Events
October 2007
2007 Structural
Lecture Series
10.2.07 – 11.13.07
Geo-Institute Group
One-Day Seminar
11.3.07
Joint Waterways
Group and Woods Hole
Sea Grant Workshop
10.11 – 12.07
Joint Engineering
Management Group
and ACEC/MA Event
12.6.07
Full Details Inside
Volume 32 Number 2
NEWS
A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SECTION/ASCE
Structural
The State of Our Infrastructure—Deferred Maintenance
President’s Report
by David, L. Westerling, PE, Merrimack College
by Linda C. Hager, PE
TranSystems Corporation
As civil engineers we design and help to build
our civil infrastructure. And an important
component of that built environment is its care
and management to provide for a long life of
useful service. Some are now calling this the
“stewardship of the built environment”.
The collapse of the I-35W bridge in
Minneapolis is a tragedy we will remember
for a long time. The bridge collapse reminds
us all of the vulnerability of our nation’s
infrastructure and the importance of our
roles as engineers in today’s society. Shortly
after news of the bridge collapse, ASCE
responded by providing technical information to the media and setting up a special
website as a resource for information
pertaining to the bridge collapse. At the local
level, BSCES volunteers participated in
media interviews to provide technical
responses to the local media inquiries.
The condition of our nation’s infrastructure
is an important focus for the American
Society of Civil Engineers. ASCE’s 2005
Infrastructure Report Card posted an overall
grade of D for our nation’s infrastructure,
which is defined by ASCE as poor. ASCE
estimates the total funding needed to bring
the nation’s infrastructure to good condition
over a period of five years is $1.6 trillion.
The top five infrastructure concerns that
contribute to this high dollar estimate are
roads, dams, wastewater, drinking water, and
navigable waterways.
A few years ago, BSCES and over twenty
other state organizations joined forces to
establish the Massachusetts Infrastructure
Investment Coalition (MIIC) to address the
status and needs of our local infrastructure.
The MIIC mission is “to identify the longterm needs for infrastructure investment to
support economic development and the
quality of life for the citizens of Massachusetts
continued page 2
A Look at the Longfellow Bridge
A recent white paper prepared for the Pioneer
Institute presented various scenarios of “could
have been” maintenance levels for the Longfellow
Bridge. This bridge, which connects Boston and
Cambridge, has been neglected over the years
with little or no regular maintenance. A repair
project in 1959 and some remedial safety work in
2002 have been the only significant expenditures
of funds. In the paper the bridge was used as an
example of neglected infrastructure.
Research for the paper took over 10 months
with interviews conducted with engineers who
have responsibility for overseeing the bridge and
its operations. A review of the literature on asset
management revealed new information on how
other states are managing their assets and
funding maintenance and repairs.
The three scenarios included a 1% per year
investment in maintenance, a 2.5% per year
investment in maintenance and the historic
scenario of 0% per year plus two repair projects.
SPONSORING FIRMS
The savings produced by doing the maintenance were based on estimated condition
levels using published “condition vs time”
curves. Cost savings were calculated using the
Engineering News Record cost indexes to
update the original 1907 construction cost and
the current value of two repair projects, one in
1959 and one in 2002.
Significant cost savings were found for investing
1% of the capital value each year back into
maintenance and repair. For example if your
house was worth $400,000, you would invest
1% or $4000 per year into repairs and
maintenance. This would be a reasonable
number with unspent money placed into a rainy
day fund for larger repair projects.
At 2.5% the savings was less than at 1% and at
5% the savings went negative. This would be
like taking your car to the shop when there is
nothing wrong with it. A complete write-up of
the different scenarios is found in the paper at
www.savethelongfellow.com.
Statewide Deferred Maintenance
While the example used in the paper was the
Longfellow Bridge, the main focus was overall
maintenance of the Commonwealth’s assets. A
table is presented showing over $17 billion in
deferred maintenance among the various
agencies and departments holding the
Commonwealth’s assets. The depreciated value of
these assets is reported at $24.9 billion. However,
as noted in the paper, any assets older than 40
years have fallen off of the Commonwealth’s
books and no longer are valued. These assets
include the Longfellow Bridge, the State House
and many other significant assets.
With a wide array of agencies attempting to
manage their assets though a database or hand
written records, there is no overall focus on asset
continued page 2
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
President’s Report
Deferred Maintenance
continued from page 1
and organize the engineering community and
other like-minded professional, business,
government, community and political
organizations into a broad-based coalition to
increase the level of public and government
support for infrastructure funding.” This mission
parallels ASCE’s goal and brings the effort to our
local state level.
continued from page 1
management or any attempt at funding
maintenance through external or dedicated
funding. Funds for maintenance come from
operating funds used for staffing and services and
most always get short circuited from maintenance
programs (if any were to exist). Thus the
Commonwealth’s infrastructure continues to
head towards failure and disrepair, while other
states are leading the way into the 21st century.
The MIIC is working with state and other local
agencies to develop reports for aviation, bridges,
dams, drinking water, energy, government
facilities, hazardous waste, homeland security,
housing, navigable waterways, ports and harbors,
railroads, roadways, schools, telecommunications, transit, and wastewater facilities. The
group is focused on educating and informing
legislative and agency leaders, key media outlets,
and the general public about the current
condition of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure
and related funding shortfalls, and has been
proactively meeting with legislative, administrative, and agency decision makers to present a
compelling case for the creation of programs for
sustainable infrastructure management. Four
reports (bridges, roadways, drinking water, and
wastewater facilities) have been published by the
MIIC and can be downloaded from The
Engineering Center website at www.engineers.org/
resources/news.htm. The bridges report is
currently being updated.
Maintenance of existing infrastructure is a key
element to prevent further deterioration of
current infrastructure. Unfortunately, funding
is a concern and innovative solutions need to be
developed to raise funds to maintain all
infrastructure. The next step for the MIIC will
be to develop an action plan to provide
recommendations and possible solutions to the
short and long term infrastructure maintenance
and management issues.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Civil Engineering Practice, the Journal of BSCES
welcomes papers for review and publication. We
are looking for papers on topics in all areas of civil
engineering that while comprehensive in scope,
remain readily understandable to the nonspecialist. For general guidelines for submittal of
papers, visit www.cepractice.org/cepauth on the
web. You may also submit your contribution to Ali
Touran at [email protected].
What Are Other States Doing?
Missouri, for instance has set up a Facilities
Maintenance Reserve Fund which is now at 1% of
the General Fund. Each department must review
the condition of their assets and prepare repair
estimates before funds can be withdrawn. Utah
has a Facilities Condition Analysis Program which
provides condition assessments of all assets
(including those older than 40 years). Unlike
Massachusetts, Utah’s Comprehensive Annual
Finance Report contains a condition assessment of
all of the state’s assets. Reporting assets is much like
the financial report of any business or corporation
or a financial report of someone looking for a
mortgage. Since Utah has adopted the modified
method of reporting, the condition of its assets is a
major focus of its financial condition.
Recommended Action Items
There are several things which Massachusetts
should do to make our Commonwealth
competitive again.
• The Commonwealth and its subdivisions,
including cities and towns could adopt the
GASB 34 modified method of reporting assets.
This would allow us to focus on the condition
of our assets and the maintenance and repair
work needed to maintain or improve their condition. And only then will the true financial
condition of the Commonwealth be known.
• We should consider initiating a focus on
infrastructure maintenance by giving the Office
of Facilities Maintenance within the Division
of Capital Asset Management the resources it
needs to establish a regular reporting system of
asset condition and a funding source independent of operating funds.
• Innovative funding mechanisms for repairs
and improvements including the establishment of a State Infrastructure Bank could be
adopted by passing pending legislation
(H3673)
• Provide the resources to MassHighway to fully
implement the PONTIS bridge management
program.
