Summer 2016 | Volume 86| No. 3
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University
2016-2017 Texas Section Officer Ballot Student’s Center 2016 Student Symposium Recap 2016 ASCE Legislative Fly-In Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas PERMIT NO. 879
2
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
On the Cover: Members of the Biology Field Crew work on the Habitat Conservation Plan in the San Marcos River. Photo credit Jennifer Idol. TEXAS SECTION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Crespin Guzman PE OPERATIONS MANAGER: Elizabeth R. Greenwood COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER: Annemarie Gasser 1524 S. Interstate 35 Suite 180 Austin, Texas 78704 Phone: 512-472-8905 E-mail: office@texasce.org Website: www.texasce.org 2015–2016 OFFICERS PRESIDENT: Audra N. Morse PhD, PE PAST PRESIDENT: Curtis B. Beitel PE PRESIDENT ELECT: Craig B. Thompson PE VP-EDUCATIONAL: Brian D. Bresler PE VP-EDUCATIONAL ELECT: Brett A. Pope PE VP-PROFESSIONAL: M. Isabel Vasquez PE VP-PROFESSIONAL ELECT: Travis N. Attanasio PE VP-TECHNICAL: Edward M. Penton PE VP-TECHNICAL ELECT: Oscar Lopez PE TREASURER: Curtis R. Steger PE DIRECTORS AT LARGE SENIOR DIRECTOR AT LARGE: John A. Tyler PE SECOND YEAR DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Melanie D. Gavlik PE FIRST YEAR DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Tyler P. Dube PE FIRST YEAR DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Kathryn S. Osborn EIT SECTION DIRECTORS Travis S. Isaacson PE, Austin Branch Robert Lys Jr PE, Brazos Branch Russell R. Carter PE, Caprock Branch John A. Simcik PE, Central Texas Branch Anthony B. Gavlik PE, Corpus Christi Branch Anthony D. Luce PE, Dallas Branch Yvonne C. Conde-Curry PE, El Paso Branch Kimberly K. Cornett PE, Fort Worth Branch Joseph W. Shehan PE, High Plains Branch Paul A. Voiles PE, Houston Branch Russell W. Gibson PE, Northeast Texas Branch Dora E. Marin-Robles EIT, Rio Grande Valley Branch Kara J. Heasley PE, San Antonio Branch Robert C. Hickman PE, Southeast Texas Branch Brady M. Standford EIT, West Texas Branch ASCE - Region 6 Kenneth B. Morris PE Director and Board of Governors Chair 2013-2016 Jeremy P. Stahle PE Governor—Oklahoma Section 2013-2016 Daniel B. Hartman PE, F.ASCE Governor—Texas Section 2014-2017
In This Issue
Summer 2016 | Volume 86 | Number 3 Calendar of Events 4 CPD Opportunities 4 President’s Message 5 Message From the Executive Director
6
Report From Region 6 7 Student’s Center 8 Meet Your Board Members
10
Nominees for 2016-2017 Officers 12 ASCE Texas Section Ballot 14 2016 ASCE Legislative Fly-In
15
Executive Director Job Opening
16
Cover Story: The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment 18 Branch News 22 Younger Members’ Corner 24 Legislative News 26 Membership Report 27 ASCE News 28 Edward N. Noyes
29
Business Directory 30
Jerry B. Paz PE Governor—New Mexico Section 2015-2018 David F. J. Calabuig, Sr. PE Governor—Texas Section 2015–2018 Sean P. Merrell PE Governor—Appointed (Texas Section) 2013-2016
TexASCE.org
3
Calendar of Events
CPD Opportunities
Texas Section Meetings
To enhance communications between ASCE and ASCE’s Regions, Sections, and Branches, Geographic Services is pleased to advise you of the following seminars scheduled in our area:
Executive Committee Meeting
July 15, 2016
ASCE Texas Section Leadership Training
July 16, 2016
National Concrete Canoe Competition in Tyler, Texas
June 9-11, 2016
CECON 2016 - San Marcos
Sept. 21 - 23, 2016
Addison Nov 12-15, 2017 Geo Panam Unsaturated Soils Houston June 26-29, 2016
International Conference on Transportation and Development
June 26, 2016 Transportation Camp Texas Detailed descriptions of seminars are available at www.asce.org/continuing_education/
Texas Civil Engineer Deadlines Fall 2016 - Volume 86, No. 4 August 24 Ad Insertion Deadline August 10 Copy Submittal Deadline
Find us on Facebook Badge
CMYK / .eps
@TEXASCETweets
4
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
President’s Message How can that be me?
In this issue of the Texas Civil Engineer, we are highlighting the Texas Section Officer nominees and are encouraging you to express your voice by voting for them. Maybe you have read the backgrounds of the nominees and find yourself wondering “how can that be me?” There are many paths to the Texas Section Board. First, volunteer by saying “yes, I will do it.” Your volunteer activities can begin in your local branch. Maybe you start as an executive officer in the Branch, or you show up to Branch activities. Showing up and expressing interest will get you noticed. Many of my fellow officers began their ASCE careers at the Branch level. For instance, Russell Carter began his ASCE career by serving as an officer in the Caprock Branch before moving to Texas Section committee positions. You can also jump into Section activities as Past President Curtis B. Beitel PE did following a different path. His involvement with the Texas Section began by serving as the Water Resources Technical chair. That role led to serving as Vice President-Technical and he also served as the Section Director for the Fort Worth Branch. He served as Budget Chair for the Fall 2007 Section meeting and then Chair of the Host Committee for the Fall 2012 Texas Section meeting. President Elect nominee, Lawrence D. Goldberg PE, started serving the Section as a technical paper judge at Section meetings and he chaired the Drainage Committee for a few years. Due to volunteering at Houston Branch activities, his interest in
ASCE was noticed and Goldberg was nominated for VP-Education and assumed the position in 2013. Although involved in my Student Chapter, my transition to the professional ASCE world began Audra N. Morse PhD, PE as a Faculty Advisor for the Texas Section President Texas Tech University Student Chapter. I was a glorified taxi driver, traveling with my students across the state to attend Section meetings and student competitions. Due to my constant presence at the meetings, I was asked to serve as VP-Education. That service opened the door to become the President of the Texas Section. So, the key to becoming involved is to say “yes” to volunteer opportunities and let people know you are interested in leadership positions within your Branch and the Section. Goldberg shared with me the following “… the relationships I developed along my journey opened the door for my nomination as President Elect. Take time to spend with colleagues and build relationships. By collaborating with fellow ASCE members, we all provide for the betterment of our industry.” I could not agree with him more. The Corpus Christi Branch honored their recently appointed Life Members and existing Life Members. The Life Members have had leadership positions within their Branch or even the Section. I look forward to reaching the same honor as the individuals in this photo.
Corpus Christi Branch Life Members who attended the May 3, 2016 Branch meeting were (standing L to R): Rendell C. Webb PE, John P. Buckner PE, James P. Naismith PE, Carl E. Crull PE, David M. Herring PE, Boyd E. Braniff PE, Joseph E. Minor PhD, PE, F.ASCE.(seated L to R): Joseph D. Rehmet PE, Yogesh D. Shah PE, Joe F. Trejo PE, Michael D. Stridde PE, and Vernon A. Wuensche PE. Those seated were the most recent Branch Life Members and were presented with pins, certificates, and a copy of the Texas Section Centennial history book “Engineering a Better Texas.”
TexASCE.org
5
Message From The Executive Director Don’t Succumb to the Summer Doldrums! ASCE and the Texas Section will do all it can to keep you in the Crespin Guzman PE thick of it when it comes to new and Executive Director exciting activities, gearing you up for whatever fall 2016 brings your way. Of course, first, you have to decide that you want to do more than less, this summer. On the heels of the Student Symposium in April, Memorial Day kicks off the summer, so if you are into the Concrete Canoe Competitions, then June is right up your alley. The ASCE Finals for the competition are in Tyler in early June and hosted by the Texas Section, Northeast Texas Branch, and the University of Texas at Tyler Student Chapter in Tyler, Texas! The Section has two entries competing, and we wish them both well! ASCE Global, its Regions, Sections and many Branches are having their election of officers which just might get your attention, if you consider yourself a “Mover and Shaker.” The Texas Section can get excited the July
ExComm weekend we have the Section’s Leadership Workshop, and we are hoping some new Section/ Branch officers attend. It will be a fun weekend, so bring your family to the Omni Barton Creek Resort just west of Austin! By then we will have also gotten into the final planning stages for CECON 2016 via marketing and programming, but there is plenty more to do. The CECON Committee is always accepting new members, regardless of where our annual conference is located. If you are wondering how can you help, join the committee and be a part of the many decisions that will bring this effort to fruition in September. Register, attend and partake in all CECON offers, and you will probably want more afterwards! About the same time that CECON is happening, ASCE Global puts on its leadership training event for new Regional Governors, Section, and Branch Presidents and if you happen to be in that group, congratulations! I hope your summer will be interesting, challenging, and full of fun experiences! After summer is over, it’s full speed ahead for the new fiscal year!
