No Water Under The Bridge
“There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people – and the environment – suffer badly.” (An excerpt from the World Water Vision report published by the World Water Council)
Flexible Concrete? No Longer An Oxymoron
A team of researchers at the University of Michigan has developed a concrete material that bends like rubber, cracks very little, heals itself with no manual intervention, and is almost as good as new concrete upon recovery, with its stiffness and strength intact.
Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure - A Useful New Site
I came across a great new website for civil engineering professionals the other day: Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure.
This is a new site from StagnitoMedia, publishers of CENews.com. It provides news and insights into the U.S. infrastructure industry with a focus on bridges and roads. If your engineering firm is trying to make the most out of the economic stimulus package by landing some lucrative infrastructure work, this site is built for you.
The Future of Our Water Resources
Over 3/4 of the Earth’s surface area is covered with water and that proportion is rising every year with the melting of the polar ice caps. Even so, many scientists are predicting that water will actually be one of our most valuable and in-demand resources. Since this is likely to play a large role in the future of our planet, I’ve decided to do a little research and find out what some of the smartest people are currently thinking about the future of the Earth’s water resources.
Erosion Protection Using Natural Vegetation
There are several options engineers can choose from when looking to prevent erosion of shorelines and channels, each with advantages and disadvantages. One of the simplest, but often overlooked methods is to use natural vegetation.
Recycling with Civil Engineering
I recently came across a webpage from the EPA that describes a number of great uses for scrap tires in civil engineering applications. Apparently shredded tires offer significant cost and lifetime benefits for many civil engineering purposes. Also, many states offer grants and/or subsidies for helping reduce used tire stockpiles.
Our Infrastructure’s Poor Grades
In January 2009, as the stimulus package was being debated on a national level, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released a timely preview of a study it was working on. The study was a that graded many areas of our nation’s infrastructure. It was not pretty. Overall, the ASCE gave our infrastructure a D with no specific area receiving anything higher than a C. They also estimated that the nation would need to invest 2.2 trillion dollars over the next five years to have any chance of raising our grades.
3 Ways Civil Engineers Can Fight Global Warming
In the midst of the current economic crisis, it can be easy to forget about longer term problems like global warming. It seems like the global conversation always tends to be shortsighted and only addresses one problem at a time. I do not want to wait until our economy is up and running again before I address our other problems.
Solar and Hydrogen Powered Home
Mike Strizki, a civil engineer, has successfully harnessed solar and hydrogen power to provide 100% of the electricity needed for his home (and his car). His home system is broken down into four main parts: solar cells, a hydrogen fuel cell, storage tanks, and an electrolyzer. Here’s how it works: when the sun is shining, [...]
Newest Wonders of the World
I never cease to be amazed at how technology allows us to continue to push the barriers of what is possible. It seems that when rapidly evolving technologies are mixed with creative and ambitious people, groundbreaking projects always ensue. As a civil engineer, I continue to marvel at what humans have accomplished and are currently [...]
        |