Start the week with the latest in the geoengineering world. Here’s the GeoWire conversation for the week of June 29. WORK SMARTER.
BIG PROJECTS
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has proposed a USD $4.6 billion stormwater and coastal defense strategy to protect Miami against storm surges and rising sea levels. [NPR]
Urban Developer takes a drive through the AUS $4 billion North Connex Tunnel in Sydney. The soon-to-open 9km tunnel runs up to 90m deep at points. It’s Australia’s longest and deepest road tunnel. [YouTube]
-
- Cheers to our friends at Global Synthetics Pty Ltd, which supplied ground improvement materials to the North Connex project!
Resource Recommendation: Maximizing Social Value for Infrastructure Projects [ICE]
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Tree planting is happening on a massive scale around the world to help reduce the impact of climate change and carbon in the atmosphere. Two new studies, however, provide some caution. [BBC]
Construction is one of the largest sources of pollution. Some are pushing “low carbon concrete” as a solution. [CNBC]
Researchers at DGIST in South Korea believe they have solved the riddle of creating thin-film solar panels without the use of any toxic or rare metals. They believe the panels can be made on a commercial scale and at a lower cost. [Phys.Org]
-
- Perhaps one day we will see these panels on landfill caps?
FINANCE
Since the US Clean Water Act was passed nearly 50 years ago, urban sewage has faded as a threat to water quality. Agricultural runoff and stormwater are now the top threats. Is the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) the answer? [Water Finance & Management]
Green investing is hot, but the impact has been tepid. [Economist]
GEOSYNTHETICS
GeoTalk Podcast: HUESKER doesn’t want to be perceived as a manufacturer, says Lilma Schimmel, Head of Engineering. They want foremost to be known as a partner in design. Geocomposites are a part of that story. [Geosynthetica]
Tensar collects perspectives from public agencies and private companies on the impact of COVID on construction and engineering [Tensar blog]
Siamak’s Geosynthetics Podcast checks in with Rob Mcilwraith (Axter) on his unique career path working with private consulting firms and within geosynthetics manufacturing companies. [YouTube]
GOVERNMENT
Researchers from the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) Department of Civil Engineering worked with TxDOT to quantify pavement damage in overload corridors. The results may change how pavement engineers design systems. [Geosynthetica]
South Africa is making infrastructure a central piece of its post-COVID economic recovery plan. [ESI Africa]
The Tiajuana River will get some much-needed attention from Mexico to reduce waterway spills, pollution, and excess flow into San Diego County in dry seasons. The reduction in wastewater (treated and untreated) will greatly benefit communities on both sides of the US – Mexico border. [Coronado Eagle & Journal]
JOBS
Are you nervous about reaching out to a potential employer? Here’s a strategy for your cold emails. [CNBC]
WSP continues to add engineering personnel to its various offices. [WSP]
How safe and useful are hiring assessments? [SHRM]
TECHNOLOGY
Dr. Victoria Bennett, A.M.ASCE (RPI) has utilized gaming in training engineers. Geosynthetica wants to know if the levee failure in the example video had geosynthetics! [GeoInstitute YouTube page]
If there is a marketing lesson we can all take from COVID, it’s that data-driven storytelling can be immensely powerful. [World Economic Forum]
Do you work for a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) company? It can simplify things, certainly; but BYOD tech comes with some corporate legal challenges. [Ipro Tech]
This is the June 29, 2020 GeoWire from Geosynthetica. GeoWire is published on Mondays with thought-leading links to help infrastructure professionals work smarter. News and ideas to share? Contact us.
Previous GeoWire Editions
June 22, 2020
June 15, 2020
June 8, 2020
June 1, 2020
