May 2017 – Branch Reports

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BRANCH REPORTS – MAY 2017 NEWSLETTER

Golden Gate Branch:

San Jose Branch:

FOR INFORMATION ON UPCOMING ACTIVITIES VISIT THE SAN JOSE BRANCH WEBSITE

North Coast Branch:

In April, the North Coast Branch coordinated mock interviews for Humboldt State University engineering students and prepared for our annual awards banquet!

This year, a number of local engineering firms volunteered their time to conduct mock interviews with engineering students close to graduation. This allows students the opportunity to receive feedback on how they can improve their resumes and interview skills. Participating firms have an opportunity to meet and screen a highly ambitious group of potential new hires. The North Coast Branch would like to thank GHD, SHN, Greenway Partners, Pacific Watershed Associates, Oscar Larson & Associates, the City of Arcata and Humboldt County Public Works for conducting the mock interviews

We hosted our joint annual awards banquet on April 27^th that included awards presented by Humboldt State University’s Environmental Resources Engineering department, the North Coast Professional Chapter of Engineers

Without Borders, and the North Coast Branch of ASCE. The event was held in the Plaza View Room of the Jacoby storehouse, overlooking the Arcata plaza. The NCB presented awards to the students of the winning team of the local

water treatment competition. Everyone offered a big congratulations to the students who went to the Mid Pacific Regional Conference in Chico, and placed second in the overall competition.The branch was also excited to announce the 2016 Project of the Year and 2016 Engineer of the Year.

The 2016 Project of the Year award went to the Comprehensive Large-Scale Wetland Creation Project, submitted by GHD on behalf of the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority. In 2011, the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority (BCRAA) was facing a congressional mandate: The Runway Safety Areas (RSA) at the Del Norte County Regional Airport weren’t able to meet current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport design standards. Accordingly, BCRAA had to finish all safety improvements by December 31, 2015. GHD led a habitat mitigation and restoration project on 17 acres of protected wetland and four acres of dune habitat, making for one of the largest and most complex endeavors of its kind ever built on the northern California coast.

The 2016 Engineer of the Year award went to Steve Salzman of Greenway Partners.Best known for his creative, in-the-trenches approach to projects, Steve applies his civil engineering expertise with an enthusiasm for hands-on execution in a way that allows him to find innovative solutions. He has contributed to the community in countless ways through creation of the annual Plan It Green conference, founder of Greenway Partners, Contributor to the Kinetic Sculpture Race, Luna Tree project, and many more.  His focus on community benefit projects over the past 30 plus years regularly has him working with fire Districts, and school Districts to find efficient renovation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and commissioning opportunities. More recently he has also been instrumental in assessing our local vulnerability to sea level rise and participating in mitigation projects. Most importantly to him, his work is fun. And, as he always says “It’s gotta be fun, or what’s the point?”

Fresno Branch:

FOR INFORMATION ON UPCOMING ACTIVITIES VISIT THE SAN JOSE BRANCH WEBSITE

Redwood Empire Branch:

We hope you can join us for this month’s ASCE Redwood Empire Branch luncheon on Thursday, May 11^th, 2017 at the Montgomery Village Cattlemen’s in Santa Rosa. A brief program description and lunch menu items are listed below:

Speaker: Jonathan D. Bray, Ph.D., P.E., NAE

Jonathan Bray is the Faculty Chair in Earthquake Engineering Excellence at the University of California, Berkeley.

Program: Building Near Faults

Sound engineering principles can be employed to address the hazards associated with surface fault rupture. Active faults cannot always be avoided, nor should they be avoided, when their hazard is far less than other hazards and the hazard can be effectively mitigated through the application of sound engineering concepts. In addressing the surface fault rupture hazard, the potential patterns of ground deformation should be developed through the use of a comprehensive investigation and detailed mapping. Measured patterns of surface fault-induced ground deformation from similar types of faulting from past events offer useful insights to complement site-specific studies. Mitigation can be achieved in those cases when avoidance is not possible or practical.

Engineers can design structures to accommodate fault-induced ground movements. Building strong, ductile structural foundation elements that can accommodate some level of ground deformation and isolating the superstructure from much of the underlying ground movement are effective design measures. Structures should not be tied into the ground with piles or piers. Other mitigation measures include establishing non-arbitrary setbacks based on fault geometry and displacement, and the overlying soil; constructing reinforced earth fills to spread out the underlying ground movements; using slip layers to decouple ground movements from foundation elements; and using compressible materials to reduce ground-movement induced lateral earth pressures.

Date/Time: Thursday, May 11^th, 2017 at Noon

Location: Cattlemen’s, 2400 Midway Drive, Montgomery Village, Santa Rosa

Menu:

• Sirloin Steak
• Teriyaki Chicken
• 3-Cheese Marinara Pasta
• Salmon
• Vegan option available upon request

Each choice includes salad, bread, coffee, and tea

Cost: $20 ($10 for students)

RSVP: Email Andrew Ferrol at ferrol@brce.com by the Tuesday prior to the Luncheon (menu choice not required).

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