2
2007–2008 Board of Government
President: Linda C. Hager, PE
President-Elect: Anatoly M. Darov, PE, Esq.
Secretary: Brian R. Brenner, PE
Treasurer: Marvin W. Miller, PE
Assistant Treasurer: Malek A. Al-Khatib, PE
Senior Vice Presidents:
Robert S. Stephens, PE
Frank A. Bracaglia, PE
Vice Presidents:
Danielle H. Spicer, PE
Stephen F. Rusteika, Jr.
Past President: Terese M. Kwiatkowski, PE
Western MA Branch Vice President: David J. Partridge
ASCE District 2 Director: Paul D. Moyer, PE
Technical Group Chairs
Construction: Christopher W. Burke
Engineering Management: Michael P. Guidice, PE
Environmental & Water Resources: Charles J. Gore, PE
Geo-Institute: Jeanne A. LeFebvre, PE
Infrastructure: Salim A. Ayas, PE
Land Development: Mark M. Wixted, PE
Structural: Sylvester N. Yongho, PE
Transportation: John Collura, PhD, PE
Waterways: Timothy S. Hillier, PE
Younger Members: Cheeta L. Soga, PE
Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE
The Engineering Center
One Walnut Street
Boston, MA 02108-3616
Phone: 617/227-5551
Fax: 617/227-6783
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bsces.org
Executive Director: Richard F. Keenan
Event & Membership Coordinator: Courtney E. Crouse
Board of Editors
Brian R. Brenner, PE, Chair
[email protected]
Frank A. Bracaglia, PE
[email protected]
Anatoly M. Darov, PE, Esq.
[email protected]
Richard F. Keenan
[email protected]
Joel S. Lunger, PE
[email protected]
Terese M. Kwiatkowski, PE
[email protected]
David M. Manugian, PE
dmanugian@
town.oxford.ma.us
Anastasia S. Papadopoulos, PE
apapadopoulos@
geiconsultants.com
Stephen F. Rusteika Jr.
srusteika@
pmaconsultants.com
Matthew I. Shuman
[email protected]
BSCES’s newsletter, BSCESNews, is designed to provide
information and opinion in regard to the subject matter covered.
BSCES and its Board of Editors assume no responsibility for
statements made or opinions expressed in this publication. It is
published with the understanding that the Board of Editors and
the authors are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or
other professional services. If assistance is required, the services
of a competent professional should be sought. The Board of
Editors encourages reproduction of BSCESNews with appropriate
acknowledgment. Copyright 2007 BSCESNews.
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
Wind Turbine Blade Testing Facility Comes to Boston
by David Hayes, PE, BSC Group, Inc.
Massachusetts was one of two states selected by
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) to develop new facilities to test the next
generation of wind turbine blades. The
Commonwealth’s successful bid marks the end
of a competitive process between six states to
secure $2 million in capital equipment as well as
technical assistance from NREL/DOE to site
the facility. The future location of the new
Massachusetts facility will be the Boston
Autoport in Charlestown. The second facility
will be located in Texas.
Testing the Next Generation
of Wind Blades
As demand for renewable energy grows, the size
of wind turbines is increasing. The next
generation of wind blades, anticipated to be up
to 100 meters in length, will require testing to
ensure
long-term
viability,
minimize
maintenance costs, and meet certification
requirements. While European facilities are able
to test the longer blades, current U.S. facilities
can only test blades up to 50 meters.
Developing stateside testing facilities for longer
blades will avoid shipping costs and schedule
delays associated with overseas testing, reduce
concerns about intellectual property, and
generally support U.S. manufacturers’
competitiveness in the global market.
The Autoport Site — Fitting the Bill
The Massachusetts partnership considered
several sites for the new facility before
narrowing the selection to the Boston Autoport
site and another waterfront site in New
Bedford. The new facility will perform
structural tests on the blades in a hangar-like
building where the blades will be anchored, in
an almost horizontal position, to test stands.
The large wind blades will need to be shipped
by water-based transportation, while test-related
equipment would typically be shipped by road
or rail.
The Boston Autoport, which is owned by the
Massachusetts Port Authority and supports the
automobile import market, was a strong fit due
to its port capabilities and close proximity to
road and rail. At 85 acres, the site also provides
a “building-ready” pad area and sufficient
outdoor storage and handling areas to facilitate
easy movement of blades around the building.
Other issues considered in the site evaluation
and selection included appropriateness of
zoning regulations for each parcel and
suitability to local land uses, capacity of the
local grid and available power at the site to
accommodate the facility’s energy needs,
environmental impacts and permitting
requirements, and the site’s potential for future
expansion to accommodate larger wind blades.
The Power of Collaboration
Massachusetts’ accomplishment is a testament
to the power of collaboration, in this case
between individuals from government,
academia and the private sector. Several firms
assisted the Massachusetts partnership—which
includes the Massachusetts Technology
Collaborative, University of Massachusetts,
Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic
Development, and the Massachusetts Port
Authority—in its successful bid to site the new
facility. One of these was Boston-based
planning and engineering firm BSC Group
which provided site evaluation and planning
services during the selection phase and then
assisted with the final application.
A Win for Massachusetts
Also critical to Massachusetts’ successful bid
were the energy professionals at the
Massachusetts Office of Business Development
(MOBD), who coordinated the overall effort.
The state, which is aggressively positioning
Massachusetts to be a leader in renewable
energy technologies, views this as a very
significant win due to the potential for future
spin-offs
from
related
testing
and
manufacturing facilities.
For additional information about the national
and state wind power industry, visit the
following websites:
• www.nrel.gov
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• www.ceere.org/rerl/
Renewable Energy Research Laboratory at
University of Massachusetts Amherst
• www.mtpc.org/
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
On behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Partnership, BSC developed a sketch of the future wind turbine blade test facility at the Boston Autoport site in Charlestown.
3
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
BSCES Younger Member Group’s Annual Red Sox Outings A Great Success
by Phil Viveiros, PE, Nitsch Engineering
The BSCES Younger Member Group (YMG)
recently held their annual Boston Red Sox
outings. This is the nineteenth year that the
YMG has reserved tickets to Red Sox games at
Fenway Park. The Sox beat the Toronto Blue
Jays, 7– 4, on July 12th with strong pitching
from Tim Wakefield. On August 15th, however,
the Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka struggled vs.
the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and lost, 6–5. The
YMG reserved 110 tickets for each of these
games, which were made available to all
members of BSCES. The outings serve as the
primary fundraiser for the YMG, funding many
of the group’s activities for the coming year.
This year’s Red Sox Outing Coordinator, Phil
Viveiros, and YMG President, Cheeta Soga,
were honored by the Red Sox prior to the July
12 and August 15 games, respectively, as
“Leaders of the Pack”, a program recognizing
groups attending games at Fenway Park. Phil
and Cheeta, who both work at Nitsch
Engineering, appeared on the field and on the
“Jumbotron” prior to each game.
Also prior to each game, a pre-game social was
held at Copperfield’s, located just a long
outfield throw from Fenway on Brookline Ave.
The pre-game social provides an opportunity to
catch up with old friends and meet new
colleagues from the engineering community. At
each social, food was provided by the YMG, and
door prizes were raffled off. Kevin Raftery, a
YMG member working at MWH, coordinated
the pre-game socials.
Members of the BSCES Younger Member Group gather prior to the August 1, 2007 game vs. Baltimore.
As an added bonus, the YMG hosted a third
Red Sox outing exclusively for YMG members
on August 1st. This game, which featured the
Red Sox vs. the Baltimore Orioles, was won by
the Red Sox, 5–4, after a four-run 7th inning.
A total of 55 tickets were reserved for this game.
