Events, College of Engineering

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Browsing Events, College of Engineering by Author "Virginia Tech. Civil & Environmental Engineering"

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    Technology Advances in the GeoFoundation World: Or, Better Late than Never!
    Rasband, Alan (Virginia Tech. University Libraries, 2016-10-17)
    The civil construction world has been slow to evolve over the past century, in large part due to slow equipment and materials development particularly in the foundation construction world. More recently, we have moved away from every project being founded on local timber piles or other readily available material that can be driven into the ground. We have come a long way. This presentation will explore the genesis of the geofoundation industry and its evolution to the point where we can install foundation elements with diameters and depths that have never been seen before. We will also share the advancements in innovative earth retention technologies allowing us to extend excavations to depths that were never contemplated. Further, we will explore the latest options, methods and technologies of ground improvement that dramatically improve what Mother Nature gave us, facilitating construction where nothing could have been attempted in years past. Although the past is exciting in retrospect, the key is the future opportunities and advantages that are available for engineers, construction managers, operating engineers or laborers joining the specialized world of our geofoundation industry that is unique and different every day. Schnabel Engineering is pleased to bring you Mr. Rasband as our 11th lecturer of this series. Al Rasband spent 15 years as a general contractor and the past 27 years in the foundation drilling construction arena. He is the President and Chief Operating Officer for Malcolm Drilling Company, Inc. (MDCI) based out of Malcolm’s Corporate Office in San Francisco, CA. Malcolm is the 2nd largest foundation drilling, earth retention, ground improvement and slurry wall companies in the United States. Al recently completed his term as President of the International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC).
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    Underground Engineering: Opportunities, Challenges and Innovation
    Mazzalai, Paolo (Virginia Tech. University Libraries, 2017-10-30)
    UNDERGROUND ENGINEERING: Opportunities, Challenges and Innovation. Complexity, sustainability, safety, security, versatility, creativity, and innovation are essential themes driving engineering science today. The world is changing rapidly and although the content and methods of engineering are evolving with it, an engineer's professional mission remains the same: to solve problems and make decisions. The application of new software such as BIM, Digital Project and Advanced TBM is shaping the landscape of underground design and construction, particularly for mass transportation and water conveyance. This lecture will demonstrate the successful use of technology to improve project design and management via project examples from around the globe. A particular focus will be Italy, which presents unique geographic and geologic challenges for the development of sophisticated underground infrastructures. Underground works will remain a massive market all over the world for at least the next two decades, and the bright light at the end of every tunnel will be the new and exciting opportunities these projects present for engineers across multiple disciplines and locations. About Paolo Mazzalai, P.E. A native of Italy, Mr. Mazzalai earned a Master of Science degree in civil engineering in 1973 from Padua University, where he has taught as an associate professor for many years. The field has been his laboratory on advanced engineering projects: the dam of Valda in the 1980s, the road tunnel of Martignano in the 1990s, and into the 21st century with record-setting infrastructure such as the Brenner Base railway tunnel connecting Italy and Austria through the Alps. An international planner of major infrastructure projects in transport and water, Mr. Mazzalai is the author of over 100 scientific papers and a member of several scientific and entrepreneurial professional associations. He joins Alan Rasband, Kord J. Wissmann, Karen Durham-Aguilera, Edward J. Cording, Donald A. Bruce, Jerry A. DiMaggio, S. Scot Litke, James Morrison, Douglas Boyer, Don Deere, and Ray Martin in the pantheon of Schnabel Lecture Series speakers.