5 Ways to Improve Civil Engineering

In his latest post from the Uncontained series, construction quality assurance (CQA) expert Glen Toepfer writes on 5 things we in the geosynthetics and affiliated geotechnical and civil engineering fields can do to improve our practices.
Toepfer’s columns come for a unique place of experience. He has been at the forefront of the “zero leaks” approach to CQA with geosynthetic containment applications and how CQA, installation, and civil engineering professionals can work together to ensure geosynthetic installations that please not only the client but serve the industry well at the same time and help elevate the next wave of professionals.
His company, CQA Solutions, has even developed a certification platform to support the many CQA-related workers in the field who are not included in other CQA-oriented training programs.
Of the 5 things to think on, Toepfer writes:

5. Step forward, not backward. In recent conversations with two accomplished installation firms, the reoccurring theme was: “The containment industry is in a race to the bottom, as far as quality is concerned.” With all the advances in technology for materials and installation equipment, combined with technologies capable of finding pinhole size holes, there simply is no reason to settle for substandard quality. Set your expectations above industry standards. “A rising tide raises all boats.” Let’s move the tide together.
4. Stagnation. When is the last time you actually had a clear moment to evaluate your core business practices? It is so easy for civil engineering businesses to keep doing business as usual, such as using the same vendors, keeping the same procedures, and even believing that certain roadblocks are immovable. Stagnation usually comes with a fairly hefty price tag! Here is a quote from our office wall:

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, in either case you are right.” – Henry Ford

What do you want to believe this year?
3. Safety. Sometimes we just want to scream at all the safety blah, blah, blah. The reality is that safety is such a poignant subject. We all want to keep our loved ones healthy and safe. However, sometimes we stay in places of safety when we need to take some risk in order to get to our future. If only for one day, evaluate ways you keep your co-workers, friends, and family safer. And, analyze your corporate life. Where do you need to take some calculated risks to leap into your future?
2. Crazy Fireman Syndrome. This year, take some time away from the all too heavy “fire fighting” and take some “corporate me time.” Write a list of your personal career goals. Then, proactively make plans with measurable steps and timelines on how you are going to achieve at least one of these goals this year. Move forward into your future, because while you are busy saving one tree you might be losing the forest!
1. Recycled Specifications. Every year—honestly, it seems like almost every week—we see ramshackle projects from recycled specifications, many of which show significant failures. These out-of-date specs, too often merged from multiple projects, almost always fail to meet the needs of the fieldwork they should govern. Recycled specs often do more harm than good. This year, leave recycled specs behind and move forward into specifications that are designed to properly manage your field projects.

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Every site engineer must know the following things

Minimum thickness of slab is 125 mm.
Water absorption should not be more than 15 %.
Dimension tolerance for cubes + – 2 mm.
Compressive strength of Bricks is 3.5 N /mm²
Maximum Free fall of concrete allowed is 1.50 m.
In soil filling as per IS code for every 100 sqm 3 sample for core cutting test should be taken.
Electrical conduits shall not run in column
Earth work excavation for basement above 3 m should be stepped form
Any back filling shall be compacted 95% of dry density at the optimum moisture content and in layers not more than 200mm for filling above structure and 300 mm for no structure
F soling is specified the soling stones shall be laid at 45° to 60° inclination (and not vertical) with interstices filled with sand or moorum.
A set of cube tests shall be carried out for each 30 cum of concrete / each levels of casting / each batch
of cement.
Water cement ratio for different grades of concrete shall not exceed 0.45 for M20 and above and 0.50 For M10 / M15 contractor
For concrete grades M20 and above approved admixture shall be used as per mix design requirements.
Cement shall be stored in dry places on a raised platform about 200mm above floor level and 300mm away from walls. Bags to be stacked not more than 10 bags high in such a manner that it is adequately protected from moisture and contamination.
Samples from fresh concrete shall be taken and at least a set of 6 cubes of 150mm shall be prepared and
cured. 3 Cubes each at 7 days and 28 days shall be tested for compressive strength. The test results
should be submitted to engineer for approval. If results are unsatisfactory necessary action/rectification/remedial measures has to be exercised.
Water used for both mixing and curing shall be clean and free from injurious amounts of oils, acids, alkalies, salts, sugar and organic materials or other substances that may be deleterious to concrete or steel. The ph shall be generally between 6 and 8.
Cement shall be tested for its setting.
1. The initial setting time shall not be less than 30 minutes.
2. The final setting time shall not be more than 10 hours.
Slump IS 456
Lightly reinforced 25 – 75 mm
Heavily reinforced 75 – 100 mm
Trench fill (insitu & Tremie) 100 – 150 mm (For Tremie no need of vibrator)
Curing Days Required
Super Sulphate cement : 7 days
Ordinary Portland cement OPC : 10 days
Minerals and Admixture added cement : 14 days
Cube Samples
1 – 5 M³ : 1 No.
6 – 15 M³ : 2 No’s
16 – 30 M³ : 3 No’s
31 – 50 M³ : 4 No’s
Above 50 M³ : 4 + 1 No of addition sample for each 50 M³.
Things Site Engineers Must Know About Reinforcement and Steel Bars
Check out the Unit Weights and Conversion which will be required on construction site here
We at engineeringcivil.com are thankful to Er Vikrant for submitting this construction site check list which is of great use to all civil engineers.