4
A great time was had by all who attended.
Demand for these tickets was very strong, and
the YMG looks forward to hosting its Red Sox
Outing next year—on its 20th anniversary!
Thanks again to all who attended!
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
ASCE Partners with Engineers Without Borders
by Paul D. Moyer, PE, Carter & Burgess, New England District Director
At its July Board Meeting, ASCE cemented a
partnership with an exciting new organization:
Engineers Without Borders—USA (EWBUSA). EWB-USA is a non-profit organization
established in 2000 to help developing areas
worldwide with their engineering needs, while
involving and training a new kind of
internationally responsible engineering student.
The projects involve the design and
construction of water, wastewater, sanitation,
energy, health care and shelter systems. These
projects are initiated by, and completed with,
contributions from the host community, who is
trained to operate the systems without external
assistance. In this way, EWB-USA ensures that
its projects are appropriate and self-sustaining.
EWB works with developing countries to
identify infrastructure projects that are critically
needed by their native residents to fulfill basic
needs. These projects tend to be low cost
projects that will benefit small villages or other
such communities. The projects are
thoughtfully designed by EWB to utilize
inexpensive, readily available materials that can
be constructed quickly with manual labor and
hand tools. This helps keep construction costs
low, and also makes the infrastructure easily
maintainable by the natives. The projects are
constructed by natives under the direction and
guidance of EWB-USA engineering student
volunteers over college breaks.
• Water and sanitation projects: provision of potable
water, and wastewater management projects;
There are many types of EWB-USA projects,
including:
ASCE’s connection with EWB-USA offers an
exciting outlet for ASCE’s student and
professional members to make a real contribution
to the world. For more information, visit the
EWB-USA website: www.ewb-usa.org.
• Small construction projects: design and
construction of community health centers,
schools, and shelter systems;
• Renewable energy projects: design and installation of photovoltaic systems, wind, biodiesel.
At its July Board Meeting, ASCE committed its
financial support to EWB and will provide
legal, financial, administrative, IT, and
membership support to EWB. ASCE will have
designated seats on EWB-USA’s governing
board. There will be changes to EWB-USA
governing documents to reflect the new
relationship between ASCE and EWB-USA.
Engineers Without Borders: Trip to Ecuador
by Danny McGee
I was a member of a travel team that traveled to
Ecuador this past summer through the Tufts
student chapter of Engineers Without Borders
(EWB). The team consisted of six students, a
professor, and his wife. Three of the six students
on this year’s travel team, traveled to Ecuador in
2006, and three of the six students (not the
same three) are proficient in Spanish; I fell into
neither of those two categories. I did not know
a word of Spanish, and I was my first trip south
of the United States.
My contributions to the travel team included a
larger than average smile and vigorous head
nodding, and on occasion I was called to break
into a handstand. But even lacking the
vocabulary, I rarely felt helpless. I quickly
learned the power of nonverbal communi-
cation for times when interpreters were
unavailable and I learned to sit quietly when
they were available; it was like a three and a
half week game of charades with intermittent
explanations.
Before we were able to travel, we had to
identify a community and a project. We then
had to plan the project, review the project, and
plan for all foreseeable difficulties we might
encounter on the project. In order for us to
identify a community and a project, we
teamed with a nongovernmental organization
called Federation y Brethren Unidas (FBU).
FBU owns a hacienda (farm) north of the
Ecuadorian capital, Quito. FBU allowed us to
test and implement new technologies on the
Hacienda and they worked with us to move
5
those technologies into communities that
could use them.
For our project we proposed to build a water
collection system on the Hacienda and assess
the viability of doing a water project in a near by
community named El Cristal. The water system
we proposed included gutters, a water storage
tank, and a slow sand water filter.
I have worked with the Tufts chapter of EWB
for two a half years and I’ve found that the one
constant is that everything always changes.
When we arrived on the Hacienda we quickly
realized that our proposed system was not
going to work. We spent three days designing
and redesigning until all parties involved were
continued page 6
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
EWB: Trip to Ecuador
continued from page 5
happy with the proposed system. We had to
scrap the gutters and alter the storage tank
design. We built the slow sand filter as we had
designed it, but decided to take it to El Cristal
for prototyping, rather than prototype it at the
Hacienda. The project on the Hacienda was
the easiest part of the trip; assessing the
community for next year’s project was much
more challenging.
For the most part, communities do not need
major earth shattering engineering solutions.
They need something that is simple, easy to
fix, recreate, and understand. In other words,
the things that are most useful to them, they
have probably already thought of. The trick is
to find something that is not obvious, and
that’s hard because, well, it is not very
obvious. We had the slow sand filter, but we
knew that we could not just hand over a water
quality solution if there in fact was not a water
quality problem. We first had to identify a
problem. In order to do so we talked to the
members of the community.
A member of our team worked throughout the
school year in order to prepare and review
surveys for the community. She and two other
students then spent two weeks talking to
members of the community in order to identify
problems where we might be able to get
involved. At the same time the remaining five
members of the team concentrated on water
testing, mapping, and building the water filter.
At the end of the two weeks we presented all of
the information we collected to the community
in a town meeting and left with ideas for a
project next year.
Our host families gathered for a large dinner
after the town meeting. Mothers, fathers,
children, teenagers, and grandparents all
danced and played games with us. Everyone
from 2 years old to 70 years old joined in with
the games, ranging from “freeze-scare-tag” to
human tug-o-war. The dinner, dancing, and
games were the perfect end to an absolutely
amazing trip. I learned far beyond technical
engineering skills. I learned how to ask for a
hammer using only hand signals and I learned
how to entertain a family with only three words
of Spanish. I really appreciated the opportunity
getting to know the members of El Cristal, the
travel team, and myself during the trip.
Learning from the I-35W Bridge Collapse
by Eva Lerner-Lam, Editor-In-Chief, CRIB Sheet
There are no definitive answers yet to explain why
the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in
Minneapolis, MN collapsed on August 1, 2007
(see http://uscriticalinfrastructure.blogspot.com/).
As we extend our condolences and thoughts to
the victims of the collapse and their loved ones,
we also yearn to understand how we, as a
civilized society, could have failed to provide the
necessary technical and/or political assurance
that a proud product of our civil works would
perform the way it was intended, safely carrying
people and cargo across the expanse of the
Mississippi River. The collapse came just two
weeks after the explosion of an underground
steam pipe in New York City ripped a massive
crater in midtown Manhattan, just steps away
from Grand Central Station, killing one and
injuring dozens at the height of the afternoon
rush hour. Both of these failures occurred less
than two years after Hurricane Katrina pushed
the aging levees in New Orleans past the brink
and submerged entire neighborhoods. The
ASCE 2005 Infrastructure Report Card warned
us about the deteriorating state of our
infrastructure. Two years later, we appear to
have lost even more ground.
Post-collapse, there are redoubled efforts by
state and federal inspection teams, engineering
6
research labs, bridge design studios, and the
halls of Congress to prevent or at least mitigate
future catastrophic failures. Engineers and
politicians must reach out and put on their
other hats as well...we all live here, and we need
to work together to learn from these failures.
Engineers can deem a bridge “deficient” but the
job is only half done if we all can’t find a way to
improve its condition to “satisfactory.”
This article appeared in the ASCE Critical
Infrastructure Monthly Bulletin: August 2007
“CRIB SHEET,” a publication of the ASCE
Committee on Critical Infrastructure.
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
The Next Generation of Construction Workers
Choate Bridge Nomination
by Edward Ransom, AIA, LEED AP, and Jerome Harris, NOMA Consultants LLC
By Anni H. Autio, PE, CDM,
BSCES History & Heritage Committee Chair
The Associated Builders and Contractors
organization estimates that the construction
industry will need approximately 150,000 to
200,000 new workers by the year 2014. On the
surface this projection would seem to indicate
good times for the industry, but, if we also
consider the fact that there is an aging work force
that is approaching retirement, we see that this
projection will not meet the industry’s needs.
