Engineering Inc. - July/August 2007 - 6

NEWS & NoTES Network Reliability Should never be a leap of faith. Device Detects Damage in Concrete Bridges, Piers ngineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled a hand-held device that reportedly can detect structural damage in concrete bridges and piers. Developers say the device, which uses special radar technology to “see” through the fiberglass wrapping often used to support concrete columns, enables officials to conduct on-the-spot inspections without disrupting traffic or service. By using the device, engineers can detect evidence of structural damage often not visible to the naked eye. Called FAR-NDT, for far-field airborne radar nondestructive testing, engineers say the technique is especially useful for bridges that span rivers or highways, many of which are inaccessible to other inspection techniques. “The use of radar for detecting hidden defects and deterioration behind covered surfaces offers great potential for wide-range use in assessing the safety of bridges and buildings that have been retrofitted with composite materials,” said Professor Oral Buyukozturk of MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). Buyukozturk developed the technique with CEE graduate student Tzu-Yang Yu and Dennis Blejer of MIT Lincoln Laboratory. E Trust us for managed services. In today’s IT enterprise, you and your staff need continuous availability to systems anywhere, anytime and on any device. Over the past 27 years, we have developed a total support solution designed to give you peace of mind and predictive costs. We proactively monitor and manage your network environment so you can concentrate on managing your business. Our comprehensive system management tools, ITIL based processes, Sr. Certified staff and a philosophy of fanatical customer support guarantees your organization 99.99% availability. Call us today to schedule your free consultation. Total Managed Technology Support Services Technology Consultants & Network Engineers 301.921.6696 www.designdata.com architects engineers land surveyors environmental consultants construction managers design/build geotechnical engineers testing laboratories contractors professional liability professional liability insurance RA&MCO’s underwriting, claims and risk management team is comprised of engineers, attorneys and insurance professionals who specialize in Professional Liability coverages and risk management services for design and construction professionals. RA&MCO’s team of professionals understand the challenges you face. We protect your assets, your reputation and your peace of mind utilizing the A.M. Best rated A+ (Superior) insurers U.S. Specialty Insurance Company and Houston Casualty Company. Ask your broker for a RA&MCO quote today! 800.684.7475 www.ramco-ins.com ENGINEERING INC. JULY / AUGUST 2007

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Engineering Inc. - July/August 2007

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