March 2008 Volume 54, Number 6
The evening program will be sponsored by the Sustainability Committee and will include the presentation of nominees and the announcement of the second annual 2008 ASCE-NCS Sustainability Award, a keynote address by long-time civil engineering sustainability champion Henry (Hank) Hatch, P.E., Dist. M. ASCE, and information from the Virginia Building Sustainable Network (www.vsbn.org) – invited.
The 2008 ASCE-NCS Sustainability Award will recognize private-industry outreach initiatives/programs or public legislation/programs in the Washington, DC metropolitan area that advance or promote the responsible and sustainable development of infrastructure, the built environment of the conservation of natural resources. The 2008 Sustainability Award Nominees are:
The award recognitions will be followed by a call-for-action presentation by Lt. Gen. (Retired) Hank Hatch drawing on his keynote presentation on leadership published in “The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025” (http://content.asce.org/vision2025/index.html).
Lt. Gen. Hatch retired from the Army as a Lieutenant General, the Chief of Engineers and Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is an active volunteer with several professional organizations including the National Research Council (NRC) (the operating arm of the National Academies of Engineering and Science), the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the US National Commission for UNESCO. Hatch earned his Bachelors from West Point and his Masters from the Ohio State University. He is a registered professional engineer in the District of Columbia, a Distinguished Member of ASCE and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Lt. Gen. Hatch received ASCE’s 2006 OPAL Lifetime Achievement Award, Government.
Where: Sheraton Crystal City (Metro: Blue/Yellow lines, Crystal City) is located at 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington, VA (one block from the Metro). Registration and networking will begin at 6:00 pm, with a buffet dinner beginning at 6:45 pm and the program from approximately 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm. Reservations can be made by e-mailing Fernando Pons at asce-ncs@haleyaldrich.com. The cost is $30 for members and non-members and $5 for students, which includes a buffet dinner. Please RSVP by close of business on Friday, 14 March 2008.
[ Contents ]
Ralph B. Peck, Professor Emeritus of Foundation Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign died of congestive heart failure on February 18, 2008, at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was born in Winnipeg, Canada, to his American parents, Orwin K and Ethel Huyck Peck on June 23, 1912.
Ralph Peck earned a Civil Engineering Degree in 1934 and Doctor of Civil Engineering Degree in 1937, both from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. In 1938-39 he attended the Soil Mechanics course at Harvard University and was a laboratory assistant to Arthur Casagrande. From 1939 to 1942 Peck was an assistant subway engineer for the City of Chicago, representing Karl Terzaghi who was a consultant on the Chicago Subway Project. He joined the University of Illinois in 1942, and was a Professor of Foundation Engineering from 1948 to 1974. Since 1974, Professor Peck was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, and a consultant in geotechnical engineering.
In 1948, together with Karl Terzaghi, Ralph Peck co-authored the most influential text book in geotechnical engineering, Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. In 1953 with Walt Hanson and Tom Thornburn, Ralph Peck co-authored the widely used text book Foundation Engineering.
In 1942, Dr. Peck joined the Civil Engineering Department of the University of Illinois, where he remained as a teacher and mentor until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 1974. After moving to Albuquerque, Dr. Peck continued his active consulting practice which included jobs in forty-four states in the USA and twenty-eight countries on five continents. His more than one thousand consulting projects include: the rapid transit systems in Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington; the Alaskan Pipeline System; the James Bay Project in Quebec; and the Dead Sea dikes. He authored over 250 technical publications, and served as the President of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering from 1969 to 1973. In 1974, he was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Ford. A few of his many honors include the Norman Medal, The Wellington Prize, and the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Education from the American Society of Engineers. His last project was the Rion-Antirion Bridge in Greece. It received the ASCE’s OPAL Outstanding Civil Engineering Award for 2005, and is the only project outside the United States to be so honored.
Ralph Peck married Marjorie E. Truby on June 14, 1937. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Peck (Allen) Young, and son and daughter-in-law, James (Laurie) Peck, and grandchildren, Michael Young and Maia Peck.
[ Contents ]
February 17th through 23rd was National Engineers Week, an annual opportunity to recognize the achievements of our profession and educate the public, especially young people. As part of Engineers Week, members of the National Capital Section participated in Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum in Washington. Although a number of Section members, associated student members and ASCE employees participated, special thanks are due to Kirin Smith and William Torres for organizing the ASCE-NCS activity (Paper Table Challenge). Many young people (and their parents) took up the challenge of building a structure out of newspapers and tape. Without a doubt, some of these children will be enrolling in engineering school in a few years. Some of future engineering students will probably remember a morning or afternoon at the National Building Museum and how they realized, “I can do this!”
