Austin Branch Newsletter

January 2009

Volume 13, Number 4

In This Issue…

Meeting/Speaker Info

President's Message

Meeting Sponsor

Changes to Meetings and Payment

Austin Branch 2009 Engineer of the Year

Austin Branch Wins Award

Bowling for Kids

Engineer’s Day

Eweek - Discover Engineering

Meet the New Director

Excellence in Journalism

Continuing Education Webinars

January Meeting Sponsor:

Founded in 1968, Raba-Kistner Consultants, Inc. is recognized as one of the Southwest’s largest consulting firms offering our engineering specialties. We provide professional and technical project management and oversight services which include Construction Materials Engineering, Testing, and Observation; Geotechnical Engineering; Environmental Consulting and Engineering; Facilities Engineering and Roofing/ Waterproofing Consulting; and Pavement Consulting. Our 40 years of continuous service by the same executive management substantiates that we have been, and will continue to be, available to meet our clients’ objectives in the future.

Our multi-disciplined team, made up of more than 350 employees company-wide, consists of civil, environmental, geotechnical, materials, and facilities engineers; architects; environmental geologists; scientists; archaeologists; technicians; and support personnel. More than 75% of our team holds licensure or certifications in their areas of expertise. Furthermore, Raba-Kistner’s Geotechnical and Construction Materials Testing staff and laboratories are among the largest in the State.

Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Raba-Kistner has additional offices in Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and McAllen, Texas and México. Raba-Kistner’s resources, manpower, and organizational structure allow for all corporate employees to serve as seamless service providers for every project.

www.rkci.com

Changes to Lunch Meeting RSVP and Payment Beginning January 2009

by Rose Marie Klee, P.E. – 2008-2009 VP Programs

At our December Board meeting, the Board of Directors of the Austin Branch discussed the cost of our meetings as well as changes to our arrangement with Embassy Suites as we renew our contract. The cost of lunch, per plate, has typically increased by 5-6% per year, and in the past the Branch has chosen to absorb this cost rather than pass on the increase. In addition to a per plate cost increase beginning in January and due to the burden of last-minute changes to the headcount, our catering service will also be limiting the number of same-day additions before charging an additional service fee.

Based on these increased costs and the need to get a more accurate headcount, the Board has decided to make the following changes:

· $18 – with RSVP and PayPal web payment

· $20 – with RSVP and payment at the door

· $25 – walk-up (no RSVP, no pre-payment)

· $5 – student/government employee with RSVP and web payment

· $10 – student/government employee walk-up (no RSVP, no pre-payment)

For the December meeting, the lunch cost/RSVP will remain the same: $15 with RSVP, whether pre-paid or paid at the door; $20 for walk-ups; $5 for student and government with RSVP; $10 for student and government walk-ups.

We do understand that schedules change at the last minute, which may cause you to miss a meeting that you RSVP’d for or suddenly be able to attend. However, in order to minimize the financial impact to our organization, we hope to get more accurate advance RSVP counts while not discouraging our members and guests to make every meeting they possibly can—PLEASE JOIN US, EVEN IF LAST-MINUTE!

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Rose Marie Klee at rmklee@crespoinc.com. Your feedback about the catering service is also welcomed!

ASCE Austin Branch 2009 Civil Engineer of the Year

By: Garabed A. Harutunian, P.E., RPLS, ASCE-Fellow

Honors Committee Chair

During Fall of 1999, the Austin ASCE Branch Board of Directors established the Branch Civil Engineer of the Year Award. This award is to be presented to Branch Members who have distinguished themselves in the fields of Education, services to the Civil Engineering profession, Awards received, services to the Branch, services to the community, services to the student ASCE Chapter, and etc. The Honors Committee received four individual nominations nominated by individual members of the Branch. The Committee reviewed the four nominated individuals packages and selected Dr. William H. Espey for this award. The Committee recommended him to the Branch Board of Directors who unanimously approved his selection for this award.

