Bridge - Studying ways to improve bridge repair - Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering - Civil, Architectural ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The
Missouri S&T
Bridge
Spring 2021 | Vol. 46
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Studying ways
to improve
bridge repair
page 6 care.mst.edu
FROM THE CHAIR: Joel G. Burken, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, F.AEESP
As we close out the 2020-21 six-classroom school building and started
academic year, so many construction!
events could be the lead
story in terms of resilience, Praise and accolades continue as we conveyed a
perseverance, drive and remarkable 106 undergraduate degrees and 127 total
triumph. Our graduating degrees during May commencement — our highest
class faced great challenges totals in recent years. Each of these graduates
in their final three semesters triumphed over challenges to become our newest
and stepped up in many ways, Miner alumni.
along with staff and faculty.
Our faculty did not relax. I was proud to see
As seating was limited inside the classroom, faculty research output climb and publication rates rise.
transitioned courses to online or blended learning. Our productivity and accomplishments (pg. 12) are
They taught in person, online live and offered reflected in our national and international rankings
recordings of course materials. Faculty and students (pg. 4) and our S&T civil engineering program is
did not back down from the challenge and wither to the highest-ranked public engineering program in
“let’s just get through to May.” Rather, they charged on, Missouri, in both U.S. and world rankings!
and would not be denied.
I am incredibly proud of our entire team. The legacy
Our student chapter meetings forged ahead too. of civil engineering at S&T now spans 150 years and
In some cases 60-100 people were online at 7 p.m. has branched out with successful environmental and
many times to hear alumni presenting on their architectural programs. Miner alumni have cemented
remarkable work (pgs. 8, 11). Other students took on our tradition of accomplishment to truly Change the
challenges individually, like Jessi Schoolcraft, the World. Our new academy members (pg. 18) exemplify
first student in the S&T Global Engineering Program that tradition. We also pay tribute to a couple of our
(pg. 5) and Erin Bereyso, recognized internationally most accomplished alumni, with our last surviving
by ASCE — an amazing organization of 170,000 initial 1972 Academy of Civil Engineers class member
members around the globe — as one of their Bob Bay (pg. 23) and Fred Kummer, who passed
“10 New Faces of Civil Engineering” (pg. 9). just as we went to press. We greatly miss them both
and many other alumni who will be covered in the
Our design teams would not be deterred either. next newsletter.
Steel Bridge had a “three peat” as regional champs
and await results for competing at nationals. We are looking forward to gathering again soon.
The team competed from Rolla in a virtual bridge This fall, I invite you to join as we celebrate the greatest
building competition, shaving 20% off construction MSM/UMR/S&T legacy for our 150th anniversary of
time when it mattered most. Solar House earned a civil engineering. We will host a series of events and
second-place finish internationally. They competed celebrations (pg. 21) Oct. 7-9. Reserve your rooms now!
among 72 teams from 12 countries. Engineers
Without Borders did not rest either, working from This academic year was challenging to our whole
Rolla with their in-country partners to initiate team. I applaud them all and deeply appreciate their
projects at four international sites in Guatemala, exceptional efforts. I find it humbling and gratifying
Ecuador and two in Bolivia. The Paraje Xecaxjoj, to see the strength and dedication of our team to live
Guatemala, team completed designs on the by our motto to Change the World. Go Miners!
...................................................................
Follow us on social media DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION
Department Chair
facebook.com/MissouriSandTCArE Joel Burken, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, F.AEESP
Assistant Chairs
twitter.com/SandT_CArE Civil: Eric Showalter, Ph.D., P.E.
Architectural: Stuart Baur, Ph.D., A.I.A.
linkedin.com/school/missouri-s-t-civil- Environmental: Mark Fitch, Ph.D.
Graduate Programs: Cesar Mendoza, Ph.D.
architectural-and-environmental-engineering
...................................................................
2 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
The
MINERS REPRESENT
Bridge
In this issue
5
A group of Miner alumni met with Missouri Gov. Mike
Parson, senators and state representatives to receive a
First in class of Global
proclamation for American Public Works Week and
discuss the importance of infrastructure funding.
Engineering Program
Jessi Schoolcraft is one of the first students to join
Pictured from left to right are: Chris Linneman, CE’97, Missouri S&T’s new Global Engineering Program.
Paula (Wuebbels) Hart, CE’00, Chris Krueger, ArchE’09, She is majoring in both environmental engineering and
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Martin Gugel, CE’96, multidisciplinary studies with an emphasis in French.
Eric Landwehr, CE’96, and Kyle Dieckmann, CE’05.
STRAUSS APPOINTED 8
TO MISSOURI BOARD White initiated as honor
Gov. Mike Parson recently made
appointments to state boards and
member of Chi Epsilon
commissions. Among those were Gary White, CEO and co-founder of Water.org and
Amy Strauss, CE’90, MS CE’91, of WaterEquity.org, was recently initiated as the 132nd
Springfield, Mo. to the Missouri honor member of Missouri S&T’s Chi Epsilon chapter.
Board for Architects, Professional
9
Engineers, Professional Land
Surveyors, and Professional
Landscape Architects.
Strauss is retired from city utilities
of Springfield, where she managed power generation
Bereyso named New Face of
engineering, among other roles over a 27-year career.
She also has chaired Missouri S&T’s civil engineering
Civil Engineering by ASCE
department’s advisory council. ASCE named Erin Bereyso as one of its 2021 New Faces
of Civil Engineering – College. Bereyso is a senior in
TURNER TAKES OATH civil engineering with an environmental emphasis in a
cooperative engineering program between Missouri S&T
and Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.
Samantha Turner, MS CE’20,
re-affirmed her oath of office as
senior advisor for gender equality
in the U.S. Agency of International
Development. A military veteran
14 Distinguished Lecture Series Speakers
with more than 14 years of
leadership experience, Turner
18 Academy of Civil Engineers Inductees
looks forward to fostering inclusive
innovation within the U.S.
21 150-year Celebration
government and partners from
around the world.
