Civil Engineering, Theory And Aplication

Caterpillar Equipment

2009-03-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

Caterpillar Incorporated, also known as CAT is a United States based corporation that is based in Peoria, Illinois. The company commonly known as CAT is known around the world as the largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines.

Well known and famous for their products that feature the Caterpillar track and distinctive yellow paint, CAT produces a wide range of heavy equipment for
all types of jobs, including the very popular Caterpillar D9 bulldozer.

History
The story of CAT dates back to the late 19th century, when Daniel Best and Benjamin Holt were experimenting with different ways to fulfill the promise that steam tractors held for farm work. Prior to 1925, the Holt family had pioneered track tractors and gasoline powered engines. After the companies of Best and Holt were merged, the company went through several changes then at the end of World War 2, they began to grow at a very fast pace, launching the first venture outside of the country in 1950, which marked the beginning of CAT development into a big corporation.

CAT equipment ranges from track type tractors to hydraulic excavators, backhoes, motor graders, off road trucks, wheel loaders, tractors, diesel and
gas engines, and gas turbines. CAT equipment is used in construction, excavation, building roads, mining, energy, forestry, transportation, and material handling companies.

Sales
Over half of CAT's sales are to customers in overseas areas. CAT products are sold in almost 200 different countries. The company has a worldwide network
of over 200 dealers - 63 in the United States and over 150 in other countries. CAT equipment and components are manufactured in 42 plants in the United States and plants in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, and several other countries.

Labor
CAT almost went down in the early 1980s due to the massive union strikes and a down turn in product demand. At the time, several news reports indicated that products were piling up so high in facilities that temporary workers hired to work the lines
could barely get to their stations to perform their jobs.

In the 1990s, CAT suffered yet another long strike in which the company hired what it deemed to be permanent replacements for union workers that were on strike. During both strikes, jack rocks were placed in the home entrances of many of
CATs top executives and employees, puncturing the tires of their vehicles and making things worse for the company.

Not long after the strike of the 1990s ended and the economy started to get back up again, CAT adopted the "6 Sigma" quality management program, to help reduce costs and inventory and identify and correct the defects in processes and products.

Civil Construction And Engineering

2009-01-07T01:49:00.000-08:00

Civil engineering is a concept that deals with the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment. The act of civil construction and engineering includes bridges, roads, canals, airports, dams and buildings. These are merely just a few examples of what civil construction and engineering is about.

Civil engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines after military engineering. It has been an aspect of life since the beginning of human existence. Until modern times there was no clear distinction between civil engineering and architecture.

One of the main aspects of civil construction and engineering is structural engineering. With structural engineering a structure needs to be able to successfully support itself as well as being able to resist loads. It is the job of a structural engineer to ensure that the design and construction of aspects such as bridges, roads and airports etc are safe and successful for their function. Some of the design considerations that need to be kept in mind are the strength, stiffness and stability of the civil construction. All of these need to commit to safety checks so that the structure can hold itself. Other considerations that need to be kept in mind when it comes to the civil construction and engineering includes the cost, constructibility, safety, aesthetics and sustainability of the proposed structure.

In the society that we live in today it is safe to say that society wouldn’t work without civil construction and engineering. This is because the infrastructures that we use in our daily lives, the infrastructures that support our daily lives wouldn’t be in existence if it wasn’t for civil construction and engineering. We use aspects such as roads and harbours, railways and airports, hospitals, sports stadiums and schools, access to drinking water and shelter from the weather in our daily lives without a second thought to the construction and engineering that is behind them. We rely more than ever on building contractor teams and inventive people who design and build as well as maintain the sophisticated environment that surrounds our everyday life.

The job of a civil construction team/engineer is more than merely the building side of these infrastructures. They have many activities that they must do every day, including drafting, decision making, computer interaction, communication, documentation, creative thinking, organizing, information collecting, estimating and analyzing. It is the job of a construction engineer to draft and design structures and show others how to build them. A construction engineer has to analyse information and make the right decision to solve the problems.

If you are a business owner or the owner of property who wishes to expend and build civil structures such as a road to provide easier access or an extension is needed at an airport, it is essential that you enlist the help of a building contractor team who are highly skilled and experienced in undertaking all aspects of civil building and construction. The building contractor team should have structural engineers who are able to undertake the planning and safety aspects of the design to ensure that the finished product is up to standards.

By: Carolyn Clayton

Earning A Civil Engineering Graduate Degree Online

2009-01-07T01:47:00.000-08:00

Civil engineering is among the oldest branches of the vast field of engineering. Civil engineers create, construct, and maintain all types of public systems and structures, and are literally the backbone of any city or town. Civil engineers are often responsible for any of the following tasks: design and/or construction of road systems, municipal buildings and centers, airports, as well as water supply and sewage systems that include tunnels, bridges, dams, and filtration structures. The general field of civil engineering is an umbrella under which there are many sub-fields, including structural engineering, building construction, environmental engineering, transportation, and geotechnical engineering (soil and rock mechanics). If you are currently working as a Civil Engineer, you know that there are a variety of jobs available within the discipline. And if you have a graduate degree in Civil Engineering, you know that the career prospects are even broader. It has never been easier to earn a Master's degree in Civil Engineering. Online programs offer a great deal of convenience and flexibility. By earning your Civil Engineering Master's degree online, you give yourself the chance to expand and develop your knowledge and scope of the field, and thus broaden your career possibilities.

