Eastern Branch

Coastal Branch
Neuse River Bridge
Eastern Branch
RBC Plaza
Northern Branch
Bunker Hill Bridge
Southern Branch
Bank of America Stadium
Western Branch
Linn Cove Viaduct
NC Section History

About Us

Welcome to the ASCE, North Carolina Section Eastern Branch website. Your Eastern Branch has many opportunities for you to get involved with ASCE in addition to participation in our regularly scheduled lunch meetings, held the 3rd Thursday of each month (except June, August, and December). All upcoming events will be posted below. Please visit the calendar to view event dates through 2013. You can also follow us on Twitter: @ASCENCEast.

Tweets by @ASCENCEast
	How to Follow ASCE NC Eastern Section on Twitter
	You can receive a live stream of updates from ASCE National and our Eastern Branch via Twitter right to your desktop or mobile device, for free.
	First, sign up for a free account at Twitter.com
	Second, download a free app for your Mac, PC, Android Phone, or iOS Device: - Windows: TweetDeck for PC - Mac: Twitter for Mac - Android: Twitter for Android - iPhone/iPad: Twitter for iOS
	Third, follow us! @ASCENCEast
	Fourth, use your new Twitter app to follow other ASCE organizations, such as: @ASCETweets: ASCE Headquarters @ASCEGovRel: ASCE Gov't Relations @ASCEJobs: ASCE Job Announcements @GeoInstitute: GeoInstitute of ASCE

Monthly Branch Luncheon Announcement

You are invited to the next
American Society of Civil Engineers
North Carolina Section
Eastern Branch
Luncheon

Speaker: Beth Howey of HDR Engineering, Inc.	Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013
Topic: Bonner Bridge - History and Replacement Structure Foundation Design Aspects	Time: 12:00pm to about 1:30pm
Summary: The replacement of the 50-year-old Bonner Bridge has been studied for over 20 years and this presentation will provide a brief glimpse of the history of the bridge as well as some of the foundation design aspects the Design Build team has tackled in working on the replacement structure. Beth Howey is a graduate of NCSU with a BS degree in Geology and a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering. She worked for NCDOT from 1983 thru 1996 in both the Geotechnical Unit and Soils and Foundations group. Since 1997 she has worked for consultants doing primarily NCDOT work. Beth has been with HDR Engineering since the beginning of 2011. She has been working on the Bonner Bridge replacement project for the past several years from the Design-Build pursuit phase to the current final designs and test pile program. Beth is a licensed geologist in NC and a licensed professional engineer in NC and SC.

Location

We hold our monthly luncheons at the beautiful NC State University Club at 4200 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27606. You can contact the NC University Club at (919) 828-0308 if you need assistance locating their establishment.

Costs

The luncheon rates are $25 for ASCE Members ($24.99 when registering online), $30 for Non-ASCE Members, and $10* for ASCE Life Members, Students, and Unemployed ASCE Members. If you are paying at the door, please bring cash or a check made out to "ASCE NC Eastern Branch".

* On February 14, 2013, The Eastern Branch's Board of Directors ratified this revised rate which becomes effective for the March, 2013 luncheon.

RSVP Online

You can register and pay for the event online using your credit card. There are no additional fees, and no accounts or magic passwords needed either. You can follow this registration link to register. You will be able to specify your meal preference during registration. Upon arrival at the luncheon, just check-in at the registration table using your name. Online registration and payment ends 48 hours prior to luncheon, but you can still email Bahi and pay at the door.

Policy

We understand your schedule may change and you might not be able to make it to the event. Cancellations with refunds can be honored up until 48 hours before the event starts. If you are neither able to attend nor cancel in time, you may send a replacement. To help Professional Engineers in attendance acquire 15 Professional Development Hour (PDH) units per license renewal period in accordance with 21 NCAC 56.1703, we offer one PDH certificate after the presentation.

RSVP by Email

If you do not wish to register and pay online, you still have the option to register manually and pay at the door. RSVP by sending an email to Mahalingam "Bahi" Bahiradhan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by noon 48 hours prior to the luncheon if you want to save yourself a seat. Please specify your meal preference (Standard or Vegetarian) in your email reservation.

Upcoming Events

You can view this calendar in your web browser: ASCE NC Eastern Branch Calendar.html. Better yet, you can subscribe to the live-updating ASCE North Carolina Eastern Branch public calendar in your desktop or mobile calendar application of choice. Select the option that best matches your needs:

Subscribe using Outlook 2007/2010

Click ASCE NC Eastern Branch Calendar.ics
At the prompt, Add this Internet Calendar to Outlook and subscribe to updates, click Yes.
Subscriptions can be added, changed, or removed by going to Tools->Account Settings->Internet Calendars.
For versions before Outlook 2007, you will only get a non-updating snapshot of the event calendar.