William H. Espey, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE has made and continues to make important contributions to the American Society of Civil Engineers throughout his professional career. His participation in ASCE began as a member of the Student Chapter as a student in the Civil Engineering Department at The University of Texas at Austin during the 1950’s and 1960’s. He came to University of Texas on a football scholarship and earned his BSCE (1960), MSCE (1963) and Ph.D. (1965). He began contributing to the Texas Section ASCE as Vice Chairman (1968 & 1969) and then Chairman (1970 & 1971) Waterways and Harbors Committee.

Dr. Espey was the Contact Member of ASCE/Student Chapter, University of Texas at Austin 1978-1979. His professional contributions to ASCE were recognized with the Award for Outstanding Service in 1979. He served as a member of the Hydraulics Division, ASCE Programs Committee, 1992 -1999. Dr. Espey chaired the ASCE 1st International Water Resources Engineering and International Groundwater Management Symposium; Watershed Management Symposium; and Texas Water '95 held in San Antonio, TX. He is the presently General Chair, National Water Congress Kansas City, MO2009, EWRI/ASCE. Dr. Espey is a Senior Civil Engineering Program Evaluator (ASCE) as a member of ABET accreditation teams, (1996 – Present). He earned the EWRI/ASCE Lifetime Achievement Award, 2006.

Dr. Espey had been recognized as Distinguished Graduate of the College of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1986, and a Charter Member, Civil and Architectural Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni, University of Texas, at Austin, November 2003, and President 2006-2007. He is a Founding Diplomate and member of the Board of Trustees (Treasurer) of the American Academy of Water Resource Engineers (ASCE), and President 2006-2007.

His contributions to water resources engineering have been recognized specifically by the Award for Outstanding Planning Achievement, Lower Colorado River Basinwide Project, USACE, 2001. More recently, his participation, and contribution as a member of the ASCE External Review Panel (ERP) was recognized by the Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal presented by Lieutenant General Carl A. Strock and Assistant Secretary of the Army, John Paul Woodley, Jr (2007). He has been appointed as Chairman of the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth (1981 – 2009) Lake Michigan Diversion Committee as mandated by the Supreme Court’s modified decree, (1980). Recently Dr. Espey has been appointed as mandated by Senate Bill 3 (State of Texas) as Chair of the Basin and Bay Expert Science Team (BBEST).

Dr. Espey has been married to his high school sweetheart for 49 years and has 3 children and 8 grandchildren. He was raised in Dallas / Oak Cliff and graduated from South Oak Cliff High School. He officiated high school football for 20 years as a member of Southwest Football Officials Association. He has been a member of the Hyde Park Baptist Church for over 40 years, and served as president of the Hyde Park Foundation from 1995-2002. He was also president of the Hyde Park Sunday School (Adult 4) from 1983-1985. From 1974-1984, he was president/co-founder and co-sponsor of the Northwest Senior Girls softball league.

Dr. Espey will be recognized at the Civil Engineer of the Year Banquet in the Spring, 2009.

Austin Branch Wins Award!

Congratulations! The Austin Branch has been selected as an Honorable Mention for the 2008 Outstanding Section/Branch Diversity Award. The award was presented at the ASCE Multi-Regional Leadership Conference President's Lunch, Friday, January 9, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center in Denver.

Kudos to all of our Branch members!

Big Brothers Big Sisters – Bowl for Kids Sake 2009

by Dale Murphy, P.E.

For the 4^th year, the Austin Branch will be participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas’ annual Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser, with our bowling event scheduled for Friday, February 27^th at 8:30 PM at Highland Lanes. There will also be a happy hour before the event. Last year the Austin Branch had 20 teams, 100 participants and raised just under $20,000!! This year we are looking to have increased participation and raise even more money. Participants are asked to solicit donations from their friends, family and co-workers through a simple web based with each bowler committing to raise at least $125.