23 Remembering Bob Bay
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 3
RISING IN THE RANKINGS
Missouri S&T is again one of the nation’s top-ranked to No. 46, tied with Michigan State, University of Iowa
institutions for pursuing a graduate degree in and University of Virginia. With more than 150
engineering, and several specific degree programs civil engineering programs in the U.S., this puts
are on the rise, according to the latest U.S. News & our program in the top 30%, which is the highest
World Report rankings. ranking of any public university engineering program
in Missouri. The S&T environmental program rose
Missouri S&T is ranked from No. 48 to No. 45 in 2021 out of 101 programs
50th among public ranked. The program rankings in U.S. News are
universities and 84th peer evaluations by all other programs in the U.S.
overall in U.S. News’ Similarly, the global ranking for the S&T civil
Best Engineering Schools engineering program is the highest in Missouri.
ranking, announced Also, the Academic Ranking of World Universities
Tuesday, March 30. (ARWU) conducted by the Shanghai Ranking
Consultancy placed our civil engineering program
In addition, graduate programs in six S&T in the top 50-75, along with programs at Texas A&M,
engineering disciplines climbed in this year’s Georgia Tech, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Purdue.
national graduate program rankings: The ARWU ratings are driven by program and
department productivity in scholarly output, such as
• Aerospace engineering (No. 38 from 47) publications, funded research and authored books.
• Chemical engineering (No. 88 from 98)
• Electrical engineering (No. 66 from 75) Missouri S&T ranks high in many value-based
• Mechanical engineering (No. 63 from 65) rankings as well, being voted among the top
• Engineering management (No. 54 from 55 nationally by College Factual and Payscale, who
in the industrial engineering category) look primarily at the average starting salaries
• Environmental engineering (No. 45 from 48) compared to tuition and cost of attendance.
Recent rankings by Princeton Review, a premier
S&T’s civil engineering and materials science university rankings system, also puts Missouri S&T
and engineering graduate programs maintained in the top 25 in the U.S. for overall value and
their rankings of 46 and 54, respectively. top 10 in the U.S. for career placement and quality
internships. These rankings certainly validate the
Missouri S&T’s online graduate engineering efforts to prepare our Miner alumni to be impactful
programs are also gaining national recognition. in their careers and to emphasize experiential
Earlier this year, U.S. News ranked S&T’s 14 online learning and professional development.
graduate engineering programs 14th among the
nation’s best public online programs and As we look to the future, we will hold to our mission
18th overall. of shaping our global society’s built and natural
environments through creative research and
How do CArEE and S&T stack up? education. We have and will continue to elevate
the reputation of our programs with employers,
Our vision as a department is to be a destination of peers, future students and alumni that will continue
choice for talented students and faculty members. to move forward and Change the World!
Measuring that reputation is often accomplished
by rankings. The CArEE department has reached one Websites:
of the highest rankings of any engineering program in • news.mst.edu/2021/04/princeton-review-rates-
multiple ratings systems and Missouri S&T has been missouri-st-high-for-roi-career-placement-
highly rated in terms of being one of the best values internships/
in the U.S. — offering a high return on investment. • shanghairanking.com
• mst.edu/about/rankings
U.S. News and World Report rankings are considered
to be the premier rankings in the U.S., and the S&T
civil engineering program has climbed from No. 58
4 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Schoolcraft is
first in class
of Global
Engineering
Program
by Delia Croessmann
Jessi Schoolcraft, a junior at language and culture to the highly to spend their 4th year abroad while
Missouri S&T from Willard, Mo., ranked engineering education working toward a 2nd degree in
discussed the benefits of combining students receive at Missouri S&T. language and culture. In their first
an engineering education with foreign semester abroad, GEP students will
language skills and cross-cultural “I think that engineering students take courses in the local language
experiences in an interview on the should consider learning a language and spend the second semester on
national “Lead with Languages” because it helps develop problem- internships before returning to Rolla
campaign website. solving skills,” says Schoolcraft. for their 5th and final year of study,”
“The same strategies that I use to according to Dr. Francisca Oboh-
The Lead with Languages campaign, improve my French can be used in Ikuenobe, associate dean for academic
sponsored by the American Council on my studies to become an engineer. affairs in the College of Engineering
the Teaching of Foreign Languages These skills are vital to be a language and Computing.
(ACTFL), aims to create a new learner as well as an engineer.”
generation of Americans who are “Engineers who speak more than one
competent in other languages and During the 2021-22 academic year, language can effectively communicate
cultures and fully equipped to compete Schoolcraft plans to spend one with peers and clients, navigate diverse
and succeed in a global economy. semester studying in France and work environments, and understand
one semester completing an onsite the cultural aspects of their projects,”
Schoolcraft is one of the first students engineering internship. After that, says Global Engineering Program
to join S&T’s new Global Engineering she plans to come back to the U.S. to co-director Dr. Audra-Merfeld
Program. She is majoring in both finish her degrees. Schoolcraft says Langston, chair of arts, languages,
environmental engineering and she may consider pursuing a graduate and philosophy and an associate
multidisciplinary studies with an degree in France. professor of French at Missouri S&T.
emphasis in French and will graduate “S&T’s top-notch engineering education
with a degree in both fields. The “The Global Engineering Program (GEP) complemented with international
program prepares its graduates to is aimed at preparing engineering experience gives our graduates a
work in international settings by students for a global workforce by rich toolbox to use throughout
adding knowledge of another providing the opportunity for them their careers.”
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 5
6 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Researchers investigate
improved bridge repair
after collisions
by Nancy Bowles
Vehicle collisions with bridge supports or girders are the such as fiber-reinforced polymers. ElGawady says the
second leading cause of bridge collapse in the United States, researchers will use materials that are readily available to
with an average of three such collisions per day, according entities needing to make repairs rather than researching
to researchers at Missouri S&T who are studying ways to new materials.
improve bridge repair and cut costs for cities and states.
