This comes as no surprise to many engineers, but those interested in infrastructure are feeling quite a bit underwhelmed about the amount of stimulus money that has been allocated to the cause, according to the Wall Street Journal’s Private Equity Beat. The article mentions that $30 billion was allocated for infrastructure in the stimulus package, which certainly seems like a significant amount of money, but the need is calculated to be in the trillions of dollars in order to meet standards set by competing developed nations. In fact, from what I have experienced and heard, the stimulus money is being used in large part to make up for budget shortfalls in state and local governments. It seems clear that, in order to address our infrastructure issues, some other measure will have to be taken. Perhaps this is where the National Infrastructure Bank comes in?
Tags: ASCE, civil engineering, infrastructure, Wall Street Journal
The New York Times has posted an opinion piece advocating for some important legislation regarding our nation’s infrastructure that has been lost in light of carbon trading, Supreme Court nominations, etc. This legislation would establish a national infrastructure development bank. The bank would use its own permanent fund to issue long-term, low-rate loans and bonds for the purposes of building road, public transit, drainage, water supply, flood-control, environmental mitigation, waste treatment and disposal, power, communications, and other projects. In short, it would make it easier to create and maintain all those things, seen and unseen, that keep our world going. This would be a great thing as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) rates almost all of these categories as a C- or lower in its annual report card due to a lack of investment. The ASCE doesn’t mention internet access, however, which is also much faster, cheaper, and more generally available in other developed countries. We have some catching up to do and this seems a good way to get there.
Tags: ASCE, civil engineering, infrastructure, New York Times
Civil Engineering Magazine – Letter to the Editor
I have attached a letter to the editor of Civil Engineering magazine, which is published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). It was published in the February 2008 edition. The magazine had recently published two articles that had gotten my attention. The first was an article regarding recovery in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and the second was an article summarizing a proposal for new educational standards for civil engineers. In the attached letter, I propose new flood damage prevention standards in New Orleans taking into account the limitations of levees. I also propose how the educational standards could be complemented by new licensure standards.
Tags: ASCE, civil engineering
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