Become an FPA Member! Access Online Presentations, Papers, and Calculators FPA – The Best Value in PDHs
foundationperformance.org
6
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
report from region 6
Kenneth B. Morris PE, PTOE Region 6 Director
Region 6 represents three Sections (Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas), 19 Branches, and 22 Student Chapters. We are one of the largest regions in terms of populations, and we are definitely one of the most complex in terms of the number of geographic units represented.
An ASCE Board of Direction meeting was held in Washington, D.C. at the Annual Legislative Fly-In. The Board of Direction held a strategic session to discuss items that the Board felt needed additional attention for the members. Some items discussed during our meeting were Raise the Bar, Pre-College Outreach, Public Policies, Professional Liability and Risk Management. A Task Committee was formed to look more closely at the Raise the Bar initiative to determine if ASCE is spending its resources wisely and how our current approach is working to raise the educational achievements to be a licensed professional engineer. Public Policies are also important to members of ASCE since they set the agenda for our dealings with and lobbying of Congress and our State Legislators for continued funding of infrastructure projects. Some policies also deal with work safety, licensure and sustainability. Professional Liability and Risk Management are also concerns for those who practice engineering. ASCE is constantly looking at tort reform and the role the engineer plays in projects that are subject to lawsuits. As mentioned in the Spring Texas Civil Engineer, a Task Committee on Geographic Regions is in the process of reviewing region boundaries within the U.S. A decision will have to be made by the Board of Direction either to keep the regions as they are divided or reduce the number of regions to keep the board at 17 members which would consolidate some regions that have lower membership. A meeting was held on May 22 to discuss and finalize the findings of the committee. A recommendation from the committee will be considered by the Board of Direction at its July 2016 meeting and a final decision will be made in September at the Annual ASCE Convention. I will keep the Texas Section Board members and administrative staff informed on the decision. Several Region 6 Governors attended the ASCE Texas Student Symposium in April. The conference was well attended by the Texas Section who also had a Section Board Meeting the day before the events. The Texas Section Board of Direction received a report from the Region 6 Director on national and regional issues. Several engineers judged the concrete canoe or steel bridge competitions. The Region winner for the concrete canoe was the University of Texas at Austin. The University of Texas at Tyler will be hosting the national
concrete canoe competition June 9 - 11 in Tyler. If you are interested in judging the concrete canoe competition at nationals please contact the Northeast Texas Branch or Dallas Branch Younger members who are working with ASCE Global on volunteers. Leslie Payne (lpayne@asce.org) is the ASCE National coordinator. The Region 6 Board of Governors had their most recent meeting at the New Mexico Section meeting in Socorro, New Mexico. The Board of Governors approved a $500 donation to the Student Chapter at the University of Texas at Tyler to help with the concrete canoe competition. We discussed the establishment of an Outstanding Student Chapter Award through Region 6 that would give a stipend to the Student Chapter that exhibited the highest achievements and growth throughout the year. A discussion was held on the Flint, Michigan water crisis and what ASCE’s role should be now and in the future with other water supply systems. The next meeting of the Region 6 Board of Governors will be held on August 26, 2016 at the Oklahoma Section meeting and the last Region 6 Board meeting for the year will be at CECON, September 21-23, 2016. If any member would like to address the Region 6 Board of Governors or has an item that you would like us to consider, please forward it to the Texas Section office. The ASCE Annual Convention will be held in Portland, Oregon, September 28 – October 1, 2016. It is a great opportunity to attend technical sessions and meet other civil engineers who share a common interest. Sincerely,
Kenneth B. Morris PE Region 6 Director
Civil Engineers are Global Leaders building a better quality of life.
TexASCE.org
7
Student’s Center Texas Tech University Angie Fealy ASCE Texas Student Symposium is finally over! The planning and execution of the event was very memorable. Texas Tech University was overwhelmed by the turnout of students and supporters for the three-day event. We learned a lot about planning, execution and Murphy’s Law during the Student Symposium. The planning committee worked very hard to make sure this was a successful conference including the late nights and early mornings setting up and taking down event materials. Although it was a joint conference, the two competitions still seemed separated. Texas Tech worked very hard to have mini-events and competitions to involve students that were not competing in the main events. We wanted attendees to learn that ASCE is more than just building bridges and racing canoes. The students seemed like they were more interested in watching bridges fail and hoping for the canoes to crash than partake in mini events. The mini-events that Tech hosted were concrete Frisbee, concrete bowling and a mystery design event that had students engineer a structure to support the AISC Steel Manual. The most successful mini-event was concrete
Tyler P. Dube PE First Year Director at Large
bowling. Students enjoyed watching their bowling balls break apart and smash through the bowling lane. Spectators were amazed that these concrete bowling balls were able to withstand the impact that the students were exerting on the balls. We had also planned eight seminars that would assist undergraduate and graduating seniors how to “survive in the real world.” The Symposium included a career fair with ten companies that were searching for full-time employees, summer interns and semester co-op students. The career fair gave students the opportunity to approach a company oneon-one and have a personal conversation with them. Three students found job opportunities from the career fair! We had hoped to have more companies join the career fair, but we are pleased with the outcome. Texas Tech feels very fortunate to have been able to set the bar so high for the first ever ASCE Texas Student Symposium. It was a long planning period and seemed like an even longer three-day event, but it’s finally over. Congratulations to Texas A&M University and SMU for advancing to the Steel Bridge National Competition, as well as the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at Tyler for advancing to the Concrete Canoe National Competition. We wish the University of Texas at El Paso all the best hosting the 2017 Symposium.
Texas Tech students at the ASCE Texas Student Symposium Awards Dinner.
8
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
After an intense competition between the schools in the region, UT Austin came away with the win through its superior performance in all aspects of the competition. The team swept the canoe races placing first overall in four of the five races and winning second in oral presentation, final product, and design paper. UT Austin Concrete Canoe Team. Photo: Mary Kate Corrado
The University of Texas at Austin By R aul Olver a The University of Texas at Austin Student Chapter focuses on the development of their members through a variety of experiential learning opportunities. These include outreach programs, networking events, and technical competitions. This past year, UT Austin ASCE received a Letter of Honorable Mention for its high level of involvement within the organization, the university, and the community. The Student Chapter focused on preparing members for the transition from college to postgraduate careers by hosting a variety of events with companies and professionals from various civil engineering disciplines. To promote staying involved with ASCE, the Chapter ended the year with a panel discussion in cooperation with ASCE Austin Branch. We discussed continuing ASCE involvement throughout our members’ professional careers. One of the main highlights of the 2015-2016 UT ASCE Student Chapter was its first place victory for the concrete canoe competition at the 2016 ASCE Texas Student Symposium. After the disappointing sinking of last year’s canoe, Poseidon, the team came into the competition with a chip on their shoulder and were ready to compete. Led by captains, Xavier Garza and Brenna Vonasek, the team came together to manufacture and present Al Capone under the theme of “Mobsters and Lobsters.”
Having won the regional competition the team is now looking forward to competing in June in the National Concrete Canoe Competition hosted by UT Tyler in Tyler, Texas. This is the first time in five years that the UT Austin has qualified for Nationals, and the team has high hopes of continuing their success at the next level!