“We’re looking at very recent developments in
A railroad bridge in Kansas City, Mo., is an example. ultra-high-performance concrete — state-of-the-art
According to news reports, the Independence Avenue material that is emerging or on the market that they
Bridge has been struck by trucks multiple times in recent could use now,” he says.
months despite signs warning of height restrictions.
Reports indicate the Kansas City Terminal Railway has ElGawady and his team at Missouri S&T are working
spent $100,000 on signage and repairs over the past decade. with researchers at the University of Idaho to conduct
numerical simulations that calculate damage from a
The Missouri S&T research project could reduce those vehicle hitting a bridge. ElGawady says they hope to
types of repair costs for municipal and state governments secure an outdoor location where they could conduct
and enhance bridge safety by finding more efficient actual tests with a mass hitting a girder.
repair methods.
The three-year research project is supported through
“We are looking at two things in this project,” says $755,000 in pooled funding managed by the Missouri
lead researcher Dr. Mohamed ElGawady, Benavides Department of Transportation. Other contributing states
Faculty Scholar and professor of civil, architectural are Texas, Ohio, Mississippi, Idaho and Alaska, as well
and environmental engineering at Missouri S&T. as the Federal Highway Administration. ElGawady says
“First, we examine the remaining strength in a girder Mid-America Transportation Center has provided
after impact. Second, we investigate how to repair the $85,000 in supplemental funding.
girders to recover their original strength.”
“During the COVID-19 pandemic and associated budget
The research will address the lack of design tools that cuts, it was a really tense time for the states to dedicate
indicate how much load-bearing strength remains after money for this research,” says ElGawady. “That they did is
impact, ElGawady says, adding that once repairs made, another indication that this is a really serious issue.”
there is not much current research on the load-bearing
capacity of the repairs.
ElGawady says there are two possibilities for repair —
splicing together severed strands to repair damaged
girders or making repairs using advanced materials
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 7
White initiated as 132nd honor member
of national honor society Chi Epsilon
Gary White, CEO and co-founder of Water.org and
WaterEquity.org, was recently initiated as the 132nd
honor member of Missouri S&T’s Chi Epsilon chapter.
Chi Epsilon, the national honor society for civil engineers,
selects individuals who have attained a degree of
eminence in the civil engineering profession, exhibited
experience and ability worthy of emulation by young
civil engineers, and possess a minimum of 10 years’
experience in the civil engineering profession as registered
professional engineers. The S&T student chapter initiated
23 new current students during the ceremony along
with White.
The recent online meeting provided an opportunity for White developed Water.org’s WaterCredit Initiative, which
participation by distance education students, including creates new financing options for poor populations to meet
international initiates Samantha Turner and Ricky their water supply and sanitation needs. He also developed
Estardo. Turner works for the U.S. Agency for International and now leads WaterEquity, the first-ever impact investment
Development (USAID) in Germany, and Estardo owns his manager dedicated to ending the global water crisis in our
own geotechnical engineering company in the Philippines. lifetime, with an exclusive focus on raising and deploying
Both are master’s students in civil engineering at S&T. capital to water and sanitation businesses throughout Asia,
The transition to online initiation allowed the chapter to Africa and Latin America.
include distance education students for the first time,
and had initiates spanning 14 time zones. White is an advisor in the water and sanitation space,
counseling organizations such as the Skoll Foundation,
Bank of America Foundation, PepsiCo Foundation, IKEA
Foundation and the Caterpillar Foundation on responses
to the global water crisis. He is a founding board member
of the Millennium Water Alliance and Water Advocates.
He was selected as a Skoll Foundation Social Entrepreneur
in 2009 and a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur in
2012. In 2011, he was named to the TIME 100 list of the
world’s most influential people and was honored as one of
Missouri S&T’s Alumni of Influence. In 2014, he was named
to the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on
Water. In 2017, White was awarded the Forbes 400 Lifetime
Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship.
White earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
“Having Gary White there to chat with us as the chapter’s civil engineering from S&T in 1985 and 1987, respectively.
newest member showed us just where we could go as He also holds a master’s degree in environmental
professionals and global citizens,” says Turner. “I have engineering from the University of North Carolina at
some experience seeing just that — engineers taking our Chapel Hill.
base education and applying it to solve the world’s toughest
problems. I’m thankful that Gary was able to share that Chi Epsilon has 141 chapters across the country and has
with us.” initiated more than 132,000 members. The organization’s
vision recognizes students and graduates for their
For the past 25 years, White’s entrepreneurial vision has academic achievements while seeking to foster excellence,
driven innovations in the way water and sanitation projects connectivity and engagement among those in the civil
are delivered and financed through Water.org, which is engineering community to improve the world.
based in Kansas City, Mo.
8 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Bereyso recognized as
one of 2021 New Faces
of Civil Engineering
by Sarah Potter
The American Society of Civil “Erin is a great role model in
Engineering (ASCE) has named many ways. She participated in “Erin is a great role model in
Erin Bereyso as one of its 2021
New Faces of Civil Engineering-
undergraduate research and is
active in her community as a
many ways. She participated in
College. Bereyso is a senior in
civil engineering with an
volunteer despite taking a full load
of classes and working for an
undergraduate research and is
environmental emphasis in a engineering firm. Our students active in her community as a
cooperative engineering program
between Missouri S&T and
are some of the best in the nation.
I am really excited for Erin’s
volunteer despite taking a full
Missouri State University in
Springfield, Mo.
next chapter.” load of classes and working for
Bereyso works year-round as an an engineering firm.”
“I am just extremely honored environmental engineering intern
and grateful for all of the unique for Associated Electric Cooperative
opportunities ASCE and the Inc. in Springfield. She has served
— Dr. Sanjay Tewari
Missouri State-Missouri S&T as ASCE student chapter president Assistant Teaching Professor
cooperative program have presented and attended national ASCE
me over the last three years,” says meetings in that role. Bereyso
Bereyso. “I also feel very thankful also participated in the 2019 of Civil Engineers. She has helped
and lucky to have such great Environmental and Water Resources demonstrate that all of our
advisors, mentors and professors Institute’s World Environmental and students can make the most of the
to teach and guide me throughout Water Resources Congress where opportunities provided to them and
my undergraduate education.” she earned second prize for her endeavor to achieve lofty goals.”
research presentation.
