Industry News Briefs

February 4, 2010 Headlines
Oberstar Warns That Highway Trust Fund Faces Funding Crisis
Study Forecasts Growth in Commercial Construction in 2010
Economic Downturn Challenges Engineering Firms' Business Models

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Oberstar Warns That Highway Trust Fund Faces Funding Crisis
Bond Buyer (01/26/10) Dutton, Audrey

House Transportation Infrastructure Committee chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., warns that the highway trust fund will run into another funding crisis this August. By August 20, the Federal Highway Administration will have to notify states that it will be unable to provide overnight payments of its 80 percent share of transportation construction payments. Oberstar says the shortfall will be the result of repeated, sharp declines in the amount of revenues going into the trust fund. Many market observers expect a new multi-year transportation authorization bill to be delayed until next year, meaning the trust fund will have to be replenished to help states until a new law is passed. This expected shortcoming would be the third time in the past two years that the trust fund has run dangerously close to being bankrupt. The fund was saved by a general fund transfer of $7 billion in August 2009 and $8 billion in September of 2008. The two crises caused delays or cancellations of some projects, and at least one bond issuance. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Oberstar did not provide a timeline for a bill to replace the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: a Legacy for Users. States have been pushing for a new bill, arguing that it is hard for them to make long-term investment plans without knowing the plans of the federal government. Last year, Oberstar introduced a bill that would overhaul federal transportation programs that has not yet advanced beyond committee. The Obama administration is pushing for a multi-year bill that "not dissimilar" from Oberstar's proposal.

Study Forecasts Growth in Commercial Construction in 2010
Reed Construction Data (01/28/10) Haughey, Jim

Reed Construction Data recently announced that the volume of nonresidential building construction is expected to grow over the next year, based on the RCD/RSMeans Commercial Construction Expansion Index, which is calculated from Reed's proprietary database. The RCD/RSMeans Expansion Index is a one-year outlook on the construction marketplace at the local level, and indicates if a location's construction volume can be expected to grow or shrink over the next 12 months. The Expansion Index is based on actual construction data, meaning projects either in planning or already under construction, and is updated monthly, creating a constantly updated, 12 month prediction of the marketplace. The index can be calculated by market sector, like hotel, retail, or hospital, or by different geographical areas, down to the city or metropolitan statistical area. San Francisco and Los Angeles are the only large metro areas, out of 25 cities, with high expansion indexes, though smaller metro areas are expected to experience strong growth in nonresidential construction, including Fresno, Syracuse, Daytona Beach, Topeka, Battle Creek, Blacksburg, Va., and Rochester, Minn. Retail construction has the highest expansion index, and the hospital market index suggests stead construction throughout 2010. The index for education suggests slightly increased activity over the next year.
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Economic Downturn Challenges Engineering Firms' Business Models
Consulting-Specifying Engineer (12/01/09) Vol. 46, No. 6, P. 22; Barrick, Rob

Predicting the future has never been harder for engineering firms, but Smith Seckman Reid CEO Rob Barrick writes that adequate preparation can yield long-term dividends. He cites managing cash flow as the leading priority to get through the recession, and warns that across-the-board cuts may be the worst decision that large, diversified firms can make while markets are still healthy. Barrick recommends that firms with long-term strategic plans review and validate related goals and assumptions. Meanwhile, maintaining investments in training and development, technology upgrades, and business upgrades tends to be a tough sell with many firms, but they should be fully discussed as they will help raise productivity, efficiency, and backlog. Barrick also urges firms to practice open and honest communication with staff as well as clients. "While we may have fewer of both [client and staff relationships], taking care of the ones we do have is one of the few things we can control right now," he notes.
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President Obama, Vice President Biden Announce $8 Billion for High-Speed Rail Projects Across the Country
U.S. Department of Transportation (01/28/10)

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will award $8 billion to states across the country to develop the first nationwide program of high-speed, intercity passenger rail service. "Through the Recovery Act, we are making the largest investment in infrastructure since the Interstate Highway System was created, putting Americans to work rebuilding our roads, bridges, and waterways for the future," said President Obama. "That investment is how we can break ground across the country, putting people to work building high-speed rail lines, because there’s no reason why Europe or China should have the fastest trains when we can build them right here in America." The funding will serve as a down-payment on developing to establishing the groundwork for 13 new, large-scale high-speed rail corridors across the country. The $8 billion investment is expected to create or save tens of thousands of jobs, such as track-laying, manufacturing, planning and engineering, and rail maintenance and operation. "The President’s bold vision for high-speed rail is a game changer," says Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "It’s not only going to create good jobs and reinvigorate our manufacturing base, it’s also going to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help create livable communities. I have no doubt that building the next generation of rail service in this country will help change our society for the better."
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High-Speed Rail May Spur Development
GlobeSt.com (01/28/10) Cronan, Carl

