Chitra’s Post

Civil engineers get their name from the historical distinction between civilian and military engineering. Back in the day, there was just one type of engineer, who worked on both military and civilian projects. However, during the 18th century, the need arose to differentiate between the two fields: Military engineers focused on building fortifications, defences, and weaponry. Civil engineers emerged to handle non-military infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, canals, buildings, and public works. The term "Civil" in civil engineer refers to civilians. They build things for everyday life, like roads and bridges, unlike military engineers who focused on defences.

Today is the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program! Our Civil Works program traces back to 1824, when legislation passed by Congress was signed into law by President James Monroe.   The General Survey Act of 1824, authorized Army Engineers to chart transportation improvements vital to the Nation’s military security and commercial growth through the design of state and private roads, canals, and railroads. The Act, signed into law on April 30, 1824, enabled Army Engineers to significantly contribute to the Nation’s westward expansion and provided legislation enabling subsequent rivers and harbors acts to authorize funds for navigation improvements. The first Rivers and Harbors Act became law on May 24, 1824, and authorized improvements for navigation on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, recognizing the vital importance of maintaining navigable waterways for commerce and transportation. Over the past 200 years, Congress and administrations have continued to pass laws broadening the USACE Civil Works’ missions and responsibilities, bringing us to where we are today. The Civil Works mission that we have been entrusted with, combined with our military missions and research and development, makes USACE a unique organization among the world’s military forces. Our ability to integrate these capabilities gives our great team the resources and expertise needed to tackle many of our Nation’s toughest challenges for the benefit of our citizens and communities, the economy and environment, and our Armed Forces both at home and abroad. https://lnkd.in/gq-AHMEG

RD24 ends, countdown to RD26 begins … The bi-annual research and development workshop hosted by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development (ERDC) – RD24 – ended Thursday with several keynote presentations, including the Honorable Michael Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Edward E. Belk, Jr PE, director of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works Program. During three-day event, more than 1,000 people across the USACE enterprise either participated in-person or connected virtually to view some of the more than 400 presentations. This RD event – the fourth such event to be hosted by ERDC – seeks to foster research collaboration across ERDC’s seven research laboratories, with the focus on developing and then delivering engineering solutions that address many of the issues facing the Army and our nation. This also marked the first RD that has been opened to the entire USACE enterprise. To learn more about ERDC and many of its research areas, visit https://lnkd.in/gZxPJ7J. United States Department of Defense US Army US Army Corps of Engineers #research #researchanddevelopment #engineer #engineers #engineering #science #innovation #technology #PowerofERDC

Today, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Eric M. Smith, signed the U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Annual Report (TEAR). Published and distributed by Lieutenant General Kevin M. Iiams, the commanding general of Training and Education Command, TEAR is the first annual report to be released since the publishing of Training and Education 2030 (TE2030) by General David H. Berger, the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps. The 14-page document outlines how TECOM has organized, progressed, and accomplished the 37 Force Design directed actions from TE2030. “The Training and Education Annual Report is another milestone on our modernization journey,” said Gen. Smith. “We continue to deliver on our promise to Congress, the Joint Force, our Allies and partners, and our Marines to ensure we are postured, manned, trained, and equipped for a peer fight while ensuring we remain ready for any crisis. I can’t say enough about the efforts of Lt. Gen. Iiams and his team, who keep pushing us forward. Our Corps remains at the cutting edge of training and education, which allows our Marines to continue to survive and thrive in any clime and place.” TECOM has codified Three Primary Projects, also known as the Three Ts, to accomplish its Force Design obligations: Project Triumph, Project Trident, and Project Tripoli. Collectively, these projects are providing the Fleet Marine Force with the standards, curriculum, and training environments it needs to prepare, fight, and win in the future highly contested multi-domain battle space. To learn more about the Three Ts, read the full press release and download a copy of the report ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/et-239R2

