A sustainable, climate-change-resilient floating landscape infrastructure took the top prize of the American Society of Civil Engineer’s latest Innovation Contest.
The winner, Emerald Tutu, provides a floating waterfront infrastructure that provides a city with an inhabitable waterfront amenity while mitigating the effects of climate change. “The contest is a springboard for forward-looking infrastructure ideas and aims to identify cutting-edge ideas from civil engineers, including students, educators, practitioners, and project managers,” according to an ASCE news release.
Another concept, “Smart Walls: Telescopic Structural Walls for Flood Protection,” also addressed climate resiliency. Smart Walls are deployable walls that are hidden in the ground and extend telescopically when needed to stop floodwaters.
The winner in the Best Student Submission category: “Rapid Restoration of Deteriorated Pre-stressed Concrete Bridges Using Mechanically Fastened Fiber Reinforced Polymer,” addressed deteriorated pre-stressed concrete bridge superstructure. It proposed a method to extend the useful life of infrastructure at low cost.
The Emerald Tutu from Very Flat on Vimeo.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jan 11, 2021
Zero Energy Buildings growth driven by government policy, stringent codes, technologies
Restraints include high upfront cost, and lack of universal definition and approaches.
Codes and Standards | Jan 11, 2021
HUD releases new Fair Housing Act design and construction requirements
First update of ‘safe harbors’ in 15 years provides better clarity for design and construction firms.
Codes and Standards | Jan 8, 2021
Court ruling gives UpCodes upper hand in fight over building codes database
Battle over IP property claims by ICC and other codes bodies continues.
Codes and Standards | Jan 8, 2021
Houston creates tax incentives for green stormwater elements
Businesses that install green roofs, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and rainwater harvesting are eligible.
Codes and Standards | Jan 7, 2021
Trump’s classical design aesthetic mandate for federal buildings likely to be felt for years
May limit the number of firms that could compete for contracts.
Codes and Standards | Jan 7, 2021
Workers on some of Virginia’s major construction projects sue subcontractors for wage theft
Projects include new General Assembly Building, outpatient facility at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Codes and Standards | Jan 5, 2021
EPA finalizes first major update to Lead and Copper rule
Will accelerate pace of lead service line replacement.
Codes and Standards | Jan 5, 2021
Flood risk for affordable housing expected to triple by 2050
Some communities will have 90% of their affordable housing at risk.
Codes and Standards | Jan 4, 2021
Ranks of remote workers expected to double in five years
Nearly 23% of employees will work from outside of offices.
Codes and Standards | Dec 28, 2020
CSI and ASTM standards can now be connected through a central location
CROSSWALK web service accesses standards specific to projects from feasibility to turnover.
