Happy (belated) New Year!

I hope everyone had a good holiday season. I spent the past few weeks with family and friends, relaxing and recharging my batteries. It was also great to be back in a warmer climate watching a blizzard move through the US.


My mom and stepfather have successfully set up a vineyard winery, with products now available locally in central Texas. So congratulations to them for their hard work! We celebrated the holidays with their organically farmed, sustainably managed, zero-mile wine.


New Year's Day is also a chance to reflect on the past and contemplate the future. 2009 was a redeeming year for APOS, over 100 posts published and I was very proud of a few. Here's a list of my favorites from 2009:

1. Placemaking in Irvington
2. Greenwashing the Construction Industry
3. Iconic Structures (series)
4. Role of Structural Engineers in Sustainable Design
5. Gender Issues in Engineering
6. Icehouse Featured in Magazine
7. Successful Renovation of Local Schoolhouse
8. How Large is Downtown Indy?
9. All Infrastructure Users are Created Equal
10. Metastable Equilibrium

If I missed anyone else's favorite, they are all listed in the Archives!

Looking to the future, I anticipate another year full of personal and professional growth. I have found the website to be a great hobby. I love bringing together my interests in the community with my interests in engineering. Blogging = awesomeness defined. I'm even going to kick it up a notch, as my wife bought me a new camera. 10MP of photographic power in a pocket-friendly plastic form.

Closed for the Holidays

If anyone wants to know why I have been writing less the past month, it is because the economy has begun recovery in my area and work is coming in strong and steady. I also participated in the Greening of the IMU project (writeup to come soon) and I have been involved with the latest efforts from the ASCE/EWRI Rain Garden project (writeup also to come soon).

IMU is pursuing LEED EB (image courtesy of Indiana Univ.)

Green Infrastructure for everyone!

I will be away from the computer most of the holidays, so wanted to wish everyone a good break and I will be writing again in about two weeks.

In the meantime, I will leave everyone with some fun websites to visit:
(Gen)erative scapes
Prepare to have your mind blown

Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air
Absolutely the best white paper/book/opinion ever produced on cutting through to the essential quandaries of providing sustainable energy for an entire country. If you do anything related to sustainability this winter, please start by reading this in its entirety. (Download full PDF here)

Building Green, Being Green
A structural engineer describing sustainable design from her own experiences

Bad British Architecture
Name says it all

Design Intelligence
Blog from the DI publishers

Reclaimagination
An inactive blog, but one from a civil engineer with great photos of a senior design project at CMU (created about 5 years after my own class' project at CMU, a writeup on this topic also coming soon)

Green Building Law Blog
"Pre-Consumer, Non-Recycled Content Regarding Green Building and the Law" - I've said it before and I'll say it again: The LEED certification process has torn down the walls that separate professionals and it has already changed the world. This blog about green building from a lawyer's perspective is evidence of the LEED legacy that will be remembered for many years to come.

Advice for Young Engineers Looking for Work

It's a tough economy out there. Graduate engineers are in a better position than most people when looking for a job, but getting that first job is a hard task for anyone right now. But, even with all of the problems facing young engineers right now, they still have some options if they can't find their ideal position.

There are a few employers of graduate engineers that are always hiring, including:

• Work for a related industry or employer
• Graduate School
• Military Service
• Development and charitable organizations
• Go live at home and help the family
  

Other Work
The first option makes an explicit assumption that not everyone will get their #1 choice for a job. This is not really a problem, though. There are still plenty of jobs available in the market, but some graduates will have to expand their concept of engineering.

Many firms that do not receive national press, have poor presence on the internet, and do not recruit at schools actually do very important engineering work. They are more difficult to find, but they can provide a new graduate with their important first job.

Another strategy is to apply for jobs in a related industry or employer. There are many companies that make products, components, or sell services directly to engineering firms. These companies prefer hiring engineers because they understand clients better. Just remember, becoming an engineer is a long process and engineering experience can come in many different forms in the first few years of employment.

Graduate School
Personally, I graduated during a recessionary period after the Dot.Com market fiasco. This was also a time when fewer entry positions were open. I was totally unprepared for this event and didn't even know what part of the country I wanted to live in after graduation, and I certainly didn't know where to apply for jobs.

Eventually I decided that graduate school was a good option for me. This decision must me made early in the final year of school, or else it is unlikely that all of the paperwork and testing can be completed on time. Graduate fellowship positions are extremely competitive when the job market is at a low, but sometimes it is worth the additional debt to continue classes anyways. The tuition costs can be paid off later with a stronger resume and a better job.

Military Service
Military service is also an option. I know several friends and classmates who chose to join the military after graduation instead of looking for a job. It's a hard decision for anyone to make because of the risks and consequences, but engineers can be a valuable asset in the military.

