The 67 engineers and scientists called to the White House in December for a prestigious award were not old hands with lots of tenure working in their fields for decades. They were young professionals exploring not only the frontiers of science and engineering research but also real-world applications that break ground and cross traditional barriers. The government is betting at least $400,000 on each of these high-achieving but tenure-lacking GenX-ers over the next five years to transform their technology arenas and the image of engineering and science. Photo: Arizona State University Torrens sees benefits to urban rehabs, land use and
At the first-ever ACE Mentor Program national conference, more than 125 executives and participants were optimistic that the industry recruitment group could still meet ambitious growth goals for both students and sponsors even in an increasingly uncertain economy. ACE seeks to attract high school students into architecture, engineering and construction careers through industry mentoring. ACE Vice Chairman Peter J. Davoren, also chairman and president of Turner Construction Co., said the group aims to have 100,000 student participants and 204 local industry affiliates around the U.S. by 2012. The group now has about 25,000 student participants. ACE may also add a
Using one of the largest marine cranes on the East Coast, contractor teams on Jan. 18 carefully but quickly orchestrated the lift of a US Airways airplane from New York City’s icy Hudson River. The damaged Airbus A320, whose pilot miraculously and safely brought the plane down on the waterway three days before, weighed 100 tons and had filled with another 350 tons of water. Its 155 passengers and crew survived the landing. Slide Show Photo: Stephen Mallon Plane was picked up intact from river (top) using large revolving marine cranes. The retrieval operation was masterminded by Weeks Marine Inc.,
Also part of the new stimulus plan are hundreds of billions of dollars in proposed tax cuts aimed at stanching job losses and prompting businesses and municipalities to make growth-producing investments. Industry officials welcome them, but some are not convinced they will have the economic impact legislators and the Obama administration envision. Photo: Mortenson Wind-power production tax credits need to be streamlined, proponents say. Related Links: Proposal in House Fires Up Debate Does Massive Spending Help or Hurt in Long Run? Modest Program Favors Jump-Start Fix-up Effort Highway Aid Has Some Strings Attached Advocates Hope To Fly, Sail or Roll
Ten current construction supervisors and one recent retired official of Consolidated Edison, the utility serving Manhattan and its northern suburbs, were arrested Jan. 14 for soliciting and accepting more than $1 million in kickbacks from a construction contractor since 2004. Work involved in the bribery scheme also included cleanup and repair of an underground steam pipe that exploded in Manhattan in July 2007, killing one pedestrian, injuring others and causing millions of dollars in damage. Photo: AP Repair of steampipe that exploded in Manhattan in 2007 was among work that bribe contractor handled. Officials in the office of U.S. Attorney
The role of people rather than process in boosting both project and corporate results in the construction industry is gathering momentum as an emerging area of study called “social network analysis.” Researchers are now studying projects and companies to determine how poor communication and too much focus on an “engineering approach” undermine more stellar performances. Some say development of the SNA concept could transform the industry. Photo: CH2M Hill / IHC Strong project-team collaboration brought high profile runway repave job in early. Photo: CH2M Hill / IHC Team had to build alternate runway and then rebuild the original. One researcher,
At a time when leadership is a more prized attribute in a construction industry under new global pressures, William W. Badger has pioneered research and innovative teaching approaches to enable employers and academics to identify and develop those who can make the grade.
Engineering professor Bernard Amadei could not have imagined when he founded Engineers Without Borders in 2001 the impact it would have on impoverished communities around the world, on young engineers and their peers in other fields, and on the construction industry’s expectations for a motivated and enlightened future workforce.
More charges flew on Jan. 5 and 6 against construction officials at the center of two of Manhattan’s highest-profile jobsite accidents in the last 18 months. On Jan. 5, a master rigger was indicted for his alleged actions involving a 200-ft-high tower crane that destabilized and collapsed at a Midtown high-rise site last March, killing six workers and a civilian. William Rapetti, 48, was indicted on multiple charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and reckless endangerment. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau also said Rapetti and his firm Rapetti Rigging Services Inc., Massapequa Park, N.Y., failed to file tax returns
The master rigger of a 200-ft-high tower crane that collapsed at a midtown Manhattan construction site last March, killing seven workers and civilians, was indicted Jan. 5 on multiple charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and reckless endangerment. Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau also said that rigger William Rapetti, 48 and his firm Rapetti Rigging Services Inc., Massapequa, N.Y., failed to file tax returns. Photo: Debra K. Rubin/ENR District Attorney Robert Morgenthau announces indictment of tower crane rigger while Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn (left) noted stricter city crane safety rules. Following his arraignment, also on Jan. 5, Rapetti faces
