What is a Cantilever Bridge?
Cantilever bridges are designed for road or rail traffic and typically built from structural steel or boxed girders made from prestressed concrete. The defining feature of a cantilever bridge is, well, a cantilever. Cantilevers are structures that project horizontally with support on only one end. Cantilevers may also be beams for smaller footbridges. The larger […]
How do sinkholes form?
A sinkhole is a hole or a depression that is caused by a collapse in the surface layer. Sinkholes vary in size and can form within a short period of time or over a longer period of time. Sinkholes can be an effect by natural or artificial causes. Natural Causes Limestone caves inside of sinkholes […]
Western State Wildfires
In August 2020, lightning contributed to several fires throughout California, Oregon, and Washington and continuing with additional ignitions through early September. More than 4.6 million record-breaking acres have burned by over 100 fires fueled by dry terrain, hot temperatures, and strong winds. At least 35 people have been killed with more missing, thousands of firefighters […]
How Satellites Determine the Weather on Earth
The idea of using cameras to orbit and observe weather began as early as 1946. At the time, there was little observation data, and cloud cameras on rockets were expensive. On February 17, 1959, the first weather satellite, Vanguard 2 launched. Unfortunately, a large amount of data was uncollected by the satellite due to its […]
How Data Centers Operate
History of Data Centers Data centers began in the 1940’s in large computer rooms that required the use of large cables to connect all of the components. There would also be a single mainframe computer that required a lot of power and cooling to keep from overheating. Computers were also expensive and mostly used for […]
Benefits of a Water Softener
Water changes in every environment, and when it comes into contact with people and certain environments, it can become contaminated or hard. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium start to build-up which creates hard water. Effects of Hard Water Although hard water isn’t harmful to your health, living with hard water can be costly. About […]
A tree fell on my house, what now?
Trees can fall on homes for a variety of reasons; heavy winds, ice, and thunderstorms, or even a rotting or dead tree. Fallen trees can cause extensive structural damage, and the first thing you should do is get your family to safety. Safety First Once you’re in a safe area, call 911, and if power […]
How Engineering Education Contributes to Innovation
Innovation is critical in the advancement of improving solutions to many areas of our lives, such as sustainability. Since there has been a rise in sustainable solutions such as alternative energy sources, engineers are not only working to improve society or communities, but also the planet. For engineers to develop and implement innovative technologies, each […]
Keeping Water Away from Your Foundation
In order for your home to last, it needs a solid foundation. If the foundation is compromised it could lead to expensive repairs, or sustain irreparable damage. So the best thing you can do is prevent damage to your foundation. There are many ways a foundation can become damaged, such as earthquakes, tree roots, or […]
How Granite is Extracted from the Earth
Granite is an extremely durable and hard type of igneous rock that is formed by the cooling process of magma. Because it’s such a durable material it’s most commonly used for countertops, flooring and other practical elements. The Formation Molten rock is formed by natural radioactive elements deep underground, which breaks down and then decays. […]