National Engineers Week reminds us that education is an essential responsibility of all engineers, whether in training new employees and students or educating clients, government decision makers, or the general public about the engineering aspects of public policy. Last month I spoke to Civil Engineering students at Howard University’s Civil Engineering Seminar for seniors and graduate students. I tried to pass on some information that could help them focus on their careers after college. In researching the subject of my presentation “Trends in Civil Engineering,” I found that certain fundamental trends for the future have always been a part of Civil Engineering practice,. Whether it is continuing education, new technology or expansion of knowledge beyond engineering for career development, education is the foundation of our profession. See this month’s article on the roll out of the 2nd edition of ASCE’s Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge For the 21st Century. As Section President I support ASCE’s efforts to raise the bar on education of engineers and I urge you to review the new 2nd edition of the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge and consider how future education will affect our profession.
Another future trend in Civil Engineering that’s always been part of our profession is sustainability. As stewards of clean water and clean air, Civil Engineers have a long history in maintaining a sustainable environment. Over the last few years, the concept of sustainability has been expanded to include all aspects of the built environment. Our March 18th meeting will include a keynote speech on sustainability and leadership and our Section’s 2nd annual Sustainability Award presentation.
Our annual Awards Banquet will be relatively early this year, on April 8th. Be sure to register this month by e-mailing into our reservation system, including guest name and menu selection.
Sincerely,
Dean Westman, PE
[ Contents ]
For several decades, practitioners and educators in the civil engineering community in the United States have been calling for reform of civil engineering education. ASCE has been working since 1995 on the concept of additional education to practice at the professional level in the future. ASCE’s Board-level committee, the Committee on Academic Prerequisites for Professional Practice (CAP^3) currently has five different constituent committees actively working across the various domains related to engineering educational reform. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss ASCE’s current plan for implementing these actions including (1) release of the second edition of the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge, (2) modified accreditation criteria, (3) improved civil engineering curricula, (4) refined experience guidelines for engineer interns, and (5) the new model law/rules from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES).
The meeting will be held at the Crystal City Sheraton, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, the same venue as the regular NCS Section meetings. Networking will begin at 6:30 pm followed by the presentation at 7:00 pm which will be followed by dinner. The cost is $10 for members and $5 for students and $15 for non-members. To RSVP please email Brian Byrne at bbyrne@ehlert-bryan.com Wednesday, March 19th.
The presenter will be THOMAS A. LENOX, Ph.D., Senior Managing Director of ASCE. Tom Lenox has over 37 years of experience as a leader, team builder, and manager in diverse professional and academic environments. During his 28-year military career, he spent 15 years on the engineering faculty of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point – including five years as the Director of the Civil Engineering Division.
Upon his retirement from the U.S. Army on October 1, 1998, Tom became the Director of the Educational Activities Department for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). As ASCE’s Director of Educational Activities, Tom led several new educational initiatives – collectively labeled as Project ExCEEd (Excellence in Civil Engineering Education). A notable example is the ExCEEd Teaching Workshop, a nationally recognized workshop that develops inexperienced faculty into effective teachers and role models for the civil engineering profession. Currently as Senior Managing Director, Tom is leading several Society-wide projects to advance the professional status of civil engineers.
Tom received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, Master of Science degree from Cornell University, Master of Business Administration degree from Long Island University, and a Ph.D. degree from Lehigh University. He is also a graduate of a number of Army service and specialty schools to include Airborne, Ranger, Jumpmaster, Command & General Staff, and the Army War College. Recent awards include the ASCE’s ExCEEd Leadership Award, ASEE’s George K. Wadlin Award, and ASCE’s William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award.
[ Contents ]
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project was named an American Society of Civil Engineering 2008 Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Awards Finalist in the Civil Engineering Achievement Award category. Only 5 projects were named as OCEA finalists; 4 in the United Sates and one project in West Bengal, India. The OCEA finalist will be named at the OPAL Awards Gala in Washington On April 30th.
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is a partnership between the United States Department of Transportation, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, the Maryland State Highway Administration and the Virginia Department of Transportation. The General Engineering Consultant (Potomac Crossing Consultants) is a joint venture between Parsons Brinkerhoff, URS Corporation, Rummel Kiepper & Kahl and 13 active subconsultants including 8 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s).
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is vitally important to the National Capital Region and transportation system of the United States. Planning of the project has been underway since at least 1988 with construction beginning in 2000, the second span will be completed this year, Final road improvements will be completed in 2011.