We are looking for people who are willing to be Team Captains who would recruit 4 additional co-workers or friends to form a team of their own. If you’d like to participate but don’t have a team, we can put teams together for you or you can just donate to one of our ASCE teams or bowlers as well. For more information on how you can have fun bowling with your colleagues while raising money for a good cause, contact Dale Murphy (dmurphy@kfriese.com) or Jason Bybel (jason.bybel@jacobs.com).

New for this year we will have corporate sponsorship opportunities, with each sponsor receiving recognition at the event and on our website. Additionally, sponsors will be invited to the pre-bowling happy hour to mingle with the participants from local consulting firms and government agencies. Sponsorships are $500, a sponsorship form is located on our website.

Engineer’s Day at the Austin Children’s Museum

by Linda Barlow, P.E. – Public Relations Chair

Volunteer!

Engineer’s Day at the

Austin Children’s Museum

Sunday February 15, 2009

It’s that time of year again…E-Week is on the way and so is our annual Engineer’s Day at the Austin Children’s Museum. Help kids build a hoop glider and see how far it goes… Watch how high they can build a newspaper tower that supports a golf ball… Lend a hand to help them build all kinds of structures with spaghetti and marshmallows – you’ll be surprised at their creativity!

As a volunteer for ACSE’s 8^th Annual Engineer’s Day at the Austin Children’s Museum, you will help the kids build structures, fly helicopters, and complete other simple engineering activities…and you’ll have fun, too!

There will be an on-line sign up at our website shortly with the available shifts. Until then, please email any member of the PR Committee. Please pass the word around to anyone else who may be interested! Volunteers can choose one of two shifts in the afternoon: 11:30 to 2:24 or 2:15 to 5:30. Training will be minimal and take place just before your shift. You will also receive a certificate for PDH credit.

We also need sponsors for the annual event. For individuals or firms, the two levels of sponsorship are $150 and $250. We also need an admission sponsor at $1000. We have recruited ACEA as a $1500 event co-sponsor for the second year in a row, so thank an ACEA member (and encourage them to volunteer for the event too). If your firm is interested in sponsoring the event, or if you have any questions, please email or call a PR Committee Member: you can email any of the PR Committee members:

Linda Barlow at lbarlow@hvj.com;

Sharon Hamilton at Sharon.Hamilton@CASEngineers.com; John Conquest at JDCONQUEST@mactec.com;

Cesar Calderon at calderon@guerra.com;

Chelsea Solomon at Chelsea.solomon@casengineers.com, or Jim Huffcut at JHuffcut@Pape-Dawson.com.

Thanks so much to the sponsors who have already pledged to support this year’s event:

Austin Branch ASCE

Greater Austin Contractors and Engineers’ Association.

Eweek-Discover Engineering

By Laton Carr, EIT

ASCE will hold a Discover Engineering kick-off event on January 14th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the offices of Pape-Dawson Engineers (7800 Shoal Creek Blvd, Ste 220 West). Food will be provided. The kick-off event will be a good opportunity to meet fellow ASCE volunteers and to see how a classroom visit will happen. EWeek school visits (Discover Engineering) are brief visits to area elementary or junior high schools by a small team of volunteer engineers like you. The purpose is to grab the math and science interest of young students so that they might choose the path to engineering as a profession one day. Visits will be coordinated throughout the spring (not just one week). To RSVP for the kick-off event (by Tuesday at 4:00pm), or to sign up as a volunteer for the classroom visits email Laton Carr (lcarr@pape-dawson.com). Thanks!

Meet the new Executive Director of the Texas Section ASCE

by Robert Scholtz, P.E. – President Elect

Mr. Ottis Foster, P.E. has been selected as the Executive Director of the Texas Section ASCE beginning in January 2009. Ottis is a Past President of the Central Texas Branch and has served the Texas Section in various roles, which includes leading the Section’s efforts to publish the Residential Foundations Engineering Guidelines and also chairing the Government Affairs Committee. From the current Texas Section President, Ricky Bourque, “[Ottis’] professional and service background is the right fit for leading the management effort of the Texas Section ASCE for the next two years. I am very excited about working with Ottis to grow our organization in service to the Civil Engineers in our great State!” Ottis will be at the Austin Branch January luncheon, so be sure to introduce yourself!

