UC Berkeley Secures First Concrete Canoe Victory Since 1992

Despite the clouds, thunder and occasional lightning, the University of California, Berkeley has captured the 'America's Cup of Civil Engineering' at the American Society of Civil Engineers' National Concrete Canoe Competition in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Their fifth title in the competition's 22 year history and their first championship since 1992, Berkeley's 230-pound, 20-foot-long canoe, the Bear Area, defeated entries from 21 other top engineering schools. The team's closest competitors were École de technologie upérieure and the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, which placed second and third, respectively. The event, organized by the American Society of Civil Engineers and hosted by the University of Alabama, was made possible by the support of the American Concrete Institute; Baker Concrete Construction; World of Concrete; and Holcim (US) Inc.

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Editor's Note: A previous version of this story inadvertently listed the University of Nevada, Reno as the 2009 champion of the National Concrete Canoe Competition, and the University of California, Berkeley and École de technologie supérieure as placing second and third, respectively.

Orange County, Calif., Water System Wins 2009 OCEA

For its creative, effective solution to water shortage challenges, the Orange County, Calif., Groundwater Replenishment System has been selected as the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement for 2009. With water demand soaring in southern California, Orange County needed a solution that was more cost-effective than importing water or desalination and would satisfy needs for decades to come. The county's Water and Sanitation District opted for a process that recycles and purifies wastewater and returns it to reservoirs and groundwater aquifers – one which also mitigates the impact of droughts. ASCE President Wayne Klotz calls the system "an excellent example of how civil engineering can contribute to a community's economic success, improve residents' quality of life and protect public safety."

• Find out more about the Groundwater Replenishment System – read about it and watch a 2009 Report Card water systems video that shows how it works. See the five other distinguished projects that were contenders for the 2009 OCEA.

CPC Completes Investigation

Following a 13-month investigation, the ASCE Committee on Professional Conduct has concluded its inquiry into allegations of ethical misconduct stemming from ASCE's role in an assessment of the performance of the New Orleans Hurricane Protection System following Hurricane Katrina. The CPC dismissed all charges of ethical misconduct. The committee did find that a news release issued by the Society contained two technical errors.

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Infrastructure Cannot Support a Healthy Economy

Decades of underfunding and inattention have jeopardized the ability of our nation's infrastructure to support our economy and facilitate our way of life. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) today released its 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure -- assigning a cumulative grade of D to the nation's infrastructure and noting a five-year investment need of $2.2 trillion from all levels of government and the private sector. Since ASCE's last assessment in 2005 there has been little change in the condition of the nation's roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works, and the cost of improvement has increased by more than half a trillion dollars.

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New Podcast Series Offers Insights into the Successful Practice of Civil Engineering

A new podcast series, Insights, has been launched by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Industry Leaders Council. The series, which features noted civil engineering industry leaders discussing insights into the successful practice of civil engineering, provides listeners with access to a wide range of viewpoints, experiences and perspectives. G. Wayne Clough, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, Secretary of the Smithsonian, is the series' first guest.

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Civil Engineers Present Guidelines for Economic Stimulus Infrastructure Investment

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has released their recommended 'Principles for Infrastructure Stimulus Investment' which is designed to help guide lawmakers and the Obama administration when allocating economic stimulus funding for infrastructure projects poised to aid in rebuilding the nation's economy. This investment is expected to create and sustain jobs, and begin to address the nation's crumbling infrastructure if appropriately applied to areas that most require federal support. Careful consideration must be made in the selection of projects—both in stimulus and long-term legislative solutions—to ensure that appropriated funds for infrastructure investment produce desirable results.

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Fostering Diversity in the Civil Engineering Workforce

As U.S. engineering firms face increasing global competition, civil engineers need to be conscious not only of reflecting the diverse perspectives of their international colleagues, but also the perspectives in their increasingly diverse communities and local workforce. According to a new guide published by the Society, Diversity by Design: Guide to Fostering Diversity in the Civil Engineering Workforce, written by Sybil E. Hatch, P.E. and sponsored by ASCE's Committee on Diversity and Women in Civil Engineering, "the myriad challenges of managing a diverse engineering workforce can be encompassed by a two-pronged approach: be aware of the issues...and make addressing those issues a priority."

