Tuesday, 3 June 2008

Do you speak Russian?

Would you like to serve your profession in a different way?

 The G-I is working on a project with the Russian Geotechnical Association to exchange magazine articles, and needs a translator fluent in Russian to translate techincal articles on geo-professional subjects.  If you are interested in assisting your professional organization in this way, please contact Carol W. Bowers, G-I Director, P.G., CAE.

Posted by ecuscino at 10:12 AM in G-I news/

Tuesday, 27 May 2008

Question of the Month: The next 10 years

G-I members:  Log in to your Members Only page to answer the new Question of the Month! 

This month:  What professional challenges do you expect to have the greatest impact on your geotechnical practice in the next ten years?  Log in and tell us what you think.  We'll post the results on the Members Only page.

Posted by ecuscino at 1:04 PM in G-I news/

Thursday, 15 May 2008

G-I news: Three new local G-I Chapters

On our Chapters and Groups Page: Links and contact information for our newest local G-I Chapters in Alabama, Sacramento, and San Antonio.
Posted by ecuscino at 12:41 PM in G-I news/

Industry News: Important Info. on New NYC Building Codes

On our Industry News page:

From NYC Department of Buildings: "Special Inspections replace Controlled Inspections on July 1, 2008. While there are substantial similarities between the 1968 Code’s Controlled Inspections and the 2008 Code’s Special Inspections, you will need to quickly familiarize yourself with the differences, including enhanced required qualifications and standards. The link below will take you to the new OTRC web page on the NYC Buildings site.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/model/otcr.shtml "

Posted by ecuscino at 10:54 AM in industry news/

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Events: May Meeting, Geotechnical Executive Committee of ASCE Nat'l Capital Section

On our Local Chapters and Groups page:

May Meeting -- ASCE National Capital Section, Geotechnical Executive Committee
Guest Speaker: John Sankey, P.E., V.P. of Engineering, The Reinforced Earth Company
"Engineers without Borders—Project by the Chesapeake Chapter"
May 21, 2008, 11:30 – 1:30 PM
Tyson's Corner, Virginia

Posted by ecuscino at 11:44 AM in events/

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

IFCEE '09: Call for Papers extended to 5/14/2008

May 14, 2008 is the new deadline for submitting Technical Paper Abstracts for the International Foundations Congress and Equipment Exposition (IFCEE) '09.

Contact Magued Iskander or Mohamed Hussein for more information, or visit our Calls for Papers page.

Posted by ecuscino at 9:38 AM in calls for papers & abstracts/

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

Reminder: GEEDS IV registration deadlines -- it's not too late to save!

Save up to $150 -- Early Bird registration has been extended to Thursday, April 24, 2008.

  • Register online at www.geesd.org; click "Registration"
  • Register by mail: ASCE/GEESD 2008, P.O. Box 79668, Baltimore, MD  21279-0688
  • Register by fax: 703-295-6144, ATTN: ASCE Customer Service
  • Register by telephone:  800-548-2723 (U.S.); 703-295-6300 (International)

Save on your hotel:  Book your reservation by Monday, April 28 to qualify for special conference rates.  Visit the conference website for rates and more hotel information

It's not too late to exhibit at GEEDS 2008!  View the Exhibitor Prospectus, or contact jsandersen@asce.org for more information.

For information on Technical Tours and Short Courses, visit www.geesd.org .

Posted by ecuscino at 11:25 AM in events/

Tuesday, 22 April 2008

Events: DVGI update; Reese Lecture update; "Manhattan on the Rocks" (with Exhibitor/Sponsor opportunity)

On our G-I Chapters and Local Groups Page:

  • Updated information for the Delaware Valley Geo-Institute Chapter's April Dinner Meeting
    April 28, 2008 (this is a date change)
    Speaker: Professor Imad L. Al-Qadi, "Reflective Cracking Mechanism in Pavement and Mitigation Techniques"
  • Updated information for the 2008 Lymon C. Reese Distinguished Lecture on May 8, 2008 in Austin, Texas.  The Lecturer is Robert D. Holtz, P.E., Ph.D., Hon.M.ASCE, who serves on the Geo-Institute Board of Governors as International Secretary.
  • Newly Posted: "A Specialty Seminar: Manhattan on the Rocks", presented by ASCE Metropolitan Section Geotechnical Group on May 8, 2008 in New York, New York.  We've posted links to the Seminar Flyer and to the Exhibitor and Sponsor Form.
Posted by ecuscino at 2:17 PM in events/

Thursday, 10 April 2008

Events: DVGI Dinner; Distinguished Lecture Series

New events posted on our G-I Chapters and Local Groups page:

Posted by ecuscino at 11:25 AM in events/

Wednesday, 9 April 2008

Pictures from 2008 GeoCongress now available!

