Search

Presents updates on matters related to architecture and engineering as of May 2004. Award received by John F. Donohoe, founding director of Construction Institute; Profile of civil engineer Benjamin Wright; Overview of the book "Parting the Desert: The Creation of the Suez Canal," by Alfred A. Knopf.

Presents information on architectural and engineering education at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Educational programs in architecture; Information on graduate program in computational design; Educational programs in civil and environmental engineering.

The article offers announcements related to engineering in the United States. The terms progressive and disproportionate collapse of buildings are discussed. The 2005 Outstanding Paper "Membrane and Flashing Defects in Low-Slope Roofing: Causes and Effects on Performance," by David M. Bailey and Dane Bradford, which was selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers, is published in this journal. The author called for nominations for the 2006 Outstanding Paper Award.

The study focuses on developing a unified approach to define information specificities for key performance indicators (KPIs). Borrowing from the time-system theory, the paper defines different types of KPI and identifies that a KPI has two dimensions—knowledge specificity and time specificity. Different approaches are presented to analyze knowledge and time sensitivities. This paper addresses a key question related to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems applications in the engineering construction industry: what are the areas of business processes within the engineering construction industry where ERP cannot be used to collect KPIs related to business processes? The writers review empirical and specialized processes within the construction industry to identify business processes not covered by existing ERP systems. A survey focused on qualitative aspects of ERP systems implementation in engineering construction firms was conducted among ERP-enablers in the construction industry and provided a basis for the presented case study. Data collected are from major engineering and construction firms in the United States and therefore the results are relevant for researchers and industry practitioners concerned with application of enterprise management systems in the respective firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative analysis of three different infrastructure assessment tools currently used by the U.S. Army’s combat engineer small units (squad, platoon, company). The infrastructure assessment tools included one pen and paper checklist and two software-based tools based on specialized handheld hardware for data collection in combat conditions. Evaluation was conducted using macroergonomic and applied cognitive task analysis methods with soldiers of varying levels of infrastructure assessment expertise. Each assessment method was evaluated based on performance (time, errors, and accuracy) and usability (ergonomic and cognitive challenges). We found that soldiers documented more accurate data using handheld digital devices instead of pen-and-paper assessment forms, but there was little difference in time between the methods. Contrary to initial expectation, we also found that most soldiers prefer a slightly more difficult to use handheld assessment device with customized checklists rather than an easier to use, less restrictive device. Critiques developed by this research can be used to improve engineering and construction organizations as well as add to our design guidelines for portable infrastructure assessment tools and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pole building construction has gained popularity in the Midwestern United States due to its low cost and rapid construction applications. Farm and agricultural buildings, low-rise commercial units, and some storage facilities have utilized this type of construction technique. This paper reviews some common features of pole buildings and presents a case study for stricter construction supervision by design professionals, contractors, and building officials, alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed investigation of warping-related stresses in 18 composite steel-concrete box girder bridges. The bridge designs were adapted from blueprints of existing bridges in the state of Florida and encompass a wide range of parameters including horizontal curvature, cross-sectional properties, and number of spans. The bridges after which the analysis prototypes are modeled were designed by different firms and constructed at different times and are considered to be representative of current design practice. Forces are evaluated from analyses that account for the construction sequence and the effect of warping. Loading is considered following the 1998 AASHTO-LRFD provisions. Differences between stresses obtained taking warping into account and those calculated by ignoring warping are used to evaluate the effect of warping. Analysis results show that warping has little effect on both shear and normal stresses in all bridges. Current design provisions are discussed in light of the analysis results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering professional societies are leading and prominent providers of engineering outreach activities in the United States. Many outreach efforts are innovative and impressive, but their ability to raise awareness about engineering and recruit more people to study engineering remains largely unknown. Comprehensive assessment and evaluation results that measure how effective these program activities are in meeting their goals and objectives simply are not available. Using the example of an engineering outreach program for high school girls, this paper describes good outreach practices, including use of proven practices and relevant research, effective assessment, and reports of outcomes; provides resources for tools that outreach professionals and practitioners can use to measure and continuously improve outreach impact; and makes the case that application of good engineering practice to outreach delivery is essential to reach engineering professional society outreach goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building information modeling (BIM) is one of the most promising recent developments in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. With BIM technology, an accurate virtual model of a building is digitally constructed. This model, known as a building information model, can be used for planning, design, construction, and operation of the facility. It helps architects, engineers, and constructors visualize what is to be built in a simulated environment to identify any potential design, construction, or operational issues. BIM represents a new paradigm within AEC, one that encourages integration of the roles of all stakeholders on a project. In this paper, current trends, benefits, possible risks, and future challenges of BIM for the AEC industry are discussed. The findings of this study provide useful information for AEC industry practitioners considering implementing BIM technology in their projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a study to extend a recently proposed direct displacement design (DDD) procedure for midrise engineered wood-frame structures and develop a set of factors for use in the procedure to meet specified performance levels with certain target probabilities. Representative index multistory building configurations were selected from the archetype buildings developed for the FEMA ATC-63. Seismic hazard levels and performance requirements recommended by ASCE 41-06 and modified for use in the National Science Foundation sponsored NEESWood project were used. The archetype buildings, originally designed using current force-based design procedures, were redesigned using the simplified DDD procedure (also described herein) with a range of nonexceedance (NE) probability adjustment factors (CNE). Specifically, the design interstory shear forces and the sheathing nail spacings were determined for each structure designed using CNE. Nonlinear time-history analysis was performed for each