists at Western Kentucky University, the next phase of the remediation involved the careful removal of the famous Corvettes. Of the eight cars, some had only limited damage while others were completely wrecked with a few salvageable parts. Once these vehicles were retrieved, the sinkhole was closed off by custom-made horizontal sheeting to allow for backfill, additional micropile installation, and foundation reconstruction.

The remediation project was completed earlier this year and the Corvette Museum was re-opened for business. The floor of the museum now features painted lines outlining the cave location and where the slab collapsed. Donning gold chains and a hawaiian shirt as a steoretypical ‘Vette owner, Mr. Marasa’s high-energy presentation also included background history on each of the eight damaged cars and highlighted some of the challenges caused by the significant media attention. Mr. Marasa has presented on the ‘Swallvette’ over 40 times to various organizations around the country and has been featured on the History Channel for his work on this high-profile remediation project.

This joint technical meeting was hosted by the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) and the Geo-Institute Chapter of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section and included a social hour and a dinner. The organizations were happy to be able to provide 1.0 PDH hours for this lecture. Before the presentation, Mary Ellen Large, Technical Activities Director of DFI, welcomed the attendees and encouraged participation in DFI’s technical and social events in the upcoming program year. Brian Heinzl, Chair of the Geo-Institute of the Pittsburgh Section of ASCE, introduced the new Geo-Institute Board and gave a preview of the upcoming technical program for 2015-2016.

ASCE Tours Sippel Fabrication Shop and SkyVue Project for SteelDay

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 11:35:55 GMT

Article by Greg Holbrook

September 25, 2015 marked SteelDay, presented jointly to the Pittsburgh region by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Pittsburgh Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) Chapter. SteelDay provides the opportunity for professionals and experts to appreciate how the structural steel industry contributes to building America. And this year we did just that, hosting not one, but two events!

The first event of the day was at the Sippel Fabrication Shop in Ambridge, PA. This plant is an AISC certified structural steel fabrication plant and detailing facility. Approximately 40 to 50 participants, ranging from students to retirees, and including architects, engineers and drafters, toured the Sippel Fabrication plant. The event began with opening remarks from Bill Pascoli, an AISC representative for the region, and a short presentation by Sippel representatives.

Next, Girder-Slab delegates presented on their company history and their new structural floor system. Girder-Slab’s innovate floor system is, from a designer’s standpoint, very simple and intuitive. It entails cutting a standard steel beam in half and welding a steel bar to the web of the beam. This new beam is called a D-Beam. The reduced capacity of the beam requires smaller spans between columns, making it ideal for use in residential and mixed-use buildings. These D-Beams support the longer perpendicular spans that are designed with precast concrete planks, allowing the precast panels to sit right on the bottom flange. This reduces overhead clearance and overall building floor-to-floor heights.

After the presentations the attendees took tours around the Sippel Fabrication Plant and Facility where they saw the actual D-Beams being produced, among plenty more structural steel members being fabricated and detailed.

The second event of SteelDay took place at the SkyVue Complex in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA, where the new D-Beams were utilized in the structural floor system. Approximately 30 to 40 attendees arrived at this afternoon site visit, with a few more students attending due to the proximity to local universities. The tour began with a few remarks by representatives of Massaro Construction Group, the General Contractor on the SkyVue project. Participants visited Floor Levels 1 through 4 of the Skyvue complex; levels 5 through 7 were being erected and not open to the public. This tour showcased the D-beams and other structures prior to placement and installation of the concrete planks. Floors 1 through 4 will consist mainly of parking and commercial/retail spaces while the above floors will primarily be apartments.

This year’s SteelDay succeeded in its mission to bring together individuals from various industries to learn how the Steel Industry contributes to building America. This is all thanks to our generous hosts, Sippel Fabrication and the Massaro Construction Group. SEI appreciates AISC for their help with the event and for providing PDHs for both tours!

Eden Hall: An Immersion in Sustainability

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 13:16:00 GMT

Article by Djuna Gulliver

Dr. Peter Walker pointed to a grassy hillside, where he plans to keep the goats with a protective llama. “It acts as kind of a guard dog against the coyotes,” he explains. The backdrop of the grassy hillside is woodlands, where oyster mushrooms are cultivated. A neat garden sits alongside, with crops such as perennials, hops, even rye for Wigle Whiskey.

“We’ve had many students interested in the Wigle project,” comments Dr. Walker.

In addition to the goats and llama, the property will one day be capable of hosting 1,500 students, with 64 residents in the first dorm. The campus is Eden Hall, home to the Chatham University Falk School of Sustainability, of which Dr. Walker is Dean. Located just 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh, Eden Hall is a fully sustainable, almost off-the-grid campus, where students spend more time experimenting in the nearby woodlands and meadows than in the classroom. “I really don’t want people in classrooms too much,” says Dr. Walker. “You learn by doing. You learn by experiments.”

For future students that dream to learn about sustainability by “doing,” Eden Hall is a rare campus that is built from the bottom up with sustainability in mind. A simple walk through the campus demonstrates that full sustainability takes more than the occasional solar panel and heat-efficient windows. Eden Hall incorporates a remarkable array of technologies that unite to make a self-sufficient campus. What went into consideration when designing a campus completely around sustainability?

System 1: Energy

Dr. Walker points at a white pipe sticking out of the ground. “I’ve never seen a sexy picture of a geothermal well,” he shrugs. While the exposed pipe’s charms are debatable, it accesses an impressive underground piping system that helps to maintain indoor climate control. In the summer, the fluid within the pipes extract heat from the buildings, and runs that heat deep into the ground, where the temperature stays at a constant 50 - 60°F. After the pipes are cooled to this below-surface temperature, the fluid is routed back to the buildings to extract more heat.

In winter, the system works in reverse, extracting the heat from deep underground and pumping warmed fluid back through the pipes to the chilly buildings. As the fluid is cooled, it is routed underground again to warm back up. Thus, to achieve the desired 72 °F indoors, the climate control system doesn’t need to heat up the building from frigid winter temperatures; it needs only to raise the temperature from the 50-60 °F baseline.

Solar panels cover nearly every south-facing roof, generating the electricity that drives the heat pumps (for those last few degrees of winter climate control), the geothermal pumps, the lights and any electrical equipment. On sunny days, excess energy is sold to the grid, while on cloudy days and at night, energy is pulled back. This system currently has a net positive energy balance: more energy is generated than is used.

System 2: Water

Water recycling undergoes an equally sophisticated process. Stormwater runoff and grey water first enters an underground holding tank. Next, the water trickles through a charcoal filter and then through a biofilm membrane. The water is then piped to marsh plants, where the roots absorb excess nutrients. Finally, the water is piped through a sand filter and blasted with UV radiation.

Unfortunately, while this water is safe to drink, regulation added a snag. “Even though we can produce water that is clean enough to drink on campus, regulations would require us to chlorinate it,” Dr. Walker explains. In other words, Eden Hall would have to be regulated as a city municipal water treatment establishment before water could be consumed. “That seemed like overkill.” Instead, the water treated on-site is recycled in the toilets and irrigation systems, and the drinking water is taken from the city supply. While this regulatory catch is the only thing keeping Eden Hall from being entirely off the grid, Dr. Walker is not discouraged. “I guess it goes with the territory of being pioneers,” he says. “We are out ahead of the regulations!”

System 3: Building

“If you think in a place with big views, you think big ideas,” Dr. Walker declares. Wooden, asymmetric frames are all built below the tree line and incorporated with large windows to let in plenty of natural light. A dairy barn has been repurposed as a small coffee shop, which Dr. Walker is hoping will quickly become the neighborhood hot spot. And in the center of the campus sits a large outdoor amphitheater, which currently hosts performances ranging from bluegrass concerts to opera shows.

The campus is both aesthetically pleasing as well as practical. The pavements are permeable to reduce stormwater runoff. Buildings are certified at the highest standard of the US Green Building Council, LEED Platinum. The campus is not surrounded by traditional lawns, but with naturally growing meadows and wildflowers (to be kept trim by those goats). “I don’t really believe in lawns,” says Dr. Walker, referring to the constant need for watering, fertilizing, and mowing of the favored suburban turf.

System 4: Food

A central part of the Eden Hall campus is the Food Studies program, which combines classroom learning with hands-on experimentation. “The Food Studies program has been operating out of Eden Hall campus part-time since its inception in 2010,” says Dr. Alice Julier, program director of Chatham Food Studies program. “It is integrally tied to Eden Hall because we get to practice what we preach.”

Students can take courses on grains, specializing in everything from crop science to culinary processes to fermentation. There are courses on sustainable meats that take you from pasturing to butchering. Students can practice from start to finish the process of making cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products. “Most recently, we developed a course on coffee,” Dr. Julier adds. “Students look at both production and consumption with La Prima and other coffee roasters. Our cafe will likely feature our Eden Hall blend, but we will also do outreach workshops on small batch roasting and tasting.”

A happy result of the prominence of the Food Studies program is a campus food system that offers a farm-to-table experience that would make even noted local chef Kevin Sousa green with envy. The goats on the grassy hillside will serve to both naturally keep the meadowland trim, and provide milk for cheese. Trout will be caught from the aquaponics tanks set adjacent to the classrooms. Seasonal fruits and vegetables will come straight from the students’ experimental garden, equipped with movable greenhouses to prevent overuse of the land. One large greenhouse, the “solar tunnel,” is heated with solar panels and vegetables are grown year-round.

System 5: Social

“That’s the easy bit,” says Dr. Walker about the first four sustainable systems. “What we’re dealing with now is moving this project we’ve built into a social program.” While designing and building a completely sustainable campus was an accomplished feat, perhaps the more important aspect of sustainability is changing people’s behavior. The Falk School of Sustainability aims to go further than just encourage students to recycle. Student dorm rooms are equipped with sensors to warn students if they leave the windows open too long, allowing heating or cooling to escape the building. And all kitchen spaces are communal. This offers a chance for community bonding, but also saves on energy costs associated with individual hotplates and mini fridges. “The first group of students are really going to be pioneers,” says Dr. Walker.

Forging the fully sustainable campus was no easy task, and the project was initially estimated to cost $40 million. This fall, the new Eden Hall campus is finally open for business.

But perhaps the largest challenge is getting the word out to the targeted students that will appreciate the unique experience Eden Hall has to offer. The Eden Hall campus is not for the average student, as it does not yet have the social clubs and community that a larger campus can offer. Students looking for the college experience promised in movies like “Animal House”or “Rudy” may be better off taking classes elsewhere. However, for students that want complete immersion in sustainability, and want to learn in the pastures and woodlands as well as the classroom, Eden Hall may be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Are Leaders Made or Born?

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 13:31:05 GMT

Article by Sam Shamsi

Definitely made! On October 15^th, ASCE-PGH is proud to host the Dale Carnegie Leadership training. It is specifically designed for new managers or those who will soon be a manager. They will learn how to develop high performance teams that get more efficiency and effectiveness by becoming better leaders. The training is interactive and engaging. It includes both lectures and group activities. More information and registration can be found at www.asce-pgh.org/event-2016647

Most graduates of Dale Carnegie leadership training believe that this training was a life changing event. Dale Carnegie training ignites workplace enthusiasm by developing employees into more confident, empowered, inspired, and enthusiastic individuals. Dale Carnegie research indicates that employee engagement can unlock an organizations full potential. Learn more at www.dalecarnegie.com

Dale Carnegie Training is generally expensive and extensive. Many small businesses cannot afford to offer this training in-house. Dale Carnegie is offering a condensed version of their leadership training to Pittsburgh Section members at a significant discount. This training is an 8-hour “Step Up to Leadership” module which would normally cost around $600 per person. ASCE-Pittsburgh is offering it at $200 for members and $400 for non-members on a first-come basis (60 attendees maximum). Breakfast, lunch, and parking is included.

The training will be held at Regional Learning Alliance (RLA), a non-profit organization with a beautiful campus with state-of-the-art and well equipped learning facility minutes from Pittsburgh.

Registration deadline is September 29, 2015. At this time, we have low registration, and need your help to prevent cancellation of this section-subsidized training by encouraging your organization to register 5 or to sponsor the event.

For additional information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Sam Shamsi, PhD, PE, F.ASCE
Chair, Continuing Education Committee
Cell: 412-298-7932
sam.shamsi@gmail.com

RDA Welcomes Robert Kimmick

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:38:51 GMT

From Romualdi, Davidson & Associates

Romualdi, Davidson & Associates, Inc. is pleased to announce that Mr. Robert Kimmick has joined our staff as a full time Senior Staff Engineer. Mr. Kimmick has a master’s degree in electrical engineering and over 25 years of work experience in commercial, industrial, and electric power generating facilities. His areas of expertise include electrical systems for commercial and industrial buildings, fire alarm systems, building automation and control systems, communication systems, electrical power distribution systems, machine controls and guarding, electrocution accidents, and equipment and appliances involved in fires of electrical origin. Mr. Kimmick’s expertise will expand our capabilities and enable us to better serve our clients.

The staff and associated consultants of Romualdi, Davidson & Associates, Inc. provide professional civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering expertise and comprehensive testing services in failure analysis, accident reconstruction and fire investigations. We have completed over 11,000 engineering evaluations associated with personal injury or property loss.

PennDOT Schedules Public Meetings for Review of Statewide Rail Plan

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:38:06 GMT

From PennDOT

Harrisburg, PA – PennDOT today announced that it has scheduled three open houses for the public and stakeholders to review the draft for the update of the Pennsylvania State Rail plan.

The plan allows the commonwealth to identify a clear vision for the future of rail transportation, to set objectives for achieving that vision, and to document and evaluate passenger and freight rail needs over the course of the next twenty five years to guide investments.

“Pennsylvania is a railroad state with a long history being in the forefront of this mode of transportation,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. “Our dynamic and ever evolving long-range rail plan is intended to maintain that legacy and help direct our investments to keep both freight and passenger rail as vibrant components of our transportation network. We look to our residents and stakeholders to use these open houses to help us shape the plan.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) works with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on the update.

Scheduled meetings are:

Sept. 15, Pittsburgh Amtrak Station, 1100 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Sept. 16, Centre region Council of Governments, 2643 Gateway Drive, State College, PA 16801
Sept. 17, Amtrak 30th Street Station, 2955 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

All sessions run from 6 to 8 p.m.

The updated plan is to be submitted to FRA in November.

The draft 2015 Pennsylvania State Rail Plan can also be reviewed and comments provided at http://www.planthekeystone.com/staterailplan.html. Comments will be accepted at the Open House Public Meetings and online from August 31, 2015 to October 2, 2015.

“The vision for Pennsylvania’s rail system is to provide safe, convenient, reliable, cost-effective connections for people and goods,” Richards said. “As a viable alternative to other transportation modes, the rail system will support economic competitiveness, smart growth, and environmental sustainability, thereby strengthening Pennsylvania’s communities.”

News and Updates from ASCE National

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 17:50:03 GMT

From ASCE-National

9 state legislatures are currently in session and ASCE is monitoring 1249 bills and 239 pending regulatory proposals. ASCE’s state legislative and regulatory tracking service is available to all members with their normal ASCE login information at: www.asce.org/multistate

Council of State Governments: As part of ASCE’s ongoing outreach to state legislators, ASCE participated this week in the Council of State Governments (CSG) Southern Legislative Conference in Savannah, GA. Legislators and other state government officials toured the Port of Savannah, talked about net metering energy policies, how to put together P3s in their state, and even helped pack food for Second Harvest. The SLC is the largest of four regional legislative groups that operate under the Council of State Governments. It’s 15 member states stretch from West Virginia to Texas and includes Kentucky, Missouri and Oklahoma.

In July, ASCE sponsored a Transportation Policy Academy for state legislative leaders from around the country in Denver, CO during the CSG West meeting. Lawmakers heard from various speakers, including ASCE staff about the need for infrastructure investment at the state level.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL): ASCE participated in the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) annual Legislative Summit held in Seattle from Aug 3-6. Approximately 5,000 state legislators, legislative staffers, federal officials and others attended this week’s meeting to gain invaluable knowledge from experts and fellow legislators to take back to their respective states. Attendees participated in an array of policy-producing committee meetings, issue forums and deep-dive sessions. ASCE exhibited at the meeting, and several members of the Seattle Section also attended and interacted with lawmakers from 41 states, 1 U.S. territory and 8 countries.

Also of note, the conference featured a “deep-dive” session entitled “Filling Up the Tank: Funding Transportation,” which provided legislators a forum to discuss developing sound transportation plans in their states that creates sustainable revenue, prepares for the future and meets immediate transportation needs. ASCE also sponsored the annual Bipartisan Bike Ride again this year.

See more on ASCE’s policy on Transportation Funding here: http://www.asce.org/issues-and-advocacy/public-policy/policy-statement-382---transportation-funding/

National Lt. Governors Association: In July, ASCE government relations staff attended the National Lieutenant Governors Association Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. Lieutenant Governors from 23 states came together at the conference to discuss important policy challenges facing their states. Among the highlights of the meeting, former U.S. Representative Lee Hamilton and former U.S. Senator Richard Lugar took part in a panel to discuss their experience working with members of the opposing party and the need to react civilly to each other in elected positions. Infrastructure was also emphasized in a session entitled “Roads, Rivers, and Rail” with panelists from the Soy Transportation Coalition and the Waterways Council making the case for increased investment. Of particular note was an emphasis on the need for infrastructure investment in rural areas and the economic impact on agriculture industry.

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): During the annual meeting of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying in Williamsburg, VA, delegates voted to adopt a position statement that reiterates the NCEES stance on increased educational requirements for engineering licensure.

The position statement identifies several future pathways by which a candidate for licensure as a professional engineer might obtain the body of knowledge needed to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Among those pathways to be eligible for professional licensure in the future are earning an accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering followed by an engineering master’s degree, or earning an accredited bachelor’s degree and then at least 30 semester hours of appropriate upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level coursework in engineering inside or outside the university environment.

The concept of increased-education requirements for future licensure is in line with a key goal of the ASCE-backed Raise the Bar initiative, intended to better prepare civil engineers of the 21st century for a changing world.

See ASCE’s policy in increased educational requirements for engineering licensure: http://www.asce.org/issues-and-advocacy/public-policy/policy-statement-465---academic-prerequisites-for-licensure-and-professional-practice/

Baltimore Plays Host to Premier Technical Conference

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 00:37:30 GMT

Article from ASCE Pipelines Conference

ASCE Pipelines 2015 provides a forum for pipeline pioneers and practitioners from all around the world to share their experiences in meeting the challenges of today’s pipeline infrastructure. The theme of this year’s conference is “Recent Advances in Underground Pipeline Engineering and Construction.”

The conference takes place August 23-26 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in historic downtown Baltimore, Maryland. It will provide a dynamic and inspiring venue for attendees to share and gain valuable knowledge and experience through 200 papers and poster presentations within seven tracks covering topics such as: Trenchless Installations; Design & Construction; Analysis & Design; Assessment & Rehabilitation; Operation, Maintenance, Risk & Safety; and Asset Management.

In addition to the presentation tracks, Pipelines 2015 is offering three panel discussions, which is new to the technical program. The panel discussions cover “Energy Generation in Pipelines” and “Fiber Optics in Pipelines,” as well as the always important “ASCE Ethics.”

A new feature at this year’s conference is a one-day Large Diameter Pipeline Forum that will replace the PCCP Forum. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to attend several informative pre-conference workshops on pressure pipelines design, asbestos cement pipe bursting, AWWA manuals, corrugated HDPE, CIPP and manhole rehabilitation.