Experience in the military is a great way for graduate engineers to differentiate themselves when applying for a job. Here in the US, most employers are cognizant that honorably discharged soldiers make some of the best employees and get great training from Uncle Sam. On the other hand, military service is incredibly hard even during times of peace, so the decision should not be made lightly.

Development Organizations
Another option beyond military service is finding a position with peacemaking and development organizations. The Peace Corp, Americorp, Teach America, and similar programs can provide a great way to give back to the global community with engineering skills. These programs also carry risk and consequences, so they must be carefully considered before any decision is made.

Moving Back Home
One final option for many graduates is to return home and live with their family. This is a very common action in times of economic hardship. Single family homes typically have an elastic capacity to absorb grown children, pets, married couples and their children. All of the empty apartments, rental houses, and foreclosed homes are good evidence of this happening. The last time this happened on such a large scale was the Great Depression, which forced many families back together.

Moving back home was also part of my strategy for graduate school. I was fortunate enough to grow up down the road from a state engineering school that accepted me for grad school. Not everyone will fit into that circumstance, but many people have families, relatives, or close family friends near engineering colleges.

Most people are often more than willing to have a long-term guest in their house to help out friends and family. The lower costs can make a big difference, as my stipend would have put me well below the poverty line but my free rent gave me the opportunity to eat things other than Ramen.

The Big Picture
Whatever choices graduate engineers make, there are a few key points to remember. The first is that most graduates should find jobs that will support their application to become a Professional Engineer (PE). This means that the job should be managed by an already licensed PE or should be academic in nature. The NCEES licensure page has additional information. Graduate engineers should *never* assume that their job is applicable unless specifically noted.

Also, the first few years after graduation are a time of continuing education. Indeed, this is true for the entire career of most engineers. Engineers must make every attempt to continue learning, studying, and asking questions. As noted in the beginning, not every engineer will find their #1 job waiting for them upon graduation. This is not the time to despair and abandon one's goals. Instead, work hard to develop into the type of engineer that will qualify for one's ideal job.

Whatever the future may bring, graduate engineers must take the initiative to learn from coworkers, stay active in the community, join professional groups, read books, play softball and sports whenever possible, and maybe even tackle some collaborative design challenges with other engineers and architects.

A Place of Sense Update

As an engineer, I have many designs and activities always calling for my attention. It's kind of like children, except I am allowed to love some more than others.

I am facing a project due at the end of the week (and probably extend for another week) so I won't be posting much. In the meantime, please enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and know there will be some fun and interesting posts at the beginning of November.

Also, go check out my new archive of posts.

Engineering Humor: Having Fun with Architects

A great website "Notes on Becoming A Famous Architect" has brought us a fun, historic entry from the Princeton School of Architecture.

Notes on Becoming a Famous Architect

The Thin Line Between Engineering and Health-Care Reform

I support health care reform. Not only because I have seen the criminal, demoralizing behavior of the health care insurance industry when I almost cut my arm off (surgery was classified as "elective" so they could deny my claim), but I have also noticed how it forces some employees to remain in their jobs as underpaid and ineffective zombies. Health care in the US is modern day indentured service. If only the health care were worth it, I might understand.

There are many who bristle at the concept of government intervention, but policies regarding building safety have been very effective. Without government intervention, engineers would not have a job and the public safety would be constantly at risk. Paul Krugman (not at fringe of debate, he won the Nobel Prize and writes for NYT) says markets can't work this problem out by themselves. Just as with building safety, policy that has the interests of the public safety as priority will be the best solution. Krugman's conclusion when comparing the existing system in place in the US vs other countries is

There are, however, no examples of successful health care based on the principles of the free market, for one simple reason: in health care, the free market just doesn’t work. And people who say that the market is the answer are flying in the face of both theory and overwhelming evidence.

Civil engineers are appropriately lauded for their efforts that have made modern society the healthy, enjoyable world that it is. However, our ethical obligations to preserve life safety don't stop at the built environment. We have a duty, just as with medical doctors, to continue fighting for the public welfare throughout the world.

A recent Structure magazine editorial focused on what structural engineers do. Barry Arnold answers the ultimate engineering question in his article What Do You Do for a Living?

It is time that we quit seeing ourselves as merely designing beams and columns, and start recognizing and proclaiming that we save lives for a living.

I agree. I also think his argument extends beyond the engineering field into society in general. We, as engineers, do have an ethical obligation to support progressive issues that can affect the public welfare. I think all engineers should support health care reform. Not only for the reforms under consideration but for universal coverage. People in the US should be given the opportunity to access our health care system regardless of who they are or how much they earn.

I have never read in the building codes that we can lower our safety factor when designing an apartment that houses lower income populations. Or that immigrants should live in buildings without a lateral load resisting system. Life safety, public welfare. These are not optional in the construction industry. Why is health care different?

POST 101!

This website has reached a milestone, as this is my 101st published post.

