Department News
Current and Past News
CEE’s concrete canoe team brings home regional title
posted May 6, 2008
Photo by Peter Mackenzie
For the third year in a row, after winning the Northwest regional competition on April 26, the University of Washington’s Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Concrete Canoe Team will represent the department, the university and the entire Northwest at the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) National Concrete Canoe Competition in Montreal, Canada on June 19-21, 2008.
Work on this year’s UW canoe started during Autumn quarter, when CEE students developed a lightweight, high-strength concrete mix and high-performance composite structure in one of their senior-level classes. Several steps, including analysis, design, testing and construction then followed.
In total, it took more than seven months to create CEE’s winning canoe, which is dubbed “LIFE,” after the four columns recently preserved and placed in the Sylvan Grove Theater. LIFE is an acronym for “loyalty,” “industry,” “faith” and “efficiency.”
“It was great to see how many enthusiastic people were willing to help out on this project,” said senior Candice Au-Yeung, one of the team’s co-captains. Ryan Mak serves as the other co-captain.
This year’s team, which includes a core of 20 active members and many more helping hands along the way, opted to train with fiberglass boats instead of risking damage to their concrete version. Their tactic worked – and the team won the regional competition by a single point over Gonzaga and 1.5 points over the University of Idaho.
Along with the results of five separate races (men’s and women’s slalom and sprint, as well as a co-ed sprint) the teams are also judged on their specific presentations and the boats’ design and construction. Consistency in all of those four disciplines was what identified the champion.
UW’s team faculty mentors are Profs. Donald J. Janssen and Peter Mackenzie, and its lab technicians are Yiming Liu and Vongsant (Vince) Chaijaroen. Sponsors for the regional competition were Otto Rosenau and Associates Inc., Harris Rebar, Seattle Inc., Golder Associates Inc., Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel, American Engineering Corp., David Evans and Associates Inc., ACC Hurlen Construction, The Boeing Company, Concrete Technology Corp., D.R. Strong Consulting Engineers Inc., Structural Engineers Association of Washington, Geoengineers, Magnusson Klemencic Associates and HDR. Material donors included Lehigh White Cement and Fiberlay.
Pictures from the Northwest regional competition are available here.
This year’s team is currently raising funds for its trip to the National Competition in Montreal, Canada. To make a contribution, please contact Megan K. Kagel at mkkagel@u.washington.edu or (206) 685-1378.
CEE alum elected to the EWRI governing board
posted March 18, 2008
Mark Killgore, an alum of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Washington, was recently elected to the Environmental and Water Resources Institute's (EWRI) governing board.
Members of the EWRI's Institute Operations Executive Committee recently elected Killgore, P.E., D. WRE, M.ASCE, to the EWRI board, and the board subsequently endorsed his election. The EWRI, a specialty organization of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serves 24,000 environmental and water resources engineers and scientists.
Killgore - who will serve on the EWRI board until Sept. 30, 2010 - has spent the last 10 years of his career with the Louis Berger Group, where he is a principal water resources engineer and manages the firm's Bellevue office. Killgore graduated with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington in 1984.
Killgore has been very active in EWRI and the Water Resources Planning and Management Division since 1987, and was local chair of the division's 1993 conference in Seattle. He is a past president of the Seattle section of the ASCE, and chaired the section's Water Resources and Environmental Technical Group. He also serves on the ASCE University Advisory Committee.
ASCE Robert D. Holtz Endowed Fellowship
posted February 6th, 2008
The University of Washington's Department of Civil Engineering is pleased to announce the establishment of the Geotechnical Group of the Seattle Section of the ASCE Robert D. Holtz Endowed Fellowship. The fellowship honors Professor Holtz for his accomplishments and contributions to the industry and his commitment to the Seattle
Geotechnical Group over the past 20 years. The ASCE Geotechnical Group, along with support from the local geotechnical community, created this endowment to support graduate student education and research in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Washington. We are proud to have the support of such an active and energetic community and thank the Geotechnical Group of the Seattle Section of the ASCE for their tireless efforts to establish this important endowment.
List of Donors
$5,000 and above: ASCE Geotechnical Group |
$2,000 to $5,000: Golder Associates Inc. |
Other: Anchor Environmental LLC |
Other: Continued |
Remembering Professor Emeritus Joe Colcord
posted October 26, 2007
Professor Emeritus Josiah "Joe" Colcord (6/15/1922 - 10/21/2007)
CEE lost an esteemed colleague and friend on October 21 when Professor Emeritus Joe Colcord passed away at age 85. He served on the faculty from 1949 to 1990, and is especially remembered for his enjoyment of and dedication to teaching and for his commitment to the profession. An active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, he was instrumental in gaining official recognition for local and nationwide civil engineering sites. In retirement he also taught a course (gratis) titled "The Heritage of Civil Engineering." Joe knew it was important to impart to the younger generations the rich history and heritage of engineering.
As a 2nd Lieutenant of the 75th Infantry Division during World War II, Joe landed in France on December 12, 1944 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and elsewhere in Europe. He was wounded in his first battle on Christmas Eve and was awarded a Purple Heart. He rejoined his unit on January 9 and was awarded both the Silver Star, and the Military Cross (Great Britain - General Montgomery had taken command during the Battle of the Bulge) for gallantry in action on January 18, 1945. Joe mentioned to a colleague in summer 2006 that he considered every day he lived since December 24, 1944 to be a bonus.
