Conference Preview IECA and Geosynthetics Conferences Combining for Online Event
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Map Your City, Even from the Comfort of Your Home
It’s possible to make data accessible by anyone and get the job done anywhere, anytime. If 2020 taught us anything, it taught us that we must be remote. Many involved in mapping and planning cities are realizing that not only do things change, they change fast. With that change comes a massive amount of new and updated data, and staying current requires the skillful deployment of digital data management. For cities—where more than half of the world’s population lives—that data and cadastra...
A Big Deal by Any Measure: Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Opens for Business
Currently clunkily named, but impressive by every other measure, the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement opened all six vehicle lanes to traffic on Oct. 5, 2020, marking the triumphant conclusion to a seven-year, $1.47-billion project that may well turn out to be the most significant and successful infrastructure achievement in California this decade. Headlining superlatives include the following: • With two towers reaching 515 feet into the sky, it will be the second-tallest cable-stay...
North Dakota Wildlife Crossing Improves Highway Safety for Animals and People
To help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and protect North Dakota’s bighorn sheep population, a wildlife underpass was completed recently as part of a $38.5 million project along U.S. 85 that replaced the historic Long X Bridge over the Little Missouri River south of Watford City. From the American antelope to white-tailed deer, every western U.S. state has migratory big game herds, and many of these migrations cross a major transportation corridor. The loss can be hundreds of animals ea...
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...