Construction
Roman Cement Studied
One could argue that the durable cement developed by the ancient Romans helped
them build a lasting civilization because they could build lasting structures.
Scientists have recreated the mix and studied its properties. You can find the
report in the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences or a summary in the Washington
Post.
Engineering
Be An Engineer Web Site Features
Women Engineers
BeAnEngineer.com has profiles of
notable engineers, many of them women. Here are links to some of the profiles:
Engineers are Human, Too
Check out former ASCE president
Patricia Galloway’s TED talk about the profession of engineering. Engineers
care about solving real problems that help real people.
You can see Galloway’s speech here.
Safety
New Reporting Requirements Take
Effect January 1
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has
updated it rules related to injury reporting. Though many employers will not be
affected by the rule change, it will not be required that all employers report all work-related in-patient hospitalizations,
amputations and loss of an eye within 24 hours to OSHA.
Transportation
Investing in Transportation Good
for the Economy
A recent study by the Transportation
Construction Coalition touted the benefits of investing in surface
transportation infrastructure. These benefits include more jobs, increased
incomes, and increased government revenues without tax increases.
60 Minutes Looks at Crumbling
Infrastructure
60 Minutes ran a story on America’s aging and slowly failing
transportation infrastructure. You can see the story here.
Wonders in the Sky
Slate named the U.S. Aviation
Control System one of its seven wonders of the modern world. America’s airspace
is one of the busiest and one of the safest.
Read more about it at Slate.
Water
New York’s Wonderful Water
Slate named the New York City water system one of the seven wonders of
the modern world. It is a massive engineered system for a massive undertaking.
Read Daniel Glass’ appreciation of the system here.
Sewers Have Limits: Can’t Handle
Grease
I’ve seen shelves of congealed grease on the walls of sewage pump
stations. Yes, it is gross. WAMU
posted a story of the grease problem in the Washington DC sewers.
