Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  Engineers Fostering Culture Change for Resilient Future

    Posted 09-19-2018 04:46 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 09-20-2018 06:17 PM
    We've been having a great discussion  which John O'Conner started questioning the ASCE Report Card by suggesting that rather than repair all our existing infrastructure we, as engineers, should be looking toward the future by designing more resilient infrastructure. Examples were given by John and responders. 

    I gave a few myself, oriented toward reducing demand to relieve water/wastewater infrastructure.  Some of these (inverted block rates, rainbarrels, etc. - I forgot to mention xeriscaping) involve culture change by citizens.

    How about suggestions from others on culture change which involve citizens but can be fostered by Civil Engineers?  Two I can think of in my area are ordinances regulating fertilizer use and prohibiting roof spouts from connecting to sewer lines. 

    What suggestions do your transportation, construction, structural and green infrastructure engineers have?  I'm talking about ideas that require citizens to change their culture and customary practices without high cost. 

    As engineers we we can foster discussion by community leaders and elected officials. Let's get some ideas into the mix.

    ------------------------------
    Bevin Beaudet P.E., M.ASCE
    President/Owner
    Bevin A. Beaudet, P.E., LLC.
    West Palm Beach FL
    (561)225-1214
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Engineers Fostering Culture Change for Resilient Future

    Posted 11-02-2018 08:17 AM
    Edited by Sayed Maqsood 11-02-2018 10:23 AM
    Thank you for bringing up a discussion regarding resilient infrastructure. As far as it's related to structural, constructing and its management, there are many factors that should be considered. I did almost a year of research on comparison of resilient and non-resilient structures. The research included concrete, steel, and full resilient structures. Here's a few take aways; resilient structures are add on a bit more cost due to cost of high standard materials, but provide a long run concerning serviceability of the structure. Non-resilient structures are customer driven, meaning it give customers options to choose according to their budget. Many codes available for building non-resilient structures but for resilient it's limited. 

       


    ------------------------------
    Sayed Maqsood S.M.ASCE
    Oakland CA
    (510)395-4361
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Engineers Fostering Culture Change for Resilient Future

    Posted 11-02-2018 05:36 PM
    Edited by Reza Mokarram Aydenloo 11-04-2018 02:21 PM

    Dear Bevin Beaudet

    I would like to propose an issue regarding the seismic Rehabilitation of the existing building

    IT IS TRUE THAT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ARE NOT CONSIDERED URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE? BUT IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT PROTECTING THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS DURING THE EARTHQUAKE AND MANAGING THE CRISIS IS VERY IMPORTANT WITH THE USE OF URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS GAS AND ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTERS.

    The question is, how can these threats be reduced by promoting the culture of the inhabitants of these buildings?

    1-Educating people to upgrade the seismic development culture (retrofitting) of non-structural components in buildings with minimum facilities before the earthquake occurred at the time of operation.

    Non-structural components are presented in the following figure


    2 - In this regard, many deaths due to non-structural components are reduced,
    The risk of fire and bursting of the water and gas pipe is reduced, so that the vital arteries do not interfere.
    The urban crisis management network relies on its main route after the earthquake.

    So, in some ways, seismic rehabilitation of buildings is a culture before a knowledge.






    ------------------------------
    Reza MokarramaydenlouPh.D., P.E., C.Eng, S.E., M.ASCE
    Structural Engineering and Seismic rehabilitation Consultant
    Mokarramandpartners LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Engineers Fostering Culture Change for Resilient Future

    Posted 11-04-2018 09:14 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 11-04-2018 09:13 AM
    For the time being, I'm going to propose two solutions. First, resilient based structural-design ought to develop at high seismic zones. In specific, for schools and hospitals. This should be noted that all rehabilitation must adhere code procedures. Second, the issue of non-structural objects are pretty serious. It can cause economic loss and life safety treating. For instance, during an earthquake, breaking a rigid pipe can affect the overall performance of the building. To employ a resilient piping system, it would be cost effective.

    ------------------------------
    Sayed Maqsood S.M.ASCE
    Oakland CA
    (510)395-4361
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Engineers Fostering Culture Change for Resilient Future

    Posted 05-23-2019 01:09 PM
    Here are some ideas.
     
    There are four basic, interdependent channels that will make the goals and objectives of this thread be realized:
    ·     People,
    ·     Process,
    ·     Technology, and
    ·     Leadership.
     
    The LCD (Least Common Denominator) for each of the four is, of course, 'people.'
    Women and men.
     
    Culture may be defined simply as "The way we do things around here."
     
    Right now, according to a recently released NSF Report [1], the culture within schools of engineering needs immediate, thoughtful rehabilitation.
     
    Unless and until this happens with the support of men and women "Across the Aisles," the promise of culture change
    which can be fostered by Civil Engineers to achieve the promise of a resilient future will remain a distant promise.
     
     


    [1]http://nap.edu/24994

    ------------------------------
    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
    ------------------------------