Some people believe that this approaching
problem of adequate labor can be best solved
through immigration, or the importation of
workers from neighboring countries. Maybe
we should actually be considering a home
grown solution.
The question seems to be how to get more of our
youth interested and involved in obtaining skills
that will prepare them for careers in the
construction industry. Several states like New
York, Florida, and California have undertaken
programs to introduce teenagers and young
adults into the construction industry. But, here
in Boston, we already have a solution that works.
YouthBuild Boston is a community based
program with a 17 year history in assisting
inner-city youth “in gaining the occupational,
educational, and leadership skills necessary to
become responsible, contributing members of
our society”, and in particular, the local
construction industry.
Since its inception in 1990, YouthBuild Boston
(YBB) has been dedicated to improving the lives
of young adults who face extensive barriers
toward reaching self-sufficiency. It was
established primarily as a job training and
community redevelopment program. Its’ mission
is to improve opportunities for Boston’s young
people by teaching them skills that will equip
them to support themselves, and to develop
personal and neighborhood responsibility.
Since 2001, YBB has placed 86% of its students
in jobs. Fourteen percent (14%) of its’ graduates
have enrolled in educational or job training
programs, and, 69% have obtained their GED
or high school diploma.
YouthBuild corps has built more than 74 units
of affordable housing. YBB has also remodeled
facilities where other community-based organizations can incubate, and expand their services.
Due to its’ success, YBB has:
• Served as a catalyst for the creation of the
Dept. of Housing and Urban Development’s
YouthBuild Initiative in 1991.
• Been prominently featured in the Commonwealth’s Federal School to Work Plan, and
• Been profiled by the U.S. Dept. of Labor in its’
Building Skills for the New Economy,
Innovative Initiatives Best Practices publication
Recently the agency played a key role in the
creation of the Building Careers Partnership
(BCP). The BCP is comprised of the executive
directors of the Private Industry Council, the
Mayor’s Office of Jobs and Community
Services, trade unions and construction
company executives. The group’s mission is to
create and expand opportunities in the building
trades for Boston’s youth.
Today, YBB provides young people with
personal and professional development through
construction skills training, computer
technology, educational instruction, civic
engagement and service to the community.
If we are to meet the future labor demands of
our industry, while providing opportunity for
“those that may have been left behind”, we
should consider putting our collective weight
behind organizations like YouthBuild Boston.
BSCES’ History and Heritage (H&H)
Committee intends to submit the Choate
Bridge (1764) located in Ipswich, MA for
nomination as a 2007 ASCE Civil Engineering
H&H Landmark based on its preserved dry
stone wall construction. The Choate Bridge is
the first masonry arch bridge in Massachusetts
and the second masonry arch bridge in the
United States. Research conducted by Tufts
University students, Emma Francis and Julia
Carroll under the guidance of Brian Brenner,
suggests that a portion (the western parapet and
central pier) or all of the original bridge may
have been dry stone wall construction. Given
that a “Dry Stone Conservancy” effort exists,
this may assist in demonstrating the historic
significance of this local landmark to ASCE’s
H&H Committee members.
Colonel John C. Choate, who lived in Ipswich
and served as Essex Country Treasurer at the
time, oversaw the construction of the bridge in
1764. The earlier pedestrian and then cart
bridge had become too narrow to accommodate
the increased traffic. The original construction
dimensions of the Choate Bridge were 80 feet
and six inches long and 20 feet and six inches
wide. In 1838, the bridge was widened to 35
feet and six inches to accommodate another
lane of traffic.
The Choate Bridge was not constructed
without controversy. The keystone principle
used in the bridge construction was not well
accepted. Locals loudly voiced their opinions
that the bridge would collapse by its own weight
once the supporting timbers were removed. The
threats were so strong that Colonel Choate’s life
became in danger up to the opening day. On
that momentous morning in October 1764
continued page 8
7
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
Suffolk Construction v. DCAM: Attorney-Client Privilege in the Context of the PRL
by Anatoly M. Darov, PE, Esq., Burns & Levinson LLP
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
(SJC) has recently decided the case of Suffolk
Construction v. Division of Capital Assess
Management which looked at the scope of the
common law attorney-client privilege in the
context of the government’s disclosure
requirements under the Massachusetts Public
Records Law (PRL). The attorney-client
privilege shields from disclosure confidential
communications between a client and its
attorney that are undertaken for the purpose of
obtaining legal advice. In the public realm,
government entities are also subject to the
Public Records Law, M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 and
M.G.L. c. 4 § 7, that requires almost all
documents in the possession, custody, or
control of local and state governments to be
made available for review by the general public.
In Suffolk Construction, the SJC was asked to
determine whether the PRL extinguishes the
attorney-client privilege and requires
government entities to disclose attorney-client
communications that would otherwise be
privileged. Engaged in a dispute over claims
arising from the rehabilitation of the John
Adams Courthouse in Boston, Suffolk sought
disclosure of DCAM’s public records through
two public records requests. In response to those
requests, DCAM produced thousands of
records, but refused to provide certain
documents citing attorney-client privilege.
Under the PRL, only documents that fall within
one of fifteen statutory exemptions may be
withheld from disclosure by the government. The
PRL does not contain an express exemption for
documents that comprise attorney work product
or documents that constitute attorney-client
communications—both categories of documents
that are generally protected from disclosure in
litigation between private parties. Suffok
Construction argued that attorney-client
communications should be subject to disclosure
because no exemption for such documents
presently exists in the PRL. Suffolk cited General
Elec. Co. v. Dept. of Envt’l Protection, a 1999 SJC
case that declined to find an implied exemption in
the PRL for attorney work product.
The SJC did not agree. In the court’s view, the
attorney-client privilege is a fundamental
component of the administration of justice and,
while no express exemption was included in the
PRL to protect such documents from disclosure,
nothing in the PRL suggests that the Legislature
intended to extinguish the privilege for
government entities. The SJC also recognized
that disclosure of attorney-client documents
would severely inhibit the ability of government
officials to obtain legal advice necessary to
discharge their duties as government officials and
would place government entities in an unfair
disadvantage in disputes with private parties
engaged in business with the government.
The SJC noted that, while the General Electric
decision held that a narrowly-tailored, timebased attorney work product exemption was
intended by the Legislature; General Electric has
no bearing on the whether the Legislature had
any intention to limit the attorney-client
privilege. Specifically, the SJC said that PRL’s
“deliberative process exemption” protects from
public disclosure documents relating to policy
positions and factual studies being developed or
undertaken by the agency. The SJC found that
the deliberative process exemption expressed the
Legislature’s intent to allow certain attorney work
product documents—those relating to policy
decisions or factual studies that have become
final—to be disclosed. The SJC found no similar
indication of the Legislature’s intent to regulate
the attorney-client privilege through the PRL.
8
The Suffolk Construction decision highlights the
special obligations of government entities in the
management of public records and lends some
clarity to an aspect of the PRL that has been
subject to some debate. In light of Suffolk
Construction, the limits of attorney-client
privilege—and the attorney work product
doctrine—have been more clearly defined.
Anatoly M. Darov, PE, Esq., is a Senior Vice President
of BSCES and an attorney with the law firm of Burns
& Levinson LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Darov
may be reached at [email protected].
