2011 ASCE Student Chapter Officers’ Caucus Fall Kickoff Meeting

by Shallan Fitzgerald, PE, Project Engineer, Dewberry Inc., BSCES Younger Member Group Chair

 

On October 18th, members of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (BSCES) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) invited ASCE Student Chapter officers and their advisors from local colleges and universities to attend the annual Officers’ Caucus Fall Kickoff Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is two-fold: to inform the student officers of upcoming ASCE and BSCES events, activities, and competitions; and also to introduce students to resources and professional connections, through BSCES in particular.

 

This year’s meeting saw the attendance of student officers from three area colleges and universities (Merrimack College, Northeastern University, and Wentworth Institute of Technology), and several more professionals. Through the BSCES Younger Member Group (YMG), each university is assigned a College Liaison. The role of the liaison is to help keep their respective college/university up to date with any BSCES/ASCE events or deadlines which may be relevant to their chapter members. These liaisons are also encouraged to work with their respective chapters to establish open lines of communication and facilitate student access to BSCES/ASCE resources.

 

The 2011 Fall Kickoff Meeting included a brief explanation of some of upcoming events and activities that students could take part in, through the BSCES by Stephen Rusteika, Current BSCES president. Next, David Westerling, PE, PLS, a past BSCES president and ASCE Region 1 governor, addressed the group with some of his experiences of involvement in, and opportunities afforded through, BSCES and ASCE as a whole. Brent Bass followed with a short overview of BSCES Student Night and solicitation of a host school for next year’s event.

 

For the presentation portion of the evening, BSCES was grateful to have Jack Moran, PE, and Andy Paul, from Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) attend and speak to the students and professionals on a recent high-profile major construction project. The Fast 14, I-93 Medford Corridor Bridge Superstructure Replacement Project sought to apply unconventional approaches to bridge rehabilitation after holes opened up in bridges last summer along the crucial I-93 corridor just north of Boston. It was clear that the superstructure, the concrete decking and steel beams, of the aging bridges was failing and had to be replaced. Unfortunately, with conventional techniques, closing lanes to replace the 14 structurally-deficient bridges on this primary commuter artery would have likely tied up Boston-area traffic for four years. The MassDOT design-build team proposed to cut the four years down to 14 weeks by prefabricating the superstructure pieces off-site then quickly fitting them into position. Jack and Andy gave rare insights into the day-to-day responsibilities of two young engineers entrenched in the ambitious undertaking.

 

In light of the lengthy Q&A discussion that followed, by students and professionals alike, the event was deemed a success. Attendees left the gathering with new information, contacts, and excitement for the promising year ahead.