Engineers are problem solvers by profession, but, in many respects, we are pioneers as well—now more than ever.
Infrastructure Outlook: EPD: Green Goals with HSS
There’s a growing push for the building industry to reduce embodied carbon and greenhouse-gas emissions to slow global-warming effects.
Transportation Troubleshooting: America Uses 50-Year-Old Guidelines To Inspect Bridges in 21st Century
The 2021 Bridge Condition Report produced by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) states that according to the latest federal…
ReEngineering the Engineer: Longing for the Good Ol’ Days of Engineering
While 3D images from BIM certainly convey a lot of information in one shot, having the skill to physically draw something by hand will always hold its value.
Sustainable Infrastructure: Informed Path To Net Zero: From Building Design to Operation
Greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions are agreed to be the culprit that shifts global weather patterns, threatens climate systems and endangers human health. Long-term effects of GHGs only can be reversed by global proactive actions focused on emission reduction.…
From The Editor: Climate Change Now Is ‘The Issue’
My October 2020 column was titled “Engineers Need to Lead the Way on Climate Change Mitigation,” and I tried to make the point that our profession has a responsibility to maintain an environment that’s best for the world, and we need to do more…
Executive Corner: 2021 Mid-Year Executive Outlook
As the disruption and severity of the global pandemic continues to fade, A/E leaders across the country are ready to take on the challenges and opportunities left in its wake. I recently connected with several CEOs from coast to coast for our annual Mid-Year…
Thoughts From Engineers: Microplastics: An Unavoidable Reality of Modern Life?
Our dependence on plastics, most of which are based on a formula developed from coal, natural gas and crude oil, is another aspect of our deep-rooted reliance on fossil fuels. The battle to move away from these fuels to support our way of life is best described…
From the Editor: Personal and Mass-Media Stories Highlight the Importance of Inspections
During my career, I’ve performed inspections on hundreds of bridges. The inspections varied in detail depending on the reasons for looking at them. Some were cursory inspections to determine whether or not to include particular bridges in the INDOT…
Executive Corner: The Pandemic’s Impact on A/E Firm Ownership
A psychological shift seems to be taking place as we begin to migrate back to “normal.” More Americans are shifting their views on retirement, with many considering retiring earlier than initially planned. In a recent phone call, an A/E firm owner…
