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Southeastern United States
Surveyed 1728-1821
The boundary Charles II envisioned was one of the most grandiose in history. To decree an imaginary geographic straight line, 3,000 miles long, as a boundary across an unknown continent that he didn't even own was the height of royal pomposity.
- Lexington Herald-Leader July 28, 1990
The Royal Colonial Boundary of 1665 was decreed by England's King Charles II to demarcate his American colonies. It provided a survey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River along 36 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude. The boundary now serves to divide Virginia from North Carolina and Kentucky from Tennessee.
The survey, completed in five stages, was one of the first times a surveyed line was so long that the curve of the Earth had to be taken into consideration. It drew attention both to the importance and to the difficulty of cadastral surveying (to delimit and identify property lines) and geodetic surveying (in which the form and size of the earth are considered). It demonstrated some of the first attempts to locate an exact geographical position on the ground.
The 1665 line of 36 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude was recognized as the de facto dividing line between the North and the South in the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Slavery was prohibited in new states north of this line.
For more information on civil engineering history, go to www.asce.org/history.
Istanbul, Turkey
Constructed between 532 and 537
The church of Hagia Sophia (literally Holy Wisdomin Constantinople, now Istanbul, was first dedicated in 360 by Emperor Constantius, son of the city's founder, Emperor Constantine. Hagia Sophia served as the cathedra, or bishop's seat, of the city. Originally called Megale Ekklesia (Great Church), the name Hagia Sophia came into use around 430. The first church structure was destroyed during riots in 404; the second church, built and dedicated in 415 by Emperor Theodosius II, burned down during the Nika revolt of 532, which caused vast destruction and death throughout the city.
Immediately after the riots, Emperor Justinian, who ruled from 527 - 565, ordered the church rebuilt. The new building was inaugurated on December 27, 537. Architects Anthemios of Tralles and Isidoros of Miletos most likely were influenced by the mathematical theories of Archimedes (ca. 287-212 B.C.) and Heron of Alexandria's writings on vaults and arch support (first century A.D.).
Anthemios was born in the ancient city of Tralles in Asia Minor (in the area encompassed by modern Turkey) and probably studied in Alexandria, speaking Greek. An experimental scientist and theoretician, he easily assumed mastery over the technical aspects of architecture. Isidoros was born in Miletus (in the area encompassed by modern Turkey) and presumably received his education in Constantinople. An architect, engineer, and scholar, he probably worked as an architect-engineer with Anthemios assuming the role of senior partner. Although the two probably worked on several projects together, their only certain conglomeration occurred with the Hagia Sophia. They designed and built the major monument of Byzantine architecture.
The vast, airy central basilica, with its technically complex system of vaults and semi-domes, culminates in a high central dome with a diameter of over 101 feet (31 meters) and a height of 160 feet (48.5 meters). Its weight is carried by four great arches, which rest on a series of tympana and semi-domes, which in turn rest on smaller semi-domes and arcades. This complicated structural system was prone to problems: the first dome collapsed in 558, to be rebuilt in 562 to a greater height. Earthquakes and earth subsidence have also taken their toll on the building over the centuries. However, the surviving main structure is essentially that which was first built between 532 and 537.
The Hagia Sophia is a major monument of Byzantine architecture. All the traditional churches of the Byzantine, Slavic, Orthodox worlds, built over the past 1400 years descend in some form or other from this original design.
Resources
Mainstone, R.J. Hagia Sophia: Architecture, Structure, and Liturgy of Justinian's Great Church, thames and Hudson, 1997.
Mark, Robert and Ahmet Ş Çakmak (eds). Hagia Sophia from the Age of Justinian to the Present, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
Placzek, Adolf K. Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects. Vol. 1 & 2, London: The Free Press, 1982. p. 84-87, p. 467-468.
For more information on civil engineering history, go to www.asce.org/history.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Constructed 1882-1883
What beauty. What artistry. What flowing curvature carved into the lofty arches from inanimate materials brought to life by craftsmanship.
- Bob Wiedrich Chicago Tribune, April 30, 1975
The Stone Arch Bridge of the Burlington Northern Railroad is believed to be the oldest mainline railroad bridge over the Mississippi. It is acknowledged to be one of the finest stone viaducts in the world, due to its massive masonry, lofty arches, and graceful curvature.
