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Crane collapses atop $1.5B NYC tower under construction: A crane on the 74th story of the $1.5 billion One57, a luxury residential tower being built in Manhattan, collapsed after it was hit by wind gusts from Hurricane Sandy, according to meteorologists. The crane's arm "flipped over the cab" and dangled alarmingly, prompting city officials to evacuate in surrounding buildings as a precautionary measure. An inspection was being undertaken by "the best of the best" of the city's engineers and inspectors, said Tony Sclafani, spokesman for the city's Buildings Department. Yahoo/The Associated Press
(10/29), The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(10/29), Reuters
(10/29), CNN
(10/30)
    
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- Floods hit coastal cities as Hurricane Sandy pummels East Coast
Hurricane Sandy, which weakened to a post-tropical cyclone when it made landfall in New Jersey late Monday, caused flooding in New York City and other coastal areas in the Northeast. At least 16 people were killed, and a 170-foot tanker was left on a Staten Island street after the storm surge in New York City receded. "It's sure shaping up to be a storm that will be historic in nature," said Louis Uccellini of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The Wall Street Journal
(10/30),  USA Today
(10/30), ABC News
(10/30)
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Corps of Engineers monitors levees, dams: The Army Corps of Engineers inspected levees and dams in Maryland and nearby states in preparation for Hurricane Sandy. "We are confident the projects will perform as designed," said Col. J. Richard Jordan, commander of the Corps of Engineers' Baltimore District. Reservoirs in the Pittsburgh area are expected to hold about a third of rainfall during the hurricane and help lessen flooding, but areas near uncontrolled streams and tributaries are at risk of flash floods, the Corps of Engineers said. WMAR-TV (Baltimore)
(10/30), Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
(10/29)
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| Trends & Technology | | |
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- Spending on heavy-engineering projects declined in August
Spending on heavy engineering construction projects dropped a seasonally adjusted 1.4% in August, following July's 0.7% drop. However, heavy engineering spending is up 9.5% from year-ago levels on a not seasonally adjusted rate, according to Reed Construction Data. Spending is forecast to increase 6.8% this year and 4.6% in 2013. Reed/ACP Construction Data
(10/29)
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- Character-based leadership requires accountability, authenticity
As a character-based leader, you realize "that leadership is not about you, but about the people you lead, and you are here to help them by serving them compassionately, and from a loving heart," writes Georgia Feiste of Collaborative Transitions Coaching. Character-based leadership involves taking responsibility and being authentic, she writes. LeadChangeGroup.com
(10/26)
- Half-measures are for losers, leader says
Real leadership stems from having absolute belief and passion in the things you do, KWL Enterprises CEO Kevin Liles says. Employees, too, should be allowed to take ownership of their spheres of activity, even if that means letting them make mistakes along the way. "It's not about having a share in something; it's about taking ownership of every single thing you do," Liles says. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(10/27)
| News from ASCE | | |
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Esteemed Utah engineer Warne shares his "Insights"
Listen as Thomas R. Warne, P.E., M.ASCE, founder of Tom Warne and Associates of South Jordan, Utah, shares insights from his 33 years of experience in civil engineering in the latest edition of Insights, ASCE's podcast series with noted leaders in the profession, produced by the Industry Leaders Council. Warne has chaired expert panels on major projects including the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, the Columbia River Crossing and many others. He talks about the most challenging project he has worked on, the most critical attributes he believes today's civil engineers need, and reminisces about the people he has been privileged to work with. Hear the podcast now, or download it to enjoy at your convenience at www.asce.org/insights.
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Cities will need to better apply computer, sensor and networking technology to help deliver a sustainable future, writes Michael Dixon of IBM. A 1,000-mile wastewater system in San Francisco, for instance, has been retrofitted with sensors as a cost-effective solution to ensure that leaks are found and fixed so that it operates in good condition. "To make cities work well, they have to be made more intelligent," Dixon notes. 
