“Just Google it” – just about anyone reading this knows what I mean.  Maybe a couple of years ago, Grandma may have smacked you on the face for saying this (at least that was my grandmother’s initial reaction to any new saying).  But no, today, grandma has probably already beaten you to the punch and has Google as her home page on her laptop.  So what’s to blog about a search engine?  How about the Google Book search engine and its repercussions towards our younger generation becoming engineers?

If you haven’t ever used it, here’s a brief description from Google:
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“ Many of the books in Google Book Search come from authors and publishers who participate in our Partner Program. For these books, our partners decide how much of the book is browsable — anywhere from a few sample pages to the whole book….”  One of the nice twists about the search engine is the ability to specify “Full View Only” as one of the search criteria.  Who needs to view 1800 books on a subject when there are 200 full view choices on-line?
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Now Google isn’t alone in the online book world, but they have the biggest name recognition so let’s start there.  What does an online book search engine have to do with an engineering education?  Well, let’s do a search and see…. how about a book used at the # 1 ranked engineering school in the country, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (or MIT for short).  The secrets and information shared by those individuals must be top secret or classified…. No way an average ordinary person could access the information contained inside the hallow halls of MIT!
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Of course, we all know today that isn’t true, nor even a remote issue.  Any of us can access more information about MIT and their educational system than any one person can absorb, all available at our fingertips online.  And that’s true for all of our universities and colleges throughout our vast country.

And the best part about it – no one can stop you based upon your race, religion, economic status, sex, or whatever.  That’s the point of this blog – the world’s libraries are available to each of you at your fingertips, and no one can stop you (or wants to stop you) from accessing all of the knowledge that lies within.  And that’s really the biggest part of an education – exposing you to knowledge and information developed by your predecessors.  Engineering would be an extremely difficult career choice if we all had to start from scratch!  But we don’t, and the access is unlimited.

So back to my book search, how about a subject I deal with every day, Civil Engineering.  Do students at MIT learn restricted information about the civil engineering only available to a special few?  I would think so, God knows they are paying for it……  I mean fair is fair.
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But again I’m being sarcastic, after 60 seconds of a Google Book Search (I’m exhausted), I’ve found something interesting to me, Airport System Development.  Airport projects are what I work on every day as a civil engineer.  The same authors that wrote my tranportation engineering book I used at Virginia Tech wrote this book.  You can view it here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=hihBG2mzB1MC&pg=PT4&dq=airport+engineering&lr=&as_brr=1&sig=ACfU3U1tkmVWvGzO7zR0CXnhVonvc3hBkQ

What do you know, I can read just about the entire book and I never left home.  Not only can I read the book, but I can find out what books MIT uses as their textbooks.  Then try to locate them online, or similar texts.  Didn’t have to spend a penny, and I have access to so much information.
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But life has always been this way hasn’t it?
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Well, if you think so, then I love your young naivety, but I’ve got news for you, not only were many people restricted from entrance to our greatest educational facilities, but they were restricted access to our most humble and basic libraries.  Why, well it’s complicated and delves into a lifelong lesson in world history, a little too much for a blog.  But there are plenty of books available online in which you can read all about it for free.  And I promise, no one will ask you about your skin color, religion, sex, how much money you have or any other information, because society finally seems to be grasping the meaning conveyed in our Declaration of Independence – that we are all equal.
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I hope you’ve had a chance to watch some of the Olympic games in China – and noticed some of the news stories about the Chinese government trying to figure out what to allow and what to restrict in terms of internet access, published news stories, etc.  It wasn’t long ago that our own government tried to figure out ways to restrict people’s access to information – true freedom is an education.  Governments can strip you of your freedom, but they can never take away your education.  That was a lesson my father taught to me at a young age, and I understand it more now than ever before.  He wasn’t referring to a formal education, he was talking about my own personal education – because a smart professor doesn’t guarantee that you will get any smarter for listening to them – you have to educate yourself.  You can certainly learn form others, but when it comes down to what you know and understand, only you know the real answer.  Did you learn something or not?  Are you more educated than you were before?
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The greatest possible engineering education in the history of mankind is available to anyone, online, at his or her fingertips.  More amazing information and knowledge than any one-person can absorb in a lifetime.  That’s amazing.  There has never been a time like this in the history of human civilization.  No restrictions – the only person stopping you is you!  So if I was back in high school, would I work any harder to get into MIT knowing what I know now?  Probably not, I would still be preoccupied by that one girl in my history class…… but, I might browse through that book on Airport System Development - might was well get ahead of the game if you can!!          

Mark McGuire
Campbell & Paris Engineers

As I get older and older I notice more and more technology becoming a part of every day life, particularly amongst our youngest.  Once upon a time, there were no computers, so parents didn’t know their children were better with technology then they were, as it really didn’t matter.  I think an answering machine was the first cool gadget a friend of mine had in their home – we all thought it was crazy.  Why talk to a machine, what will I say?

