Rocks Roads Ripples N'At:
Pittsburgh's Civil Engineering News Blog
A Message from ASCE-Pittsburgh President-Elect Sam Shamsi
On the evening of September 22, as I was celebrating ASCE-Pittsburgh’s 100th Anniversary at the beautiful Hotel Manco in downtown Pittsburgh, my mind was contemplating a safe time to depart for another important ASCE event in Reston, Virginia. I wanted to have sufficient time to rest but not miss a 10 A.M. round-table discussion on the potential challenges faced by incoming Section Presidents. I ended up resting for five hours before a 5 AM departure for ASCE PGF 2018.
On September 23-24, 2018, 103 Section and Branch Presidents, Region Governors and Society Directors from across the country and abroad attended the annual Presidents and Governors Forum (PGF) in Reston, VA at ASCE Headquarters. This event was organized and moderated by the Leader Training Committee (LTC) and provided opportunities for attendees to learn about ASCE resources, network with other ASCE leaders, and gain useful training that would benefit their Sections and Branches.
The purpose of the PGF is to provide a venue for current Section/Branch President-Elects and Region Leaders to gain the knowledge to effectively and efficiently run their local units. The conference provides an opportunity for attendees to network and brainstorm with each other, gain leadership skills, learn about ASCE resources from other ASCE volunteers and staff and discuss Best Practices to take back to your Section/Branch. Networking receptions were held on both Saturday and Sunday, with a group dinner on Sunday attended by most of the conference attendees.
On Sunday, topics included an Introduction to your Presidency and How to Utilize your Governors; an Introduction to Region 10; Roundtable Discussions on Section and Branch Challenges; and How to Be A Great Leader at Work and in ASCE. Seasoned ASCE leaders spoke about their experiences with Social Media and Student Transition Activities in their Section and Branch. President Kristina Swallow, President-Elect Robin Kemper, and Executive Director Tom Smith also shared their thoughts and experiences. Monday continued with additional Best Practice sessions on Struggling Sections and Branches, Developing a State Infrastructure Report Card, Attracting Younger Members through Diversity Programs, Student Transition, and Successful Section and Branch Operations. The program continued with a presentation on Legal issues for Sections and Branches and an update on Dream Big, followed by a competitive game of JeopardASCE. Closing remarks were made by President-Elect Elect Kancheepuram Gunalan (Guna).
My favorite part of the meeting was a guided tour of rather modest Headquarters building. I downloaded the GroupMe Social Media App for event announcements but was eventually annoyed by the large number of notifications as other members were joining or leaving the group. I showed our hot off the press 100th Anniversary “Engineering Pittsburgh” book to organizers and attendees and was asked to submit a report for the section/Branch Best Practices Guide. After two solid days spent with ASCE, I left with some new knowledge that will help me next year as the ASCE-Pittsburgh Section President. I gained a better understanding of the National resources available to the Section. I think this meeting should be mandatory for all incoming Branch and Section Presidents and Region Governors.
ASCE President, Kristina L. Swallow, P.E., ENV SP, F.ASCE was in Pittsburgh on the night of September 22 to join our 100th Anniversary celebrations. Like me, she too had to be in ASCE Headquarters next morning for PGF 2018. I arrived before her despite the fact she took a flight whereas I drove. I promise I was not speeding!
For more information about the PGF, please visit LTC’s new website.
Sam Shamsi, PhD, PE, F.ASCE
President-Elect 2018
ASCE-Pittsburgh
By Jodi S. Klebick, ASCE Pittsburgh Section Publicity & Public Relations Chair
After two years of planning, and more than a century in the making, the Pittsburgh Section of ASCE held its once-in-a-lifetime 100th anniversary celebration event at the Hotel Monaco on Saturday, September 22, 2018.
With almost 200 members and guests in attendance, Section past president Pat Sullivan kept the crowd engaged as Master of Ceremonies as everyone enjoyed entertainment by Pittsburgh’s Boilermaker Jazz Band and outstanding food stations provided by The Commoner. The party featured a special social media hashtag, “#ascepgh100”, and a centennial book launch and book signing by the civil engineers and professionals that co-authored the Section’s 2018 commemorative anniversary publication, “Engineering Pittsburgh: A History of Roads, Rails, Canals, Bridges & More”. The publication aims to record some of southwestern Pennsylvania’s engineering and infrastructure challenges and triumphs.
