Better BIM: Laser Scanning Improves Accuracy and Speed in Onsite Data Acquisition
By Chew Beow Kwan Building information modeling (BIM) first came about in the 1970s, but its methods have been refined considerably since then. Widely used by city planners, architects and civil engineers today, BIM enables stakeholders to better make high-impact decisions by providing timely, relevant information. 3D drawings can be created with line-fitting and building-specific tools found in the PointSense Building software. Laser-scanning solutions have shaped the way t...
GRAVITY: It Just Works—Massive Concrete Blocks Resolve Detention-Basin Challenges
By Angus W. Stocking, L.S. Houston’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 17 is clumsily named, but its mission is admirably clear: per the organization’s website, TIRZ 17 is a “local government corporation created to aid, assist and act on behalf of the City of Houston in promoting the common good and general welfare in the Memorial City area of Houston.” Also known as the Memorial City Redevelopment Authority, the agency is focused on developing, maintaining and rehabilitati...
Sponsored Content: One Forest, Multiple Perspectives
By Mary Jo Wagner With nearly 60 percent of the country––23 million hectares (56.8 million acres)––covered in trees, forestry in Sweden is big business. The world’s second-largest exporter of paper, pulp and sawn-wood products, Sweden’s forest industry is valued at around 90 billion euros ($100.4 million)––about one-fifth of Sweden’s GDP––and employs about 200,000 people. Managing Sweden’s forests also is serious business. Ensuring the sustainability and health of this wealthy as...
Engineered Solutions: Tricky Feedmill Site Requires Stormwater Conveyance System
By Bart Hartsfeld and Chris M. Ross, P.E. After acquiring Durbin Farms, Mar-Jac Poultry Alabama LLC planned a major expansion to build a new $25 million feedmill in Franklin County, Ala., that would efficiently provide feed to poultry growers in the region. Unfortunately, potential project sites with rail access and acreage for a substantial rail loop accommodating up to 100 rail cars were not readily available. Following much study and careful consideration, CDG Engineers selected the Sp...
InfraWorks 360 Is Growing Up: From Conceptual Tool to Detailed Design, InfraWorks Adds Engineering-Grade Features
Since its initial release a few years ago, Autodesk InfraWorks 360 (IW360) has been received as an interesting software-development exercise in what a BIM application for infrastructure could look like, with some promising but limited functionality. Some robust features such as Model Builder, which enables users to quickly and easily compile data on existing site conditions, are powerful and were ready for “prime time” right from the start. A project surface (top) was obtained from the I...
Proceed with Caution: Concrete Cloth GCCM Provides Erosion Protection at Nuclear Power Plant
A nuclear power-plant site in the southeastern United States faced an erosion problem on a steep, 2:1 slope near dry-cast storage containers of spent nuclear fuel. The shotcrete finish covering the slope was intended to serve as a protective layer that would prevent the backfill material from eroding. However, the design of the erosion protection left it susceptible to shrinkage and temperature cracking, as no control joints were constructed. As a result, escape paths for the backfill material t...
Sponsored Content: Photo Capture: Another Big Leap for Survey Technology
More Projects, Bigger Projects, Done More Frequently For land surveyors and other mapping and measurement professionals, photo capture of 3D environments can seem like yet another sudden and threatening arrival of a disruptive technology—GNSS, robotic total stations, RTK, laser scanning and UAS all come to mind. On one hand, use of just a “pretty good” digital camera, plus software, to create accurate 3D models of complex environments seems to threaten existing investment in laser-scanning eq...
New U.S. Bank Stadium Complete
Construction of the new U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis is substantially complete and ready for business. Finished six weeks ahead of schedule, the new stadium and home of the Minnesota Vikings features a bold, iconic design. Contractor Mortenson Construction symbolically turned over the stadium’s keys to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), the building’s owner, and the Minnesota Vikings during the MSFA’s June board meeting. The architectural landmark is 1.75 millio...
Sponsored Content: Top Five Reasons to Combine Autodesk's AutoCAD Civil 3D with InfraWorks 360 for Improved Civil Design
The dynamic duo of AutoCAD Civil 3D and InfraWorks 360 are a powerful combination for improving workflow efficiency for civil infrastructure design. The editorial team at Informed Infrastructure recently completed a detailed benchmark study (www.v1-education.com) of the use of these tools in tandem, showing the time savings and workflows that several independent reviewers achieved on sample projects. Following is a summary of the top-five takeaways of improved workflow and insight when combining...
The Village at Westfield Topanga: Strict Runoff Regulations Require Creative Solution
In 1964, the first enclosed shopping mall in California opened its doors. Located in Canoga Park, a neighborhood in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, Westfield Topanga is a two-level, 1.6-million-square-foot indoor shopping center. In 2015, its owners embarked on a major expansion directly across from the original mall. Called The Village at Westfield, the 31-acre expansion is a mixed-use project designed to be a community destination in the heart of the West Valley. The developer, Westfield...
Video: Crashes Drop Measurably After Rural Road Safety Improvement Project on US 521 in Lancaster County
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June Issue 2026
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