Civil Engineers often find employment near cities that house major industrial and/or commercial hubs. In areas such as these, engineers are needed to design and build safe transportation systems, water and sewage systems, as well as maintain, repair, or replace current roads and municipal construction (bridges, tunnels, etc). Because employment opportunities within the field of Civil Engineering depend on the geographic area and need for specific work, it is important to be as competitive a candidate as possible when looking for employment. Earning an online graduate degree in Civil Engineering will give you an edge, even if you are currently employed in the field. The career opportunities are seemingly limitless in the field. A Civil Engineer can hold a managerial post, ranging from construction site manager working out in the field to a city engineer designing and implementing roads and structures on computer-based interfaces. There are also many types of support positions available for a Civil Engineer, including working as a designer, conducting research to further scientific knowledge and design methods in the field, and, of course, teaching. Many of the higher-ranking (and higher-paying) positions in the field of Civil Engineering are made available to those who hold a Master's degree or higher.

If you are considering earning a graduate degree in Civil Engineering, consider enrolling in an online program. There are a number of good reasons to do so. Number one is convenience. You can continue working your regular work schedule and earn you degree simultaneously. Many online programs offer lectures via streaming video that you can watch at any time on your computer, from home or at work. And all of your assignments can be submitted to your professors using your email. With the convenience of online learning also comes flexibility. Because you can fit your class time into your schedule, you don't have to sacrifice family commitments or leisure time. Earning your Civil Engineering degree online is an almost ideal way to achieve your highest career aspirations.

Many online graduate degree programs in Civil Engineering are specifically designed for the working Civil Engineering professional. They are offered through fully accredited Universities, and the programs are planned around the most current recommendations of the ASCE (the American Society of Civil Engineers). Among the degrees that can be earned are a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis on Construction Engineering or Structural Engineering. There are also programs available that emphasize the technological side of the field, providing instruction to those who are more inclined to do design work on a computer. Whatever you decide to do, you can often develop your own study strategy within a field of specialization that is related to your current occupation.

When you decide that you want and need a graduate degree in Civil Engineering, you must consider earning it online. The approach to continuing your education is convenient, it is adaptable, and it is simply the most current way to advance your career. Having a Master's degree brings with it not only the professional development, but also a sense of accomplishment, and the testimony to current and future employers that you are resolute in being the best Civil Engineer that you can be.

By: Mark Woodcock

Engineering New Orleans' future

2008-11-14T21:43:00.000-08:00

Three years ago I visited New Orleans as part of a series looking at large-scale water and engineering projects.

At the time, I was confidently told that nature had been conquered in the Mississippi delta: the huge system of levees, locks and floodways meant New Orleans would never flood again.

Over a hundred years of major civil engineering projects had seen to that. We all know now this wasn't true.

For the anniversary of the Katrina disaster, I returned to the city to look at what went wrong, where and why the levees were breached and to understand the political and engineering lessons that have been learnt from the hurricane.

There are many places in New Orleans where it looks like the flooding happened yesterday: whole neighbourhoods are deserted, flooded buildings still show the high watermarks, the mangled wreckage of smashed homes still present a health hazard.

Mountains of scrap metal, everything from refrigerators to buses, are piled up waiting to be taken away.

Low-level existence

Debbie Simon, a former disaster manager now working with the US Army Corps of Engineers in the city, has a phrase for it: "When people ask me what New Orleans is like, I say 'it's like landfill', thousands of square miles of landfill - but with people still living in it."

But why the city flooded is only now becoming clear. The hurricane did not pass directly over New Orleans. The city slowly filled up with salt water - water that remained for nearly three weeks.

There is no doubt that the flood defence system was inadequate: the levees were breached.

The US Army Corps of Engineers, which has responsibility for building and maintaining the levee system, has spent the last year looking into the minute detail of how and why this happened.

Their conclusions, shortly to be presented to the US Congress in the 7,000-page Interagency Performance Evaluation Taskforce (IPET) report, demonstrate the precarious nature of New Orleans' existence.

Most of the city is below sea level, 80% of it was flooded, and most of the water entered through two relatively small breaches of the levee system.

As we stood next to a brand new pumping station on the London Avenue Canal, Debbie Simon explained how New Orleans is subjected to tropical storms which if not immediately drained would flood the city every time it rains.

"When you have a tropical storm, it dumps 14 inches (35.5cm) in a couple of hours, and that water's gotta go somewhere; it goes into the canal."

'Like a bath'

This water flows from the streets to a series of drainage canals, which in turn take the water out to Lake Pontchartrain, a huge expanse of brackish water which is really an estuary to the Gulf of Mexico.

The lake borders the northern side of the city. As the lake is actually higher than most of the city, the water has to be pumped down the canals into the lake.

Hurricane Katrina caused huge waves of water to sweep across the lake. These created a storm surge, waves of water in the opposite direction to the rainwater flowing out of the canals into the lake.

"You had a storm surge coming down, rainwater going out. The only way was up. It was like putting the plug in and filling up a bathtub," said Simon.

To try to prevent future storm surges from entering the canals, much needed flood gates and a large system of pumps are being installed at the mouth of both the 17th Street Canal and the London Avenue canal.

London Avenue was breached on both sides, flooding the 9th Ward, an area of predominantly wooden houses which were smashed by the floodwaters.