Memorable moments included a Proclamation by the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh William Peduto, and remarks from current ASCE National President Kristina Swallow and former ASCE National President Andrew Herrmann. Pittsburgh Section Past Presidents and Life Members were also acknowledged for their contributions to the growth, achievements and award-winning standing of the Section. The section was further pleased to thank all of the celebration sponsors by presenting each of them with a commemorative plaque. The entire crowd joined in singing “Happy Birthday” as Section President Robert Dengler and National President Swallow cut the custom cake creation from the legendary Prantl’s Bakery. This joyous moment was followed by a “Celebration Selfie” – a group photo with as many party goers as could fit!
Attendees had the unique opportunity to contribute historic photos, articles, small instruments or devices, videos, books, letters to the future leadership of ASCE, along with engineering “doodads or trinkets” to be placed in a special 100th anniversary time capsule. The capsule will be sealed and stored at the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) to be re-opened at the 200th ASCE Pittsburgh Section Celebration in 2118.
The 100th Celebration Subcommittee also held a centerpiece design competition among the Section’s Institutes, Committees, YMF and Student Chapters. The winning centerpiece was selected by our gala guests’ popular vote and the winning design was that created by the University of Pittsburgh Main Campus (Pitt) Student Chapter. The ambassadors of the Pitt Student Chapter received a $500 prize sponsored by the Section. Guests were further treated to a 50/50 raffle and door prizes provided by local firms AECOM, DiGioia Gray, and Williams.
Special recognition was given during the event to the 100th Celebration Subcommittee dynamic trio who gave their time, experience and boundless energy to plan, manage and execute the massive undertaking and made the evening a success: Lauren E. Terpak, Angela Mayer, and Sara Mullaney. *Thank you*, ladies!
Our Section is duly grateful to each person who contributed to the event’s success: a night to remember- 100 years from now!
By Nemi Vora, edited by Ben Briston
The fourth annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” water awareness day took place on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. The Environmental and Water Resources Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section, once again joined the effort to raise awareness about how water is essential, invaluable, and worthy of investment.
The Pittsburgh region has been experiencing above average high-intensity rainfall events, so it may be difficult to imagine a day without water. Though our region may be water rich, we are using more water than we think, albeit indirectly. We consume water from all over the country and the world through the products and services we use. A standard (1.5 oz) chocolate bar requires on average 197 gallons of water to produce; a large egg requires around 52 gallons of water, and 1 lb of beef requires on average 1,847 gallons of water. [1, 2] In fact, an average American uses 750 thousand gallons of water as part of the goods and services consumed over a year, and, of the water we consume, 20% comes from products produced outside the U.S.A., mainly China.[3]
Imaging a day without water can be difficult in Pittsburgh due to more frequent, intense rainfall events, but it is essential to recognize our reliance on water outside of this region. We are indeed connected to the world through the products we consume and should be conscious of the fact that the places that produce these goods face water scarcity. Next time you buy a product, look at the packaging to see where it's coming from. Doing so may help to reduce over-consumption and waste of water.
1. Mekonnen, M.M. and A.Y. Hoekstra, The green, blue and grey water footprint of crops and derived crop products. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 2011. 15(5): p. 1577-1600.
2. Mekonnen, M. and A. Hoekstra, The green, blue and grey water footprint of farm animals and animal products. 2010.
3. Mekonnen, M. and A.Y. Hoekstra, National water footprint accounts: the green, blue and grey water footprint of production and consumption. 2011.
By the 100th Celebration Committee
Since the Pittsburgh Section was founded a hundred years ago, in 1918, our membership has grown to nearly 1,500 members and our members have accrued multiple notable achievements, experiences, and awards. The Section has a strong commitment to the advancement of civil engineers, which is demonstrated through organization of professional development opportunities to recognizing outstanding achievements of area civil engineers. ASCE Pittsburgh throughout the century has a longstanding history of fostering the growth of civil engineers while celebrating their successes.
During this centennial year, the Section is going to further focus on celebrating civil engineering accomplishments in one evening. This event will be occurring on September 22nd at Hotel Monaco to celebrate the Section’s 100 years of history. The occasion will start at 5:30pm and last throughout the evening till 10:00pm. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take home a little bit of history in the form of a table book “Engineering Pittsburgh” that features memorable civil engineering projects from the region’s past.
The 100th Celebration Committee aims to further capture these outstanding moments in time and place them into the “ASCE Pittsburgh Section Centennial Time Capsule” which will be presented at our Centennial Celebration on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Hotel Monaco. Thus, our committee is asking all members to donate historic photos, notable articles, small instruments/devices, videos, books, letters to the future leadership of ASCE, etc. along with engineering doodads or trinkets. The donated items will be collected during the event and will be displayed throughout the evening. After the event, a blog article will be posted on the Pittsburgh Section website with a brief description of the collected items alongside photographs. The items will then be placed in the “ASCE Pittsburgh Section Centennial Time Capsule” and sealed, to be re-opened at the 200th ASCE Pittsburgh Section Celebration in 2118. The “ASCE Pittsburgh Section Centennial Time Capsule” will reside in the basement of the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP). A group photo will be taken during the 100th Celebration at 8:00pm; this photo will also be placed in the “ASCE Pittsburgh Section Centennial Time Capsule”. Take this once in a century opportunity to leave a piece of our history and present for the future!