The Opening Plenary session will feature ASCE President Dr. Robert D. Stevens, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE and DC Water General Manager George Hawkins. The Tuesday luncheon will feature Charles Cook, Political Analyst, “the man who knows more about everything political than anyone else.” The Bechtel Award will be presented at the Tuesday Awards Luncheon and the winner will speak immediately following. The Closing Keynote will feature Ed Croteau, Business Excellence Specialist, Black & Veatch Corp., who will speak on “Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FEMA)”.

There are many networking opportunities during receptions, dinner, breaks and exhibit hours. The exhibition hall – featuring more than 80 companies – will showcase the latest innovations in pipelines technology. The Tuesday Special Event will be an exciting evening on the waterfront. On Wednesday afternoon - after the conference adjourns – there is a golf tournament, to be held at the Mountain Branch, and a technical tour to the Structural Technologies facility.

Baltimore is also an attractive destination for companions and families. The city’s waterfront and Inner Harbor are home to the best crab cakes you’ll ever have, hundreds of restaurants, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the world-class National Aquarium, Little Italy, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, American Visionary Art Museum, Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, and so much more. Take a cruise around the harbor in a water taxi as you visit various neighborhoods. For the history enthusiast, tour the USS Constellation or nearby Fort McHenry, which, during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Visit the conference website at www.pipelinesconference.org to register, get the most up-to-date program information, and learn about the networking and social events.

Contact Information:

Jim Rush

ASCE Pipelines 2015 Planning Committee

Email: jrush@benjaminmedia.com

Phone: 330.315.2160

What You Need to Know about the Highway Trust Fund

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 22:40:04 GMT

Article by Nathaniel Hayes

The Highway Trust Fund is set to expire again, and ASCE needs your help. Congress hasn’t raised the Federal Gas Tax since 1993 – before this year’s graduating class of engineers was even born!

By Congressional inaction, we have lost a generation of buying power due to the inflationary rise of labor and materials, and have formed a backlog of deferred maintenance and capital improvements to thousands of miles of federally funded highways and bridges. The two-month extension of the Highway Trust Fund is set to expire at the end of July, and USDOT will be forced to implement cash management strategies by approving and disbursing project funding at a slower rate. Meanwhile State DOTs will defer projects where federal funding is not committed.

On June 25, 2015 ASCE members joined the Membership-wide Key Contact Call, with Delaware Senator Thomas Carper. Here, members heard how Congressional negotiations over America’s federal highway system are proceeding and how they can help #FixtheTrustFund before the clock runs out on July 31, 2015.

You can learn more about future Key Contact calls, what you can do to advocate for the Highway Trust Fund, and become a Key Contact yourself at www.asce.org/keycontacts. By joining, you will be provided the tools and opportunities to develop relationships with your local, state, and federal elected officials, and have meaningful conversations about issues important to our profession.

And finally, we urge you to contact your elected official in Congress and ask that they pass a long-term surface transportation funding bill before it expires July 31, 2015. Let them know that without guaranteed long-term funding, we are merely providing a 21^st century economy a rehabilitated path on 20^th century infrastructure.

Your Personalized, Preferred-Rate Hub for Continuing Education

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 12:18:29 GMT

Article by Sam Shamsi

Starting June 2015, ASCE-Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the ASCE-National, is bringing hundreds of live and on-demand webinars to Pittsburgh section members at preferred rates.

ASCE’s webinars provide a convenient and effective method to earn PDHs/CEUs and gain practical, real-world knowledge. The webinars are developed by industry experts and cover a wide variety of technical and management topics. The ASCE-Pittsburgh Continuing Education Committee Page at <http://www.asce-pgh.org/continuingeducation> provides links to the extensive selection of Webinars available. Use promo code WEBPISEC to register at the Pittsburgh Section preferred rate!

One of the many benefits of utilizing the ASCE webinars is the free access to ASCE’s streamlined continuing education management system “myLearning“ – myLearning.asce.org. myLearning has been designed to fulfill and manage your professional development and license renewal requirements. Convenient myLearning features include:

Ability to track all your PDHs/CEUs, including those from other providers.
Printing and saving of professional development transcripts in case of a licensing agency audit of PDH records.
Certificates of completion.
Ability to find your records need in one location, including handouts, exams, and more.
Means to easily identify the appropriate programs to meet your professional development needs.

For additional information or suggestions, please contact:

Sam Shamsi, PhD, PE, F.ASCE
Chair, Continuing Education Committee
sam.shamsi@gmail.com

How to Become an Engineering Advocate Today

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 00:03:12 GMT

Article by Gregory Scott

Much of the work that civil engineers engage in is influenced by public policy on a local, state or federal level. Knowledge of public policy and developments in regulations, funding and legislation is an important tool for engineers in their careers and one that is often overlooked. Learning about a world not centered on hard science can be intimidating, but ASCE has many resources that can help you.

First, join the Key Contact program at www.asce.org/keycontacts. You’ll begin to receive Government Relations communication, like This Week In Washington on Fridays, and also Key Alerts on legislation civil engineers are supporting both nationally and in Pennsylvania. Also, put the new Save America’s Infrastructure app for iPhone and Android on your phone so you can keep up to date on pressing issues. As you become more engaged, Key Contacts can influence the policy process at the state and federal levels by developing relationships with elected officials and become a trusted advisor when bills are drafted or considered. Here are just a few of the other ways you might become involved:

Meet with your elected officials close to home by requesting a Back Home Visit.
Attend the annual Legislative Fly-in in DC to learn about the latest issues affecting the profession and lobby your Members of Congress directly.
Listen to Key Contact Briefing Conference Calls on a political issue currently affecting the civil engineering profession.

The investment of your time to become an engineering advocate can help you become a better engineer with better public relations skills and a broader understanding of the role public policy plays in the profession and your career.

Join the Key Contact program today!

Greg Scott, PE M.ASCE

Chair

Pittsburgh Section Government Relations Committee

Senator Carper to Participate in June 25th #FixTheTrustFund Key Contact Call

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:28:08 GMT

From ASCE-National

ASCE is proud to host U.S. Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE) at the next Key Contact Call, Finding the Fix for the Highway Trust Fund, on Thursday, June 25 at 3:00 P.M. EDT. Senator Carper, has been an ardent supporter of finding a long-term solution to fixing the Highway Trust Fund and serves on both the Senate Committee on Finance and Committee on Environment and Public Works, two key instruments for shaping policy and securing a long-term transportation bill. ASCE encourages all members in the transportation sector (and anyone who uses the roads!) to call in and hear how Congressional negotiations over America’s federal highway system are going and how you can help #FixtheTrustFund before the clock runs out on July 31^st. To participate in this Key Contact Call, please RSVP here-https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KeyContactCall625; the dial in for the call will be 1-800-832-0736*2342642#

For the latest information on America's infrastructure issues, visit http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/asce-news/senate-committee-passes-surface-transportation-bill/

Continuing Education Made Easy: ASCE Benefits

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 11:33:32 GMT

Article by Sam Shamsi

Continuing education and lifelong learning are important parts of a Civil Engineer's career development and licensing requirements. Canon 7 of ASCE's Code of Ethics states that:

"Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers, and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision."

"Engineers should keep current in their specialty fields by engaging in professional practice, participating in continuing education courses, reading in the technical literature, and attending professional meetings and seminars."

The November 2014 issue of ASCE Civil Engineering Magazine published an interview with Hatch Mott MacDonald CEO Nick DeNichilo, P.E., M.ASCE, on the importance of continuing education. (7 Questions by David Hill). In this interview, Mr. DeNichilo stated that:

"With so many technical changes occurring at such an accelerated rate, engineers who don’t keep pace and don’t take continuing education seriously will, quite frankly, become obsolete."

"Engineers who are committed to continuing education and lifelong learning will be far more successful than those who are not."

ASCE-Pittsburgh is a strong advocate of continuing education and offers ample continuing education opportunities to its members at a discounted price. ASCE-Pittsburgh Continuing Education Committee offers 3 continuing education seminars each year for approximately 12 professional development hours (PDH). Other ASCE-Pittsburgh committees and institutes offer additional continuing education opportunities throughout the year. All events are advertised via email to Section members and are posted on the “Calendar of Events” on the Pittsburgh Section Website www.asce-pgh.org. These events easily exceed the 12-15 PDH per year requirements. Please make sure we have your correct email address and visit the Pittsburgh Section Web site regularly to benefit from our continuing education opportunities.

ASCE-Pittsburg Continuing Education Committee Page provides links to various ASCE Webinars. Use promo code WEBPISEC to get the Pittsburgh Section preferred rate!

For information on PDH requirements for Pennsylvania professional engineers, visit ASCE-Pittsburg Continuing Education Committee Page at http://www.asce-pgh.org/continuingeducation and select the link for “Continuing Education Made Easy Article Series.”

For additional information or to get involved in ASCE-Pittsburgh Continuing Education, please contact:

Sam Shamsi, PhD, PE, F.ASCE
Chair, Continuing Education Committee
sam.shamsi@gmail.com

Creating Sustainable Communities: Pittsburgh Engineers & Others Lead Annual Sustainability Conference

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:51:29 GMT

Article by Djuna Gulliver

On May 5, 2015, the Environmental Water Resource Institute Chapter (EWRI) of ASCE-Pittsburgh and Sustainable Pittsburgh came together for the 7^th Annual Sustainability Conference. The conference was a series of seminars focused on “Practical and Innovative Solutions for Creating Sustainable Communities.” The theme of the day was how Pittsburgh could revitalize its efforts to promote a sustainable future.

What better place to hold a conference about city revitalization than the nearby neighborhood of Braddock. Braddock was once a vibrant city of 20,000 residents that has since fallen to 2,500 residents after the collapse of the steel industry. But with the motto “Reinvention is the only option,” Braddock is on a revival, led by public figures, such as Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, and innovative local companies, such as Braddock Farms and Fossil Free Fuel.

The all-day conference was held in Mayor Fetterman’s residence, and had a line-up of engineers, educators, and policy makers presenting forward-thinking initiatives. In the opening seminar, Councilman Corey O’Connor discussed city plans that would benefit his diverse district, from Squirrel Hill to Greenfield to Hazelwood. Plans include an outdoor grocery store, new library, and spray park in Hazelwood. Councilman O’Connor discussed his strong support for linking the Pittsburgh communities, and called the new Bike Share program, “A great way for the public to get around our city.” And, of course, there was mention of the much talked about demolition and rebuilding of the Greenfield Bridge, or as Councilman O’Connor called it, “The bridge that catches the crumbling bridge.”

The keynote speaker, Erin Molchany, Southwest Director for Governor Tom Wolf, presented on the new budget proposal for the Commonwealth. “This budget is bold, this budget is risky,” she stated. “It’s really an exciting proposition.” The budget focuses on community and economic development, aiming to rebuild the middle class by investing in education, decreasing the tax burden of homeowners, and developing jobs that pay. The budget accounts for incoming funds by removing about 35 sales tax exemptions. The budget also calls for a severance tax on the Marcellus Shale industry, as Pennsylvania is the only state that does not currently collect such a tax. “This budget really does invest in the people and the commonwealth,” said Molchany.

Amy McCrae-Kessler, EVP and Head of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs for Turning Earth, LLC, spoke about a novel process that utilizes organic waste to create both methane for energy and compost for agriculture. Organics, which represent around 30% of municipal waste streams, are integrated into a single reactor that first undergoes anaerobic digestion for methane production, followed by aerobic composting. The addition of composting in the same reactor reduces odor issues. Kessler states that implementing this type of technology will result in four sustainable jobs for every one job in a landfill. “Those are high quality jobs that aren’t going anywhere,” says Kessler. “You can create businesses and opportunities by doing the right thing for the environment.”

Dr. Peter Walker from Chatham University, presented on the new Eden Hall Campus in Richland Township. The self-sustaining campus is powered by geothermal and solar energy, recycles stormwater and utilized water, and plans to provide food that is entirely onsite-farm-to-table. All campus buildings meet LEED-platinum standards, and built below the treeline to ensure a grand view of the 388-acre plot of land atop a bluff. “If you think in a place with big views, you think big ideas,” says Dr. Walker. The campus is currently home to the Falk School of Sustainability. Dr. Walker claims that building the physical campus was the easy part; the tough part will be building a social structure and developing a vibrant campus community. “The first group of students are really going to be pioneers,” he says.

The 7^th Annual Sustainability Conference closed with a panel discussion with Michele Acitelli of PennDOT, Natasha Ozybko of FORTA Corp, Chris Sandvig of Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG), and led by Gregory Scott of Buchart Horn. This diverse panel group discussed a range of infrastructure challenges, such as incorporating equals amounts of design and engineering to ensure optimal benefit for the overall public.

Students from Carnegie Mellon University, Howard University and the University of Pittsburgh had the opportunity to display their research posters during breaks. A total of five posters were displayed ranging in topics from modeling of urban water demands in Los Angeles, California to potential environmental impacts of Shale Gas wastewater treatment.

Breakfast and lunch was catered by Kaleidoscope Café, and after the conference, attendees were treated to beer from Brew Gentlemen. Conference attendees were encouraged to bring a donated item for Freestore 15104, a Braddock non-profit that redistributes everyday goods to neighbors in need. Mayor Fetterman thanked conference-goers for the “Christmas pile” of donations that crowded one side of the room.

State Advocacy Captains Visit Washington for Program Kickoff

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 22:53:32 GMT

From ASCE This Week in Washington

Members from around the country visited ASCE’s Washington, D.C. office this week as part of the official launch of the State Advocacy Captains program. A total of 13 members from 11 states attended a day-long training session to learn in-depth information about the government relations program at ASCE and the efforts on ASCE’s strategic priorities at the state level. Region 9 State Government Relations Committee member Ken Rosenfield and Region 5 State Government Relations Committee Corresponding Member Nedra Davis assisted in the training program. State Advocacy Captains are meant to build a bridge between action at the state capitals and ASCE’s State Government Relations Staff as well as promote Section and Branch advocacy activities at the state level.

Pictured left to right: Shane Binder (WA), Ken Rosenfield (CA), Andrew Feranda (NJ), Mojgan Hashemi (CA), Tonya Mellen (FL), Ernesto Longoria (KS), Maria Matthews (ASCE Staff), Patrick Lach (IL), Gabby Briffa (PA), Ravi Shah (CA), Caleb Hing (TX), Seth Spychala (MN), Kat Gurd (GA), Nedra Davis (LA), and Aaron Castelo (ASCE Staff)

ASCE-PGH Mentors Students on Civil Engineering Fundamentals and Careers

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 12:37:38 GMT

Article by Leanne McConnell

This past April, students from the South Hills Interfaith Ministries (SHIM) participated in a Civil Engineering Professional Mentoring session with the Pittsburgh ASCE Section at the SHIM facility in Brentwood, PA. The session explained and demonstrated fundamentals of civil engineering. ASCE members recommended what students should do to work towards entering the civil engineering field.

The discussions were then followed by a hands-on activity called "The Cardboard Beam." This activity included having the students break into groups and produce a cardboard beam that had to be designed following certain parameters. The beam to be long enough to span across a paint bucket, but students were only allowed a specific amount of material. Each beam was tested by attaching a water jug with string to the center of the beam and adding water. Once the water jug connected to the beam hit the bottom of the bucket, the beam failed and the amount of water in the jug was recorded.

The teams worked together to conceptualize a design and then make it a reality. At the end of the activity, the students had an open discussion stating their successes and things they could improve next time.

The students who attended this session are the first from their families to consider pursuing professions that require a college degree or continued education. The mentoring program aims at offering opportunities to students that their parents and grandparents never had. The students use these sessions as a resource to understand unfamiliar professions and requirements. The mentoring program also gives students the opportunity to ask professionals questions and for advice. Together, ASCE and SHIM were able to provide exposure to civil engineering as a viable career option and offer resources to obtain further professional development in the field of engineering.

EPA Releases Draft on Potential Impacts to Drinking Water from Hydraulic Fracturing Activities

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 12:04:51 GMT

Article from EWRI-National

Assessment shows hydraulic fracturing activities have not led to widespread, systemic impacts to drinking water resources and identifies important vulnerabilities to drinking water resources.

WASHINGTON—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a draft assessment today on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities on drinking water resources in the United States. The assessment, done at the request of Congress, shows that while hydraulic fracturing activities in the U.S. are carried out in a way that have not led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources, there are potential vulnerabilities in the water lifecycle that could impact drinking water. The assessment follows the water used for hydraulic fracturing from water acquisition, chemical mixing at the well pad site, well injection of fracking fluids, the collection of hydraulic fracturing wastewater (including flowback and produced water), and wastewater treatment and disposal [http://www2.epa.gov/hfstudy/hydraulic-fracturing-water-cycle].

“EPA’s draft assessment will give state regulators, tribes and local communities and industry around the country a critical resource to identify how best to protect public health and their drinking water resources,” said Dr. Thomas A. Burke, EPA’s Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “It is the most complete compilation of scientific data to date, including over 950 sources of information, published papers, numerous technical reports, information from stakeholders and peer-reviewed EPA scientific reports.”

EPA’s review of data sources available to the agency found specific instances where well integrity and waste water management related to hydraulic fracturing activities impacted drinking water resources, but they were small compared to the large number of hydraulically fractured wells across the country. The report provides valuable information about potential vulnerabilities, some of which are not unique to hydraulic fracturing, to drinking water resources, but was not designed to be a list of documented impacts.

These vulnerabilities to drinking water resources include:

Water withdrawals in areas with low water availability;
Hydraulic fracturing conducted directly into formations containing drinking water resources;
Inadequately cased or cemented wells resulting in below ground migration of gases and liquids;
Inadequately treated wastewater discharged into drinking water resources;
Spills of hydraulic fluids and hydraulic fracturing wastewater, including flowback and produced water.

Also released today were nine peer-reviewed EPA scientific reports (www.epa.gov/hfstudy). These reports were a part of EPA’s overall hydraulic fracturing drinking water study and contributed to the findings outlined in the draft assessment. Over 20 peer-reviewed articles or reports were published as part of this study [http://www2.epa.gov/hfstudy/published-scientific-papers].

States play a primary role in regulating most natural gas and oil development. EPA’s authority is limited by statutory or regulatory exemptions under the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Where EPA’s exemptions exist, states may have authority to regulate unconventional oil and gas extraction activities under their own state laws.

EPA’s draft assessment benefited from extensive stakeholder engagement conducted across the country with states, tribes, industry, non-governmental organizations, the scientific community and the public to ensure that the draft assessment reflects current practices in hydraulic fracturing and utilizes all data and information available to the agency.

The study will be finalized after review by the Science Advisory Board and public review and comment. The Federal Register Notice with information on the SAB review and how to comment on the draft assessment will be published on Friday June 5, 2015.

For a copy of the study, visit www.epa.gov/hfstudy.

To submit comments on the report, see www.epa.gov/sab.

An Unprecedented Year for Infrastructure Week

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 14:14:56 GMT

Article by Emily Feenstra, ASCE-National

Now in its 3rd year, Infrastructure Week is a national week of high-profile events, media coverage, focused advocacy, and other efforts around the country to build momentum for revitalization of America’s economic competitiveness through rebuilding American infrastructure. Led by groups representing America’s business, labor, and policy-making leadership, Infrastructure Week convened an unprecedented, broad, non-partisan, coalition united around the message that investing in infrastructure is Investing in America’s Economy.