archetype structure under the 2%/50 year seismic hazard level and peak interstory drift distributions were developed. The NE probability at the 4% drift limit was then plotted against building height and design charts were developed for each different value of CNE. Given the building height and desired NE probability, engineers/designers can select the appropriate minimum value of CNE using these charts. Additional analyses could be performed to consider other hazard levels and performance requirements. Using design charts of this type, engineers/designers are able to specify a target drift limit as well as a target NE probability when using the simplified DDD procedure. Thus, a true performance-based procedure for the seismic design of midrise wood-frame structures is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2001, a survey found that 87% of engineering professors in the United States spend the entire class time lecturing to a passive group of students material that is copied down and never looked at again. This paper presents the results of scientific inquiry and keen observations all leading to the same conclusion: engineering education has to reform itself. Presently, almost all engineering students learn best doing lots of homework (∼50%) and theoretical study (25%) are accommodated by lectures, homework, and rote-problem tests. Regrettably, an overwhelming number of the creative students do not learn this way and fail. Learning as a process needs to be put at the heart of education moving us away from the traditional educational enterprise. The presented data benefits researchers and practitioners in that they highlight the urgency of the issue and show how the proposed paradigm shift is underpinned by our understanding of how people learn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A manufactured home is a factory-built house constructed in a controlled factory environment according to federal standards known as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code. The manufactured home shares approximately 20% of the total housing units in the United States and plays an important role in providing affordable housing. However, in terms of material engineering, advanced techniques are scarcely used in the manufactured housing (MH) industry. The current material flow and control systems are characterized as independent demand systems that are based on the personal experience of the material managers. Although independent inventory control systems are widely used in many manufacturing industries, these systems lead to a large amount of inventory and have many drawbacks for the MH industry. On the other hand, dependent inventory systems can reduce unfavorable inventory levels using new techniques and present substantial benefits for the MH industry. This paper applies lean inventory control systems and supply chain management techniques to the current systems of the MH industry and proposes a new framework of material control systems as one of the system management tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) is a fast growing industry segment in the civil engineering arena. Subsurface utility engineering is gaining credibility as a significant tool to reduce the risk from informational uncertainty associated with underground facilities in a construction project. Subsurface utility engineering can minimize the risk primarily through mapping existing underground utility facilities, utilizing surface geophysical technologies, surveying and data management systems. This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation of SUE to facilitate a better understanding of this emerging industry by the many in the construction domain that are relatively unfamiliar with it. Topics investigated include quality levels in SUE, incorporation of SUE strategy at different stages in the construction project, and cost–benefit analysis of SUE based on 71 actual construction projects where SUE was employed. In addition, the results obtained from questionnaire surveys of State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and the SUE industry are analyzed, which reveal the trend of state DOTs in the use of SUE and various aspects of SUE business in private sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This first part of a two-part paper on the John A. Roebling suspension bridge (1867) across the Ohio River is an analytical investigation, whereas Part II focuses on the experimental investigation of the bridge. The primary objectives of the investigation are to assess the bridge’s load-carrying capacity and compare this capacity with current standards of safety. Dynamics-based evaluation is used, which requires combining finite-element bridge analysis and field testing. A 3D finite-element model is developed to represent the bridge and to establish its deformed equilibrium configuration due to dead loading. Starting from the deformed configuration, a modal analysis is performed to provide the frequencies and mode shapes. Transverse vibration modes dominate the low-frequency response. It is demonstrated that cable stress stiffening plays an important role in both the static and dynamic responses of the bridge. Inclusion of large deflection behavior is shown to have a limited effect on the member forces and bridge deflections. Parametric studies are performed using the developed finite-element model. The outcome of the investigation is to provide structural information that will assist in the preservation of the historic John A. Roebling suspension bridge, though the developed methodology could be applied to a wide range of cable-supported bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Was the collapse of the Hyatt hotel atrium walkway a senseless tragedy or a steppingstone in the betterment of the engineering and scientific endeavor? The collapse claimed 114 lives, leading to a great public and professional outcry and having a dramatic impact on the careers and lives of many fine professionals. The architecture and engineering (A&E) community in the United States began a soul-searching debate on issues as diverse as how project workflow is managed to professional responsibility and ethics. Fundamental errors were identified in the project interaction within the A&E group as well as the construction industry. This review provides a presentation of the demand-capacity ratio within elements primary to the failure and presents results of detailed inelastic analysis of the box girder-to-hanger rod connection. The collapse occurred simply because of the doubling of the load on the connection resulting from an ill-considered change of an ill-defined structural detail. How this error was produced, and how any minor additional effort might have substantially improved the connection capacity, is addressed herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 20 years ago, an elegant Kansas City, Mo., hotel was the site of one of the most famous engineering failures in recent history. The collapse of two elevated walkways in the lobby left 114 people dead and nearly 200 injured, and plunged the engineering profession into a dilemma over how to deal with the engineers who were involved. In the mid-1970s, as the Kansas City Hyatt Regency was under construction, the engineering profession's codes of ethics were under construction as well. ASCE leaders argued that their society's new code should reflect a new hierarchy of engineers' responsibilities. “Public welfare,” they agreed, should be the “primary concern” of engineers, followed by engineers' duty to “clients, employer or employees,” and loyalty to the profession. The implications of the new ethics code became disturbingly clear with the Hyatt. This paper tells the story of how the engineering profession struggled to transform an unspeakable disaster into a powerful, if painful, lesson about the meaning of ethics in engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the program called Teaching Teachers to teach Mathematics and Science via Engineering Activities which was initiated at the University of Toledo in Ohio. Efforts to attract secondary students for engineering careers; Core of the program; Information on the teacher-student interface.