By: Christina Urbanczyk and Lauren Cook
Increasing rainfall intensity in Southwestern Pennsylvania has brought stormwater management to the forefront of the public eye. As a result, Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) has gained more attention as a cost-effective solution to help manage the impacts from wet weather. On July 26, 2018, the local Environmental Water Resource Institute (EWRI) Pittsburgh chapter partnered with representatives from the EWRI National Technical Councils to host an afternoon workshop on Urban Green Infrastructure. The workshop provided national and local expertise on Low Impact Development in combined sewer overflow (CSO) areas, operation and maintenance of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI), and stormwater management in the ultra-urban environment.
National and local speakers presented a variety of topics related to GSI, including pilot studies, funding mechanisms, research, and lessons learned. Speakers included Shirley Clark, Penn State University; Tim Prevost, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN); Barton Kirk, Ethos Collaborative; Matt Zambelli, MLZDesign; Ruth Hocker, City of Lancaster; Greg Scott, Buchart Horn, Inc; Ryan Quinn, Pittsburgh Sewer and Water Authority (PWSA); Rosanna LaPlante, City of Baltimore; and Jordan Fischbach, RAND Corporation.
Shirley Clark (Penn State University) discussed numerous case studies of GSI in CSO areas across the U.S., including in Portland, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Seattle, and St. Louis. She emphasized that a combination of green and grey infrastructure is more cost effective than a grey only solution, even when co-benefits of GSI are excluded. She also highlighted that municipalities should focus on using public right-of-ways for GSI, rather than relying on private owners to maintain the infrastructure.
Rosanna LaPlante (City of Baltimore) discussed the importance of public outreach and using the National GI Certification Program to train individuals that inspect and maintain GSI. Also, the City of Baltimore uses an urban waters interactive map to show locations of existing BMPs and identify locations where BMPs may not be as feasible due to existing conditions such as site soils, existing utilities, etc.
Ruth Hocker (City of Lancaster) provided lessons learned from Lancaster’s stormwater program, which includes a stormwater fee, regulations of development at any scale, and the ability for residents to “Adopt a BMP.” According to Hocker, training and participation of field staff is a vital part of a successful GSI program. She recommended designing GSI with maintenance in mind, inspecting regularly, and using appropriate plant material by considering the effect of surrounding surface areas and localized pollutants like road salts. Adopting these recommendations may contribute to the success of GSI implementation nationwide.
Barton Kirk (Ethos Collaborative) and Matt Zambelli (MLZDesign), professionals with experience in design, monitoring, and maintenance of GSI, provided an overview of several local GSI projects in Pittsburgh, including: bioswales, porous pavement, and street planters with an underdrain. Recent monitoring of a project at Oakwood and Batavia during a 10-year storm event (2.9 inches of rainfall over 11 hours) showed an infiltration rate of 7 inch/hour. Some of these projects are summarized on the Westmoreland Conservation District’s Interactive Best Management Practice (BMP) map.
Greg Scott (Buchart Horn, Inc) discussed the design of a GSI project that will help address extensive flooding in the Shadyside neighborhood near Maryland Avenue in Pittsburgh. The ongoing project is a neighborhood-level stormwater project that uses an integrated design approach with several elements including new inlets and conveyance, green infrastructure, and underground storage. They are also evaluating the possibility of connecting residential downspouts to the integrated GSI system.
Jordan Fischbach (RAND Corporation) presented a research study about “Robust Stormwater Management in the Pittsburgh Region,” which evaluated combinations of green and grey infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflows under current and future conditions. RAND worked with ALCOSAN to simulate CSOs and analyze vulnerability of their existing system to future rainfall, population and land-use changes. Results emphasize the need to evaluate a range of uncertain, future changes to inform near-term stormwater and wastewater infrastructure investments. The full report is available on RAND’s website.
The workshop also covered the importance of funding opportunities for GSI in Southwestern PA. Tim Prevost (ALCOSAN) discussed the GROW program, which awards grants to customer municipalities to implement stormwater reduction projects. The program, currently in its third cycle, has awarded 9 million dollars in project funding. Ryan Quinn (PWSA) emphasized prioritizing partnerships to fund GSI projects, referencing PWSA’s previous and ongoing partnerships with ALCOSAN, the Saw Mill Run Watershed Association, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and neighborhood groups.