Al Capone, UT Austin’s First Place Winning Canoe. Photo: Mary Kate Corrado
The University of Texas at Arlington By Pr apti Sharma It has been an amazing semester for the UTA Student Chapter as it received the Distinguished Chapter Award for the year 2015! All the hard work by officers and members along with Dr. Jim Williams, the Faculty Continued on page 21
TexASCE.org
9
Meet Your Board Members
VP-Professional Elect: Tr avis N. Attanasio PE, CFM Travis is currently serving as the Vice President Professional Elect. He is employed as the City Engineer for the City of Haslet. Q: What was the weirdest/hardest/most interesting interview question you have been asked? How was your answer? A: What was the last book you read? I had just finished reading 11/22/63 which is a great historical fiction novel by Stephen King Q: Given the choice of anyone in the world, past, present, or future, whom would you want as a dinner guest? A: Given the opportunity I would like to have any expresident describe to me what the “daily situation report” delivered by the CIA actually says. It seems that all
10
campaign promises instantly go out the door after they know what is actually going on in the world. George W. Bush would be an ideal one because we could also talk baseball. Q: What is your favorite part of or top interest in the civil engineering profession? A: I love the fact that in civil engineering you get to design something that would will be able to see/use for your entire lifetime. Q: What concept in civil engineering have you found especially hard to grasp? A: Engineering Economics and the ability to plan today’s dollars for projects that are 10-20 years from completion. Really wish I had paid more attention in that class in college. Q: Have you completed any physical challenges? (i.e. marathons, iron man, swam across the English Channel) A: When I was a firefighter in Colorado I was on a wildland fire crew called the 285 Hotshots. It was a crew of about 50 people that was on-call during the summer months to be dispatched anywhere in Colorado to assist the Forest Service. One summer we were called to a large blaze and were digging line across a ridge to try and create a fire break when the wind shifted and the flames started to make a run to us. The helicopter above saw the fire making a run and radioed to us that a rock outcropping was about ¼ mile away, but what they couldn’t see was there was also about a 500-foot elevation difference as well, which if you do the math equates to a 3:1 slope. We covered that distance in less than 4 minutes carrying 45-lb packs on our packs basically running up that slope. It was the closest I ever came to deploying my fire shelter. Q: What sports team(s) do you support, or what team(s) do you love to see lose? A: DENVER BRONCOS! I basically came out of the womb wearing a Broncos jersey and I’m pretty sure if you cut me I’ll bleed orange and blue. Super Bowl 50 champions!!!!!!!!!!!!! Q: What book has influenced you the most? A: A book entitled The Four Agreements, agreements you make with yourself and agreements you make with others by Don Miguel Ruiz: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Don’t Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best. Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be? A: The ability to zoom into something with your eyes, like a camera.
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Kathryn S. Osborn EIT First Year Director at Large
Q: If you could master one skill that you don’t have right now, what would it be? A: The ability to pick up any instrument and play it would be an amazing talent to have. Life of the party, never bored, and always looked up to. Q: What teacher inspired you the most, and how or why? A: My AP Physics teacher in high school was the one to first inspire me to engineering. He taught with flair and flamboyance and told me when I got into Mines…”Go get it” RIP Mr. Rod Stor Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in the last year? A: Don’t let loyalty to coworkers influence your ability to see who signs your paycheck. Q: What’s your favorite type of cuisine? A: Prior to moving to Texas I stuck mainly with Italian cuisine as it is my heritage, however, nowadays I am such a fan of Tex-Mex and anything that has Hatch green chilies in it. Q: What’s the one thing you’ve waited in line the longest for? A: The South Park movie had a line on the premiere night of over 4 hours of waiting. Q: Were you the former winner of any previous competitions? A: I don’t think I have ever singlehandedly won anything. Teams…sure but me no. Q: Why did you choose to become a civil engineer? A: Civil engineering was not my first choice in college, electrical was, but one bad wiring experience (and car fire later) and I was seeking to change my major. A geotechnical lab was hiring interns and I saw an easy A in my future if I was actually working in the field I was studying. Switching majors was one of the best decisions I made. Q: If a Modern Wonders of Texas list was created, what would you put on it? A: Cowboys Stadium, San Jacinto Monument, Lady Bird Johnson Lake Dam, Sweetwater Windmills. Q: Describe your family: A: I’ve just recently married after a 5-year courtship and along with my loving wife I have two stepchildren; a boy 17 and girl 13. Q: Other random or interesting thing about you that would be fun to share: A: As most Engineers can attest there are days where you absolutely do not want to be a Civil Engineer, deadlines always seem to be approaching, clients are never 100%
satisfied, and a slew of other things that just add a general level of stress to life. But that said there are those moments when you look at something you designed and can take pride knowing that the knowledge you have stored in your brain is what produced that project, whether it enhances public safety, functions in a way something has never functioned before, or just looks good. Being a Civil Engineer takes pride. As my time in ASCE progresses I can look at colleagues and see that many Civil Engineers are not in their profession to make money, to take the easy road, to retire early….no…A Civil Engineer takes pride in their profession, practicing their skills for as long as their body and mind can take them, because they are a Civil Engineer. John Tyler PE: Senior Director At Large John is currently serving as the Senior Director at Large. He is a Senior Project Manager at Pape Dawson Engineers, where he has worked for more than 11 years Q: What is your favorite part of or top interest in the civil engineering profession? A: Solving problems for the public. It is very rewarding to observe a built solution to a problem which only moments ago presented another obstacle in someone’s quality of life. Q: What do you do to de-stress? A: My wife and I enjoy putting puzzles together without looking at the cover. Yes it sounds boring but is a great way to disconnect. This gets your mind off day to day stresses and enables quality time, well until a piece goes missing….Also enjoy spending time outside swimming and driving the Crazy Cart. Q: Why did you choose to become a civil engineer? A: I have always enjoyed logistical challenges. A civil engineering project is nothing but these challenges. Each project is always different and presents its own unique set of obstacles. Every day is something new. Q: Describe your family: A: Beautiful wife Anna, daughter Madelyn, who I wish I could share in her energy level, 3 month old son Keller, Labrador Mallory, and a fish called Budde Q: Other random or interesting thing about you that would be fun to share: A: I am avid drummer and played in a few bands. Continued on page 17
TexASCE.org
11
Nominees For 2016 - 2017 Officers PRESIDENT ELECT NOMINEE Lawrence D. Goldberg PE Lawrence (Larry) Goldberg has been active in ASCE since his involvement in the Student Chapter at Texas A&M University. After graduating in 1983 he was active in the Houston ASCE Branch until 1986 when he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Lawrence continued his involvement in the Phoenix Branch from 1986 to 1989. In 1989 Lawrence return to Houston, Texas and once again became active in the Houston Branch and Texas Section from 1989 to present. Some of Lawrence’s ASCE activities include: Chairperson Houston Branch Water and Drainage Committee (91/92), Chairperson Texas Section Vendor Presentation Committee (91/92), Chairperson Houston Branch Continuing Education Committee (93/94), Chairperson Texas Section Water Resource Committee (94/95), Chairperson Texas Section Host Committee (95/96), President Houston Branch (00/01), Past President Houston Branch (01/02),VP Elect / VP Educational Texas Section (13/15), Chairperson Entertainment / A/V CECON (13/14), Chairperson Section/Branch Liaison (15/16), Member Texas Section Strategic Planning Committee (15/16). Lawrence has received the following awards: John Focht Jr. Citizen Award 1994, Houston Branch Award of Honor 2011, Texas Section –Professional Service Award 2015, and American Cancer Society Jr. Board President 1992/1993. Lawrence is currently Executive Vice President of Land Development for Landev Engineers, Inc. He has been married to his wife Rhoda since 2007 and they have four daughters. VP EDUCATIONAL ELECT NOMINEE Russell R. Carter PE Russell Carter is an Instructor at Texas Tech University and owner of Carter Consulting & Engineering, LLC. He has worked and consulted for several research centers at Texas Tech University and Clemson University. He has
12
documented and investigated damage to structures in over a dozen tornadoes and hurricanes. His investigations and research were used in development of FEMA 320 “Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building a Safe Room for Your Home or Small Business”, FEMA 361 “Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms” and ICC 500 “ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters”. Russell has worked in private consulting since 2006 opening his own firm in 2011. Russell has been active with ASCE since he was a graduate student at Texas Tech University. In 2007 he became the Practitioner Advisor to The Texas Tech University Student Chapter. He served as the Caprock Branch President 2009-2010 and is the Caprock Branch Section Director since 2011. Russell is active in supporting the student chapters. He has volunteered as a judge for six Texas-Mexico Regional Steel Bridge Competitions and one National Steel Bridge Competition. He has also volunteered the last four years as a judge for the Texas-Mexico Regional Concrete Canoe Competitions. He is currently Chair of the Student Activities Committee and has worked on the committee since 2013. VP PROFESSIONAL ELECT NOMINEE Andrew L. Mellen PE Andrew Mellen is the Principal Civil Engineer with Maverick Engineering, headquartered in Midland, Texas. With over 15 years of Commercial and Residential experience completing multi-million dollar construction projects, he has been involved in the planning and design of over 5,000 acres of grading, paving, water, sewer, irrigation, and surveying for projects throughout the Southwest. Andrew is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. Andrew’s involvement with ASCE began with his membership in the Student Chapter at New Mexico State University. He maintained his membership in ASCE following graduation with his relocation to Phoenix, Arizona and subsequently Midland, Texas. Andrew is currently a member of the West Texas Branch where
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
his has held multiple officer positions including Branch President in 2012 and Section Director from 2013 to 2015. Andrew was the recipient of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers Permian Basin Chapter 2011 Young Engineer of the Year award. He was also named as Engineering News-Record Texas & Louisiana’s “Top 20 Under 40” Professionals in 2012. Andrew and wife, Jacqueline, are Managing Partners of Maverick Engineering. Their free-time is spent with their beautiful daughter, Natalie. Under Andrew’s guidance, Maverick has become a regional leader in civil engineering consulting since its formation in 2013. The firm was recognized in 2015 by ENR Texas & Louisiana as a Top Design Firm. VP TECHNICAL ELECT NOMINEE Steven Brent McNeme PE Brent McNeme joined the Dallas office at Terracon Consultants, Inc. in 2014 and serves as a Senior Engineer in the geotechnical department. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas. His eleven years of geotechnical engineering experience includes a variety of water resources (levees, pipelines), energy, transportation, commercial and residential projects. He currently serves as manager of the Geotechnical Laboratory and as a Co-Leader of the Energy Business Sector for the Dallas Office. Brent has been an active member of ASCE for 13 years. Brent currently serves as Past Chair on the Geo-Institute of Texas (TXGI). He has previously served the TXGI as Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer and also on the paper grading committee before the TXGI was established in 2008. Brent also served on the planning committee for the national ASCE Pipelines Conference that was held in Fort Worth, Texas in 2013. Brent graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington in 2005. Brent’s hobbies include barbequing, hunting/fishing and spending time with his wife, Christine, his children, Claire and Gage.
