Tag: Civil Engineering

Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless

Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless

Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless

02/19/23

“Why are the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Leaving Scores of People Homeless?”

The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes have demolished much of the built environments in both countries. Many people are now forced to find shelter because their homes have been shaken to the ground. This has been a feature of past earthquakes in Türkiye. In 1999, the Izmit Earthquake left over a quarter-million people homeless. This is Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless.

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.

Why the Aftershock Quakes Made the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Particularly Intense

Why the Aftershock Quakes Made the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Particularly Intense

Why the Aftershock Quakes Made the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Particularly Intense

02/14/23

“Why did the aftershock quakes make the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake particularly intense?”

Southeastern Türkiye and Northwestern Syria woke up the morning of February 6th to a brutal magnitude 7.8 earthquake. While a quake of that size would devastate any community, what followed made it especially gruesome. Soon after, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit a region slightly to the north. These were followed by over 2,100 aftershocks that further rumbled the ground. Structures that were built to survive an earthquake were weakened and destroyed by the onslaught of follow-up shakings. This is Why the Aftershock Quakes Made the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Particularly Intense.

Why Rainwater System Operators Should Consider Installing Purification Systems

Why Rainwater System Operators Should Consider Installing Purification Systems

Why Rainwater System Operators Should Consider Installing Purification Systems

02/06/23

“Why should rainwater system operators consider installing purification systems?”

Rainwater systems can collect water from natural events to be stored for later use. However, these systems may be vulnerable to contamination, whether it be from waste, air pollution, or living organisms. If left untreated, this water can seriously harm anyone who drinks it. If the system operator intends for this water to be potable, then a purification system will go a long way in making it safe. This is Why Rainwater System Operators Should Consider Installing Purification Systems.

Why Building Codes Should Incorporate Future Temperature Projections

Why Building Codes Should Incorporate Future Temperature Projections

Why Building Codes Should Incorporate Future Temperature Projections

01/26/23

“Why should building codes incorporate future temperature projections?”

Building codes often take into account local temperatures in their guidance. For example, California’s Title 24 building energy efficiency codes require residential units to have minimum ceiling and wall insulation values corresponding to their local climate zone. With the advent of climate change, the temperatures in such climate zones will shift, and the buildings built today must withstand this new paradigm. To illustrate, the Californian city of Fresno is projected to experience 10 times as many heat days per year between 2050 and 2099 than what it experienced from 1961 to 2005. Policymakers should start considering Why Building Codes Should Incorporate Future Temperature Projections to protect their citizens.

How Rainwater May Become Too Contaminated for Drinking

How Rainwater May Become Too Contaminated for Drinking

How Rainwater May Become Too Contaminated for Drinking

01/13/23

“How may rainwater become too contaminated for drinking?”

Catching rainwater for later use is a commonly proposed solution for drought adaptation. But when adopting these systems, health and safety risks need to be understood. Contaminants such as viruses,, parasites, bacteria, and dust and smoke particles may find their way into the rainwater. If the rainwater is contained in an open roof system, then it can be exposed to bird waste and insects. An older building may have materials such as asbestos and lead that can poison the water. These are all reasons why adaptation planners will need to consider How Rainwater May Become Too Contaminated for Drinking.

How Storms Can Overwhelm Water Treatment Systems

How Storms Can Overwhelm Water Treatment Systems

How Storms Can Overwhelm Water Treatment Systems

01/12/23

“How can storms overwhelm water treatment systems?”

Sewage water treatment systems are designed to channel a certain amount of water. However, when storms happen, a gush of water can flood these sewage systems. If too much volume seeps in, then the system can become overwhelmed and spill out. This can lead to discharges which can pollute nearby streets and bodies of water. Holidays are especially strenuous since wastewater systems are operating far beyond average use. This is How Storms Can Overwhelm Water Treatment Systems.

Why Heavy Storm Water Can Damage Transmission Lines

Why Heavy Storm Water Can Damage Transmission Lines

Why Heavy Storm Water Can Damage Transmission Lines

01/09/23

“Why can heavy storm water damage transmission lines?”

Electrical transmission lines typically have water-resistant polymers coating their cables to protect them from water damage. But during heavy rain storms, some water may get through and enter. The presence of moisture can heavily speed up the current in the circuit, blowing the fuse and destroying current flow. If the grid system does not have sufficient redundancy, outages can ensure. This is Why Heavy Storm Water Can Damage Transmission Lines.

The U.S Federal Adaptation and Resilience Group

The U.S Federal Adaptation and Resilience Group

The U.S Federal Adaptation and Resilience Group

12/19/22

“What is the current working group leading federal adaptation synergy in the U.S.?”

On December 8th, 2021, U.S. President Biden signed Executive Order 14057 to catalyze environmental initiatives by the Federal Government. One of the products of this order includes the launch of The U.S. Federal Adaptation and Resilience Group. This working group draws knowledge and expertise from the various U.S. federal agencies to address climate adaptation. Their current (as of writing) activities include discussing climate data for adaptation measures, modeling economic responses for adaptation, natural resource management, and fostering engagement between federal agencies.