Thoughts From Engineers: Data for a New Era in Water Management
Engineers are trained to solve for unknowns, but we absolutely need solid facts elsewhere in the equation. Data are key, folks, and we all know our solutions are only as good as what we have to work with. The Internet of Water (IoW), a concept first articulated in 2017 (bit.ly/IOWater), tries to tackle some of these issues, recognizing that water data are more useful when brought together into one consistently formatted, widely accessible and integrated platform. Knowledge is power, as they say,...
Executive Corner: Plowing through the Economic Headwinds
Like any good New Englander, I always await the release of the Farmers’ Almanac this time of year to help plan for the upcoming winter. Based on this year’s ominous predictions from the oracles up in Lewiston, Maine, I’m considering upgrading the snowblower and buying stock in Canada Goose. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, “… This winter will be filled with plenty of shaking, shivering and shoveling.” Economic Winter Is Coming? So far, 2022 has certainly ushered in some economic headwinds. S...
ReEngineering the Engineer: Don’t Just Say No
One of my long-time architect colleagues teaches a graduate-level architecture class at a local university. One part of their curriculum requires them to talk to their students about soils-related items in their projects. Rather than fumble through that discussion himself, my friend asked me to spend some time with his class explaining a soils report. The point wasn’t to explain the process of gathering soil samples or classifying the soils or determining the area’s geology—a geotech expert wou...
From the Editor: It’s Time To Get Back to School (And That’s a Good Thing)
This time of year always brings mixed emotions. I’m definitely a summer person and have a difficult time realizing summer is about to end. But it’s also the start of another school year, which is still an exciting time of year for me. I’m almost jealous of students everywhere as they begin another year of study and learning. So let me take a few minutes of your time to compare some campus observations now vs. what I remember as a student. The Different Now a few weeks into this fall semester i...
Engineered Solutions: ARMORMAX Stabilizes Slopes in San Francisco Island Development
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Engineered Solutions: High-Resolution Aerial Imagery: Crucial Data for Your Digital Twin
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GIS Solutions: From Base Mapping to 3D Deliverables, Ramboll Uses Esri Tools to Leave the World a Better Place
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Change Leader: Climate Change Necessitates ‘Safe to Fail’ Engineering
This particular webcam interview was recorded by Todd Danielson, the editorial director of Informed Infrastructure. You can view a video of the full interview above or by visiting bit.ly/3QyEfF4. For additional related information, read "The Role of Engineering to Address Climate Change," a new report the from Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) Mikhail Chester is associate professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University. ...
From the Editor: A Travelog from a Summer EV Road Trip
This issue of Informed Infrastructure is focused on Sustainable Engineering. As I write this column, there’s news about the U.S. Senate passing a climate, tax and healthcare package. While there are many details to be worked out, it’s encouraging that something positive is happening, in particular regarding a focus on climate change. I noted in the August 2022 issue of this column that I was planning a road trip to the East Coast in our electric vehicle (EV). I spent a lot of time planning the...
ReEngineering the Engineer: Get the Whole Job Done Right the First Time
Modeling and design software has made our design life really simple these days. The ability to add or modify loads and reconfigure framing provides a lot of flexibility in determining the best system for floors and lateral systems. However, at the end of the day, someone still has to be able to build it. BIM software has made it easy to convert 3D models into a bunch of framing plans on sheets of paper, and you can make a lot of sheets in a hurry. But that’s only part of our job. We’re still re...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
TriMet’s Banfield Type 1 Substation Replacement Project
February Issue 2026
