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ASCE’s International Structure
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Promoting anti-corruption among the building community worldwide
Global Network for Professional and Technical Development
ACCEC,UPADI, WFEO
Conferences, education opportunities for the civil engineer
ASCE’s International Region
ASCE International News
Engineering in the Global Environment
The October 2008 issue of the ASCE Global Link e-newsletter
In Peru, ASCE Honors Ancient Inca
Civil Engineering Landmarks
To follow through on the 2006 designations of the Machu Picchu and Tipon archeological sites in Peru as International Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks, a Society delegation led by ASCE President-Elect Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE, recently traveled to those sites in the South American nation to present and mount bronze plaques commemorating the ASCE honors.
During ceremonies at each of those sites near Cusco, the former Incan capital, Klotz outlined the engineering and social significance of Machu Picchu and Tipon, noting that their infrastructure illustrates the advanced civil, hydraulic, and geotechnical engineering capabilities the Incan people held more than 500 years ago. Machu Picchu, both a royal estate for Incan Emperor Pachacuti and a surrounding community, was built in the Andes Mountains starting around 1450 and is considered one of the preeminent sites of Inca civilization. Due to its remoteness, the site was largely unknown to Western civilization prior to 1911, and has remained remarkably well preserved. Tipon, a self-contained, walled settlement that served as an estate for Inca nobility, is noted for displaying the Incas' mastery of irrigation and hydraulic technology.
In addition to Klotz and his wife Karen, among ASCE's delegation were History and Heritage Committee Chairman Henry Petroski, Ph.D, P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, and his wife Catherine; Ken Wright, P.E., Dist. M.ASCE, and his wife Dr. Ruth Wright; and Cliff Schexnayder, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE.
While in Lima, Klotz was awarded an honorary professorship at Ricardo Palma University. In addition, Ken and Ruth Wright were recognized for their efforts at documenting the wonders of Machu Picchu and Tipon, which they highlighted in books published by ASCE, and were made honorary professors at San Antonio Abad University, Cusco.
The Wrights' books remain available at ASCE.
For information, including how to order, click here for the Machu Picchu book, and click here for the Tipon book.
Click on each image to see a larger version.
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At the Inca Museum in Cusco, Peru, Wayne Klotz, left, ASCE president-elect, is joined by Victor Raul Aguilar, rector of the Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco, at the official presentation of ASCE's International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark plaque for Tipon. |
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At the entrance to the Machu Picchu National Archeological Park, ASCE's International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark plaque is unveiled with the help of, left to right, Ramiro Matos, former board of trustee of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian; Sergio Orderique Tejada, Machu Picchu park administrator; and Wayne Klotz, ASCE president-elect. |
Photos: C.J. Schexnayder.
ASCE President Joins Transportation
Institute's Symposium in China
Halfway around the world, Beijing was the scene as the first-ever International Symposium on Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices, sponsored by ASCE's Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI), was held April 24 to 26. Making the trip was ASCE President David Mongan, who addressed the conference on global trends in transportation and opportunities in civil engineering at the plenary session. He welcomed participants at the opening dinner, and also was featured in a panel session when he discussed transportation funding mechanisms in the United States. Click on each image to see a larger version.
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David Mongan also joined in an ASCE-T&DI delegation trip to the China Academy of Transportation Sciences (CATS).
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From left to right: Kam Movassaghi, T&DI president; Eva Lerner-Lam, T&DI past president and conference chair; Li Zuomin, CATS president; David Mongan, ASCE president; Pete Sklannik, Jr., T&DI Transportation Security Committee chairman, Juana Zhou, CATS conference manager; Jonathan Esslinger, T&DI director; and Wang Haiqing, CATS Transport Technology Exchange Center director. |
Photo credit: Jonathan Esslinger/ASCE.
Read about T&DI.
International Program Provides Idea Exchange
at the ASCE Annual Conference 2007
The International Program at the ASCE Annual Conference in Orlando brought together engineers from the U.S. and some 20 countries to hear presentations and exchange ideas on a variety of water infrastructure sustainability issues.
Supporting the main conference program and its theme “Infrastructure for All Generations: Plan -- Design -- Build -- Manage,” the International Program offered such highlights as a roundtable on partnerships for building sustainable water infrastructure; a global anti-corruption session; a sustainability symposium featuring insights on the environmental and management features of the Kansai Airport in Japan and a special adaptation of ICE's 6th Brunel International Lecture “Engineering Civilization from the Shadows”; and a panel discussion on transboundary water issues in Israel and Palestine.