I am hoping to hear from my readers, so I'll be leaving this post up for a week to give all a chance to comment. Stay tuned for more pictures from the neighborhood, updates on the icehouse renovation, iconic structures, controversial Friday posts, and the start of football season. That last part has nothing to do with this website, but just wanted to remind everyone that the Steelers are kicking off the season on Thursday!

Let me know if this website has been any of the following:

• interesting
  
• useful
  
• provocative
  
• inspirational
  
• waste of time
  

Alternatively, I am also encouraging anyone who maintains their own blog or website to let us know who they are and where to find them. Communication is a two-way street, I am ready to listen.

Advantages of Suburbia

Because the US needs to abandon sprawl and invest in its cities in order to have a sustainable future, I try to encourage people to move into existing denser neighborhoods. Needless to say, when you start off every conversation with "have you thought about moving downtown" you get to hear a lot of excuses.

While the historic drivers of surburbanization have mostly been replaced with new concerns, many of the residents' complaints are still valid. White flight, that odd concept of leaving a city because of minority residents, doesn't seem to be too relevant. Some people, however, seem to be uncomfortable in neighborhoods where people are out walking on the street. The sight of citizens walking along the sidewalk seems to be enough to scare them away. It just seems too different, too alien. In general though, people focus on the more mundane concerns such as school districts, crime, taxes, and real estate prices.

Suburbs often have an advantage on these issues, but it is an unfair advantage. The urban core hosts many of the necessities required to attract and support a large, working population. Arts, events, sports teams, welfare services, indigent care, and many other aspects of city life still reside in the city. Suburbanites contribute a certain amount of talent and productivity to cities, but much of the tax base continues to decline in US cities. As cities struggle to balance their own budgets, essential city services are cut and the region becomes less attractive for everyone.

It is imperative that cities find out how to both improve services and lower costs if they want to continue to exist. American cities must be resurrected, it is the only way to modernize our economy and prepare for the high energy costs of the future. It falls to us city-dwellers to figure out how to make cities attractive once more.

I think the first topic that any city should address is their school system. In many cases, our urban schools have failed. Even the schools that have brilliant teachers and motivated students are associated with a system that has lost favor in the public eye. Improvements must be system wide or they will not be relevant.

Schools are important because parents want to invest in their children. Parents will change jobs, move across the globe, even sacrifice their own welfare just to give their children an educational advantage. City leaders who neglect their school systems are doomed to see their tax base disappear.

I have no silver bullet solution for this problem. However, I don't think business-as-usual attitudes will suffice. Strong leadership must come from somewhere, and soon. The public school system, including each individual piece of it, must be held accountable to high performance standards. The charter schools, operating independently of the conventional school system, are a good start but don't serve enough of the population.

The other issues that give suburbs an advantage are:

• taxes
• housing costs
• crime

These issues are important, but even if you have low taxes / responsible spending, incredibly low housing costs, and low crime rates, you won't be appealing to the parents who are choosing suburbia. Indianapolis meets these criteria, but has not made progress in attracting residents to the urban core. People are still moving to the suburbs in large numbers.

The cities always roll out the same marketing campaigns to address this issue. The historic homes, the diversity of urban areas, the walkability of urban neighborhoods, the vibrance of the urban core are highlighted. In the end, Indianapolis does manage to attract the young urban types, but only for a few years as they usually start families and move outwards to the suburbs. So, if there is any confusion about the issue allow me to clear it up: people prefer living in older, well-built historic homes with walkable neighborhoods. They tell me all the time. But that isn't the important issue. Safety and education of the family will always trump other concerns.

People typically don't understand how to determine if a school system is good or how much crime a certain area has. But they are generally smart enough to spot patterns. Urbanists often criticize suburbs for their homogeneity, but in some ways this is a huge advantage for suburbs. Parents can trust that the local suburban school system will be just as good as the one in the next jurisdiction over, and that the crime levels will be similar too. The commoditized style of living assures parents they are making a safe decision if they locate their family in the suburbs.

We need better schools in our cities. For all, not just some. We know how to achieve this, but nobody has been willing to step up to the plate and fix the entrenched bureaucracy and unions. We also need to learn from the suburbs and provide something easy to understand. The patterns must be easily recognizable. Remove the key advantage that suburbs have. Fix the school system and automatically cities can fix the tax base issue. Once they restore the tax base, cities have a lot more options about fixing the other problems.

Structural Engineering Childrens' Book

No, this isn't one of my strange ideas, it actually exists. R. Buckminster Fuller and a photographer collaborated on a book that, to my knowledge, is the only extant children's book (amazon) written from a structural engineer's point of view.


It is an interesting book, if not short and unfocused in its selection of quotes. I selected my favorite for the scan above "If you want to do something good for a child... give him an environment where he can touch things as much as he wants." I am not quite sure if this is something I will actually read to children or if it is something I read to remind myself that I was once a child.