The prospect of a new high-speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa may be a few years away, but that just might be a good thing for commercial property developers. By the time the train stations and the rails are up and running, developers are hopeful the availability of building capital will be much greater. President Obama personally delivered $1.25 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Thursday as a down payment on the 84-mile rail line. The goal is for the first train to leave the station in 2015, with another 240 miles of track from Orlando to Miami planned for later in the decade. Five sites are designated as train stops: downtown Orlando, Lakeland, Walt Disney World, the Orange County Convention Center and Orlando International Airport. It's anyone's guess whether these sites become hot spots for first-time or additional commercial development. Edgar Jones, vice president and regional development officer with Rockefeller Group Development Corp. in Miami, states, "It's a phenomenal opportunity."
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EPA Sets Stricter Air-Quality Standards Near Roads
Wall Street Journal (01/25/10) Hughes, Siobhan

The Obama Administration has established stricter limits on the amount of nitrogen dioxide in the air for short periods of time along busy roads, and is requiring states to install monitoring equipment in major urban areas to limit pollution during periods of high traffic. Vehicles are a major source of nitrogen dioxide, which can result in respiratory problems. The new issue was recently released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), seven months after initially proposing short-term limits. Businesses have complained that the new standard is too strict, but environmentalists say it does not go gar enough. The EPA set the acceptable amount of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere at 100 parts per billion over an hour. Last year, the EPA proposed a limit of as little as 80 parts per billion. The rules are still years away from having a practical effect, as the monitoring equipment does not have to be in operation until 2013. After that, three years of data will be needed to determine if any areas are not in compliance. Current, Cook County, Ill., which includes Chicago, is the only urban area to measure emissions on an hourly basis, and, as a result, is the only area known to not be in compliance with the new standard. The EPA rule requires monitors to be located near roadways in cities with at least 500,000 residents.

Roller-Compacted Concrete Delivers Rapid, Efficient Dam Rebuild
Engineering News-Record (01/27/10) Armistead, Thomas F.

The rebuilding of the Taum Sauk Upper Reservoir, which is located on top of Proffit Mountain, Missouri's highest peak, presented numerous challenges, but is now believed to be North American's largest roller-compacted concrete dam. In 2005, the original earth-and-rockfill dike collapsed, releasing 4,365 acre-feet of water in what Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt called "the worst man-made disaster in the history of Missouri. Now the rebuilt reservoir is almost complete. Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) placement was finished in November, and the new dam was topped out. Commercial operation could start as soon as April 1. A pumped-storage system takes advantage of different electricity rates to store power generated when rates are low, and sell when rates are higher. The new dam uses 2.8 million cubic yards of RCC and 300,000 cubic yards of conventional facing concrete. At 1.26 miles long, 120 feet tall, and 150 feet wide at the base, it is the largest RCC dam in north America, though RCC has been used in mach larger dams elsewhere in the world. China's Long Tan Dam is the world largest RCC dam, according to Malcolm Dunstan and Associates, a U.K.-based engineer specializing in RCC structures. The Long Tan Dam, completed in 2009, is 710 feet tall, and contains 6.474 million cubic yards of RCC.
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12 Major Trends in Library Design
Building Design + Construction (12/09) Sens, Thomas

Many academics believed that the Internet would result in the decline of the library, but in reality many academic libraries have seen major increases in patron uses in recent years. A major reason is modern college students have heightened expectations and demands for academic libraries based on new approaches to learning, and while the Internet can provide instant and around-the-clock access to information, it can also isolate learners. The library, however, provides a forum for students to collaborate, enjoy fellowship, and engage in healthy debate, among other interpersonal academic pursuits. Libraries should emphasize these features by incorporating several recent trends into designs. First, consider the library as a place. Academic libraries are no longer exist just to collect and organize print resources, and are now an integral part of a university's learning culture and academics. Libraries are no a place for collaboration, and must provide space for collaboration among students while still providing spaces for individual students to study. Students should be involved in the early planning stages, and spaces must incorporate new and appropriate technology, such as power outlets for laptops, complex 3D simulators, wireless Internet and printing, and readily accessible public computers. Libraries should also have practice presentation rooms equipped with projection systems and conference tables. Libraries being built today need to be able to adapt to the future, so maximize flexibility in spaces and infrastructure. Build core infrastructure, like vertical circulation, natural lighting, and HVAC, to support future renovation and to ensure a smoother transition as new demands arise. Some of the best spaces in a library are "spaces between spaces." For example, a hallway can become a gallery for student art, and widening a corridor outside study rooms and providing seating can create a gathering space. Lastly, designing new libraries for environmental sustainability can be a major attraction for students and reduce the overall life cycle cost of the building.
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The Bridges Are Still Falling Down
American City & County (12/09) Vol. 124, No. 13, P. 16; Brock, Ed