Bereyso, who is from Wildwood, Mo., The ASCE says the 10 New Faces
was nominated by ASCE student “I could not be happier for Erin,” honorees represent the best and
chapter advisor Dr. Sanjay Tewari, says Dr. Joel Burken, Curators’ brightest students from campuses
an assistant teaching professor Distinguished Professor and chair around the world. Bereyso received
of civil, architectural and of CArEE. “She has been a real a $1,000 scholarship from ASCE
environmental engineering leader in our program with and is featured on the 2021 New
(CArEE) at S&T. Missouri State and has been Faces-College website.
active on our campus including
“It is an honor for Erin to be a part participating in our 2020 Leadership
of this select group of people from Institute hosted by S&T’s Academy
all over the world,” says Tewari.
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 9
Weighing in on current job market trends
Dr. Joel Burken was recently
featured among a panel of experts
on Zippia for his advice about
starting a career with a degree in
engineering. The article gave
Joel G. Burken
insights into entering the workforce
this year and how it will be different Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, F.AEESP
given everything that’s happening.
Zippia is a resource for job seekers
who want to empower their career Department Chair and Curators’
aspirations with knowledgeable Distinguished Professor,
data. The website has been featured Civil, Architectural and
in USA Today, Forbes, Fortune, CNBC Environmental Engineering
and the New York Times, among
other leading publications.
Given the change of course in the
world, Zippia wanted to provide In your opinion, what are the biggest trends we’ll
expert opinions on how aspiring
graduates can best start their
see in the job market given the pandemic?
careers given the uncertain Burken: To this point we’ve seen little impact for our graduates in getting positions.
economic climate. They wanted Graduates from last academic year placed into full-time positions at a reported
to know what skills will be more 96% rate, which is actually up. As a university our placement rate was 90% and
important, where the economy is starting salaries actually rose 5.7%. We had a few students lose internship positions
doing relatively well, and if there last summer, but most had a start setback or found another opportunity, while some
will be any lasting effects on the decided to take summer classes. We opened up to offer additional classes to give
job market. more options as well.
Companies are looking for qualified If a graduate needs to take a gap year, what skills should
candidates who can handle the new
responsibilities of the job market. you recommend they try to enhance and how should
Recent graduates have advantages they go about doing it?
because they are comfortable using
newer technologies and have been Burken: We have recommended to advance their technical and professional training.
communicating online their whole We have a new BS+MS degree option for high performing students that make our
lives. They can take what they've MS engineering degrees very achievable in a few years, in civil, civil-architectural and
emphasis, or environmental. We also have certificates in a variety of areas, including
learned and apply it immediately.
collaborative with engineering management to get more project management focus in
their background, and also a certificate as a specific credential.
Zippia spoke to professors and
experts from several universities
and companies to get their opinions What general advice would you give to graduates
on where the job market for recent beginning their career?
graduates is headed, as well as
how young graduates can prepare Burken: Get started and pursue your passions! I tell all of our students and graduates
to enter the industry. to find where their strongest skill sets intersect with their passions. If they are good
at what they do (aligning with talents, skills) and they love what they do (passion for
Read what the full panel of experts their work) in their profession, they will have a fulfilling and successful career in their
had to say. Visit the website at: profession. I specifically don’t say they have a “job” or will “work” in their careers.
zippia.com/environmental- I want them to know they are part of a great and noble profession in engineering,
with a higher calling than a “job.” If they find their path, that 40- to 45-year career
scientist-new-york-jobs/trends/
will be a great adventure, and they will look back as a Proud Miner alumni member.
10 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringAcademy members give Chi Epsilon hosts
notable alumni
special ASCE, AGC lectures
and brownfields in the middle Blue
Rich Henry, CE’83 River corridor.
ASCE/AGC Lecture: Leadership in Jacoby is a water resources engineer
Today’s Architecture, Engineering and environmental lawyer, and a
and Construction (AEC) Industry partner with Husch Blackwell in
Kansas City. She has spent most of Two guest speakers with Crawford,
Henry talked her 35-year career working in the Murphy & Tilly Inc. in St. Louis gave a
about what areas of water resources, waterways, presentation to Chi Epsilon titled “Who
it means to be flooding and levees. Needs Pavement when you have Ice?”
a leader in the about an airport system building
construction Jill Erickson, co-founder and current project in Antarctica.
industry. He executive director of the Heartland
explored what is Conservation Alliance, joined Ty Sander, CE’98, (pictured front left)
needed beyond Jacoby in the presentation. Erickson has unparalleled knowledge of what
technical skills has co-led the Middle Blue River it takes to plan, program, design and
and book smarts to propel a career. Urban Waters Federal Partnership construct airfields. He works closely
Using examples of what has created since 2013 and has served as the with airport sponsors to coordinate
and derailed leaders, he discussed ambassador since 2016. programs with the FAA and keeps
finding the right path. a close watch on the ever-changing
trends and priorities. He has worked
Henry has been with McCarthy his
entire 40-plus-year career — starting
Brent Massey, CE’95 for the company since 1999 and
serves as vice president and aviation
as a project engineer, and then ASCE Lecture: Invisible Engineering – group manager. He is also a member
working his way up as project Solving Complex Problems You Can’t of the S&T Academy of Civil Engineers.
manager, senior project manager, See: Crystal Bridges Museum of
project director and vice president. Andrew Bodine, CE’11, (middle front)
He is also a member of the American Art is a “jack of all trades.” His nature suits
company’s board of directors. projects requiring close coordination
Massey discussed across disciplines. He serves as a senior
some of the engineer in design engineering and
Karin Jacoby, CE’85 challenges he
encountered as
construction oversight. He has been
with the company since 2015.
