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Adobe seeks PDF for Engineering international standard
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February 13, 2007
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Adobe Systems, Inc., announced in late January that it intends to release the full Portable Document Format (PDF) 1.7 specification to AIIM, the Enterprise Content Management Association, for the purpose of publication by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). |
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DOT announces semi-finalists in Corridors of the Future program
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February 13, 2007
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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) advanced plans in early February to reduce traffic tie-ups on several of the nation’s busiest highways by releasing a short list of interstate corridors under the Corridors of the Future program. According to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters, the Corridors of the Future effort is a progressive approach that includes transportation planning across state lines in ways that reduce congestion and preserve the efficient flow of goods and commerce.
The DOT is advancing 14 of 38 proposals located on the following eight major transportation corridors: |
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Reasearch proposals sought for groundwater protection
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February 13, 2007
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The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) issued a request for proposals (RFP) for research that would provide biosolids managers and facility owners and operators with the information needed to protect groundwater resources in the vicinity of biosolids land application sites. |
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Dallas hosts high-performance concrete symposium
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February 13, 2007
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The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) is sponsoring the 2007 Concrete Technology Forum: Focus on High-Performance Concrete, scheduled for May 22-24, 2007, at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel. The forum will bring researchers and practitioners together to discuss the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools, and solutions for high-performance concrete. |
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Options offered for closing Mississippi River outl
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February 1, 2007
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers outlined three options for de-authorizing deep-draft navigation on the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico. |
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FHWA broadens pipe choices
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February 1, 2007
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A new regulation broadens the available types of culvert pipe that can be specified and used for drainage applications on federal-aid highway projects. |
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Land development conference heads to Orlando
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February 1, 2007
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The Land Development East Conference & Expo takes place April 11-12, 2007, at the Hilton Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. |
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Model legislation assists transportation projects
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February 1, 2007
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The U.S. Department of Transportation recently provided model legislation that would give states flexibility to contract with the private sector to invest in and manage transportation projects. |
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Public-private water partnerships expanding
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January 23, 2007
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American Water, the largest water services provider in North America, begins 2007 determined to form more public-private partnerships with municipalities and other government agencies. American Water President and CEO Donald Correll says the company intends to build on relationships it has already formed in cities such as Phoenix; Tampa Bay, Fla.; New York; Seattle; and Fillmore, Calif.
"Communities are looking for sustainable solutions for their water quality and capacity needs, infrastructure management, and wastewater treatment. We believe that offering this assistance will be extremely valuable in 2007 and the years ahead," says Correll. "One solution to today's water challenges lies in public-private partnerships that can implement total water management (TWM) programs. TWM takes into account social, environmental, and economic needs so that water resources can be managed in a balanced, sustainable manner."
Examples of American Water's public-private partnerships underway in 2007 include the following: |
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Sustainability awards and conference slated
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January 23, 2007
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The Holcim Foundation announced the launch of its second awards competition for sustainable construction projects and an international symposium, The Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction 2007, to be held in Shanghai, China, April 19-21, will focus on "Urban_Trans_Formation." It is expected to attract international experts in architecture, civil engineering, urban planning, and natural and social sciences, as well as representatives from business and government. The Holcim Awards recognize contributions to sustainable construction, irrespective of scale, in architecture, landscape and urban design, civil and mechanical engineering, and related disciplines. |
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Evaluating BMPs for highway runoff
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January 23, 2007
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A publication from the Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Report 565: Evaluation of Best Management Practices for Highway Runoff Control, examines best management practices (BMPs) that are designed to avoid or mitigate the negative impacts of pollutants that can be carried by stormwater into groundwater or receiving waters. Pollutants include materials discharged by vehicles using the highway system, pesticides and fertilizers from adjacent landscapes, and particulates from the breakdown of highway pavements.
Theoretical material documented in the report is accompanied by a CD-ROM containing the following additional volumes and a spreadsheet model: |
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Land development conference heads to Orlando
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January 23, 2007
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The Land Development East Conference & Expo, which offers land development professionals an opportunity to increase their knowledge of technical issues, trends, technologies, and business management takes place April 11-12, 2007, at the Hilton Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. Conference attendees participating in all sessions offered during the conference will be eligible for a maximum of approximately 11 credit hours. |
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Proposals sought for wastewater research
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January 23, 2007
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The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is accepting pre-proposals for the first phase of a multi-year research effort that will attempt to reduce solids management and wastewater treatment costs by at least 20 percent at U.S. facilities. WERF estimates the total cost for the five-year (2007-2011) research project will be $4 million; the group anticipates funding of approximately $400,000 for the initial phase. |
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Learn Civil 3D best practices
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January 23, 2007
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Avatech Solutions, Inc., is hosting 11, Autodesk Civil 3D styles and Autodesk Vault workshops across the country in January and February. Avatech experts will share best practices gained while implementing Autodesk Civil 3D at firms across the industry. Attendees will learn how Civil 3D styles help firms work smarter by understanding style hierarchies, how styles relate to objects, and how templates ensure drawings use styles for common elements. Participants will also learn how to create styles based on Autodesk Land Desktop standards, as well as from scratch, to define new standards for consistency and efficiency. |
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High achievers
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January 9, 2007
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ZweigWhite, publisher of Civil Connection, The Zweig Letter and CE News, recently honored 10 civil engineering firms for their achievement in balancing firm growth with employee satisfaction. The firms were all named on both The Zweig Letter Hot Firm 2006 List, which ranks the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms, and the CE News Best Civil Engineering Firms To Work For 2006 List.