Choate Bridge Nomination
continued from page 7
when the underpinning was removed and the
bridge was to be opened to traffic, Colonel
Choate sat on the saddle mounted to a very
swift horse, safely away from the crowd, armed
with pistols and surrounded by a strong guard
of supporters, awaiting his notice to flee. The
fears, however, quickly turned into loud cheers
and the Choate Bridge has served as a major
transportation route in Ipswich for nearly 250
years. A nearby mural suggests that this bridge
may have served as a major transportation route
during the Revolutionary War; American
soldiers are depicted crossing the bridge.
The Choate Bridge is as an excellent example of
early stone construction in the history of
American road building. The bridge is located
in the center of the Town of Ipswich, where
South Main Street crosses the Ipswich River.
The Choate Bridge is listed on both the
National Register of Historic Places and the
Massachusetts Historic Commission as a
historic structure or place. The ASCE H&H
Committee is scheduled to begin its review of
this nomination in late 2007.
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
Governor’s Five Year Capital Investment Plan Includes
Increased Funding for Transportation Projects
BSCES Buzz
by David M. Manugian, PE, Town of Oxford
On August 6th, Governor Patrick announced a
five year capital investment plan that included
increased capital funding for road, bridge, and
other transportation projects. Nearly half of the
$12 billion ($5.72 billion) will be spent on
these project. The transportation budget for
fiscal year 2008 (FY08) is approximately $1.12
billion, a 25% increase over fiscal Year 2007.
Of the $1.12 billion, the Plan identifies
approximately $522 million as coming from the
FY08 bond cap, approximately $414 million
from FY08 federal money, $121 million from
FY08 third party sources, and $61 million from
FY08 project-funded bonds.
Twenty six line items were included in the Plan
for FY08. They were bridge repairs/bridge
maintenance ($600,000); emergency bridge
repairs ($500,000); pavement markings
($300,000); resurfacing ($1.5 million); traffic
impact attenuators (hydrocell maintenance)
($100,000); bridge engineering services/bridge
consultant ($550,000); bridge rating services
($140,000); statewide road and bridge program
federally assisted (FA) construction—interstate
($74,170,626); statewide road and bridge
program federally assisted (FA) construction—
non interstate ($378,786,547); statewide road
and bridge program non-federally assisted (NFA)
construction ($160 million); Charles River
Basin-DCR bridges and tunnel ($14,087,441);
EOT project operations ($249,124,000);
Fairmount commuter rail improvements ($11.2
million); red-blue subway line connector study
($2 million); new parking spaces at transit nodes
($2 million); green line subway extension to
Medford ($4.7 million); south coast rail ($3.4
million); mass transit planning ($2 million);
regional transit authority capital assistance ($7
million); mobility assistance program ($2.5
million); intermodal transportation ($1.5
million); rail transportation ($4 million); water
transportation ($2.5 million); Massachusetts
Aeronautics Commission ($10 million); central
artery tunnel projects ($182 million); and
reservation for future projects ($3 million).
The transportation portion of the Plan
extensively cites a report released in March 2007
by the Massachusetts Transportation Finance
Commission noting that the cost to maintain
our current surface transportation system and to
make certain other required improvements,
before accounting for new, discretionary
enhancements or expansions, exceeds our
anticipated available resources by $15–19 billion
over the next 20 years.
In addition, the Plan’s community investment
program for FY08 includes $150 million in
Chapter 90 funding, $10 million for
community development action grants, $14
million for public works economic development
program grants, and $2.5 million for the small
town road assistance program.
In order to implement this plan, the Patrick
Administration will begin filing bond bills this
fall with the legislature to secure authorization
for projects not currently authorized.
The Aldrich Conference Center at The Engineering Center
Let Us Engineer Your Next Meeting!
• Unique Meeting Rooms for Groups of 2 to 40
• Reception Area for Up to 80
• Historic, Elegant Beacon Hill Location
• Two Blocks from the State House
• Close to Public Transportation and Low Cost Parking Garage
For information and reservations call Susan D’Olimpio, Conference Center Manager
Tel: 617/305-4111 • Fax: 617/227- 6783 • Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.engineers.org/about/acc_reserve_space.htm
Special Rates for Members
Rizzo and Troup Named 2007
BSCES Honorary Members
At the 159th BSCES Annual Meeting and
Awards Dinner on June 6, 2007, the BSCES
Board of Government was pleased to present
the Section’s highest award, BSCES
Honorary Membership, to William J. Rizzo
and Emile W. J. Troup. Brief biographies of
these exceptional leaders in the civil
engineering profession are presented below.
William J. Rizzo, Jr. is the Founder of Tetra
Tech Rizzo (formerly Rizzo Associates, Inc.), a
leading New England engineering and
environmental consulting firm. Bill’s expertise
in transportation policy is grounded in over
25 years of experience in balancing the
technical, financial, environmental, and
public involvement components of infrastructure projects. He has particular knowledge
in the assessment of environmental impacts of
civil engineering projects. As the former
Assistant Secretary of Transportation for the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bill was
responsible for planning and prioritizing the
state’s motorway transportation program. In
this role, he oversaw more than $400 million
in construction and consultant contracts. Bill
is a Fellow of the American Consulting
Engineers Council and a past President of its
New England chapter. He is also the President
of The Engineering Center. He holds a BS in
Civil Engineering and a BA in Applied
Science from Lehigh University, an MS in
Transportation Engineering from the Georgia
Institute of Technology, and an MCP from
the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Emile W. J. Troup, PE, SECB is a Technical
and Marketing Consultant for Structural Steel
Fabricators of New England. He was BSCES
President in 1991 and Past Trustee of The
Engineering Center Education Trust. Emile
was the Chair of the Steering Committee for
ASCE’s Thirteenth Structures Congress held
in Boston in April 1995. He was president of
National Council of Structural Engineers
Association in 1998-1999. He is the Director
of the New England Building Code Association and is an active member of Boston
Association of Structural Engineers. Emile
wrote an article titled, Effective Contract &
Shop Drawings for Structural Steel for the
Fall/Winter 1996 edition of the Civil
Engineering Practice journal.
Younger Member Group
Thanks Phil Viveiros
The Younger Member Group would like to
thank Phil Viveiros for generously donating the
door prizes for the Younger Member Group’s
19th Annual Red Sox Outings pre-game socials.
The Aldrich Center at The Engineering Center
One Walnut Street • Boston, MA 02108-3616
at the corner of Beacon and Walnut Streets
9
BSCESNEWS
OCTOBER 2007
Division of Professional Licensure Update:
Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors in Massachusetts
by Abbie R. Goodman, Executive Director, The Engineering Center
In 2003, The Engineering Center (TEC)
started to track certain licensing statistics from
the Massachusetts Board of Registration of
Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors for
historical purposes. The Board’s operations are
managed by the Division of Professional
Licensure and we thank the staff for providing
this data to us.
According to the Massachusetts Board of
Registration for Professional Engineers and
Land Surveyors, as of June 11, 2007, there were
16,054 Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors in Massachusetts. This is a decrease of
530 from January 2006. The number of
Professional Land Surveyors decreased to 1075
from 1105 in January 2006. The chart below
gives some history for Civil Engineering and
Land Surveying licenses. For the full chart
showing the variety of engineering licenses and
tracking Massachusetts engineering and land
surveying license statistics since 2003, go to
www.engineers.org and select “What’s Hot?”
As of June 11, 2007, there were 63 open cases
against engineers and land surveyors under
review by the board. This compares to 43 that
were open one year ago. New case openings
have been increasing: in 2005, there were 30; in
2006, there were 43, and—to date—in 2007
there have been 29 new cases.
