Jan 2015 Vol. 1 Issue 10 UNCOVERING HIDDEN ISSUES Geotechnical engineering helps minimize project risk Sam Schwartz: Urban transportation revolutionary Guidance for reducing ground vibration Seismic performance analysis and BIM Hybrid groundwater dewatering Houston extends light rail Contents JAN 2015 ON THE COVER Ongoing, in-depth involvement by the geotechnical consultant minimized delays and costs from unanticipated ground conditions while constructing the first segment of Maryland’s $487.7 million InterCounty Connector — story on page 26. Photo: Stewart Bros. Photographers 18 32 46 On the rise 36 Wind energy reaches greater heights 15 Awards, promotions, and new hires 38 Technology enables wind power gains 40 Hybrid groundwater dewatering Profile 42 Build strong guards: Part 2 18 Sam Schwartz: Urban transportation revolutionary 45 Low-impact water management solution Firms in focus 46 Houston extends light rail 24 Right roles: Should you hire a civil engineering or civil 50 Responding to drought engineering technology graduate? 52 Wellspring Conference 2014 recap 26 Get the biggest bang for your geotechnical buck SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Project + Technology portfolio 54 The future of incorporating LCA 28 Guidance for reducing ground vibration 30 Seismic performance analysis and BIM Materials 32 Two projects shape student living and learning in new ways 56 Soil, water, and geosynthetics JANUARY 2015 cenews.com 3 Contents JAN 2015 Volume 1, Number 10 www.cenews.com Publisher Marketing MARK C. ZWEIG SHANNON BURNETT Founder & CEO Advertising & Departments 508-380-0469 Sales Marketing Manager [email protected] 800-466-6275 12 events [email protected] Sales BOB DORAN Production 14 Civil + Structural Engineer Online Director of Sales WYLIE MCINTYRE Product + software guide 770-587-9421 Art Director 58 [email protected] 800-466-6275 [email protected] 65 Reader index Editorial BOB DRAKE Events MICHELLE SUDAN 66 Civil + Structural Design Tools Editor-in-Chief 210-973-5070 Program Manager [email protected] 239-280-2319 [email protected] Columns CHAD CLINEHENS, P.E. Senior Editor Circulation From the Publisher: Great winter reading 501-551-2659 SONYA LEA H. STOUT 06 By Mark Zweig [email protected] Business Manager 800-466-6275 DAVID EVANS, P.E., PLS, F.ASCE ENGINEERING OUR FUTURE: Org chart obsession [email protected] 08 By Chad Clinehens, P.E. Senior Editor [email protected] GRANT TUCKER FIRM THOUGHTS: High hopes, but prepare for the worst JOAO FERREIRA Circulation Manager 10 By David Evans, P.E., PLS, F.ASCE 800-466-6275 Associate Editor [email protected] 508-318-5037 [email protected] Customer Service CHRISTINA ZWEIG For subscriptions or change of address, please visit our website Contributing Editor WWW.ZWEIGGROUP.COM/SUBSCRIBE 479-445-7564 or call 800-466-6275, or fax [email protected] 800-842-1560. Continuing Education RYAN RENARD 508-651-1559 [email protected] 38 West Trenton Blvd, Suite 101, Fayetteville, AR 72701 800-466-6275 | Fax: 800-842-1560 P.O. BOX 1528, Fayetteville, AR 72702-1528 MARK C. ZWEIG, CHAIRMAN & CEO, ZWEIG GROUP LLC Civil + Structural Engineer (ISSN 23726717) is published monthly by Zweig Group, 38 West Trenton Blvd., Suite 101, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Telephone: 800-466-6275. Copyright© 2015, Zweig Group. Articles may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Zweig Group. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Subscriptions: Annual domestic print subscription rate is $100 for 12 issues or $180 for 24 issues. Annual domestic digital subscription rate is $10 for 12 issues or $18 for 24 issues. All print subscribers receive digital editions in addition to print subscription. Call or write for international rates. To subscribe or update your subscription information, please visit our web site www.zweiggroup.com/subscribe; or mail subscription requests and changes to Circulation Dept, C + S Engineer , 38 West Trenton Blvd, Suite 101, Fayetteville, AR 72701; or call 800-466-6275. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to C + S Engineer , P.O. BOX 1528 Fayetteville, AR 72702-1528. Periodicals postage paid at Fayetteville, AR, and additional mailing offices. 