DIRECTOR AT LARGE NOMINEE Dora E. Marin-Robles PE Dora first started her engineering career at South Texas College, where she received her Associate of Science in Engineering. In the summer of 2011 she was hired by TxDOT as a summer intern working out of the Pharr Area Office. In December 2011 she graduated from the University of Texas – Pan American with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. She was part of the 2nd graduating class on the newly established Civil Engineering Program. Immediately after graduation, Dora was accepted into graduate school at Texas A&M University – Kingsville where she acquired her Master of Science in Civil Engineering in December 2013. While attending graduate school, Dora worked for a year and a half as an Engineering Intern with the City of Pharr. Upon completion of her Master’s degree, she was hired full time as an Engineer In Training and continued working at the City’s Engineering Department for two more years. During her time there, she was involved in the planning, design and construction of various city projects and spearheaded partnering efforts between the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley Civil Engineering Program and City of Pharr through various research & project opportunities. In June 2015, she returned to TxDOT as an Engineering Assistant working in the Pharr Area Office in construction project management. DIRECTOR AT LARGE NOMINEE Adarsh Menon Adarsh Menon is an Operations and Maintenance Engineer for ExxonMobil GSC. In his current role, he is responsible for the technical management of facility systems including the central plant, HVAC, fire-safety, wastewater and potable water for the ExxonMobil Campus in Houston, TX. Adarsh also serves as a Civil Engineer Officer for the 822nd CEF in Fort Worth as an Air Force reservist.
TexASCE.org
13
Adarsh has been an active member of ASCE since his undergraduate years at Michigan State University. He was awarded the ASCE ERYMC Outstanding Young Civil Engineer in the Public Sector in 2014 and was chosen as an ASCE delegate for the prestigious Emerging Leaders Alliance in 2015. Adarsh holds a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University and a Master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. TREASURER NOMINEE Anthony D. Buonodono PE Anthony (Tony) Buonodono is a Senior Project Manager for MWM DesignGroup and is their Infrastructure Group Leader. His professional experience includes a wide variety of civil engineering projects with a focus on utility design, hydraulics, and hydrology. Tony is a Past President of the Austin Branch of ASCE and has been active in various board and committee positions with the Branch since 2005. He also serves on the board of directors for the Travis Chapter of TSPE and is slated to become the President Elect in 2016. The Travis Chapter of TSPE awarded Tony the Young Engineer of the Year award in 2015.
ASCE Texas Section Ballot INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING
1. All Subscribing Members in good standing of the Texas Section are entitled to vote for one candidate for each office except Director at Large, which has two positions to fill. 2. Write-in candidates are acceptable. 3. The verification portion must be completed. 4. You may vote online at http://www.texasce.org/surveys/?id=797858 (log-in required), or mail your ballot to the address below. You may copy this page or remove the page if you wish. 5. Ballots must reach the Texas Section office no later than June 30, 2016 to be counted. PRESIDENT ELECT
Lawrence D. Goldberg PE, Houston Branch Write-In
VICE PRESIDENT-EDUCATIONAL ELECT
Russell R. Carter PE, Caprock Branch
Write-In
VICE PRESIDENT-PROFESSIONAL ELECT
Andrew L. Mellen PE, West Texas Branch
Write-In
VICE PRESIDENT-TECHNICAL ELECT
Steven Brent McNeme PE, Dallas Branch
Write-In
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Tony holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University, a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and is an Eagle Scout. After graduating from college, Tony married his high school sweetheart, Amber, moved to Austin, Texas, and never left. They have two bright and beautiful daughters, Alexandria (7) and Andromeda (5).
Dora E. Marin-Robles PE, Rio Grande Valley Branch
Write-In
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Adarsh Menon, Houston Branch
Write-In
TREASURER
Anthony D. Buonodono PE, Austin Branch
Write-In
Membership Verification, Please PRINT: Name: ASCE Membership ID Number: Address: Email Address: Signature: Paper Ballots may be mailed to: ASCE Texas Section 1524 S. Interstate 35, Suite 180 Austin, TX 78704 or emailed to egreenwood@texasce.org
or you may vote online:
http://www.texasce.org/surveys/?id=797858
14
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Texas Members attend Legislative Fly-In
Brandon Klenzendorf PE
On March 15 and 16, nine ASCE Texas Section members from across the state traveled to Washington D.C. as part of the annual ASCE Legislative Fly-In. The Fly-In is an intensive two-day program that provides participants with an inside look at the political process. The attendees met with the offices of both Texas Senators and their individual Representatives to share the civil engineering perspective on the upcoming or ongoing legislation. The focus of the legislation was passage of a Water Resources Development Act which is currently on a two-year cycle, the importance of increased investment for water infrastructure including water and wastewater treatment, and the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration program.
ASCE Texas Section Members attended the annual Legislative Fly-In. Left to Right: Allen Bud Beene PE, Patricia Frayre PE, Brandon Klenzendorf PE, Caleb Hing PhD, PE, Steven Crawford PE, Craig Thompson PE, Joan Abrams,Travis Barnett PE, Tim G Abrams PE. Photo: Travis Barnett PE
Members of the Texas Section that attended the FlyIn represented the following ASCE Branches: Austin, Caprock, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, and Fort Worth; and spoke with eight U.S. Representatives out of a total of 36 Representatives from Texas. With Texas having such a large presence in our national legislature, we encourage more ASCE Texas Section members to be a part of the Fly-In. ASCE members can sign up to be a Key Contact to influence the policy process at the state and federal levels. If you are interested in learning more about the state and national legislative process and ways to contribute to the process, visit http://www.asce.org/keycontacts/. ďƒł Would you like to write an article for Texas Civil Engineer magazine? All you have to do is ask! Contact our Editorial Committee Chair, John Tyler PE with your story suggestion share@texasce.org.
TexASCE.org
15
Texas Section Executive Director Job Opening After six years of devoted service as Executive Director, Crespin Guzman PE, will be officially retiring from his position with ASCE Texas Section in the end of September 2016. We are, therefore, advertising the opportunity for an individual to fill the Executive Director role for ASCE Texas Section. We will sorely miss the leadership and guidance Mr. Guzman brought to the Section! We wish him the best in his well-earned retirement.
