Infrastructure Outlook: How UAV Surveying Can Improve Land-Development Projects
By Dustin Price, L.S. A successful development project begins with an accurate land survey, which is why it’s critical for organizations to capitalize on the latest in surveying technology. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are one example of a new technology that’s delivering better results for land surveyors worldwide. Read on to learn the specific ways that adopting UAV surveying can help. Cut Costs and Improve Efficiency Traditional land-surveying methods take a lot of time and...
Change Leader Interview: Insurance and Risk Management Is Crucial for Construction
Andrew Sims is senior vice president, Head of Property and Construction, at Generali Global Corporate & Commercial U.S.A. (GC&C), with more than two decades of experience executing underwriting strategies and processes across U.S. and international underwriting platforms as well as within middle, corporate and national account market segments. Prior to GC&C U.S.A., he served as senior practice leader, Head of Property, at the Risk Management Division of QBE The Americas. Greg Mason is vice pr...
Future Forward: When Should Aging Infrastructure Be Replaced or Removed?
This page profiles innovative and impactful applied research in civil and structural engineering. Megan Lawson, Ph.D., is an economist specializing in land-use, non-market valuation and statistical models for policy analysis. She works for Headwaters Economics, an independent, nonprofit research group, and her research areas include recreation, ecosystem services, climate adaptation, and demographic and economic trends. Megan holds Ph.D. and Masters degrees in economics from the University of C...
Future Forward Interview: When Should Aging Infrastructure Be Replaced or Removed?
Megan Lawson, Ph.D., is an economist specializing in land-use, non-market valuation and statistical models for policy analysis. She works for Headwaters Economics, an independent, nonprofit research group that works to improve community development and land-management decisions in the West, and her research areas include recreation, ecosystem services, climate adaptation, and demographic and economic trends. Megan holds Ph.D. and Masters degrees in economics from the University of Colorado, Boul...
Executive Corner: Five Takeaways from 2016 A/E M&A Activity
Good or bad, you certainly can’t say 2016 was dull. In a year that produced memorable comebacks, upsets and surprises across a spectrum of institutions, whether geopolitical (Trump, Brexit), financial (Dow 19,000), sports (Cubs’ and Cavaliers’ wins, Villanova’s buzzer-beater) or cultural (alas, Brad and Angelina), the country is due for a much-needed breather after these wild 365 days. Given this setting, A/E executives pulled back and took a measured “wait and see” approach to deal making this...
Final Thoughts: Are We Really Entering a New Era of Infrastructure?
In the last few issues of Informed Infrastructure, I reminisced about what the work environment was like in my early career as a civil engineer in the infrastructure business and reflected on what has changed. Then I posed questions about what the future may bring. Now, at the beginning of 2017, I look forward to new expectations and what they could mean to our profession. Problems Leading to Promises We all know that U.S. infrastructure needs a great deal of attention. We have fallen behind t...
Coastal Library ‘Rides the BIM Wave’
For a library project in a California beach town, 3D modeling helped a design-build project team deliver a challenging but symbolic design on an accelerated timeline. When architects delivered renderings for a 14,380-square-foot library facility in Imperial Beach, Calif., local stakeholders praised the design for its seamless fit with the small San Diego County beach city. San Diego firm Jeff Katz Architecture developed the design after county officials spent three years gathering local in...
Structural Solutions: The Power of Positive Thinking Lasts a Lifetime
Although my daughters have almost finished college, it’s not (yet) difficult to remember when they were young. I was in scouting most of my young life—from Cub Scouts to Webelos to Boy Scouts, until I “aged out” at 18—and having two daughters didn’t allow me to go back into the Boy Scout track. Girl Scouts wasn’t really an option, because I wanted to be personally involved in their activities. Fortunately, we discovered “Indian Guides” within the local YMCA. It wasn’t scouting in the sense I gr...
Engineered Solutions: Steep Slopes Require Trench Dam Security
When storing AquaBlok material onsite, it should be tarped and protected from the elements. Land to be used for a housing development in Silverthorne, Colo., was originally homesteaded in the 1860s as ranch land for hay production and grazing Scottish Highland cattle. Although the ranching tradition continues on the property, a portion was recently set aside for construction of a new housing development. The property is located on the slope of a mountain, with some sections of road traversing...
Infrastructure Outlook: From the Video Vault: Erosion Control
Informed Infrastructure spoke with Matthew Welch, technical manager with Profile Products, at the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Environmental Connection 2016 event. This column features highlights from the discussion, and a video recording of the full interview can be viewed at informedinfrastructure.com/28058/profile-soil-solutions-software-welch. The Five Fundamentals “Profile Soil Solutions Software (PS3) is the vessel in which we incorporate our five fundamentals to succ...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail Expansion
February Issue 2026