The Army Corps first proposed putting these gates into place nearly 10 years ago, but the idea did not get off the drawing board as it was opposed by local residents who thought it would spoil their view of the lake and environmental groups concerned about its effect on the ecology of the area.

A trade-off

Barry Fletcher from the Army Corps took me to the 17th Street Canal. This is where a large section of the levee gave way, flooding the neighbouring Lakeside area - the place where he used to live.

He is hoping to rebuild his home but cautions against placing too much faith in the new flood prevention methods.

"If the gates have to be closed due to a storm surge, that will reduce our ability to pump rain water out of the city and into the lake. This year, 2006, we will not have enough capacity to remove the rainwater from the city as fast as it can fall - that's just a reality.

"And as someone who lives here, I would rather have a few litres of rainwater in the streets than 3m of salt water for two weeks."

About 200 miles north of New Orleans at Vicksburg is the Army Corps' main research station - the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).

To assess what happened during Katrina, they have built a 1/50th scale model of the New Orleans basin. Using a wave generator, they were able to recreate the hurricane conditions in their model.

This showed exactly where the failures occurred and the forces needed to produce them.

Here, they tested scale models of the 17th Street Canal, in particular the section of canal wall that failed.

"We built the model, and subjected it to a water level that existed before Katrina, and it held up fine," explained Wapawi Ellis, the ERDC's assistant director.

"Then we increased the water level to flood height and within minutes saw it fail. The wall itself didn't fail; it was the soil beneath it. This couldn't hold the wall tight."

New Orleans is built on river delta. There is no bedrock for hundreds of metres down. The soil is very absorbent and unstable. But to people whose homes were flooded the distinction between soil and wall failure is immaterial - many in New Orleans are angry at the Corps. The city is plastered in posters saying, "Hold the Corps responsible".

It is an issue acknowledged by Wayne Stroupe from ERDC: "The failures on 17th Street Canal, London Avenue Canal - they failed before water got up to the top of the flood wall. It's hurt the Corps; we helped contribute to the flooding of New Orleans."

Nature as ally

For now, the repairs are only being undertaken to bring levees up to pre-Katrina levels. The current thinking on flood defence for the city is that it is not enough just to build higher levees.

The city's population has to get more involved, houses will have to be rebuilt higher and evacuation plans followed more rigidly.

The Corps is also taking a fresh look at what help the natural environment might provide.

After years of tightly controlling the amount of water flowing down the Mississippi, they are beginning to realise that the river might actually be a useful aid to buffering hurricanes.

"Now, we've got to shift to allow the river to do what it did naturally: to deposit sediments and nutrients, to utilise the river as a sustaining and building block for the estuaries," explained Gregory Miller from the Corps' Coastal Restoration Office.

By allowing the delta to reform, building up barrier islands and marshes with flows of nutrients from further upstream, the restored wetlands should act as a barrier to incoming storms and hurricanes, providing a first line of defence for human settlements.

Julian Siddle's journey around the flood defences of New Orleans can be heard on Discovery: Katrina: A Year On, to be broadcast on the BBC World Service on Wednesday, 30 August, at 1130 GMT. The programme will then be archived on the Discovery website.

Structural engineering

2008-11-10T23:34:00.000-08:00

Structural engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the design of structural systems with the purpose of supporting and resisting various loads. Though other disciplines touch on this field, a physical object or system is truly considered a part of structural engineering, regardless of its central scientific or industrial application, if its main function is designed to resist loads and dissipate energy. Structural engineering is usually considered a specialty discipline within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right.

A structural engineer is most commonly involved in the design of buildings and nonbuilding structures[2]but also plays an essential role in designing machinery where structural integrity of the design item impacts safety and reliability. Large man-made objects, from furniture to medical equipment to a variety of vehicles, require significant design input from a structural engineer. Structural engineers ensure that their designs satisfy a given "design intent", predicated on safety (e.g. structures do not collapse without due warning), or serviceability (e.g. floor vibration and building sway do not result in discomfort for the occupants). Structural engineers are responsible for making creative and efficient use of funds and materials to achieve these goals.

Structural engineers are responsible for producing engineering design or analysis. Entry-level structural engineers may design the individual structural elements of a structure, for example the beams, columns, and floors of a building. More experienced engineers would be responsible for the structural design and integrity of an entire system, such as how a building in its entirety resists vertical and lateral forces on it without collapsing or failing to function. Structural engineers often specialise in particular fields, such as bridge engineering, building engineering, pipeline engineering, industrial structures or special structures such as vehicles or aircraft. Structural engineering has existed since humans first started to construct their own structures. It became a more defined and formalised profession with the emergence of the architecture profession as distinct from the engineering profession during the industrial revolution in the late 19th Century. Until then, the architect and the structural engineer were often one and the same - the master builder. Only with the understanding of structural theories that emerged during the 19th and 20th century did the professional structural engineer as it is known now begin to exist. The role of a structural engineer today involves a significant understanding of both static and dynamic loading, and the structures that are available to resist them. The complexity of modern structures often requires great creativity in order to support and resist the loads they are subjected to. A structural engineer will typically have a three, four or five year undergraduate degree, followed by a minimum of three years of professional practice before being able to be considered fully qualified.[5] Structural engineers are licensed or accredited by different learned societies and regulatory bodies around the world (for example, the Institution of Structural Engineers in the UK)[5]. Depending on the degree course they have studied, they may be accredited (or licensed) as just structural engineers, or as civil and as structural engineers.