Establish and strengthen partnerships with Texas state agencies Support Branch special functions and activities Provide key communication and coordination between Texas Section, Region 6, and Global ASCE
Job Opening
Executive Director Texas Section ASCE The Texas Section ASCE is accepting letters of interest from qualified applicants to serve as the Executive Director of Texas Section ASCE.
Qualifications Required • Member, Texas Section ASCE • PE license/working experience in Texas • Experience serving ASCE in positions of responsibility at the Branch, Section and/or National/Global levels • Experience overseeing an office or department • Excellent communication and presentation skills • Excellent writing skills
Promote initiatives that benefit Texas Section and Branches, and manage and/or coordinate initiatives to completion Represent the Texas Section before other Professional and Governmental bodies as requested by the Section Leadership, inclusive of the State Legislature Ensure the Texas Section provides nominations for ASCE Global awards and programs Communicate ASCE policy to the media and the public Promote membership growth and retention Report to the Office Personnel Committee (OPC) via the Section President
Location:
Preferred
• Experience coordinating with legislators • Experience in marketing and use of Social Media
Job Duties
Oversee the Texas Section office, including directing staff, coordinating with the TCE publisher and coordinating with the Section accountant Ensure decisions and actions of the the Board of Direction and Executive Committee (Strategic Plan and Governing Documents) are implemented Support activities resulting in the budgeting, planning and execution of CECON and Student Symposium Identify, review and develop non-dues revenue sources in coordination with the Budget Finance Committee and Section Accountant
16
Provide key communication and coordination between Texas Section Branches and Committees
Live in or near Austin, Texas
Salary:
Negotiable dependent upon applicant’s experience and abilities
Hours:
Part-time (<30 hours/week with minimal benefits)
Start Date:
September 1, 2016
Application Deadline: July 1, 2016
Please submit your letter of interest and supporting information electronically to: Audra Morse, PhD, PE, BCEE, Texas Section ASCE President president@texasce.org Download the Job Opening PDF
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Continued from page 11
First Year Director At Large: Tyler Dube PE Tyler is currently serving as a First Year Director at Large. He is a project manage at Pape-Dawson Engineers, where he has worked for more than five years. Q: Describe your family: A: My wife Sara and I got married in 2011 but have been together for almost 13 years. We are native Austinites, a rare breed these days. We have a dog named Piggie and a cat named Rhonda. Sara and I have spent the last 5 years touring the state to pursue work and career goals. We moved to San Antonio in 2011 so that I could begin work at Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc. (PD) in their Transportation group. A few years later I transferred to the PD Houston Land Development group so Sara could attend the UT School of Public Health to earn a Masters degree in Public Health. I completed yet another PD transfer (back to Transportation) at the beginning of the year when we recently moved back to Austin to be closer to family and friends, which will come in handy when we have our first child in July 2016! Q: Why did you choose to become a civil engineer? A: As a kid I always enjoyed watching engineering shows on TV (like Modern Marvels, Extreme Engineering, etc.) and looking out the car window at construction sites around town. When my dad moved to a new subdivision in my late elementary school years, we lived in the last completed house on our street with many more still under construction. All of the workers would be gone by the time I got home from school—I would spend the last few hours of daylight climbing through half-way constructed houses, inspecting what the giant earth-moving machines had done since my previous explorations, riding my bike on streets that weren’t open to traffic yet…it was probably pretty dangerous now that I think about it, but it really sparked my interest in how the world is put together and the level of effort needed to get things built. Q: What is your favorite part of or top interest in the civil engineering profession? A: My favorite part about civil engineering is the ability to see my handiwork every day and see that people are getting good use out of what I designed. I take pride in my work as an Engineer – a lot of thought goes into what I do. Whenever I see someone riding in a wheel chair in the right lane of a frontage road (because there are no sidewalks) it reminds me of the people I’m helping when I’m designing sidewalks. The same goes for when I see people take out the curb with their car tire on a righthand turn – it reminds me to think long and hard about how my driveway designs will feel and operate to the average motorist. I really enjoy the thought processes that go beyond simple problem-solving, making things
work (and work well) is what gets me out of bed every day. Q: Were you the former winner of any previous competitions? A: I never was very good at sports. My hand-eye coordination came a lot later than most of my peers, I was pretty much a guaranteed “out” when at bat in baseball. And I’m still pretty bad at sports, my wife and I used to try to play catch on the weekends and it would always end up in an argument over whether I was intentionally throwing the ball out of her reach or not. I’m really just not very good! It wasn’t until I got to the 6th grade that I found something that I really excelled at – music. I learned to play the trumpet, took lessons through middle school and high school, and joined the Longhorn Band in college. I was usually seated at or near the first chair, made it to the 11th and 2nd chair positions in the Texas All-State Band my junior and senior years of high school, respectively; was a top trumpet player in the Longhorn Band for 4-years, served as Section Leader for two of those years and was selected to be the Drum Major in 2009-2010. As the Drum Major I was the sole leader of the campus’ largest spirit organization (about 400 members) and got to travel around the country with the band to support UT Athletics. Twelve years of band practices where everyone working towards playing the same tune (and in time with each other) went a long way in preparing me for the professional world. I now lead a project team of up to 15 people in the preparation of PS&E for roadway improvement projects statewide, the challenges of gaining a consistent design philosophy and plan production style aren’t too far off from the challenges of getting a marching band to march and play music with uniform sound and form.
TexASCE.org
17
The Meadows Center For Water and The Environment San Marcos, Texas By: Anna Huff
Dive Safety Officer Sam Meacham cleaning cream of wheat out of the springs. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Idol.
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University is the
only organization of its kind in Texas. The headquarters are located on the site of an environmentally, culturally, and archaeologically significant resource, Spring Lake, which is located at the headwaters of the San Marcos River and serves as a living laboratory, a community center, and an irreplaceable educational resource. The Meadows Center brings together community members, scholars, academic researchers, environmental professionals, and both public and private sector partners to conduct scientific research and promote environmental stewardship. Spring Lake holds the key to scientific discoveries that inform sound water management decisions and find solutions to help guide sustainable water resources across Texas and around the world. Spring lake is home to eight threatened and endangered species, one of which – Texas Wild Rice – is found
18
nowhere else on earth. The Biology Field Crew, led by Chief Science Officer Dr. Thom Hardy, rehabilitates aquatic habitats and conducts research in the San Marcos River as part of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan. Since 2012, the field crew has contributed to an overall 53% increase of endangered Texas Wild Rice distribution in the river. So far in 2016, they have planted more than 2,500 native plants and removed over 350 square meters of invasive plants. The success of these efforts has gained national attention from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Biology Field Crew also utilizes an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to collect environmental data in support of their restoration work in the San Marcos River and other river systems throughout Texas, including bay and estuaries. The UAS captures high-resolution, multispectral imagery that is geo-referenced and can be stitched into a mosaic to map species’ distributional patterns or identify various environmental characteristics. This aerial imagery has allowed the Biology Field Crew to more efficiently map and document aquatic vegetation
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
restoration, nesting bird colonies and aquatic habitat distributions in many Texas aquatic ecosystems. For millions of years, over 200 springs have bubbled up to form one of the largest aquifer-spring systems in the world at the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Human history here stretches back 12,000 years – making it possibly the longest continuously inhabited site in North America. In fact, archaeological evidence indicates that this area has been occupied during every period of human activity in Central Texas. In 1849 General Edward Burleson, former Vice President of the Republic of Texas, built a dam just below the springs at the head of the San Marcos River to power a gristmill, thus inundating the springs and forming what is known today as Spring Lake. C.W. Wimberley, a local historian and writer, described the dam with the following: “This old relic of the past is worth your study – to see big cedar log piling angled across the river basin, boarded with smaller heart cedar logs fronted by a rock-filled barrier above their height at the width of a country lane, then sloped to ground level, covered with heavy and light gravels to fill the holes between these rocks, topped with clay hauled from the clay bluff beside Spring Lake to seal the top and slope of the structure. And then cottonwood trees were planted along its crest with a growing root system to reinforce the old structure so that it could withstand the torrents of floodwaters to come.”1 Due to a major flooding event that occurred in 1998, the last major repairs to the dam were done in the summer of 2001. After facing three flooding events in the past two years, Spring Lake dam is in once again in need of repair. Texas State University has regularly monitored the dam since the October 2015 floods, documenting the amount of seepage to determine the extent of the repairs.