The alternative paths presented by the authors for education reform represent the kind of serious thinking necessary to reconcile an increasingly complex arena for practice with an overtaxed education system. U.S.-based Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the organization that accredits engineering programs. ABET has recently promulgated 11 outcomes for education as part of its new accreditation criteria, an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering; an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.

Discusses issues in the engineering research of the National Science Foundation (NSF) during the information technology (IT) age in the U.S. as of March 2000. Types of transcendent technologies; Facts on the IT-related initiatives announced by the NSF; Challenge to research communities in engineering research.

This section offers news briefs related to international forensic engineering. The first Indo-U.S. Forensic Engineering Workshop was held at the National Institute of Technology at Tiruchirapalli (NITT) in Tamil Nadu, India, on December 15 to 17, 2010. The ASCE Ecuador Group sponsored the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Forensic Engineering Workshop on January 7 to 8, 2011 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which was attended by professional engineers and students.

The article focuses on the design, construction, and the use of continuous truss bridges in the U.S. It informs that the Sellwood Bridge in Portland, Oregon, a four-span continuous truss highway bridge is a milestone in continuous truss design and construction. The approach spans of bridge are reinforced concrete, and the main spans are Warren-type deck trusses. It is stated that because of shipping interests, the central span of the bridge was built using cantilever methods. The fixed bearing on the Ross Island Bridge, was on the right side of the central span, with the others being expansion bearings. The Champlain Bridge, a combination deck and through truss, had a longer central span and was on a steeper vertical curve. All the three bridges were built by Gustav Lindenthal.

Introduces the September 2005 issue of the "Journal of Construction Engineering and Management". Analysis of cases of construction litigation involving the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command for the period 1982-2002; "The effects of delivery systems on change order size and frequency in mechanical construction," by Riley, Diller and Kerr; "Financial risk analysis of project finance in Indonesian toll roads," by Wibowo and Kochendorfer.

Emphasizes the need to create a forum which will focus on the contribution of architectural engineering education to the profession. Sources of formal education of architectural engineers; Composition of architectural engineering profession; Increase in the complexity buildings; Mission of the Architectural Engineering Institute in the U.S.

The article focuses on issues related to emergent multiscale systems in the U.S. The author states that fundamental problems occur in the search to design, integrate and deploy engineering methods along with the existing and new technology. He adds that questions about the unintended financial, economic, social and environmental consequences also arise. He reports that assessing and managing risks in the U.S. have led to spending billions of public and private dollars.

