Events February 2006 Volume 30 Number 6 FEBRUARY BSCES Professional Engineers Refresher Course Transportation Group Event 3.07.06 – 4.18.06 2.15.06 Joint Geo-Institute and Structural Groups Event NEWS MARCH A monthly publication of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE Joint Engineering Management 3.09.06 and Construction Groups Event Geo-Institute 3.01.06 APRIL BSCES Student Night 2006 John R. Freeman Lecture 4.03.06 3.07.06 Sky-High Eye of GIS Offers Planners Clearer Site View Full Details Inside by James DeVellis, PE, and Catherine Martin, Geller DeVellis, Inc. A developer has a meeting with business President’s Report partners to get their buy-in on a parcel of land. by Joel S. Lunger, PE Although assessor’s maps and record plans are President available from town hall, questions about the JSL Engineering, Inc. site remain. How can developers obtain due- diligence information quickly in a format everyone can understand? This past holiday season has been one of A comprehensive site analysis can be completed gratitude and great accomplishment for the in just a few days using Geographic Information Boston Society of Civil Engineers! Systems or GIS. By creating a base map with First, we would like to thank those GIS from several different media—including individuals that gave to the 2006 Annual aerial photos, USGS maps, CAD plans, and Appeal Program. Your donations will help in electronic assessor’s maps—an abundance of the success of many worthy BSCES programs data can be overlaid onto this image to paint an including the Legislative Fellow, public accurate picture of the site. Armed with this outreach, professional activities and the due-diligence packet, developers can more GIS Site analysis for Hurld School, Woburn, MA award winning BSCESNews and Civil confidently present the site’s potential to Data source: MASSGIS and the City of Woburn Plan prepared by Geller DeVellis, Inc. Engineering Practice journal. This was the business partners and other constituents. first time we reached out to our members GIS Appeal cohesive stack of papers. With GIS, designers through email and web-based collection. and engineers gather data digitally from a The BSCES Board of Government decided The popularity of GIS is growing as local cities predesigned database to obtain legible results in to use this approach to minimize the and towns allocate funds to convert hard copy about two days. administrative costs associated with the public data into GIS format. For example, the GIS also often provides more accuracy. Before solicitation, maximizing the effectiveness of City of Woburn is capturing and converting GIS, developers could potentially get to the your donation dollars. For those of you who aerial photos into GIS to show water, sewer and permitting stage before discovering an did not receive our request, or would still property lines, among other data. endangered species or other inconspicuous but like to donate, please see page 5 of this Before GIS, site analysis could take weeks of plan-altering constraints. GIS utilizes detailed newsletter to learn how you can make a information gathering, resulting in a non- aerial photographs to bring a site into context, contribution. and when overlaid with data layers, it can We would also like to thank those firms that identify rivers and streams, overlay districts, and chose to participate in our Firm Sponsorship SPONSORING FIRMS other land characteristics. Program. Employer support to BSCES is very important. Responding to the needs of A Money Saver multiple professional societies and worthy This decrease in legwork and ability to create charities can become a significant financial comprehensive base maps translates into cost drain. We hope that this new program, one savings for developers. Typically, projects start that offers the opportunity to demonstrate with a conceptual design phase to assess a site’s your firm’s commitment to BSCES and the ability to support the program. This phase— engineering profession by partnering with us often involving civil engineers, landscape and for a series of events, has been well received. building architects, and land surveyors—is continued page 2 continued page 3 February 2006 BSCESNEWS 2005-2006 Board of Government President’s Report Annual Meeting. Congratulations to all of you who have made these and our many other continued from page 1 President: Joel S. Lunger, PE programs a great success! President-Elect: Terese M. Kwiatkowski, PE We look forward to acknowledging all of you as We are also the proud recipients of the ASCE Secretary: Danielle H. Peters, PE the year progresses. If you have any questions on Public Service Award for Zone I. It Treasurer: Marvin W. Miller, PE this program please give either myself, or acknowledges our contributions to enhance the Assistant Treasurer: Malek A. Al-Khatib, PE Richard Keenan at TEC a call. recognition of civil engineering as a respected Senior Vice Presidents: We also encourage all firms to consider applying profession through our involvement in public- Anatoly M. Darov, PE, Esq