The first phase is slated to begin within the next six months to remove debris and place massive boulders alongside the dam. The Cypress trees will stay in place since their roots help stabilize the bank. The Federal Emergency Management Association is assisting with this short-term fix that is expected to cost $2 million, while long-term costs are still being evaluated and are expected to be closer to $5 million. The Spring Lake dam built 150 years ago protected once terrestrial artifacts in an underwater archaeological preserve. As a valuable source of freshwater, it’s no surprise archaeological research indicates human history here stretches back 12,000 years. Our Underwater Archaeology Initiative, led by expert Dr. Fritz Hanselmann, conducts archaeological research in Spring Lake to learn more about the people who lived here, including how they made use of the water. Hanselmann’s research uncovers the untold history of Spring Lake’s past to learn what we can do to help how we interact with water today. Hanselmann also leads a volunteer citizen science diving program at Spring Lake called AquaCorps. The Meadows Center trains citizen scientist divers and, in return, they volunteer their time to one of the most unique habitat restoration projects in the country. Volunteers help keep the springs flowing by removing debris and invasive species from the bottom of the lake. The Meadows Center staff is honored to be the entrusted stewards of this historical place. The Center’s employees are dedicated to understanding, protecting, and sharing it. Explore Spring Lake with them – learn more at www.MeadowsWater.org. 1
“The San Marcos: A River’s Story” by Jim Kimmel, Page 69
The Wetlands Boardwalk allows visitors to walk through a self-guided trail that explains the effects of exotic and invasive species on the habitat, as well as, offering a close up view of the abundant plant and animal life that thrive here.Photo: Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0
TexASCE.org
19
BUILD IT RIGHT. BUILD IT WITH CONCRETE. For 85 years, Forterra Pipe & Precast has developed a tradition of excellence as one of the largest manufacturers of concrete products in North America. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re your single source for everything from storm drainage / retention structures and gravity pipe to precast bridges. Our ability to provide the best in construction products, smart engineering advice and complete support means you can expect the highest quality standards whenever you see the Forterra Pipe & Precast name. This commitment has made us a world leader, and it also makes us your best choice for jobs large and small. To find out more, visit forterrabp.com.
20
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Advisor, has been rewarded. The Continued from page 9
Chapter has been busy hosting events and meetings. UTA ASCE recently hosted a joint cookout with UTA Chi Epsilon, SMU ASCE and SMU Chi Epsilon Chapters. The event was open to all civil engineering students and professors from both universities. It was a success and both schools look forward to hosting events in the future. The bulk of the semester was focused on the Texas Symposium, a big thanks to Texas Tech for organizing an awesome Symposium! UTA placed first and second in the concrete bowling completion, and third in the concrete Frisbee competition. The steel bridge and concrete canoe competitions were a learning experience, and the students aim to perform better at the next competitions. The Chapter also hosted a field trip at the construction site of Trinity Vision Signature Bridges Project in association with Trinity River Vision Offices (TRVA) and Freese & Nichols. The bridges are part of the master plan to revitalize 88 miles of the Trinity River in Fort Worth. The field trip introduced students to the many aspects of a project. The Chapter continues to work with industry leaders to expose the students to the professional
world. UTA ASCE looks forward to hosting new events and working with other organizations on campus for the next academic year! The University of Texas at San Antonio By Mia Esposito The UTSA American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter has stayed very busy over the past spring semester. At each of the biweekly meetings, we hosted a guest speaker from various engineering companies throughout San Antonio. Some guests from this semester include Eric S. Beals (BURY), Mike R. Bratten PE (Beicker Consultants), and Richard G. Kelley PE (Freese & Nichols). We like to bring a variety of professionals from many fields in to talk with our members. We also participate in various science fairs around San Antonio, and recently attended an event at the Witte Museum. Our organization makes it a priority to get members involved in participating in the Branch meetings. The meetings are always a great way for students to meet professionals in a more relaxed setting. We greatly appreciate the opportunities provided by the Branches and all the work they put in to prepare us for the next step after school. We always
welcome new guest speakers and encourage anyone interested in reaching out to the Student Chapter to contact us. We are also interested in site-visit hosts and believe this is a great way for students to see things learned in the classroom applied in the field. This semester we participated in the ASCE Texas Student Symposium. There were many struggles faced over the course of construction and planning, however, as a group, we overcame difficult situations and tight schedules. Following last year’s success, several key members of our organization graduated and moved on from our Student Chapter. As a result, our teams suffered. This was one of the main challenges in our build process, and something we want to ensure does not happen in future years. Regardless of the outcome of this year’s competition, we are very proud of each member of the build and construction team for the Symposium. Although we did not reach our ultimate goal of placing to ensure a ticket to Nationals, we learned how to work together and how to overcome obstacles using problem-solving skills.
TexASCE.org
21
Branch News Houston Br anch: The Houston Branch has been very busy over the past several months. In addition to our outstanding monthly branch meeting speakers, and BIM and PPI technical seminars, members volunteered at the Houston Hobby Fest and the Houston Children’s Festival in April. At these events, kids built paper bridges and can towers and members talked to them about what civil engineers do. In April the Branch held a picnic with several local Student Chapters (University of Houston, Rice, and Texas A&M) and the national office of Chi Epsilon. The first Monday in May the Houston Board members and other past and present volunteers had the privilege to have dinner with Mark Woodson and Tom Smith, the National ASCE president and executive director, who were in town for the OTC conference. The Branch Institutes are staying busy as well. SEI hosted a luncheon in May, COPRI is working on setting up a conference for next year, the branch and EWRI had a joint meeting in April, and we have a group working on getting a Geotech Institute kick off. Houston Branch ASCE Table at Houston Hobby Fest.
Melanie D. Gavlik PE Second Year Director at Large
Corpus Christi Br anch: Exciting news to report from Corpus Christi! Our meeting participation rates and committee activity levels are excellent and growing. We’ve been increasing our membership at regular Board meetings. This is greatly in part on the Branch providing informative and interesting presentations as well as engaging the students from Texas A & M Kingsville. Our Younger Member group has also been active, meeting on a regular basis and on February 6th the Branch held its first CANSTRUCTION competition benefiting the Food Bank of Corpus Christi that was well attended. Caprock Br anch: The Caprock Branch hosted its second annual Bridge Bash event at Texas Tech University Campus on February 26, 2016. This year, Bridge Bash was held in conjunction with Texas Tech Whitacre College of Engineering, and was a part of the grand finale to Engineer’s Week. Seven teams from all engineering disciplines competed in the bridge building competition. First place for structural integrity went to the Texas Tech solar-powered car team, with Texas Tech ASCE Student Chapter placing second. The most innovative design went to the Texas Tech Petroleum Engineering team. The Caprock Branch provided each team with a standard set of supplies and specifications to govern design. Two teams faced the realworld issues when they had failed to meet all specifications, and were gluing and clipping balsa wood until loading time. Each bridge was required to have a minimum of 4-in. clearance above the deck for the loading apparatus to be installed. Once the installation of the loading apparatus was complete, each bridge was loaded to failure by placing dirt into a bucket attached to the bridge deck. Three bridges held over 25-lb, and the winning bridge withstood 31-lb. Austin Br anch: The Student Outreach Committee, visited Kealing Middle School in Austin, Texas on April 4 and April 5. Student Outreach Committee Chair, Greg Kirton PE, pulled together a team of 25 volunteers who visited 19 classrooms over the two-day period, working with nearly 400 middle school students to promote civil engineering and introduce basic concepts
22
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Photos from Caprock Branch’s second annual Bridge Bash.
used in the civil engineering profession. Kealing Middle School staff allotted 35 minutes during school hours for volunteers to provide an introduction describing civil engineering and each class formed teams of 4-5 students to complete one of four activities related to civil engineering. As each team designed and constructed their project, volunteers would coach each team and engage with the students regarding the basic engineering concepts needed to complete the activity. The activities included: • Building a water filter (water treatment) • Building a tower • Building a bridge, with the emphasis on longest span • Building a bridge with the emphasis on strongest bridge/supporting the most weight At the conclusion of the activity, the students were given time to ask questions related to the concepts used and also provide feedback describing the challenges they encountered and share ideas for improvement. The event was intended to engage the students and promote creativity while having fun working as a team to complete
the objectives of the activity. ASCE received such positive feedback from the teachers and the students that the school administration has asked the Austin Branch to sponsor this event annually at Kealing Middle School. With continued support from ASCE members, student outreach events promoting engineering at local schools can be effective to inspire young minds towards solving tomorrow’s problems. The student outreach event at Kealing Middle School has been and can continue to be a great opportunity to talk about our profession and generate interest in civil engineering for the next generation!
