What civil engineers are reading this week

• This New Orleans bridge – once darkened by Hurricane Ida – now lights up the city

  The story of New Orleans’ Crescent City Connection is one of resilience and hope. Its new lighting system can display pride in local icons, including the NFL’s Saints.

• Big Tech’s thirst is reshaping water infrastructure – for better and worse

  Data centers are being built as a breakneck pace, but one critical issue remains largely overlooked: water. It's essential for data center cooling, yet is often treated as an afterthought.

• Hurricane Melissa live updates: Mass evacuations as Cuba hit; severe damage in Jamaica

  A downgraded Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba early this morning after ripping a path of destruction across Jamaica, which authorities have designated a “disaster area.”

• ASCE members of 2006 offered a Vision 2025 for engineering: How close did they come?

  Take a look back at the predictions and aspirations for the profession written 19 years ago with some of the original experts. What did they expect? What did they miss, and what can still be built upon? 

• Scottish airport powered by hydrogen

  Hydrogen is being used to power Kirkwall Airport in a United Kingdom-first demonstration.

• Beware ‘scope gaps’; one subcontractor found out the hard way with court loss

  The term generally refers to situations where an item of work specified in the plans and specifications is not included in any trade contractor’s scope of work. What does it mean from a legal standpoint?