Another highlight was the International Luncheon, at which Alberto Aleman Zubieta, M.ASCE, CEO of the Panama Canal Authority, delivered the keynote address on the expansion of the Panama Canal. Zubieta has worked to transform the canal into a cornerstone of the global transportation system and a model of excellence and transparency. An initial budget of $5.25 billion will go toward the construction of a third set of locks that will double the canal’s capacity. Bidding for work on the expansion began in January 2007. At right: William F. Marcuson and Alberto Aleman Zubieta at the International Luncheon |
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ASCE’s International Program started with dynamic presentations and discussion regarding activities to curb corrupt practices in the procurement and production of engineered works around the world. Tackling corruption is an important way for the world's engineering community to encourage sustainable development and help improve the welfare and quality of life for populations around the globe. Presenters for this session were M. M. Soliman, PhD, P.E., Hon.M.ASCE, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, with “Ethical Issues for Efficient and Sustainable Irrigation Water Management”; and Michael D. Jarvis, Private Sector Development, World Bank Institute, with “Private Sector Action to Fight Corruption: Lessons from Partnership Approaches.” The Global Anti-Corruption Activities session was moderated by P. Kay Whitlock, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE, Christopher B. Burke Engineering.
Once again, water infrastructure was main theme for discussion and the center of a half-day symposium on “Transboundary Water Issues in Israel and Palestine” and included guest speakers Daniel Nevo, Minister Plenipotentiary, Embassy in Amman, Jordan and Marwan Abdelhamid, Secretary General, General Union of Palestinian Engineers (U.G.I.P.). The Symposium was moderated by Joseph Dellapenna, Director EWRI/ASCE Model Water Code Project, Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law; and Kyle Schilling, President of EWRI, delivered the Rapporteur’s report summarizing the discussion.
Read the transboundary water issues presentations at:
- "Introduction to Water and Water Law in the Jordan Valley," by Joseph W. Dellapenna, Villanova University School of Law
- "Transboundary Water Issues in Israel and Palestine: Israeli/ Palestinian Reflections on the Way Forward," by Marwan Abdelhamid, Secretary General, General Union of Palestinian Engineers (U.G.I.P.)
Continuing water infrastructure and development themes, the International Roundtable provided civil engineers from around the world the opportunity to be part of an ASCE facilitated collaboration between engineers and global policy-makers. With targeted presentations, civil engineers discussed their place as leaders at the international policy development table. Abel Mejia, Water Sector Manager, The World Bank, gave a presentation on “Water Infrastructure for Sustainable Development.” ASCE outgoing President William F. Marcuson, Ph.D., P.E., Hon.M.ASCE, and ASCE President David Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE, welcomed more than 100 international and domestic guests to the roundtable, moderated by David Leverenz, Chair of ASCE’s International Activities Committee.
Read the roundtable presentations at:
- "Water Infrastructure for Sustainable Development," by A Mejia, Water Sector Manager, The World Bank
- "Building Water Infrastructure for Sustainable Development, Innovative Partnerships, Questions and answers -- a South African Perspective," by David Botha, P. E., Executive Director SA Institution of Civil Engineering
- "Building Water Infrastructure for Sustainable Development, Innovative Partnerships, Development of Flood Control Scheme in Japan," by Yumio Ishii, Dr. Eng., President, Japan Society of Civil Engineers
- "Building Water Infrastructure for Sustainable Development, Innovative Partnerships," Rapporteurs’ Report, presented by Kyle Schilling/Joseph Dellapenna
The International Program was concluded with a Sustainability Symposium with presentations ("Kansai Airport Phase II - Environmental Innovation and Management Features," Takechiho Tabata, Kansai International Airport Land Development Co., LTD (KALD); and Water Infrastructure Dimensions from ICE's 6th Brunel International Lecture “Engineering Civilization from the Shadows”, Paul Jowitt, Vice President, ICE) that described the major environmental challenges and solutions in the application of sustainability principles and practices to a large engineering project, and provided a vision of the future role of engineering in building and maintaining a sustainable world. The Symposium was moderated by Al Grant, Chair of ASCE’s Sustainable Development Technical Activities Committee.
The overall International Program was organized by the ASCE International Activities Committee and ASCE International Department, with support from the ASCE Professional Practices Department and the ASCE Environment and Water Resources Institute.