But with the advent of video games and all sorts of electronic toys geared towards younger and younger children, the youngest of the newest generation isn’t afraid of any technology – in fact they expect change and they expect what is cool today to be outdated tomorrow.

“My child knows how to use a computer better than I do” - yeah, no kidding!  Whenever I hear that statement I’m somehow not surprised……

So that leads to my question, is engineering cool yet?  It wasn’t when I was growing up.  Pencil pushing geeks with pocket protectors and thick black rimmed glasses were all the rage…..  But if Tiger Woods can make golf cool, and J.K. Rowling can get children to voluntarily read 600 plus page books in one sitting, maybe engineers can one day be considered hip and trendy?

Why not – who do you think developed that cell phone glued to your ear?  Like the Internet?  The systems that make it possible weren’t developed by anyone in the NFL or Hollywood.  And all of those cameras and software you use to post your images and info on MySpace and FaceBook – well, don’t thank any doctor or lawyer for that either.  Want to save the planet?  I suggest developing some new technology because I’m not giving up my SUV anytime soon – how else can I get you to soccer practice!

Yup – I think engineers are starting to hit their stride.  If we can get people to read a 400 page manual on how to use a phone, then we can certainly start to ride a wave of popularity and point out to our students just how much of the “fun” in their daily lives is due to engineers – and let them know we need help.  So come on, join the team!  Maybe you can be the next person to design something really really cool!

Mark McGuire, PE
Campbell & Paris Engineers

The next LEED credit category is Energy & Atmosphere.  Buildings consume 37% of the energy and 68% of the electricity consumed in the United States.  Thus, even small reductions in building energy consumption will add up quickly.

LEED awards credits for commissioning of buildings.  This is a process that confirms that the systems designed for a building are installed and operated in the manner intended by the designers.  This helps to identify and correct inefficient and energy-wasting operation.  Additional credits can be earned by instituting a Measurement and Verfication (M&V) program to confirm that the energy savings predicted during the design phase are being realized in actual operation of the building.

Credits are also awarded for reducing energy use below what would be considered industry standard for that type of building.  Other credits are awarded for providing on-site renewable energy, such as photovoltaic, wind, hydro, tidal, biofuel, solar and/or geothermal.

LEED helps address the atmosphere by providing credits for design and operation that reduce and eliminate the use of refrigerants in the air conditioning systems that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming.

A final point can be earned by committing to a contract with an energy provider that generates electricity from renewable sources.  If we can demonstrate and support demand for renewable energy sources, we can drive the energy companies to putting more resources towards research and development of cleaner energy.

Paul Garrison, HSMM AECOM

The next category of credits for LEED certification is Water Efficiency.  This area focuses on those elements of facility design associated with the intelligent use of our water resources.

Per the LEED-NC Reference Guide, in the US, 340 BILLION gallons of fresh water per day are drawn from rivers, streams and reservoirs for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and recreational activities.  This accounts for one-fourth of the nation’s total supply of renewable fresh water.

As fresh water becomes increasingly scarce worldwide, making the best use of this vital resource is critical.  LEED intends to assist in this effort by providing ideas to maximize conservation, minimize use and reward innovative approaches.

Irrigation is a principal target for use reduction.  30% of the 26 billion gallons consumed in the nation per day is used for irrigation.  Thus, any reduction in irrigation produces a significant savings.  Strategies include using native/adapted plant selection that don’t require maintenance or irrigation and the use of drip irrigation. 

Use of water conserving plumbing devices, such as low flow sinks, toilets and showers and waterless urinals will also reduce usage. 

There are also methods of capturing rainwater and graywater (water from sinks and washing machines) that could be used instead of domestic drinking water for irrigation and toilet flushing.

Working together and thinking of new ways of conserving and wisely using our water resources are important to us all.

Paul Garrison, HSMM AECOM

Continuing on with last week’s entry on Sustainable Design, the first set of credits for LEED certification are for Sustainable Sites.  This area focuses on those elements of facility design associated with the land on which a building sits.

The intent is to select sites that have been developed previously to avoid destroying valuable wildlife habitat, farmland, etc.  Also, it recommends using sites accessible to pedestrian and public transportation to limit the need for individuals driving cars to the buildings and increasing pollution.

There is emphasis on increasing the amount of open space around buildings to increase their aesthetic value as well as to avoid “Heat island effect,” which increases temperatures because there are no trees and grass to absorb heat from the sun.

Appropriate stormwater management and avoiding excessive light pollution are also addressed by the Sustainable Sites credits.

There is a current movement in the country and around the world for sustainable or “green” design.  The engineering profession is being challenged to enhance the quality of life and the built environment while preserving and maintaining the natural environment.  Among the initiatives is the LEED ® program which was developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit organization.  This program seeks to establish an objective system to incorporate sustainable principles into the design and construction of manmade buildings and infrastructure.