ASCE Lecture: Regreening the Blue: the Engineer of
Record for the
A 100-year Tale of an Urban Waterway Walton family’s Night to Network
in the Kansas City Region Crystal Bridges
Jacoby discussed
Museum of held via Zoom
American Art in Bentonville, Ark.
how the Blue The building is a 210,000-square-foot The spring 2021 Night to Network
River — a 39.8- museum on steep, rocky terrain at event, held via Zoom, was a success.
mile-long stream the bottom of a ravine in a floodway There were five breakout rooms,
near the border in the middle of a natural forest. with close to 60 employers and
of Kansas and students in attendance. Thank you to
Missouri — Massey is principal and vice those who were able to attend. Here are
scarcely president of operations for CEI a few of the companies represented:
resembles what Engineering Associates Inc., a ARCO, Apex, Arkansas Department
it did 100 years ago. In an effort to 100-person firm. He joined CEI of Transportation, CDG Engineering,
re-engineer the stream and preserve after graduation and has worked Clayco, Evergy, GEO Consultants, George
some of its natural aspects, the on engineering designs for Butler Associates, KPFF Consultants,
Blue River has gone “green.” development projects throughout McCarthy, Missouri Department of
Volunteers have worked to create the county. Transportation, Robinson Construction,
trails, restore native natural areas and RTM Engineering Consultants.
and revitalize urban neighborhoods
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 11Faculty accolades, appointments and talks
Hu receives outstanding Oerther elected to Yan talks living in harmony
editor award and appointed national EWB board with natural disasters
to TRB Leadership Council Dr. Daniel B. Dr. Grace Yan,
Oerther, professor associate professor
Dr. Xianbiao Hu, of environmental of structural
assistant professor engineering, engineering, was
of transportation was elected to the part of the Global
engineering, board of directors Learning Speaker
received the of Engineers Series. She talked
Outstanding Without Borders- about how to
Associate Editor USA. Oerther will live in harmony
Award from the serve a three-year term beginning with natural disasters by preparing
International January 2021. the public psychologically, preparing
Journal of Transportation Science the city physically, and preparing
and Technology (IJTST). This journal Founded in 2002, the mission of the government financially through
received a CiteScore of 5.4 in 2020. Engineers Without Borders-USA interdisciplinary research.
IJTST is an outlet for researchers is building a better world through
to disseminate innovative research engineering projects that empower Website: global.mst.edu/
that enhances the efficiency, communities to meet basic needs speakers-series/graceyan
reliability, resilience, safety and and equip leaders to solve the
sustainability of person and world’s most pressing challenges.
freight transportation. In 2019, more than 9,500 volunteers Zhang invited to serve as
Hu was also appointed an at-large
contributed to nearly 500 projects
in 39 countries and 26 states and
associate editor of ASCE journal
member of the Transportation territories. This engineering work
Research Board (TRB) Committee Dr. Xiong Zhang
affects more than a million people
Research Coordinator (CRC) was invited to
worldwide.
Leadership Council (CRCC) during serve as associate
the 100th annual meeting held in editor of the ASCE
January 2021. CRCC provides Schonberg appointed associate Journal of
Cold Regions
guidance and training to the CRCs,
and acts as the liaison between editor of international journal Engineering,
TRB and the CRCs. CRCC and CRC a leading peer-
help committees identify, formulate, Dr. William reviewed scientific
prioritize, and promote research needs Schonberg, journal in the general area of cold
and the conduct of research, turning professor of civil, regions engineering. The journal is
research needs into results. architectural and published by the American Society of
environmental Civil Engineers (ASCE).
International Journal of engineering, has
Transportation Science been appointed Established in 1987, the topics of
and Technology Website: associate editor of this journal include ice engineering,
journals.elsevier.com/ the International ice force, construction on permafrost
international-journal-of- Journal of Impact Engineering, the and seasonal frost, cold weather
transportation-science-and- world’s leading peer-reviewed journal construction, environmental quality
technology in the general area of impact and engineering in cold regions, snow
engineering. Established in 1983, and ice control, cold regions materials,
the journal publishes original and surveying and planning in
research findings related to the cold regions.
response of structures, components
and materials subjected to impact, Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
HU blast and high-rate loading. Website: ascelibrary.org/journal/jcrgei
12 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringEngineering sustainability into
the next century and beyond
by Nancy Bowles
For the past 150 years, Missouri S&T (AKA Missouri School of art, research) or we could wind up fostering more inequality
Mines and Metallurgy and the University of Missouri-Rolla) where those who have resources and ability to use and
has produced world-changing engineers. At the intersection control AI integration will have more economic and political
of S&T’s 150th anniversary and National Engineers Week, power than those who do not.
we’re looking ahead at how engineering can lead the way
for the next 150 years. Dr. David Borrok, geosciences and geological and
petroleum engineering – Over the next 150 years, geological
Leaders in the College of Engineering and Computing shared engineering is poised to leverage ongoing improvements
their thoughts about the most important focus for their in unmanned aerial surveying, satellite-based data and
disciplines, and a trend quickly emerged — sustainability. advanced computing to gather and apply high-resolution
From carbon capture and advanced materials to water data about the Earth’s surface and subsurface at all scales
and soil use, engineering can play a big role in careful to solve problems related to water and soil sustainability,
stewardship of resources, both now and in the future, as predict and mitigate natural hazards, and provide clean
outlined by the heads of some of S&T’s engineering and renewable energy sources.
departments.