YMF Update

by Brandon Hammann, EIT

We hope everyone enjoyed the holiday break and had some down time before the start of the new year! Just before the holiday break, YMF met at Six Lounge to enjoy food and beverages while getting to know fellow colleagues. There were familiar faces and some new folks as this was one of the larger turnouts in recent months. We look forward to hosting a happy hour in February, and hope to see all those in attendance at the last social as well as some new faces.

Calling all basketball fans...tickets are now on sale for the A&M vs. UT men's game on January 24th at 7:00 pm. We will meet at Scholz Beer Garten around 5:00 pm that Saturday for a pre-game festivity. Food will be provided so save a little room before coming out to celebrate your alma mater or just looking to have a good time. A limited number of tickets will be sold for this event at $20 each. All seats are grouped together. Please contact me (contact info. below) if you would like to make a reservation or find out more information on this event.

Later in the month YMF will host it's first ever technical seminar! We plan to hold a seminar every quarter to provide design guidance for recent graduates and young engineers in a relaxed and informal forum. Each seminar will be led by an experienced engineer on a specific topic within the civil engineering realm. The first seminar will be led by Kim Patak, P.E. She is an experienced engineer with an emphasis in hydraulic and hydrologic design. The two-hour seminar will focus on detention analysis. Come by Freese and Nichols on January 28, at 6:30 pm for some free education and a free dinner!

February will be a busy month as there are two important events to make note of. On February 8th, a viewing of "Liquid Assets" will be held on the UT campus. A panel of local representatives (politicians, government officials, and private industry) will speak on the state of the utility infrastructure in Central Texas. The event is open to everyone and free of charge. Please contact Ty Womble for additional information. The second event is a first for YMF as we have teamed up with Keep Austin Beautiful to volunteer our time for the Austin Marathon on February 15th. Details can be found at http://www.doitsports.com/volunteer2/jobs-by-date.tcl?event_id=159567. We are currently working with our team leader to participate as a group to give our members an opportunity to get to know each while helping out with a local event. Our particular time slot is from 12:30-3:30, as part of the “Green Team”.

Please feel free to contact any of our officers/chairs for additional information on these events, how to get involved, or to provide feedback on any issue of concern to you. We look forward to serving you and wish everyone a happy new year!

Sincerely,

Brandon Hammann, A.M.ASCE

Austin YMF President

brandon.hammann@klotz.com

UT Student Chapter Update

by Michelle Wilkinson – Corporate Relations Officer

December was the winding down of our first semester. UT ASCE didn’t actually hold any general meetings due to finals, but we did spend that time gearing up for this coming semester. Our first meeting of the semester will be on January 21, with Mustang Engineering as the sponsor.

Our main outreach project for this semester will be the New Orleans trip with the Austin Branch in just two short weeks. We are all grateful for the tremendous effort the branch has put forth in setting this trip up, especially Rose Marie Klee! The students cannot wait to give back to the hurricane devastated community and learn more about what civil engineers can do differently in the future to help prevent these catastrophes. Other outreach projects we are planning for this semester include elementary school visits and Explore UT.

As of right now, we are expecting to participate in a few Intramural Sports this semester. We are hoping to have not only a basketball team, but also a co-ed team. We will also play softball as we do every year and are looking forward to a great season.

Our technical competitions are entering their final stages. Concrete batches are still being tested for Concrete Canoe to come up with the best mixture possible. Seismic Competition is picking up in pace since the competition is only a month away. With our design close to being fully completed we are now moving into the planning stage of how we are actually going to construct our structure and what kind of dampening systems we might try to use.

Contact Michelle Wilkinson at mwilkinson@mail.utexas.edu if you would like to get involved with UT ASCE. Please let us know if you would like to sponsor a meeting, a Friday in the Park, or any of our technical competitions (Seismic Competition and Concrete Canoe). Visit our website, www.ut-asce.org, for more information regarding the student branch.

