Stormwater Sediment Traps

Stormwater Sediment Traps

Stormwater Sediment Traps

09/20/25

“How can we use simple engineering techniques to filter sediment out of stormwater?”

Stormwater can pick up sediment from construction sites, roads, and other surfaces it travels across. This sediment can pollute waterbodies, clog pipes, and harm natural water systems. So how can we use our engineering mindsets to stop the overflow of sediment? Well, we know that when runoff with sediment is slowed down, the sediment will eventually settle to the bottom. And we also know that once the sediment and water are separated, we can use an outlet to drain the filtered water. So, what if we were to design a pit that traps water, settles sediment, and removes the excess water? Well, this is the idea behind Stormwater Sediment Traps. Stormwater sediment traps are an effective way to remove sediment from runoff, and may be used to satisfy stormwater pollution prevention plans. Sediment traps also require maintenance to remove excess sediment buildup.

Image credit: https://www.mkbcompany.com/

Foothills

Foothills

Foothills

09/19/25

“What marks the start of mountain ranges?”

Mountain ranges extend for long distances. However, what defines their beginning? Well, the early gradual elevation of land, known as Foothills, is used to mark the start of mountain ranges from flatter lands. Foothills can be formed by erosion from mountains, as is the case with the Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line. 

Engineer of Record

Engineer of Record

Engineer of Record

09/18/25

“Why do project designs need a licensed engineer to sign off?”

Preparing construction plans is always a risky endeavor. You need to make sure all weaknesses are addressed, all steps work functionally, and that everything is up to code. One way to minimize project risk is to hire a qualified engineer to prepare and carry out designs. This Engineer of Record signs off on design/construction documents to signify their responsibility for success. In the U.S, becoming an engineer of record typically involves obtaining a professional engineering license.

Molarity

Molarity

Molarity

09/17/25

“How can we quantify the number of moles in a liter of a solution?”

Chemical solutions can contain a wide variety of moles. Some may be dense, others may be sparse. We can quantify this by determining the Molarity of a substance, or the number of moles of a solute in a single liter of solution, symbolized by the equation Molarity (M) = moles of solute/liters of solution. Molarity is fundamental for computing chemical calculations.

Equivalents (Redox Reactions)

Equivalents (Redox Reactions)

Equivalents (Redox Reactions)

09/16/25

“How can we quantify the amount of electrons exchanged per ion/molecule of reacting substance in a redox situation?”

Oxidation-reduction reactions involve an exchange of electrons between different ions and/or molecules. This exchange is dependent upon how many electrons are exchanged per ion/molecule. The number of electrons exchanged per substance is quantified as an Equivalent (Redox Reactions). Equivalents allow us to simplify calculations for identifying necessary chemical materials.

Why Octanol Testing Is Important in Water Pollution Analysis

Why Octanol Testing Is Important in Water Pollution Analysis

Why Octanol Testing Is Important in Water Pollution Analysis

09/13/25

“Why is octanol testing so important in water pollution analysis?”

People have to look out for all types of pollutants in water. Some of the worst ones are bioaccumulants, chemicals that move into the bodies of animals. Bioaccumulants pose a major threat to the health of living things, necessitating strong regulatory methods. One way to predict this is to take octanol, an oily substance that doesn’t mix with water, place it in a container with water, and then take a quantified amount of the chemical you want to test, mix it up, wait for it to settle, and then measure how the ratio of the chemical is in the water layer vs the octanol layer. If more is in the octanol layer, the chemical will likely bioaccumulate since octanol has a similar structure to body fat. This is Why Octanol Testing Is Important in Water Pollution Analysis.

Image credit: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/

Linear Infrastructure

Linear Infrastructure

Linear Infrastructure

09/14/25

“Can we unify linear geometry infrastructure under a single name?”

Physical infrastructure comes in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Many come in linear geometries, such as canals, pipelines, railways, and powerlines. This Linear Infrastructure must contend with strenuous logistical coordination and bureaucratic hurdles for implementation.

Precast Concrete

Precast Concrete

Precast Concrete

09/13/25

“How can we create ready-made concrete in a factory for quick installation later?”

Concrete is one of the building blocks of infrastructure around the world. However, pouring concrete on-site can be slow and prone to poor quality control. What if instead we were to create concrete in a controlled factory setting and then install it on site? Well, this is the idea behind Precast Concrete. Precast concrete has better quality control, construction speed, durability, versatility, and site disruption resilience. However, building these pieces remotely leads to potential transportation bottlenecks, higher construction costs, and less design flexibility. Precast concrete is implemented in all facets of the built environment, from highway barriers to wall panels in buildings to big concrete pipes.

Precast Porous Concrete Panels

Precast Porous Concrete Panels

Precast Porous Concrete Panels

09/12/25

“What makes NYC’s new porous concrete panels so special?”

Most cement panels block pervious surfaces, drastically increasing the chances of flooding during storm surges. To ameliorate this, NYC is making a new type of concrete panel that has a special concrete mix with a high void content that allows for some permeability. These Precast Porous Concrete Panels, or PCPPs, enable water to enter and sink into the permeable surfaces below, reducing stormwater runoff, ponding probability, and heat island effects. These new panels can potentially drastically reduce NYC’s already overbuilt environment’s chance of getting overwhelmed by floods and heatwaves. However, these new panels can also allow harmful chemicals to seep into the ground and have lower strength than regular concrete. NYC guidelines recommend that these panels not be installed on trucking routes, principal arterial roadways, industrial zones, significant underground utility corridors, or existing bike lanes/crosswalks. 

Image credit: https://www.nycstreetdesign.info/