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that the newly updated EM 385-1-1 has been finalized. The manual underwent a complete rewrite of all 37 chapters. The updated requirements will go into effect on March 15, 2024, and will only impact contracts awarded after the effective date. This change will impact all contractors and subcontractors on USACE- overseen job sites. For those looking to begin bidding projects at job sites governed by EM-385, your estimators must be aware of these requirements. The EM-385 manual includes requirements that could add significant costs to your bid (on site safety staffing, EM-385 specific training requirements, etc). Here are some of the bases in the Northeast where our clients currently work that typically follow EM-385: 1. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT 2. Naval Submarine Base, New London, CT 3. AIRSTA Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay, MA 4. Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee MA 5. Quonset Point Air National Guard Station, North Kingstown, RI 6. US Military Academy Base, West Point, NY 7. Fort Devens, Devens MA 8. Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, MA *This list is not all-inclusive.

Time-of-year restrictions on when dredging can occur have huge impacts and we're grateful for the collaborative spirit and agreements to a data-driven approach to revisit the restrictions on the James River. Potential triple-win here for the environment, economy, and tax payer.

EM-385-1-1 : Updated DOD Construction Safety & Health Manual On November 9, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that the newly updated EM 385-1-1 has been finalized. The manual details safety and health requirements for all USACE construction activities and operations, including Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) construction contracts. The manual underwent a complete rewrite of all 37 chapters. AGC, including our chapter colleagues and contractor members, submitted extensive comments in August 2022 on provisions that directly impacted construction activities. The updated requirements will go into effect on March 15, 2024, and will only impact contracts awarded after the effective date. In advance of this date, AGC will partner with USACE Office of Safety and Occupational Health to provide an overview of the most significant changes. Some noted changes: SSHO Requirements by level 1 or level 2 Safety Plans will require all 37 categories addressed.

Lean Construction (&FM) in the DOD "Several peer reviewed articles in The Military Engineer, the official professional journal of the Society of American Military Engineers, call for an overhaul of military construction delivery methodology. Specifically, Peter Cholakis, in his article “Rethinking Construction Delivery” (2015), contends that “leaner” construction practices and tools such as BIM may be precisely what military constructors need to implement to ensure project success." - (Source: 2017, AN EXPLORATION OF COMPATIBILITY OF U.S. ARMY CULTURE AND LEAN CONSTRUCTION, Salizar, R., . Rybkowski, Z, Ballard, G. #LeanConstruction #MilitaryEngineering #BIM

Welcome to our new #DidYouKnow series, with our Director of Engineering Keith Coleman, P.E., S.E. Did you Know…   …design stress can significantly impact the design life of vinyl sheet piling? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recommends a design stress of 3,200psi to be used for the design of PVC sheet pile. This recommended design stress also agrees with ASTM International (ASTM) per ASTM D8427-21.   It has been found that even small increases in design stress can exponentially shorten the functional design life of the sheet pile. For example, if a design stress of 3,500psi was used instead of 3,200psi, a 50% reduction in design life should be expected.   CMI follows both the USACE and ASTM guidelines by using 3,200psi design stress as a basis for the published bending strength of all its vinyl sheet profiles. Follow #CMI for more insights on our #vinylsheetpile offerings. #astm US Army Corps of Engineers #designstress #civilengineering #civilengineer #marinecontractor #marinecontracting

Boosting U.S. Navy Efficiency with Commercial Shipbuilding Techniques 🚢🔧 The Government Accountability Office suggests the U.S. Navy could enhance its shipbuilding efficiency by adopting standards from commercial shipbuilders. Implementing practices such as detailed 3D modeling before construction could significantly streamline the Navy’s design and build processes, potentially improving both cost and schedule outcomes for future naval vessels. #USNavy #Shipbuilding #GAORecommendations #CommercialStandards #DefenseIndustry #MaritimeEngineering #OperationalEfficiency #NavalConstruction #MilitaryInnovation #TechnologyAdoption 🔗 GAO: U.S. Navy Could Learn From Commercial Shipbuilders' Standards https://lnkd.in/dYSq3yYd