The U.S. Congress has yet to issue a transportation funding plan for the next several years in spite of the attention that the catastrophic 2007 failing of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis drew to the need to maintain transportation infrastructure. September marked the expiration of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) enacted five years ago, and organizations such as the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) are keeping up the pressure on Capitol Hill to reauthorize the bill to continue funding for transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance. "[Previous transportation funding] has never been adequate to deal with the backlog [of repair and construction needed,] and with other pressures from the budget, it makes it a more difficult argument to make that the funding should be increased, when you have so many other demands on the limited piece of pie," says APWA's Jim Fahey. He expects Congress to temporarily extend SAFETEA-LU funding, which it has done twice since September. AASHTO executive director John Horsley said in a recent statement that additional federal aid by itself will not solve the infrastructure maintenance dilemma. "Even more important is that our state and local governments use that money to deliver projects that quickly meet the needs of our communities in the most cost-effective and efficient manner," he stressed.
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Newmarket Operations Centre Joins Two Structures
Daily Commercial News (Canada) (01/29/10) Procter, Don

The Newmarket Operations Centre project will consolidate three municipal departments, public works, parks, and maintenance, into a single 7,000-square-meter complex, and will incorporate several engineering features that are rarely used in similar municipal buildings. Andrew Solda, project associate with Halsall Associates Limited, structural designer for the project, says there were several structural steel engineering challenges to work around to help the architect achieve his vision of a new civic landmark in Newmarket, Ontario. The complex contains two independent structures, an office building and a maintenance facility, connected by an expansion joint so they appear to be a single building. Generally, a separate lateral system for each building is created, with steel bracing to allow two joined buildings to move independently, but the layout of the office area did not provide the opportunity to hide the bracing from public sight. Instead, Halsall engineered steel "moment frames" in two directors to provide building support and stability. The moment frames introduced some challenges for the engineers. "When you have a moment frame in two directions it means that certain corner columns are bending in both directions," says Solda. The solution was to make the columns stiff in both directions, an unconventional engineering move. David Garbuio, general manager of Telco Steel Works, the steel detailer for the project, says while the fabrication and erection was straightforward, the project have numerous non-standard connections that are atypical for similar facilities. The building won an architectural Award of Excellence from Canadian Architect magazine.
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Surgical Suite: Creating the Optimal Environment
Medical Construction & Design (12/09) Vol. 5, No. 6, P. 38; Pollock, Dan

Numerous studies highlight a strong correlation between patient health outcomes and the cleanliness of indoor air. An examination of peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Center for Health Design, data showed that infection was linked to the physical building, and a handful specifically tie indoor air quality (IAQ) to infection rates. Top-quality heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems are essential to an aggressive infection control strategy. The ventilation system is set up at the design stage to adhere to the strict IAQ requirements of operating rooms and other specialized areas of the hospital. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, moisture control is important in preventing the cultivation of microbes, which spread in humid environments. Strict pressure control also prevents airborne contaminants from traveling around a hospital. Operating rooms should maintain a positive pressure relative to other areas to mitigate the spread of contaminants from room to room.

Next-Generation Sand Screen Enables Drill-In Sandface Completions
Offshore (12/09) Vol. 69, No. 12, P. 54; Coronado, Martin P.; Pickle, Brad R.; O'Malley, Edward J.

It is possible to drill/ream a screen liner into the hole through collapsed sections of the hole without an inner string thanks to a new screen design. The new system removes the need for an inner string to drive the positive displacement motor (PDM) by temporarily sealing the flow path through the screen when running in the hole, permitting the screen liner itself to be the channel for fluid flow to power the PDM. This design employs an inflow control-type screen with a single point of fluid entry into the screen basepipe after passing through the filtration media, which offers a more straightforward means to temporarily plug the flow route through the screen compared to a traditional screen with thousands of inflow holes in the basepipe. This design also delivers a way to easily set hydraulic open hole packers, temporarily isolate the open hole section, and float long liners into place. Furthermore, a dissolving screen mesh protective film has been devised for installing screens in high-solids environments, such as a drilling/reaming screen liner.
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Trenchless Used in Traffic Control Project
Trenchless Technology (01/10) Vol. 18, No. 1, P. 40; Conie III, Jack J.