Monday kicked off with Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, the heads of the AFL-CIO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and others addressing business and policy leaders at Bloomberg Government in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Infrastructure Week Steering Committee. The day included discussions on infrastructure financing, and events in Pennsylvania and Ohio. On Tuesday the discussion continued with events on public-private partnerships and regional planning, but the message of Infrastructure Week took on an unexpected urgency after an Amtrak train derailed outside of Philadelphia

Wednesday morning, scores of advocates, mayors, state legislators, labor and manufacturing leaders gathered in front of the Capitol and held a press conference demanding Congress take action. Former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood reminded the crowd that Congress is failing to display vision and courage, and we shouldn’t wait for another bridge to collapse or transportation catastrophe. National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO delivered the perspective of American manufacturing, and LiUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan echoed that messaging from labor’s perspective. Throughout the week, advocates, mayors, state legislators held more than 300 meetings with congressional offices about the need for long-term infrastructure investment. With non-stop coverage of the Amtrak accident, media attention for Infrastructure Week spiked. As Infrastructure Week events across the country continued on Thursday and Friday, the media story became about more than the specific Amtrak derailment. Outlets from CNN and NPR to the Daily News and New Yorker started covering the broader lacking infrastructure investment in the country. 60 Minutes, the number one rated news program in the U.S., even announced that it will re-air its segment “Falling Apart,” which originally ran in 2014.

The message of Infrastructure Week was always about addressing challenges facing U.S. infrastructure, to demand we move beyond short-term fixes and deferred maintenance. But just a day after the fatal Amtrak derailment, Congress still voted to slash funding for Amtrak. Meanwhile we inch closer to a bankrupt Highway Trust Fund and Congress is poised to pass the 34th short term extension of highway funding in six years. We need to move beyond the “patch and pray” funding that we’ve accepted for far too long. It is time for innovative solutions, technologies, policies and investments that will bring America’s aging infrastructure into the 21st century.

The core Steering Committee of Infrastructure Week is comprised of the following organizations:

AFL-CIO
American Society of Civil Engineers
Brookings Institution
Building America’s Future
National Association of Manufacturers
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Quick Stats and Summary:

92 Affiliate organizations spanning the public and private sectors, manufacturers and financial services firms, labor groups and planning organizations, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. (IW14 had 30)
47 events around America, including 25 events in Washington, D.C., and ~20 events in states and on the web.
27 Mayors flew in to Washington, D.C. to take the issue to Members of Congress – including Mayors Bill De Blasio (New York City), Mick Cornett (Oklahoma City), Ralph Becker (Salt Lake City), Tom Tait (Anaheim), Frank Cownie (Des Moines, IA)
80 mayors participated in district
Infrastructure Week hill efforts achieved more than 300 meetings with House/Senate Members/offices
Engagement on twitter established 41 million impressions using #RebuildRenew and #InfrastructureWeek
Participation from the Vice President of the United States (launch event), U.S. Secretary of Transportation (launch event and multiple events across the country throughout the week), Deputy Secretary of Transportation Victor Mendez (multiple events), Senate and House leadership, House T&I committee leadership, Senate EPW Committee leadership, and more.

Cities/States with IWeek events (multiple events in some cities)

Phoenix, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Sacramento, CA
Atlanta, GA
Chicago, IL
Indianapolis, IN

New Orleans, LA
Boston, MA
Minneapolis, MN
Las Vegas, NV
New York, NY
Harrisburg, PA

Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Memphis, TN
Arlington, VA
Seattle, WA
Cleveland, OH

Social Media Summary

#RebuildRenew 4,871 Twitter mentions by 2,385 users, leading to 22 million impressions

#InfrastructureWeek 4,081 Twitter mentions by 2,239 users, leading to 19 million impressions

Wednesday’s online Rally to Rebuild America reached more than 800,000 impressions on Facebook

Word cloud of what people were talking about using each hashtag:

Geographic Engagement

Map of IWeek Events (multiple events in some states)

Map of Mayoral Participation Red = 27 Mayors flying into Washington, D.C. Blue = 80 Mayors participating in District

Infrastructure Week 2015 Affiliates

1776
Airports Council International
All Aboard Florida
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Alliance for American Manufacturing
Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure
America’s Natural Gas Alliance
American Action Forum
American Association of Port Authorities
American Association of Retired Persons
American Automobile Association
American Concrete Pavement Association
American Highway Users Alliance
American Institute of Architects
American Iron and Steel Institute
American Planning Association
American Public Transit Association
American Traffic Safety Services Association
American Trucking Associations
Association for Commuter Transportation
Association for the Improvement of American Infrastructure
Association of American Railroads
Baker McKenzie
Bipartisan Policy Center
Bloomberg Government
Business Forward
Carnegie Mellon University
Capital Region Water
CDOTS
Center for American Progress
Center for Transportation Excellence

City of Philadelphia Water Department
Cleveland Water Department
Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors
Colorado Contractors Association
Colorado Municipal League
Common Good
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Council of State Governments
Covington and Burling
DC Pace
Dow Water and Process Solutions
Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority
ENO Center for Transportation
George Mason Center for Transportation P3 Policy
Georgia Transportation Alliance
The Hamilton Project
HNTB Companies
Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress
Infrastructure USA
International Bridge, Tunnel, and Tolling Association
Innovation NewsBriefs
LiUNA
Los Angeles Metro
McGraw Hill Financial Global Institute
Metropolitan Planning Council
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Miller Center at the University of Virginia
Minnesota Transportation Alliance
National Association of Counties
National Association of Railroad Passengers
National Association of Regional Councils

National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors
National Center for Public Private Partnerships
National Council of State Legislatures
National Electrical Contractors Association
National Governor’s Association
National League of Cities
National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association
NationSwell
New Jersey Future
The Northeast Maglev
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Nossaman LLP
Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce
Parsons Brinkerhoff
Regional Plan Association
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Siemens
Smart Cities Council
Squire Patton Boggs
Transportation For America
Trucking Moves America Forward
Traffic21
U.S. Travel Association
University of California Luskin School of Public Affairs
University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics
Urban Ingenuity
Value of Water Coalition
Vision Long Island
West Coast Infrastructure Exchange
Young Professionals in Transportation

SAI Pittsburgh's Office Wins Highway Industry Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 19 May 2015 23:23:44 GMT

From SAI Consulting Engineers, Inc.

SAI Consulting Engineers, Inc. is the recipient of a highway industry award from The American Society of Highway Engineers Mid-Allegheny Section -- the 2014 Outstanding Highway Engineering Award (projects greater than $2,500,000) for the S.R. 0028-164 Slabtown Bridge Replacement and Baum Curve Improvements for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, District 10-0. The award will be presented to SAI, the contractor, and the owner at the association’s annual awards presentation on May 14,2015.

SAI is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based civil and structural consulting/engineering firm that specializes in the design, inspection, and construction management of transportation projects for state, county, and local governments as well as private clients.

Meet Your ASCE-PGH Officers and Directors

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 14 May 2015 12:29:31 GMT

2015-2018 DIRECTORS

William Confair, PE

Bill is a Structural Engineer in AECOM’s Pittsburgh office. Bill has been dedicated to serving the Pittsburgh Section since 2006 when he was a student at the University of Pittsburgh in Johnstown where he served on the ASCE Student Chapter Board for two years. He has been an active member of the Pittsburgh Section Younger Member Forum (YMF) as Treasurerand received National ASCE recognition as the winner of the Practitioner Advisor of the Year Award for 2014.

Linda Kaplan, PE

Linda is a Bridge Engineer in Gannett Fleming’s Pittsburgh office. She has been very active in numerous aspects of the Pittsburgh Section beginning with her student days at Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU), where she served on the Student Chapter Board, through her most recent role as President of YMF. She has served as Practitioner Advisor since 2010, and was recognized by Eastern Regional Younger Member Council (ERYMC). She has chaired the Section Communications Committee and most recently volunteered to serve as Section Webmaster, a role that helped move the Section from paper to electronic communications.

Matthew Castiglia, PE

Matt is a Project Engineer at Buchart Horn’s Pittsburgh office. He served the Pittsburgh Section as Chair of the 2010 YMF Fundraising Committee and is currently serving as the University of Pittsburgh Student Practitioner Advisor, a position that he has held for the past four years. Under his leadership the Student Chapter selected a new faculty advisor and together they led the Chapter back to prominence, winning the 2013 ASCE Outstanding Student Chapter award

DIRECTOR FOR 2015-2017 (to fill Patrick Sullivan’s position)

Sam Shamsi, PhD, PE

Sam is a Wet Weather Practice Leader with Jacobs Engineering in the Pittsburgh area. He has chaired the Continuing Education Committee for the past two years, revitalizing that group and organizing several informative and well-attended seminars. He is currently exploring a partnership with Red Vector to offer even greater CEU opportunities to section members. He was recognized as the Distinguished Civil Engineer of the Pittsburgh Section in 2012 and conducted a web-based seminar on Green Infrastructure Mapping and Modeling Tools for CSO and Stormwater in 2013. He was Civil Engineer of the Year, ASCE, Pittsburgh, 2007, and became an ASCE Fellow in 2005.

2015-16 OFFICERS

PRESIDENT ELECT – Patrick Sullivan, PE

Pat is a Principle at Civil and Environmental Consultants in Pittsburgh. He has served the Pittsburgh Section as Chair of the Program Committee for the past two years. In that role he organized and coordinated the program for the Fall Kick-off Banquet in 2014, and the programs, speakers and awards for the 2014 and 2015 Engineers Week Banquets. As Master of Ceremonies for these events, Pat kept the programs lively and on schedule, engaging the audience throughout. Pat has shown the level of commitment to the Pittsburgh Section that makes him an ideal candidate for President Elect.

PRESIDENT – Cathy Bazan-Arias, PhD, PE

Cathy is a Senior Engineer at DiGioia, Gray & Associates in Monroeville, PA. She has served the Pittsburgh Section as Section Newsletter Editor, Geotechnical Institute Chair, the Education Committee Chair, and was liaison to Engineers Without Borders mentoring a project in Mali. She has also served on the ASCE National Board of Directors, served as Geo-Strata Lead Editor and is completing her term as President Elect of the Pittsburgh Section. She is a past ASCE National Diversity Champion and Pittsburgh Section Young Civil Engineer of the Year Awardee.

SECRETARY – Coreen M. Casadei, PE

Coreen is a Principal with Collective Efforts, Civil and Environmental Engineers, in Pittsburgh. She has served as Section Executive Secretary since 2011 and has accepted the nomination to continue to serve in this crucial recording and correspondence position for another term.

TREASURER – Robert W. Dengler, II, PE

Bob is a Project Manager in Gannett Fleming’s Municipal Services Group in Pittsburgh. He has served as Section Treasurer since 2011 and has accepted the nomination to continue to serve in this position for another term. Among his duties he continues to maintain and disburse the Section’s funds.

Robert Christian is the 2014 ASCE-PGH Government Civil Engineer of the Year

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 07 May 2015 11:43:01 GMT

Article by ASCE-PGH Awards Committee

Robert J. Christian, P.E., BCEE is the 2014 ASCE-Pittsburgh Government Civil Engineer of the Year. Mr. Christian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, a Master’s degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. He is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) as recognized by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers specializing in Water Supply and Wastewater.

Mr. Christian was previously employed by USFilter/Veolia Water performing industrial wastewater treatment service. He later joined Arizona American Water as an Engineering Project Manager, where he was responsible for capital projects for Arizona’s Agua Fria Water District. In 2008, he was promoted to the position of the Operations Support Manager.

Mr. Christian joined the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) in 2013, where he is currently the Director of Engineering and Construction. He has twenty years of experience in the water/wastewater industry, both in consulting and utility management. His most notable accomplishments include:

“UNSUNG HERO” Award recipient for outstanding performance as project engineer while with USFilter, for a project involving chemical recovery and industrial wastewater treatment.
Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) implementation while with Arizona American Water. Arizona was the first State within the American Water Family to complete the implementation of the CMMS program for all water/wastewater districts.
Finalist for the Arizona Furnace Accelerator Program pitching for venture capital to establish the company “Ultratrace.” Ultratrace was a startup concept licensing technology from the Arizona State University to commercialize a product that provides in-situ continuous groundwater sampling.
Member of Senior Management Team implementing change at the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

Mr. Christian resides in Squirrel Hill with his wife Paula and their children Amber, Lauren, Grace, and little Bob. He also is an active member of the Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society, which he originally joined as a teenager. Returning to Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Christian once again enjoys rooting for the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins, plus the great local fishing, boating, and hunting.

ASCE Student Award Foundation Names Ody Mackin Achievement Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 04 May 2015 01:09:48 GMT

Press Release from Student Award Foundation

The Student Award Foundation (SAF) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Pittsburgh Section, is proud to announce the naming of its primary student achievement award, which is presented annually in February at its Engineers’ Week Awards Banquet. This prestigious award will now and perpetually be known as the “SAF Italo V. (Ody) Mackin Achievement Award.” SAF student awards are given to outstanding students of civil engineering who reside in or attend an engineering school within the bounds of the ASCE, Pittsburgh Section.

It is the goal of SAF and the Mackin Engineering Company to make this award one of the most prominent and prestigious awards a student of engineering can receive (second only to the SAF American Bridge Leadership Award).

This year, the amount of the SAF American Bridge Leadership Award was $6,000, and the amount of the Primary Achievement Award, now known as the “SAF Italo V. (Ody) Mackin Achievement Award,” was $1,500.

Ody Mackin was born in the Friuli region in the northeastern Italian Alps in the village of Pesariis, about 10 miles from the Austrian border. He migrated to the United States as a tot and has resided in Pennsylvania for all but five years of his life. Almost three of those years were service in the U.S. Army during World War II, 27 months of which were served in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Upon his discharge, Ody took advantage of the G.I. Bill to attend the Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Ody, an icon in the engineering field, is the ideal person to have his name associated with this achievement award because of all that he has achieved over his 62 years (and still counting) as a professional engineer. Ody has been a Registered Professional Engineer since 1953, having reached that distinction when he worked for Richardson Gordon Associates (RGA) in its Pittsburgh office. He served in various capacities in his 10-year tenure with RGA, where he worked in both the bridge and highway departments. Ody served as project engineer on the Point Park Portal Bridge (the only one of its kind in the United States) and the Delaware River Turnpike Bridge, which connects Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He also gained experience on both the Ohio and Indiana Turnpikes as well as with the Pennsylvania Department of Highways (PDH), now the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

It was because of this wealth of experience, enhanced by his field surveying exposure, that Ody decided, together with a colleague (George Davic), to form a partnership to provide bridge, highway, and surveying services, a partnership that lasted three years. The partnership was dissolved and Ody decided to provide those services as Mackin Engineering Company, a Subchapter S corporation. The date of that transformation was May 1963.

In 50 plus years of operation, Mackin Engineering has served a diverse set of clients, namely, PennDOT (all 11 engineering districts), the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the County of Allegheny, the City of Pittsburgh, several municipal governments throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and a litany of public and private clients.

Ody served as President of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC/PA) in 1980, and he received the Distinguished Award of Merit, the most prestigious award of the organization, in 1999. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Airport Corridor Transportation Association (ACTA) in 2012 and the Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE), Pittsburgh Chapter, in 2014.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Nationally founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 145,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE's vision is to position engineers as global leaders, building a better quality of life.

The National organization, headquartered in Reston, VA has three strategic initiatives:

Infrastructure – Propose practical solutions to maintain and modernize our nation’s deteriorating infrastructure
Raise the Bar – Increase education requirements for engineering licensure to better protect the public in the future
Sustainability – Embrace and encourage civil engineers’ role as contributors to a sustainable world

For additional information, please contact:

Mr. James J. Lombardi

SAI Consulting Engineers

Tel: 412.392.8763

jlombardi@saiengr.com

The Method Behind the Madness: Professor of the Year, Mitch Small

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 12:52:39 GMT

Article by ASCE-PGH Awards Committee and ASCE-PGH Blog Editor

Dr. Mitchell J. Small is the recipient of the 2014 ASCE-Pittsburgh Professor of the Year Award. Dr. Small is jointly appointed in the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CMU-CEE), and Engineering and Public Policy (CMU-EPP) at Carnegie Mellon University.

Dr. Small was born and raised in Pittsburgh, where he earned a BS in Civil Engineering at Carnegie Mellon in 1975. After graduation, he worked at the New Jersey consulting firm, Hydroscience, Inc., and later went on to earn an MS (1979) and a Ph. D. (1982) in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering at the University of Michigan.

In 1982, Dr. Small returned to Pittsburgh, where he has been teaching at Carnegie Mellon University ever since.

Dr. Small’s success in research may be attributed to his ability to turn chaos into insight. “Working with Mitch is never a dull moment!” says CMU-CEE professor, Dr. Jeanne VanBriesen. “The very first time I met with Mitch to ask for his help with a problem, he listened intently, suggested a new direction, and casually mentioned he thought there was a journal article from several decades ago that would help on this. Then he spun in his chair, rummaged in a pile of what looked like totally disorganized paper, and produced a copy of that article. I thought I’d just seen a conjuring trick.”

Dr. Small has made numerous contributions to advancing knowledge in civil and environmental engineering, and related areas of public health and public policy. He is widely recognized as a national leader in integrated assessment for civil engineering decision-making. His path-breaking research has focused on building and applying models that link contaminant fate and transport, human behavior, exposure, and risk to inform engineering decisions.

“Mitch is a unique, dynamic thinker. His perspective is often unusual, always on point, and insightful in ways that change the structure of the problem, creating new solution approaches,” says Dr. VanBriesen.

Dr. Small is also recognized for his unique teaching style, for which he consistently receives high marks from his students. “Mitch Small is an outstanding educator who has influenced and inspired generations of civil and environmental engineering students at Carnegie Mellon,” says CMU-CEE professor and department head, Dr. Dave Dzombak. “He combines his powerful intellect, knowledge of engineering and statistics, creativity, and comedic skills to be a very engaging lecturer.” A hallmark of Dr. Small’s teaching is his ability keep his students engaged while learning about complex quantitative analysis in engineering, design, and policy.

“One thing most people know about Mitch is that he is witty and very good at telling jokes, which creates good atmosphere,” says former Ph. D. student, Dr. Ya-Mei Yang. “His clever and hilarious teaching style melt downs the gap between him and the students.”

Through Dr. Small’s teaching, students are equipped with quantitative tools in statistical and process modeling that enables them to excel in practice, academia, and government. Dr. Small advises an average of 10 undergraduates and 10 graduate students each year. He has been a highly successful advisor of 50 Ph. D. and thesis-MS students; his students have gone on to careers in professional practice, academics, and government.

In 2005, Dr. Small completed a textbook, entitled Integrated Environmental Modeling: Pollutant Transport, Fate and Risk in the Environment, with two of his former PhD students, Dr. Anu Ramaswami and Dr. Jana Milford. The book has been adopted by instructors in environmental engineering and science programs across the U.S. It defines the discipline of multimedia environmental modeling with a bridge to human exposure assessment, health effects, and regulatory decision support.

“Mitch is one of the brightest people I know, and you might think that would be intimidating. But, Mitch goes out of his way to make everyone feel his or her contribution is important and valued,” says Dr. VanBriesen. “He gives away ideas like there will always be more of them, which I’m sure is true for him.”

But perhaps Dr. Small’s most recognized trait is his compassion for his collaborators and students. “In all of his work, Mitch always puts student development and well-being first. He is a model for civil and environmental engineering educators everywhere,” says Dr. Dzombak.

“He is a very compassionate professor,” adds Dr. Yang. “He encourages students not only through the good times but also through bad times. His warmth and support to students is always in our hearts.”