Exam Results for Engineers
and Surveyors in Training
The Fundamentals (FE/FS) exams cover subject
matter in a typical EAC/ABET-accredited
baccalaureate engineering curriculum or ASAC/
ABET-accredited baccalaureate surveying
curriculum. Once a student passes the FE exam,
he or she is classified as an intern, also known as
Engineering Intern (EI) or Engineer-in-Training
(EIT). Once a student passes the FS exam, he or
she is classified as an intern, also known as
Surveying Intern (EI) or Surveyor-in-Training
(SIT). The FE/FS Exams have been offered
twice a year in Massachusetts since 1965.
As of June 11, 2007, the Division of
Professional Licensure reported the following
data. In 2006, 804 candidates sat for the FE
exam, and 464 passed it. In 2005, 408
candidates passed the FE exam.
Also in 2006, 44 candidates took the
Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) and 29 passed
it. In 2005, 23 candidates passed the FS exam.
Exam Results for Professional
Engineers and Land Surveyors
The Principles and Practice (PE/PS) exams go
beyond testing academic knowledge and require
knowledge gained in engineering or surveying
practice.
In 2006, 204 candidates took the Principles and
Practice of Engineering (PE) exam and 161
passed the exam.
In 2006, 13 candidates took the Principles and
Practice of Surveying (PS) exam and 12 passed
the exam.
Professional Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors in Massachusetts
Types of License
1/1/2003
1/1/2004
1/1/2005
1/1/2006
6/11/2007
Civil Engineer
5,497
5,715
5,475
5,706
5,661
Structural Engineer
2,368
2,473
2,378
2,480
2,416
Land Surveyor
1,156
1,173
1,087
1,105
1,075
16,586
17,149
16,031
16,589
16,054
Total Licensees for this Board of
Registration (includes other types
of engineering licenses)
Data courtesy of Division of Professional Licensure, historical tracking by The Engineering Center in Boston, Inc.; see full chart at www.engineers.org, “What’s Hot?”
10
BSCESNEWS—Events
OCTOBER 2007
For more information and to register for events, please visit www.bsces.org
Structural Group 2007 Lecture Series
Geo-Institute Group One-Day Seminar
October 2 – November 13, 2007
Tufts University, Cohen Auditorium
15 South Campus Road, Medford, MA
6:00 PM Registration; 6:30 PM Lecture
Innovative Structures
The BSCES Structural Group is pleased to be
presenting the 2007 Structural Lecture Series.
The lecture series is being hosted at Tufts
University with the help of the Tufts University
Student ASCE Chapter. The lecture series began
on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 and continues
every Tuesday night through November 13. The
speakers and lecture topics will cover recent
projects and the issues encountered on these
projects. Camille Bechara will present on the
Logan Central Parking Garage. Wayne Siladi,
Austin Alvarez and Bill Bodnar will present the
many structural design issues they encountered
in the Electric Boat Graving Dock 3 Repair.
Bryan Busch will be covering the Relocation of
Interstate 195 in Rhode Island, and Joe Ales will
discuss the design of the new Arizona Cardinals
Stadium. Frank Griggs will be speaking on
Historic Bridge Renovation and Preservation.
Markus Schulte and Peter Quigley will cover
High Tech Art and its use in the MFA and the
new ICA buildings in Boston. Finally, Charles
Goodspeed and Erin Bell will give a lecture on
fast bridge replacement in New Hampshire.
It’s not too late to register for remaining lectures.
See the Insert at the end this newsletter for details.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Bentley College, Adamian Academic Center
175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA
7:15 AM – 4:05 PM
Risky Business—Engineering for Uncertainty
Successful management of the risks and
uncertainties inherent with engineering in the
subsurface environment requires specialized
skills and judgment. This seminar will present
a selection of speakers and relevant topics to
illustrate the current best practice for
controlling risks associated with the variability
of subsurface conditions. The speakers are:
John Christian, David Thompson, Andrew
McKown, David Hatem, Randy Essex, Steve
Poulos, Joseph Jacobazzi, Eric Drooff and
Peter Osborn. The seminar will be of great
value to all engineering professionals who may
need to address differing site conditions on
their projects, including geotechnical engineers,
structural engineers, construction engineers,
federal and state agency engineers, general and
foundation contractors, as well as professors,
and students.
See the Insert at the end this newsletter for details.
Joint Waterways Group and
Woods Hole Sea Grant Workshop
October 11 & 12, 2007
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Coastal Engineering Manual in Practice
Steven Hughes, PhD, PE and Jeffrey Melby, PhD
US Army Corps of Engineers Coastal
Hydraulics Laboratory The BSCES Waterways
Group and the Woods Hole Sea Grant are cosponsoring this workshop on the US Army
Corps of Engineers’ Coastal Engineering
Manual (CEM). This two-day program will
feature a short course presented by two of the
CEM’s primary contributors: Steven Hughes,
and Jeffrey Melby of the US Army Corps of
Engineers Coastal Hydraulics Laboratory,
Vicksburg, MS. Day Two of the workshop will
include a morning discussion session and an
afternoon field trip to Hull, MA to review
ongoing coastal engineering projects which are
based on guidance provided in the CEM.
See the Insert at the end this newsletter for details.
Joint Engineering Management Group
and ACEC/MA Event
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Radisson Hotel
200 Stuart Street, Boston, MA
5:30 PM Registration; 6:30 PM Dinner
7:15 PM Presentation/Panel Discussion
QBS: Why Value Outweighs Cost in
the Selection of Engineering Services
Robert Rottenbucher, PE, Conley Associates
& Chair, QBS Committee, ACEC/MA
Panel of Public and Private Sector
Decision Makers (from MHD, Massport,
Harvard and others)
With rising construction costs and limited
budgets, Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS)
for engineering services for public and private
sector projects has become more important
than ever. Qualifications-Based Selection of
design professional services allows public and
private owners to achieve successful projects,
reduce project life-cycle costs, and protect
public health and safety. This program will
include a review of the ACEC QBS
presentation followed by a panel discussion
featuring key public and private decision
makers sharing their experiences using QBS
procurement.
See the Insert at the end this newsletter for details.
11
ASCE Announces
Seminar Schedule
ASCE is pleased to announce the following
seminars scheduled in Massachusetts from
October 2007 through January 2008:
October 11 – 12, 2007
Pumping Systems Design for Civil Engineers
Boston, MA
October 17 – 19, 2007
Dam Breach Analysis Using HEC-RAS
Boston, MA
November 1 – 2, 2007
Project Management
Boston, MA
November 7 – 9, 2007
Risk Assessment and Management for
Buildings and Infrastructure Security
Boston, MA
November 29 – 30, 2007
Low Impact Development
Cambridge, MA
December 13 – 14, 2007
Design and Strengthening of Shallow
Foundations for Conventional and
Pre-Engineered Buildings
Boston, MA
January 10 – 11, 2008
Design for Cold Formed Steel Structures
Boston, MA
These in-depth, practice-oriented programs
are produced by ASCE’s Continuing Education
Department. Detailed descriptions of the
seminars (by title) are available on ASCE’s
website at www.asce.org/conted/seminars.
Log On to the TEC Website!
www.engineers.org
• Employment
• Free resume search
• Event calendar
• Online registration
BSCESNEWS—Classifieds
Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, Inc.
At Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, Inc. (FST), we
are engineers, planners, and scientists in the
classic tradition. Since 1914, we have responded
to the challenges of our clients’ needs.
FST has immediate openings in our Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and
New York offices in the following departments:
• Business Development • Mechanical
• Electrical
• Structural
• Environmental
• Transportation
Send Resumes to: [email protected],
fax: 781/221-1015
For further information please visit our
website at: www.fstinc.com
FST is an Affirmative Action, Equal
Opportunity Employer.
R.W. Gillespie & Associates, Inc.
Geotechnical Engineer—R.W. Gillespie &
Associates, Inc. is a 25-person consulting firm
specializing in geotechnical engineering,
construction materials testing, and environmental sciences, including geohydrology, from
our offices in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
and Saco and Augusta, Maine. RWG&A
provides services to local and regional clients
throughout New England on projects
including commercial, municipal, industrial,
and health care facilities.