R. Buckminster Fuller left a deep legacy, and definitely opened options for architects and structural engineers. The USPS issued a stamp for him in 2004 commemorating his contributions to society.

American Dirt: Observations of Contemporary Landscapes

A new blog website has started here in Indianapolis, so I wanted to share the link.

AmericanDirt
Hometown: Indianapolis, United States
This blog concerns itself with the foundation of American dirt, regardless of where I claim to “live” at that moment. It is the playing field and landscape upon which all living participants tend to their own aspirations, leaving non-indigenous built forms which my aging digital camera hopes to capture.

For starters, I recommend the excellent post concerning the autocentricity of signage in downtown Indianapolis.

Keeping an Engineer's Journal

One of the key things I learned in architecture school (in a former life) was to keep a journal with thoughts, ideas, and neat things you find walking around. You never know when inspiration will strike, so having a safe place to collect these flashes of insight is incredibly important.

The journal started in grad school is now retired

I have kept writing the journal, although it became an engineering journal when I switched majors. At that point, it became much more textual rather than visual, but I am a literal person so that made things easier. Now that I am retiring a journal and moving to a fresh clean one, a process that only happens once every few years, I wanted to share my thoughts about journal-keeping.

No editing allowed until the ideas are written down

Over the years I have accumulated plenty of things to write in my journal. Putting it down on paper helps to lock the concept into my brain, usually to the point where I never needed to consult the written words again. But it is essential to write it down, because if I ever lose the idea I can always go back to refresh my memory.

The new journal, a nice leather bound gift from the wife

Many of the ideas presented on this website were once just a line or two written in my journal. A high percentage of the ideas are abandoned because they can't all be winners. Essentially I agree with the quote "If you want to have a good idea, get lots of ideas".

Tabula Rasa

There is a level of self-editing that needs to be done, and the journal plays a key role. There is absolutely no editing in the journal, everything can be written down. Bad ideas are given just as much attention as prima facie brilliant ones. Preparing the thoughts to be presented on the website requires a much more significant effort, so in the end you only choose the topics that can be presented effectively and are actually interesting.

Architects are basically required to keep a journal in school. However, it doesn't even get a mention in engineering curriculums. It should. As an engineer, one's most important resource is creativity. Don't risk losing all those great ideas!

All About Stairs

For anyone not familiar with this website, please visit now and stay all day.

Stair Porn

And don't worry, it's just stairs...

How to Link to Me

I don't pretend to know why Blogger is configured the way it is, but here are some tips I have discovered.

* To link to one of my articles, click the time-stamp on the bottom to get the actual post URL.

* I reserve all rights to the original materials posted on this website. However, I have no problems giving special permission to use select material, so just let me know if you are interested. Fair use doctrine is applicable in the US if you wish to sample my work.

* Comments will be removed under the following conditions (as judged by the blog author):

1. Ad Hominem attack against another person
2. Comments about people who are not Public Figures
   
3. Any comments on appearance of a person, their background or politics, or anything unrelated to professional activity
   
4. Selling products; this blog is not intended to be a commercial venture

* Comments are posted before the entire world, but sometimes a private communication may be desired. Email me if you have questions/comments/suggestions. Address is listed on personal information.

*Feel free to sign up for RSS for automatic notification of blog entries: Subscribe via Atom

A Quick Trip to New York City

On a weekend in the middle of June, I was scheduled to attend a friend's wedding on Long Island. I decided this would be an excellent opportunity for a short trip to NYC. My sister works at an architectural firm in Manhattan, so I had a place to stay and a good guide to the city.

My initial reaction upon arrival was one of joy, as our plane was delayed until late in the night and my sister greeted me and my wife at the door with New York style pizza and a place to sleep. Thus began a great journey to the cosmopolitan mecca of the US.

The ubiquitous brownstone front entry is a fixture of New York residential areas

Manhattan is made of wide avenues and narrow streets, historic masonry and steel skycrapers

My observations focused on the built environment, whereas my wife was much more interested in social studies. This is where New York excels, I was able to photograph and study buildings, infrastructure, transportation options, etc. while we walked to and from different neighborhoods shopping for trendy clothes and exploring exotic dining options.

The avenues facilitate transportation

I can say this about the transportation system of NYC: it works. On our trip, it worked beautifully. We did not need to rent a car, we were able to find public transportation to all of our destinations (even on our excursion to the middle of nowhere in Long Island). Walking within Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens was easy and accommodated by the street layouts. Just don't expect to go anywhere slowly, you'll get pushed into the gutter by the kind but delightfully no-nonsense commuters.