Book Review: A Weekend in September by John E. Weems

by Melinda Luna, P.E. – History and Heritage Chair

A Weekend in September is a book that is based compilation of several interviews of people who survived the September 1900 storm in Galveston. First published in 1957, the book has been republished several times the latest in 2008. The insight to the 1900 storm that Weems presents is very remarkable. A map of Galveston is include showing the areas of total devastation and photographs help to imagine and place some of the accounts of the storm. Some past reviews have a called this particular book the best account of the storm itself. With Ike devastation of Galveston Island just 4 months ago, it is interesting to read the book and some of the accounts similarly familiar as most of us watched the happenings before and after Hurricane Ike. Perhaps what we can learn from both Ike and the 1900 storm is preparedness in several aspects. From the start of the storm, the book describes people playing in the high water before the storm much like some of the images shown before Ike landed on Galveston Island.

The devistation of the Hurricane Ike was devasting somewhat less than the 1900 storm. In 1900 most of the structures on Galveston Island did not survive and almost all were damaged by the storm. There were no guidelines that builders had to follow in 1900. The fact that only one of the structures survived in the neighboring Gilchrest is that the builders exceeded FEMA standards. A second similar sitaution was the experiences of people who decided to stay on Galveston Island. Both the surviors of the 1900 storm and Ike had an extreme experience one they probably would not repeat. The Ike surviors perhaps because they had survived a category 2 hurricane before not knowing that Ike would have an unusually high storm surge. The Saffir Simpson scale may need some revision or clarification when it comes to storm surge. Wave action is somewhat complicated when it comes to barrier islands as also seen in the storm of 1919 in Corpus Christi. Evacution is uncomfortable but perferable to the alternative.

Even though there were a lot of similarities there were some differences such as most of the people on Galveston Island did not know that the hurricane was five days out. With Radar the general public along with the internet was able to track the progress of Hurricane Ike. The 1900 storm was weaker as it went over Cuba in comparison to Hurricane Ike. Luckily, as Ike approached the Texas coast the storm did not strengthen.

The after math of the 1900 storm was that Galveston along with most times changed the way city government was set up. Instead of having wards where individuals made decisions for the area, the city council would make decisions for the town.

Several books have been written about the 1900 storm, A Weekend in September is a good one to read to remind us of the importance of being prepared. From all recent accounts from Katrina, Rita, and now Ike, the story is the same spending time to be prepared is always time well spent.

City of Austin Road Names – Enfield Road

Named by Governor Elisha Pease after the town in Connecticut where he was born.

Results of Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) Fund Drive

Thanks Austin Branch for the donations provided at the November and December meetings. Two checks were presented to CAFB: $210 was provided to CAFB after the November 18^th meeting for Thanksgiving holiday meals and $350 was provided after the December 16^th meeting for help with Christmas holiday meals.

The Austin Branch exceeded last years collection with this total of $560 in monetary donations this year which will feed hungry children, adults, and seniors in the Austin area. Thank you for showing our community that civil engineers work to improve lives in many ways, and one way is by providing support to CAFB and Central Texans in need!

Excellence in Journalism Award Nomination: Due April 30^th

The Austin Branch PR Committee is accepting entries for the 2009 Texas Section Excellence in Journalism Award, and strongly encourages you to nominate a story, or stories. Eligible stories must be published or broadcast between May 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009. Local journalists for News 8 won both the Texas Section Award and the National Award this past year!

The Excellence in Journalism Award was established in 1994 by ASCE to honor newspaper journalists for outstanding news articles that enhance public understanding of the role and impact of civil engineers and civil engineering. Nominations of regional or national general interest news stories are accepted in five categories: Daily and Weekly Newspapers, Magazines, Electronic/Web-Based News Outlets, Radio, and Television.

