Texas Contractor Magazine’s Post

AI is the buzzword across every industry! Share your thoughts by filling out our survey on AI in Structural Engineering. Your insights are invaluable!

If you are interested in infrastructure, sustainable construction, geotechnical and transportation engineering, check out the final Report on our research, "Determining an Acceptable CBR Value for Kansas Subgrades Based on Pavement Distress Data," which is now published by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) This research funded by KDOT and conducted by at Kansas State University Transportation Center, this research supports sustainable, resilient infrastructure. Grateful to my co-authors Dunja Perić, Ph.D., Gyuhyeong Goh, Ph.D., and KDOT for their collaboration! https://lnkd.in/gVfVsSCc #GeotechnicalEngineering #SustainableDevelopment #InfrastructureEngineering #KDOT#geotechnique#sustainability#infrastruture#transportation

We’re excited to share that Katie Castelo, P.Eng from Isherwood Geostructural will be presenting at the DFI conference alongside Shawna Munn, P.Eng and Dave Wiley, P.Eng! They’ll be presenting their paper, "Performance Based Design: Why Aren’t We Leveraging It to Its Full Potential? Managing Opportunity, Safety, and Contract Risk". Here’s a sneak peek at the abstract: The Observational Method plays a vital role in subsurface engineering, but current contract methods don’t fully capitalize on its potential. The paper explores the benefits of performance-based design, drawing on 50 years of case histories to showcase how these methodologies can enhance safety, manage risks, and drive economic benefits. It also addresses the risks associated with specification-driven design parameters and proposes tendering approaches to better integrate performance-based design into contracts while protecting both owners and contractors. We hope you have the opportunity to attend their presentation at the 49th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations in Aurora, Colorado!

Dr. Kinsey Skillen from Texas A&M is leading a groundbreaking TxDOT research project to enhance bridge performance, reduce construction time, and cut costs. This 42-month, nearly $1 million project explores innovative methods for anchoring steel reinforcement, promising a brighter future for Texas bridges. 🛠️✨ Read more: https://lnkd.in/gixF4vU5 Texas Department of Transportation, Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University

Come and support as I aim to delve into the topic of BIM and more specifically, it’s importance in developing Railway Stations.

The Geo-Structures 2024 conference brought together leading experts in the field of geotechnical engineering to discuss the latest advancements in earth-retaining systems. Dr. Evangelia Ieronymaki, senior lecturer in the Columbia University M.S. in Construction Administration program, served in several key roles at the conference and shared keys highlights and insights from the event. https://bit.ly/3OTyumI

Hamed Alikhani ‘22, Chau Le ‘21, Associate Department Head, Construction Science and Professor David Jeong, and Division Head and Civil Engineering Professor Ivan Damnjanovic received the prestigious 2024 Journal of Construction Engineering and Management Best Paper Award for their innovative research, "Sequential Machine Learning for Activity Sequence Prediction from Daily Work Report Data." This impactful study develops a machine learning model that accurately predicts task sequences in construction projects, empowering managers to optimize planning and resource allocation. This research is significant as it addresses a key challenge in the field of construction engineering, where efficient task sequencing is crucial for project success. Learn more about this groundbreaking work: https://lnkd.in/gvviq3uH Congratulations to the authors on this well-deserved recognition!

What does it take to bring city shaping tunnelling to life in NZ? As our cities grow tunnels become an increasingly compelling solution to solve transportation challenges while keeping streets accessible for all. #WhatDoesItTake

ETS is a part of the interdisciplinary team in GRID consortium GRID Geotechnical Resilience through Intelligent Design. Geotechnical engineering has long grappled with three inherent challenges: uncertainty stemming from incomplete knowledge, heterogeneity arising from diverse geomaterial compositions, geological processes and settings, and nonlinearity resulting from complex interactions. The compounding effects of climate change exacerbate these challenges, impeding traditional analytical and numerical approaches in accurately predicting geomaterial behaviour, crucial for designing resilient infrastructure, decision-making and conducting effective risk assessments. To surmount these obstacles, our research initiative advocates for a pioneering approach to fill the knowledge gap that integrates physics and machine learning in the form of Geotechnical Resilience through Intelligent Design. The GRID Proposal Approved by EU After a successful evaluation with a total score of 90.60%, the European Commission granted GRID €1.4 million in funding on May 14, 2024. The signing of the Grant Agreement by all #partners is currently underway. The official project start is planned for this coming November. ETS will be help the #tunnelling and #geohazards work packages thanks with the innovation worldwide recognized know-how of ARCHITA, MIRET and hydrogeological mapping. https://lnkd.in/dT4mSFAS #Geotechnical #Resilience #Design

NEWS: Oak Ridge National Lab Expands Spallation Neutron Source -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science has selected HENSEL PHELPS to deliver the Second Target Station (STS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Part of a significant upgrade of the Spallation Neutron Source, the new facility will provide transformational neutron capabilities that will advance scientific discovery and solve emerging societal challenges. The development represents an investment of up to $3 billion and will be built over the course of eight years. Designed to meet the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings, the STS will: > Employ integrated design principles. > Optimize energy performance. > Protect and conserve water. > Enhance indoor environmental quality. > Reduce the environmental impact of materials. > Assess and consider building resilience. In the preconstruction phase, Hensel Phelps is engaged in performing design reviews, market analysis, and value engineering, as well as the creation of a master schedule. Over 30 subcontractors will be involved in the project's construction. https://lnkd.in/ePbhVXgR #Energy #ResearchAndDevelopment #Government #EnergyUseReduction #Sustainability