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Interesting facts about civil engineers and structures.

Interesting facts about civil engineers and structures Check out our interesting engineering facts and get some cool trivia related to amazing structures, famous landmarks and other impressive engineering achievements. Learn about different types of engineering such as civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical and aerospace while enjoying all the incredible information related to famous bridges, buildings, dams, trains, tunnels and more.

Engineers solve practical problems by applying mathematical and scientific knowledge. The word engineer comes from a Latin word meaning ‘cleverness’. Learn about different types of engineering jobs such as civil, mechanical and electrical with our engineering job facts. As of 2010, the tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. It reaches an incredible 828 metres (2717 feet) in height. Check out more building facts or our list of the tallest buildings in the world. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Ancient Wonders of the World and the last one that remains largely intact. Enjoy more pyramid facts or learn about the Ancient Egyptian pyramids. The building of the Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, was one of the most difficult engineering projects ever. It is estimated that over 25000 workers lost their lives during the long and dangerous project, with most dying from disease and landslides. Golf balls have dimples because they help reduce drag, this allows the ball to fly further than a smooth ball would. As of 2010, the longest suspension bridge in the world is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe, Japan. Opened in 1998, it spans an amazing 1991 metres (6529 feet). Check out more interesing bridge facts or our list of the longest bridges in the world. Used for water distribution, the Delaware Aqueduct in New York, USA is the longest tunnel in the world (as of 2010). Drilled through solid rock, it reaches a staggering 137 kilometres (85 miles) in length. More tunnel facts. The Hoover Dam, built along the Colorado River between 1931 and 1936 reaches 726 feet in height (221 metres). More interesting dam facts. High speed passenger trains in China reach speeds of up to 350 kph (220 mph). The Titanic was 882 feet (269 metres) long. The London Eye in England is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, standing at a height of 135 metres (442 feet). The tallest wind turbine in the world has rotor tips that reach over 200 metres (656 feet) above the ground. Branches of engineering include aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil,computer, electrical, environmental, forensic, genetic, mechanical, military,nuclear, reverse, software and structural.

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Civil engineering touches us throughout our day. Think of a civil engineer when you

• Civil engineering touches us throughout our day. Think of a civil engineer when you:

  • Turn on your tap to take a shower or drink clean water
  • Flick on your lights and open your refrigerator 
  • Drive to work on roads and bridges through synchronized traffic lights
  • Take mass transit or take a flight for a vacation
  • Toss your empty coffee cup in the recycling bin

• SPANNING A HOST OF SPECIALTIES 

  Civil engineers often specialize in one of a number of technical areas. A few examples:

  • Transportation
  • Coastal engineering
  • Structural
  • Environmental
  • Geotechnical
  • Construction
  • Architectural
  • Engineering mechanics
  • And more

  TIME-HONORED CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS

  The Golden Gate Bridge. The Eiffel Tower. The Hoover Dam. The creativity and innovative spirit of civil engineers is showcased in the projects they have created throughout the world. ASCE’s Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks program honors the best of those at least 50 years old.

  CIVIL ENGINEERS WHO MADE THEIR MARK

  Civil engineering achievement starts with people. Get to know the civil engineers who have left a legacy, and those who are just starting to build their own.

  LEARNING FROM TRAGEDY

  Since the Johnstown Flood in 1889, ASCE has answered the call to study and learn from engineering failures due to natural disasters and man-made causes. These studies provide needed answers and new knowledge and become the basis for changes to building codes and engineering and construction practices to make the public safer.

  ENCOURAGING YOUTH INTEREST

  Civil engineers volunteer their time to raise the public’s understanding of how their profession changes the world and boosts our quality of life. Check out ASCE's resources for reaching students on the appeal of a civil engineering career.

  PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

  The future strength of the civil engineering profession will come from an engineering workforce that mirrors the population it serves. 

  A VISION FOR THE PROFESSION

  An ASCE summit took the lead in exploring the future and defining the civil engineer’s role in that new world. Explore what civil engineers aspire to in The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025.

  HEAR FROM LEADERS IN THE PROFESSION

  ASCE lets you relax and listen to the views and stories of prominent civil engineers through theInsights podcast interview series. 

  You can also view compact discussions of the top civil engineering issues of the day in the ASCE Interchange video series. 
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Behind the levees: Flood risk can be higher with levees than without them

Date:

February 9, 2016

Source:

University of California - Davis

Summary:

The long-term damage of levees can be far worse for those living behind them than if those levees were not there, a case study of the Sny Island levee district found.

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Homes behind a levee in Stockton, Calif. UC Davis research shows levees can increase the flood risk of structures behind them.