Meanwhile, petroleum companies are evolving to take a
Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, mining and explosives broader view of energy. Although we will still need
engineering – The need for mined materials is going to substantial amounts of oil and gas for the foreseeable
grow for two reasons: increasing urbanization in the future, these companies are developing new technologies
developing world and transition to green energy. If we in areas such as geothermal energy and CO2 sequestration.
don’t find ways to increase our production in a sustainable You can expect petroleum engineers to be leaders in
way, the environmental and societal impacts of mining building a sustainable energy portfolio.
will be a significant drawback to our quest to develop and
use green energy to combat climate change. Dr. Joel Burken, civil, architectural and environmental
engineering – Civil engineers will revolutionize our
Dr. David Bayless, mechanical and aerospace engineering – infrastructure from the molecular properties of building
Looking to the next 150 years, I think artificial intelligence materials to integrating infrastructure systems on a grand
will have the greatest impact, and the way we enable scale and will improve our urban centers into more efficient,
machine learning and its integration into our world healthy, livable mega cities.
will be as important as the technological advancements
themselves. We could wind up in a world where we have (continued on page 21)
even more free time to pursue our interests (education,
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 13Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
industry to advance both research His lecture titled “Resilience-
HURST-MCCARTHY LECTURE and practice in construction. Informed Guidance through
Dr. Aminah Robinson Fayek Fayek has gained international
Modeling and Interdisciplinary
Field Studies,” gave an overview
University of Alberta - NAC recognition and helped shape of the Center for Risk-Based
the construction industry’s best Community Resilience Planning’s
Canadian researcher speaks practices in applications related approach to merge engineering,
to workforce development, social science, planning, and
on artificial intelligence in productivity, project performance, economics to form the
construction engineering risk analysis and organizational Interdependent Networked
competencies. She also serves Community Resilience Modeling
Known for her as an editor of two leading Environment (IN-CORE). This
30-year career academic journals in construction included learning from an
in artificial engineering and management. interdisciplinary longitudinal
intelligence (AI) field study from 2016 to present
and developing for flooding in Lumberton, N.C.,
advance
decision
ABBETT LECTURE including challenges posed
by a second hurricane and the
support systems Dr. John van de Lindt pandemic on data collection and
interpretation. His presentation
for the
construction industry by Colorado State University closed with an illustrative example
combining fuzzy logic with AI application of a community
and other simulation techniques, Talking applications and planning for tornado hazard and
Dr. Aminah Robinson Fayek, systems for earthquakes, an example of resilience-informed
delivered the 2021 Hurst-McCarthy policy guidance.
floods, tornadoes and more
Lecture at Missouri S&T on
Tuesday, March 16, via Zoom. Over the last two decades,
Dr. John W. van van de Lindt’s research program
de Lindt, the has focused on performance-based
In her lecture, titled “Artificial
Harold H. Short engineering and test-bed
Intelligence Solutions in
Endowed Chair applications of building and
Construction Engineering and
Professor in other systems for earthquakes,
Management,” Fayek shared her
civil and hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes
background and inspiration for
environmental and floods. He has published more
using AI to improve construction
engineering and than 400 technical articles and
industry performance,
co-director for reports including more than
competitiveness and innovation.
the National Institute of Standards 200 journal papers, and currently
She illustrated the unique
and Technology-funded Center of serves as the editor-in-chief for
challenges presented by
Excellence (COE) for Risk-Based the ASCE Journal of Structural
construction problems and how
Community Resilience Planning at Engineering.
AI could be used to overcome
Colorado State University, spoke
those challenges. She also shared
Monday, April 19, via Zoom.
her vision for future research and (More distinguished
discussed the importance and lectures continued
relevance of working closely with on page 16.)
14 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringAli Al-Khafaji, CE’21, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering
and GAANN fellow, recently passed the project
management professional (PMP) exam and his
professional engineer (PE) exam.
“I have studied at several well-known universities,
but Missouri S&T has been the best due to its top-notch
education, research opportunities and location,”
Al-Khafaji says. “As a graduate student, I’ve experienced
tremendous support and encouragement from my
advisor, Dr. John J. Myers, as well as others in the CArEE
department and across the S&T campus. Dr. Myers’
teaching and advising style is exceptional and inspiring.
He is very respectful, caring and encourages his
students to work on projects that interest them.
He gives us space and time to think outside the box
and to be creative. I am very lucky to have worked for
someone like him.”
Al-Khafaji, who was born in Iraq, graduated with honors
from Baghdad University with a bachelor’s degree in
civil engineering. He earned his first master’s degree in
national level, serving as a committee voting member on
ACI 440L and he is also an associate member of ACI 440.
Plus he has had 17 papers published with three now under
review and two under development.
Ali Al-Khafaji Myers, professor of civil, architectural and environmental
engineering, has made a particular effort to encourage his
graduate students to pursue their certifications. The PMP
certification requires not only the education, but three years
Civil engineering of professional experience.
graduate student “From day one of arriving in Rolla, Mo., Ali was well
prepared as a new Ph.D. U.S. Department of Education
passes two professional GAANN Fellow and Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship
recipient to take a leadership role on the first major
certification exams U.S. field-based durability study to investigate the field
performance of 15- to 20-year-old fiber reinforced polymer
(FRP) bars in highway bridges,” says Myers. “It has been a
major undertaking and a collaborative effort along with the
University of Miami, Penn State University, and Owens
civil engineering from Kansas University and his second Corning Infrastructure Solutions LLC, with funding from
master’s degree in engineering management from Ohio both the ACI-Strategic Development Council and the
University. He recently graduated from Missouri S&T in Re-Cast University Transportation Center at Missouri S&T.
spring 2021. His research interests include advanced and What has impressed me the most has been Ali’s ability to
sustainable concrete and composites for structural balance excellence in his research, classroom education,
engineering purposes. teaching contributions, society contributions, while also
seeking his professional certifications. In over two decades
Al-Khafaji is definitely ahead of the game — becoming at S&T, I do not recall another student that has become both
registered in his field of expertise and already passing his a PE and PMP as a graduate student and I am extremely
professional engineer license (PE) exam in 2019. He has proud of all Ali has accomplished,” says Myers.
been active in the American Concrete Institute (ACI) at the
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 15Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
(continued from page 14)
provide fresh new insights into Aside from ensuring functional
JONES LECTURE the complex nature of composite systems are built, other things like
Paulo Monteiro materials and how this information
can be used in the design of
resilience and sustainability often
drive reconstruction decisions.
University of California, improved materials. His talk, titled With these extreme events
“Unlocking the secrets of ancient becoming more frequent, new
Berkeley - NAE Roman concrete using synchrotron challenges emerge that bring
radiation and neutron scattering,” about approaches and decisions
Speaker talks about was held Thursday, April 22 used in reconstruction.
unlocking secrets of via Zoom.
