Drones Are Transforming Infrastructure Design
By Hugh McFall It’s increasingly common to hear the steady hum of a drone flying on a construction site. They’re being used to share progress updates, manage earthworks, perform cut-and-fills and much more. But there’s also an emerging use case for drones within the civil engineering space: as designers move from 2D toward 3D design and BIM workflows, the reality-capture data that drones provide are making a huge impact on their projects. In short, drones are the latest tool in the civil...
July – August 2017 TRENDS
In this section, Informed Infrastructure compiles infographics from trusted sources that reveal insight on infrastructure spending. We also compile some of the top infrastructure stories that shouldn’t be missed. For ongoing news coverage, turn to Informed Infrastructure online (www.informedinfrastructure.com), our Twitter feed (@IInfrastructure) and our weekly e-newsletter. NPG Report Focuses on U.S. Infrastructure and Population According to a new forum paper released by Negative...
Final Thoughts: Millennials Are ‘Engineering: The Next Generation’
Many members of my generation think we Baby Boomers are the greatest generation. After all, we protested against wars, fought for civil rights, and invented rock and roll. But we also produced this next generation of people. I am a Baby Boomer, and our generation currently is handing over the workplace to the Millennials. I recently heard that 1/3 of my generation already has retired, and the rest of us are not far behind. And because there are so many of us, there are going to be a lot of job...
Future Forward: Can Cross-Laminated Timber Replace Concrete and Steel?
This page profiles innovative and impactful applied research in civil and structural engineering. With a background as a builder and developer in construction for 35 years, Casey Malmquist is CEO and president of SmartLam, the first commercial manufacturers of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in the United States. He has a bachelor of science degree in environmental studies from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. What Is CLT? Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is part of what’s collectively...
Change Leader: Overcoming Budget Constraints at State DOTs
J.D. D’Arville (top) is the GIS/LRS data management administrator for the Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT), and John Russell (bottom), a licensed surveyor, is the surveying and mapping administrator for the Alabama DOT. John Russell Change D’Arville and Russell have worked together at the Alabama DOT for 25 years, and both have seen a lot of organizational and technological change in that time. “We know what each other is up against and how we can help each other,” notes D’Arvi...
Executive Corner: Is the Future of Your Firm in the Hands of Millennials?
One of the largest ownership transition issues A/E firm owners currently face is the same one they faced years ago: finding a way to influence younger employees and warm them to the idea of equity ownership. Luckily, there’s now much more robust qualitative (and quantitative) data available from which we can draw stronger inferences as to what many Millennials’ thoughts are on long-term employment with a single employer. And we’re increasingly seeing that this piece of the equation, once underst...
SunTrust Park: Project Collaboration Helps Meet Opening Day Deadline for Atlanta Braves
Contractor: American Builders 2017 Architect: Populous Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore Fabricator: Hirschfeld Industries Modeler/Detailer: BDS VirCon A photo shows the erection of the left-field terrace-level trusses. Architectural renderings describe the exterior east side. The Atlanta Braves called Turner Field home for nearly 20 years, but time had taken its toll on the stadium, and the team was faced with a structure that needed nearly $150 million in major...
Structural Solutions: Nuggets of Wisdom for Engineers Young and Old, Part 2: Communication Is Key
In my previous column, I mentioned the Direct Connect session for students that happens each year at the NASCC conference. My company has attended the session for several years now; not for recruiting necessarily, but to share our small-firm perspective. In this issue, I’ll continue my list of sage advice for students with hopes of providing a useful nugget or two that helps with readers’ careers. The No. 1 Quality to Master Although I didn’t start with this topic last issue, communication une...
Letters from May/June 2017 Issue
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Sustainable Restoration: Engineers Look to Stabilize and Revitalize Historic North Carolina Farm
By Scott King, Project Manager Vertical, unstable, eroding stream banks will be cut back and vegetated for stabilization. The historic Lochill Farm, nestled in the rolling hills of the Piedmont in the heart of North Carolina, has been a regional treasure for more than 200 years. Located just outside the town of Hillsborough, N.C., in the Upper Neuse River basin, the farm offers a unique landscape along Finches Branch stream and its tributaries, where horseback riders can enjoy leisur...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail Expansion
February Issue 2026