Squirrel Hill Tunnel Rehabilitation: Challenges of Construction on a Vital Corridor

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 12:25:06 GMT

Article by ASCE-PGH Awards Committee

The 4225’ rock-bored Squirrel Hill Tunnel in the east end of Pittsburgh, PA is key element of I-376, the primary travel corridor from the East to and from the city. Although the tunnel has held up well over time, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) determined that many of the structural, electrical, ventilation, control, and fire life safety systems were in need of repair or replacement.

In 2010, PennDOT hired Gannett Fleming, Inc. to prepare rehabilitation contract documents for the 60+ year old tunnel. The resulting design modernized most of the existing tunnel systems to current AASHTO and National Fire Protection Association 502 “Standards for Road Tunnels, Bridges, and Other Limited Access Highways”. This construction involved full retrofit of multiple tunnel structural systems, upgrade of the fire life safety system, rehabilitation of the ventilation system (including removal of the tunnel slab ceiling), full replacement of the electrical and lighting systems, and other specialized upgrades.

This project had many challenges, specifically addressing aging structural systems, fire/life safety systems, the removal of the tunnel ceiling throughout the tunnel’s entire length, slab replacement retrofit of the “hidden bridge” at the West Portal of the tunnel, upgrade of the tunnel electrical systems, and other structural/architectural repairs required to extend the service of the tunnel. Much of the construction was performed during night-time, single lane closures and limited weekend shut-downs, adding more complexity to an already challenging project.

Gannett Fleming, Inc., operating out of its Pittsburgh, PA, office, was the prime consulting engineer on a team with URS Corp. and Tri State Design and Development. The project contractors were Wash Construction Corp., Sargent Electric, Independence Excavation, and W.G. Tomko.

Earth, Inc. Completes Peer Review

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:21:21 GMT

From Geoprofessional Business Association

Silver Spring, MD: Earth, Inc., a geotechnical-engineering firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has completed a Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA) Peer Review, a rigorous, voluntary, quality-enhancement process.

“Participation in GBA Peer Review demonstrates a firm’s commitment to improving quality,” said GBA President Steven D. Thorne, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE. "While we cannot say that Peer-Reviewed firms are better than their competitors, we can say that a firm is better for having completed a Peer Review.”

Through GBA Peer Review, client representatives, employees, and a team of expert peers evaluate policies affecting the quality of a firm’s services and the effectiveness with which the firm implements those policies. The Peer-Review team identifies opportunities for improvement and suggests specific actions the firm can apply to turn opportunities into achievement.

“GBA Peer Review is not for the faint of heart,” said GBA Executive Vice President John P. Bachner. “A firm’s leadership has to be so committed to providing quality to its clients and employees that it’s willing to give unfettered access to outsiders who provide a ‘warts-and-all’ evaluation. Frankly, relatively few firms are willing to do that. It takes a genuine commitment to professional ideals and not just a little bit of courage.”

Established in 1983, Earth, Inc. employs ten people at its office in Pittsburgh, PA. The firm provides geotechnical-engineering and construction-materials engineering and testing (CoMET) services.

According to Earth, Inc. CEO Michael J. “Mike” Sydlik, P.E., “We’ve gained some excellent insights as a result of the Peer Review. We’re extremely pleased by the extent of the positive findings, and, just as we hoped, the Peer-Review Team identified several opportunities for improvement, and gave us some marvelous suggestions for making the firm even better. We’re already looking forward to our next Peer Review.”

For more information about Earth, Inc., visit its website (http://www.earthincorp.com) or contact Mr. Sydlik by telephone (412-327-1749) or e-mail (msydlik@earthincorp.com).

GBA established Peer Review in 1977, with the assistance of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). In October 1999, celebrating its 125^th anniversary, McGraw-Hill’s Engineering News-Record magazine lauded GBA Peer Review as one of the 125 most significant construction-industry innovations of the prior 125 years. Peer Review was the only association program cited.

More information about GBA and its Peer Review program is available at www.gba.org, or by contacting the group by e-mail (info@geoprofessional.org) or telephone (301/565-2733).

After 46 Years of "Service to the People," Chuck DiPietro Retires From SPC

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 12:04:51 GMT

By ASCE Awards Committe and ASCE Blog Editor

Chuck DiPietro is the 2014 recipient of the ASCE-Pittsburgh Service-to-People Award. After 46 years on the job, Mr. DiPietro has recently retired as the Transportation Planning Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) and as the Vice President of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation. “Chuck’s service throughout 46 years epitomized Service to the People,” says colleague, Daniel Cessna, from PennDOT. “It was his entire focus, and he lived it daily.” From August 2000 to November 2001, Mr. DiPietro also served as Acting Executive Director of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and Acting President and CEO of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Corporation.

Mr. DiPietro was responsible for the $6.8 million annual planning work program for our ten-county Metropolitan Planning Organization. The program activities include long-range transportation planning, short-range transportation programming, data systems and modeling, transportation corridor and sub-area studies, and operation of the regional ridesharing program, CommuteInfo.

Mr. DiPietro was also responsible for directing the year-long development process for the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), currently a $4.25 billion program of investments to upgrade Southwestern Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure. The TIP is a key responsibility of the Transportation Director, and requires a skillful balancing of federal, state and local funding coordinated closely with SPC’s many partner organizations.

“Chuck DiPietro dedicated 46 years of public service to advancing transportation programs and projects that have kept the Pittsburgh region vibrant and sustainable,” says Dominic D’Andrea from SPC.

“His [service] was not easy service,” adds Cessna, “It required thoughtful, diligent, and tactful approaches to make it all come together.”

Mr. DiPietro has been recognized since the early 1970’s for his leadership in fostering broad public involvement in regional transportation planning decisions. He has actively served on numerous boards including both the Airport Corridor Transportation Association and the Oakland Transportation Association since their establishment in the 1990’s. He has also led SPC's involvement in the formation of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities Program in 1995 as the first coordinator of this US DOE national initiative to promote and advance alternate fuel vehicles and supporting infrastructure.

“Working and collaborating with Chuck for over 12 years, I appreciated his ability to capture every detail from a conversation or situation – and be able to put that information to good use in his work and in helping others to grow in their work,” Cessna says. “And I enjoyed kidding Chuck, he was a good sport, with a great sense of humor. But, he was the consummate professional, never losing his cool and always considering every angle of a situation, carefully choosing his words as to never offend, and always enlighten.”

“When I think about working with Chuck DiPietro, I think of these words: integrity, diplomacy, professionalism, and kindness,” says D’Andrea. “It was truly an honor to work with him.”

Chuck DiPietro and his wife, Kathleen DiPietro, are the parents of five children and reside in Allegheny County’s Hampton Township.

Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc. is Recognized as an Excellent Employer

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 01:57:38 GMT

Article by ASCE Awards Committee

Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. is the 2014 recipient of the ASCE-PGH Employer Recognition Award. More than 25 years ago, CEC was founded in Pittsburgh by four individuals who set out to create a firm that clients would look to when they had tough challenges. The founders also were determined to create a company where employees would want to spend their entire careers: a place where they could achieve their professional goals and a place they enjoyed coming to every day. CEC has since grown to 19 offices and more than 650 employees nationwide.

CEC is an employee-owned firm, allowing staff to share in the company success through stock ownership. The company’s continuing growth reflects client confidence in the work of CEC employees, who are guided by three main business principles: Senior Leadership, Integrated Services, and Personal Business Relationships. And while the firm has experienced tremendous growth, there has remained a strong commitment to maintain a small-firm culture.

One of the firm’s Core Values is to provide opportunities for professional growth. Employees are encouraged to be proactive in their professional development and to continuously engage in advanced education courses and seminars. To facilitate this, CEC has instituted the Do-Manage-Market-Lead employee career path model, which empowers employees by providing an outline of the skill sets and behavioral qualities needed to advance to the next level. Additionally, in 2014, CEC launched their annual Awards for Innovation program, which recognizes and celebrates employees who turn innovative ideas into reality and make a positive impact on the firm, the industries served, and/or the core practices. The award identifies and recognizes excellence in creating new products and services, and provides a learning vehicle for all CEC employees.

The management of CEC also recently instituted a firm-wide commitment to employee wellness. This commitment encourages staff and their families to better manage their care and make healthy lifestyle choices. The CECFit wellness program emerged from this commitment, which incorporates regular lunch and learn sessions, voluntary health screenings, email blasts and coordinated events to increase health awareness and provide tools and support.

Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) provides comprehensive industry-focused consulting services that advance our clients’ strategic business objectives. CEC is recognized for providing innovative design solutions and integrated expertise in the primary practice areas of civil engineering, ecological sciences, environmental engineering and sciences, waste management and water resources. www.cecinc.com

ASCE Fly-in Attendees Discuss Infrastructure Issues with Capitol Hill

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 15:00:11 GMT

From ASCE National Government Relations

ASCE held its 15th Legislative Fly-In this week in Washington, DC, bringing 200 ASCE members from 46 states and the District of Columbia together to learn about issues affecting the civil engineering profession and then share the civil engineers’ viewpoint on those issues with their elected officials on Capitol Hill.

The program kicked off Tuesday afternoon with training sessions followed by a dinner. At dinner, winners of the Outstanding Civil Engineering Advocate of the Year awards were recognized: Darren Benoit of New Hampshire received the individual award, and the Louisiana Section received the group award. The awards presentation was followed by a speech by Peter Rogoff, acting under secretary of transportation for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Rogoff thanked the attendees for traveling to Washington to share their expertise with lawmakers. In his remarks, he warned that 32 short-term extensions have caused local and state leaders to “lose their vision” to plan long-term projects, which are what America needs most to be ready for future population growth and demographic trends. He continued by saying the DOT is focused on working with Congress to increase investment in transportation infrastructure, warning that "if we don't change course, it's dismal."

On Wednesday ASCE members first heard from Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who highlighted the need to fix the Highway Trust Fund, commenting that “No nation became great building its infrastructure nine months at a time.” The group then headed to Capitol Hill to visit their United States senators and representatives, discussing key legislative issues including the Update, Promote, and Develop America's Transportation Essentials (UPDATE) Act, surface transportation authorization, and Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) implementation.

ASCE concluded the Legislative Fly-In week with the Dream Big: Engineering Wonders of the World reception in the Cannon Caucus Room, which promoted the forthcoming IMAX film.

Len Boselovic Reports Infrastructure Issues on Private-Public Partnerships

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:58:11 GMT

Article by ASCE Awards Committee and ASCE-PGH Blog Editor

Mr. Len Boselovic of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is the recipient of the 2014 ASCE-PGH Journalism Award for his excellent journalistic work covering various infrastructure challenges. “The problem with infrastructure is that it's taken for granted. Many consider it to be boring,” says Mr. Boselovic. “I think it's important to make more people aware of the crisis America is facing because we have not taken care of our roads, bridges, ports, lock and dams, water systems and other infrastructure.”

Among his infrastructure articles is the outstanding four-part series “The P3 Dilemma,” about public-private partnerships (P3) and their role in infrastructure renewal. With governments reluctant to raise taxes, public-private partnerships have emerged as a possible solution to acquire the estimated $3.6 trillion needed by 2020 for infrastructure rehabilitation and renewal. Mr. Boselovic’s series provided an in-depth exploration of P3 projects around the U.S., and the potential for P3 arrangements in Pennsylvania.

The P3 concept gathers support from the widespread perception that the private sector is more efficient and imaginative than the public sector. For government officials, the temptations of big upfront payments and a shift of responsibility to the private sector have been difficult to resist. Meanwhile, some private investors have invested outside the U.S. in private roads and other traditional government functions, and now eye what they consider to be the under-served U.S. market.

“Because no one likes to pay taxes, and most naturally assume the private sector is more efficient than government, P3s are being a looked at as a way to solve America's infrastructure problems,” says Mr. Boselovic. “But people need to know there are serious public policy and financial issues involved when major public assets are turned over to the private sector.”

Thus, despite pressing infrastructure needs, the U.S. has been slow to adopt P3s. Several high profile projects that did not live up to the promises made by P3 advocates have given government officials pause. Nevertheless, considering massive funding shortfalls and an enduring reluctance to raise taxes, P3s are expected to play an increasing role in addressing America’s infrastructure needs. Mr. Boselovic’s investigation makes it clear that the challenge is aligning the private sector’s profit motive with the public sector’s obligation to public welfare.

“The P3 Dilemma” appeared in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on August 10th -13th, 2014. Reporting on this topic was no small feat.

“The topic of private-public partnerships for infrastructure development and operation is particularly complex,” says Dr. Dave Dzombak, professor and head of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. “Len invested months of effort researching different kinds of P3 arrangements, and evaluated objectively what has worked and what has not. His resulting four-part series was informative, balanced, and helpful in illuminating the complexity of P3.”

Since joining the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1993, Len Boselovic has covered many challenges of infrastructure renewal. In 2012, he received the Pittsburgh Section Journalism Award for another excellent series on the state of U.S. inland waterway infrastructure, entitled “Locked and Dammed.” “Len's work has shed light on crucial infrastructure issues,” says Post-Gazette Projects Editor Lillian Thomas. “His careful and extensive reporting allows him to write authoritatively about problems with infrastructure.”

Through this extensive reporting, Mr. Boselovic increases public awareness on Pittsburgh's infrastructure issues. "Len immerses himself in the topics he writes about,” says Post- Gazette Business Editor, Brian Hyslop. “Rarely have I seen a reporter work so diligently to understand subjects of such complexity and significance, and relay that understanding to readers."

Mr. Boselovic is a 1974 graduate of John Carroll University and received an MSJ degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1981. Other recognitions include being named a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting sponsored by the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University.

Angela Mayer is the 2014 ASCE-PGH Young Civil Engineer of the Year

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 14:00:43 GMT

Article by ASCE Awards Committee and ASCE-PGH Blog Editor

Angela Mayer, E.I.T. is the 2014 recipient of the ASCE-Pittsburgh Young Civil Engineer of the Year. Ms. Mayer recently joined Williams Companies, Inc. as an Integrity Engineer II working in the Pittsburgh Office. When asked how it feels to be the Young Civil Engineer of the Year, “I feel an immense sense of pride,” Ms. Mayer says. “I have dedicated a large amount of time to ACSE, especially the Younger Members Forum; it is a wonderful feeling to be recognized by your peers for your accomplishments.”

Prior to joining Williams, Ms. Mayer worked in consulting for eight years as a Project Engineer. Her experience includes erosion and sedimentation control, land development, water resource and design engineering. She has experience in planning, design and bid document development, geotechnical, and value engineering, construction management, as well as assistance in forensic investigations.

Ms. Mayer worked as a Project Manager on the Monongahela Aquatorium Redevelopment project where she led internal co-workers in the planning, design, demolition, bid process, and construction of the Aquatorium. “There was a considerable amount of coordination with the Monongahela community,” says Ms. Mayer. “The redevelopment is located near the city’s downtown district and is utilized for many community gatherings. I was really pleased with how the project was completed per the communities’ requests.” She coordinated between the City of Monongahela and their funding providers, RACW, to ensure the project outcome suited the needs of the community. “The Aquatorium is such a unique project, not many communities have an amphitheater on the river!”

Ms. Mayer also was a Project Manager for the Dark Hollow Recreation Facility, which was developed on a former industrial site in the community of Oakmont. The Dark Hollow Recreation Facility was the first development where I was the Project Manager,” she says. For this project, she was responsible to plan, execute, and finalize the project according to deadlines, client requirements, and budget. She facilitated communication between Edgewater Properties and the neighborhood of Oakmont to ensure the recreation facility met the needs of the Borough. “At the end of the day, when the recreation facility was complete and I could physically stand on the baseball field and touch the concession stand, I had an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.”

Others remark on Ms. Mayer’s dedication. “I am honored to have been able to watch Angela grow through her involvement with ASCE and other partner organizations,” says colleague, Lauren Terpak. “I am proud of all that she has accomplished in regards to both her dedicated participation within the ASCE organization and her ongoing career development.”

Ms. Mayer’s success can be attributed to her enjoyment of learning. “I am extremely grateful for my career in Civil Engineering, it is such a fantasizing occupation,” she says. “Being an engineer one cannot be complacent; I love that I am constantly being challenged and applying my knowledge to my work.”

Ms. Mayer has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the West Virginia University. She is a past ASCE Pittsburgh YMF President, and has been an active ASCE member since 2009.

Dr. James Garrett is the 2014 ASCE-PGH Civil Engineer of the Year

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 12:20:56 GMT

Article by ASCE-PGH Awards Committee and ASCE Blog Editor

James H. Garrett, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. is the recipient of the 2014 ASCE-Pittsburgh Civil Engineer of the Year Award. “I am extremely honored to have been selected for this award by the ASCE Pittsburgh Chapter,” says Dr. Garrett. “I was a student of, worked with, and taught some of the former awardees. The list of engineers selected in the past to receive this award is impressive and humbling, and I am grateful to have been selected to join them.”

Dr. Garrett is the Thomas Lord Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and currently the Dean of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). However, he started his engineering career at CMU long before joining the faculty, as a student. “I got a fantastic education at Carnegie Mellon. CMU formed my interdisciplinary approach to problem definition and solution. They honed my ability to think critically and to look at problems from a systems perspective,” he says.

Dr. Garrett has earned three Civil Engineering degrees at CMU: a BS in 1982, a MS in 1983, and a PhD in 1986. “Being department head of CEE and now Dean of the College of Engineering here at CMU was not something I would have predicted earlier in my career,” he says. “I will say that it is exciting, rewarding and very challenging to serve the excellent students, faculty and staff as the dean of their college, and I greatly enjoy every day.”

Other professors also remarked on Dr. Garrett’s long-standing leadership roles.

“Jim Garrett has been a leader in professional service activities throughout his career, including when he was a student at Carnegie Mellon,” says colleague, Dr. Jeanne VanBriesen, professor at CMU CEE. “When I was inducted into the Carnegie Mellon chapter of Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering Honor Society, several years after joining the faculty, I was surprised to see Jim Garrett’s name and signature among the very first in the chapter registry. He was one of the founders of the chapter in 1982.”

When colleagues speak about Dr. Garrett and his work, they refer to his commitment and passion. “Jim is a very open and collaborative person, which, combined with his broad knowledge in and passion for civil engineering, makes him a great colleague with whom I have much enjoyed working,” Dr. VanBriesen says.

Colleague, Dr. Irvine Oppenheim, professor at CMU CEE, also speaks about Dr. Garrett’s passion. “Everything Jim does professionally stems from his pride in being an engineer, and most especially a civil engineer,” says Dr. Oppenheim. “He has devoted his career to raising the standing of the profession, the CEE Department at CMU, the engineering college at CMU, and CMU itself.”

After receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Garrett worked as a Project Engineer with Schlumberger Well Services in Houston, Texas from 1986-1987, and was an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1987-1990. Dr. Garrett joined the CMU Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty in 1990 and was promoted to Full Professor in 1996. He was appointed as Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering in June 2006 and led the department until December 2012. In January 2013 he was appointed as Dean of the College of Engineering.

Dr. Garrett has been a Fellow of ASCE since 2009 and is a licensed professional engineer. He holds two patents, and is the author of more than 250 technical publications. Throughout his career, Dr. Garrett’s research and teaching have been focused on bringing advanced computing and information technologies to bear on civil engineering problems. His research interests have included:

The application of sensors and sensor systems to civil infrastructure condition assessments.
Designing mobile hardware/software systems for field applications.
Representations and processing strategies to support the usage of engineering codes, standards, and specifications.
Understanding knowledge-based decision support systems.