Source : http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Structural_engineering

Greystones Harbour - Marina development video

2008-10-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

From: freagraeile, Added: July 02, 2008

WCC/SISPAR video showing marina development plan/timetable for Greystones Marina

Mukhtar Siddiqui Dubai World Central International Airport

2008-10-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

From: junkmailaccount9999, Added: June 17, 2008

Dubai World Central International Airport (IATA: JXB, ICAO: Unknown) is a colossal new airport under construction near Jebel Ali, South of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Previous working names have included "Jebel Ali International Airport" and "Jebel Ali Airport City". It will be officially known as Al Maktoum International Airport. It has been named after the late Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum,the former ruler of Dubai. It will be the main part of Dubai World Central, a planned residential, commercial and logistics complex scheme.World Central is the world's first truly integrated logistics platform, with all transport modes, logistics and value added services, including manufacturing and assembly, in a single bonded and Free Zone environment.

NCSU CFL Beam Tested to Failure

2008-10-11T03:21:00.000-07:00

From: ablongshape , Added: January 31, 2008

This test was carried out at NCSU's advanced Constructed Facilities Laboratory on January 31, 2008 at about 3pm. Here a new design for a major girder was being tested to failure. The design failure load for this beam was 130,000 lbs, and it failed (IIRC) at about 185,000 lbs. This is the load measured at each end of the beam, that is, the reaction at either end of the beam. When the video opens it pans to show the structural setup. The beams up close are the decking that rest on corbels hanging off of the main girder. The deck itself is composed of 4 double tee channels and one single tee channel. The load was transferred to the girder through the tee channels by the hydraulic jacks that are shown on top of the deck. The beam had been loaded and unloaded several times before this failure occurred. The final failure here was due to flexure at the middle of the beam span, where a corbel tore off the side of the girder. The system continued to hold a load even after this initial failure, and based off of the reactions from the people involved in the research it was a success. I apologize for the low quality as my phone camera isn't perfect. It's still kind of cool to get an idea of the equipment and the systems we have to test these things today. The motor/whistling noise you hear is the pump running that applied the load.

MSc Transport, Infrastructure & Logistics

2008-10-11T03:18:00.000-07:00

From: tudelft , Added: August 05, 2008

MSc Transport, Infrastructure & Logistics (TIL). The programme leads to the degree of Master of Science in Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics. Because the field of Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics is highly interdisciplinary the following three faculties of Delft University of Technology jointly operate this programme; i.e.: Faculty of Design, Engineering and Production; Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences.

Geospatial Technology at Texas State Technical College

2008-10-11T03:16:00.000-07:00

From: TSTC4u , Added: December 11, 2007

What rapidly expanding technology is integral to nearly every industry, business and government service? Geographic Information Systems (GIS).This technology enables you to gather data, integrate it into computer systems and analyze it to help an organization make better, more informed decisions.As a student majoring in TSTC Waco's Geographic Information Systems, you can learn about GPS—a satellite positioning system that can allow you to determine latitude, longitude, and altitude, as well as speed, direction, and length of time to destinations. You can also learn about GIS—mapping software you can use to analyze data by GPS locations.Professionals in this field gather and manipulate data vital to businesses, industries and nearly all government entities. All these sectors benefit from GPS/GIS information, resulting in a demand for technicians to fill these high-tech jobs—jobs now opening up in nearly every sector of employment. As a Geographic Information Systems graduate, you can expect a career filled with lots of excitement, daily challenges and continuous growth!These GIS graduates' job responsibilities may include: conducting a wide range of analysis (including site selection, drainage design, traffic planning, impact analysis, site monitoring, property assessment and facilities management); tracking customer sales; and analyzing crime patterns.GIS technicians may hold responsibilities for routing delivery trucks; displaying soil types; finding the best location for an expanding business; helping an organization develop planning models; and evaluating possible future scenarios such as studying easement alternatives for widening a road or evaluating the economic impact of new zoning on a community.As a graduate of the program, you may hold career positions with titles such as geographic information systems specialist, global positioning specialist or logistics specialist.Geomatics Technology... A specialization in Geospatial Technology at Texas State Technical College.The Geomatics Technology is a crossroads of land usage by civil engineering, GIS, GPS, municipal and corporate planning, residential development, architectural planning, construction, and drafting. Land surveying is the second oldest profession in the world and today there is still a growing demand for survey technicians. New technology is changing the way surveyors and surveying technicians do their work. Surveyors are still measuring the distance and determining spatial relationships, but the why and how has changed. The surveyor's instrument and chain have given way to electronics. Distance is measured with an electronic clock and the speed of light. Angles, distances, and notes are automatically recorded in a "data collector" to be down loaded, plotted, and analyzed later. One purpose is still location of private property lines, but that purpose has been broadened to cover infrastructure and public well-being.The surveyor is a collector of facts and disseminator of usable information. The collection may be bounced from a satellite using Global Position Systems (GPS), scanned in from GIS data he generated last week, or raw data obtained by more conventional methods. With the use of lasers in an electronic angle and distance-measuring device the data is more precise. The data is linked to an automatic recorder, making it more reliable. It may also be connected with wireless communications equipment and transferred to an office computer where a rough map plot is made as fieldwork progresses.GIS Web Specialist... A specialization in Geospatial Technology at Texas State Technical College.The explosive use of web-based GIS applications in almost every industry is providing exciting new opportunities for the world of information analysis. This specialization meets specific requirements for the rapidly growing markets seeking employees with both strong GIS analysis and web-based skills. GIS and GIS Web are projected to be the high paying jobs of tomorrow.