Buildings consume 39% of total energy, 70% of electricity, 40% of raw materials and 12% of potable water in the United States.  They produce 30% of greenhouse gas emissions and 30% of waste output.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll examine how engineers can incorporate sustainable design to reduce the impact of buildings and infrastructure on our world.
 

Paul T. Garrison, PE
HSMM AECOM

The Math and Science Innovation Center (MSIC) of Richmond, Virginia is hosting a second annual engineering education conference for local teachers.

Last year, ACEC Virginia, along with the MSIC, helped coordinate and manage the inaugural training session that included education sessions at construction sites around Richmond. The goal of last year’s sessions was to educate teachers so that they would then be empowered to teach elementary engineering principles to students in their respective schools. The goal this year is similar, however, with the trained teachers now running the sessions.

ACEC Virginia members assisted by speaking at the event.  Those folks included

• Mike Matthews (Hankins & Anderson), topic: WHY ENGINEERING?
• Kerry Herr (DJG), Brenda Kliesen (Hankins & Anderson) and Mike A. Matthews (The Structures Group, Inc.), topic: HOW I BECAME AN ENGINEER
• Ian Frost, (EEE Consulting), topic: GREEN ENGINEERING

Several projects from our members were also featured including

• State Capitol Green Roof
• State Capitol Renovation
• VCU / MCV Hospital
• Route 17 Dismal Swamp
• New Kent LEED Rest Area
• James River Water Treatment Plant
• Rockett’s Landing Brownfield Redevelopment
• Miller & Rhoads Renovation

This viral education effort is part of an overall push in the industry for more engineering education in the Virginia school system. An increasing need for qualified engineers coupled with a shrinking labor pool has created this focus on engineering education for young children.

In order to obtain work in the architecture, engineering and construction industries, firms must complete Request for Proposals (RFP’s). An RFP is an invitation for companies providing services to submit a proposal outlining how they can meet the needed requirements of the client. For example, the Corps of Engineers (client) may issue an RFP requesting civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering work for a new university. A firm would then gather all of their resources and materials to build a proposal, displaying their qualifications on why they would be the best fit for the job.

While responding to the RFP, firms need to be responsible for the language they use because if the firm wins the work, they are legally bound to the information they provided. According to Insurance Representative Mike Heatwole of Ames & Gough a firm should always be aware of:

• The nature of the project – what exactly is the client asking for?
• Firm capabilities – does the firm have the services to perform this job?
• Specific client attributes – who is the client and what are they looking for in a prospective firm?
• Constraints on time and cost – does the firm have the staff/resources to complete the project?

Mike also recommends avoiding language that creates unrealistic expectations that a firm cannot fulfill:

• Heightened expectations:
  • “highest,” “best,” “most”
• Perfection:
  • “all,” “complete,” “free from faults and defects”

Basically a firm should not guarantee “flawless” services for a job, because conflicts and/or problems may occur during the project. The purposes of a professional service agreement with a client are to:

• Define the project scope
• Establish and clarify relationships
• Allocate responsibilities and risk
• Confirm the mutual understanding in writing

As part of an industry-wide push to educate children in elementary, middle and high schools about engineering, the ACEC of Virginia partnered with the Math and Science Innovation Center in Richmond to develop training for school teachers and activities for their students. Selecting teachers from surrounding counties, we offered engineering training based on real-life projects. The result is certified teachers with a wealth of practical knowledge of the built environment to distribute amongst their students and peers. We called the project Engineering for the 21^st Century.

Below is information about the real-life projects we used:

Rockett’s Landing Brownfield Redevelopment, City of Richmond Virginia

Check out how geotechnical engineers help determine how to make an old, contaminated warehouse site in Richmond into a beautiful community!

OR

Check out this video on this “green” rest area in New Kent County, Virginia

Nowadays it seems like everyone is “going green.” Well rest areas are no exception! See how this rest area was built to maintain itself.

It seems doubtful that when someone thinks of civil engineering, they also think of landscape architecture. They are two different fields with a lot of overlap that both deal with land development and design. Civil engineers work more on the detailed, technical side while landscape architects, more often, work on the creative, artistic front. Both can greatly benefit from the others knowledge. So when the two disciplines can work together in harmony, the outcome can be great; not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. A degree in landscape architecture allows the recipient to specialize in many different aspects of design such as golf course design, urban design, historic preservation, conservation, and traditional landscape architecture.

The Preamble of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Code of Professional Ethics states that one within the field should have a “dedication to the public health, safety, and welfare and recognition and protection of the land and its resources.” What a better place to be able to adhere to that standard and combine professional resources than working for a multi-disciplinary engineering firm? Working at such a firm has helped make me a well rounded and versatile professional. The skills and knowledge that I have obtained allow me to work on a wide range of projects.

For more information on Landscape Architecture, please visit www.asla.org .

Angie Werner, Landscape Designer, Draper Aden Associates