At the end of summer 2015, I was at a family reunion in central Illinois. As I stood chatting with relatives in my uncle’s backyard, my brother-in-law walked up, took a golf-ball-sized speaker out of his pocket and said, “play some music.” I had never…
Oregon Preparing for Export: Assessing the Seismic Challenges of a Liquified Natural Gas Plant
In the international port of Coos Bay, Ore., construction will begin in late 2016 on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal that will be the largest…
Prioritizing Data Management: The Shortest Distance to Project Quality
By Darius Šimkūnas In the Baltic States, Kelprojektas is the largest group of infrastructure engineering companies that designs transport infrastructure,…
Better in 3D: How 3D Modeling Helped Overcome Complexity in Building the Longest Cable-stayed Bridge in Africa
When Morocco’s highway company, Autoroutes Du Maroc (ADM), undertook a highway bypass project in 2010 that would cross the Bouregreg River, they could have built a traditional viaduct. Instead, they set out to construct Africa’s longest and tallest cable-stayed…
Oslo Airport Expansion: Open BIM Approach Improves Project Efficiency
Avinor Oslo Airport plays a crucial role as the hub of Norway’s aviation system, serving domestic and international passenger and cargo flights. Upon opening in 1998, the new airport boosted its capacity to handle 17 million passengers annually, but less…
Crystal River Works to Save Manatees and the Local Economy
Crystal River, Fla., is the self-proclaimed “home of the manatee.” An estimated 300,000 tourists visit Crystal River each year, many of them to see and experience the graceful manatees, the giant herbivores often referred to as “sea cows.” For a town…
Infrastructure Innovations: Virtual Reality as a Tool for Modern Business
For a long time, the concept of virtual reality (VR) was relegated to science fiction and entertainment such as Star Trek or The Matrix. Although a holodeck still is out of reach, the technology used for VR—the immersive technology that enables people to…
Executive Corner: The Dilemmas of A/E Family Ownership
During the last several years, there has been increased consulting demand for ownership transition as well as mergers and acquisitions for family owned A/E and environmental-consulting firms. These inquiries have cut across the gamut of family ties: husband/wife-,…
Structural Solutions: The State of the Engineer Address
Adversities and challenges, particularly when they don’t end well, provide the opportunity to reflect on decisions and figure out what happened. Governments have “state of the union” addresses that explain perceived difficulties in the market as well…
Strike a Balance: Moving from Smart Grids to Smart Operations
As computing technology became more mainstream, smaller and more connected in the early years of the 21st century, the opportunity for a smart grid became achievable. More information accessed more quickly could only improve situational awareness and lead…