Geologic Considerations in Dam Construction

2008-10-11T02:29:00.000-07:00

From: nptelhrd, Added: July 07, 2008
Lecture Series on Engineering Geology by Prof. Debasis Roy, Department of Civil Engineering, I.I.T.,Kharagpur. For more details on NPTEL visit http://nptel.iitm.ac.in. Lecture Title:Geologic Considerations in Dam,Bridge and Road Construction.

Basic Zipblocks Demo - Simple Green Interlocking Technology

2008-10-11T02:22:00.000-07:00

From: Zipblocks
Added: March 19, 2007

Zipblocks are boring...for that matter so are bricks, cinderblocks, and most other building materials. But hey...lets not forget get that the Great Pyramid of Giza was built from blocks.

This video on Zipblocks is also a bit boring...but if you watch it and then take a few seconds to think about how simple Zipblocks are and what you can do with them...you might develop an appreciation for Zipblocks. What's more is that if you do like Zipblocks and you introduce them to a company and as a result they decide to manufacture them you'll get a percentage of the royalties. To learn more about this just visit our website.

What is really nice about Ziplocks is that the entire building system consists of only two types of block and that longer blocks are simply multiples of a single block. Zipblocks can be made from virtually any solid material. Zipblocks are so simple that you can make them in your garage out of plywood if wanted to. Sides and lugs are the only two parts needed to create Zipblocks. So all in all this entire building system consists of only two different block types that can be created from two simple parts.

The costs of manufacturing Zipblocks are low. To put things in perspective consider this scenario. Let's say that it costs $20 for a sheet of ¾ inch plywood and that it costs a factory $2 to transform one sheet of plywood into fully assembled blocks. In this case the transformation from plain plywood to Zipblocks generally speaking adds 10% to the costs of the raw materials. We can now visualize home improvement stores selling sheets of plywood for $20 and the equivalent plywood in bundles of Zipblocks for $22.

Let's say that you wanted to create your very own custom wall unit in your living room that covered an entire wall from floor to ceiling. Let's just say that this wall is 20 feet long and 12 feet tall. Can you imagine how much it would cost you if you walked into your local home supply center and made this request? It would probably cost you a fortune in both labor and materials. Now picture yourself walking into the same store and ordering 4 to 5 pallets of Zipblocks, having them delivered to you home, and then building your very own wall unit all in a days time. The cost would of course be much less and you would have a custom wall unit that you designed and built all by yourself. This would indeed be a much more rewarding experience.

What we just spoke about is more than ideal. What's more is that when you build with Zipblocks and you make a mistake. No problem. Just disassemble your mistake and fix it. Moving to another home and the living room is smaller? Again...no problem...just dissemble your wall unit, ship it to your new home, and when you get there build another custom wall unit that suits to your needs.

You know, the great thing about these blocks is that you can build just about anything with them. Imagine how much fun you could have building some really cool workbenches in your garage or putting up some giant shelves in there. How about building a dog house for your dog or a playhouse for your child or a closet organizer?

You see there are simply countless things that you can build with Zipblocks and if you ever get tired of what you built...just break it down and use your blocks for something else! Zipblocks are essentially a product that never loses its value or usefulness.

Some other uses for Zipblocks:

1) Robotic Building Blocks -- It is easy for robots to manipulate Zipblocks thru the x-y-z planes as they are cubic in nature and interlock upon placement.
2) Concrete Forms -- rapidly build a disposable custom concrete forms using some wooden Zipblocks.
3) Levee Walls -- 16 foot lengths of Zipblocks made from a hybrid of plastic reinforced with steel and then woven together would certainly aid in the construction of levee walls. New Orleans and other flood prone areas are in need of cheap and effective solutions.
4) Walkways and Patios -- 8 foot lengths of plastic based Zipblocks could be used to instantly build patios and walkways.
5) Shipping containers -- Build custom shipping containers. Upon arrival in 3rd world countries containers could be broken down and used to construct shelter.

History and Heritage

2008-10-10T23:17:00.000-07:00

Civil engineers build the world's infrastructure. In doing so, they shape the history of nations around the world. This site provides information on the people, projects, and concepts that comprise the history and heritage of civil engineering. Feel free to browse through the various sections to learn more about this history and ASCE's History & Heritage Program.
Woodhead Dam Named International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
On August 1, 2008, David Mongan, President of ASCE, presented the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) with a plaque designating the Woodhead Dam, Tabletop Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa, an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Built between 1893 and 1897, Woodhead Dam was the first large masonry dam designed and built in South Africa. For more information on this dam, click here.

Below is a photograph of the plaque being presented to the officers of the SAICE. They are from left to right:

Back Row : Verelene De Koker, SAICE editor; Marie Ashpole, SAICE Outreach Officer; Marianne Van der Schuren, SAICE western Cape Branch Chair; Johan De Koker, President of SAICE; David Mongan, President of ASCE; Patrick Natale, Executive Director of ASCE; and Meggan Maughan-Brown, Director of International Affairs, ASCE.