Students learned about some
ancient Roman concrete
Monteiro earned engineering of these new approaches when
degrees from Escola Politécnica da Dr. J. David Frost gave the 2021
Extraordinary, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil Prakash Lecture, presenting
high- and University of California, “Considering Nature in Addressing
performance Berkeley. He has published more Resilience and Sustainability
composites than 280 papers on topics that During Reconstruction” on
like the ones include micro and nanostructure Wednesday, May 12, via Zoom.
used to build of concrete, poromechanics of
Trajan’s Market concrete durability, development Frost is the Higginbotham
and other of green concrete and sustainable Professor of Civil Engineering at
ancient Rome construction, incorporation of Georgia Tech. Throughout his career
monuments, as well as the massive carbon sequestration materials he has focused on the study and
piers, breakwaters and fishponds into the civil infrastructure, and analysis of natural and man-made
along the central Italian coast, advanced soft and hard synchrotron disasters and their impact on
are now helping provide a unique techniques to characterize infrastructure. His research
window into studying the long-term materials and fluid flow in shales. centers on the development and
performance of cementitious implementation of digital data
systems. collection systems for studying
PRAKASH LECTURE infrastructure problems related
Dr. Paulo J.M. Monteiro, the Roy W.
Carlson Distinguished Professor J. David Frost to disasters at multiple scales. For
more than 25 years, Frost has led
in Civil and Environmental
Engineering at the University of
Georgia Tech NSF-supported post-disaster study
teams following earthquakes in
California, Berkeley, and his Chile, China, India, Japan, Turkey
research team secured permission Talking reconstructing
and the U.S., as well as at the
to collect a large number of infrastructure systems World Trade Center.
2,000-year-old concrete samples after disastrous events
from Rome to study.
Following major MAPA Lecture (Fall 2021)
As the 2021 Jones Lecturer,
Monteiro described his
events such
as earthquakes,
Kevin Hall
comprehensive experimental
program using synchrotron
floods, University of Arkansas
hurricanes,
radiation and neutron scattering tsunamis
to characterize and optimize the
nano and microstructure of these
and terrorist
activities,
Stueck Lecture (Oct. 8, 2021)
advanced construction materials.
His presentation discussed how
significant Paul O’Callaghan
efforts are made to replace
3-D tomographic images can impacted infrastructure systems. Founder of BlueTech Research
16 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringThree S&T
graduate students
honored with
TriDurLE awards
Three Missouri S&T civil engineering
graduate students, Hanli Wu, Jun Liu
and Beshoy Riad, were presented
Waheed Uddin Outstanding Graduate
Student Awards by the National Center
for Transportation Infrastructure
Durability and Life-Extension
Miners building partnerships (TriDurLE) for their outstanding
academic performance.
that literally Change the World
TriDurLE is one of seven National
University Transportation Centers
(UTCs) led by Washington State
University and sponsored by the U.S.
Jack Dorsey, NDD’98, Twitter and Square CEO, donated $4,720,000 to Water.org Department of Transportation (DOT)
to change lives with safe water and sanitation as part of his #StartSmall and serves as the only National UTC
initiative to fund COVID-19 relief. Support will make an impact today while with a focus on the USDOT strategic
building resiliency to future pandemics. #StartSmall is Dorsey’s philanthropic priority of improving the durability and
initiative to fund global COVID-19 relief, girls’ health and education, and efforts extending the life of transportation
toward Universal Basic Income. infrastructure.
Water.org, co-founded by alumnus Gary White, CE’85, MS CE’87, and actor Students were nominated by site
Matt Damon, has positively transformed more than 33 million lives around directors and ranked by an advisory
the world by providing access to safe water and sanitation. Water.org pioneers board. Wu and Liu received $1,000 for
market-driven financial solutions to the global water crisis. For 30 years, their first place and Riad received $500 for
work has given women hope, children health, and families a bright future. second place.
IACIP awards
Jun Liu, a Ph.D. student in civil
engineering, was recently awarded a
first place IACIP Outstanding Graduate
Student Award by the International
Association of Chinese Infrastructure
Professionals (IACIP) for his academic
performance. The IACIP Outstanding
Graduate Student Award is funded
by the International Association for
Chinese Infrastructure Professionals
with the purpose of encouraging
graduate students to participate in
research activities and pursue a
future career in the general area of
transportation infrastructure.
Pedestrian bridge construction Two Ph.D. students, Anyou Zhu and
Hanli Wu were awarded second place
The city of Rolla, in partnership with Missouri S&T, constructed a pedestrian and third place IACIP Best Poster
bridge on Route E (University Drive) over U.S. Interstate 44, near Exit 185 in Awards, respectively, during the IACIP
Rolla. This project was identified as a priority by the Move Rolla TDD Program, Student Poster Contest at the 11th
and its purpose is to provide pedestrians a multi-use path that meets ADA Annual IACIP Workshop held online
standards and offers a safer route to campus. Jan. 9 and 16, 2021.
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 17Academy of Civil Engineers
Nine professionals with ties to Missouri S&T will be inducted into the S&T Academy of Civil Engineers
during an official ceremony, which will be held Thursday, Oct. 7, during Homecoming Weekend.
The academy recognizes outstanding alumni for their professional achievement and success,
and it provides support and experience to help the civil, architectural and environmental engineering
department at S&T to reach its collective mission and vision.
His interests revolve around classic cars and car shows.
Here are the 2021 inductees: He owns a 1978 Triumph Spitfire, which mostly sits in his
garage, and a 1966 Pontiac GTO, which he bought new in
1966 in Rolla, Mo. In 2012, his GTO won Concourse Best of
David Bufalo Show for Factory Original at the GTO Nationals in Loveland,
Colo. Bufalo has been active in NSPE, Engineer’s Club in
Retired, Department of Public Works St. Louis, ASCE and especially the Miner Alumni Association,
where he served in active roles and was awarded the Alumni
Denver, Colo. Ambassador, Little Mack, Phoenix and Century Club Awards.