Numerous National Capital Section members have been involved with the project and the Wilson Bridge project won the NCS Project of the Year Award in 2007. The ASCE OCEA nomination was made by Peter A. Terry, P.E., F.ASCE, Chair – ASCE Region 2 Board of Governors.
[ Contents ]
On February 19th, ASCE rolled out the 2nd Edition of the Body of Knowledge at the National Academy of Engineering in Washington, DC. The second edition of the Body of Knowledge (BOK2) is based on a multi-month review and editorial period incorporating numerous comments from members of the engineering community. In 1998, the ASCE Board of Direction adopted Policy Statement 465 (PS 465) which includes the following definition of the BOK:
The ASCE supports the attainment of a Body of Knowledge for entry into the practice of civil engineering at the professional level. This would be accomplished through the adoption of appropriate engineering education and experience requirements as a prerequisite for licensure.
The revised BOK calls for the civil engineers to fulfill 28 outcomes including Foundational Outcomes (basic science and liberal arts education), Technical Outcomes (engineering education) and Professional Outcomes (engineering practice). Policy Statement 465 calls for tomorrow’s engineering professional’s to obtain a Master’s degree or approximately 30 coordinated graduate level or upper undergraduate level credits or the equivalent through agency/organizational/professional society courses.
Policy Statement 465 and the 2nd Edition of the BOK will have an impact on all engineers including students and working professionals. Over the coming years, professional engineering licensure boards will consider PS 465 and the BOK in establishing qualifications for licensing, license exam format and continued certification of licensed engineers. Similarly, employers will more heavily weigh BOK Outcomes educational achievement levels in establishing minimum requirements for employment and milestones for promotion.
All Civil Engineers are encouraged to learn about ASCE Policy Statement 465 and the revised Body of Knowledge. A pdf version of BOK2 is available through the ASCE website.
[ Contents ]
A family works on the Paper Table challenge.
Volunteers from the National Capital Section, including Student Chapter members and ASCE National Headquarters employees kicked off National Engineers Week by participating in Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum in Washington on Saturday, February 16, 2008. Discover Engineering Family Day at the National Building Museum is an annual event, held during Engineers Week to introduce young people and their parents to the profession of engineering.
Many of the DC area’s professional engineering societies sponsored events or exhibited displays including the Chinese Institute of Engineers (USA), American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Helicopter Society, Society of Women Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Other participating Engineering organizations included the Corps of Engineers, United States Navy and the United States Military Academy (West Point)
This year’s challenge, presented by ASCE and Public Broadcasting’s Design Squad was building a table out of newspapers and a piece of cardboard. Children were given 8 newspaper sheets, 6-feet of masking tape and an 8-inch by 8-inch piece of cardboard. The only rule was the table had to be at least 8-inches high. Designs were tested by loading copies of Civil Engineering Magazine onto the table.
As in years past, the ASCE activity was very popular, with hundreds of children, and their parents, building tables. ASCE members assisted by collecting newspapers in the weeks before the event and assembling packs of 8 broadsheets and distributing the papers along with cardboard squares, tape and instructions. Other ASCE members tested the completed tables, provided advice and information about civil engineering and helped in clean-up.
Kirin Smith and William Torres organized this year’s event, devoting hours of preparation and planning time and leading the volunteers throughout the day.
ASCE Family Day organizers Kirin Smith and Will Torres got help from NCS President Dean Westman at the February 16, 2008 Discover Engineering Family Day.
A special thank you is extended by ASCE-NCS to those who volunteered during the Family Day event. Those who gave a portion of their day are listed below.
| Delmonico, Sara | Hughes, Lee | Jennings, Lisa | Leeman, Mark |
| Boenau, Ronald | Alsegaf, Kathy | Soni, Shreya | Samuel, Lianna |
| Heisman, Evan | Bros, Dana | Robertson, Michelle | Cornils, Kristine |
| Bajere, Paul | Putscher, Andy | Yonten, Karma | Wilson, Andrew |
| Torres, William | Neal, Morgan | Torres, William | White, Douglas |
| Smith, Kirin | Wertz, David | Sy, Aicha | Freund, Debbie |
| Gipson, Shana | Pisani, Dan | Westman, Dean |
[ Contents ]
Join us at the Sheraton Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, for one of the National Capital Section’s highlights of this year. The Annual Awards Banquet will take place Tuesday, April 8, 2008, beginning with registration and a social hour at 6:00 pm.
