By: Roger Chung, PE
In the August luncheon, Dr. Dragi Stefanovic of Tetra Tech, Inc., presented a new procedure for hydraulic analysis and floodplain mapping of “Without Levee” (Natural Valley) conditions in accordance with latest FEMA guidelines for Analysis and Mapping of Non-Accredited Levee Systems. An unsteady hydraulic model (HEC-RAS) is developed to analyze flows in the main river, while two-dimensional flood routing (HEC-RAS 2-D) is utilized for the floodplain mapping on the landward side of a levee. The advantages and challenges of the new approach are discussed with special emphasis on the long awaited HEC-RAS Version 5.0 featuring a two-dimensional modeling component.
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We have all been witnessing price inflation, whether it is at the gas station or at the grocery store. Both inflation and material shortage have become part of our design considerations when we select and specify materials for our projects. The approach has been further emphasized over the last couple of years: the Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) community should initiate design and construction projects with a thorough understanding of material availability, fabrication, delivery lead time, projected construction index price, and an evaluation of equivalent alternatives.
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Our 2nd Annual Women in Construction Week was a huge success! On behalf of the Orange County Construction Institute, we would like to thank everyone who made this hybrid week of events possible. Thank you to our amazing sponsors: SKANSKA, Turner Construction, LINXS, ASCE Los Angeles Section, Port of Long Beach Construction Management Division, Ardurra, and Steiner Consulting Inc.
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Last month, I traveled to Chile for my brother’s wedding and took the opportunity to wander in Patagonia, the Colchagua Valley (wine country), Santiago, and a few other places. I don’t know if the pattern is common across my peers, but as for myself, travels are generally punctuated by a constant evaluation of the local infrastructure, design details, construction means and methods, and an assessment of the infrastructure challenges that each region faces.
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Women in Construction (WIC) week is nationally celebrated the first full week of March. With the success of our 2020 “The Strength of Women in Construction” event, the OC Construction Institute hosted an entire week of virtual events to celebrate women in the industry. The events included honoring significant women in STEM history, breaking down and navigating difficult conversations, professional leadership coaching, a Bluebeam tutorial, and a couple of self-care-centric events.
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With the new fiscal year having begun in October, we felt this month’s President’s Column would be a good forum for our new presidents (Remi Candaele, ASCE OC Branch President; Ashlyn Alexander, ASCE OC YMF President) to introduce themselves and for me and YMF counterpart (Melissa Hilsabeck) to reflect on our respective terms as president of the OC Branch and OC YMF. I hope that the Q&A that follows helps you get to know more about each of us.
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