Pictures from the 2008 GeoCongress are now available for viewing and purchase.  Check out our front page for a link and the log-in information.

Posted by ecuscino at 10:55 AM in annual GeoCongress/

G-I News: OPAL recipient Baker

  • Earlier this year, we announced the good news that G-I member Clyde N. Baker Jr., P.E., Hon.M.ASCE, NAE, is the recipient of the 2008 OPAL Lifetime Achievement Award in Design, and that he had been named one of Engineering News-Record's Top 25 Newsmakers of 2007.

    Mr. Baker has also been awarded ENR's 43rd Award of Excellence, and is the subject of their April 7, 2008 cover story.  We've posted links to ENR's article about Mr. Baker, and to the video they've posted of his acceptance speech.

 

 

Posted by ecuscino at 9:44 AM in G-I news/

Industry News: Job announcement; USGS online flood map

On our Industry News page

  • NGI Inc. announces Project Engineer positions in Houston, TX.
  • In Research: U.S. Geological Survey launches online flood-tracking map
Posted by ecuscino at 9:43 AM in industry news/

Thursday, 3 April 2008

National Infrastructure Bank Act: Contact your Senator

From ASCE Government Relations:

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee recently held a hearing on improving the nation's infrastructure. ASCE President David Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE, and others testified supporting the concept of creating a national infrastructure bank that would coordinate funding for qualified infrastructure projects as outlined in the National Infrastructure Bank Act (S. 1926), introduced in 2007 by Senators Christopher Dodd ( D-CT) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE).
 
In August 2007, Sen. Christopher Dodd ( D-CT) joined with Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) to introduce the National Infrastructure Bank Act (S. 1926), a bill to establish a National Infrastructure Bank to provide funding for qualified infrastructure projects, including wastewater and drinking-water plants, public transit systems, roads and bridges, and public housing. S. 1926 currently has eight cosponsors.

"The bill addresses an issue of paramount importance to our country and its quality of life--the deteriorating condition of our infrastructure systems," said Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

The bill would create the National Infrastructure Bank as an independent entity of the federal government. The bank would be required to evaluate and fund "capacity-building infrastructure projects of substantial regional and national significance."

Infrastructure projects with a potential federal investment of at least $75 million would be submitted to the bank by a project sponsor, state, locality, tribe, or local infrastructure agency, e.g., a transit agency. To determine a level of federal investment, the bank would employ a sliding-scale method that incorporates conditions such as the type of infrastructure system or systems, project location, project cost, current and projected usage, non-federal revenue, regional or national significance, promotion of economic growth and community development, reduction in traffic congestion, environmental benefits, land use policies that promote smart growth, and mobility improvements.

Please contact your Senators in support of the National Infrastructure Bank Act (S. 1926). 

 

Please contact your senators and ask them to cosponsor the National Infrastructure Bank Act (S. 1926).

If your senator serves on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, ask him or her to encourage Chairman Christopher Dodd to schedule the bill for a markup.

Click here to view members of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.Remind your senators of the extensive infrastructure needs our nation faces as outlined in ASCE's 2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. The National Infrastructure Bank as outlined in the legislation would be a powerful tool to help address these needs.

Your message will be strengthened by local examples of infrastructure needs, e.g. a deficient bridge in need of repair or replacement, aging water infrastructure systems, road or transit congestion problems.

ASCE members:  Visit ASCE's "Six Clicks" (or less) advocacy website at http://www.asce.org/advocacy.html and select "Read more" under the National Infrastructure Bank Act title to read additional information on this issue. Select "Take action" when you are ready to draft your messages to your senators. We will provide you with a sample, but your message will be most influential (stands a much greater chance of being read and you are more likely to get a response) if it is written in your own words.
Posted by ecuscino at 10:52 AM in ASCE news/

New Question of the Month

G-I members:  Tell us what you think!  Visit the members only page of the G-I website and answer the Question of the Month. 

This month:  Hard copy?  Electronic?  When you attend a G-I event, how would you like your copy of the Proceedings?

Posted by ecuscino at 10:46 AM in G-I news/

GEESD IV: May 18-22, Sacramento, CA

Join the broad community of geo-professionals working on earthquake engineering and soil dynamics problems for this comprehensive decennial examination of our technical challenges.

GEESD IV includes technical workshops and short courses, plenary sessions, tutorials, a poster session, networking events, and more!

 

Posted by ecuscino at 10:42 AM in events/