Front Row: Anthony Murray, Chair, History & Heritage, SAICE and David Botha, Executive Director of SAICE
NEW! A Brochure on ASCE's

History and Heritage Program

The History & Heritage Committee has produced a new brochure describing all the different aspects of ASCE's program. It describes not only such well-known programs as the Landmark program but also the publications, symposia, and, of course, the Web site. This compact brochure provides members with a n easy way to promote the field's history with the
public. It is also a good way for faculty to introduce their students to the wonderful heritage of their chosen field.

To request copies, please email Carol Reese, staff contact for the committee.

Changing Our World: True Stories of Women Engineers

2008-10-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

Through its real-life stories, the Changing Our World: True Stories of Women Engineers will serve as a fresh perspective and provide inspiration and encouragement for young women to pursue careers in engineering. Publication of Changing Our World represents a significant milestone for EWEP-a collaborative effort of many different individuals and organizations to address the long-standing underrepresentation of women in the engineering profession. The book was launched at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21.
» Read more about the launch
» Order your copy
» View a PDF version of the book

ASCE Continuing Education

2008-10-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

ASCE has been committed to providing top quality continuing education for civil engineers and related professionals for over three decades. The Society holds more than 300 seminars and computer workshops each year on a wide variety of technical, management, and regulatory topics. These seminars are held in more than 45 cities across the U.S. In addition, ASCE offers customized on-site training, live interactive web/teleconference seminars, and many distance learning programs, including online courses, and courses on CD, videotape, and audiotape.

Looking for ways to stay current in the ever-changing Civil Engineering profession? See our Special Featured Items section!

ASCE offers Continuing Education Units (convertible to PDHs) to assist ASCE members and other civil engineers in meeting state registration board requirements for P.E. license renewal. ASCE has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. In obtaining this approval, ASCE has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standards which are widely recognized as standards of good practice internationally. As a result of their Authorized Provider membership status, ASCE is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standards. Click here for information on licensing requirements in your state.
For additional information on ASCE Continuing Education, click on the links below:

Seminars

Live, Interactive Web Seminars

Distance Learning

On-site Training

P.E. Exam Review and F.E. Exam Review Options

Structural I P.E. Exam Review

Preparation for GRE, GMAT, LSAT, & SAT

Online University Degree and Certificate Programs

Good Planning

2008-10-10T02:08:00.000-07:00

A Web-based service helps Hovnanian save time and money on blueprint costs.
by Steve Zurier

One positive aspect of the housing slowdown is that home builders now have the time to evaluate and ultimately deploy technology that can make their operations more efficient.
One good example is Hovnanian Enterprises, which has been rolling out a Web-based plan and blueprint service from Memphis, Tenn.–based Plan Express at Hovnanian's 30 divisions. Hovnanian first started using the service for architectural drawings in its San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County, Calif., divisions.

“We've spent a lot of time looking at process improvements,” says Paul Doherty, Hovnanian's vice president of land development and home production.

“When we took a look at the numbers, we realized we were spending tens of millions of dollars a year on blueprint costs,” Doherty says, adding that the process was also very inefficient for both Hovnanian and its subs.

Before Plan Express was brought on, subs would go to Hovnanian job trailers and request the plans, the supers would call an administrative assistant in a regional office, who would then call the blueprint shop to get the plans made. The blueprint shop would send the plans to the regional office, and the administrator would then send them out to the jobsite—for final pick-up by the sub—or directly to the sub's office, which increased mailing and courier costs.
“All of this was only for the bidding process,” says Doherty. “When we released work orders and were ready to start building, we went through the same thing,” he explains.

The solution was to require all subs to access plans over the Web via Plan Express. Subs can either access the Plan Express service online at planexpress.net or on a special vendor portal Hovnanian set up for its subs on its own Web site.

According to Doherty, having plans reproduced typically costs about 30 cents per square foot of print paper. Hovnanian's subs are printing out plans via Plan Express for roughly half that price. Subs can print out plans in 11x17, which is the standard format used in residential construction. For those who don't have access to a PC with a Web browser, the subs can go to a local Kinko's, present the sub's Plan Express number, and have the plans printed there.

Another important feature the Plan Express service offers is that subs can print out precisely the sheet they need. It's no longer necessary for the electrician or plumber to wade through an entire set of plans to get to the specific detail that relates to their part of the job.

“While we've asked the subs to pick up this cost, printing out plans over the Web saves our subs millions of dollars in time and travel costs,” Doherty says. “Our subs used to have to drive several miles to go to our local offices or job trailers just to pick up plans. We've eliminated all that,” he explains

