On occasion, when people find out that I’m an engineer, they ask me philosophical questions: Why can’t engineers design tornado-resistant homes? Why do earthquakes always hit California? Do other countries have this many problems with potholes and falling bridges? Sometimes I like to run these questions by my senior "gurus" in engineering to hear what they think, in particular, regarding the undertone I think is behind these questions: Can engineers continue to improve the quality of everyday life in a practical manner and prevent disasters?

My opinion is a strong, "Yes, engineers will continue to strive to improve the life of society." The main challenge in this lofty aspiration, alas, is the good ol’ budget, or "practical" aspect.

I posed these questions to a distinguished engineer I had the pleasure of meeting last weekend, Andrzej Kijko, Ph.D., head of the Seismology Department at the Council for Geoscience in Pretoria, South Africa. He has an interesting perspective about the people he has dealt with while living in various countries away from his native Poland.

"The more I learn, the less I know about society and what drives people’s choices," he said. Puzzled, I asked him to explain. He stated that he had known many intelligent people who—sometimes because of a strange blend of limited knowledge, popular "rumors" (akin to e-messages sent around the Internet that convey partial truth), superstition, and general apathy—do not make sensible choices. Many nods went around the lunch table at this comment, almost as if all of us had bumped into this issue before.

As a technically oriented person, I research extensively to make the most informed decision about critical issues. So to me, it is mystifying to see that the public at large does not vote for or demand from their elected officials implementation of policies that will address re-building the Highway Trust Fund, or equivalent funding source, to prevent potholes, failing bridges, and other critical infrastructure from being compromised.

Therefore, my parting thoughts for this article are the following links and part of the strategies suggested from one of these links. Peruse these websites because the more people know about the issues and raise awareness in upcoming elections at the local, state, and national level, the less likely elected officials will continue to sidetrack (veto) these same issues.

1) Time to ask the infrastructure funding question by Richard G. Little, San Francisco Chronicle, March 5, 2008.

2) ASCE Strategy Management Documents: "Infrastructure" Strategic Issue (the motive to act)—Years of deferred infrastructure investment and maintenance, and the profession’s limited effectiveness in communicating with the public and public officials regarding infrastructure needs:

a) place public health, safety, and welfare at risk;
b) hinder the nation’s sustainable economic growth and competitiveness; and
c) adversely affect the public’s quality of life.

Desired outcomes (conditions that will exist when the issue is favorably resolved):

1. Civil engineers are effectively engaged and influencing public and private decision-making processes affecting the nation’s infrastructure.

2. Elected and appointed policymakers are well-informed concerning the capacity and condition of the nation’s infrastructure and the impact infrastructure has on public health, safety, welfare, and quality of life and on the economy.

3. Infrastructure policies will have been created and implemented at all levels of government that favorably impact infrastructure. The policies:

a) define funding requirements and strategies sufficient to ensure appropriate capacity and condition of the nation’s infrastructure systems;
b) promote innovation, sustainability, and security in infrastructure solutions; and
c) are effectively communicated to infrastructure policymakers and the public.

4. Total public and private funding for infrastructure will increase by 3 percent in constant dollars (after inflation) per year from 2009 through 2015.

5. ASCE’s Report Card will show an average of a one-third grade improvement by 2017 (i.e., C- to C, B- to B, et cetera).

California will likely be subjected to more earthquakes, but engineers will continue to do their best to mitigate the impact. We will also continue to do our best to design affordable, disaster-resistant homes—but make sure you’re informed about potential impacts from local climatic and natural hazards.

And last but not least, there is no such thing as an everlasting bridge, road, dam, or building! Infrastructure requires maintenance!


Cathy Bazán-Arias, Ph.D., P.E., is senior staff engineer for DiGioia, Gray & Associates, LLC, Monroeville, Pa.

E-mail comments in care ofbdrake@zweigwhite.com.