TexASCE.org
23
Younger Membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Corner Texas YM-Camping Trip Due to flooding in April, the Texaswide Younger Members Camping Trip has been rescheduled for a (hopefully) drier September. Please use the email link later in this article to RSVP for this awesome weekend! There are only 120 spots available, so register soon.
Fabian A. Herrera PE Younger Member Chair
and cold beverages. Payment amounts are determined at the Branch level; please reach out to your YM Chair for more details. * Carpooling will be arranged at the Branch level.
Location: Lake Whitney State Park Date: Friday, September 9 through Sunday, September 11.
* This event is family friendly. The campout is, however, an event for young adults, and alcohol (compliant with park regulations) may be present. Please take the campoutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary audience into consideration when bringing spouses and children. However, significant others, children, and dogs are welcome!
Meet, network, and play with other YMs from Houston, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Fort Worth, Brazos, Corpus Christi, and other Branches YMs from around Texas!
Email Alexis Clark, Dallas YM Chair, at alexis.clark@hilti.com for information on how to register.
* The entire weekend includes your campsite reservation, five meals (2 dinners, two breakfasts, and one lunch)
Lake Whitney State Park, Whitney, Texas. Photo courtesy Texas Parks & Wildlife. http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-p
24
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Decoupling of the PE Exam As many of you are aware, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers has joined the ranks of 8 other states to decouple the experience requirement from the PE exam. The rule was approved at the February Board Meeting and implemented as of this past May.
will still have to submit an application to the Board with the required Supplementary Experience Records (SERs) to be approved. The rule changes were not made to shorten the path to licensing, but to offer more flexibility in the paths to licensing and cater to the variety of walks of life that engineers come from.
As early as June 20, the only requirement to take the PE Exam in October (besides payment) is that you are a licensed Engineer in Training (EIT) in the State of Texas. Be fair-warned that this new rule does not change the structure or the content of the exam, so all the horror stories about taking the exam will still hold true!
The TBPE has some concerns about the growing number of licensed EITs that do not go on to get the PE license, and are hoping that the additional flexibility in the PE Exam will help curb this number. As someone who just passed the PE Exam in April, it is a great accomplishment and an absolute honor to join the ranks. TBBE will host a webinar, on June 21, 2016 from 12 pm to 1 pm CDT, to provide an overview of the new process and answers to any questions you may have as a future PE. Visit engineers.texas.gov/webinars.html to register online. I hope that you, too, will find your path to licensure and if you ever have any questions feel free to contact me at fherrera.uta@gmail.com. ď&#x192;ł
Another significant change that came with the new rules is the number of permitted exam attempts changing from 4 consecutive attempts to 3 total attempts in a four-year window. What happens after the 3rd attempt has not been explained, but you probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to find out. To become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), you
parks/lake-whitney
TexASCE.org
25
Legislative News
M. Isabel Vasquez PE VP-Professional
TBPE NEWS – CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING OF PERMITTED EXAMS When the decoupling of the PE exam and experience requirement took force, a change in the accounting of permitted exams also took force. Previously, once approved for the PE exam, an applicant was allowed four consecutive exam attempts to pass the exam. If a person was sick, was late to the exam, opted to not take the exam, or had another issue, that counted as one of the four attempts.
U.S. NEWS – CAREERS – CIVIL ENGINEERING Civil engineering is a broad field. Specialties include architectural, structural, transportation, traffic, water resources and geotechnical engineering. Environmental engineering is another specialty, and it uses engineering principles to both protect the health of nature and people. Civil engineers may work for state or local governments or in the private sector at consulting or construction firms. Some civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions, while others pursue careers in design, construction or teaching.
The new model is that each approved applicant/EIT will receive three total attempts to take the PE exam. That means three times that you actually sat for the exam and received some sort of result (pass/fail/invalidated, etc.). So if you are sick or miss an exam, that will not count against you. However, once you have taken the first exam, you must use the three attempts in a four year window. engineers.texas.gov
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8 percent employment growth for civil engineers between 2014 and 2024. During that period, about 23,600 jobs will open up.
ACI ANNOUNCES NEW PUBLICATION ON CURING CONCRETE The American Concrete Institute (ACI) announced the availability of a new publication for concrete industry professionals – ACI 308R-16 Guide to External Curing of Concrete. This guide reviews and describes practices, procedures, materials, and monitoring methods for the external curing of concrete and provides guidance for specifying curing procedures. Current curing techniques are presented and commonly accepted methods, procedures, and materials are described. Methods are given for curing structures and buildings, pavements and other slabs-on-ground, and for mass conrete. Curing methods for several specidic categories of cement-based products are discussed in this document.
2.8%
New research and methods of curing are presented, and the guide covers definitions: curing methods and materials; curing for different types of construction; and monitoring curing and curing and effectiveness. Topics such as internal curing, curing at elevated temperatures, sustainability, curing of moisture-sensitive flooring, sensors for mass concrete curing, and new curing monitoring techmiques have beem added or enhanced in this document. concrete.org
26
Quick Stats
MEDIAN SALARY
$82,050 UNEMPLOYMENT R ATE
NUMBER OF JOBS
23,600 RANKINGS
Civil engineers rank #5 in Best Engineering Jobs. Jobs are ranked according to their ability to offer an elusive mix of factors. Read more about how US News Ranks jobs. Civil Engineers are ranked #5 in Best Engineering Jobs #18 in Best STEM Jobs #64 in The 100 Best Jobs. http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/civilengineer
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Membership Report
Kayce C. Paul PE Membership Chair
Membership Drive Calling all Br anches!! It’s contest time! This year ASCE Texas Section is having a membership drive contest between the Branches in Texas. The contest will run from April 25 through June 30 and prizes will be paid to the winning Branches. To level the playing field between Branches of all sizes, the drive will look at percentage of increase in membership over the duration of the contest. For example, if your Branch has 100 members and recruits 10 new members, that would be a 10% increase. The membership categories included in the membership drive are those members who are out of date on their dues (arrears), new members, and members who are converting their membership from college student to associate. The Texas Section will provide a contact list to all Branches with arrears members.
sponsoring pizza parties for recruiting events. More info on these resources can be found here: http://www.asce.org/champions/. Contest prizes for the Branches are as follows: 1st Place - $250 2nd Place - $100 There are also membership gifts available for the first 500 new members and college-to-associate members to sign up! If you have any questions regarding the contest, contact me, Kacey Paul PE, at enibuc@hotmail.com. Good luck to all the Branches!
Also, ASCE Global has recruiting resources available to all Sections and Branches, including flyers and
Regulatory Compliance NEPA Wetlands Archeology Endangered Species Geology TxDOT Categorical Exclusion SWPPP/Erosion Control Reservoir Permitting
Specializing in Infrastructure Projects Water/Wastewater Roadway Schools Parks & Recreation Oil & Gas Electric Utility Flood Control Wind Power Waste Management
Agency Coordination US Army Corps of Engineers US Fish & Wildlife Service Texas Historical Commission Texas Parks & Wildlife FEMA TxDOT TCEQ TWDB County and Municipal
Certified HUB-DBE-WBE-SBE 1507 South IH 35, Austin, TX (512) 328-2430 Serving Texas and Beyond Since 1987 www.horizon-esi.com
TexASCE.org
27
News Swallow To Be 2017 Presidentelect
method for geotechnical and earthquake engineering applications, now widely used around the world.
ASCE’s 2017 Presidentelect will be Kristina L. Swallow PE, ENV SP, F.ASCE, of Las Vegas, was chosen by a majority of Society members in a month-long officers election that closed June 1.
Stokoe was an early advocate of the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation program at the National Science Foundation, and his team at the University of Texas developed a world-class, largescale, mobile field capability for nonintrusive and nondestructive characterization of the ground. He was the first to measure modulus degradation of soil in situ using the large NEES Center shakers.
Swallow will be inducted at the Annual Business Meeting, Sept. 30, at the ASCE 2016 Convention in Portland, Oregon. She will spend her year as Presidentelect alongside 2017 President (and current Presidentelect) Norma Jean Mattei, the first pairing of women in the ASCE leadership roles in Society history. Swallow will then succeed to ASCE President in 2018.
