Posts Tagged ‘civil engineering’
Levee breach spared city from brunt of flood
U. ILLINOIS (US) — When faced with a choice between a deluge or a controlled deluge in May 2011 that would protect the city of Cairo, Illinois, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers chose the latter. Continue…
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 15:45 - 0 Comments
Earth & Environment - Feb 23, 2012 16:33 - 0 Comments
Climate may crank storms into overdrive
PRINCETON (US) — As Earth’s climate changes, severe storms could become far more common in low-lying coastal areas, according to a new study. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Feb 21, 2012 15:39 - 1 Comment
Coastal aquifers hurt by use, not climate
MCGILL (CAN) — Human activity is more of a threat to coastal groundwater used for drinking than rising sea levels from climate change. (more…)
Science & Technology - Feb 21, 2012 12:42 - 1 Comment
Recycled glass gives concrete more muscle
MICHIGAN STATE (US) — Mixing ground waste glass into cement makes the resulting concrete stronger, more durable, and more resistant to water. (more…)
Science & Technology - Feb 20, 2012 12:37 - 0 Comments
‘Smart’ alloys tested for quake toughness
GEORGIA TECH (US) — Engineers are putting shape-memory alloys to the test to learn more about their potential use in constructing seismic-resistant structures. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Feb 17, 2012 12:28 - 0 Comments
Seawater is risky coolant for nuclear fuel
UC DAVIS (US) — Using seawater to cool nuclear fuel was the best choice for post-tsunami Japan, but the method could be risky. (more…)
Science & Technology - Dec 20, 2011 12:23 - 2 Comments
How to build a better wind farm
IOWA STATE (US) — A turbine only ten inches high is helping researchers understand how hills, valleys, and tower placement can affect the productivity of onshore wind farms. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Dec 16, 2011 10:26 - 2 Comments
Greener commutes with eco-routes
U. BUFFALO (US) — The path of least emissions may not always be the fastest way to drive somewhere, but it’s possible for drivers to cut emissions without significantly slowing travel time, researchers say. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Nov 4, 2011 8:36 - 1 Comment
Steer clear: Bats 3x less active by roads
U. LEEDS (UK) — Bat activity is as much as three times lower near major roadsides, according to a new study that could have legal consequences for road builders. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Oct 24, 2011 10:02 - 3 Comments
No real warming from urban ‘heat island’
STANFORD (US) — The urban ‘heat island’ effect contributes less than 5 percent to overall global warming, far less than greenhouse gas or black carbon, new research shows. (more…)
Science & Technology - Sep 6, 2011 11:31 - 1 Comment
Post 9/11: Steel that withstands heat
PURDUE U. (US) — Ten years after 9/11, engineers are continuing work to improve the fire safety of buildings, bridges, and other steel structures. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jul 29, 2011 12:56 - 0 Comments
Low-cost system spots failing bridges
U. MARYLAND (US) — An engineer says his new wireless monitoring system could avert the kind of bridge collapse that killed 13 and injured 145 along Minneapolis’ I-35W on August 1, 2007. (more…)
Science & Technology - Jan 28, 2011 12:09 - 1 Comment
Stop superbugs by turning up the heat
U. MINNESOTA (US) — One effective way to fight the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as “superbugs,” may be to treat municipal wastewater solids at higher temperatures. (more…)
Society & Culture - Jan 13, 2011 13:39 - 0 Comments
More corruption, more collapse in quakes
U. COLORADO (US) — More than 80 percent of all deaths caused by building collapse during earthquakes in the last three decades occurred in countries considered to be unusually corrupt. (more…)
Earth & Environment - Jul 1, 2010 12:07 - 1 Comment
Is black carbon a climate change quick-fix?
U. ILLINOIS (US)—One immediate way to reduce the current levels of global warming—and avert rapid climate change—researchers say, would be to focus on pollutants with short atmospheric lifetimes, like soot, also known as black carbon. (more…)
Science & Technology - May 12, 2010 16:42 - 1 Comment
Hinged pole could keep the lights on
IOWA STATE (US)—Engineers have designed a new type of transmission pole that is hinged, making it easier to install and repair. It also resists the kind of cascading failures that can lead to widespread power outages. (more…)
Science & Technology - May 5, 2010 12:35 - 1 Comment
Pressurized water feature in maya plumbing
PENN STATE (US)—A water feature found in the Maya city of Palenque, Mexico, is the earliest known example of engineered water pressure in the new world, according to a collaboration between an archaeologist and a hydrologist. (more…)
Science & Technology - Apr 22, 2010 5:12 - 10 Comments
Could plug-in cars zap the power grid?
U. CHICAGO (US)—President Barack Obama has called for one million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to hit the road by 2015. If the demand for plug-ins skyrockets, a flood of new electric cars could strain America’s power networks to the limit. (more…)
Science & Technology - Mar 10, 2010 12:57 - 8 Comments
Are LED lamps a best buy for cities?
U. PITTSBURGH (US)—Light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights strike the best balance between brightness, affordability, and energy savings over their lifespan—from production to disposal—a new bulb comparison shows. (more…)