BuildingGreen Announces Top-10 Green Products

2008-10-10T01:58:00.000-07:00

List stresses energy-saving, recycled content.
by Nigel Maynard

Green builders everywhere rejoice-the list of green building products has just grown longer thanks to the release of BuildingGreen's 2007 Top-10 Green Building Products. Brattleboro, Vt.-based BuildingGreen, publisher of the GreenSpec Directory and Environmental Building News, announced the list at GreenBuild 2007, the world's largest conference and exposition dedicated to sustainable and energy efficient construction.
"Our selections of the Top-10 Green Building Products represent a wide range of product types in many different application areas," so they appeal to a wide range of audiences in the building community, GreenSpec co-editor and BuildingGreen president Alex Wilson said at the show in Chicago.
According to BuildingGreen, a big driver in the development of green products is the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Rating System, which awards points for the use of certain product types or for the energy or water savings that green products can achieve.
Spurred by LEED, manufacturers have been working hard to develop products that address environmental concerns, higher energy costs, health concerns, and predicted water shortages in the future. As a result, the list includes four products that save energy; two products for water saving; three products are green in part because they are made from recycled or recovered material; and two avoid hazardous manufacturing or disposal of materials. "Most of the Top-10 products this year have multiple environmental attributes," said Wilson.
The list includes products that will be relevant to the residential building community, including FSC-certified Collins Pine Freeform particleboard that does not contain urea-formaldehyde; the Bosch Evolution 800 Series dishwasher that is 148 percent more energy efficient than the federal standard and 73 percent more than Energy Star; Alpen Energy Group's Alpen fiberglass window-a product that can achieve an astonishingly high R-20; EnOcean wireless controls that integrate radio-frequency communication to use just one-tenth the power of most controllers; and energy-saving LED down lighting from LED Lighting Fixtures.

Strong Foundations: America's Best Builders

2008-10-10T01:51:00.000-07:00

Winning builders stand firm in recession and sputtering recovery, supported by sophisticated systems, dedication to detail, and buyer-friendly approaches.

By Alison Rice

Think you're among the best? Here's a quick self-test. Could you keep your variances under 1 percent on your next house? Have you met every one of your settlement dates for the past 30 years? Who exactly purchases your homes? (And, no, "first-time buyers" doesn't count.) How many of you, in this age of NIMBYism and public fights over planning and zoning proposals, have had a day named in your honor by your city council?

If you can answer yes to these questions, congratulate yourself, for these are the hallmarks of America's Best Builders (ABB): Sattler Homes, Thompson Homes, Don Simon Homes, and Pardee Homes.

They are the best because they excel at everything they do: finance and operations, marketing, construction, customer satisfaction, and community service. As such, they share other characteristics, too. Three of the four are family-owned companies, two of which are now run by the second generation. They value their employees and know how to retain them: Thompson and Don Simon provide profit-sharing programs, and the average tenure among Pardee's senior management is 17.25 years.

These builders also aren't afraid to innovate: Pardee has developed a "LivingSmart" program that features homes with energy-conserving appliances and green products, and Don Simon builds all its homes to Wisconsin's Green Built standards.

America's Best Builders continue this practice of innovation long after the awards plaque has been hung on the wall. This year, we're honoring our first ABB alumnus--Wayne Homes, which was named an America's Best Builder in 1995--for its move toward a paperless office.

Such success doesn't surprise us. Each of these award-winning companies has based its business not on the energy of a dynamic owner or executive (as charismatic as these leaders might be), but on a strong foundation of systems: schedules, procedures, measurements. They use them daily, not just when time or inclination allows, because they know that systems--the cornerstone of a well-run home building company--can make or break the quality of a home, the trust of a customer, or the profitability of the business

Steel Floors

2008-10-10T00:42:00.000-07:00

For residential applications, steel flooring systems require new tools, attention to fastening, and a detailed plan for mechanicals.

By Matthew Power
Illustrations by Harry Whitver

Look around virtually any new subdivision, and you're likely to spy the glint of galvanized metal. Steel floors have been gaining market share in the last couple years, with good reason. They address many of the seismic, termite, and quality control problems that have complicated the lives of builders in recent years. And they allow homeowners to create the big, open floor plans they want.

Nader R. Elhajj, a project manager at the NAHB Research Center, says that adding steel flooring capability to your next project will require about 20 percent more labor time on the first job as workers learn the ropes. And you'll need to buy some new, relatively inexpensive tools. But after the first time, the steel floor process takes no longer than a solid-sawn wood or engineered I-joist floor.

Steel joists weigh less than solid-sawn wood. Typically, they are sized and cut in the factory, so you should end up with minimal waste. But there's a catch: The steel industry's distribution network is far from complete.

"You still have to contact a drywall supplier, a commercial building material supplier, or go direct to the steel supplier," notes Elhajj.

Steel floors are covered in the new International Residential Code (IRC) and currently cost about 3 percent or 4 percent less than dimensional wood floors. That could change, Elhajj adds, as new tariffs take effect. "In a lot of jurisdictions, like Hawaii and parts of the West, codes won't let you build everything with wood any more. Something like this is a good solution."

Gear Up
To work with steel, you need to assemble a collection of basic metalworking tools, including hand clamps, a chop saw with carbide blade, an electric "power nibbler" (along with hand-powered aviation snips), a screw gun with adjustable clutch and 6.5 amp motor, and a heavy duty 1 1/4-inch hole punch. Finally, don't forget gloves. Metal not only responds sharply to cold or heat, but it also has unforgiving edges.

Fasten to Last

Get an organizer to store the lengths and types of fasteners needed to assemble a steel floor platform. Learn the difference between self-drilling and self-piercing screws. Use appropriate screws for each task, as directed in the "Builders' Guide" (see "Helping Hand," below). Screws should penetrate through the steel a minimum of three exposed threads. Screws that connect pieces of steel should go through the thinner piece first.

Share the load

Whenever possible, steel joists should break at load-bearing walls. For interior walls, they must have a minimum 1 1/2 inches of bearing support, and 3 1/2 inches where they rest on exterior walls. Overlap joists back to back by at least 6 inches. Fasteners must clamp the joists together, plus attach them to the track or top plate. Where continuous joists end, they should be anchored to load-bearing walls with clip angle or bent stiffener.

