Civil Engineering Magazine

(Photograph courtesy of GettyImages.com/LeoPatrizi) By Kevin Moon, Kivanc Oncu, P.E., PMP, Frank Pepe, P.E., M.ASCE, and Hamid Rezaei, P.E. Beneath one of the world’s busiest transit hubs in New York City, engineers have redefined what is possible in constrained urban construction. A recently completed pedestrian tunnel that connects Grand Central Terminal to the No. 7 subway line’s 42nd Street Station represents a breakthrough in underground engineering.

The author (in red shirt) and other volunteers wave to the camera from a trail set against a backdrop of the Andes mountains in Peru. (Photograph courtesy of Chase Szatkowski) By Ryan Docter, P.E. Five years into my career as a structural engineer, I’ve come to realize that the work I am most proud of is not defined by skylines or scale. It is defined by impact.

(Image courtesy of wildpixel) By Marsha D. Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., AICP, ENV SP, F.ITE, NAE, F.ASCE As I round the corner of my presidential year and reflect on my term, there are many significant accomplishments this great organization and its members have achieved that make me proud. This year, we strengthened the civil engineering profession by modernizing and expanding our Civil Engineering Certification programs as well as advancing workforce development and education initiatives.

The Bedretto Underground Laboratory for Geosciences and Geoenergies sits in an expanded service tunnel originally built for a local rail line. (Photograph courtesy of ETH ZURICH/BEDRETTOLAB) By Kayt Sukel Historically, scientists have studied earthquakes — like the recent magnitude 7.5 quake in Venezuela — using seismometers deployed on the ground near fault lines, but even the most sophisticated of instruments can only record data in the aftermath of a quake.

(Photograph courtesy of GettyImages.com/baona) By Ronald Klemencic, P.E., S.E., NAC, NAE, F.SEI, Dist.M.ASCE, and Jerome F. Hajjar, Ph.D., P.E., NAE, F.SEI, Dist.M.ASCE FastFloor is a visionary leap forward and proof that structural engineering innovation thrives on collaboration. For decades, engineers and contractors have been pursuing a simple idea with not-so-simple implications: Build faster, safer, and more sustainably by shifting the fabrication of critical systems into the shop.

(Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash) By Tara Hoke In this column, a sampling of cases drawn from the news media demonstrates the importance of ethical standards in preserving the public trust, illustrating the great personal and professional costs of abusing this trust for selfish gain.

(Photo by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash) By Michael C. Loulakis, Esq., FDBIA, M.ASCE, and John M. Neary, Esq., M.ASCE Design-build contracts place enormous responsibility on the contractor. Unlike traditional design-bid-build delivery, where the owner furnishes a complete design, design-build requires the contractor to develop the final design and construct the project accordingly.

An urban digital twin connects 3D city infrastructure, assets, and real-time operational intelligence. (Image courtesy of Esri) Aging assets, regulatory pressure, climate risks, population growth, and expectations for sustainability are forcing engineering firms to rethink design, delivery, and project management. At the same time, project owners expect more than drawings and reports. They want data-rich deliverables that support operations, maintenance, and long-term decision-making.

(Photograph courtesy of GettyImages.com/landbysea) By Robert L. Reid Engineers recently created a digital twin of Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge based on data from multiple sources, including more than 100 sensors placed on key elements of the structure as part of a comprehensive structural health monitoring system. The goal is to increase the crossing’s service life to 100 years. The Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a cable-stayed, concrete box girder structure more than 4 mi long.

(Photograph courtesy of Zephyr Rail) By Robert L. Reid Drones, cameras, and sensors of all kinds are making it easier for the nation’s railroads to detect potential problems with rail infrastructure. This technology is also making infrastructure inspections and improvements safer, easier, and more accurate. Advanced technology is increasingly becoming a critical tool for the engineers who design, maintain, and work to improve the nation’s railroad infrastructure.