Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CEE Seminar

"FLOODPLAIN MAPPING USING GIS AND AUTOMATED H&H PROCESS"

Speaker: Mr. Imtiaz Shah

Thursday, March 26, 2002
4:00 pm
Academic Center, Phillips Hall Room 640
(CEE Conference Room)

Abstract:

Flood maps should be constantly updated because the floodplain is such a dynamic environment. Manmade construction, vegetative growth, and alterations in the stream channel can dramatically affect the path and volumes of water flow during a flood event, thus, changing the shape and size of the flood zone over time. In North Carolina, flooding caused by the passing of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 killed 56 people, left tens of thousands homeless, and caused North Carolina $6 billion in recovery efforts. North Carolina has now embarked upon one of the most ambitious floodplain mapping projects ever undertaken by an individual state. From a mapping prospective, the project is daunting-48,700 square miles mapped with a vertical accuracy of 20 to 25 centimeters in less than five years and an expenditure totaling $65 million. Politically, the project signals a dramatic shift in floodplain mapping activities away from the federal government and toward the states.

This talk explains the importance and advantages of flood mapping and discusses the partnerships between FEMA, Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc., PBS&J, ATCS, and other contractors as North Carolina prepares to set new standards for floodplain mapping.

Mr. Imtiaz Shah is a Project Engineer at Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc. He works closely with FEMA region III and Corps of Engineers on National Flood Insurance Programs. Mr. Shah's experience is in water resources and hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and modeling wherein he has worked in design, fabrication and civil works of micro hydroelectric power projects in collaboration with the Australian Government. Mr. Shah has also had prior experience as an Assistant Professor at the University of Engineering and Technology in Peshawar Pakistan. He has supervised undergraduate research projects in water resources engineering and conducted survey camps for students to teach them field surveying (contouring, road surveying, triangulation, leveling, and plan tabling). He has also worked on establishing a hydraulic laboratory project of #10 million in collaboration with the Japanese government and the University of Engineering and Technology in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Mr. Shah's publications comprise of Sediment Yield Prediction in the Indus River Basin and Seepage losses in Warsak Gravity Canal. Mr. Shah received his M.S. from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, and both an M.S. and B.S from the University of Engineering and Technology in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CEE Seminar

"The Development and Application of
AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications"

Speaker: Dr. Wagdy Wassef, Ph.D, P.E.
Senior Structural Engineer and Partner with Modjeski and Masters, Inc.

Thursday, February 21, 2002
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm*
Academic Center, Phillips Hall Room 640
(CEE/ECE Conference Room)
*Followed by a Question & Answer Session, Refreshments will be served starting at 5:30 pm

Abstract:

In 1994, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) lunched the first edition of the Load and Resistance Factored Design (LRFD) bridge specifications to replace the standard bridge specifications that were not able to keep up with emerging technologies. As of today, about fifty percent of the state agencies in the United States have adopted the LRFD Specifications as their design tool. This presentation will cover the historical background of the LRFD specifications and their advantages.

Dr. Wagdy Wassef:  Dr. Wassef is a senior structural engineer and partner with Modjeski and Masters, Inc. After receiving his doctorate degree in structural engineering from Iowa State University, he joined Missouri Department of Transportation as a bridge designer for two years. He joined Modjeski and Masters in 1992. For over a decade, Dr. Wassef has been a leading figure in the development and maintenance of the AASHTO LRFD Specifications. Dr. Wassef has been the project manager for several national projects including: the Federal Highway Administration project to develop innovative design for the newly developed High Performance Steel, and the development of integral abutments design details and standards for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Currently, he is the principal investigator of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 12-54 and Co-principal investigator of Projects NCHRP 12-52 and 12-42(3).

Center for Intelligent Systems Research (CISR)
GW Transportation Research Institute (GW-TRI)
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CISR/CEE Seminar

"Sustainable Model Village Development Project
in Guanghan, China"

Speaker: Mr. William Kirksey
Senior Fellow, Civil Engineering Research Foundation (CERF)

Thursday, February 14, 2002
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm*
Academic Center, Phillips Hall Room 640
(CEE/ECE Conference Room)
*Followed by a Question & Answer Session

Abstract:

As part of its Land Reform Plan, the city of Guanghan, China is centralizing its rural communities. As part of this centralization process, city officials want to create a "model village" demonstrating state-of-the-art principles of sustainability for a community of approximately 100 households. If successful, this model village will be replicated in other Guanghan communities. This presentation describes the development of a model sustainable village concept, including (1) the physical infrastructure (village layout, building design, community center, transportation); (2) new economic activities based on constructing and maintaining a sustainable village; and (3) new institutions to promote a sense of community in the village (community center, promenade). Land used for housing and attachments will be conserved and used for agricultural uses as a result of the land allocation system in Guanghan. The project will demonstrate both the feasibility of centralization and the use of advanced technologies and sustainable construction techniques that are in conformity with Guanghan's recently approved land reform law. The design team is using the principles of sustainability to suggest the layout, design, and operation of the village. Those principles include the integration of activities within the village that are inter-related. An example would be the waste stream of one activity being used as input to another activity. An attempt is also being made to balance the economy and ecology of the community in terms of community needs and satisfaction of those needs.