Subscribe using iPhone

Tap and hold on ASCE NC Eastern Branch Calendar.ics and copy the web address to the clipboard
Go to Settings-> Mail,Contacts,Calendars
Tap "Add Account"
Tap "Other".
Tap "Add Subscribed Calendar"
Paste the web address in the field and tap "Next" to complete.

Subscribe using Android

Tap and hold on ASCE NC Eastern Branch Calendar.ics and copy the web address to the clipboard
Go to your GMail/Google Apps account and view list of calendars on left.
At the bottom right of that list is the word "Add"
Select "Add", then "Add by URL" and paste the link.

Announcements

• ASCE's 2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure

Every four years, ASCE grades the performance and condition of America's infrastructure. ASCE’s 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure is available now on the web and in a new digital format for Android tablets and smartphones, Apple's iPod Touch, iPhone, and a version optimized for Apple's iPad. The app comes complete with the grades, ASCE’s vision for infrastructure, and more content than ever before with 16 infrastructure categories, over 100 infrastructure success stories, and infographics on every state. In this new app, the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure puts the most comprehensive and clear reference available on America’s infrastructure right into your pocket. ASCE Infrastructure Report Card Bringing you expert advice in videos and interactive content, this app truly shows how America’s infrastructure and your state’s infrastructure are doing and what needs attention. Share ideas for action and your thoughts along with any part of the app with friends, coworkers or professional groups, local leaders, or even your member of Congress. Visit http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org to review the grades. Also, you can review the North Carolina-specific report card from 2009 at http://www.ascenc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=73. The North Carolina-specific report card for 2013 should be available in late May, 2013.

• 2012 ASCE CYM Employer Recognition

As a means of fostering individual Younger Member participation in Society activities, the ASCE Committee on Younger Members (CYM) developed a program to help Sections and CH2M Hill Award Acceptance Kristin and Kevin Branches recognize those employers who encourage their young engineers to get involved in ASCE activities. Special recognition goes to those organizations that exhibit exemplary support evidenced by efforts such as by providing a model for involvement through company wide participation in local, regional and national ASCE activities, encouraging and supporting Younger Members to attend ASCE meetings and seminars, encouraging Younger Members to prepare articles for publication in ASCE professional and technical journals, and assisting in the payment of local and national dues. We would like to congratulate CH2M Hill on winning the 2012 ASCE CYM Employer Recognition Award for exemplary support of young engineer involvement in ASCE activities. Kristin Brickman accepted the award on behalf of CH2M Hill at our April, 2013 luncheon.

• Solicitation for Local Project Photos

The Eastern Branch is soliciting for local project photos with a brief description from any member who wishes to share their accomplishment with the Branch and public. If you have a high-quality digital photo of a project upon which you or your company worked, please send it along with a brief project description to the Web Director, Luke Montoya ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). As opportunities arise and when appropriate, we may use your project photo in future emails and/or on our website with attribution to you or your company. This is not a one-time competition but an ongoing effort to share each other's achievements, so feel free to submit anytime.

The 2012 - 2013 Officers

Kevin Nadeau	President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Gary Taylor	Past President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Janelle Griffin	President Elect This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bahi Bahiradhan	Secretary/Treasurer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Chris Keelor	Branch Representative This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
David Skurky	Branch Representative This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jeff Chang	Younger Members President This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Matt McCaul	NCSU Practitioner Advisor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tommy Evans	Government Liaison This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Drew Woerheide	Duke Practitioner Advisor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Luke Montoya	Eastern Branch Web Director This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Previous Presentations

Speaker: Mr. Wade Kirby	Date: January 17, 2013
Topic: Engineering Challenges in a War Torn Country	Download: Presentation
Summary: Wade Kirby is a licensed Professional Engineer and Geologist in North Carolina. He earned his Masters degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech, a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M, and a Bachelors degree in Geology from North Carolina State University. He recently completed a one year contract with the United States Marine Corps in Afghanistan through L-3 Communications. Prior to his work in Afghanistan, Wade worked for several large consultant firms as well as the NCDOT, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the City of Wilmington.

Speaker: Nico Sutmoller, Insulfoam Geofoam Specialist	Date: February 21, 2013
Topic: Geofoam - A Lightweight Fill Alternative	Download: Presentation
Summary: Mr. Sutmoller spoke about the utilization of Geofoam as a light weight fill alternative. EPS Geofoam is a large block, rigid foam plastic material that has typical densities between 12-46 kg/m³ (0.7-2.85 ft³) making it up to 100 times lighter than soil. It is one of the only truly engineered fill materials that has predictable, consistent physical properties. He also spoke about the manufacturing process of EPS, the history of Geofoam, recent trends, some design considerations, specifications, and installation considerations.

