Design of Horizontal Curves for Roadways
The geometric design of roadways is the part of highway engineering that is concerned with how the physical elements are positioned, dependent on standards and constraints. The main objectives are to optimize safety and efficiency while also minimizing environmental damage and costs. Engineers aim to design roadways to provide access to business, schools, residences, accommodate […]
Florida Fires near Naples
The Damage Last week in Collier County, a brush fire began which has so far destroyed almost 9 acres, 12 homes, and 33 outbuildings. The brush fire – now called the 36th Avenue Southeast Fire – began on May 13th in Golden Gate Estates near Alligator Alley, separating into six brush fires at one point […]
How Investigators Find the Origin of a Fire
There are many tools and observations that forensic fire investigators use to determine the origin and cause of a fire. Before the early 1980’s, theories rather than scientific methods were used to determine the cause. This was mostly due to a lack of technology that we now have which can help narrow down specific details. […]
What Happens When Lightning Strikes
Lightning is a fascinating natural phenomenon that keeps regular people and scientists asking questions. While there are still aspects of lightning that remain a mystery to experts, we know a lot about why lightning occurs and what happens when it strikes. How Lightning Strikes Lightning strikes when a large amount of electrical potential energy forms […]
How to Fix a Bad Foundation
The most important structural component of your house is the foundation, and it’s easy to overlook since it’s buried in the ground. The foundation keeps the structural integrity of the home intact by distributing the weight of the house and walls evenly to the ground. Cracks can be easily missed if they’re hidden behind furniture, […]
How Movable Bridges Work
There are many different variations of a movable bridge, but they all have the same purpose; designed to move out of the way to allow the passage of boats or barges. Movable bridges obviously bring to mind “drawbridges”, however, there are other variations of movable bridges beyond just the drawbridge. In the U.S., certain regulations […]
How Concrete Dams are Constructed
A concrete dam is built in four shapes; gravity dam, concrete buttress dam, arch dam, and the arch-gravity dam. The gravity, buttress, and arch-gravity dams use their weight as strength to counteract water pressure by pushing downward. The arch dam uses the concrete as its strength by being weighed down from the pressure of water. […]
Why The Missouri River Floods
In the early 1900’s, the Missouri River was unmanageable, varying in shape and size covering entire valleys with ice and water, then resettling along a new course. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tried for several decades to tame the river and make it navigable for commercial, agriculture, and manufacturers. Finally, in the early years […]
Spotting Foundation Issues
One of the most expensive types of home repair includes foundation issues which can cost as much as tens of thousands of dollars. The cost may increase if the issue has also caused damage to other parts of the home. The best way to minimize expense is through preventative home maintenance, and knowing how to […]