Since Dr. Garrett became the Dean of the College of Engineering, the college has created a new strategic plan, and launched a number of new initiatives in research such as advanced manufacturing, soft robotics, and smart infrastructure. The college has also launched new initiatives in communications, faculty development and educational programs for innovation and entrepreneurship.

When asked about his accomplishments, Dr. Garrett describes his pride for the next generation of engineers. “I am very proud of the many students I have advised or taught over the years,” Dr. Garrett says. “Actually, I feel this way about all alumni I meet from CMU, not just the ones I have taught. When they come back to visit and tell me about the great diversity of projects they are working and the impact they are having, I am filled with pride for them and their accomplishments.”

Dr. Garrett has another source of pride. “I am most proud of my two children, both of whom graduated from CMU.”

PA Route 28, East Ohio Street Corridor - Major Enhancements for a Gateway

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 12:45:21 GMT

Article by ASCE-PGH Awards Committee

Through careful planning, stakeholder coordination, and innovative design and construction techniques, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) upgrade of PA Route 28 (East Ohio Street) between Millvale and Chestnut Street in Pittsburgh is complete. With much help from the Federal Highway Administration, the City of Pittsburgh, the Borough of Millvale and the many stakeholders involved, PennDOT has invested $181 million toward making this section of PA Route 28 a top-notch transportation system.

The Route 28 corridor has been a valuable asset for travelers in the Pittsburgh community since the early 1800s. At one time, this major gateway supported a wooden plank road, a canal, a Belgian block street, streetcar traffic, railroads, trails and the paved state road. Through the combination of five construction contracts, the much needed capacity, safety and geometric improvements have been provided.

PA Route 28 for many years has been a unique and major arterial gateway into the City of Pittsburgh while also serving as the local access for the smaller communities it traverses through. This particular section of PA Route 28 is constrained by the steep Troy Hill slope, Norfolk Southern and CSX railroad tracks, and the Allegheny River, with many other demanding features that may have led to this segment as the last to be upgraded.

The project grade-separated this section of PA Route 28, providing the long-awaited limited access link between northeast Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh International Airport. Innovative techniques were incorporated through the design of a tight single point urban interchange at 31st Street and construction of a Florida-T interchange at 40th Street. Shifting of the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks along this project corridor was necessary to implement the PA Route 28 roadway improvements. The vertical clearance over the railroad at the 31st Street Bridge overpass was improved from 19 feet to 23 feet, allowing the transport of double-stacked cargo containers and improving the efficiency of freight rail transport through the project area.

PennDOT, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) and the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) partnered on this project to perform stream removal from the local sanitary system. As a result, ALCOSAN was able to completely close two combined sewer overflow diversions. This, along with the considerable steps taken toward improving the safety of not only motorists but also pedestrians and bicyclists along Route 28’s arterial urban context corridor, were the major factors leading toward this project being sustainable.

The firms assisting PennDOT with successfully delivering this challenging project are: Michael Baker International, with assistance from The Markosky Engineering Group, Pittsburgh Engineering Consultants, Monaloh Basin Engineers, Cardno, and Ackenheil Engineers providing design and construction consultation services; CDR Maguire, with assistance from SAI Consulting Engineers, performing the construction management and construction inspection; and Power Contracting, Brayman Construction Corporation, Trumbull Corporation, and Carmen Paliotta Contracting as the lead contractors.

PennDOT orchestrated a project that positively impacts peoples’ lives by not only providing a safer, more efficient and more sustainable transportation system, but also by improving multimodal connectivity, as well as appropriately addressing aesthetics. This project’s understanding of the communities’ needs and respect of the past, present and future desires makes a difference as society progresses towards a prosperous future.

Dr. Jeanne VanBriesen wins the ASCE Margaret Petersen Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:09:55 GMT

Article by Djuna Gulliver

Dr. Jeanne VanBriesen is the 2015 recipient of the ASCE Margaret Petersen Award for outstanding woman in environmental and water resources. The Margaret Petersen award was established in 2014 to honor Margaret S. Petersen, P.E., a pioneer in hydraulics and water resources engineering. It is awarded every year to outstanding female professionals in environmental and water resources.

Dr. VanBriesen is a professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. For over 15 years, Dr. VanBriesen has been teaching environmental engineering and conducting research on environmental systems. Her most recent research includes assessing the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas processes. She is also an expert on water sustainability, and has presented on the energy-water nexus at the Sustainability EXPOsed, Pittsburgh. She is the 2015 winner of the Carnegie Science Environmental Award for her outstanding science and technology achievements in Pittsburgh.

Jeanne demonstrates a passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of engineers. She has given numerous lectures on education, and is active in various educational outreach programs. Jeanne took some time to discuss being an environmental engineering professor in Pittsburgh:

What does it mean to you to win the Margaret Petersen Award?

I am particularly honored to be selected for an award named for Margaret Petersen. Margaret Petersen became an engineer in a time when engineers were expanding their work into large-scale water resource challenges. She contributed to projects on the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers, focused on flood control and water provision, and she wrote the book on River Engineering (1986). She was an engineering professor for almost two decades, known for her practical focus and her mentorship of students. To hear Margaret’s students talk about her influence on their professional and personal lives is deeply moving. It is impossible to say if her greatest influence was through her engineering work or through her investment in her students. To me, she embodies success: to touch the future through professional activities in engineering and personal commitment to the growth and development of young engineers. I aspire to have an impact like Margaret, and I hope my work and my life demonstrate my dedication to following her path.

Why is research in environmental systems important to you?

Environmental systems sustain us all. It is important that we continually deepen our understanding of how natural and engineered water systems interact to enable human society.

Why is teaching/advising the next generation of environmental engineers important to you?

It is only through the work of current and future generations of environmental engineers working together that we will solve the toughest problems. New engineers continually bring new ideas and approaches. It is a privilege to work with bright new thinkers who want to change the world.

Is mentoring future female engineers and researchers important to you?

Mentoring engineers of both genders is important to me. There continue to be challenges that are unique to underrepresented groups in our field, but there are many professional challenges that we all have in common. Senior engineers have an obligation to share what we’ve learned from experience with all our students and younger colleagues.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

My greatest contribution to our field has been through the training of my students and mentorship of my junior colleagues, with a focus on increasing the diversity of our profession. I have advised or co-advised 15 Ph.D. mentees to completion, 12 of whom were women. These students (now colleagues) have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, consulting, and public service. I have advised 26 MS degree students (16 women), and 20 undergraduate research students (13 women), many of whom have worked with me alongside my Ph.D. students, providing the opportunity for these younger students to learn to do research, and for my Ph.D. students to learn to mentor.

What advice would you give to young engineers?

Don’t be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom and think of new ways to solve old problems. Dream big about how your work will change the world.

What do you enjoy most about being a Pittsburgh engineering professor?

Pittsburgh is a terrific place to be a water engineer. We have incredible water resources here, and we have many water challenges. Working as an engineering professor here enables me to study unique water systems and to use our water infrastructure challenges as a motivator for student research projects.

Jeanne VanBriesen holds a B.S. in Education from Northwestern University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Northwestern University. She is also a licensed professional, and currently the director of CMU's Center for Water Quality in Urban Environmental Systems, and a U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board member.

Join SPC in Mapping the Future - Take the Investment Priority Survey

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 13:55:51 GMT

Article from Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is currently updating its long range plan to meet the needs of the region to the year 2040. The regional long range transportation and development plan is the mechanism for connecting the Regional Vision to the region’s official, coordinated implementation program of projects and actions.

Mapping the Future: The Southwestern PA Plan builds upon the Regional Vision developed during the Project Region process. The Project Region process culminated in adoption of the regional long range plan that includes a development scenario built upon well-defined strategies and 16 policies or goals for the region that touch on a wide range of areas. They are part of the foundation for Mapping the Future.

The Regional Vision: Transportation and land use that supports and enhances the regional economy and the communities within it.

As we continue to develop the Southwestern PA Plan, we want to know more about your priorities on strategies and how you would spend money on transportation in the region. Would you focus on fixing and maintaining what we already have? Would you focus on building onto what we already have? Would you do both?

In addition to telling us about your priorities, we want to know about projects that are important to you. Do you have a project in mind or know of one that reflects your investment priorities that would help to implement the Regional Vision? We want to hear about it!

By taking the Investment Priorities survey, your input will help guide investment priorities and projects for the plan. We will use the results of this survey, along with input from other regional and state partners, to further develop investment priorities and projects for the Southwestern PA Plan.

The survey should take about 5-10 minutes. Upon completing the survey, you will be able to provide additional feedback if you like. Please feel free to share this message and the link to the Investment Priorities survey below with anyone who is interested. We hope you’ll share your thoughts with us, and encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same as we work together on Mapping the Future.

Thank you!

Please click here to take the Investment Priorities Survey.

ACE Mentors in Water Resource Engineering

ASCE Blog Editor — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 21:34:28 GMT

Article by Jonathan Shimko

The ACE Mentoring Program met on January 21, 2015 at the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania for a session on Water Resource Engineering, hosted by the Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI). ACE stands for Architecture, Construction and Engineering and is a nationwide program that mentors and inspires high school students to pursue careers in design and construction. Each year the students perform a design project and this year’s project is to design a museum. Approximately 50 high school students from the Pittsburgh Area attended this session and worked to improve the design of their museum projects. Students learned about stormwater issues in the urban setting and ways that engineers are working to improve water quality and reduce peak discharges into our waterways.

The students were taught basic stormwater management vocabulary and principles throughout the session and were given opportunities to experience and use these principles through hands on and visual aids. An EnviroScape® model was used to demonstrate how precipitation reacts to different surfaces and the potential negative impacts of urban development on natural systems. The students were able to see how utilization of simple Best Management Practices (BMPs) can effectively reduce both peak flows and contaminant transport to our valuable water resources.

Each group of students was tasked with calculating the roof area of their museum wing and then to calculate the runoff volume for a typical storm event that occurs in southwestern Pennsylvania. They were then able to calculate the reduction in runoff that could be achieved by implementation of green infrastructure (i.e. green roofs or planted courtyards).

The session concluded with an activity that involved creating a small scale wastewater treatment system. Teams competed to create a wastewater treatment system within a funnel using common household materials like sand, baking soda, coffee filters, charcoal, cheese cloth and pebbles. The teams then competed to see whose system provided the cleanest looking treated water. Every team was able to produce an effective treatment system and had some fun in the process.

In summary, the students learned simple stormwater management practices and engineering methods (calculations and BMPs) to improve developments within urban environment. The activities allowed the students to see firsthand how stormwater impacts can be managed to improve the quality of surface waters and the quality of life for people living in the urban setting. The lessons were well received by the students and it appeared that the students were engaged and genuinely interested in the subject matter. Everyone involved, including the students and mentors enjoyed themselves while learning and applying water management principles.

Our appreciation goes out to The Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania and Tetra Tech, Inc., for providing support for this session.

Read more about the ACE Mentor Program or the Pittsburgh ACE program, or contact Linda Kaplan, Karen Mueser, or Nicholle Piper for more information or to volunteer for future sessions.

Gannett Fleming's Pittsburgh Office Moves to Accommodate Growth

ASCE Blog Editor — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 03:03:56 GMT

Article from Gannett Fleming

Gannett Fleming's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, office is moving to a new building within the Foster Plaza office park, effective Feb. 27. The move accommodates the firm’s growing staff and provides a more modern and collaborative work environment to enhance their service to clients.

New Pittsburgh office address; phone and fax numbers remain the same:

Foster Plaza 8

730 Holiday Drive

Suite 400

Pittsburgh, PA 15220

Phone: 412.922.5575

Fax: 412.922.3717

Established in 1957, the Pittsburgh operation is one of Gannett Fleming’s oldest regional offices and provides bridge, highway, geotechnical, water and wastewater, municipal, environmental, geographic information systems, electrical, and construction management services. One of 12 Gannett Fleming offices in Pennsylvania and one of 60 worldwide, the technical professionals based in Pittsburgh provide innovative solutions to a wide array of public and private clients.

“This move brings our 90-person staff together in a more modern workspace that will enhance our ability to create innovation solutions to our clients’ challenges,” said John W. Kovacs, PE, PMP, DGE, a senior vice president and Gannett Fleming’s Midwest Region director.

From this new location, staff members in the Pittsburgh office look forward to continuing to deliver excellence to every client, on every project, every day.

"Frozen" Parody for Engineers: "Do You Want to Build a Highway?"

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 23:01:54 GMT

Article by Djuna Gulliver (Adapted from Rhea Engineers and Consultants)

Those with young children and those young at heart may well know the tune “Do you want to build a snowman” from Disney’s 2014 animated hit, “Frozen.” Since then, numerous parodies of the song have been made. But Rhea Engineers and Consultants engineer, Angelica Perez De La Rosa, from the Washington, D.C. area, made a parody that most ASCE members can relate to: “Do you want to build a highway?”

The music video features a young and eager engineer, played by Angelica, who is enthusiastic about initiating a new project. She tries to coax her reclusive supervisor, played by William Johnson, PE, out of his office, where he spends his days invoicing. See the music video here.

ASCE reports the music parody video has struck a chord with grade school children. The music parody video has won Honorable Mention in an ASCE nationwide music video contest. The ASCE music video contest had over 30 entries with two winners and four honorable mentions. The other winning entries can be found on ASCE’s YouTube Channel.

Rhea hopes that music parody video will increase interest in engineering among young children. Please share the video with other future engineers.

Kirk Morgan - Supporting Wind Power

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 15:40:58 GMT

Article by Djuna Gulliver

In 1996, Kirk Morgan, P.E., then an undergraduate at Carnegie Mellon University in Civil Engineering, won the Student Award Foundation Grant. While Kirk says the award funded text books for graduate school, he suggests a more valuable benefit was the recognition as a young engineer just starting out. Since then, Kirk has earned a Master’s from UC-Berkley, and now designs wind turbine foundations as a Senior Structural Engineer with Barr Engineering Co. in Minneapolis, MN.

When asked what projects he is most proud of, Kirk points to the accomplishments of teams, with which he has been privileged to work, at various firms. Together, they have designed a freeway in Thailand, a mid-rise office park in Bellevue, WA, a 660 kW self-erecting wind turbine tower, and a 1.5 MW power bolted plate turbine tower. Kirk also reviewed hundreds of wind turbine foundation designs in North America on behalf of banks. When he worked for a certification body in Germany, he helped certify certain foundation designs for use anywhere in the world. Kirk now works with Barr Engineering, one of the top US design firms in wind turbine foundations. Barr has designed over 40% of the wind turbine foundations currently in service nationwide.

Kirk took some time to discuss his career as a Structural Engineer, and reminisce about his time as a student in Pittsburgh.

Question: What do you enjoy most about your current job?

I most enjoy using my particular skills to make us better at delivering technical value and cost savings to our clients. This looks like optimization on most days, but when I think back to an influential talk I attended (in Pittsburgh, at Carnegie Mellon) it really comes down to asking the right questions and knowing that I can make a difference in search of the BEST answers.

Question: What do you think wind turbines can bring to our national energy portfolio?

Wind energy is a proven contributor to our energy portfolio that is only getting better. Industry leaders are calling for the phase-out of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) because it is increasingly recognized that wind is no longer a boutique industry and it can actually compete on cost of energy (COE) with traditional fuels. Real benefits and real jobs exist in a space where we used to just tilt at the giants. Don Quixote would be amazed.

Question: What are the benefits and/or detriments of utilizing wind power?

Any energy project has impacts both good and bad as they all use land of some variety, they are all visible, they all require construction, and they all interface with life on this planet in one form or another. The renewable nature of the free fuel for wind power is simply too hard to ignore. In simple terms the trick is to build the right projects in the right places.

Question: What is one of the most important and/or difficult things about building a wind turbine foundation?

I like to tell people that wind turbine foundations are the closest we have come yet to designing an airplane out of reinforced concrete. The fatigue loads used for tower and foundation design are the result of computer simulations designed to represent 20 years of continuous operation and myriad operational and environmental faults. These are, by definition, dynamic in nature. As a civil engineer trained in structures that stand still, the loads from wind turbines are truly unnerving.

Question: What advice would you give other young engineers?

If you take the time to choose a life's work purpose for yourself and make primary decisions with your career that are consistent with that choice, then you can deal with a lot of challenges that you may not accept otherwise. Of course this becomes more difficult as you get older and the commitments outside work accumulate. But if you have made good choices all along, you will not need a mid-life crisis to change your career. You can use your crisis for something else instead.

The other advice I would give is something my mother impressed upon me at an early age and that is to maintain options. Keep your network. Develop and expand your skills when you can. Do good work and leave people with a good memory of you.

Question: What is your best memory of being a civil engineering student?

My best memory of being a civil engineering student is when Dr. Steve Fenves taught me about strain energy density at Carnegie Mellon for our steel bridge competition. What Dr. Fenves showed me (in a couple lines of math) has shaped how I look at just about every structural deformation question. I look at - where does the energy go? If you cannot answer this question, you do not know how your structure really works.

Question: What do you miss about Pittsburgh?

I miss Pamela's pancakes, I miss golf on hot afternoons at Schenley Park, I miss catching my breath after a jog looking out at the sunset from Panther Hollow Bridge. If you have not done these things yet (gosh I hope Pamela's is still open!) then you should.

In 1988 members of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section founded the Student Award Foundation of the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineering (SAF). Since that time the SAF has given awards to emerging leaders who call the Pittsburgh Section home. In 2007 American Bridge Company provided a donation of $75,000, and since, the primary award is the American Bridge Leadership Award. Thanks to the donation by American Bridge, the SAF will annually awards the American Bridge Leadership Award in at least the amount of $5,000. In addition to the American Bridge Leadership Award, SAF awards Achievement Awards of lesser amounts to qualified candidates. To donate to the Student Award Foundation, read more information here. To apply for a Student Foundation Grant, read more information here.

*Editor's Note: Mr. Morgan did not participate in the specific projects represented in the images above.

YMF Annual December Dinner

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 23:12:53 GMT

Article by Linda Kaplan

On Thursday, December 4, 2014, the ASCE Pittsburgh’s Younger Member Forum (YMF) hosted its annual December Dinner at the Clear Story Creative Studio on Pittsburgh’s Southside.

The year’s keynote speaker was Bill Flanagan, Executive Vice President for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. His talk “Reengineering Our Region: What’s Now and What’s Next” addressed both the first Pittsburgh Renaissance occurring in the 1940’s and the second which took place 40 years later. He also addressed how Pittsburgh is poised for a third Renaissance in which civil and “civic” engineers will be needed to blend the application of the physical sciences with the social sciences to keep Southwestern PA as a leader of the nation.

Bill sited statistics showing that Pittsburgh is outpacing our peer cities in job growth for the past 5 years, with over 26,000 jobs open in the region currently. He discussed how the city’s population is getting younger, with a median age around 33, as compared to 41 for Allegheny County and 37 for the US. Despite this promising growth in younger Pittsburgh employment, there still is a gap of almost 137,000 fewer people ages 25-45 than those ages 45-65 in our Region – a fact that will have significant impact on our workforce in the coming years.

“It would have been nearly impossible to find an activity to gain more value for one's time than this December dinner and Bill's message,” said section member Karl Sieg, PE.

The studio space provided a relaxed atmosphere for the pre-dinner networking hour and the food from Kaleidoscope Café in Lawrenceville was outstanding. Homemade cookies from YMF members rounded out the evening.

