All articles tagged with #civil engineering
The piece contrasts the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s 1920s, deliberative planning—overcoming swampy ground with innovative waterproofing and drainage—with Trump-era, no-bid renovations that sparked controversy, arguing the original process embodied broad civic input and durable engineering, while today’s top-down, hurried updates risk repeating past missteps.
The article commemorates NASA astronaut Jim Lovell's passing, highlighting his significant contributions to space exploration, including Apollo 13 and Gemini missions. It also discusses the digitization of Popular Mechanics archives, upcoming talks at HOPE_16, and a unique dam project in Colorado featuring an asphalt core, showcasing advancements and historical reflections in engineering and space history.
A Virginia Tech civil engineering student, Owen Campbell, is painstakingly building a detailed 1:1-scale digital version of Pittsburgh in Minecraft, using Google Earth and reference images, with plans to include iconic structures like bridges, which reflects his passion for urban landscapes and infrastructure.
Civil engineers suggest that recent water main breaks in Atlanta may be connected due to the city's aging infrastructure, which combines old and new systems. Despite ongoing repairs and initiatives like Clean Water Atlanta, the outdated water lines pose challenges, especially with the city's rapid development. A specific break may have triggered a chain reaction, leading to further failures.
Scientists have developed a new metamaterial that utilizes an "extra dimension" to better control mechanical surface waves. By creating a synthetic dimension beyond the conventional three, the material allows for precise manipulation of energy wave paths. This breakthrough has potential applications in various fields, including quantum computers and quake-proof materials for civil engineering.
Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a concept for smart civil infrastructure systems with the introduction of metamaterial concrete, which is lightweight and mechanically-tunable with integrated energy harvesting and sensing capabilities. The material is capable of generating electricity and can compress up to 15% under cyclic loading. The research team is partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to develop this metamaterial concrete for use on Pennsylvania roads.