The following firms received a Pinnacle Award at the Best Firm To Work For Summit last fall:
Atwell-Hicks
Cole & Associates, Inc.
GeoSyntec Consultants, Inc.
Hall & Foreman, Inc.
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services
Matrix Design Group, Inc.
Mid-Valley Engineering, Inc.
Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc.
Wood Rodgers, Inc.
Click here to download a free special report profiling each of the inaugural Pinnacle Award winners and how they reached the top.
For more information on The Zweig Letter Hot Firm competition, contact lrothman@zweigwhite.com . To learn more about the Best Civil Engineering Firm To Work For Contest, go to www.cenews.com/bestfirm .
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Options offered for closing Mississippi River outlet
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January 9, 2007
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In a Congressionally mandated interim report released in mid-December 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) outlined the following three options for de-authorizing deep-draft navigation on the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet (MRGO) from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico:
maintain a shallow-draft MRGO navigation channel, 12 feet deep by 125 feet wide;
close the MRGO to deep- and shallow-draft vessels by constructing an armored earthen dam across the channel near Hopedale, La.; or
cease all MRGO operations and maintenance activities and remove navigation aids such as buoys, lights, and offshore jetties.
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EPA library goes online
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January 9, 2007
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making its library materials available through a public website: www.epa.gov/natlibra/libraries.htm . Users can locate and retrieve materials through EPA’s online collection and reference services.
As of early December 2006, more than 22,000 of 51,000 EPA documents were available through the agency’s public website, and all EPA-unique documents will be online within two years. Documents from libraries within the network that no longer have physical space were expected to be online as of January 2007.
EPA documents remain available via interlibrary loans during the digitization process. Regional offices will continue providing library services through EPA’s library network. Materials that are not EPA unique remain available through the archive at EPA headquarters or through the interlibrary loan program. |
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The world's largest soil and water event
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January 9, 2007
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The International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) annual convention-Environmental Connection 2007 (EC07)-is expected to draw more than 2,300 civil engineers; stormwater, environmental, and land development professionals; government regulators and inspectors; product manufacturers; contractors; and others to Reno, Nev., for four days of technical training, sharing best practices, and networking. From streams and wetlands to home building and roadways, EC07 offers training courses and technical sessions presented by field-seasoned professionals, the latest products and services from more than 160 companies, and a field trip to observe real solutions to real problems.
EC07 offers a variety of formats to help attendees customize their education by mixing and matching sessions-technical papers, training workshops, forums, new product/computer symposiums, or poster presentations-all while earning credit toward becoming "IECA Trained," or receiving Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for professional certification. Full-day training courses are offered Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 12-13; shorter, topic-focused technical sessions are offered Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 14-15.
Download a special section highlighting EC07 courses and events of particular interest to civil engineers. Detailed descriptions and schedules of all training courses and technical sessions, registration information, and a schedule of other EC07 events are available online at www.ieca.org/conference/annual/aboutec.asp. |
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Specifying and designing with steel joists/joist girders
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January 9, 2007
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The Steel Joist Institute and the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations are sponsoring a full-day, six-part program on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007, to help engineers, architects, and other design professionals determine when steel joist construction is the best solution. Being held at the Westin Tampa Harbour Island, Tampa, Fla., the program includes designing with steel joists, specification of components, lateral load systems, special topics, and future developments. Participants can earn 0.75 CEUs or 7.5 PDHs. Register online at www.steeljoist.org. |
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Liability premiums are trending lower
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December 29, 2006
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ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Professional liability insurance premiums for engineers and architects are predicted to flatten out or even decrease during the next 12 months. |
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Solutions for an aging infrastructure
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December 29, 2006
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A National Infrastructure Solutions Summit, Feb. 28-March 1, 2007, in New Orleans, will focus on strategies to address an aging infrastructure. |
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Updated erosion control technical guidance manual available
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December 29, 2006
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ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) recently updated its guidance document for use by industry professionals. |
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Suit filed against Big Dig firms
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December 29, 2006
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BOSTON—The Massachusetts Attorney General announced plans to file a civil lawsuit against 15 companies directly involved in part of the Big Dig project. |
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GIS conference expands focus on civil engineering
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December 29, 2006
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REDLANDS, Calif.—Civil engineering will now be a central component of ESRI’s annual survey and GIS conference. |
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Water returns to California river
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December 29, 2006
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OWENS VALLEY, Calif.—On Dec. 6, 2006, officials released the first flow of water into the Lower Owens River since water was diverted from it nearly a century ago. |
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Virginia opens its first design-build roadway
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December 29, 2006
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PORTSMOUTH, Va.—In mid-December, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) opened the first design-build roadway project in the state. |
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Porous pavement wins sustainability award
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December 29, 2006
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PORTLAND, Ore.—The Port of Portland, Ore., won a sustainability award for 35 acres of porous asphalt installed at one of its auto-import facilities. |
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Rehabilitated dam receives awards
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December 29, 2006
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BALTIMORE—The Loch Raven Dam underwent a three-year rehabilitation to prepare for future storms and to meet new federal guidelines. |
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EPA creates watershed plan handbook
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December 29, 2006
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WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a Draft Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters. |
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Project News
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December 29, 2006
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Recent contract awards for wastewater and transportation design projects. |
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