Mr. William Kirksey: As the CERF Senior Fellow, Mr. Kirksey is serving as the technical integrator of CERF's international organization and CERF's International Institute for Energy Conservation for providing sustainable infrastructure consulting services worldwide. Mr. Kirksey has over 30 years experience in the fields of energy and environmental engineering, management, and policy. Illustrative experience from his career includes senior management roles in the early years of the Tennessee Valley Authority's innovative Energy Conservation and Solar Program, the development of the first energy conservation program for the State of Florida as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Governor's Office, serving as principal investigator for much of the Electric Power Research Institute's DSM development program, and conducting international energy and environmental consulting assignments. Mr. Kirksey received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from the Tennessee Technological University in 1969 and his M.S. in Environmental Systems Design in 1975 from the Southern Illinois University. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Florida.

Center for Intelligent Systems Research (CISR)
GW Transportation Research Institute (GW-TRI)
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CISR/CEE Seminar

"Physics of Motion: An Evolutionary Process"

Speaker: Dr. Homer Rahnejat

Monday, November 19, 2001
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon*
Academic Center, Phillips Hall Room 640
(CEE/ECE Conference Room)
*Followed by a Question & Answer Session

Abstract:

From its inception in the 4th Century BC in the Aristotelian treatise in natural philosophy, termed Physics, to the established modern theories of relativity and quantum mechanics, we seek to understand the physics of motion, particularly within applications that embody a wide spectrum of physics of motion, from micro-scale to the traditional Newtonian physics.

The applications of this kind are increasingly encountered in the fields of engineering, and fall within the realms of multi-body dynamics, such as mechanisms and machines that a multi-physics investigation of given phenomena is required. Recent developments in modern rotor and powertrain systems are good examples of this emerging class of problems, which have given rise to the need for more detailed and holistic approach to problem evaluation. These problems often require treatment of system dynamics across a broad range of kinetic actions, some of which do not necessarily follow the Newtonian physics of motion, or indeed fall into the classes of problems that are readily addressed by the two great theories of physics: relativity and quantum mechanics.

It has long been assumed that such kinetic actions, particularly at micro-scale interactions are within the realm of physicists and that engineers and practitioners may not concern themselves with such issues, as no obvious application could be envisaged. The rapid developments in micro-engineering and nano-technology, particularly in recent years have put paid to this argument, with much of the underlying physics affecting the progress of implementation of key technologies. A number of examples will be highlighted in accordance with the above arguments, illustrating that rapid, yet incomplete understanding of physics of some problems has brought the lack of understanding of certain phenomena directly to the doorstep of practicing engineers.

Dr. Homer Rahnejat is the Chairman of the Triennial International Symposium in Multi-body Dynamics: Monitoring and Simulation Techniques, Co-Chairman of ASME's 2001 Symposium on the Vibration and Control of Mechanical Systems, Track Co-Chair of Powertrain: SAE ATT-Automotive & Transportation, Reader in Dynamics at Loughborough University, and Editor for Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part K: Journal of Multibody Dynamics. Dr. Rahnejat's experience is in the field of Dynamics, where he has researched for the past 24 years and has studied "Elastohydrodynamics in Gears and Bearings". Dr. Rahnejat has also had prior experience as a Research Assistant and Senior Lecturer and has won numerous prizes in Engineering. Among his publications of technical papers and reports is a research book in Dynamics. Dr. Rahnejat received his Ph.D. from Imperial College, University of London.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
School of Engineering and Applied Science

Cordially Invites You To Attend The First Lecture of the 2001-2002 Series with

Andrew J. Bruzewicz
Director of the Remote Sensing and GIS Center
US Army Corps of Engineers

"Geospatial Technologies and the World Trade Center Attack"

Thursday, October 18th 2001 from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Room 310, Media and Public Affairs Building
(Two blocks from Foggy Bottom Metro Station)
805 21st Street NW
Washington, DC 20052

Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to tcarrine@seas.gwu.edu or phone (202) 994-4901

Synopsis: The recent attacks on the World Trade Center Towers resulted in extensive use of imagery and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as tools providing information to emergency responders and decision makers. At the same time, unanticipated stress was experienced by electronic delivery systems: loss of telephone switching capability, exceedingly heavy telephone and Internet traffic volume, and attack by the Minda computer virus. This presentation examines the range of remote sensing and GIS products developed as a result of this disaster, shortfalls in the ability to deliver products to end users, and concludes with recommendations to improve the flow and usability of geospatial products as part of disaster response and recovery.

Biography: Andrew J. Bruzewicz is Director of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Remote Sensing/GIS Center and Acting Associate Technical Director for Geospatial Research and Development. He is the program area manager for the Corps' geospatial civil works research and development program and team leader of the Corps' GIS Planning and Response Team, which supports both the Corps and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He has professional interests in education, strategic directions in remote sensing and GIS research as they meet Corps of Engineers mission requirements, and the application of these technologies to emergency management. He is past chair of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Education Committee and a member of George Washington University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering's National Advisory Board.