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ENGINEERING: The Workforce of the Future

If the United States is to successfully address the challenges it faces both today, and in the future-including an aging infrastructure, shrinking energy and water resources, and globalization-action must be taken now to attract, educate and train talented young civil engineers to compete in a rapidly changing and technology-driven world. This topic and more will be discussed at the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) 138th Annual Civil Engineering Conference in Pittsburgh, November 6-8, 2008.

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Civil Engineering Salaries Inch Higher in 2008

According to a new survey that outlines compensation ranges and trends in the engineering industry, the median income for civil engineers is $78,000 a year, which represents an increase from $77,000 in 2007. The median income for all fields of engineering combined is $85,000, a 7.6 percent increase from 2007. The survey, which was held from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, yielded nearly 15,000 responses from engineers across the country in a variety of fields and at all levels of practice.

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University of Nevada, Reno Secures Inaugural Concrete Canoe Victory

With equal parts technical skill, creativity and determination, the University of Nevada, Reno has captured their first ever national Concrete Canoe title at the American Society of Civil Engineers' 21st Annual National Concrete Canoe Competition in Montréal. Their 19.5-foot-long, 160-pound, white canoe with blue and silver stain defeated entries from top engineering schools from across the country, and the win marks the end of three days of fierce competition and more than a year's worth of blood, sweat and tears for the team, in their bid to capture the 'America's Cup of Civil Engineering'. The team's closest competitors were the University of California, Berkeley and host school, École de technologie supérieure.

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Newest ASCE Institute Serves Engineering Mechanics Community

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) established the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI) on October 1, 2007 to serve the needs of the world-wide engineering mechanics community by promoting research and application of scientific and mathematical principles to address a broad spectrum of existing and emerging engineering and societal problems. It replaced ASCE's former Engineering Mechanics Division, and is the Society's eighth technical institute. EMI held its inaugural international conference in May 2008 in Minneapolis.

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» Click here for more information on EMI.

New Wilson Bridge Named Top 2008 OCEA Project
As Society Celebrates Its Best at OPAL Awards Gala

In a tough field that included impressive engineering projects in India, California and Washington state, an all-new Woodrow Wilson Bridge serving the Washington, D.C., area has been selected ASCE's winner of the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement for 2008. Using a variety of innovative techniques, the joint project of the states of Virginia and Maryland and the District of Columbia replaces an inadequate, aging 47-year-old span, helping to relieve a major bottleneck for commuters on the busy Capital Beltway, Interstate 495. The OCEA winner was announced at the Society's premiere black-tie event, the OPAL Awards Gala, held Wednesday evening in Arlington, Va., where the 2008 Outstanding Projects and Leaders honorees and other major award-winners were saluted.

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External Review of IPET New Orleans Analysis
Notes Progress, Yet Risks Remain

While many positive changes have occurred and good work has been done, New Orleans still faces a higher level of risk from flooding than would be accepted for many other engineered life-protection systems, according to ASCE's External Review Panel (ERP). After a thorough review of the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force's (IPET) risk and reliability analysis, the ERP expressed overall satisfaction with the technical competency of the report, but strongly encouraged IPET to take steps to make the report more understandable and useful for the general public. They also strongly urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take a proactive leadership role, especially clear and blunt communication to the public about the level of risk that remains and better emergency response and evacuation planning.

» Read the ERP's recommendations here.

Raising America's Infrastructure Grade

With each passing day, aging and overburdened infrastructure threatens America's economy and our quality of life. In its 2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, ASCE assigned our nation's infrastructure an overall grade of D and estimated that $1.6 trillion is needed over a five-year period to bring the nation's infrastructure up to a good condition. Establishing a long-term development and maintenance plan must become a national priority. But in the short term, small steps can be taken by the 110th Congress to begin improving our infrastructure.

» Click here to view ASCE's Report Card for America's Infrastructure and the Action Plan for the 110th Congress.

Civil Engineers Push for Historic Education and Licensure Changes

Next fall's class of civil engineering freshmen will witness historic changes in education and licensure during their careers. Guided by the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge for the 21st Century, changes already underway in accreditation, curricula and licensure will better prepare them to be leaders and innovators. ASCE has released the second edition of the Body of Knowledge. In this new report, many of the original concepts and ideas have been clarified and sharpened, and their implementation will lead to the revision of current undergraduate and post-undergraduate education.

» Learn more about the Body of Knowledge.
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