In conjunction with the dinner the YMF held a toy drive to support the Brashear Association. Approximately 20 toys were collected, with an emphasis on items for older children in the 8-12 age range. Following the dinner, YMF Community Service Chair David Wallner and Treasurer Sara Mullaney delivered the toys to the Brashear Association headquarters. The toys were distributed to children and families in Pittsburgh’s South Side area to help make their holiday a little brighter.

Special thanks to our sponsors for helping make this event a success: AECOM, Gannett Fleming, KU Resources, The Lewis Consulting Group, and Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering Inc.

For more information about upcoming YMF events or to get involved, contact YMF President Linda Kaplan at lkaplan@gfnet.com.

ASCE Priority Issues for the 114th Congress

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 13:56:49 GMT

Article by Greg Scott (Adapted from ASCE National)

The 114th Congress convened in January with over 70 new members and a Republican majority in the Senate. We hope that ASCE Priority Issues, like infrastructure renewal, will be opportunities for bipartisan consensus and action. Here are some of the ASCE's Priority Issues that the new Congress will address over the coming months.

Transportation

1. First on the list for Congress is crafting new surface transportation policy legislation for the existing law, MAP-21. The most difficult task will be preventing a future funding shortfall within the Highway Trust Fund, which will remain solvent until this summer. This week, Senators have been encouraging in their statements for a long-term fix to the trust fund. Some Senate chairmen remaining open to an increase in the gas tax, and others endorse the approach. ASCE is on-record in support of a 25 cent per gallon increase in the federal gas tax and will be working with Congress on all options to #FixTheTrustFund.

2. Also on the transportation priority list, Congress is renewing the current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill. This legislation governs policy for the agency as well as provides runway project grants and authority for airports to collect passenger fees. ASCE is advocating in favor of an increase in the current federal cap on passenger facility charges (PFCs). PFCs are fees collected locally by airports and used for a variety of modernization projects including constructing new runways, terminal areas, noise mitigation, and airport access.

Energy

1. Congress aggressively moved legislation for the Keystone XL pipeline to carry Canadian oil across the US Midwest to Gulf ports. A House vote on a bill approving the pipeline is mirrored in a similar bill in the Senate. The bill is expected to face a veto by the President. The Senate is still short four votes for the “veto proof” majority of 67.

2. Senate Energy Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has signaled that she and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) want to move a comprehensive energy package forward this Congress. On the Democratic side, that will mean creating a bill favorable to renewable energy, modernizing the energy grid, and maintaining grants for energy research projects. Those interests must be weighed against the Republican controlled priorities of the committee, which include expanding onshore and offshore drilling, natural gas and crude exports, and more oversight over research programs. Should Congress and the Administration agree on energy exports, ASCE will be engaged in the discussion as shipping those products would have a significant impact on surrounding highway, rail, and port facilities.

3. Congress is likely to try to roll back recent carbon emissions regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK), one of the most visible anti-climate change members of Congress, will seek to be a barrier to any previous and future efforts to address this issue. We can also expect Republicans to also use the appropriations process to block EPA funding to implement some of their final rules.

Water resources

1. One of the few pieces of major legislation to come out of last Congress was the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014. While there is certainly an oversight role for the new Congress to ensure programs authorized in WRRDA run smoothly, it’s likely the real focus will be on recent regulations proposed by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers on federal water jurisdiction.

2. Last year the EPA and Army Corps proposed new regulations defining “waters of the United States.” For years Industry had argued existing water guidance was confusing, prompting the agencies to propose new regulations in April, 2014. Almost immediately, the agencies faced criticism for going too far and extending federal their reach. Numerous members of Congress have called for EPA and the Army Corps to withdraw the rule. We can

expect to see attempts though policy riders on appropriations bills and other measures to stop the regulations from becoming final.

STEAM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math)

The 114th Congress will have to address the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. ESEA was passed in 1965 as a part of the "War on Poverty." ESEA emphasizes equal access to education and establishes high standards and accountability. The law authorizes federally funded education programs that are administered by the states. In 2002, Congress amended ESEA and reauthorized it as the “No Child Left Behind Act”. Efforts to reauthorize ESEA in the 112th and 113th Congresses made little progress. ASCE is a founding member of the Science-Technology-Education-Mathematics (STEM) Education Coalition and will continue to work through the Coalition on reauthorization. The goal of the Coalition is to ensure that STEM education is a top priority in any revision to ESEA.

Hazards

ASCE supports federal programs to mitigate the impact of natural and man-made hazards. Among the specific reauthorizations or enactments ASCE is supporting in Congress are:

1. The National Earthquakes Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRR) a 37-year old federal program which providing the resources and leadership leading to big advances in understanding earthquake risks and the best ways to counter them.

2. The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program, similar for wind related hazards.

3. The Safe Building Code Incentive Act which seeks to create federal incentives to encourage states to voluntarily adopt and enforce nationally recognized model building codes for residential and commercial structures. Uniform statewide adoption and enforcement of model building codes mitigates the impact of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, fire, ice storms and other natural catastrophes.

For more info, contact Greg Scott, at Buchart-Horn, Inc., 412-261-5059, gscott@bh-ba.com

Participate in the discussion of how Congress can accomplish this work by commenting on this blog post, or going to one of our forums.

Our Award Winning Pittsburgh Section

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:57:53 GMT

Article by Linda Kaplan

The Pittsburgh Section is pleased to announce that we have received the 2014 Outstanding Section & Branch Large Group Award from ASCE National! This award is given to one section nationwide which has demonstrated an extensive and well-rounded set of programs for its members, commitment to the advancement of civil engineering, and proven adherence to the ASCE mission. This is the first time that the Pittsburgh Section has won this award.

Upon receiving notification of the award, Section President Kemal Niksic, PE said, “Being recognized as the Outstanding ASCE Section in 2014 is a testimony to all the hard work and true commitment of our members: engineers, students, and professors. We are proud to continue the great tradition of our region’s outstanding engineering corps, and are looking forward to being amongst leaders who will face all the challenges imposed by our aging infrastructure and fast changing socio-demographic and climate conditions.”

The award was presented at the 2015 Multi-Regional Leadership Conference (MRLC) in Miami, Florida on January 10^th, 2015. It was received by Section Secretary Coreen Casadei, PE and Director Lauren Terpak.

Additionally, the Pittsburgh Section was awarded an Honorable Mention for the 2014 Section and Branch Diversity Awards by the ASCE Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CDI). It was noted that “it remains clear to CDI that the Section is making significant and impactful contributions to the enhancement and awareness of the profession through the establishment of your new and very active D&I Committee, partnerships with SWE, NSBE, & ATHENA as well as the representation of women in several key Board positions.”

This award was also presented at the MRLC in January where it was received by Section Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair Lauren Terpak. Lauren says, “I am happy to see the Section recognized for their efforts regarding Diversity and Inclusion, especially for a committee in its infancy. I have since spoke with conference coordinator Nancy Berson and acquired the contact information of the individuals from the other Sections and Branches that won Diversity and Inclusion awards nationally. We plan to reach out and learn from other groups.”

Our Younger Members Forum (YMF) received the 2015 Eastern Regional Younger Member Council (ERYMC) Peer Group Award. During the MRLC conference, each Younger Member Group in attendance is given the opportunity to vote on the Peer Group Award. This award is given in recognition of an outstanding overall program including technical content, networking opportunities, social events, and community outreach to one. It is the ASCE award voted on by other Sections.

YMF President Linda Kaplan, PE and President-Elect Sonya Flournoy, PE received the award at the conference in Miami. “This is a very significant award and we are honored to receive it,” said Linda, “It’s great to be recognized by our peers as leaders. Everyone involved with our YMF group contributed to this and should be proud.”

Congratulations to our peers and members who contributed to these awards! We would not have had such a successful year without your enthusiasm and support. We are looking forward to continuing and growing our programs.

To find out about upcoming events check the ASCE Pittsburgh website at www.asce-pgh.org.

Bill Confair, PE, Wins ERYMC Practitioner Advisor Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:03:30 GMT

Article by Linda Kaplan

William J. Confair, PE, M.ASCE, won the 2015 Eastern Regional Younger Members Council Practitioner Advisor Award. This award is given to one Practitioner Advisor in ASCE Regions 1, 2, 4, or 5, which covers the Eastern third of the country. Bill was honored for his substantial efforts working with the University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown (UPJ) ASCE Student Chapter. He is an alumnus of UPJ having graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 2010.

The UPJ student chapter had the honor of hosting the National Concrete Canoe Competition in June 2014. Starting in the Fall of 2013, Bill served as an advisor to the students planning committee and assisted the chapter with scheduling, coordination for fundraising, interaction with the Pittsburgh Section, securing volunteers, obtaining interest in local companies to attend the career fair, and correspondence with ASCE National. Additionally, Bill regularly coordinates and participates in panel discussion at the University covering a variety of topics including “What ASCE Can do for You” and “Post Graduate Options – Master’s Degrees vs. Employment.”

Bill is a Bridge Engineer with AECOM in Pittsburgh, where he has worked for 5 years. Signature projects include the rehabilitation of the South Tenth Street Suspension Bridge and the design of a new pedestrian bridge for the Montour Trail Council. He also serves as the current Technical Committee Chair for the YMF, organizing tours and speaker events.

Bill took some time to discuss the award and his experiences working with the student chapter.

Question: What did you think when you heard that you won the award?

I felt very grateful and honored that I had won the award. I put a lot of work into coordination with the students and the faculty advisor in order to have the students attend conferences, dinner meetings, and discussions.

Question: What have you learned from working with the students?

The biggest thing that I have learned from the students, essentially what piques their interests to get them involved in ASCE and attend events, is networking: Having the possibility to network and gain a potential internship or full time position.

Question: What do you tell students who are unsure if ASCE membership is right for them?

I tell them my personal experience when I attended the 2008 ASCE National Conference in Pittsburgh. It begins with my attendance and networking skills at one of the younger member events. I met with my future manager and discussed the possibility of an internship. It turned out to be a successful summer internship that ended with a full-time offer once I graduated. Without my involvement in ASCE, I would not have had this opportunity, nor would I be in my current position.

Question: What is your favorite or funniest memory of working with students?

My favorite memory while working with the students is a panel discussion in the spring semester. Our panel discussion occurred on St. Patrick’s Day and a couple of the presenters dressed up for the occasion. We definitely had some laughs and it lightened the atmosphere, which provided, in my mind, the best panel discussion that I have ever attended.

Question: What accomplishments, as either a mentor or engineer, are you most proud of?

I am proud of spreading my knowledge of engineering master’s degrees, among many other topics to students and junior engineers. Panel discussions are my favorite events, because I feel like I have a lot to share with students and junior engineers.

To learn more about ERYMC, visit the ASCE-National Website or visit the ASCE-Miami Website.

Leslie Richards to be the New Head of Department of Transportation

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 14:36:36 GMT

Governor-Elect Tom Wolf has designated Leslie Richards as the new head of the Department of Transportation. Leslie Richards is currently the vice chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, chair of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and a member of the SEPTA Board. As the head of the Department of Transportation, Richards will oversee nearly 12,000 employees and a $7.2 billion budget. She will be replacing Barry Schoch, who will become a senior advisor to the Governor-Elect Tom Wolf on transportation and infrastructure issues, with a focus on implementing Act 89.

Read more about Leslie Richards at Politics PA and Montgomery Media.

Doug Smith - SPC's New Transportation Planning Director

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 23:26:03 GMT

SPC Announces Doug Smith as New Transportation Planning Director

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission announced on January 1^st that Doug Smith is its new Transportation Planning Director. “Doug is hitting the ground running,” said Jim Hassinger, SPC Executive Director. “He is making plans for advancing our continuing process of improving transportation planning for the region as we prepare the long range plan for adoption this summer and begin work on the next Transportation Improvement Program.”

Doug is well prepared for the job - a registered professional engineer and cum laude graduate of West Virginia University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He has been with SPC since 2002 and has led innovative work in development of the regional congestion management process, regional system operations planning, road safety audit program, transportation enhancements program, coordination of the region’s traffic incident management program including multi-state training with Ohio and West Virginia, incorporation of advanced wireless technology in travel time and congestion analysis, and other SPC initiatives to enhance the use of technical tools in project evaluation and analysis for the region’s long range plan and Transportation Improvement Program.

Doug has previously worked in private sector transportation consulting in Pennsylvania, an MPO in West Virginia, and a state DOT in South Carolina with experience in project estimating and technical evaluation including highway and transit, traffic impact studies and the development of intelligent transportation systems. He has been called on by the Federal Highway Administration to provide best practice peer training for other metropolitan planning organizations.

Doug is a veteran of the naval reserves, with service in West Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama, overseeing training in mobilization, readiness and construction. He has been active as a community volunteer in Scouting and youth baseball, and as a trail volunteer, having contributed over 4,000 hours of community service time.

“Doug is a very conscientious, positive-minded professional,” said Hassinger. “All transportation professionals who know him already respect his talent and his willingness to work with people to get the job done right. We look forward to a great new year with Doug as SPC’s Transportation Planning Director!”

ACE Mentoring Continues with Structural Engineering Session

ASCE Blog Editor — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 19:51:17 GMT

Article by Linda Kaplan

The ACE Mentoring program met on December 3, 2014 at Mascaro Construction’s office for the structural engineering session. Approximately 40 students attended this session to advance the design of their museum project. Each group’s museum wing was required to have a hanging piece as part of their installation. In this session the students sized the beam needed to support that load.

The session began with an overview of structural engineering and the many different parts of this field. Following the presentation the students broke into their groups and were guided through a basic beam design based on shear and moment principles. They then used AISC shape tables to select the appropriate beam.

After everyone had completed the calculations, the students participated in a “Cardboard Beam” design competition. Each group was given one piece of 8.5x11 thin cardboard and 24” of duct tape with which to make a beam spanning 12” that could hold up a gallon of water suspended from the middle. Beams could not be solid sections and had to have a cross section under 2”x2”. Many creative designs were presented and ultimately 2 of the 9 tested were able to hold.

Read more about the ACE Mentor Program or the Pittsburgh ACE program, or contact Linda Kaplan, Karen Mueser, or Nicholle Piper for more information or to volunteer for future sessions.

Engineers without Borders Assesses Drinking Water in the Amazon

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 17:57:28 GMT

Article by Djuna Gulliver

It takes a 24-hour boat ride along the Amazon to reach the city of Tapagem, Brazil, inhabited by 200 Quilombo people. This secluded community offers a rare look at life outside the modern hustle and bustle of the technology age. “My initial reaction was, ‘Wow this is one of the most peaceful places with beautiful scenery,’” says Sarah Trossman, chemical engineering major at the University of Pittsburgh (UPitt). “The people are content with their simple way of life and it was very refreshing.”

Yet, in such a remote area of the country, the Quilombo have no means of electricity, little means of communication, and more importantly, limited options for drinking water. The villagers often resort to drinking river water, contaminated from upstream mining and poor latrine systems. As a result, many villagers are ailed with chronic digestive problems. The community of Tapagem is in great need of reliable, clean drinking water.

In 2013, the University of Pittsburgh chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-Pitt) set out to assess how they could bring improved drinking water to Tapagem. “It is our goal to improve the quality of life of the community members. It is our vision to establish health conditions in the community through education, access to clean water, and proper sanitation,” says Johnathan Maynard, bioengineer major at UPitt.

In August 2013, EWB-Pitt successfully completed their first assessment trip. The EWB team surveyed the community on their current method of obtaining water, their understanding of water sanitation, their current state of health, and their use the chlorine provided by the government. Additionally, the team tested the river water and well water for bacterial contamination. All of the water sampled contained unsafe levels of E.coli. Shockingly, the community well water had the highest levels of bacterial contamination. Given the lack of a Tapagem sanitation system, some bacterial contamination was expected. “But we were surprised that the well water was more contaminated than the river water,” says Trossman. “The well contamination emphasized that whatever we implement in the future must be accompanied by very specific, well described maintenance instructions that the community members understand. We will give the community members the tools and resources they need which will enable them to sustain the project.”

Clearly, EWB-Pitt has their work cut out for them. A second trip is scheduled for the Summer of 2015. During this trip, the team hopes to further sample the river and well water for both bacterial and metal contaminates. They also hope to determine the best water treatment system for Tapagem. Systems under consideration include individual rainwater catchment systems, chlorine drip systems, and biosand filter systems.

It’s not just the community of Tapagem that benefits from EWB. “Being involved with EWB gives me the opportunity to use the skills I learned in class to help others. EWB has expanded my understanding and offered me so many opportunities to gain new skills and develop myself professionally,” says Trossman. Other EWB-Pitt members are additionally grateful for the application of college-learned techniques to underdeveloped communities. “I have wanted to join EWB since I was a junior in high school,” says Deepa Issar, bioengineering major at UPitt. “It’s applying the things I learn in classes to help others.”

There is no doubt that EWB offers a Pittsburgh engineers a chance to use high-level skills for culturally unique yet marginalized communities. “I saw the need in undeveloped nations for access to reliable and quality resources including shelter, water, and sanitation that we take for granted in the first world,” Maynard says. “My desire to change this and to bring to the light the challenges these people face drove me to join this chapter to collaborate with others with aligned goals.”

While EWB-Pitt had initially hoped to make the second trip in the Summer of 2014, funding constraints and a need for technical mentors delayed their travels. Still hoping for a second trip this coming summer, EWB-Pitt is now searching for new volunteers to be technical mentors. Mentors could advise the student chapter on a range of topics, from water treatment/distribution to hydrology to Brazilian politics/culture. Anyone interested in joining the EWB-Pitt team can find more information on the ASCE online forum posting, or contact Sarah Trossman, EWB-Pitt President.

EPA Issues New TMDL Memorandum and Eliminates Flow Surrogate

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:06:00 GMT

Article by our allied organization, Water Environment Federation

On November 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new memorandum updating aspects of its November 2002 memorandum on the subject of “Establishing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Wasteload Allocations (WLAs) for Storm Water Sources and NPDES Permit Requirements Based on Those WLAs.” Perhaps most significantly, language regarding the use of flow as a surrogate has been removed. This may be in reaction to several recent court cases, including the Federal court ruling in Virginia Department of Transportation v. EPA where the court decided that EPA exceeded its authority in establishing a flow-based TMDL for Accotink Creek in Fairfax, Va. The flow-based TMDL used stormwater runoff as a surrogate for sediment loading in the stream. While this approach has been used in EPA Region 1, it was challenged in Region 3 and 7.

As a background, in Nov. 2010, EPA issued a memorandum updating and revising elements of the 2002 memorandum to better reflect current practices and trends in permits and WLAs for stormwater discharges. In March 2011, EPA sought public comment on the 2010 memorandum and, earlier this year, completed a nationwide review of current practices used in municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits as well as industrial and construction stormwater discharge permits.

EPA seems to have taken heed of public comments which asked for specific examples on how to include water quality-based effluent limits (WQBELs) and WLAs in permits. The agency refers to the recently released MS4 compendium, which highlights examples of WLA integration into MS4 permits from across the country. Additionally, EPA greatly clarifies the application of WQBELs in MS4 permits. The memorandum now states that WQBELs can be expressed as “system-wide requirements rather than individual discharge location requirements such as effluent limitations on discharges from individual outfalls.”

As a result of comments received and informed by reviews of EPA and state-issued stormwater permits, the agency is updating aspects of the 2002 memorandum by including “clear, specific, and measurable permit requirements,” and, where feasible, adding numeric effluent limits to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for stormwater discharges. Further, the agency recommends disaggregating stormwater sources in a WLA to allow for integration into permits.