Speaker: Mr. James Rispoli	Date: March 21, 2013
Topic: Practical Lessons Learned For Engineers Managing Projects	Download: Presentation
Summary: Mr. Rispoli is a professional engineer and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer. He provides expert engineering management services to clients engaged in project and construction management. He is currently a Director at Large for ASCE, a Senior Executive Advisor at PT&C Inc., and a Professor of Practice at NCSU's Center for Nuclear Energy Facilities and Structures. He presented several projects and discussed their potential and actual pitfalls. He also presented ways to anticipate, avoid, or mitigate potentially adverse outcomes. He showed how to mitigate risk in the planning and the execution phases, and discussed his view of essential approaches to optimize outcomes.

Speaker: Dr. Reza Jafari	Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013
Topic: Roundabouts vs. Signalized and Unsignalized Intersections: Safety and Operation Concerns	Download: Presentation, MP4 \| AVI
Summary: Mr. Jafari discussed the advantages and disadvantages of roundabout design versus signalized and unsignalized intersections. Traffic and transportation engineers are responsible for safety and ease of travel for all modes of transportation including pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist. He reviewed the overall delay, back of queue, and other measures of a roundabout’s effectiveness by discussing case studies in North Carolina.

Sponsors

Conner Gwyn Schenck

Conner Gwyn Schenck PLLC is a law firm concentrating on construction law and the construction industry. Their practice includes construction contract law, contract dispute litigation and arbitration, surety and construction bond litigation, occupational licensing, health and environmental regulatory compliance, and alternative dispute resolution.

Falcon Engineering

Falcon Engineering was founded on a new and innovative way to approach and manage the quality and overall delivery of construction projects in both horizontal and vertical environments – from roads and bridges to industrial facilities and high-rise buildings. Falcon provides a broad range of engineering, inspection, testing, and construction management services under one roof.

FDH

FDH is a multi-disciplinary company that provides a combination of engineering (Civil, Geotechnical, and Structural), investigation (non-destructive and materials testing), energy services, and construction management services. The cohesive efforts of FDH’s practice areas and an ability to work seamlessly together on turnkey projects continues to enhance the firm’s reputable national and global presence in the commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and telecommunication sectors.

MBP

MBP is a multi-disciplined construction consulting firm. They assist clients with a broad range of professional services to help them manage their construction project or program from initial budget, through design and construction, to successful project closeout. MBP offers construction and program management, commissioning and retro-commissioning, dispute resolution, LEED consulting, facilities portfolio management, and training to the Education, Transportation, Healthcare, Government, Water/Wastewater, Commercial, Power & Energy sectors.

Ramey Kemp & Associates

Ramey Kemp & Associates, Inc. has been providing transportation engineering services in the public and private sectors for 20 years. They provide a wide range of transportation engineering services to major commercial, institutional, and governmental clients throughout the Southeastern United States. Combining a wealth of experience and multi-disciplinary capabilities, Ramey Kemp & Associates specializes in traffic impact studies, traffic signal design, roadway design, traffic control/pavement marking plans, and environmental studies.

Road Safety & Transportation Solutions

RSTS, Inc. is a safety and transportation consulting firm, known for its experienced consultants, innovative safety ideas and transportation solutions. RSTS is committed to playing an active and vital role in improving the quality of life for the citizens of North Carolina and the nation. The RSTS team is known for its leadership and is involved in providing transportation safety solutions in the areas of pedestrian safety, crash analysis, intersection safety and design, rail and highway safety, and planning and operational solutions.

Simpson Engineers & Associates

Established in January, 2004, and located in Cary, North Carolina, Simpson Engineers & Associates provides transportation structure design, in-service bridge inspections, environmental and planning services, construction inspections, and NCDOT rail division project management. They a minority business enterprise offering civil engineering services for both public and private entities.

Summit

Summit is a multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting services group with a branch office in Raleigh, North Carolina. They offer Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering, Subsurface Drilling, Construction Materials Testing, Chapter 17 Special Inspections, Advanced AASHTO, ACI, AMRL, CCRL and NCDOT Laboratory Testing, Retaining Wall Design, Structural and Forensic Inspections, Site and Civil Engineering Design, and Licensed Land Surveying through their family of companies.

Terracon

Terracon is a dynamic and growing employee-owned firm of consulting engineers and scientists providing geotechnical, environmental, construction materials, and facilities services to clients at local, regional, and national levels. With more than 2,700 employees and more than 130 offices nationwide, Terracon has the resources of a large firm with the atmosphere of a small one.