Scottsdale, Ariz., has a leading priority to improve traffic congestion, and the city employed trenchless techniques and technologies to address infrastructure problems in the extension of its CCTV traffic control network. Scottsdale designed the Indian Bend Wash ITS Project with ITS Engineers & Constructors to employ the robotic installation of a fiber conduit in over 16,000 lf of storm sewer. Rural Electric won the contract, and it was determined that robotic installation was impossible because of the large pipe sizes. Rural subcontracted the trenchless installation of the conduit to Ca-Botics Fiber Systems of Ohio, and project superintendent Richard Edgell oversaw a crew of six workers who pulled and installed a pair of 1.5-inch conduits in each pipe. The conduits were anchored with a 1.5-inch galvanized metal pipe strap and masonry bolts spaced at 10-foot intervals. Heavy-duty, battery-operated drills and tools were used in conjunction with battery-operated lighting because manholes were located sometimes more than 1,000 lf apart, which complicated the use of wired drills and gear. Ca-Botics contracted with local CCTV contractor Pro-Pipe, while Rural Electric superintendent Jim Imbrescia pulled the fiber through these conduits and excavated from designated drops to the traffic control cameras. Heavy traffic along Scottsdale Road necessitated the execution of conduit pulling at night. Using the center island, Ca-Botics parked its truck and equipment over manholes and worked during the daytime in affixing the conduit to the pipe crown. Ca-Botics finished the installation in less than 40 days, which is 10 times less than it would have taken had traditional construction methods been utilized.
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Off-Road Sewer Line Inspection
Water & Wastes Digest (01/10) Vol. 50, No. 1, Buehler, Steve

Pennsylvania's McCandless Township Sanitary Authority (MTSA) is one of the first to adopt Solo robots, from RedZone Robotics, in almost exclusively off-road conditions. The MTSA has 3,000 manholes in easements or remote, off-road locations, which makes it difficult to collect complete pipe information as part of a mandated wastewater inspection cycle. In a pilot program lasting 10 days, 10 MTSA employees were able to inspect 112 difficult-to-access segments totaling more than 23,000 feet of pipe. The inspection cost per foot was 60 percent less than conventional methods. A Solo robot weighs 20 pounds and is completely self-contained, making it perfect for off-road inspection of 8 inch to 12 inch pipes. The Solo robot inspects without an operator present, does not require a special vehicle, tether system, or control hardware. The robot collects 360-degree spherical video so results can be coded offline, and the entire pipe can be reviewed at any time. Operators can conduct multiple inspections at the same time, significantly improving throughput, particularly when combined with the benefits of portability in an off-rood environment. "Working with RedZone has truly been a win-win situation for our authority, utilizing their cutting edge robotic technology and our employees’ expertise in the operation and maintenance of the collection systems," says MTSA executive director Bill Youngblood. "This partnership has helped us develop an additional tool for our toolbox in our never-ending struggle to do the most we can with the limited funds we have."
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The Right Way to Invest in Infrastructure
McKinsey Quarterly (12/01/2009) Lind, Michael

In the ongoing debate about how to create a durable economic recovery, the focus on infrastructure spending is welcome news to many. In early December, President Obama gave a speech on jobs and economic growth, calling for an increase in public investment in infrastructure, beyond the initial stimulus package, to modernize U.S. transportation and communications networks. The proposal reflects a belief among economists that investment in infrastructure is one of the most effective ways use government spending to promote economic activity. Unfortunately, when it comes to implementing infrastructure spending, many of the methods rely on the kind of short-term stimulus and Congressional earmarking that are making citizens impatient and distrustful of government spending. If America truly wants to fix both its unemployment and infrastructure problems in the long term then it must invest in infrastructure in new ways. Investing in infrastructure is the ideal way to shift resources and labor from bubble sectors like housing, finance, and luxury services to areas that have the ability to promote long-term economic growth. Moody’s Economy.com chief economist Mark Zandi says every dollar spent on infrastructure has a multiplier effect of $1.59. Additionally, improving infrastructure reduces operating costs for other businesses by improving transportation, communications, and energy and water efficiency. Furthermore, most infrastructure projects can only be supplied and executed in the United States, and not by outsourced or imported contractors, meaning infrastructure projects will create jobs and strengthen industries at a time when the country desperately needs such solutions. To stay modern and competitive, the United States needs to invest in a wide variety of infrastructure projects, including universal high-speed broadband and the modernization of transportation and energy systems.
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