Gaining New Insights: SEI Local Leadership Conference

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 23:18:11 GMT

Article by Greg Holbrook, EIT

I had the opportunity to represent the Pittsburgh Structural Engineering Institute chapter at the yearly SEI Local Leadership Conference (LLC) on October 24 & 25, 2014 in San Diego, CA. There were a number of presentations and breakout sessions to attend, including a strategic vision from the SEI President Donald Dusenberry, P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE on the future of Structural Engineering and how the profession will transition into the world of technology and 3D modeling and analysis. Additionally, the premier presentation of the conference was given by Brett Makley, P.E. and Dan Fitzwilliam, P.E. of T.Y Lin International, design engineers of the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge, which spans over six railroad tracks and Harbor Drive, a four lane roadway. This bridge was necessary to serve as a gateway to downtown San Diego and the recently constructed Petco Park, home to the Padres. The final technical presentation given by James A. D’Aloisio, P.E., SECB, LEED, AP BD+C of Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt, focused on how a Structural Engineering can be on the forefront of sustainable practices and explained the advantages and disadvantages of certain sustainability criteria in the industry with respect to current building codes. As an added bonus, Mr. D’Aloisio has agreed to present this topic in Pittsburgh this Spring.

During breakout sessions and meetings, we discussed best practices for events as well as ideas to benefit future SEI events and activities at the local level. I was able to talk with many Structural Engineering graduate students that were on the governing bodies of their respective SEI student chapters. This will be useful for our SEI Pittsburgh chapter as we pursue the idea of helping the University of Pittsburgh start their own SEI Graduate Student Chapter (GSC). We are also in the process of planning a visit to the WVU SEI GSC to conduct a discussion and presentation about the transition of a structural engineer into the work force. SEI Pittsburgh would like to make use of the online discussion forum available through the Pittsburgh Section website. Feel free to leave your questions or ideas there.

In addition to the technical presentations and discussions that took place, we took a tour of the Englekirk Center Shake Table at UC San Diego. This is the largest shake table in the United States and is capable of conducting tests on full scale buildings and structures. Anyone interested in learning more about current and past projects can find them here.

For more information about the Pittsburgh SEI Chapter and how you can get involved, please contact SEI Chair Sonya Flournoy at sonya.flournoy@lrkimball.com or myself at holbrookgt@cdmsmith.com.

Pittsburgh Geo-Institute Hosts 2014 Terzaghi Lecture

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:42:58 GMT

More than 50 ASCE members and guests gathered at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association on Thursday, October 23rd for the most recent installment of the Terzaghi Lecture series. The lecture was given by Dr. J. Carlos Santamarina, Ph.D., Ing., A.M.ASCE. Dr. Santamarina is the Goizueta Foundation Faculty Chair and a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His presentation, “Energy Geotechnology: Enabling New Insights into Soil Behavior,” provided a fascinating overview of the increasingly critical role that geotechnical engineers will play in the uphill battle to reduce carbon emissions and conserve energy.

The lecture explored potential applications of geotechology that would aid this effort, such as the geological storage of CO₂. Dr. Santamarina explained how striving to move forward in the energy field will facilitate a more holistic understanding of soil behavior. The implications of this new perspective range from redefining basic soil characterization methods to understanding complex relationships between hydraulic, chemical, mechanical, biological, thermal and mechanical processes. Ultimately, the presentation urged geotechnical engineers to start tackling the energy problem now during this important time in history. As Dr. Santamarina explained, while there are still many unknowns in this area, the process of solving these difficult problems will improve the field for the better.

As the 2014 recipient of the distinguished Terzaghi Lectureship, Dr. Santamarina has given his presentation to different ASCE sections throughout this year. Hosted by the Geo-Institute Chapter of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section, the event also included a social hour and a sit-down dinner. The Section was happy to be able to provide 1.0 PDH hours for this presentation.

Timothy Brett, PE, Wins Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 12:34:47 GMT

Timothy D. Brett, P.E., M.ASCE is one of five winners of the 2014 Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement. Tim received his award on October 9, 2014, at the ASCE Global Engineering Conference held in Panama City, Panama.

Timothy D. Brett, P.E. holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Systems Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, and is currently a Project Engineer with Leopold, a Xylem brand located in Zelienople, PA. Tim has over 12 years of experience mostly related to the water/wastewater industry in western PA. Most notable accomplishments include:

Development of Wet Weather Plans, Long-Term Control Plans, and Act 537 Plans
Hydraulic and Hydrologic modeling of sewer systems including the ALCOSAN Upper Monongahela Planning Basin wet weather facilities plan,
Development of Feasibility Studies for a member of the 3RWW PM Team and various clients in Allegheny County for compliance with the Health Department’s Administrative Consent Order,
Involvement in the Feasibility Study Working Group, Complex Sewershed analysis and Green Infrastructure analysis

Tim took some time to discuss the being an award winner and being a civil engineer in Pittsburgh:

Question: How do you feel about winning the award?

Initially I was completely surprised when I received notification that I had won. I never imagined winning such a prestigious award. Even now it is still had to believe.

Question: What was it like to receive your award in Panama City, Panama?

I was very fortunate to win the award in 2014 since the award ceremony was held in Panama City, Panama. That afforded me the opportunity to travel to a country that I probably would have never visited otherwise and get to learn about and tour one of the greatest civil engineering feats ever, the Panama Canal. It was amazing learning about the history and effort that went into building the canal 100 years ago; the head engineer that was in charge got his experience working on the locks and dams on the Ohio River. One of the most interesting facts that I learned was that the biggest obstacle in building the canal wasn’t an engineering concern but rather the disease that plagued the workers. In order to eradicate the disease, engineering solutions were used such as providing adequate shelter, clean drinking water and wastewater facilities.

Question: How do you feel about being a civil engineer?

I am truly excited about being a civil engineer and I don’t think there is a better place in the world to practice than Pittsburgh. There is just such a great history of civil engineering in the region and it is continuing to evolve today with the shale industry and replacement of aging infrastructure. When you really think about what a civil engineer does, we basically touch everyone’s life every day in ways that most people don’t think about until it is no longer available. Examples range from the roads and bridges we drive on to the clean water that travels miles from its source to our houses.

What are you the most proud of in your profession?

I’m very proud of having the opportunity to have taken part in the planning for this region’s most expensive infrastructure project that will address combined sewer overflows into the region’s waterways. Another proud moment was finding out one of our clients won an arbitration case against them. It was a great experience being part of the team that prepared the documents presented in the case and also being a key witness.

What have you learned after 12 years of experience in civil engineering?

I’ve learned that regardless of the project/task at hand, communication is key. This definitely wasn’t something learned in a college course or something that you would expect as you are preparing for your career. Whether it is communicating among team members or communicating a project to the public, without effective communication, a project can go in the wrong direction quickly even though there may be solid engineering analysis driving the project.

Prior to his employment with Leopold, Tim was employed by Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc. as Assistant Manager of the Civil Engineering Environmental Studies Unit and as an environmental engineer for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In addition to his professional achievements, Tim has been active with the Pittsburgh Section of ASCE Environmental Water Resource Institute (EWRI) where he is currently Treasurer. Through his involvement with EWRI, Tim has assisted in holding several continuing education events including an annual Sustainability Conference. For the past 5 years, Tim has also volunteered as a Big Brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western PA where he has been matched with his Little Brother Mike. Tim resides in Washington County with his wife Lindsey and their children Brooklyn and Carter.

The Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement is made to younger members of ASCE (35 years of age or younger) who are judged to have attained significant professional achievements by the degree to which they have served to advance the profession; exhibited technical competence, high character and integrity; developed improved member attitudes toward the profession; and contributed to public service outside their professional careers.

Mike Flowers, PE, Wins ASCE Roebling Award

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:48:57 GMT

Article by Linda Kaplan

Michael D. Flowers, P.E., M.ASCE receives the 2014 Roebling Award for outstanding leadership in construction of the most challenging bridge projects ever attempted by civil engineers in the modern era, particularly the record-setting, single-tower, asymmetrical self-anchored suspension bridge spanning San Francisco-Oakland Bay.

President and CEO of American Bridge, Michael earned a BS from West Virginia University and a MS from University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Flowers has been associated with construction of a series of bridges and bridge retrofits, growing in complexity throughout his career. His penultimate achievement and the basis for selecting him for the Roebling Award is the leadership and construction excellence he brought to the newly completed self-anchored suspension bridge tying Oakland and San Francisco together. With a length of 2,047 feet the SAS Bay Bridge is the longest self-anchored suspension span bridge in the world.

American Bridge Company led a joint venture for the construction of the new $1.9 billion Self-Anchored-Suspension Bridge as a key part of the seismic replacement of the eastern spans of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge. This signature span involved the construction of a new 625m single-tower, asymmetric, self-anchored suspension bridge. The bridge’s four-legged steel tower is 160m tall, supporting 790mm main cables, from which the cable is suspended. The tower legs at the base weighed 1000mt each. Traffic is carried on twin steel orthotropic box girder roadways, suspended from cables each carrying five lanes of traffic. The massive trapezoidal boxes are nearly 30m in width and over 5m deep, some weighing in excess of 1500mt and spanning 85m in a single piece. The 1,400m long main cable is comprised of 137 prefabricated parallel wire strands of 127 wires each. The cable is a unique continuous loop, anchored in both the westbound and eastbound roadway sections at the eastern end of the bridge, crossing over the tower top through a huge 400mt steel saddle and looping around the pier at the west end of the bridge.

As its name would imply, the bridge had no gravity anchors for the cable, but rather was “self-anchored.” In its final design, this required the roadway sections to carry very large compressive forces in combination with the bending and localized forces. The steel anchorages are roughly 20% of the size of a normal gravity anchorage and are neatly nested below the roadway surface within the box girders. The total weight of the permanent structural steel is about 50,000mt and the tower and roadway sections had to be temporarily supported on 25,000mt of false work to facilitate construction.

Once the tower and the roadways were erected, the cable was installed, and then through a carefully orchestrated complex load transfer process, the roadway sections were lifted off the false work, thereby, transferring the load from the temporary structures into the permanent cables. A build-to-suit marine heavy lift shear leg crane was designed and built as part of the project and facilitated ship unloading and erection of many of the bigger-than-life pieces. The shear leg dubbed the Left Coast Lifter has a 1750mt capacity and was founded on a 400’x100’x22’ custom built barge.

Nearly every aspect of the construction of this one-of-a-kind bridge required careful and thoughtful applications of structural engineering including the completion of all of the stages of our work in a safe seismic condition. The project was awarded in May of 2006 and the seismic safety of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge was restored when we turned traffic onto the new span on Labor Day 2013.

Michael will be presenting this project at an upcoming SEI/ABCD joint dinner event on January 22, 2015. Look for details and registration coming soon.

The Roebling Award recognizes and honors an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of construction engineering.

Pittsburgh Section Success - A Short Note

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:21:27 GMT

Region 2 Governor Jack Raudenbush, PE attended the November ASCE Pittsburgh Section Board of Directors meeting and provided the following thoughts to our leadership team.

Region 2 Governor Tom Imholte, PE and I appreciated the opportunity to participate in the Pittsburgh Section’s Board Meeting on November 6, 2014 at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania. Tom and I were given an opportunity to briefly touch upon a few topics which we hope were beneficial to the Board. Reiterating a few, the Pittsburgh Section should: contemplate who may be a good nomination for Region Governor in 2015 since no Pittsburgh Section members are currently in these positions; consider continued long range financial planning; and utilize the Region Governors as a conduit to ASCE National.

The order of meeting, and the proceedings of the meeting, made for a very productive morning without extraneous dialogue. Clearly the Officers and Committee members know the Agenda and know what items need addressed. I believe that the actions of the Board are a reflection of the Section and represent why the Section is so successful.

Please contact me at JackRaudenbush@raudeng.com or any Region Governor if we can be of assistance. And keep up the great work.

If you are interested in attending a Pittsburgh Section Board Meeting, they are typically held on the first Thursday of the month at 7:30am at the Engineer’s Society building on 4^th Ave. For more information contact Section President Kemal Niksic at kemal.niksic@hatchmott.com.

ACE Mentoring 2014-2015 Kicks Off

ASCE Blog Editor — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:30:18 GMT

Article by Nicholle Piper

On November 5, 2014, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) hosted the Civil Engineering Session for the Western Pennsylvania ACE Mentor Program. The ACE (Architecture, Construction and Engineering) Mentor Program is a national effort founded in 1994 to motivate high school students to pursue careers in engineering, design and construction. Over the course of this school year, Pittsburgh-area students will break into groups and progress through the design process for the construction of a museum. Each group is tasked with designing a wing of the museum. Students attend bi-weekly sessions hosted by professionals in the industry, and every session is focused on a different aspect of the design. Session subjects range from architecture to structural engineering to electrical engineering to interior design, etc. The deliverables for each session are combined and presented during a final project presentation at the end of the school year.

CEC has facilitated the Western PA Civil Engineering Session for the past 5 years. Approximately 70 students attended the event on November 5, which began with Nicholle Piper from Langan Engineering & Environmental Services presenting a brief overview of Civil Engineering. Then, Adele Beaves from CEC presented the task for the session. Students were provided with hard copies of a sample ordinance and a base site plan, and then each group designed a unique museum site that complied with the ordinance. Throughout the session, students were allotted time to focus on site layout and parking, landscape design, stormwater management design, and utility design. Mentors offered guidance during the session, but each group’s design was unique and creative. The session wrapped up with every group taking a few minutes to present their designs.

Read more about the ACE Mentor Program or the Pittsburgh ACE program, or contact Linda Kaplan, Karen Mueser, or Nicholle Piper for more information or to volunteer for future sessions.

Post Election Thoughts

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:48:10 GMT

Article by Gregory Scott, PE, Chair of Pittsburgh Section Government Relations Committee

So the dust has settled on the 2014 midterm elections. Similar to Washington DC, Pennsylvania has aligned itself with the Republicans controlling the House and Senate, while the Executive branch is held by the Democrats. In PA, come January, Republicans will hold 119 seats (up from 111) in the 203 member House, and 30 seats (up from 27) in the 50 member Senate (see maps below). Pennsylvania's new Governor Tom Wolfe will be in the same position as President Obama, attempting to craft an agenda for the next two years with the opposition party being firmly in control of any legislation. What does this divided government mean for America and PA for the next two years? While talk coming out of DC and from the Governor elect's camp is one of finding common ground to work together, there may be a power struggle in the Republicans between the traditional conservatives and the new more right leaning members. This may make finding common ground difficult, if not impossible.

In the Commonwealth, January will mark the beginning of a new session, so all pending bills will die. Fortunately for Pennsylvania, Act 89, a new transportation funding law, was signed into law a year ago. So while PennDOT leads the deployment of the new transportation funding between now and 2018, the consideration on any new legislation will begin again in Harrisburg. The 2014 ASCE Report Card on Pennsylvania's Infrastructure highlighted the needs for additional attention to Schools, Drinking Water, Storm Water and Wastewater. Will the Governor and the Legislature take up this challenge as they did in passing Act 89 to address the State's deteriorating transportation infrastructure?

In Washington DC, the eyes of the industry will be on Congress to address the reauthorization of MAP-21, the long-term highway funding authorization, which was extended until the Spring, 2015. Will Congress be able to find common ground with the Administration? Will the new bill increase funding for surface transportation over MAP-21, which was generally flat from the previous bill 8 years prior? Will the 2016 Presidential campaign impact the willingness of the parties to pass legislation during a lame duck session or will gridlock continue?

ASCE will work hard to advocate for important funding, regulatory, and legislative initiatives that support infrastructure and the design/construction industry. Now is a great time for members to engage in ASCE's government relation activities on the Local, State and Federal levels. If one or more of your elected officials will be new to his or her job come January, please go see them to share your knowledge and expertise on issues. Key Contact members receive details of developments on issues on both the State and Federal levels, so consider signing up for this free benefit and see how some of the questions I asked earlier evolve.

Lastly, if you have ideas on regulatory or policy changes that benefit the industry, please share them with your Section's government relations committee. As experts in the field, you see potential solutions firsthand and ASCE wants to hear your ideas.

Until next time, keep watching C-Span.

2014 Younger Member Leadership Symposium

ASCE Blog Editor — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 20:42:47 GMT

The Committee on Younger Members (CYM) hosted the Younger Member Leadership Symposium (YMLS) on September 21-22, 2014 at ASCE headquarters in Reston, VA. Interactive leadership sessions were offered during the course of the two-day event, focusing on tools to assist younger members (35 and under) to grow in the profession. Leanne McConnell and Nicholle Piper represented Pittsburgh YMF at the conference.

Perhaps one of the largest takeaways from the weekend was the difference between Project Management and Leadership. Effective Project Managers are not always effective leaders, and vice-versa. Methods to improve upon leadership skills and project management abilities were discussed extensively during the YMLS. Other topics included assessing your personality strengths/weaknesses, effectively using your younger member group, successfully having difficult conversations, and evaluating your corporate and personal influence sphere.

The CYM provided a reading list that expands on the key topics from the weekend:

Good to Great – Jim Collins
Difficult Conversations – How to Discuss What Matters Most – Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – A Leadership Fable – Patrick Lencioni
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People- Powerful lessons – Stephen R. Covey
Getting Things Done – The Art of Stress-Free Productivity – David Allen
People Styles at Work – Robert Bolton
The Situational Leader – Dr. Paul Hersey
How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie
The 360 Degree Leader – John Maxwell

For more information about the ASCE Committee on Younger Members or the 2015 Younger Member Leadership Symposium (tentatively scheduled for September 21-22, 2015), please contact Pittsburgh YMF President Linda Kaplan at lkaplan@gfnet.com or CYM Programs Member Kelly Doyle at kellydoyle.asce@gmail.com.

WEF Award

Djuna Gulliver — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 01:39:53 GMT

The Water Environment Federation awarded the 2014 WEF Collection Systems Published Contributions Award to the paper “Green Infrastructure Opportunities in Gray Wet Weather Plans.” The paper presents a local case study on planning green stormwater infrastructure for stormwater and CSO management in the City of Pittsburgh and suburban communities. The case study was a cooperative effort between 3 Rivers Wet Weather, and PWSA..

Section member Larry Lennon of Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc., principal author, with co-author section members Sam Shamsi (Baker Engineers, now with Jacobs), John Schombert (3 Rivers), Anthony Igwe (Wade Trim) and John Maslanik (Chester Engineers), on behalf of PWSA, participated as team members on the pilot studies performed for 3 Rivers that were the subject of the paper. PWSA incorporated the 3 Rivers pilot study findings into their SWMM models to provide estimates of CSO flow reduction that might be achievable. The authors are grateful to 3RWW for providing the project opportunity and to the R. K. Mellon Foundation for providing the grant for the study.

The full paper can be found by following the QR code and the abstract is provided below.

Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been widely utilized as a method of erosion/sedimentation and water pollution control predominantly for land development programs and, to a lesser degree, urban storm water runoff. Recently the focus is shifting from “green field” development practices to application of GI BMPs in mature urban neighborhoods. Whether retrofit projects aimed at reducing flow into Combined Sewer Systems or neighborhood redevelopment programs responsive to LID regulations, interest in application of GI in urban settings is growing. With the emergence of integrated watershed based Long Term Control Plans (LTCPs), and, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit requirements and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) limits for specific pollutant constituents on local streams, inclusion of GI, particularly for retrofit applications in urban stormwater/wet-weather and CSO facilities planning, has gained the interest of the regulatory agencies, permittees and diverse environmental interest groups. This paper addresses application of a GIS-based BMP siting approach to identifying, at a planning level, potential sites for retrofit GI projects intended to minimize runoff to drainage systems.