This event gives us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate local excellence in projects, engineers and students who have contributed to our society and our community. Recognized parties will include our meritorious service award winners, outstanding civil engineering project, student scholarship award winners, and members of the NCS who have achieved Life Member status.
We are honored to have David G. Mongan, P.E , President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and one of the nation’s leading civil engineers, as our keynote speaker. David G. Mongan, P.E., F. ASCE is the President of Whitney, Bailey, Cox & Magnani, LLC, an architectural/engineering/construction firm headquartered in Baltimore, MD.
Mr. Mongan has been the District 5 Director, the Zone 1 Vice President, and Treasurer and served on or as chair of numerous committees. He is Past Chair of the Council on Federal Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services. He is a past member of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, past member of the Board of Directors of the Engineering Society of Baltimore, and past Chair of the ACEC-MD Legislative Committee. He received the ASCE Maryland Section’s Civil Engineer of the Year Award in 1998 and the Engineering Society of Baltimore’s Engineer of the Year Award in 1999. In 2003 he was awarded the William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award by ASCE. Mr. Mongan holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland and a Masters in Business Administration from Loyola College of Baltimore, Maryland.
Where: Sheraton Crystal City (Metro: Blue/Yellow lines, Crystal City), located at 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington, VA (one block from the Metro). No free parking is available at the hotel for the meeting. However, free parking is generally available on the street.
The cost of the award banquet will be $40 for members and $20 for students, which includes dinner with a choice of entrees: salmon, vegetarian, chicken, and beef.
Registration and a social hour begin at 6:00 pm with the dinner at 7:00 pm, and the program from approximately 7:45 to 9:00 pm. Reservations can be made by e-mailing Fernando Pons at asce-ncs@haleyaldrich.com. Please RSVP by close of business on Tuesday April 1, 2008. Include the meal choice (beef, chicken, salmon, or vegetarian) for yourself and guest in the email when registering.
[ Contents ]
Section Meeting. The evening program will be sponsored by the Sustainability Committee and will include the presentation of nominees and the announcement of the second annual 2008 ASCE-NCS Sustainability Award, a keynote address by long-time civil engineering sustainability champion Henry (Hank) Hatch, P.E., Dist. M. ASCE, and information from the Virginia Building Sustainable Network (www.vsbn.org) – invited. Registration and networking will begin at 6:00 pm, with a buffet dinner beginning at 6:45 pm and the program from approximately 7:30 to 8:30 pm. The cost is $30 for members and non-members and $5 for students, which includes a buffet dinner. Reservations can be made by e-mailing Fernando Pons at asce-ncs@haleyaldrich.com. Please RSVP by close of business on Friday, March 14, 2008. Please only send reservations to the reservation e-mail address. Questions and other messages will not receive a response.
ASCE-NCS Annual Awards Banquet. Join us at the Sheraton Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, for one of the National Capital Section’s highlights of this year. Please see the article above for details.
Section Meeting. “Turning On a New Airport Concourse” – A case study presentation of the behind-the-scenes activity that must occur in order to activate a facility, in this case the 15 Gate Concourse B Expansion at Dulles International Airport. The presentation takes a look at the complex coordination activities that occurred to activate a multiple tenant, public facility, located in the middle of an active, high security international airport. The speaker will be Kenneth W. Brammer, P.E. He is a Vice President and Project Manager with Delta Airport Consultants, Inc. (located in Richmond, VA), who is the Facility Activation Coordinator for Dulles International Airport. He holds a BSCE and an MS-IEOR from Virginia Tech, and has been in the airport consulting business for 18 years. Where: Sheraton Crystal City (Metro: Blue/Yellow lines, Crystal City) is located at 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington, VA (one block from the Metro). Registration and networking will begin at 6:00 pm, with a buffet dinner beginning at 6:45 pm and the program from approximately 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm. Reservations can be made by e-mailing Fernando Pons at asce-ncs@haleyaldrich.com. The cost is $30 for members and non-members and $5 for students, which includes a buffet dinner.
[ Contents ]
Mark Leeman, P.E., Editor
Facility Engineering Associates, P.C., 11001 Lee Highway, Suite D, Fairfax, VA 22030
Work: 703-591-4855
Fax: 703-591-4857
mark.leeman@feapc.com
April 2008 Issue Deadline: March 1, 2008
Published monthly except July, August, and December
To Submit Articles:
Email: mark.leeman@feapc.com
Fax: 703-591-4857
Address Changes:
Call 1-800-548-ASCE, email member@asce.org, go to www.asce.org/myprofile/, or write: ASCE - Membership, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Include your membership number.