This workshop provided a wide range of information about local and national GSI implementation in urban areas. Key take-aways included: (1) a combination of green and grey infrastructure is more cost-effective than grey only, (2) design of green infrastructure systems should be robust and adaptive (3) green infrastructure performance often exceeds expectations, (4) a dedicated maintenance team is vital for continued success, (5) GSI can help enhance resilience in cities that are susceptible to increases in extreme rainfall.
The event was hosted at the Engineers Western Society of Pennsylvania in downtown Pittsburgh, PA in partnership with ALCOSAN, Allegheny County Conservation District, Allegheny Watershed Alliance, American Public Works Association, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, PWSA, Saw Mill Run Watershed Association, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Water Resource Center, Stormworks, Westmoreland Conservation District, and 3 Rivers Wet Weather. Thank you to these sponsors for helping make this workshop possible.
EWRI Congress will be held in Pittsburgh on May 19-23, 2019. Abstracts are being accepted until September 10th.
By Greg Scott, P.E.
On Wednesday June 13th, a group of ASCE Members in Pennsylvania gathered in Harrisburg to meet with their state legislators. After gathering for issue briefings and advocacy training, members met with their elected officials to discussed transportation, storm water, and licensure issues. Attendees were specifically seeking the passage of bills that would enable municipalities to create stormwater utilities by allowing the municipalities to collect a reasonable fee without having to create a separate municipal authority, if they so choose.
Also discussed during the ASCE Members’ visit was House Bill 1106 (HB1106), “an Act amending the act of May 23, 1945 (P.L.913, No.367), known as the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law, further providing for definitions, for continuing professional competency requirements and for exemption from licensure and registration”. This measure is necessary due to a recent court case that calls into question who can perform structural inspections, environmental impact studies, and other activities that have been traditionally considered the purview of Professional Engineers. Please add your voice to theirs on HB 1106 by contacting you State Senator and requesting passage of the bill before the end of the year.
From Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering Inc.
LSSE, a 90 person civil engineering firm, headquartered in Coraopolis PA, founded in 1985 announced ownership and management transitions completing implementation of the firm’s Strategic and Ownership Transition Plans adopted in 2008. Effective on Friday, June 15, 2018 Lawrence J. Lennon, P.E., DWRE, Daniel S. Gilligan, and Larry W. Souleret, P.E., PLS, have sold their interest in the firm. They have transferred 100% ownership of LSSE to Kevin A. Brett P.E., Ned Mitrovich P.E., and Jason Stanton, P.E., longtime Principals and owners in the firm. In addition to each having 1/3 ownership of LSSE, they will assume the following management and corporate officer roles; Chief Executive Officer & President: Ned Mitrovich; Chief Operating Officer & Treasurer: Kevin A. Brett; and Chief Financial Officer & Secretary: Jason E. Stanton. Kevin Brett and Ned Mitrovich have accepted Directors positions formally held by Larry Lennon and Dan Gilligan, and will join Jason Stanton on the Board. Larry Lennon and Dan Gilligan will assume the role of “Principal Consultant”, while maintaining employment with LSSE.
By William Confair, P.E., Outreach Committee Chair
From February 22nd through February 24th, 2018 the Carnegie Science Center celebrated National Engineers’ Week by hosting “Engineer the Future”. This three-day event was comprised of 40 tables staffed by local professionals who provided presentations and hands-on activities. ASCE-Pittsburgh hosted a booth on the second floor, next to Robo-World. While Robo-World was a bit of a distraction, it also kept the students and participants lingering in our booth for longer periods. ASCE provided engaging hands-on activities for the school groups and families to watch, learn, and understand what civil engineers do every day. Our group of 14 volunteers were engaging ambassadors and held their own during the busy three days.
ASCE Pittsburgh had several props and demonstrations:
“Engineer the Future” is an emblematic event for Pittsburgh and an excellent opportunity for our ASCE Section to increase awareness of our profession and encourage young students to become civil engineers. For more information on the 2018 “Engineer the Future” event, check out the Carnegie Science Center description.
By Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, Ph.D., P.E., From American Geotechnical and Environmental Services
On Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016, a landslide initiated in an existing rock cut located uphill from a shopping plaza in Altoona, Pa. The landslide created tension cracking along the existing rock cut, and during a period of weeks the tension cracks expanded from inches to feet (mm to meters). Survey readings indicated that portions of the slide were moving at a rate of approximately 2 in/day (5 cm/day). In addition to the shopping plaza, high voltage electric lines and an underground gas line ran along the base of the rock cut, further prioritizing the need to mitigate the failure as quickly as possible. Due to the rate at which the rock mass was sliding and the associated potential danger below, a plan was rapidly implemented to secure the hillside. The plan involved constructing a temporary rock buttress, removing most of the slide mass, securing the bedrock upslope of the tension crack with shear pins, and final reconstruction and grading of the slope. The inherent danger that quickly developed from the slide failure led to intense media coverage, with some positive and negative impacts.
Slope Failure and Preliminary Investigation
The failure of the slope was first observed when tension cracks were discovered along the top of the rock cut, which was constructed more than a decade before the failure. Once the failure was identified, the site owner quickly began an investigation and contacted The EADS Group for engineering services (slide monitoring and project coordination) and A.G.E.S. for geotechnical design of the slide remediation. The site investigation was performed as quickly as possible, and revealed that bedrock along the cut consisted of sandstone with interbedded shale with a bedding dip of about 16 degrees. The orientation of the dip was downslope along and toward the cut.
A drainage ditch was present upslope of the failure scarp, and was intended to divert water from wetlands upslope. It was noted that trees were growing along the drainage ditch. Water flow within the ditch seemed to “disappear” in the region closer to the scarp. It was believed that surface runoff had been flowing into the slide rather than following the path of the constructed drainage ditch. Water could be heard flowing within the tension cracks of the slope failure, and seepage was observed along the slope. In an effort to reduce future movement, the water in the ditch (region of groundwater infiltration) was temporarily diverted by pumping until the ditch and slide could be repaired.
Read full article here.
By Christina Urbanczyk
On February 26, 2018, the Environmental Water Resource Institute (EWRI) Chapter of ASCE-Pittsburgh hosted a morning seminar on the Impacts of Chlorides on Urban Land and Waterways. The event was hosted at the Engineers Western Society of Pennsylvania in downtown Pittsburgh, PA in partnership with 3 Rivers Wet Weather, Three Rivers Quest, 3 Rivers Proud, Allegheny County Conservation District, American Public Works Association, Allegheny Watershed Alliance, Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Saw Mill Run Watershed Association, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Water Resource Center, and Westmoreland Conservation District.
The morning seminar was a series of presentations discussing the impacts of the elevated use of roadway salts in cold weather climate watersheds on surrounding land and waterways, and included perspectives on local, regional and national levels. Presentations and follow-up discussions focused on quantifying salt loading and impacts overtime as well as how to reduce loading by improving winter BMP maintenance.
The seminar began with a presentation by Robert Hirsh, a research hydrologist with the US Geological Survey, Washington DC Office. Hirsh’s data from the past few decades indicates that an increase in chloride concentration in streams has outpaced urban growth. His data also demonstrates an increase in chloride concentration in groundwater and lakes. Hirsh further emphasized the need for continuous stream flow data to monitor chloride loading in conjunction with chloride concentration.
The second presentation was delivered by Brady Porter of Duquesne University and 3 Rivers QUEST. Porter provided an overview on the seasonal chloride concentrations in the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. Porter’s group is involved in the periodic sampling of numerous surface water locations along these rivers, as well as continuous monitoring with YSI probes.
The impact of chloride toxicity in urbanizing watersheds was discussed on a regional level by James Houle of the University of New Hampshire. Houle discussed data collected from his research group on the performance of various best management practices (BMPs) on reducing chloride loading from salt applications. Because parking lots are a major source of chloride loading, Houle’s research primarily focused on salting of parking lots and the resulting friction resistance of various lot surfaces. Houle’s presentation indicated that salt reduction may be possible with no loss in surface skid resistance using alternative mechanical methods of application.
While a majority of the presentations focused on the impacts of chloride, Dan Bain from the University of Pittsburgh provided a different perspective by focusing on sodium impacts. Bain’s presentation highlighted that roadway salt applications cause legacy contamination, because both sodium and chloride alter metal mobility in soils. This discussion on the alteration of soil and water chemistry due to salt provided insight into the long-term effects of the roadway salt applications on the environment.
The presentations at the seminar introduced a wide range of data and recommendations for further research from the local, regional and national level on the impacts of roadway salts. Erin Kepple Adams from the Southwestern PA Commission concluded the seminar with a discussion on the importance of improving winter BMP management with training and workshops, which may decrease salt use for deicing of roadways. Adams also provided seminar attendees with a useful resource guide on winter maintenance BMPs.
Thanks again to our sponsors of this event, without which this seminar could not have been possible.
