Engineering Management Institute

American Society of Civil Engineers

Accelerated Road Research Facilities – The Key to Improving Our Highways

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This is a guest blog by Emil G. Bautista

Highways are an important part of the infrastructure of every country in the world. They provide the framework to move people and goods from one point to another, and this makes them an important piece to our economy and quality of life. As of 2006, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were approximately 4.1 million miles (6.6 million kms) of roads in the United States, of which 2.7 million miles (4.3 million kms) were paved and 1.4 million miles (2.3 million kms) were unpaved.

Using a simple A-to-F school report card format, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) provides a comprehensive assessment of the United States infrastructure in their Infrastructure Report Card prepared every four years. For the year 2021, highways are graded as D with over 40% of the system in poor or mediocre condition. If we look into ways to improve the grade of our highway system, it is key to target investments and allocate funding — and for this, it is important that routine, reliable data becomes the standard.

For this reason, and looking into road performance, it is important that decision-makers and engineers rely on accelerated pavement testing (APT) facilities to collect detailed performance data with the aid of different pavement sensors. Since APTs are considered large-scale, real-world laboratories, they allow us to conduct cutting-edge experimentation while avoiding the risk of failure on actual roadways.

Click Here to Read a Spanish Version of this Article

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TGEP 02: ASCE National President Dr. Kancheepuram N. Gunalan on the Future of Geotechnical Engineering

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Dr. Kancheepuram N. Gunalan

In this episode of The Geotechnical Engineering Podcast, we talk to Dr. Kancheepuram N. Gunalan (Guna), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2020 National President and Senior Vice President at AECOM about his career in the geotechnical field, his time as ASCE president, and why he thinks geotechnical engineering is critical to the future of the built world.

Engineering Quotes:


Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Dr. Kancheepuram N. Gunalan, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE in This Episode:

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TCEP 105: From Civil Engineering to Helping Civil Engineers in Texas Every Day

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Helping Civil Engineers

In episode 105 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I speak with Lindsay O’Leary, PE, LEED AP about her career path from a civil engineer to now working full-time as the Executive Director for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Texas Section where she is helping civil engineers to achieve success on a daily basis.

Engineering Quotes:

Helping Civil Engineers

Helping Civil Engineers

Here are some of the questions I ask Lindsay about how she went from being a civil engineer to helping civil engineers on a daily basis:

  • How did you go from being a civil engineer to Executive Director for the ASCE Texas Section?
  • Do you think you would be able to do this job successfully if you weren’t a civil engineer?
  • What are some of the challenges the organization is facing that you have to deal with?
  • What were you dealing during the Hurricane Harvey disaster?

Here are some key points discussed in this episode:

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From Civil Engineer to Manager – Anthony Fasano Featured on Recent ASCE Interchange Video

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Engineering Management Institute (EMI) President Anthony Fasano, P.E. was recently featured in an American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Interchange Video entitled From Civil Engineer to Manager.  ASCE Interchange is a multi-part series of educational videos on important issues in the engineering community produced by ASCE.

In each monthly 6- to 7-minute segment, Casey Dinges, ASCE’s senior managing director of public affairs, membership, and marketing, engages experts and other leading voices in interviews from the studios of LAI Video in Washington, DC.

Here is Fasano’s full October 2018 ASCE Interchange video…




In this video Fasano answers the following questions:

  1. Civil engineers at most firms, usually early in their careers, must decide whether they want to take the technical path or the management path. How does an engineer decide or know which way they should go?
  2. If the civil engineer has decided they want to take the management path, what are some ways the engineer can show their boss they are ready to manage?
  3. What skills do you think a civil engineer must have to be a manager? Of those, which three skill do you think are the most important?
  4. If they don’t have these skills, how can they develop these skills?
  5. What’s the difference between a manager and a leader?
  6. Are there any good books or podcasts you’d recommend that provide more insight into managing?

This is Fasano’s second ASCE Interchange Video.  His first, which published in January of 2016 here, covered recruiting and hiring trends in civil engineering and has had over 11,000 views to date.

About Engineering Management Institute, Inc. – Engineering Management Institute, Inc. is a coaching and training company based in Ridgewood, New Jersey.  Founded in 2009, Engineering Management Institute has inspired thousands of engineers through its various content channels which include written articles, podcasts and videos.  The company and its founder has been cited on many major media outlets including CNN, Mashable, and mostly recently Forbes.

 

TCEP 069: The Involvement of Civil Engineers in Legislation

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The Involvement of Civil Engineers in Legislation

Civil Engineers in Legislation

In episode 069 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk with Daniel Loscalzo, PE, LEED AP, a young civil engineer about the involvement of civil engineers in legislation.  Civil engineers in legislation is something we hear about much more often these days, which is a very good thing.

Here are some of the questions I ask:

  • What has been the historical role of civil engineers in legislation?
  • What programs are available to for civil engineers to stay in touch with politicians?
  • Are there other programs like ASCE’s key contact program that are representing engineers in political discussion?
  • Why is it so important to have discussions with politicians?
  • What are some things that you have learned from conversing with politicians?
  • What would your advice be for engineers who would like to become more involved in politics? Do you have to specifically be part of a specific party to make an impact on the political conversation?
  • Do you feel that there is an ethical element to engineers working in politics?

Engineering Quotes:

Civil Engineers in Legislation

Civil Engineers in Legislation

Here are some key points about the involvement of Civil Engineers in Legislation:

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