A list of Award criterion is shown below and can be viewed at the following web link: http://www.asce.org/pressroom/honors/excel_journalism.cfm:

Entries should advance public knowledge and understanding of civil engineers, the profession or the issues that they impact;
Include knowledgeable civil engineering experts;
Cover all sides of the civil engineering issue fairly;
Effectively explain how the civil engineering project or issue impacts the community or region;
Accurately describe the civil engineering project or issue; and
Clearly describe the civil engineer's role (Examples: How did engineers contribute to the project's completion? How did engineers influence the positive outcome of an environmental issue, natural disaster or key legislation?).

If you have seen or heard a story (maybe about your own project) and it meets the criteria above (and the eligibility requirements listed on the website), please submit your nomination directly to any member of the Public Relations Committee (Linda Barlow lbarlow@hvj.com, Sharon Hamilton sharon.hamilton@casengineers.com, John Conquest JDCONQUEST@mactec.com, Cesar Calderon calderon@guerra.com, Chelsea Solomon at Chelsea.solomon@casengineers.com , Jim Huffcut at JHuffcut@pape-dawson.com, or Jennifer Otterson at JMOtterson@pbsj.com). Please include a copy of the article/publication medium, which should show a minimum of the authors name, date of publication and the publisher’s name. Nominations must be submitted by April 30, 2009 to enable the committee to pull together the submittal. Nominations must be submitted to the Texas Section ASCE by May 15^th, 2009. If you have any questions, you can contact any member of the Public Relations Committee.

ASCE Continuing Education Webinars

January 2009

Fri Jan 09, 2009 - 23, 2009	The Modern Roundabout As A Traffic Signal Alternative, Part I & II - Complete Series
Tue Jan 13, 2009	Design of Wood Diaphragms and Shear Walls
Wed Jan 14, 2009	Design of Brick Veneer Systems
Thu Jan 15, 2009	Strengthening Structural Steel Beams
Fri Jan 16, 2009 - 30, 2009	Load & Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) for Geotechnical Engineering Features, Complete Two-Part Series
Tue Jan 20, 2009	Design of Moment-Resisting Foundations for Pre-Engineered Buildings
Wed Jan 21, 2009	Delegation: Why Put Off Until Tomorrow What Someone Else Can Do Today?
Thu Jan 22, 2009	What An Engineer Needs To Know To Survive and Thrive Soft Skills, People Skills, and Leadership Traits
Tue Jan 27, 2009	Design of Building Foundations: Practical Basics
Wed Jan 28, 2009	Mentoring: Implementing a Program in Your Organization
Thu Jan 29, 2009	Deciphering Building Code Provisions for Structural Renovation
February 2009
Tue Feb 03, 2009	Design of Wood Columns and Wall Studs
Wed Feb 04, 2009	Innovative Designs for Improving Intersection Capacity
Thu Feb 05, 2009	Understanding the Market for Engineering Services in Sustainable Development
Fri Feb 06, 2009	Advanced Snow Loads
Mon Feb 09, 2009- Mon Mar 23, 2009	P.E. Environmental Exam Review, Complete Six-Part Series
Tue Feb 10, 2009	Renovation of Masonry Facade
Wed Feb 11, 2009	Speaking to Make Good Things Happen: Preparing, Presenting and Following Up
Thu Feb 12, 2009	Negotiating Better Engineering and Architectural Contracts
Thu Feb 12, 2009	Seismic Review
Fri Feb 13, 2009	HEC-RAS Bridge Hydraulics
Tue Feb 17, 2009	Deflection and Lateral Drift Criteria for Metal Building Systems
Tue Feb 17, 2009 - Thu Mar 26, 2009	P.E. Civil Exam Review: Complete 12-part Series

Thank You to All of Our 2009 Sponsors!

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Want to be an Austin Branch Sponsor? Gives your company advertising and free postings on our online job board. Click here for more information.

The Austin Branch Newsletter gives you the latest information on ASCE events and activities. To inquire about this newsletter or to publish articles contact the Communications Director. Contact information for our Board of Directors can be found at www.austinasce.org.

National ASCE – www.asce.org Texas Section – www.texasce.org