for this year’s newly launched BSCES Employer serving activities and for improving the image of Linda C. Hager, PE Recognition Award. The application form was ASCE and civil engineering in our community Vice Presidents: Frank A. Bracaglia, PE included in the January issue of BSCESNews through public relations and media coverage. Robert S. Stephens, PE and can be downloaded from our website, We were selected for our public service efforts in Past President: Alexander K. Bardow, PE www.bsces.org. The award is designed to developing programs that will train engineers to Western Branch Vice President: Daniel J. Murphy, PE acknowledge those firms that encourage society enter classrooms where they will encourage District II Director: Paul D. Moyer, PE membership, sponsor events, and support and young men and women to become civil encourage technical and professional growth. engineers, for continuing to conduct (for 12 Technical Group Chairs The deadline for the application is Tuesday, years!) the Model Bridge Competition, for Construction: Terrence P. McCarthy, PE February 28, 2006. designing and building a timber bridge over the Engineering Management: Brian J. O’Rourke, PE Hemlock Gorge in Newton, MA, and for Environmental: Brian P. Waehler, PE Speaking of recognition, we are proud to conducting an “Engineers Can Do Anything” Geo-Institute: Jonathan D. Andrews announce that BSCES is the recipient of this presentation and contest to encourage students Hydraulics & Water Resources: Benn S. Sherman, PE year’s ASCE Large Section Award. This award to pursue careers in engineering. We were noted Infrastructure: Emad A. Elsakka, PE acknowledges our many achievements including also for our Section’s contributions to society as Land Development: Sandra A. Brock, PE effective communication with our members civil engineers and, more importantly, our Structural: Neal S. Berke, PhD using the newsletter, engineering journal and Transportation: Bentley “Clay” Schofield, PE contributions to society as individuals who the web; professional and scholarship programs Waterways: Mark T. Mahoney happen to be civil engineers. Thanks to all those such as the Legislative Fellow Program, Design Younger Members: Weston C. Ruthven who have contributed and made BSCES a Professionals Day at the State House, technical model Section of ASCE! The Engineering Center group dinner and lunch meetings, annual One Walnut Street section awards, and special fund scholarships; Both the Large Section Award and Public Boston, MA 02108-3616 technical activities such as technical group Service Award will be announced at the Zone I Phone: 617/227-5551 lecture series and keystone technical group ASCE Leadership Conference being held in Fax: 617/227-6783 events; membership retention using tools such Boston this month. Email: [email protected] as the new Employer Recognition Award and Congratulations also go out to Vanasse Hangen Website: www.bsces.org creation of the new Land Development Group; Brustlin, Inc. for their recognition by the ASCE Executive Director: Abbie R. Goodman public outreach through the Infrastructure Task Committee on Younger Members (CYM) as a Association Manager: Richard F. Keenan Force, Younger Member Group activities, recipient of the ASCE 2005 Employer Model Bridge Program, Zoom Into Recognition Award. The CYM feels that VHB Engineering, Ralph Salvucci Online Bridge should be recognized for its encouragement and Board of Editors Contest, and Future City; and, special activities exemplary support of younger member Danielle H. Peters, PE, Chair Terese M. Kwiatkowski, PE such as the Hemlock Gorge Bridge community [email protected] [email protected] involvement through ASCE activities. project, Construction Forum, and the BSCES Brian R. Brenner, PE David M. Manugian, PE [email protected] dmmanugian@ Anatoly M. Darov, PE, Esq ambient-engineering.com Cynthia J. Schimpf The Aldrich Conference Center at The Engineering Center [email protected] Daniel T. Donahue, PE [email protected] Let Us Engineer Your Next Meeting! [email protected] Matthew I. Shuman • Unique Meeting Rooms for Groups of 2 to 40 Richard F. Keenan [email protected] • Reception Area for Up to 80 [email protected] • Historic, Elegant Beacon Hill Location • Two Blocks from the State House • Close to Public Transportation and Low Cost Parking Garage BSCES’s newsletter, BSCESNews, is designed to provide information and opinion in regard to the subject matter For information and reservations call Susan D’Olimpio, Conference Center Manager covered. BSCES and its Board of Editors assume no Tel: 617/305-4111 • Fax: 617/227-6783 • Email: [email protected] responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in Web site: www/engineers.org/tec-conf.htm this publication. It is published with the understanding that the Special Rates for Members Board of Editors and the authors are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is The Aldrich Center at The Engineering Center required, the services of a competent professional should be One Walnut Street • Boston, MA 02108-3616 sought.