For more information contact Larry Lennon at ljlennon@lsse.com or Sam Shamsi at sam.shamsi@jacobs.com

Double

Djuna Gulliver — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:23:59 GMT

Article by Karl Sieg

The best indicator of the cost of maintenance and construction of America’s surface transportation system may be the Construction Cost Index (CCI) of the Engineering News-Record. As of September 2014, the CCI is about double its 1993 value.

In 1993, Congress added 4.3 cents a gallon to the gasoline tax, with the added revenue dedicated to deficit reduction. With the addition of the 0.1-cent-a-gallon levy to finance the leaking underground storage tank trust fund, the federal tax rose to 18.4 cents a gallon. The federal Motor Fuel User Fee still stands at only 18.4 cents-a-gallon today.

Since 1997, the full federal gasoline tax has gone to the Highway Trust Fund.

To prevent the Highway Trust fund from running out of money, Congress extended its life until May, 2015, through what some consider to be ‘gimmicks’ (see previous issues of this newsletter).

The federal government has been taxing our fuel for 82 years. From the beginning, the money was going to things other than roads and bridges. Most Americans favor an increase in the federal motor fuel user fee to adjust for inflation and costs from delayed maintenance and construction, assuming the money is actually used to build and maintain our surface transportation system. However, many of those Americans oppose an increase, due to a distrust of their public policy makers who they believe will vote to use it elsewhere.

The image of ‘snake eyes’ above resembles a pair of eyes, which is appended to the term 'snake' because of the long-standing association of this word with treachery and betrayal. Because it is the lowest possible roll of the dice, and will often be a loser in many dice games, the term is a reference to bad luck.

So, what kind of luck will Americans have in the next 9 months?

Will your Congressman vote to ensure that the user fees you pay are used to build and maintain your transportation system?

How will you vote? Every Congressman is a candidate for re-election on November 4. Your vote is one of an estimated 200,000 construction industry votes in Western Pennsylvania. Your vote counts! A photo of your Congressman is at the bottom of the first page of the May issue of this newsletter (click here to see who's running in your district). The winners in the 2012 General Election and their margins of victory are shown in the December 2012 issue of this newsletter, on the Section website, above.

A recent projection is that only 18 percent of Philadelphia voters will turnout in the November 4 election, but 25% in metropolitan Pittsburgh. Since the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is 60% larger than the Pittsburgh MSA, the tepid turnout of Philly voters may make each vote in Western Pennsylvania more valuable.

Brownfield Redevelopment and Remediation

Djuna Gulliver — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:18:57 GMT

Pittsburgh’s long industrial past includes a history not only in steel, but also in aluminum, glass, and transportation. Since the 1980’s, much of this industry-based economy has since transformed to tech-based commerce such as robotics, medicine, and education. And as the industry-based companies closed shop, they left behind land that had been exposed to various industrial compounds. This brought about a tricky problem: what should Pittsburgh do with these former industrial sites, or brownfields.

Brownfield is classified as a “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”(HR-2869-2002) Pittsburgh was a city of industry, and therefore is also city of many brownfields. The economic transformation of Pittsburgh required innovation in brownfield redevelopment.

On September 11^th, 2014, EWRI hosted a 2-part seminar on brownfield redevelopment and remediation. During the first part of the seminar, Dr. Deborah Lange, executive director of Western Pennsylvania Brownfields Center, described the complex, multi-disciplinary requirements of brownfield redevelopment. Neighborhoods such as Braddock, Hazelwood, South Side Works, and East Liberty were used to describe the nine key characteristics that must be considered when redeveloping a brownfield.

Community engagement
Historical relevance
Infrastructure
Remediation needs
Optimal use of the land
Multi-jurisdictional cooperation
Political commitment
Public-private partnerships
Socio-economics

Despite the complications that each brownfield brings, Pittsburgh has endeavored to transform these former industrial sites, resulting in many success stories.

The second part of the seminar focused on novel remediation strategies of a series of compounds that have long contaminated many brownfield sites, chlorinated solvents. Chlorinated solvents were utilized by many industries as cleansers, degreasers, thinners, or resins. Long-term exposure to chlorinated solvents results in damage to the nervous system, liver, or kidneys, and in some cases lead to cancer. Unfortunately, industry’s historic use of chlorinated solvents has lead to current widespread contamination in the groundwater.

Fortunately, many innovative technologies are now being used to reduce the chlorinated solvent contamination. The second part of the seminar featured Dr. Udai Singh, Vice President of CH2M HILL, with a long-term experience in modern remediation techniques. Dr. Singh described the latest practice of groundwater remediation that has been proven reduce chlorinated solvents concentrations. These technologies include:

In situ thermal treatment: the contaminated subsurface is heated, mobilizing the chlorinated solvents, which are then extracted and treated
Soil mixing: contaminated soils are mixed with reagents such as zero-valent iron, oxidants, or bentonite to react/stabilize the chlorinated solvents
Air sparging/ soil vapor extraction: air is injected in the contaminated subsurface, and volatile chlorinated solvents are extracted and treated
In situ bioremediation: organic substrates such as lactate, whey, or vegetable oils are injected in the contaminated subsurface, promoting biodegradation of the chlorinated solvents
In situ chemical oxidation: strong oxidizing agents are injected in the contaminated subsurface, reacting and degrading the chlorinated solvents.

Preliminary studies have found these technologies capable of reducing the chlorinated solvent concentration by 95-99%. Dr. Singh noted that the technologies varied in cost, with soil mixing as a low-cost remediation solution, and in situ chemical oxidation as a higher cost alternative. However, each innovative process had various advantages and disadvantages, demonstrating there was no silver bullet to chlorinated solvent remediation.

Interested in other EWRI-PGH seminars? Visit http://www.asce-pgh.org/EWRI for upcoming events.

NCEES and the Conversion to Computer Based Testing

Djuna Gulliver — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:08:54 GMT

Presented by David Widmer, PLS, NCEES President 2014-2015

Over 50 students and professionals gathered in the University of Pittsburgh O’Hara Student Center for a presentation on the new computer based testing procedures for the FE and PE exams. NCEES President David H. Widmer, PLS gave an overview of the new exam, and discussed what prompted this change.

The traditional pencil/paper based exam has been plagued by security issues. David shared a story of discovering one girl with a jeans jacket full of recording devices taking the exam in Puerto Rico. That jacket is now on display at the NCEES Headquarters in Clemson, SC. The new computer based exam is expected to have less issues as security has been enhanced.

The FE exam was transitioned to computer based testing at the beginning of 2014. This change allows people to sit for the exam up to once each 2 month cycle and to take the test on any day of the week, depending on location of the Pearson Vue Testing Center. There is currently a maximum of 3 takings per year. Additionally, the new FE exam is shorter than the original – down to about 110 questions and 6 ½ hours. Results are provided the Wednesday following the week the exam was taken. David shared statistics showing that there has been good distribution of when people sign up for the test, taking advantage of the new system. He also showed that the pass rates for the computer based test have been comparable to those of the pencil/paper based exam.

The PE exam is expected to be converted to computer based testing in 2016, with a staged implementation plan – not all disciplines will be done at once and civil is expected to be one of the later exam topics to be changed over. The biggest change for the PE exam will be the use of a virtual library. Instead of bringing references with you to the exam, you’ll be using a searchable database provided at the testing site.

David also spoke to the licensed professionals in the room about opportunities to get involved with NCEES and exam development. There is a constant need for exam testers to help write and test questions as they are developed. If anyone is interested in getting involved they should contact David Widmer at DWidmer@widmerengineering.com.

For more information of YMF activities contact YMF President Linda Kaplan at lkaplan@gfnet.com.

EWRI Hosts Seminar on Long Term Performance Monitoring of Philadelphia Green Infrastructure

Djuna Gulliver — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 01:52:16 GMT

In order to mitigate combined sewer overflows, cities throughout the nation are making significant financial investments to the implementation of green infrastructure as a viable solution. Some notable cities include: Syracuse ($78 million), Buffalo ($93 million), Cleveland ($42 million), St. Louis ($100 million), Kansas City ($109 million), Milwaukee ($1300 million), New York City ($2400 million) and Philadelphia ($1670 million). The investments from the latter cities (Milwaukee, New York, and Philadelphia) are not a typo - cities are planning to invest billions on green infrastructure. The City of Philadelphia made headlines in 2011 when the Philadelphia Water Department unveiled their near 100% green infrastructure combined sewer overflow plan, “Green City, Clean Waters.” At the time, Philadelphia’s plan was the largest financial commitment ever in United States history to green infrastructure implementation as part of an EPA approved long-term combined sewer overflow solution. Milwaukee soon followed thereafter in 2013 with their plan. New York City trumped them all with their 2014 plan to spend $2400 million on green infrastructure. The nature (no pun intended) in which cities are investing their capital on the combined sewer overflow issue is clearly headed in a green direction.

With such large investments being made in green infrastructure, monitoring long-term performance of constructed sites has become critical to protect the financial investments and ensure proper operation and lifespan of the facilities. To varying degrees, each of the cities above are setting aside some of the committed dollars for monitoring the local performance of green infrastructure sites.

On September 4, 2014 the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute hosted a lunchtime seminar with Stephen White, EIT M.ASCE from the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to give a presentation on the department’s long term green infrastructure performance monitoring program and the results to date. A key component of Philadelphia’s “Green City, Clean Waters” plan is to collect long-term performance monitoring data that would help PWD understand and characterize the functionality of the green infrastructure over time. Ultimately the data collected would help PWD determine, 1.) Best management practices for future green infrastructure design and construction, and 2.) Insights for coordinating field crews for on-going maintenance activities.

Some highlights from Mr. White’s presentation included:

Since 2011, PWD has constructed approximately 500 green infrastructure facilities throughout the city. Out of the 500, approximately 240 of the sites are stormwater tree trenches. The remaining sites are a mixture of swales, rain gardens, pervious pavements, and infiltration trenches. A rendering provided by PWD of a typical stormwater tree trench is shown.
Out of the 500 installations, PWD is monitoring approximately 50 sites for long term performance. Monitoring equipment consists of water level/temperature pressure transducers within the storage basins of each facility. The water level within each site is continually monitored on 5 minute increments to measure infiltration rates and volume capture. At the time of the presentation, only water quantity is being monitored by PWD (no water quality monitoring). Typical water level/temperature monitoring sensor installed at many PWD sites is shown.
Data from seven stormwater tree trench sites were presented. Long term data from three of trenches indicate a distinct seasonal fluctuation in hydraulic conductivity with values ranging from 0.1 in/hr to 2.5 in/hr depending on the site and season. An example of the seasonal variation of the hydraulic conductivity from one of the presented trenches is shown below.
Data from one pervious pavement installation was presented. Data indicates a decrease in infiltration rates of the pervious surface. However, the decreased infiltration rate is equal to 50 in/hr, far exceeding design storm rainfall intensities.
Groundwater mounding and basement flooding is of major concern to PWD. PWD is currently monitoring groundwater levels in and around several green infrastructure installations to determine if infiltration practices pose potential problems for adjacent basements due to elevated groundwater levels.

Following the presentation there was a lively question and answer session with the audience. The event was attended by a diverse group of professional backgrounds such as: consulting engineers, watershed organizations, community planners, landscape architects, academia, and local government agency/sewer authority representatives. EWRI Pittsburgh will continue to bring the latest updates on green infrastructure findings throughout the nation as part of future events.

YMF Travels to UPJ for the 2014 National Concrete Canoe Competition

Djuna Gulliver — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 21:04:53 GMT

In June, 2014, the Pittsburgh Younger Member Forum (YMF) sent a team of engineers to volunteer at the National Concrete Canoe Competition hosted by the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ). The event, now in its 26^th year, centers around designing, constructing, presenting and racing canoes made of - you guessed it--concrete. This year’s competition took place June 19-21, 2014 on the UPJ Campus and nearby Quemahoning Reservoir.

23 teams participated, traveling from as far as Canada, Puerto Rico, and China. The three day affair included technical presentations, a career fair, canoe displays, and an awards ceremony. Designs were judged based on technical paper submissions, oral presentations, overall final product, and culminating in a race against the clock and one another.

YMF Members Mike Zerby, Stephanie Buncich, Jesse Fresch, Lauren Dziagwa, Karen Mueser, Linda Kaplan, Sara Mullaney, Sonya Flournoy, Bill Confair, and Jim Radion helped out with everything from keeping time during the races, scoring, set-up/breakdown, organizing students, and cheering on the teams. YMF Past-President Angela Mayer also served as a judge.

The UPJ Team finished in 15^th place, while the University of Nevada Reno paddled their hardest to win the overall competition.

For more information on the National Concrete Canoe Competition, go to http://www.asce.org/concretecanoe/.

CANstruction 2014

Djuna Gulliver — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:29:09 GMT

For the third year in a row, the Pittsburgh Younger Member Forum teamed up with the Keystone-Mountain-Lakes Carpenter’s Union to enter the annual CANstruction Pittsburgh competition.

This year’s entry “Send Hunger to the Land of Make Believe” was a replica of King Friday the Thirteenth’s castle from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and was our most ambitious design yet. Constructed over the course of six hours by Karen Mueser, Linda Kaplan, Paroma Saha and Nicholle Piper of the YMF and Rick Okraszewski and Dave Plutt of the Carpenter’s Union, the castle was eight feet wide, seven feet deep and eight feet tall. The castle was comprised of a black bean curtain wall, a keep made of great northern beans, and towers comprised of pinto beans, garbanzo beans, and chicken and vegetable broth had battlements of sauerkraut and tuna fish - sure to keep out invaders if by the smell alone!

Perhaps the best part of CANstruction is the cause. All of the cans used in the structure were donated to our food bank partner, The Brashear Association, which is located in Pittsburgh’s Southside. With more than 2,500 cans of food weighing over 2,200 pounds, the castle will provide many meals for the families of Pittsburgh and we are pleased to be donating so much good food to the members of our community that need it.

While CANstruction is ultimately a food charity, there is a healthy dose of competition between the teams and six awards from the ‘Best Use of Labels’ to ‘Fan Favorite’ were up for grabs. This year, “Send Hunger to the Land of Make Believe” won the 2014 award for “Best Meal” for our suggested recipe of a Tuna Salad Sandwich and Four Bean Soup.

We would like to extend a special thanks to everyone that donated to the project including: friends, family, and members of the ASCE Pittsburgh Section, Giant Eagle Parkway Center, Massaro Corporation, Carnegie Mellon University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Greater Pennsylvania Regional Carpenters Unions, DiGioia Gray & Associates, and American Geotechnical and Environmental Services, Inc.

For more information on CANstruction please contact team captain Karen Mueser at Karen.mueser@lrkimball.com. You can also check out the CANstruction Pittsburgh website at Pittsburgh.canstruction.org

National Steel Day Tour: Scott Hall Construction Site, CMU

Djuna Gulliver — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 21:01:20 GMT

To celebrate AISC’s National Steel Day the Pittsburgh SEI Chapter hosted a construction site tour of the Scott Hall project on Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) campus.

When finished, this 100K SF building will house wet and dry laboratories, collaborative and office spaces, a cafe, and a 10K SF cleanroom facility. This impacted the design of the building significantly as vibration requirements for the cleanroom and laboratory spaces were very strict.

Preceding the tour, a brief overview of the project was presented as well as a look at some of the more unique structural design challenges. The project site sits in the back of CMU’s campus on a steep hillside leading down to active railroad tracks. The building is cantilevered out over the hillside and supported on diagonally splayed steel columns. Each column is outfitted with multiple strain gages to allow for continual monitoring of the building. Building floor plans had to be designed as trusses in order to resolve all forces from the columns, resulting in unusual framing and connection designs.

The structure is designed to tie into four other campus buildings, creating a connecting hub for many of CMU’s engineering departments. To accomplish this, a portion of the building is being constructed under the main campus level in a previous service entrance area. Main campus walkways will then extend over this portion of the structure creating new green roof space. The cleanrooms will be housed in the area under the green roof. Construction is expected to be completed Winter 2015.

Project manager Max Dorosa led the tour with the assistance of project structural engineers Matt Larson and Daniel Brodkin from Arup USA. For more information on the project, final design renderings, and up-to-date progress photos check out the project website at http://www.cmu.edu/cdfd/scott-hall/.

For more information on SEI Pittsburgh Activities, contact Sonya Flournoy, at Sonya.Flournoy@lrkimball.com

WOTUS: Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act

Djuna Gulliver — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:50:52 GMT

Identifying streams and wetlands protected under the Clean Water Act became confusing and complex following the Supreme Court decisions of 2001 and 2006. For nearly a decade, members of Congress, state and local officials, industry, agriculture, environmental groups, and the public have asked for rulemaking to provide clarity.

The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a proposed new rule on April 21, 2014, defining the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act as WOTUS, or the Waters of the US in the Federal Register. The proposed rule can be reviewed at: http://www2.epa.gov/uswaters/definition-waters-united-states-under-clean-water-act.

Specifically, the proposed rule clarifies that under the Clean Water Act:

• Most seasonal and rain-dependent streams are protected.

• Wetlands near rivers and streams are protected.

• Other types of waters may have more uncertain connections with downstream water and protection will be evaluated through a case specific analysis of whether the connection is or is not significant. However, to provide more certainty, the proposal requests comment on options protecting similarly situated waters in certain geographic areas or adding to the categories of waters protected without case specific analysis.

The proposed rule is consistent with the Supreme Court's more narrow reading of Clean Water Act jurisdiction and also regulates groundwater. It does not protect any new types of waters that have not historically been covered under the Clean Water Act. It also proposes to reduce jurisdiction and exclude certain ephemeral and intermittent ditches.

EPA estimates the proposed rule would annually provide $388 million to $514 million of benefits to the public, including flood reduction, pollution filtration, provisions for wildlife habitat, hunting and fishing support, and groundwater recharge. Public benefits significantly outweigh the annual costs of about $162 million to $278 million for stream/wetland mitigation and waterway pollution reduction.

The public comment period on the proposed rule will close on Monday, October 20, 2014. ASCE strongly urges its members to submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880 by one of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Email: ow-docket@epa.gov. Include EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880 in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Send the original and three copies of your comments to: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Deliver your comments to EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2011-0880. Such deliveries are accepted only during the Docket's normal hours of operation, which are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The telephone number for the Water Docket is 202-566-2426.

Welcome to the ASCE-PGH News Blog

Djuna Gulliver — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 00:20:49 GMT

Welcome to the new ASCE-Pittsburgh News Blog-Rocks Roads Ripples n’At.

On September 4^th, 2014, the ASCE-Pittsburgh Board of Directors voted to convert the monthly newsletter to a weekly blog format. This move is part of a continuing effort to make important information readily accessible, searchable, and interactive for current and future Pittsburgh Section ASCE members, public policy makers, news media, and advertisers.

Rocks Roads Ripples n’At will convey the usual newsletter information, as well as additional event photos and personal member profiles. The blog format will allow frequent updates on government relations, legislative developments, and other areas of interest to our members. The format encourages comments and discussion on new and archived articles.

Newsletters will continue to be printed until the end of December, 2014.

The transition from newsletter to blog format is expected to encounter some challenges. However, with patience and continued support from our members, we hope the new format will allow larger outreach to fellow engineers and interested followers.

We hope you enjoy the blog, and look forward to your discussions on future posts.