An approaching subway train

Interestingly, the transportation system was also my biggest complaint. There were two many cars and not enough pedestrian right-of-ways. Barring Columbus Circle (which was probably my favorite place of the city) and Central Park, there was not many places where cars did not rule the road. Broadway / Times Square was recently pedestrianized (and see NY Post article also) but it's too soon to tell if this will be a sign of things to come or just a one-off event. Of course, this is what got me thinking about cars as a public transportation option. According to the sources I have read, NYC is trying to phase out parking spaces, excess width on roadways, and generally reverting to a pedestrian oriented city. I think they are making some good steps, but a place like NYC really needs to create extraordinary spaces of a similar quality to Columbus Circle (see ASLA 2006 Awards) in order to stand out. I did not have a chance to see the High Line (also see Friends of the High Line), but it's first on my list when I return.

The Columbus Circle as seen from Time Warner building

The splashing water provides white noise to block out sounds of traffic

The circle offers an area of refuge and an urban collector for pedestrian traffic between the park and the city

Central Park has a huge amount of development along each side

And seriously, the loss of Penn Station is acutely felt by the city. I traveled through the station the same day that the Infrastructurist published his post on station demolition (and follow-up). The new structure is entirely unsatisfactory. I'm glad that people are still incensed by the demolition. Some idiotic New Yorker left his legacy of demolition on the city, that's for sure. The best summary is the quote from Vincent Scully comparing the experience of the old station to the new: “One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat.”

The original Penn Station and its position in the city

Interior of Penn Station

The new Penn Station is underground, served only by street access

The new station interior is an overcrowded, depressing affair

On the other hand, Grand Central Station was nice. I was impressed by the structure and its continued use. Of course, the streets surrounded the station more than any other made you feel the oppressive impact that the wide streets and fast cars were having on the city. Another great opportunity for pedestrian-only space, IMHO.

Grand Central Station exterior

The nearby traffic structures and second-class pedestrian access to Grand Central Station make the experience unimpressive

We had horrible weather, set a record for rain received on the day we were there. I would not want to be swimming in the Hudson later that weekend (one of my sister's friends was preparing for a charity triathlon, yikes!). Obviously the CSO system is something that NYC must work on. And they are. But it's not as easy as just adding an independent pipe system, the amount of sub-surface utilities in that place is unbelievable. Basically there is no room for more right-of-ways. They have a legacy system of CSO's and they are going to have to be very creative in their solutions.

The structures of New York City are certainly world famous. I spent a lot of time with a craned neck looking up into the clouds at the tops of skyscrapers.

The Empire State Building with its spire finally peaking through the rain clouds

The best structure in NYC, the Chrysler Building

The GM / RCA building of the Rockefeller Center

The skyscrapers didn't impress me too much. Like every tall building I know, you have to be far away to appreciate them. Or at least that was my thoughts until I saw the new Hearst Tower. I really loved this building. If you get a chance, walk inside and check out the lobby. The security guards can actually tell you some interesting facts, don't be afraid to ask.

The unique diagrid structural system catches attention from every angle

The base of the tower, originally built to support a great tower (it took 80 years)

The important thing about the Hearst Tower is that is a great example of how modern architecture can still impress in a way that is so different but equally perfect to the old skyscrapers. The first LEED certified tall building in the city, and it kept the historic facade of the old structure. Perfection - architecturally, structurally, and socially.

random picture #1: when one awning just isn't enough (east side of Central park)

random picture #2: cast iron columns with built-in beam seats on the capital (Brooklyn Industries clothing store)

Our journey to Brooklyn was prompted by a quest for corn. As I'm currently living in a city surrounded by corn on every side (Indianapolis), I was skeptical that the corn would be worth it. I was wrong, it was fabulous. And the restaurant, Havana Outpost, is worth a stop on anyone's journey. Catfish burritos, nothing more to say. This little place has a small enclosed seating area with local beers on tap, but their outdoor areas are a showcase of doing things the right way. Solar electric panels, rain water collection (used for watering an urban garden and water for the bathrooms), and human-powered cocktail mixers make this place an absolute success.

The Havana Outpost lamp and nearby solar panel

The exterior dining area - note the solar panels on the left, water collection system in the center, and the stationary truck where all the food is prepared

you can prepare a frozen cocktail on the human powered blender (too much rain on our visit, bike was put away for safe-keeping)

a bona fide rain water collection system proves that environmental solutions don't have to be expensive or fancy, just effective

Update: Greenwashing the Construction Industry

In a relevant update to my previous post on greenwashing, Scot Case, of the environmental consulting firm TerraChoice goes before the US Congress and says consumers are being deliberately lied to by corporations claiming environmental benefits to their products. In the article US shoppers misled by greenwash, the study finds that 98% of products claiming green-ness are false or misleading.

This is a great chance for the US federal government to set policies establishing fair market procedures for green products. People want to do the right thing, but they need help.