RWG&A is seeking an engineer with 2 to 5 years
of professional experience in geotechnical
engineering for our Saco and Portsmouth offices.
The candidate should have or be progressing
towards a MS degree in civil engineering with
concentrations in geotechnical or geological
engineering, and with potential to obtain professional licensure within three years. The
candidate should be familiar with New England
geology and geotechnical conditions including
glacial marine and lacustrine deposits. The
candidate should have demonstrated experience
with geotechnical field operations and laboratory
procedures, and have strong analytical ability,
and effective technical writing and communication skills.
Please send letter of interest and resume with
detailed work history to Erik J. Wiberg, PE;
Chief Geotechnical Engineer; R.W. Gillespie
& Associates, Inc.; 86 Industrial Park Drive,
Suite 4; Saco, Maine 04072
LeMessurier Consultants, Inc.
Structural Engineer sought. MS + 1 yr. exp.,
STAAD, ETABS, Microstation, and RAM
required. Apply to: Peggy Walsh, LeMessurier
Inc., 675 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA
02139
12
OCTOBER 2007
Nitsch Engineering
Nitsch Engineering has been recognized as one
of the Best Civil Engineering Firms to Work
For in the United States by CE News magazine.
Civil Engineering Project Manager—PE, 10+
years in civil/site engineering, and strong
communication skills. Experience with Low
Impact Development, site sustainability,
innovative stormwater design solutions and
watershed/ecological restoration are essential
requirements. Conservation Commission
permitting a plus. Candidates must have
exceptional experience in marketing, client
contact, and project management.
Civil Project Engineer—PE with 5–7 years
exp. in prep. of civil/site documents for various
land development projects. Must have
experience with site grading, utility, and
stormwater management systems. Exc.
communication skills and AutoCAD/LDD or
Civil 3D req. Public presentation exp. a plus.
Interested candidates should submit their
resume with salary requirements. Fax 617/3386472; Email [email protected]; or mail to
Nitsch Engineering, 186 Lincoln Street,
Boston, MA 02111. No phone calls, please.
Our firm is an equal opportunity/affirmative
action employer.
BSCES/ASCE Structural Group 2007 Lecture Series
Innovative Structures
Please join us for the 18th biannual fall structural lecture series, presented by the BSCES Structural Group.
LECTURE 1 - October 2, 2007
Logan Parking Garage - Camille Bechara, PE
Adding three new levels and 2,900 new parking spaces on top of an existing feeble and
deteriorated 5-level garage- not easy. Demolishing and removing the first three existing
levels while keeping the garage open and maintaining vehicular and passenger circulation
continuously 24/7 – really not easy. Doing it at all busy Logan Airport – really really not
easy. Camille Bechara will tell us how it was done.
LECTURE 2 - October 9, 2007
Electric Boat Graving Dock #3 Repair
Wayne Siladi, PE, Austin Alvarez, PE and Bill Bodnar
While a ship was in a dewatered graving dock some 30’ below the river outside and being
prepared for delivery, a steel sheet pile cofferdam ruptured, spilling its contents into the
dock. Tonight we’ll hear about the investigation, design and repair of this dock within
eighteen short months in order to deliver a new vessel and the substantial organizational,
political, technical and logistics challenges from three key participants in the project: the
engineer, the owner and the contractor
LECTURE 3 - October 16, 2007
Providence River Bridge – Michael Culmo, PE and Bryan Busch, PE
For relocated I-195, the spectacular new steel tied arch bridge crossing the Providence
River was constructed by an innovative procedure. Michael Culmo and Bryan Busch will
take us each step of the way as the 2780 ton, 400 foot long, 160 foot wide bridge floats its
way up the river to its final resting point, now gracing the head of the bay in Providence.
LECTURE 4 - October 23, 2007
Arizona Cardinals Stadium Design – Joe Ales, PE, PhD
Tonight, we’ll learn about design and construction of the new football stadium, with its
cutting edge architecture, state of the art retractable roof system and operable playing
field. It is the first retractable roof to ride on inclined rails in North America, while its
two main 700 ft long lenticular roof trusses provide the longest clear span of any
retractable roof in operation in North America as well. The roof system is comprised of
two retractable panels that can be opened or closed in approximately fifteen minutes
providing fans with a comfortable air-conditioned environment or be exposed to the
beautiful desert sky above.
LECTURE 5 – October 30, 2007
Historic Bridge Renovation and Preservation - Frank Griggs, PE, PhD
Long-time historic bridge advocate, and prominent educator and engineer, Frank Griggs
will speak about his experiences restoring historic bridges. Learn how old cast-iron and
wrought-iron bridges can be brought back to life by using creativity, ingenuity, and
perseverance.
LECTURE 6 - November 6, 2007
High Tech Art and its use in The MFA and the New ICA Buildings
Markus Schulte, PE and Peter Quigley, PE
Museum design and construction is picking up speed here in Boston, first with the
beautiful new ICA Building on Boston Harbor, and next with a planned, massive
expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts. Tonight’s speakers will describe both of these
challenging projects.
LECTURE 7 - November 13, 2007
Fast Bridge Replacement – Charles Goodspeed, PhD and Erin Bell, PhD
How fast can a new bridge be built? Professors Charles Goodspeed and Erin Bell of the
University of New Hampshire will let us know, by describing some interesting research
underway at the University of New Hampshire.
TIMES
Registration ……………………………………………………..…… 6:00 PM
Lecture .……….……..………………...……………………... 6:30 – 8:30 PM
**NEW LOCATION**
Tufts University
Cohen Auditorium
15 South Campus Road (Off Talbot Ave)
Medford, MA
Campus Map: http://www.tufts.edu/home/maps/medford/
Directions: http://www.tufts.edu/home/maps/?p=medford/
Registration Form
2007 BSCES/ASCE Lecture Series
Innovative Structures
Name:
Company:
Street:
City:
State:
Zip:
E-mail address:
Please make checks payable to: BSCES
Please circle rate category below.
$10.00 discount for early registration by
September 22, 2007 on full series.
Full Series of Seven (7) sessions*
Member BSCES/ASCE (#
) ………...$150
Non-Member ……………………….…...….$195
Public Sector Member………………..……....$75
Public Sector Non-Members……...………...$150
Seniors (+65)…………………………………$75
) ………....FREE
Student (School I.D. #
Single Session (Date ________)
Member BSCES/ASCE (#
) .………....$50
Non-Member …………………………….... $55
Public Sector Member………………..……....$25
Public Sector Non-Members……...……..…...$50
Seniors (+65)…………………………………$25
) ………....FREE
Student (School I.D. #
Notes Only (Complete Set) …………...…....……$50
* Includes Notes
Registration
Register to attend one or more of the remaining
Lecture Series sessions by completing this form and
handing it in with payment at the registration table
the evening of the next lecture you wish to attend.
Please note: individuals purchasing notes only must
complete and mail in this registration form to:
Tufts University
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
113 Anderson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
Attn: Judith Farrington
For Information: Contact Brian Brenner at
[email protected] or Tufts' CEE Department,
at 617/627-3211
Waterways Group
October 11 & 12, 2007
Coastal Engineering Manual in Practice
Steven Hughes, PhD, PE and Jeffrey Melby, PhD
US Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Hydraulics Laboratory
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Clark Building, 5th Floor Conference Room
266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA
$225 BSCES Members, $250 Non-Members
$150 Academic, WHOI, PublicEmployees
Registration fee includes lunch, refreshments and transportation to and from the field trip.