4 cenews.com JANUARY 2015 From the publisher Great winter reading Brrr! Welcome to the January issue of Civil + Structural Engineer magazine! When it’s cold outside, it’s a great time to curl up with We have tons of great material in this month’s issue, starting with articles about seismic design of buildings some great reading (like our (near and dear to my heart, as I recently joined the board of Miyamoto Global Relief, a non-profit dedicated magazine) and catch up on to building/rebuilding schools in earthquake-torn developing nations), wind energy markets, a new light rail what’s going on in the world. extension project underway in Houston, a water conference in the Northwest, and campus building redesigns at Georgia Tech (I used to teach there for a week every year, long ago) and Clemson University — all good stuff that you are going to want to know! We also have a feature article from Christina Zweig on one of the “good guys” — a true hero of our profession — Sam Schwartz, P.E. I’ve known of Sam for decades, but first met him in 2012 when we bestowed on him the Jerry Allen Courage in Leadership Award. Like many readers of this magazine, Sam is an amazing, hard-working guy who has done so much to help so many people through his work. And he loves the work. That’s really what it’s all about: Helping people through your work and having some fun while you’re doing it. It’s what kept some of the greats who have graced these pages with their wit and wisdom going as long as they did — engineers such as Dan Cuoco and Rich Weingardt. May they both rest in peace. Dan was brilliant and so direct, and yet knew how to treat people. And Rich always made me laugh with his incredible humor and hilarious stories, always while making a point to promote the engineering profession to the world at-large. We’re lucky to have the contributions of David Evans, founder of DEA, in these pages. I have known David for more than 30 years. We first met through serving on the board of a professional association in which we were both involved. A brilliant business mind, he always brought humor to his work and still does. Check out his column on page 10 in this issue. With that, I’ll leave you to your reading. Stay warm and Happy New Year! MARK C. ZWEIG [email protected] 6 cenews.com JANUARY 2015 Your success depends on excellent results. That’s why you can rely on our innovative solutions. Customized to your requirements, our tried and tested products provide the Your project in safe hands. basis for any earthworks or ground engineering project. Discover the world of geo- synthetics. Discover HUESKER. www.HUESKER.com | E-mail: marketing HUESKERinc.com | Phone: 704.588.5500 AZ_HUE_9 x 10,5 inches.indd 1 07.01.15 13:50 ENGINEERING OUR FUTURE Org chart obsession Many firms in this industry have a problem with their organizational charts. Most often, the problem is Organizational charts are either over-designed charts or outdated and inaccurate charts. Furthermore, firm leaders do not recognize too often viewed as a career how important org charts are to the masses. I often tell these leaders that if their org charts were available roadmap. electronically (e.g., on the company’s intranet), it would likely be one of the most viewed items by staff. It is important to have an accurate, up-to-date, and easy-to-understand chart. An organizational chart should simply show the structure of the organization as well as the relationships and relative ranks of various roles and positions. Functionally, the structure should maximize the likelihood that decision makers have the relevant information to make good decisions and the incentives to use the information productively. Most young professionals see the org chart as the “corporate ladder.” The main problem with this line of thought is that organizations can change rapidly and ambitious young professionals must make their own way if they want to advance faster than their peers (see “The make-your-own-way approach,” May 2014). Seeing an organization chart as a maze one must navigate in order to advance will leave you waiting in a long line for occupied boxes to become available. For firm leaders, this is an incentive to publish a simple org chart and communicate to the organization that it is a representation of who works for whom and how teams are assembled and how information should flow across the organization. In addition to that, firm leaders must have career development processes that connect young professionals with senior management to foster career discussions and mentoring. Effective career development is not based on the structure of your organizational chart but the people in certain boxes who can help you advance your career. CHAD CLINEHENS, P.E., is Zweig Group’s executive vice president. Contact him at [email protected]. 8 cenews.com JANUARY 2015 GETTING HOME TO WHAT MATTERS, THAT’S DRIVABILITY * Edelman Berland Driver Survey, 2014 | ** Edelman Berland Survey, 2013 55% of drivers today identify traffic delays due to road construction as the most frustrating part of their driving experience.* With off-peak construction, asphalt pavements leave roads open to traffic during rush hour. Surface maintenance and repair is quick, ensuring drivers have a smooth, high performance surface with minimal inconvenience. No wonder an independent survey found 87% of engineers, developers, transportation officials and other key stakeholders chose asphalt for its ease of maintenance.** Smoother, quieter, fewer delays… that’s drivability.