For those of us in the construction industry, this should serve as a warning. How much can you trust the claims of products available in the market? Third-party objectively verified results are the only way you will know for sure. Thus, LEED certification, Forest Stewardship Council, and similar programs will become the standard for green buildings. Nothing else will be relevant in the long run.

Also, I am happy to report that my greenwashing post was published in the April edition of Modern Steel Construction magazine, see the "Topping Out" section. This post apparently struck a chord with some people, and it was an honor to be selected.

US Men's Soccer Team

The US Men's Soccer Team chalked up their biggest win in recent history by defeating the No. 1 world ranked Spanish team (Espana). Thus, they are now playing in their first FIFA tournament championship game. The final game will be against Brazil on Sunday at 2PM ET.

This is my advice, go ahead and jump on the bandwagon. You'll never get a better opportunity to display obnoxious support for the "American" team. I've attached photos from the last two world cup qualifying matches I attended as a Friday morning present for everyone (I'm the tall guy).

US 2 - 0 Mexico
February 2009 @ Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH

US 2 - 1 Honduras
June 2009 @ Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

A US fan, same game

Radioactive Wasp Nests in Washington

Insert Spider-Man joke here...

Sting planned on radioactive wasp nests at Hanford

Unintended Break from Posting

Please excuse my absence of recent posts, I have been so busy with life in the real world that I have not had time for life in the virtual one. Mostly maintenance on our office building helping to prepare it for a commercial tenant, but also mundane activities like cleaning gutters and clearing out trash. I've had a lot of irons in the fire, but now everything is falling into place perfectly so I'm just running around trying to manage things.

On a side note, I'm heading to Chicago this weekend for the US Men's Soccer qualifying match vs Honduras. Lot of tickets sold, looks like they are even expanding seating options. It's supposed to be televised on ESPN2, so be sure to check it out.

Also, they are playing tonight at Costa Rica (also televised), so two games in one week on TV. Sweet...

2 good weeks

I've been quite busy since my last post. In fact, I found time to:

• build a patio
• repair some leaking pipes
• pull out the motorcycle
  
• general house maintenance

It's been great with the perfect weather we've been having. No complaints whatsoever.

I did come across a new blog about bridge building in the UK. Thought it was good stuff, wanted to share it with everyone. It's also added to my sidebar. I strongly recommend everyone view the insightful posts about criticism in the engineering field.

A BLDG BLOG

Since I've been writing this blog now for about 1 year or so, I figured it was a good time to reflect. My first entry "structural engineering weblog manifesto" was the first step on my new adventure. While my scope of topics has grown somewhat as time passed, I am comfortable with the inclusive nature of the website.

My purpose in writing this blog was to show that structural engineers should be actively involved in the process of design. Engineering is not just another trade involved in construction. Engineers must be intimately involved from day one for optimal results. Strong communication skills and a synergistic relationship with the design team is the only way a project can move from adequate to sublime. Buildings that inspire, that push the boundaries of technology, or that serve as an icon for a community need more than just the best architects, they need the best engineers as well.

I have also learned to appreciate my role as a blogger. The typical stereotype of an engineer is someone who shuns public attention and concentrates on technical subjects even when humanistic problems are to blame. I am no different. It is a horribly frightening experience to put one's opinions on the internet and start discussions about sensitive topics. Even when someone tells me that they enjoyed a post or article it feels wrong. But I know it is absolutely necessary that we speak up for ourselves as individuals. Instead of shunning public attention, I have instead shunned anonymity. Since my profession is one of accountability, I feel it would be unethical to anonymously voice my opinions.

Our professional organizations do a great job speaking for our profession, but that is only one side of life. I encourage engineers (and indeed anyone who has something to say) to start a website. Maybe join up with a few like-minded individuals, either as a student group at an engineering school, or fans of architecture within a city. If that is still too far for the first step, then start small with a journal or notebook where you write down ideas for later use.

Engineers have the ability to change the built environment so that public welfare is dramatically improved. Civil engineers are the builders of civilizations. But we are also a part of that civilization. We need to show our social awareness in addition to our technical skills.

Global Warming Potential

In the past decade, scientists have presented solid proof that:

1. The Earth, on average, is warming
2. Humans are responsible
3. Disastrous consequences will occur unless we change our habits

These points are in agreement with the IPCC, the US EPA, and the majority of environmental scientists. However, it is a person's right to decide for themselves, so please encourage others to review the scientific findings and reports and then come to a conclusion. Anyone who remains a "global warming skeptic" should be made aware that they aren't necessarily wrong, but they are very unlikely to be correct.

The US must base its climate change policy on what is probable, not on fringe science or unproven technology. Global warming is not a risk for the planet, it is a risk to us. Rapid climate change could destroy cities and habitable land, result in massive extinctions that could unravel the ecological food chains we depend on, and cause great conflict over dwindling fresh water supplies.

