It has been just more than a year since the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law, delivering the prospect of funding for modernization of water and transportation infrastructure as well as other important projects.…
Code Update: The 2022 AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings
The latest edition of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) flagship standard, the “2022 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings…
Executive Corner: Inside the Latest A/E Business Valuation and M&A Transaction Study
With economic growth slowing and interest rates rising, it’s not surprising that A/E firm valuation multiples have ebbed from their post-pandemic…
From the Editor: We Need to Better Promote the Heroes of Engineering: Us
Throughout my career, I have been asked countless times about what exactly I do as a civil engineer. Some people ask just to be polite, but most legitimately didn’t know what a civil engineer does. It seems that we, as engineers, have not done as good…
ReEngineering the Engineer: Sometimes It Has To Be You
I admit it has been rewarding watching our young engineers grow from working on pieces of projects to managing an entire project from start to finish. However, this technical side is just one piece of their growth. They’ve also learned how to manage…
Transportation Troubleshooting: Lessons About Sharing Risks in Major Tunnel Projects
As Washington State Secretary of Transportation, I oversaw the development phase leading up to construction of the State Route 99 Tunnel, also known as the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel. The 1.7-mile underground tunnel features a state-of-the-art…
From the Editor: An Engineer’s Career Path Can Take Many Turns
I’ve had enough time by now to get used to writing 2023 wherever a date is required. I’ve also had enough time to stop thinking about what could have been better last year and how this year could be an improvement. I often try to look ahead and think…
Executive Corner: Five Takeaways on 2022 A/E M&A Activity
Looking back over the last twelve months, you have to give credit to industry leaders navigating increasingly stormy seas. Generational talent shortages and elevated backlogs (“more work than we can handle”) marked 2022 as substantial federal infrastructure…
Thoughts From Engineers: Precipitation Estimates That Make Us or Break Us
On the eve of the New Year, in a one-two move suggestive of a “prepper” mentality, the U.S. Congress passed two laws that address the issues of national resilience and disaster preparedness. Sponsors of the legislation noted that the vulnerable state of…
Transportation Troubleshooting: AASHTO Manual Will Create a One-Stop Shop for Transportation Operations
One of the things that keeps me excited about working in transportation is how rapidly the technological tools for moving people and goods are evolving. As I noted in my December 2022 column, “Mobility Marketplace Will Improve How We Use Transportation…
