Jerry R. Rogers

Historic Civil Engineering in the U.K.: EWRI Friends Visit London, York, Edinburgh, Arbroath, and Glasgow for Titan Crane Landmark Ceremony

In August 2013, several EWRI friends visited London civil engineering projects: Tower Bridge, Brunel Museum and international landmark Thames Tunnel, and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). After a tour of Leeds Castle, Dover, Canterbury Cathedral, and Greenwich, the group took a Thames River cruise under many London bridges. From the renovated London Kings Cross Rail Station, the group visited the National Railway Museum in York or the York Minster. In Edinburgh, we saw the ICE Scotland Museum (Heriot - Watt University), went to an Edinburgh International Festival Concert, and attended the Military Tattoo (Edinburgh Castle). Via the international landmark Forth Rail Bridge to Arbroath, we saw the Bell Rock Lighthouse Signal Tower Museum (David Taylor) and Arbroath Abbey. With other ICE attendees, we stayed at a Glasgow hotel and toured the Auchentoshan Distillery. We had a West Clydebank (Dunbartonshire Council) town hall lecture (by Roland Paxton) about the Titan Crane’s designer. At the Titan Crane Landmark plaque ceremonies, with ICE, IMechE, ASCE, and ASME, all went through the Titan Crane Museum, before a Clydebank (West Dunbartonshire Council) town hall civic dinner. We visited the Forth & Clyde Canal 2000 international landmark at Bowling. On an ICE history tour, all visited the largest UK masonry railway arch, Ballochmyle Viaduct (1846-48), a seven arch engineering masterpiece. (The Glasgow & South Western Railway (1850) had a landmark plaque unveiled on 25 April 2014.) Next, the tour stopped at the Dick Institute, Kilmarnock, where an ICE plaque (Kilmarnock & Troon Railway (1812), Scotland’s first public railway) was presented to Provost Jim Todd, East Ayrshire Council.

Five-Year History of Water Resources Specialty Certification and Value Slogans

Specialty certification by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) began in 1955, but ASCE began its first specialty certification via the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) and Civil Engineering Certification, Inc. (CEC) five years ago. Specialty certification is an important part of raising the bar in civil engineering practice. Specialty certification involves professional licensure, 30-plus hours of advanced courses beyond the bachelor’s degree, ethical practice, commitment to continuing education self-improvement and training, and at least ten years experience beyond the first engineering degree. To document the progress of water resources engineering specialty certification, this time-line history summary will detail the important steps leading through the fiveyear history to the approaching: “Founding 500 Members” goal. The advantages and value of engineering specialty certification become clearer with progress and time. Planning for an ASCE engineering specialty certification workshop is underway for engineering professionals, certification experts, attorneys, insurance executives, and other parties for the Reston, VA ASCE International Headquarters in mid-to-late 2009. AAWRE also is seeking entertaining and educational slogans for marketing and promoting engineering specialty certification. “The future of specialty certification is now!” is an example of a value slogan and showcases our goal of raising the bar in civil engineering.

A Historical Perspective on American Water and Environmental Engineering Achievements: National Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks

The historic achievements of American civil engineers in developing, managing and protecting the nations water and related land and air resources are celebrated in this description of water resources and environmental projects that have been designated as National Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks (NHCELs) (and International HCELs) by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Individually these projects represent some of the greatest technical accomplishments of individual civil engineers and the agencies and companies that employ them. Collectively they demonstrate the American civil engineering professions long-standing commitment to beneficial and sustainable management of the nations water and related land and air resources.

Initial History and Strategic Planning of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI)

Over a period of years from the prior Management Group and Technical Activities Committee structure, ASCE has created new National Institutes: Structural Engineering Institute (SEI), Geo-Institute (G-I), Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI), and in 1999 the Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI). Additional institutes added in recent years are Coastal, Ocean, Ports, and Riverine Institute (COPRI), Construction Institute (CI), and the Transportation & Development Institute (T&DI) in 2002. The ASCE Task Committee to Create the EWRI was formed in fiscal year 1997 and for two years chaired by Michael L. Stevens/Conrad G. Keyes, Jr. to plan the transition for the Environmental and Water Resources Institute from three ASCE Divisions: Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, and Water Resources Planning & Management plus the Water & Environmental Standards Council. In July 1999, the ASCE Board of Direction approved the formation of the EWRI, to officially begin October 1, 1999.

The 1913 Formation of the First Texas Professional Engineering Society

Seven Texas civil engineers were speakers at the Texas Good Roads Association Congress in Corpus Christi July 10-12, 1913. They decided to move to the North Beach Breakers Hotel July 12-13 to plan the formation of the first Texas professional engineering society. A meeting of sixteen civil engineers forming the Texas Association of Members of the ASCE was held at the Dallas County Courthouse November 1, 1913. On December 31, 1913, the National ASCE Board approved the constitution of the Texas ASCE group. Due to the planning of the 1913 founders and two large professional Texas ASCE meetings per year rotated around the state, the Texas Section ASCE is one of the largest and most active ASCE Sections with its own office staffin Austin. Next is a Reenactment Script of the 1913 Founding of the Texas Section ASCE, with time permitting only the Corpus Christi part in 200