As an educator he has mentored many graduate and doctorate students and has played a key role in elevating the geotechnical engineering program at the University of Texas at Austin. - See more at: http://news.asce.org/pioneer-in-soildynamics-measurement-techniques-named-a-2016distinguished-member/#sthash.nuh7P3Wn.dpuf
“I’m just happy and excited to have this opportunity to represent our organization,” Swallow said. “Like I’ve said all along, I’m really hoping to help us get closer to having a seat at the table, where we’re helping and making the decisions that are shaping our communities. That’s what I’ve said the whole time and that’s still what I want to do – helping us get closer to that vision. - See more at: http://news.asce.org/swallow-to-be2017-president-elect-complete-2016-officers-electionresults/#sthash.tzbC8rqB.dpuf
École de Technologie Supérieure Wins 25th National Student Steel Bridge Competition
Pioneer in Soil Dynamics Measurement Techniques Named a 2016 Distinguished Member
For world-renowned contributions to the understanding of soil dynamics in geotechnical engineering, Kenneth H. Stokoe II PhD, PE, D.GE, NAE, Dist.M.ASCE, has been elected to the Class of 2016 ASCE Distinguished Members. Stokoe is the Jennie C. and Milton T. Graves chair in engineering at the University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering. Engineers worldwide now use the resonant column apparatus Stokoe developed to assess soil properties. He also adopted and developed cross-hole seismic methods for measurement of in situ wave velocities in soil and rock that won worldwide acceptance. In addition, he developed the spectral-analysis-of-surface-waves
28
The champions of the 25th annual National Student Steel Bridge Competition are from a school winning it for the first time — École de Technologie Supérieure of Montreal, Québec, Canada.
From across the world, 48 student teams converged on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, May 27-28. In addition to U.S. universities represented, teams from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, and from Tongji University in Shanghai, China, took part. ASCE and the American Institute of Steel Construction cosponsor the event each year. - See more at: http://news.asce.org/ecolede -technologie -superieure -wins-25thna t ional -s t ud ent -s t e e l - br id g e - comp e t i t ion/?_
Classified Registered engineer or architect desired for “certificate of merit” in planned lawsuit against City of McKinney, TX and possible professionals for damages to my ancient brick building, which is being damaged by a City tree recently placed adjacent to its front. Contact Ross Melton, Jr., Sc.D at rb8102@copper.net for more information.
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Edward N. Noyes, Texas Engineer, ASCE Member Melinda Luna PE History and Heritage Committee Chair
Edward Newton Noyes was born September 15, 1880, to Adolph Noyes and Mary Alice Jeffries Noyes, in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. He grew up in this area of central eastern Kansas where he attended public schools. Noyes’ father, a farmer, died early in his life. Edward would start work with the Burlington Railroad and work his way through school to earn his degree. As a senior in college, Noyes was asked to teach freshman drafting for a $100 a month. He considered this a great job and a perfect start to his career. In 1907, he graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s of science Edward Noyes on right stands with (L to R) Bill McClendon, Mack Eliot in civil engineering. He had several classmates that and Conrad Blucher at a Section meeting in Austin, 1956. Photo from included E.B. Black and Nathan T. Veatch, Jr, who the ASCE Texas Section Digital Archive. would form Black & Veatch, as well as Clarence Callahan and Corpus Christi. In 1938, Myers and Burt, co-founder of Burt and Tripp in Kansas, and his Noyes opened up a branch office in Corpus Christi. future partner Ernest Lindley Myers. Edward Noyes Noyes moved to Corpus Christi. E. N. Noyes became married Bertha Lee, and they had one son, Edward Lee involved in the discussions to build the seawall. Noyes Noyes. Noyes’ first job after graduation was working for was the one person to push for an addition of steps on the railroad in Louisiana. the face of the wall that would allow the public to enjoy In 1912, he moved to Dallas where he built bridges for the city. Noyes then formed a partnership with his classmate Ernest Myers and formed Myers & Noyes. George Kessler, the famed architect who authored the Kessler plan, hired the firm of Myers and Noyes to build and oversee the boulevards and parks that were part of his plan. Edward Noyes attended the very first meeting of the Texas Section of ASCE and would be an active member throughout his career. During World War I, he served as quartermaster at Camp Travis in San Antonio, Texas. After the war, Noyes and Myers would serve as the engineer of record for the Trinity River levees. In 1922, Noyes volunteered to document recommendations from Texas engineers meeting about reclamation projects, especially projects that would help flooding in Texas. The recommendations were presented to the then Governor, Pat Neff. The group also urged the state government to cooperate with Federal agencies so funding could be combined to build the projects needed. This group helped the state build a number of reservoirs and other flood control projects through coordination with various federal agencies. His alma mater gave him an honorary degree as part of their distinguished alumni award. Noyes then started work on a waterline between
the bayfront and be closer to the water. Noyes argued that while the cost of the project would be more, Corpus Christi would have a distinctive seawall, unmatched by no other. He was correct in the fact that the seawall now draws thousands of visitors, Corpus Christi is the second most popular vacation spot in Texas. In 1940, Noyes worked on irrigation projects in the Rio Grande Valley for the IBWC and also worked with the Maverick County Irrigation District. In the Second World War, he served as chief engineer of the 8th Construction Zone that included Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona for General B. Somervell. Throughout his career, Noyes was active in ASCE and TSPE. For many years, he was Secretary-Treasurer for ASCE and served as President of the Texas Section 1943-1944. He also served a semiofficial of the State Board of Water Engineers along with T.U. Taylor, Marvin Nichols and Terrell Barlett. It was in 1956 that he was honored as Engineer of the Year for the Nueces TSPE for his career accomplishments. He would retire in Corpus Christi, which suited him well due to his hobby of fishing. Edward Newton Noyes died on August 4, 1961, after a long life of 80 years. While he was known as the engineer who fought for the amphitheater style of the Corpus Christi Seawall, he had a long life of volunteering, family, and many civil engineering projects throughout Texas and its adjacent states.
TexASCE.org
29
Business Directory
Specializing in surface andand groundwater Specializing in surface groundwater hydrology, hydraulics and water quality hydrology, hydraulics and water quality.
L. Stephen Stecher, PE, President
Crespo is certified as an M/DBE and HUB 4131 Spicewood Springs Rd., Ste. B-2 Phone 512/343-6404 Austin, Texas 78759 Fax 512/343-8120
L. Stephen Stecher, PE, President
Crespo is certified as an M/DBE and HUB 4131 Spicewood Springs Suite B-2 Austin, TX 78759
Phone 512/343-6404 Fax 512/343-8120
CONSULTING ENGINEERS Geotechnical Civil Construction Surveying Construction Materials Testing (Soils-Concrete-Asphalt)
Amarillo Testing and Engineering Inc.
806.374.2756
amarillotesting.com
HOUSTON - SAN ANTONIO - EL PASO DALLAS - AUSTIN - OKLAHOMA Transportation Design Civil & Structural Design Traffic Engineering Bridge Design & Inspection Construction Inspection Utility Engineering Phone: 281.493.4140 www.aiainc.com
...providing engineering services to Texas for over 60 years...
engineers surveyors landscape architects
www.tnpinc.com Engineering n Design n Environmental Planning n Management www.civilassociates.com 214.703.5151
For t Wor th 817.336.5773 Denton 940.383.4177
Dallas 214.461.9867 Sherman 903.870.1089
TBPE Firm No. F-230 | TBPS Firm No. 100116-00
Civil • Transportation • Surveying • Construction
1501 E. Mockingbird, Suite 406 Victoria, TX 77904 P: (361) 570-7500 F: (361) 570-7501 bgalvan@civilcorp.us
1-800-HALFF US www.halff.com
2825 Wilcrest, Suite 460 Houston, TX 77042 P: (832) 252-8100 F: (832) 252-8103 tkuykendall@civilcorp.us www.civilcorp.us
30
Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 86, No. 3 - Summer 2016
Advertise with us! Contact Lori Brix, 512-458-1191, ext 16 or tce@silentpartners.com
Tunnel Feasibility Studies Tunnel and Shaft Design Cost Analysis and Constructability Review Risk Management lachel.com T/ 972-250-3322
Since1977
George Teetes, PhD, PE
Public Infrastructure Transportation Land Development Industrial Utilities
www.mectx.com
TexASCE.org
31