David Bufalo of Denver, Colo., who retired
from the city and county of Denver public
works department, earned a bachelor of Gary W. Creason
science degree from Missouri S&T in 1966.
Over a 40-year career, Bufalo has been
Retired, Affinis Corp.
involved in virtually every aspect of
the management of the design and
Overland Park, Kan.
construction of buildings, highways,
Gary Creason of Overland Park, Kan.,
heavy construction, and information
who retired from Affinis Corp. in Overland
management systems. He has been employed by Fortune 500
Park, Kan., in 2015, earned a bachelor of
corporations, private consultants, federal, state and local
science degree in civil engineering from
governments, and Engineering News Record top 400
Missouri S&T in 1971, and an MBA from
construction contractors. He has managed projects in
Rockhurst University in 1984. Creason
Missouri, Arizona, California, Montana, Alaska, Canada
started his career as a construction
and Colorado. Prominent projects in Denver include the
engineer for a heavy-highway contractor
Denver Central Library, the Denver Art Museum Expansion,
in Illinois. After returning to Kansas City,
the expansion of the Colorado Convention Center, the Red
he had an outstanding career with the U.S. Army Corps and
Rocks Visitor’s Center, the Wellington E. Webb Municipal
with Burns & McDonnell. He rose through the ranks, overseeing
Office Building and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. He is also
large projects as lead project manager. After retiring from
a past director of the Denver building department. Bufalo’s
Burns & McDonnell, Creason founded his own consulting firm
responsibilities with the city of Denver also included managing
to provide oversight of the new Riverside-Quindaro Bend Levee
the final construction effort, except for the baggage handling
L-385 construction project in the Kansas City area. After the
system, to open Denver International Airport in February 1995.
levee project was completed, he finished his engineering career
He was primarily responsible for creating a materials recycling
at Affinis Corp., the engineer of record for L-385.
program at the former Stapleton International Airport, which
saved the City approximately $95 million in demolition costs.
Creason has been an active alumnus, returning to Rolla to
This project won the Colorado Recycling Project of the Year
speak in person to future Miners and share his wealth of
in approximately 1999. He also managed the city’s Y2K
experience. He is also active in keeping in touch with fellow
remediation program. While on active duty with the U.S. Army
Miner alumni and served as an admissions ambassador at
he performed engineering facilities surveys on temporary
S&T. He has also been active in the National Society of
duty in Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, Okinawa, the Eastern
seaboard and Hawaii.
18 The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineeringinducts nine new members
Professional Engineers, Missouri Society of Professional faculty member with legal education programs in Kenya,
Engineers and American Society of Civil Engineers and has Tanzania and the Czech Republic. He is a member of the
served as elected precinct committeeman and elected ward Wisconsin and National Society of Professional Engineers and
chair for the Kansas Republican Party. Creason currently serves has spoken on legal issues at their annual conventions.
on the College of the Ozarks Board of Trustees and is an elder
in his church.
He and his wife, Janet, spend summers in Overland Park and James Kreher
winters in Arizona. They are avid golfers and Creason enjoys
woodworking on projects like high-end boxes and writing pens.
President, Kreher Engineering
He isn’t much of a fisherman, but on a trip to the Snake River in
Idaho, he landed an 8-foot 230-pound sturgeon. It helped that
Columbia, Ill.
his fishing partner was Idaho’s director of fish and game.
James Kreher of Waterloo, Ill., has been
president of structural design firm
Judge David Flanagan Kreher Engineering for 18 years. The
firm specializes in low-rise structures.
He earned a bachelor of science in
Retired, Reserve Judge civil engineering from Missouri S&T in
Madison, Wis. 1987 and is a licensed professional
engineer in nine states and a licensed
structural engineer in Illinois and Utah.
Judge David Flanagan earned a bachelor Kreher has been active in several professional societies
of science degree in civil engineering from including American Society of Civil Engineers, American
Missouri S&T in 1967 and a juris doctor Institute of Steel Construction, American Concrete Institute,
degree from the University of Wisconsin American Welding Society, American Wood Council and
Law School in 1974. He is a professional National Council for Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.
engineer registered in Wisconsin. In 1968 He also participates in reviews for the Capital Development
Flanagan earned a commission as an Board for the State of Illinois.
officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer
Corps. After completing the Navy’s Deep His active community services include providing pro-bono
Sea Diving program he served three years active duty as engineering services for Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts and
the diving officer designing and supervising underwater local church community projects in the metropolitan St. Louis
construction for a Seabee battalion on various projects area. Kreher is an active member of the Saints Peter and Paul
including deployment to South Vietnam. After law school, Catholic Church community and a member of the Holy Name
he spent 24 years trying jury trials as an assistant attorney Society and the Knights of Columbus. He has chaired the
general. His work included criminal prosecution, construction facilities management committee for Saints Peter and Paul
and product liability matters as well as professional negligence Catholic Church for the expansion of the existing grade school
cases. Flanagan was elected circuit court judge three times and and the future campus relocation. Kreher Engineering also
served from 1999 to 2016, with responsibility for criminal, is the dinner sponsor for Gibault Catholic High School for its
civil and juvenile cases. He continues to serve as a reserve major annual fundraiser.
judge. While on the bench, Flanagan was invited to be a guest
lecturer at the High Court, Shanghai, China, and was selected Kreher and his wife of 34 years, Colleen, have two children.
to participate in the International Judicial Academy, Den Haag, Katherine, a married mother of two children, works as a
Netherlands. He founded the Veterans Treatment Court in parochial elementary school teacher. Erin is a social worker
Dane County, Wis., and continues to serve as a mentor in at SSM Hospital in St. Louis. In his free time, Kreher enjoys
that program. golf, softball and spending time with his family.
Since leaving the bench he has acted as a volunteer attorney (continued on the next page)
for Veterans in VA disability claims and has facilitated
resolution of pending lawsuits by providing mediation
and arbitration assistance. Flanagan currently serves as a
The Bridge | Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering 19You can also read
