What civil engineers are reading this week

• After devastating Texas summer floods, what can engineers do to foster change, bolster safety?

  The flash floods in Texas in July that claimed about 140 lives have shifted the conversation around flood infrastructure. What steps do civil engineers with expertise in this area suggest?

• Seattle’s human population is up, but its car population isn’t

  Between 2017 and 2023, the city added 35,000 households but just 3,300 cars, new census data reveals – news that is music to urbanists’ ears.

• Which form of energy is the cheapest? Experts weigh in

  The emergence of renewables as a viable alternative to oil, gas, and other fossil fuels raises questions about which form of power offers the best value – a debate made more urgent by climate change.

• When the West’s rivers surge each spring, older groundwater dominates the runoff

  Conventional wisdom and some traditional hydrologic models are wrong, a recent study of 42 sites across the West finds.

• Beware of these potential trip-ups when using a delegated design arrangement

  While delegated design offers efficiency and leverages specialized knowledge, handing off tasks to a contractor can create engineering, contractual, and other challenges. Here’s what to watch for.

• How millions for transit, walking, and biking could vanish on Sept. 30

  The Trump administration may be delaying contracts for transportation funding.