Tag: Civil Engineering

Why Cities Near Bodies of Water Should Consider Requiring Building Elevation for Future Construction

Why Cities Near Bodies of Water Should Consider Requiring Building Elevation for Future Construction

Why Cities Near Bodies of Water Should Consider Requiring Building Elevation for Future Construction

04/10/23

“Why may cities near bodies of water want to require building elevation for future construction?”

May cities near bodies of water are going to face rising tides. This will lead to more frequent and deadly flooding and potentially permanent landscape erosion. However, if future buildings are elevated, they will be naturally adapted to the new climate paradigm. If all construction in flood-prone cities is elevated, then the entire community would benefit greatly. This is Why Cities Near Bodies of Water Should Consider Requiring Building Elevation for Future Construction.

Locomotives

Locomotives

Locomotives

04/07/23

“What powers trains forward?”

Trains are a marvel of the modern world. These powerful machines push forward at tremendous speeds and have powerful momentum. But how exactly are trains powered? Well, the driving force is an engine that propels the vehicle it inhabits and everything it’s attached to. These locomotives are the beating hearts of trains and are one of their most vital components.

Why Underinvestment Led to the 2023 Greek Train Crash

Why Underinvestment Led to the 2023 Greek Train Crash

Why Underinvestment Led to the 2023 Greek Train Crash

03/26/23

“Why did corruption lead to the 2023 Greek train crash?”

The 2023 Greek train crash has thrown the Mediterranean nation into a crisis. Dozens of people have lost their lives, and trust in government institutions has collapsed. But what exactly caused such mayhem? Well, over the past decade and a half, The Greek economy has been hit by multiple crises. After 2011 the remote surveillance and signaling system near the town of Larissa had fallen apart, and efforts to rebuild it have failed. This left the train system no way to avoid the collision rapidly. This is Why Underinvestment Led to the 2023 Greek Train Crash.

Image credit: static.politico.com

Why High-Speed Rail Can Increase National Cohesion

Why High-Speed Rail Can Increase National Cohesion

Why High-Speed Rail Can Increase National Cohesion

03/24/23

“Why can high-speed rail increase national cohesion?”

Communities being in close contact with each other can increase the cohesion felt between them. One of the ways contact is facilitated is by transport. The easier and quicker it is for communities to one another, the more together they will feel. With high-speed rail, this form of contact increases dramatically. People from Towns and cities hundreds of kilometers apart can get together in time, forming stronger bonds. This is Why High-Speed Rail Can Increase National Cohesion.

Why Tearing Down a Damaged Highway After a Disaster May Be More Financially Reasonable Than Rebuilding

Why Tearing Down a Damaged Highway After a Disaster May Be More Financially Reasonable Than Rebuilding

Why Tearing Down a Damaged Highway After a Disaster May Be More Financially Reasonable Than Rebuilding

03/23/23

“Why may tearing down a damaged highway after a disaster be more financially reasonable than rebuilding?”

When highways are rendered unusable from an earthquake, many peoples’ first inclination is to rebuild them. However, sometimes it might be more financially reasonable to completely tear it down. Take for example the Embarcadero Freeway. When it collapsed during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, cost estimates found that building a boulevard in its place would be nearly $20 million USD less expensive. The removal of such a barrier has also made the neighborhood more commercially viable, with shops, housing, and new jobs lining up everywhere. This just goes to show Why Tearing Down a Damaged Highway After a Disaster May Be More Financially Reasonable Than Rebuilding.

Why Metro Orgs Should Hire Engineers In-House

Why Metro Orgs Should Hire Engineers In-House

Why Metro Orgs Should Hire Engineers In-House

03/01/23

“Why should metro orgs hire engineers in-house?”

Metro orgs often don’t have the engineering personnel to build their long-term projects. However, when they outsource to a consulting firm, they run the risk of being overcharged and getting much less than they asked for. If metro orgs hire in-house instead, they can more diligently check the validity of the work being performed and have a much better performance. This is Why Metro Orgs Should Hire Engineers in House.

Soft Story Building Retrofits

Soft Story Building Retrofits

Soft Story Building Retrofits

02/26/23

“How can we retrofit soft-story buildings?”

Soft story buildings are incredibly vulnerable to earthquakes. Their weak ground floors make structural collapse easy during ground shaking. But by performing Soft Story Building Retrofits, we can strengthen the ground floor and decrease the damage potential. Governments should look into these techniques to create disaster resilience.

As of writing, victims of the 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.

Image credit optimumseismic.com

Soft Story Buildings

Soft Story Buildings

Soft Story Buildings

02/23/23

“What are soft story buildings?”

Multistory buildings come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. However, sometimes they’re built with a first floor with significantly less stiffness than the stories above it. These usually come in structures with parking spaces or open commercial spaces on the ground level. This lack of support often causes the building to “pancake” (falling on top of itself) during earthquakes. Engineers and Earthquake Planners have termed these buildings Soft Story Buildings and are some of the most dangerous urban earthquake hazards.

As of writing, victims of the 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.

Image credit Wikimedia.org

Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks

Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks

Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks

02/20/23

“Why should earthquake planners consider aftershocks?”

Earthquakes are made much more dangerous with aftershocks. Infrastructure that may have affected survived the first round of shaking will be decimated by the next. If earthquake planners take aftershocks into account, cities can avoid much of the pain associated with these events. Possible implementations include designing buildings to withstand earthquakes far beyond what is expected and incorporating redundancy in edifice design. This is Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks.

As of writing, victims of the 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.