Letter from the Editor

Hello BSCESNews readers, and welcome back to the revitalized newsletter! We’ve had a bit of a facelift to keep up with advancing technologies and hope that you find  this format easier to access from your phone, computer, or any other internet- enabled device. As you read through this issue of BSCESNews, please feel free to reach out with  any comments or suggestions, either via email (Newsletter.Board@bsces.org) or engage with us on social media (Twitter:   @BSCESNews or @BSCES,  LinkedIn:  BSCES LinkedIn Group).

 This month’s theme is “Climate Change Resiliency.” We chose this theme to kick off   Volume 45 of BSCESNews at the height of hurricane season, which is as good a reminder as any to keep resilience at the forefront of planning in both our professional and personal lives.

While we on the BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board took a break for the summer, our authors certainly did not. Don’t know where to start? Lauren Miller from CDM Smith’s article about Climate Change Resilience Planning in Massachusetts presents a framework for addressing resilience in any engineering or planning project. Or check out Teresa Vangelli from VHB’s article with tips on how to support infrastructure owners with identifying and achieving their sustainability goals.

For updates on local projects, read Kenneth Yu from Kleinfelder’s article about the proposed resiliency measures for a mixed-use block in Cambridge, MA. Mark Costa from VHB takes us to the other side of Boston with an update about the proposed redevelopment project at Suffolk Downs. This project incorporates future climate change projections into flood resilience planning for the site and affected areas. Melissa Carter from Stantec provides us with a description of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Wachusett Aqueduct Pumping Station, which was awarded the BSCES Sustainability in Civil Engineering Award this year. And Mike Sullivan is back with his Historic New England Infrastructure series. This month, Mike writes about the Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts. It’s a treat to learn about the structure that housed many generations of the Fairbanks family and survives to this day.

You’ll also notice that we have many “Calls to Action” in this issue. Teresa Vangeli from WSP introduces us to the ASCE SE 2050 Challenge, which aims to help structural engineers and building professionals incorporate sustainability into building design and maintenance. Dr. Gautham Das from Wentworth Institute of Technology is leading the charge to restart the BSCES Journal and is currently seeking journal article submissions. One call comes from across the pond: Zach Wynne of the University of Edinburgh is conducting a survey of engineers on perceptions of uncertainty within civil design, the use of lessons learned from past projects in the design process, and incorporation of long-term monitoring data. Check out his article for more details and a link to the survey. Arianna Paul from Green International Affiliates highlights the many activities of the BSCES Committee on Sustainability, which is currently recruiting new members. And what kind of editor would I be if I didn’t also make the case for joining the BSCESNews Editorial Board? Email Newsletter.Board@bsces.org for more information.

Happy reading!