Block or rock

Like engineered wood I-joists, steel joists require lateral bracing. This can be accomplished by combining a 1 1/2-inch-by-33-MIL steel strap screwed to the bottom of the joists with a section of solid blocking on either side of the strap at the end of the joists. This arrangement can be repeated at a maximum 12-foot interval. Another alternative that greatly simplifies blocking: Attach gypsum board directly to the underside of joists. This method also meets typical fire protection requirements in conditioned living spaces.

Lock down

When installing metal joists, try proprietary systems that offer easy solutions, such as the TradeReady Joist Rim Track. Joists simply slot into pre-machined fittings and screw into place. When installing joists at the first-floor level over a wood sill, remember that the key to a sturdy structure is linkage. Each component attaches to the one below it. The sill is anchor bolted to the foundation. The foundation is screwed to the rim track by way of flat metal plates, and joists attach to the rim plate. Be sure to insulate or caulk gaps between sill and concrete, and rim track and sill.

Plan penetrations

Most steel joists include standard punched web holes at 24-inch intervals. Make a detailed layout of plumbing, HVAC, and wiring in advance. Be certain that holes line up precisely. If you must cut holes larger for plumbing or ducts, they may need a reinforcement patch. Holes should not be located within 10 inches of the edge of a load-bearing wall. If they are, they will need to be patched for strength. Flanges on joists should never be cut, but screw-sized holes are allowed anywhere in the web.

Sound Control Tips

Steel floors can get noisy. Keep unwanted noise down by:
Insulating between joists. (Use wire hangers as shown.)
Providing air chambers in water plumbing to prevent pressure "hammering."
Specifying oversized water pipes to reduce pressure.
Using duct liners to quiet air noise.
Boxing all recessed ceiling fixtures.

Upside down house built in Germany

2008-09-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

An upside down house is seen in Trassenheide, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008. The house was built to enable an alternative view on everyday life for visitors. (AP Photo/Frank Hormann)

A visitor stands in a room of an upside down house in Trassenheide, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008. The house was built to enable an alternative view on everyday life for visitors.
(AP Photo/Frank Hormann)

George Washington Bridge

2008-09-08T02:58:00.000-07:00

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Date: 2008
George Washington Bridge vehicular suspension bridge across the Hudson River, between Manhattan borough of New York City and Fort Lee, N.J.; constructed 1927-31. It is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. Its main span is 3,500 ft (1,067 m) long and 250 ft (76 m) above the water. Cass Gilbert was the consulting architect, and O. H. Ammann was in general charge of the planning and construction. In 1962 a lower deck of six lanes was completed. Author not available, GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE. , The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2007 ... Read more

Tunnel

2008-09-08T02:45:00.000-07:00

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
tunnel underground passage usually made without removing the overlying rock or soil. Although tunnels are approximately horizontal, they must be built with sufficient gradient for proper drainage. Tunnels may be ventilated by shafts leading to the surface or by exhaust fans at the ends. Design and Construction Techniques Methods of tunneling vary with the nature of the material to be cut through. When soft earth is encountered, the excavation is timbered for support as the work advances; the timbers are sometimes left as a permanent lining for the tunnel. Another method is to cut two p... Read more

Bibliography

See T. M. Megaw and J. V. Bartlett, Tunnels (1981-82); B. Stack, Handbook of Mining and Tunnelling Machinery (1982); Approaching the 21st Century (1987).Author not available, TUNNEL., The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008

Science Museums

2008-09-08T02:36:00.000-07:00

The Oxford Companion to British History Date: 2002
Science Museums (Kensington). The museums are the fruit of the Great Exhibition of 1851. It made a profit, and land was bought in Kensington Gore; Prince Albert hoped to establish there a great cultural centre, but to many people it seemed remote from central London. In 1862 the next exhibition was staged there; in 1864 the underground railway station was authorized; and the Department of Science and Arts ran what grew into the Science Museum. Richard Owen, superintendent of natural history at the British Museum, campaigned from 1861 to have ‘his’ exhibits moved to a new building, and in 1881 the Natural History Museum opened its doors.
by : David Knight
Â© The Oxford Companion to British History 2002, originally published by Oxford University Press 2002.

Northern Pacific Railway

2008-09-08T02:19:00.000-07:00

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
Northern Pacific Railway former American rail line, following the northern route from Duluth and St. Paul, Minn., to Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Oreg. The Northern Pacific RR Company was chartered by special act of Congress in 1864, and construction was begun in 1870. Jay Cooke at first managed the enterprise, but after the Panic of 1873 the railroad company went into bankruptcy. Under the leadership of Henry Billard, the Northern Pacific was opened in 1883 from Ashland, Wis., to Portland, Oreg. The company became the Northern Pacific Railway in 1896. In 1901 there was a spectacular financ... Read more .

Civil Engineering

2008-09-08T01:51:00.000-07:00

Civil engineering includes the planning, designing, construction, and maintenance of structures and altering geography to suit human needs. Some of the numerous subdivisions are transportation (e.g., railroad facilities and highways); hydraulics (e.g., river control, irrigation, swamp draining, water supply, and sewage disposal); and structures (e.g., buildings, bridges, and tunnels).