The bridge was designed as a double-track structure, 2,100 feet long, 76 feet high, and includes 23 circular stone arch spans. The project required 100,000 tons of stone and 49,000 cubic yards of masonry.
In 1994, this landmark structure was preserved, architecturally rehabilitated, and converted into a pedestrian and bicycle trail. Today it connects downtown Minneapolis with the University of Minnesota.
For more information on civil engineering history, go to www.asce.org/history.
MSA Professional Services served as a single source for all design work on the 519 E. Green project in Champaign, Illinois. As a multidisciplinary firm, MSA was able to complete all the elements of the project, including architectural design, structural design, MEP design, civil engineering, environmental analysis and surveying.
Travaux de voirie avenue de la Liberté en vue de la réalisation d'une portion du tramway de Luxembourg-Ville.
Pays : Luxembourg🇱🇺
Ville : Luxembourg Ville
Quartier : Gare
Adresse : avenue de la Liberté
Génie civil : Karp-Kneip / Sopinor
Associate Professor Karan Venayagamoorthy celebrates the opening of the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Colorado State University. September 22, 2016
The bridge crosses the Corinth Canal at its eastern end. It's like a drawbridge, but instead of going up to let ships pass, it goes down, going for a dunk to the bottom of the channel while the vessel passes above.
Associate Professor Karan Venayagamoorthy celebrates the opening of the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Colorado State University. September 22, 2016
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Constructed 1926-1929
The quantities of materials used in the building are staggering: 12,000 tons of structural steel; 42,000 cubic yards of concrete - consisting of 65,000 barrels of cement and 25,000 tons of sand; 360,000 feet of piling; and 10,000,000 bricks.
At the time of its construction, Atlantic City Municipal Convention Hall was believed to be the world's largest hall, capable of seating 40,000 people. It continues to serve as a meeting place for shows, pageants, sporting events, and conventions.
It is a structure of heroic proportions. The roof of the main hall, which is 488 feet long by 288 feet wide with a ceiling height of 137 feet, is supported by three of the largest three-hinged truss arches ever built in a permanent structure. Although arches were routinely used in the construction of armories, those in the Convention Hall, with a 350-foot clear span, were about 130 feet longer than typically in use at the time.
The original structure has required virtually no modification aside from air conditioning, and remains a vital part of Atlantic City's visitor services.
Facts
- The Convention Hall holds 40,000 people and has a 4-acre roof. It wasn't until major advancements in construction materials that larger roof structures could be built. The Houston Astrodome (built in 1965) holds 66,000 people with a 7.5-acre roof; the Superdome in New Orleans (1975) holds 97,300 people with a 9-acre roof; and the Pontiac Silverdome (1975) holds 80,600 people and has a 10-acre roof.
- The Convention Hall was built at a cost of $15 million.
- The quantities of materials used in the building are staggering: 12,000 tons of structural steel, 42,000 cubic yards of concrete, consisting of 65,000 barrels of cement and 25,000 tons of sand, 360,000 feet of piling, and 10,000,000 bricks.
- Over 365,000 cubic yards of sand were excavated for the basement.
For more information on civil engineering history, go to www.asce.org/history.
In a special summer UrbanPlan Scholars program, four teams presented their proposals for a six-acre parcel next to UH West Oahu. They had to address zoning requirements, affordable housing/workforce housing, rail/transit issues, agriculture, and energy.
UrbanPlan is a global competition run by the international Urban Land Institute. Hawaii schools have taken top honors in the global competition two years in a row, including Iolani School last month, and Iolani and Kalani two years ago.
Teams were made up of local high school students from Iolani, Kalani, LeJardin, MidPac, Punahou, and St. Andrews.
They conducted outreach to stakeholders and residents in West Oahu and found affordable housing to be the number one community need.
Ideas ranged from rooftop greenhouses and beekeeping to fully solar-powered facilities to integrating UHWO student and campus life.
Judges included Bob Harrison (FHB), Duff Janus (ASB), Brennon Morioka (UH), Mike Gabbard (Senate), Jim Houchens (Mitre), and Alana Kobayashi.
Bernice Glenn Bowers helped them plan for future high-tech industry in the area, doubled the size of the cash prize to $1,500.