2D CAD in a 3D World
The complex wall structure is shown in an exploded axonometric drawing. (Stantec and Walter P . Moore) There’s little doubt dawn is breaking on the brave new world of 3D modeling, BIM, reality capture, real-time rendering, simulation and digital twins for the construction industry. It’s exciting to be working in this industry when these technologies are beginning to make real impacts on the safety, productivity and efficiency of construction projects around the world. Projects that other...
What Went Wrong At Surfside Collapse?
On July 6, 2021, Informed Infrastructure Editorial Director Todd Danielson interviewed Steven M. Baldridge, P.E., S.E., LEED AP, president of Baldridge & Associates Structural Engineering (BASE), which he founded in 1995. A leading engineering firm in areas of high natural risk, the company now has offices in Hawaii, Chicago, Florida, Guam and India. The topic of the interview was the deadly June 24, 2021, failure and collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Fla. The full interview...
Goodbye, Flooding! Hello, Stormwater Master Plan!
Photos show a “timeline” moving from severe flooding in Caruth Park before a new water-detention master plan was initiated, the StormTrap water-detention system being installed, and the final new field after project completion(below) Aging infrastructure in older, established neighborhoods is a driving factor in prioritizing projects reducing flood risks. Doing so requires detailed master-planning efforts and a comprehensive examination of detention options. An excellent example of...
Municipal Sewer Cleaning: Train for Gain
Best-practice techniques and equipment options help municipalities and contractors clean sewer, storm and sanitary lines more efficiently. For municipalities and contractors with heavy workloads cleaning sewer, storm and sanitary lines, the fastest route to getting the work done on-time and on-budget often is learning best-practice techniques and equipment options, demonstrating them onsite, and then resolving specific problem areas in the field with expert guidance. “Traditionally, s...
Clean Water Crisis: Solar Power Microgrids and Water Desalination Address Global Concerns
Indirect desalination uses electricity generated by solar cells to power a membrane process. Collectively, humans are using Earth’s natural resources at a greater rate than it takes for nature to replenish them. This contention has been widely observed and confirmed by leading environmental scientists and authorities. Fresh water, one of the natural resources indispensable for us to stay alive, is drying up. A sizable number of communities currently don’t have access to clean drink...
Grand Paris Requires Grand Surveying
Advanced surveying solutions for tunneling and monitoring help speed construction of the largest regional transportation expansion in Europe. One of the most visited and beloved cities in the world, “The City of Light” began the Grand Paris initiative in 2007 with the goal of keeping Paris competitive with the world’s greatest cities into the 21st century. The Grand Paris project aims to improve quality of life, social and economic sustainability, strategic development, and enviro...
Sensitively Restoring Historic Structures to Meet Today’s Engineering Standards
Built in 1901 and located on the original Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio, Barn No. 17 has been completely disassembled and rebuilt a little more than a mile away at its new location in Carillon Historical Park. (Woolpert) Restoring the integrity, significance and character of a historic building—while bringing modern-day efficiencies and comfort—can be a lengthy process fraught with challenges, but a completed project is always worth the effort. Repurposing an old, abando...
Getting Around Riyadh: A New Transit System Takes Shape
A new metro line in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will span 109 miles and include 85 stations and six rail lines. (Métro_de_Riyad_©_Avant_Première) The 100-mile-plus metro line will help ease congestion in the fast-growing capital of Saudi Arabia. Beginning in 2021, traveling in the city of Riyadh will never be the same. A new rapid transit system spanning 176 kilometers (109 miles) will help ease traffic congestion in the capital of Saudi Arabia. The $22.5 billion project will inc...
Erosion-Control Success Stories: Position Your Business to Best Serve Client Needs
A HydroGrass Technologies worker applies GeoEarth erosion control with TerraMax equipment. (Hydrograss Technologies) California’s wildfire season is looming. Hurricane season begins June 1. Climate-change concerns are leading to strengthening infrastructure. Federal and state infrastructure spending is taking shape. People are heading back to work as pandemic-related restrictions ease up. These factors present opportunities for new infrastructure projects as well as rehabilitating...
How to Manage Routine Maintenance Work on a Busy Construction Site
With multiple contractors and disciplines working separately yet simultaneously, a construction site can be a hectic place. It can be difficult for a construction manager to keep up with everything that’s happening, including budget, schedule adherence, safety hazards, material inventory, labor availability and more. Maintenance may not always be at the forefront of a manager’s mind, but a poor maintenance program can sink a construction project. In fact, each of the worries previously listed...
Video: New Roundabout Under Construction at McIver and Old Florence Roads in Darlington County
Promenade at The Point
June Issue 2026
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