The long-awaited bipartisan US $1.2 Infrastructure bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden on 15 November 2021. The "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," the single most significant federal investment in American history, contains an estimated $550 billion in new spending, which will …
Why is Infrastructure Investment Essential to the USA’s Future
Throughout history, infrastructure investments in the U.S. have indeed been awe-inspiring and a testament to its 'can-do' spirit despite the odds stacked against it. America started building the Hoover Dam at the start of the Great Depression in the 1930s. When they completed it in 1935, the 726 …
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Infrastructure Investments to Ignite Recovery from the Pandemic
The impact of the pandemic is beyond human health. Economies worldwide suffered from a reduction in income, a rise in unemployment, and disruptions in transport, service, and manufacturing industries. The IPWEA article "How two local authorities in America plan to use infrastructure stimulus …
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Asset Condition and Maintenance of US Infrastructure
For many years crumbling and aging infrastructure is a problem in the United States. Many of their roads, bridges, waterways, ports, runway, and drinking water systems that provide essential services to the cities and communities, are more than 50 years old. A good percentage of these critical …
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Asset Management Planning Lecture Series Available Now!
The lecture series by Ross Waugh on Introduction to Asset Management Planning is now available. This lecture series was created to assist WelTec and Otago Polytechnic in New Zealand with their BEngTech Asset Management foundation information. The lecture series provides good overviews of the …
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Addressing America’s Critical Infrastructure by Improving Bureaucratic Processes
Red tape, or the boom of bureaucracy in the U.S., is slowing down its infrastructure projects. According to The Hill's article, "A boom in bureaucracy won't build America back any better," Washington's "red-tape and duplicative oversight" only serves to constrain the country's ability to repair …
Will $2.3 Trillion Solve the US’ Infrastructure Problem?
One might wonder why the world-leading power with so many economic resources still has roads with many potholes, where railway accidents are common, and bridges that collapse due to lack of maintenance. Repairing and upgrading its infrastructure will have implications for the US' competitiveness, …
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Infrastructure Management Planning Needed for First Nations’ Drinking Water System
Crumbling infrastructure and water-borne illness make Canada's indigenous community fearful of getting water from the tap. Years of neglect from their government have pushed the Curve Lake First Nation community to sue their government for US$1.7 billion, an amount they say is equivalent to the …
Proactive Pipe Monitoring in the D.C. Area
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is one of the largest water utilities in the U.S. and one of the oldest, having just celebrated its centennial last year. The utility currently serves almost 2 million residents living within 1,000 square miles and has installed 5,768 miles of …
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City’s Walkability, a Valuable Factor in Infrastructure Management Planning
New Zealand's Pukekohe City announced its plan to trial a people-friendly town center. According to the Auckland Council news, the town's main thoroughfare, King Street, will be made one way to "create more places to gather, eat and shop by bringing food and businesses on the to the …
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America’s Infrastructure Gets “C-” Overall ASCE Report Card 2021 Grade
The American Society of Civil Engineer’s (ASCE) 2021 Report card rated C- America’s overall infrastructure system. The report was released on 3 March 2021. Using an A to F school report card format, the rating reflects the comprehensive assessment of the current infrastructure conditions and …
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Are Microgrids Needed for a Resilient Texas’ Energy Infrastructure?
Freezing temperatures in Texas in February 2021 caused its power grid to fail dramatically. Millions of Texans were without power amid freezing temperatures. A combination of factors caused the energy grid to collapse. First, Texas, energy infrastructure is not “winterized” because of the …
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