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  • 1.  ASCE Manual: "Quality in the Constructed Project," 3rd Ed.

    Posted 04-01-2024 11:49 AM
    • Subtitle: "A Guide for Owners, Designers, and Constructor's"

    The collapse of  two suspended walkways in a hotel in 1981, killing 114 and injuring 185

    energized the first edition of this guide after a meeting in 1984.

    • First Edition, 1990
    • Second Edition, 2000.
    • Third Edition, 2012.

    The 25 chapters of this 3rd edition offer practical professional insights and advice. . . NOT requirements. . .intended to be

    read, discussed, and then applied as appropriate into the life of a project PRIOR to its initiation.

    Q1. What lessons have you adopted from its study and application to your program/project work?

    Q2. What subjects/applications do you wish had more specific insights?

    Cheers,

    Bill

    p.s. I had the honor and privilege of being at the start of the first edition, and continued as part of the group for the next two editions as well.



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: ASCE Manual: "Quality in the Constructed Project," 3rd Ed.

    Posted 04-02-2024 08:04 AM

    This is a great resource!  I just downloaded it.  Do you know of any programs that have used it as a textbook?



    ------------------------------
    Chad Morrison P.E., F.ASCE
    Professional Engineer
    Greenville RI
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  • 3.  RE: ASCE Manual: "Quality in the Constructed Project," 3rd Ed.

    Posted 04-02-2024 02:42 PM

    Re: "Do you know of any programs that have used it as a textbook?"

    No Chad, I do not.

    I am hoping this post flushes out some, as well as responses to the two questions posed.

    Cheers,

    Bill

    p.s. Just the fact that given your professional and personal commitment in time and energy to ASCE

    had this doc "In the closet" causes concern.



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: ASCE Manual: "Quality in the Constructed Project," 3rd Ed.

    Posted 04-03-2024 03:57 PM

    Q. What might the application of knowledge within ASCE's MOP 73 done to mitigate or eliminate this failure?

                             "Michigan's Cascading Dam Failure:"

    •      Various contact points at which the dam failures were preventable
    •       Apparent ethical issues arising during the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the failed dams
    •       Strategies to avoid making similar ethical errors

    Presenter: Rebecca A. Bowman, Esq., P.E., D.F.E., Sr. Dir., Ethics and Professional Practice, National Society of Professional Engineers

    Cheers,

    Bill



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: ASCE Manual: "Quality in the Constructed Project," 3rd Ed.

    Posted 04-04-2024 07:33 PM

    There have been reports and papers on the failures of two cascading earthen dams that were breached and eventually washed away in 2020. There is a 2022 FEMA Report on the 2020 Michigan two-Dams Failures. The series of six dams in the region were built in the period between 1912 and 1925 – long before MOP73 – for that matter before standardization of many procedures and methods that we know today.

    This does not mean engineers were not diligent – given the sphere of knowledge they had during that time. I read a scientific paper somewhere saying that the failures occurred as a result of unprecedented wind-storm and intensity of rainfall. Aided by hydraulic modeling – the event was attributed to the effects of climate change.

    So, it fingers to a case of environmental-load failure – in other words, the loads exceeding the design limit (it does not exclude other probable causes, however).

    Given that we have many modern tools and methods in hand – the question is why such old dams were let to remain functioning without warnings of failures – without some sorts of retrofitting – if there were instances of inadequacy and deterioration.

    Dilip

    -------

    Dr. Dilip K Barua, Ph.D

    Website Links and Profile


    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: ASCE Manual: "Quality in the Constructed Project," 3rd Ed.

    Posted 04-03-2024 03:03 PM

    Thanks Bill – for posting the link to this useful "aspirational" Guide Book. Perhaps like many others – I was not aware of it. Had the opportunity to download it.

    I see that you were one of contributors – no wonder you have interest in promoting it. It's a neat handy book that one can always refer to – as a checklist of 'to do things'. It's good for both experienced and in-experienced engineers – perhaps also for all other non-engineering professionals who are part of an engineering project.

    Here are something that caught my attention on quick browsing.

    • On: Coordination and Communication

      "The coordination of project activities under any method of delivery is essential to project quality. Coordination depends on the ability of participants to tailor their communications to the project delivery system being used."

    • On: Risk, Liability and Handling Conflict

      "All constructed projects involve risks. These risks may be grouped in four general categories: safety, financial, professional, and legal. Participants benefit from identifying potential risks and liabilities, developing a clear and fair plan to allocate and manage them, and securing insurance (where appropriate) before making commitments to other parties. While disagreements are natural in work situations, the selection of mature team members, the alignment of common interests, and the fair allocation of risk can help minimize the adverse impacts of conflict."

    Dilip

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    Dr. Dilip K Barua, Ph.D

    Website Links and Profile




  • 7.  RE: ASCE Manual: "Quality in the Constructed Project," 3rd Ed.

    Posted 04-03-2024 08:00 PM

    So Dilip,

    Re: "I see that you were one of contributors – no wonder you have interest in promoting it."

    No, not really.

    The reason is that I only learned in the last week that its existence and value since 2012 was unknown to far to many 

    who so much needed its advice, guidance and suggestions BEFORE the work started. . . .in both the field and classrooms.

    Cheers,

    Bill



    ------------------------------
    William M. Hayden Jr., Ph.D., P.E., CMQ/OE, F.ASCE
    Buffalo, N.Y.

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -- George Eliot 1819 - 1880
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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