This means we must cut greenhouse gas emissions sharply by 2030 if not earlier, and probably go carbon neutral by 2050 if not earlier. An example of good policy would be to follow the recommendations presented in an article in the latest issue of Nature (BBC discussion here). Eliminating coal-fired power plants is one of the most important ways to meet our goals. The total greenhouse gas content of the atmosphere in PPM is the number we need to focus on.

However, much of the discussion in the political sphere seems to completely reject current scientific understanding, and instead argue for more coal and cheaper energy. Bad idea. I am not interested in slinging mud on any of the political ideologies out there, I just wanted to go on the record as saying any policies out of this group would probably do a lot of harm. Politically, economically, and environmentally disastrous.

Last month, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) announced the creation of the House GOP American Energy Solutions Group, meant to "work on crafting Republican solutions to lower energy prices for American families and small businesses." Helping lead the way toward finding those solutions? Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN).

Here are some interesting quotes pulled from Rep. Bachmann's public statements concerning greenhouse gas emissions:

"[T]here isn’t even one study that can be produced that shows carbon dioxide is a harmful gas. There isn’t one such study because carbon dioxide is not a harmful gas, it is a harmless gas. Carbon dioxide is natural. It is not harmful. It is part of Earth’s life cycle." [4/22/09]

"And the science indicates that human activity is not the cause of all this global warming. And that in fact, nature is the cause, with solar flares, etc." [3/22/09]

"The big thing we are working on now is the global warming hoax. It’s all voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax." [3/15/08]

"I don't think it has been established as a fact that global warming is the issue of the day. One thing we need to do is look at the science." [10/10/06]

LEED Humour

Archinect proposes new LEED certification level:

LEED has unveiled a new level of certification, Protactinium.

In order to qualify for the standard, building designers must commit to a lifetime of celibacy and staff the building exclusively with doe-eyed orphans from third world countries. The building must be a net CO2 sink, producing more oxygen than it consumes. Any bamboo used in construction must be certified panda-free. In the event that straw bale construction is used, the straw must be free-range, sustainably harvested straw.

The building must also levitate above the ground to preserve the site for future use. Only free-range, sustainably harvested electromagnets may be used to levitate the building. The electromagnets should also give back 10% of their energy to levitate doe-eyed orphans in third world countries.

Skyscrapers topping out early, some just tapping out

Here's a heartwarming story about a construction defect that was discovered halfway through completion. Reinforcing for the concrete columns wasn't installed correctly (don't know exactly what that means, but could be pretty expensive to fix). The novel solution: just stop building...



But, in these times of economic woe, it seems like everyone is scaling back their plans. Not just the unlucky builders who hire incompetent contractors. Even the famous Chicago Spire is now just a smoking hole in the ground. The fun thing is that so many of these "super-tall structures" or "towers of babel" are associated with equally large egos. Schadenfreude to the max.

A Wintry Celebration

I just wanted to share on this post some of the accomplishments I am proud of for 2008.

1. Today is my wedding anniversary! Hopefully our adventures will continue to be as blessed and thrilling as the past 4 years.
   
2. I have officially passed the NCEES Structural II examination! This is a difficult 8 hour written examination where you must prove knowledge of a wide range of structural engineering topics. It's basically the final step in meeting the NCEES Model Law Structural Engineer designation, which makes it much easier to gain licensure in many states.
   
3. I gained a better appreciation for the artistic side of construction by submitting an entry to a competition. I'm going to keep doing fun things like this, I'll let you know if I'm more successful in the future.
   
4. We made a small amount of progress on the icehouse. Not as much as we hoped for, but in reality we did not even know what we wanted. Fortunately the slow pace allowed us to live in the structure and gain a better idea of our needs.

Now what shall we do for 2009? Here a short list of my goals for the year:

1. Substantial completion on rooms for the icehouse.
   
2. Pass the LEED Accredited Professional examination. This should be my last test, I swear it!
   
3. Make sure my wife has a space she feels safe, comfortable, and happy in.
   
4. Maintain a balanced budget.
   

Thanks for everyone who stopped by in 2008, I appreciated all of your comments and support!

RCA Dome Implosion

The RCA dome (or Hoosier Dome) was imploded Saturday, December 20 at around 9:30 in the morning. I was lucky enough to be slightly involved with the project, making observations on the buildings that were supposed to remain standing. So I got up Saturday morning like a kid ready for Christmas. I always like the RCA dome, it was a pretty brilliant structure. But you can't stand in the way of progress, and the Lucas Oil Stadium is certainly as good if not better.


Anyways, one of the guys I work with got VIP tix for working with the demo contractor. Score! You see the price on that ticket? That's probably my favorite part.


These guys tear things down for a living and they have a sense of humor about it. The day before the implosion I got to explore the sight making sure everything was cool, there was only one instruction "don't step on the yellow wires." I was kind enough to oblige them. The stadium was oddly quiet and strange, almost post-apocalyptic.


