The Night the Computer Stole the Engineer's Brain
The computer was supposed to be the engineer's servant. But somehow he'd become the robot-like slave of the computer, doing little more than feeding in input...
Arizona's Statewide Pavement Management System
A pavement management system developed for Arizon's 7400-mile network of highways has resulted in a savings of $14 million in its first year and a forecast savings of $101...
A Rapid Method of Computing Geometric Relations in Structural Analysis
A rapid method of computing geometric relations in structural analysis is presented. The method is shorter than usual methods, in many cases, and can often produce a result in one step....
Introductory Manual on Computer Services
The role of computers in civil engineering is discussed including an overview of computer use, and comparisons of expectations, advantages, and shortcomings of computer use. Future technical...
Pavement Management Systems: Selecting Maintenance Priorities
Realization of the need to maintain a safe, serviceable network of highways in the US has led to the development of a systematic, consistent procedure for managing resources necessary...
A Dynamic Communication Technique for Civil Engineers
Since being able to communicate with clients, especially during the initial proposal presentation is vital to securing work for the civil engineer, a dynamic communication technique for...
Frame Program
A plane frame program for structural analysis that is short to program and easy to understand is presented. Included inl article is a complete print-out of the program with a step-by-step...
Structural Analysis of Light-Frame Wood Buildings
This paper reviews the information currently available and lacking that is needed for improving design procedures. Some initial attempts at theoretical analysis of entire wood buildings...
Journal of Technical Topics in Civil Engineering
Journal of Technical Topics in Civil Engineering covers the topics of computing applications in civil engineering, especially in the area of seismic design and seismic tests....
How Well do P.E. Exams Relate to the Real World? NCEE Tries to Find Out
The National Council of Engineering Examiners (NCEE), the group which furnishes a standard liscensing exam for professional engineers used by almost every U.S. jurisdiction, has surveyed...
Micro-Computer Program: Roof Purlin Design
A micro-computer program is explained in step-by-step manner as a shortcut for biaxial bending design with results in as little as 60 seconds. Biaxial bending requires the consideration...
The Microcomputer Explosion in Civil Engineering Firms
During the next five years, small and medium size consulting engineering firms will undergo many changes. The key changing force is the low cost ($2500 to $20,000) microcomputer. Already,...
A Primer on Microcomputers
This article is a primer on microcomputers. It's intended for the many small and medium sized consultants and others in the civil engineering field who may be considering...
Computer-Aided Drafting in Civil Engineering
Computer aided drafting (CAD) is defined as an interactive computer graphics system suitable for the generation of engineering documentation. The development of CAD is reviewed. The computer...
Minicomputers in Structural Optimum Design
A problem dealing with the weight optimization of girders without transverse stiffeners is demonstrated. Constraints follow the 1978 AISC Specification. Actual programming is done in BASIC...
Water Pollution Control Plant Upgraded to Meet EPA Regs
An Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award Nominee, Philadelphia's Southwest Water Pollution Control Plant, has a $300 million addition which nearly doubled plant...
Some Proposals for Reducing Structural Failures
Illinois is one of the few states requiring a Structural Engineer's License: a P.E. alone is not enough to practice structural engineering there. Unfortunately, even in Illinois,...
Microcomputers: Do They Have a Place in Large Engineering Firms?
During the past few years, microcomputers have really begun to take hold in small consulting engineering firms. Less well known is the fact that microcomputers are also beginning to take...
Slope Stability Program
This article includes an entire computer program, written in BASIC computer language. The program is a simplified version of programs which have been written for large computer systems....
How Did These Firms Grow in Face of a Depressed Economy?
Despite a decline in construction physical volume of about 25% in the past five years, some engineering firms have grown. Profiles of three such firms are presented. Management decisions...
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