Future Forward Full Interview: Advancing Artificial Intelligence and Natural-Language Interfaces
These profiles are based on interviews, and the opinions and statements are those of the subject and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by this publication. Shafat Qazi is the CEO and founder of BQE Software. V1 Media: Please provide a brief background of your education and career before BQE Software. Qazi: I got my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from India, a college called the National Institute of Technology. Then I went to SUNY Buffalo and got my masters in structura...
Stormwater Management System Protects University of Michigan Campus
The system protects university buildings from potential floods while benefiting the environment and the city of Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan’s Central Campus is a gathering spot for students and visitors. It’s also a stormwater collection point in the downtown Ann Arbor, Mich., area, particularly during large storm events. A new underground stormwater infiltration system was designed to protect the campus and adjacent historic buildings from a 100-year storm event while provi...
Thoughts From Engineers: When a Deep Tunnel Isn’t Enough: Milwaukee Wrestles with Combined Sewer Overflows
The City of Milwaukee was on the cusp of a victory lap. After several expansions to the Deep Tunnel storage system and other significant district-wide improvements to grey and green infrastructure, Milwaukee appeared more prepared than ever for the “mother of all rain events” to strike. The city’s extensive capital investments and long-term planning initiatives seemed to have paid off: combined sewer overflows (CSOs) were at a near-record low. Milwaukee appeared to be on a trajectory to move fr...
From the Editor: ‘Smart’ Solutions In Every Issue
When I started working as a civil engineer, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was in its infancy. The EPA began its work in December 1970, but the procedures and policies didn’t really affect our work for a few years. After they were in place, however, it changed the way we did business. The new EPA policies established requirements of additional justification for the need of any project. They also created the need for new expertise. At first, they seemed a burden, but soon it became cl...
Change Leader: Moving the Industry Toward Digital Twins and Digital Cities
These profiles are based on interviews, and the opinions and statements are those of the subject and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by this publication. Robert Mankowski is a vice president and business unit executive for digital cities at Bentley Systems. Going Digital Bentley Systems has been at the forefront of digital engineering software for decades, and one of its latest pushes is toward digital cities as well as digital twins. Robert Mankowski is leading that endeavor. “...
Change Leader Full Interview: Moving the Industry Toward Digital Twins and Digital Cities
These profiles are based on interviews, and the opinions and statements are those of the subject and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by this publication. Robert Mankowski is a vice president and business unit executive for Digital Cities at Bentley Systems. V1 Media: Please provide your name and job title. Mankowski: My name is Bob Mankowski. I’m a vice president at Bentley Systems, and I’m the Business Unit Executive for Digital Cities. V1 Media: In your own words, de...
ReEngineering the Engineer: What Am I Missing?
Historically, the kickoff keynotes for the NASCC Steel Conference are a must-see, and the 2019 conference in St. Louis was no exception. Orzan Varol presented the keynote this year titled “The Power of Contrarian Thinking.” The gist of the presentation was the need to innovate to stay ahead of the game in today’s world. Although the discussion revolved around all types of different industries, the lessons presented had obvious application to the steel design, detailing and fabrication businesses...
Four Places Putting Green Infrastructure to Work for Local Communities
Figure 1. A map shows areas that would be flooded by 1.5 meters of sea-level rise, which is how much sea levels could rise by 2100 if emissions aren’t curtailed. By Emily Cassidy and Suzanne Ozment Water is a source of growing tension and violence in places where it’s scarce. At the same time, sea-level rise and flooding threaten millions of people living near coastlines and low-lying areas. Traditional infrastructure such as concrete dams and seawalls isn’t sufficient to protect...
Infrastructure Outlook: Repairing and/or Replacing Bridges in the U.S. Will Open Up Thousands of Contracting Opportunities in 2019
A few motorists—those who are aware of America’s bridge conditions—occasionally are selective about the bridges they cross. Millions of other motorists, however, are unaware of the fact that government leaders nationwide are scrambling to find funds to repair old bridges throughout the United States. A recent report from the American Road and Transportation Builders Association identifies more than 47,000 U.S. bridges that are in poor condition and in dire need of repairs. “Structurally unsound...
Interview with Greg Bentley, CEO, Bentley Systems: The Continuing Evolution of Engineering Software
Informed Infrastructure Editorial Director Todd Danielson (right) interviewed Bentley Systems CEO Greg Bentley (left). In April 2019, Informed Infrastructure Editorial Director Todd Danielson went to Bentley Systems’ corporate headquarters in Exton, Pa., (photo below) to interview its CEO, Greg Bentley. The full 45-minute interview can be viewed above or at wp.me/p8dJln-cyJ, but we also wanted to include some excerpts in this “5th Anniversary Special Edition” on “Smart Engineering.” Da...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail Expansion
February Issue 2026