Evaluation of construction claims history can provide an understanding of improvement opportunities in a capital projects portfolio. This study analyzed cases of construction litigation involving the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) for the period of 1982–2002, extracted from the historical trial decision record of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA). The study provides trend data for all “first time” construction litigation cases brought before the Board over the last 21 years and a total of 666 cases involving NAVFAC construction contracts were identified over this period. The characterization of these cases was accomplished through a review and tabulation of ASBCA identified “primary” causes and a subjective analysis of “root” causes from a random sample extracted from the total population. The random sample data set totals 30 cases and was taken from cases litigated in the last 10 years (1993–2002). Findings and recommendations based on root causes, including specific recommendations are provided for NAVFAC and practitioners in other organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses issues related to geotechnical engineering graduate education in the U.S. in 2005. Climate for graduate geotechnical engineering; Motivation for pursuing an advanced geotechnical degree; Research and funding for support of geotechnical degree; Role of distance learning and continue education.

The productivity, organization, and customer relations of the Engineering Services Division of the Utilities Department of the city of Sacramento, California, were assessed through the use of benchmarking techniques, staff and customer surveys, and interviews. The Engineering Services Division provides planning and engineering services for the city’s water, wastewater, and drainage systems, as well as development review. Recommendations were jointly developed and implemented, resulting in organizational and procedural changes. These changes focused on the top-priority areas for improvement identified in the study. A follow-up study was made to determine the effect of the changes over a five-year period. It was found that improved customer and staff perceptions of the services were directly related to the changes implemented as a result of the earlier study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North Carolina has faced a number of extreme weather systems over the past few years. Although there has been extensive research into the costs associated with these storms, one facet commonly overlooked is the effect on student achievement. Given the national attention to school accountability, it is important to understand how such events can adversely affect student performance on end-of-year tests. We explore the extent to which student scores on standardized tests are lowered. We apply these findings to the North Carolina school accountability model and estimate the number of schools that would have achieved their goals if the 1999–2000 storms had not occurred. We find that roughly twenty more schools would have met the standards for expected growth, exemplary growth, and school of distinction than actually occurred. These translate to between 5 and 15% more than the number observed in the affected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The writers examined the experiences during Hurricanes Bonnie, Dennis, and Floyd of households in eastern North Carolina that included a member with a physical disability and contrasted them with those of other households. The writers utilized data from two phone surveys—one of households after Hurricanes Bonnie and Floyd, the second of households after Floyd. The writers also draw from interviews with physically disabled persons, family members, and informants from county and emergency management agencies. It was found that households with physically disabled members were less likely to evacuate than others. Reasons for not evacuating were directly attributable to a lack of or perceived lack of access to services and assistance. Households with a disabled member were more likely to have experienced damages to their homes in both seasons and to see their homes condemned after Floyd. Damage costs represented a greater proportion of the incomes of households with a disabled member. These data underscore the need for attention by emergency management personnel to three issues: communication and coordination of services, evacuation planning and assistance, and the provision of accessible shelter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After describing the threat posed to the nation's economy by the looming shortage of engineers and technical workers, the commission notes that if women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities were represented in the U.S. science, engineering, and technology workforce in parity with their percentages in the overall workforce population, the threat could be greatly diminished. Active discouragement, a dearth of role models, and a lack of exposure to science and technology are undermining interest in technical careers among students in these groups. The importance of media campaigns in this area and of government investment is stressed. The commission recommends that all states enact legislation requiring school districts to collect achievement data on students broken down to reveal socioeconomic status, English proficiency, disability status, race, ethnicity, and sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study regarding the scarcity of female engineers in the United States. Reasons cited for the scarcity; Approach in recruiting engineers; Problems and challenges faced by engineers; Image of the engineering profession.

Discusses several of the types of issues that are being encountered by nontraditional engineering and construction professionals such as women and underrepresented minorities (URM) in the United States. Sources of difficulties; Retention of women and minorities; Awareness issues; Reasons for limited representation of women and URM.

Presents information on the initiative by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in Baltimore, Maryland to develop an assessment methodology that will evaluate the outcome of engineering education program in the United States. ABET attributes; Knowledge application; Ability to design.

Presents an applied ethics case of a city engineer from Plebian, Kansas. Concern of the engineer about the welfare of community; Comments of the engineer on the development of Windsor Ridge.

The article discusses various reports published within the issue including one by Diana Giraldo on the success of women in leading a major highway construction project in Washington State, one by Jeannine Wirth on the key leadership traits for women and one by Deborah J. O'Bannon and colleagues on the findings of their evaluation of a leadership development program for women faculty in science and engineering.

Advises engineers on how they will determine if their construction project will affect a body of water in the United States (US). Requirements of the US Army Corps of Engineers; Identification of water boundaries; Reason for the protection of water.