We arrived early on Saturday morning for the implosion, we had a good view of the implosion next to the new Lucas Oil Stadium. I thought it was a fitting location to watch the show. Ring in the new by tearing down the old. A good topic for a New Year's Eve posting.

And finally, a video of the implosion as it happened. I recommend turning up the volume (and especially the bass) to get the full feeling. Goodbye Hoosier Dome.

Note: it's a large AVI file (300+MB) but high quality and complete from beginning of charges to after the dust clears, will take a long time to download

Back in the Blog Saddle

I apologize to all for not posting more often. I'll summarize what's been going on the past few months:

1. Major elections - I wasn't involved in any campaigning, but I was addicted to CNN. At one point I was even watching Larry King Live reruns at 2 in the morning. I'm in treatment now, I probably will even be able to skip a few episodes of The Colbert Report this month...
   
2. Financial Crisis - our renovation funding was in an account that was frozen due to a run on the bank, it was a scary situation and shifted the focus of our efforts for a few weeks
   
3. Structural PE II Exam - this 4 question, 8 hour exam required a lot of studying
   
4. Depression - life has its ups and downs, just like any good thrill ride
   
5. My Job - I was able to convince my office that green design and engineering is important; then I had to back it up with actions (currently studying for my LEED AP exam, blech)
6. Drawing Board - Back to it... The design committee (me and wife) decided that we should re-prioritize our design for the icehouse; now it's much better
   

Basically, I had a few internal struggles and then the largest sea change in financial markets this century decided to upend my little renovation project. Then the out-of-left-field mind-fuck that was the Republican VP candidate arrived. I'm sorry (I promised myself I would never discuss politics on this blog) but as an engineer who believes strongly in human intellectual capacity (i.e. logic) and the scientific method (i.e. logic and experience) it was much more scary to hear her speak than to watch the stock market falling. Okay, I'm done with politics now. Back to structural engineering.

I'm an optimistic person, for sure. Thankfully, I live in a country where I have the ability to control my own life. This gives me hope that we can solve all our problems, engineering and otherwise. The uncertainty we currently face is actually an opportunity. It is an opportunity to remember what faith is, to trust each other, and to follow through on the promises that bind us together as families, communities, and amorphous political constructs.

Our best course of action is now to reverse the course that the construction industry has been tracking for almost 100 years. We must remember that our structures are a part of this world - but only for a limited time, even the pyramids must fall. We must remove our ego from the design process and commit ourselves to building a sustainable built environment that will serve the needs of our clients and the public. We're the ones who create the urban landscape, let's make sure it's one we'll enjoy.

Boycotting Olympics in China

I'm boycotting the olympics in China this year. Nothing against the Chinese people, they have plenty of reason to be proud of their accomplishments, but the olympics should stand for democracy and the power of individuals. Not something that the government of China (in it's current form) has ever been famous for. So I'm swearing off all olympics this year. I'm also not going to drink any Coke products, or use my Visa card. Uh, wait - scratch that last part.

But seriously:

1. cracking down on human rights activists
2. preventing access of internet sites critical of the govt.
   
3. arresting journalists, petty criminals, and anyone the govt. doesn't approve of without proper cause and subjecting them to "re-education through labor"
   
4. severe air pollution and poor environmental policies
5. (most important for structural engineers) absolutely no investigation on poor school construction after structural collapses due to earthquakes, and then harshly penalizing those who tried to expose the issue. This will lead to a lack of faith in the ethics of engineers
   

China is not what I would call a free and fair society. Read this for even further reasons to be upset. Why did they choose this place for the olympics? Bribery to the IOC must have been pretty good this time around...

The Chinese govt. doesn't care at all what I or anyone else outside of China thinks about the games, they only need it as propaganda directed at their own citizens. I'm not encouraging you to boycott the olympics, but I can't be a part of it this time. I say enjoy the olympics and definitely support our athletes, but try to make sure your voice is heard about selecting a site that is free and fair next time.

The Smallest Planet

I kind of feel silly for saying this, but I miss having Pluto as a planet. Pluto is small, and the IAU reclassified it as a Trans-Neptunian Object - so no longer a planet. It's a shame, because Pluto was always my favorite planet. And some idiot(s) have tried to take it away from us.

I think they have it all backwards, though. Astronomers don't have the authority to decide such important matters as to what constitutes a planet or not. They can look at the sky all they want, but Pluto will always be one of the planets. And a damn good one, with 3 satellites even.


When the other plutoids were found, why did this cause a reevaluation of Pluto's status? Why could we not just embrace the new discoveries for what they were - little round, icy planets? So here's a toast to the newer members of my solar system: Eris, Makemake, and Ceres. Tell your buddies to drop us a line and we'll work them in too. The solar system is big enough for more than eight planets, for sure.