The Waterways Group of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE and the Woods Hole Sea Grant
are co-sponsoring a workshop on the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM). This
two-day program will feature a short course presented by two of the CEM’s primary contributors: Steven
Hughes and Jeffrey Melby of the US Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Hydraulics Laboratory, Vicksburg,
MS. Day Two of the workshop will include a morning discussion session and an afternoon field trip to Hull,
MA to review ongoing coastal engineering projects which are based on guidance provided in the CEM.
Agenda:
October 11, 2007
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
October 12, 2007
8:30 AM -11:00 AM
11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Registration & Coffee
Risk, Reliability, and Empirical Techniques for Analyzing Coastal Structures
Topics to be covered include:
Risk and Reliability for Coastal Structures Engineering
Hydrodynamic Processes at Coastal Structures
Rubble-Mound Structure Stability
Wave Forces on Vertical Walls
Design of Low-Crested, Detached Breakwaters
Principles of Lifecycle Analysis for Structure Design
Lifecycle Analysis Case Studies
Case Studies/Presentations
Field Trip to Hull, Massachusetts. Proposed Site Visites:
Nantasket Beach Project and Point Allerton Seawall
Registration Deadline Extended Until Monday, October 8, 2007
Registration/Information: BSCES Members can register to attend this workshop and pay by credit
card online at www.bsces.org. Click on Events then BSCES Events; locate and click on the program name and
on the next page click on Learn More. BSCES Members who wish to register and pay by check should contact
BSCES Waterways Group Chair Timothy Hillier at 508/830-1110 or [email protected].
Non-Members, Academics, WHOI Members and Public Employees should also contact Tim Hillier to register
for this workshop. Tim is also available to provide additional information about this program.
This presentation provides
1.0 Professional Development
Contact Hours (PDH)
BOSTON SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SECTION
Geo-Institute
Presents a
One-Day Seminar
entitled
Risky Business – Engineering for Uncertainty
Successful management of the risks and uncertainties inherent with engineering in the subsurface environment
requires specialized skills and judgment. This seminar will present a selection of speakers and relevant topics to
illustrate the current best practice for controlling risks associated with the variability of subsurface conditions.
The speakers are: John Christian, David Thompson, Andrew McKown, David Hatem, Randy Essex, Steve
Poulos, Joseph Jacobazzi, Eric Drooff and Peter Osborn. The seminar will be of great value to all engineering
professionals who may need to address differing site conditions on their projects, including geotechnical
engineers, structural engineers, construction engineers, federal and state agency engineers, general and
foundation contractors, as well as professors, and students. Seminar attendees will receive one copy of the
seminar proceedings, including a CD of relevant articles and sources selected by the speakers.
Place:
Date:
Time:
Fees:
Adamian Academic Center, Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts
Saturday, November 3, 2007
7:15 AM to 4:05 PM
BSCES Member $200; Non-Member $250; Full-Time Students & Seniors (65+) $100
Public Sector Members $100; Public Sector Non-Members $200; Seminar Notes Only $100
Paid registrations must be received by October 19, 2007. Telephone registrations will not be accepted. The
fees for the seminar include the cost of lunch, coffee breaks, and Seminar Notes. Register to attend this
seminar and pay by credit card online at www.bsces.org. Click on Events then BSCES Events; locate and click
on the program name and on the next page click on Learn More. You can also register by completing and
mailing this registration form with your check to the address below. If you have any questions, please contact
Kristinn Gerra at 781/278-3860 ph, 781/278-5701 fax, or email at [email protected]. Cancellations received
after October 19, 2007 and no-shows will be billed.
Please note that attendance is limited to the first 250 received paid registrations.
Detach form and mail with check made payable to BSCES to:
BSCES GEO-INSTITUTE SEMINAR: RISKY BUSINESS – ENGINEERING FOR UNCERTAINTY
C/o Ms. Kristinn Gerra, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., One Edgewater Drive, Norwood, MA 02062
Last Name
Middle Initial
First Name
Company or School Affiliation
Position
Mailing Address
City
State
Email Address
BSCES/ASCE Member
Zip Code
Day Time Phone Number
Non-Member
Student or Senior
Fax Number
Public Sector Member
Amount enclosed $ __________. Registration will not be processed without payment.
Public Sector Non-Member
Notes Only
Check box for Vegetarian Meal
BOSTON SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SECTION
Geo-Institute
One-Day Seminar
Risky Business – Engineering for Uncertainty
SEMINAR SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Registration (coffee and pastries provided)
7:15 AM - 8:00 AM
Introduction and Welcome
Jonathan Andrews, PE, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Seminar Chair
8:00 AM - 8:10 AM
What is Geotechnical Risk and How Do We Assess It?
John Christian, PhD, PE, Consultant
8:10 AM - 8:50 AM
Insurance Practice Codes for Major Subsurface Projects:
Help or Hindrance for Primary Project Participants
David Hatem, PC, Donovan Hatem
Coffee Break
8:50 AM - 9:30 AM
9:30 AM - 9:50 AM
Baseline Reports and Risk Management Tools in Tunneling
Randy Essex, PE, Hatch Mott MacDonald
9:50 AM - 10:30 AM
Dam Failures
Steve Poulos, PE, GEI Consultants, Inc.
10:30 AM - 11:05 AM
Reflections on Risk Management in Geotechnical Engineering
David Thompson, PE, Haley & Aldrich
11:05 AM - 11:40 AM
Lunch
Blasting and Construction Vibrations:
Real vs. Perceived Risks and How to Deal with Them
Andrew McKown, PE, Haley & Aldrich
Geotechnical Constructor’s Risk
Eric Drooff, PE, Hayward-Baker, Inc.
Coffee Break
11:40 AM - 1:10 PM
1:10 PM - 1:50 PM
1:50 PM - 2:20 PM
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM
Owner’s View of Risks and Benefits on Large Geotechnical Projects
Peter Osborn, PE, Federal Highway Administration
2:40 PM - 3:20 PM
IPET – Hurricane Katrina and the New Orleans Levees
Joseph Jacobazzi, PE, CDM
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM
Closing Remarks
4:00 PM - 4:05 PM
Engineering Management
Group
Thursday, December 6, 2007
QBS: Why Value Outweighs Cost in the
Selection of Engineering Services
Robert Rottenbucher, PE
Conley Associates & Chair, QBS Committee, ACEC/MA
and
Panel of Public & Private Sector Decision Makers
(from MHD, Massport, Harvard and others to be announced)
Radisson Hotel, 200 Stuart Street, Boston
5:30 PM Registration; 6:30 PM Dinner; 7:15 PM Presentation/Panel Discussion
$55 Members, $65 Non-Members
$45 Public Sector Members, $55 Public Sector Non-Members
$40 Senior Members (65+), $25 Student Members
With rising construction costs and limited budgets, Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) for engineering
services for public and private sector projects has become more important than ever. Providers of such
services must not be treated as commodities selected on the basis of lowest price. Qualifications-Based
Selection of design professional services allows public and private owners to achieve successful projects,
reduce project life-cycle costs, and protect public health and safety. Over the life of a project,
engineering-related services account for less than one-half of one percent of total costs. Yet these services
play a major role in determining the other 99.5 percent of the project’s life-cycle costs, as well as the
quality of the completed project. This program will include a review of the ACEC QBS presentation
followed by a panel discussion featuring key public & private decision-makers sharing their experiences
using QBS procurement.
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Information/Registration: Register to attend this meeting and pay by credit card online at
www.bsces.org. Search for this program under Events. Click on Events then BSCES Events; locate and
click on the program name and on the next page click on Learn More. You can also register by contacting
Michael Guidice at [email protected] . Cancellations received after November 28, 2007 and noshows will be billed.
This presentation provides
1.0 Professional Development
Contact Hours (PDH)