Joe documented the experiences of his company (Company C. 290th Infantry, U.S. 75th Division) in 2003. This is available here.
He is survived his wife of nearly 60 years, Hazel, and daughter, Kathy Colcord-Moen and son-in-law George Moen.
Please view his obituary here.
Collapsing Structures to Be Tested in Revamped UW Engineering Lab
posted September 19, 2007
CEE's Structural Research Laboratory will be undergoing renovation to allow for structural collapse tests to be carried out there. Click here to find out more.
To Build is Human to Grout Divine - CEE's Professor Stanton Makes the News
posted September 19, 2007
Click here to see the video clip.
CEE is Awarded NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant
posted August 14, 2007
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington has been awarded a Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant by the National Science foundation to enhance and transform the current laboratory equipment to simulate progressive collapse of structural systems. Engineering for extreme hazards presents several challenges to engineers, most importantly preventing loss of life caused by structural collapse.
However, engineering models for design and analysis of structural and geotechnical systems are lacking, primarily a result of limitations of the experimental testing equipment upon which engineering models are based or validated. The award will permit the acquisition of equipment to meet this critical testing need, because the risk of progressive collapse is more prominent today than it has been historically. The equipment includes enhancement of the large testing machine (2.4 million pound capacity) to enable the application of large vertical loads to simulate demands resulting from collapse of part of a structure.
In addition, instrumentation including laser-based and photogrammetic systems that use targets placed on the test specimens will permit the researchers to fully monitor the response of the specimens through collapse. The proposed equipment will enhance the research and learning environments, improve and expand the research capabilities of the structural and geotechnical engineering groups within the UW Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and intensify the links to local and national funding agencies, research partners, and practicing engineers. The equipment will enhance classroom and laboratory learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, the award-winning role of the structural research laboratory in community outreach will continue and broaden with this acquisition. For additional information please contact Assistant Professor Dawn Lehman, director of the Structural Research Laboratory, at delehman@u.washington.edu.
Craig Benson Appointed as Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering
posted August 14, 2007
On July 26, 2007 it was announced that Craig Benson, Professor of
Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin, will be joining
us as Chair of CEE.
Professor Benson’s appointment will officially begin on July 1, 2008. He
will serve the next 11 months as Chair Designate. Tim Larson has agreed
to serve as Acting Chair during this transition period.
CEE Student Receives David Bonderman International Travel Fellowship
posted August 14, 2007
Mario Perez, a master's student pursuing an informal concurrent degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering (focusing on Water Resources) and a master's degree in Public Administration through the Evans School of Public Affairs, has been awarded the David Bonderman International Travel Fellowship (DBITF) for this upcoming year. Each Fellowship carries a $20,000 award to be used only for extended international travel. Fellows may not conduct research, pursue an academic project, or participate in a formal program or organization.
Mario will begin his travel in September 2007 and will be traveling for a total of 10 months. He will be visiting the following countries: Japan, Thailand, China, India, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cyprus, Israel, Turkey, Bosnia, Turkmenistan, Mexico, and the Czech Republic.
Mario states: "I am embarking on this Journey to pursue a particular interest of mine: to experience the life styles of different cultures around the world. I am interested in experiencing the effect that religion, culture, topography, economic status, and education have on a subset of individuals. In addition, as a Master’s candidate in Water Resources in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the UW, I plan to explore the water-management issues in different countries around the world. I am sure I will learn a great deal from this experience."
Mario's Blog: http://mariotravelblog.blogspot.com/
For more information about the David Bonderman International Travel Fellowship click here.
2007 Department Graduation Brunch
posted July 17, 2007
On June 9, 2007, over 500 family and friends gathered at the UW Club (formerly known as the "Faculty Club") to honor the Department's graduates. Photos from the event are located here.
2007 College of Engineering Open House
posted May 24, 2007
On April 27-28, 2007, the general public had the opportunity to explore the future of engineering and science, and how it continues to make a difference in life today and beyond. The College of Engineering Open House was a great experience for everyone: teachers, kids, students, alumni, prospective college transfers, friends and family with emphasis on students in grades 4-12. They enjoyed departmental exhibits, hands-on activities, student and faculty presentations and much more -- it was a fun and interactive way to explore their options in engineering and science at the University of Washington.
Click here to view photos from the event.
2007 Daniel L. and Irma Evans Lecture
posted April 9, 2007
The Honorable William K. Reilly graced us with his presence as the guest speaker for this year's Daniel L. and Irma Evans Lecture held in Kane Hall on April 5th.
Mr. Reilly is the Senior Advisor to TPG, Founding Partner of Aqua International Partners, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1989-93), President of the World Wildlife Fund (1985-89), President of the Conservation Foundation (1973-89), Director of the Rockefeller Task Force on Land Use and Urban Growth (1972-73), Head of US Delegation to United Nations Earth SUmmit at Rio (1992).
The Evans Lectureship provides opportunities to expose students and practitioners of engineering to the concepts, challenges, concerns and methods of the major disciplines with which they will be expected to interact in their careers, and to deepen their understanding of engineering. Dan, Roger and Robert Evans established the Daniel L. and Irma Evans Endowment in 1983 to memorialize and honor the human and broad societal outlook of their parents.
The title of Mr. Reilly's talk was ""The Water Age" . A podcast will be posted here soon.