Engineering Inc. - September/October 2003 - 4

ASK MEMBERS A Century of Achievement W If you had to choose the most
important elcome to Ask Mem- bers, Engineering Inc.'s engineering
achievement of the 20th new feature where members of the ACEC community
com- ment on items of interest. Our century, what would you choose and
why? question this issue: The Hoover Dam is not only I consider space
exploration accomplishment of the 20th It seems to me that the various one
of the biggest breakthroughs the most important engineering century. Also,
the effective use efforts made by engineers to in engineering but also one
of accomplishment of the 20th of uniform design standards economically
generate and dis- tribute electrical power are the the most magnificent
structures century. Space exploration has across the entire country, and
ever erected. Many other dams opened up a wide area of com- the
establishment of joint state/ most important engineering have since been
built, but there munication possibilities as well federal fund-
accomplishments of the 20th are two reasons that make it as new products
that have ing and century. Though I am combin- stand apart from the rest
it greatly improved the lifestyle of administra- ing engineering efforts
in several was the first of its kind, and the people not only in developed
tion mecha- fields, they all were directed timing and efficiency of its
con- countries but also in under- nisms, were toward the same basic goal.
struction. The depression in the developed countries. One exam- notable
Imagine what our lives would be late 1920s and early 1930s left ple of the
benefits is the cellular achieve- like without electricity! The hundreds of
thousands of Amer- phone, which has revolutionized ments. availability of
electrical power icans jobless. Approximately communication throughout the
has had a profound impact on Ken Munski 5,000 jobs were provided, world.
Communication through improving the quality of human NTL Engineering and
pumping over $500,000 into satellites has minimized expen- life and
Geoscience Inc. the dead economy each month. sive infrastructure
construction. spurring Great Falls, Mont. It is a beautiful place, and I
This is especially beneficial in industrial believe it has been the
biggest under- development achievement of engineering in developed and
growth I think that the greatest engi- the past 100 years. And one side
countries throughout neering achievement of the 20th note the that cannot
most of the century is the development of hard hat was afford to world.
the Internet. The Internet has invented by undertake H. Daniel Rogers
changed the way we all live and workers on such con- Ryan-Biggs
Associates, P.C. work. The amazing ability of the Hoover struction. Troy,
N.Y. technology and information to Dam con- Ramesh Khona affect each of
us, combined struction Gannett Fleming Inc. with the increased ability to
site. Harrisburg, Pa. communicate with each other, Anna Shmukler affects
Transportation Systems every aspect Design Inc. of our lives, If you would
like to Atlanta, Ga. as well as participate in Ask Members, the way the our
new Engineering Inc. entire world feature, express interest The interstate
highway system works and to Andrea Keeney at gets my vote. The large,
positive lives. akeeney@acec.org, and you impact on the nation's economy
will be included in our data Arthur Brooks and the vast scope of the
project bank for inquiry. Brooks Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. created the
premier engineering Phoenix, Ariz. 4 ENGINEERING INC. S e p t e m b e r l
October 2003
Engineering Inc. - September/October 2003

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