Senate Confirms Buttigieg As USDOT Secretary
The Senate confirmed Peter Buttigieg as the 19th secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation on February 2 by a vote of 86 to 13. [Above photo by Gage Skidmore.] The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the nomination of the former 2020 Democrat presidential candidate and mayor of South Bend, IN, to be USDOT secretary on January 27 by a vote of 21 to 3. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials congratulated Buttigieg upo...
New Study: Total Economic Contribution of Engineering & Architectural Services Nearly $600 Billion
One in Thirty-Three Americans Owes Their Job to Engineering and Architectural Services Industry Washington, DC (February 3, 2021)— The Engineering and Architectural Industry is a significant driver of the U.S. economy supporting $600 Billion in GDP, according to a new study conducted by the ACEC Research Institute—the leading source of knowledge and thought leadership in the engineering space. The engineering and architectural services sector’s 2019 revenue totaled $386 billion, adding...
February 2021 Trends
In this section, Informed Infrastructure compiles infographics from trusted sources that reveal insight on infrastructure spending. We also compile some of the top infrastructure stories that shouldn’t be missed. For ongoing news coverage, turn to Informed Infrastructure online (www.informedinfrastructure.com), our Twitter feed (@IInfrastructure) and our weekly e-newsletter. ASCE Report: Substantial Investments Needed for Infrastructure In its January 2021 report, “Failure...
Engineering Drives Significant Economic Activity and Employment New Landmark Study Finds
Engineering and Architectural Services Sector Employs More Than 1.5 Million; Generates 2% Of U.S. Economy Washington, DC (January 11, 2021)— The Engineering and Architectural Services sector directly employs more than 1.5 million Americans and supports an additional 3 million indirect jobs - making up 3 percent of all U.S. jobs. This is according to a first-of-its-kind industry profile out today from the ACEC Research Institute—the leading source of knowledge and thought leadership in the eng...
ASCE Structural Engineering Institute Announces the Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment Program
New program provides structural engineers with the necessary tools and resources to contribute and track projects toward the vision of net-zero embodied carbon structures by 2050 RESTON, Va. – The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) has announced the Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment Program (SE 2050). The SEI Structural Engineers 2050 Commitment Program (SE 2050) provides structural engineers with the necessary tools and resources to c...
After Record Year, Modest Declines Expected in 2021 Transportation Construction Market
Slowdown Not Surprisingly Reflects Pandemic-Induced Recession & Budget Pressures WASHINGTON — The U.S. transportation construction market is expected to shrink 5.5 percent next year, driven primarily by the severe economic recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the annual forecast released Dec. 10 by the Washington, D.C.-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Overall, the value of work is expected to drop from $294.2 billion in 2020 to $278...
How the Challenges of 2020 Will Shape the Infrastructure Industry
The need to build and maintain U.S. infrastructure continues, and organizations continue to operate in a period of unprecedented disruption. A global pandemic, economic downturn and necessary social change will ensure 2020 a place in the history books. The future of the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry will—and must—change in the context of these cumulative events. This year is proving particularly transformational for the infrastructure sector. The need to buil...
Modern Bridge Inspection: Latest Technologies and Techniques Employed on NYC’s Massive New Cuomo Bridge
Nagesh Goel, co-founder and president of Atlas Evaluation & Inspection Services (AEIS)—a leading testing, inspection and certification company based in South Plainfield, N.J.—has been involved in testing more than a dozen of the area’s most notable bridges. But his company’s work with the newly constructed Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge in New York City—and its massive size—set this project apart. The new $3.98 billion 3.1-mile twin-span bridge features eight traffic lanes with shoulders, ded...
Easing the Headache of Industrial Stormwater Compliance
A photo shows a typical use of galvanized grating on a rooftop, which can be a contributing source of zinc. Industrial activities continue to be a source of impairment to waters of the United States. Common pollutants include total suspended solids, oil and grease, metals and other hazardous substances that can be carried to nearby streams, rivers and lakes by stormwater runoff or snow melt. If your facility has industrial activities exposed to precipitation, you probably need...
Workplace Reimagined: COVID-19 Reshapes the Modern Office Experience
World Economic Forum’s U.S. Headquarters in New York City, designed recently by Montroy DeMarco Architecture, features extensive video-conferencing facilities to allow collaboration between individuals and large groups located on different continents. This type of meeting spaces will be increasingly incorporated into commercial offices as well to allow remote work and meetings with both clients and employees. Picture Courtesy: Peter Dressel/Wilk Marketing Communications Architects,...