American Society of Civil Engineers - San Francisco Section

Professional engineers and licensed land surveyors must use written contracts for professional engineering and surveying services unless the client knowingly states in writing that work may be commenced before the contract is executed. Written contracts are defined to include contracts in electronic form. There are also certain exceptions to the requirements for written contracts.

SAFETEA-LU Extended in Defense Appropriations

The Senate passed an extension of the federal surface transportation program (SAFETEA-LU) as part of the FY 10 Defense Appropriations bill. The SAFETEA-LU extension will last until the end of February to allow time for the House and Senate to work on a new authorization. Since SAFETEA-LU expired on September 30, the nation’s highway programs have been operating under a series of short term extensions at funding levels significantly below the FY 2009 authorization level. The House passed a similar extension in the “Jobs for Main Street” Act.

Earlier in 2009 the Governor approved the legislation to allow for the design build procurement and public private-partnership funding of the State transportation and transit projects. This will open new market and opportunities for the industry and promote innovative ways of building new transportation infrastructure in California. Other public sectors like water wastewater and educational institutions have been benefiting from these innovative procurements and funding methods for decades and finally the trend would hit transportation projects.

Engineers, by nature, are the types that will tend to offer advise in emergencies where their expertise is sought. This can backfire, however, where the advise proves to be incorrect, or worse yet, where it can be demonstrated to have been negligently rendered. There are circumstances, however, where an engineer may be called upon to provide emergency inspection services and where immunity for negligence may apply.

Every four years since 1998 the American Society of Civil Engineers has issued their Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which details the condition of the nation’s infrastructure and offers solutions on how it can be improved. Each category is evaluated on the basis of capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety and resilience. Here are the 2009 results:

Obama Announces New STEM Initiative

The Administration launched a new initiative, “Educate to Innovate” with the goal of improving the participation and performance of America’s students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The initiative was developed in part at a September 10 White House meeting with leaders in the education, science, and engineering committees, including ASCE’s Past-President David Mongan, PE and Executive Director Patrick Natale, PE.

Civil engineers who design drainage improvements and determine runoff understand that as development of a watershed occurs, the peak flows at lower portions of the drainage basin can increase to the point where capacities are exceeded.