Credit: California Department of Water Resources

People living behind levees on floodplains may not be as immune to flood damage as they think, according to results of a study led by the University of California, Davis.

Levees often prevent costly flood damages and even loss of life. However, when those levees overtop or fail, and water spills onto the floodplain, the long-term damage can be far worse than if those levees were not there, the study found.

The study, published this week in the journal Environmental Science & Policy, estimated long-term flood risk, probabilities of levee failure, and resulting economic losses in the Sny Island levee district along the Mississippi River in Illinois and Missouri.

"Levee protection does prevent flood damages locally, but it needs to be examined very carefully, structure-by-structure, and quantified for all people and economic activities affected by that protection," said lead author Nicholas Pinter, a professor of earth and planetary sciences at UC Davis.

The study period preceded the massive flooding the Midwest endured this fall, which occurred in a separate section of the Mississippi River. However, Pinter said the same risks and benefits occurring in his Midwest case study apply to many levee systems worldwide.

'Negative Benefit' of Levee Protection

The scientists modeled four flood conditions -- 2-year, 5-year, 100-year and 400-year flood levels -- with and without levees. Levee failures were also modeled. The study included floodplain land excluded from flood hazard maps because it is behind levees accredited by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The researchers noted that excluding such lands underestimates the actual flood risk nationwide.

Because levees raise flood levels in surrounding locations, they are known to export flood risk from one set of floodplain residents to their neighbors. For example, the study documented up to 8 feet of additional water imposed on the town of Hannibal, Missouri, due to the Sny Island levee.

Overall, the research team found that the Sny levee system prevents about $51 million per year in flood damages, primarily for the agricultural sector and some low-elevation properties. However, for up to a third of residential structures and 22 percent of commercial structures behind the Sny levee system itself, the flood damage risk was higher with the levees than it would have been without them, because of the catastrophic nature of levee failure.

This counterintuitive "negative benefit" of levees -- meaning the actual increase in risk to some residents behind levees -- is on top of the export of flood risk to a levee district's neighbors, and other levee impacts.

Opportunities to Lower Flood Risk

U.S. floodplains are lined by more than 100,000 miles of levees, many of which are in questionable states of repair. The prevalence of levees across U.S. floodplains should be viewed as opportunity, the researchers said.

Some levees can be targeted for alternative measures, such as setbacks, bypass channels, flood easements and even local removal. These kinds of projects can lower flood levels, recharge groundwater and restore habitat.

"The positive thing is that levees are so extensive in the U.S., that there are widespread opportunities for rebalancing flood risk and, at the same time, improving river and floodplain ecosystems," Pinter said.

Study co-authors included Fredrik Huthoff of HKV Consultants in The Netherlands, and Jennifer Dierauer, Jonathan Remo and Amanda Damptz from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

The Levee Sniff Test: Q&A With Nicholas Pinter

Q: What can the Sacramento region learn from your study?

A: Levees are a useful and necessary part of our flood management portfolio. But not every new levee or enlargement of a levee is a good project. We've suggested a three-part sniff test: Levees are an appropriate solution when they protect infrastructure -- people, buildings -- that is 1) concentrated, 2) of high value, and 3) pre-existing.

Natomas was a field-of-dreams levee, and most flood researchers and floodplain managers would point to that as a mistake. You don't take largely undeveloped floodplain, build a big wall and then build billions of dollars of new infrastructure behind it. The beneficiaries of such projects are the developers and the local tax base, but residents, the state, and U.S. taxpayers are left with a Pandora's Box of residual risk and liability.

But there are other spots, like downtown Sacramento, that are pre-existing, concentrated and of high economic value, so a levee there makes sense. Even more so with the added protection afforded by the Yolo Bypass.

We're saying, do careful analysis, assess all the benefits and the costs, including to the environment, and pick the optimum solution.

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Story Source:

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - Davis. The original item was written by Kat Kerlin. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Nicholas Pinter, Fredrik Huthoff, Jennifer Dierauer, Jonathan W.F. Remo, Amanda Damptz. Modeling residual flood risk behind levees, Upper Mississippi River, USA. Environmental Science & Policy, 2016; 58: 131 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2016.01.003

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The day to day works for civil engineers

Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.

Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.

Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, or program modifications or structural repairs.

Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.

Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.

Direct or participate in surveying to lay out installations or establish reference points, grades, or elevations to guide construction.

Estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility.

Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures using computer assisted design or drawing tools.

Prepare or present public reports on topics such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, or property and right-of-way descriptions.

Design energy efficient or environmentally sound civil structures.

Identify environmental risks and develop risk management strategies for civil engineering projects.

Direct engineering activities ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.

Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.

Conduct studies of traffic patterns or environmental conditions to identify engineering problems and assess potential project impact.

Design or engineer systems to efficiently dispose of chemical, biological, or other toxic wastes.

Develop or implement engineering solutions to clean up industrial accidents or other contaminated sites.

Analyze manufacturing processes or byproducts to identify engineering solutions to minimize the output of carbon or other pollutants

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