The SourceNovember 2020
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The Magazine of the American Society of Civil Engineers

November 2020

Feature

Sculptural NYC arts center facade designed to move

The Shed, New York City’s monumental new arts center, weighs roughly 8 million lbs yet easily rolls back and forth on enormous wheels and rails to turn a public plaza into a performance space.

Lessons learned in the Beirut blast

Experts compared established projections with the actual damage from the blast at the Port of Beirut. How well did the predictions do?

Efficiency, speed the hallmarks of Genoa bridge replacement

The Morandi Bridge was a vital transportation link in Genoa, Italy. When it collapsed, officials moved quickly. Its replacement, the Genoa-Saint George Bridge, has set new standards in efficiency.

The ASCE Report Card advocates for infrastructure

ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure and state assessments have had a lasting impact on the way politicians and policymakers address the nation’s critical infrastructure needs.
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Technology

Proposed ‘contagion’ model predicts roadway flooding in urban areas

Researchers at Texas A&M are repurposing a model that predicts the spread of viruses to forecast urban flood patterns in real time.

History Lesson

Getting the height right: The North American Vertical Datum of 1988

The success of the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 has set the stage for its replacement.

Fast Forward

Nomads of the future

Customizable, mobile intelligent micro-units are coming soon. Developed by a Slovakian company, the "cars" could transform where we live and work and how we get there.

A Question of Ethics

Commonalities in association ethical codes highlight competency, loyalty

Other professional associations’ codes of ethics mirror ASCE’s in many ways.

Civil Engineering News

S-shaped pedestrian bridge spans Ohio’s Scioto River

A serpentine pedestrian bridge in Ohio features cables that switch from one side of the deck to the other to help balance torsion.

Georgia treatment facility will use membranes to boost performance

A replacement water reclamation facility in Roswell, Georgia, will improve the environment, reduce odors, and ensure adequate capacity through 2050.

Sydney to get high-tech civic center

Discover how Sydney is working to regenerate its central business district with a new tech-focused precinct.

Presidential library will be nestled into nature

The Badlands, near Medora, North Dakota, are set to be the site of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

The Law

Who is responsible when a substituted product causes trouble?

A contractor decided not to use a brand-name product. The consequences were costly.

Policy Briefing

Federal election results spell a mixed message for infrastructure funding

The outlook for federal infrastructure funding remains unclear in the wake of a Joe Biden victory and the possibility of a divided Congress.

Next Step

Engage with empathy and jump on opportunities

Garit Poire, A.M.ASCE, rose to a business development role early in his career thanks to his ability to build good relationships and see things from others’ points of view.

Higher Learning

Introductory engineering course offers comprehensive foundation

Exploratory engineering course at Northern Essex Community College offers students an introduction to the field. Simulation software has been the key to this class's success.

President's Note

Feel the ASCE Wind

ASCE offers remarkable things, from Dream Big to Future World Vision, from networking to education. Join me in my virtual townhall meetings to hear more and express your thoughts.

Editor's Note

Introducing the Civil Engineering Source

Civil Engineering’s new digital magazine and exclusive web-only news articles are part of ASCE’s Civil Engineering Source, a comprehensive news and information website and newsletter designed for you.