This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Point of Begining Logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Point of Begining Logo
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Classifieds
    • Subscribe
    • POB eNewsletter
  • Columns
    • GeoDataPoint Blog
    • Kline: Unmistakable Marks
    • Lucas: Traversing the Law
    • Solo Notes
    • Editor's Points
    • Turner: Surveyor's Footsteps
    • The Business Side
  • News
  • Products
  • Tech
    • GeoDataPoint
    • LiDAR/Laser Scanning/3D
    • Photogrammetry
    • GIS
    • GPS/GNSS
    • Hardware
    • UAS/UAV
    • Data Collection
    • Remote Sensing
    • Software
    • Total Stations
  • Industry
    • Aerial
    • BIM
    • Boundary & Topo
    • Construction
    • Energy & Utilities
    • Environmental
    • Forensics
    • Government
    • Marine/Hydrography
    • Mining
    • Transportation
  • Reports
    • Laser Scanning & 3D
    • Salary & Benefits
    • Surveying & Mapping Industry Software
    • Archives & Additional Reports
  • Education
    • Professional Knowledge
    • Continuing Education
    • GeoLearn
  • Online
    • Events
    • Webinars
    • Classifieds
    • POB Store
    • POB Point and Shoot
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
    • Polls
    • FARO Webinars
    • Industry Links
  • Directory
    • GeoLocator
  • Contact
    • Editorial Staff
    • Advertise
    • Clear Seas Research
    • Custom Content Marketing Services
    • List Rental
    • Store
  • POB Premium
Home » ASCE Adopts New Post-disaster Assessment Manual
Latest Headlines

ASCE Adopts New Post-disaster Assessment Manual

September 10, 2009
Reprints
No Comments

Reston, Va.-A new manual that outlines polices and procedures for conducting engineering assessments in the wake of natural and human-caused disasters has been adopted by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The Post-Disaster Assessment Manual was developed by ASCE’s Task Committee on Engineering Review Procedures (TCERP) in response to a recommendation from an independent task force that the Society’s procedures for such assessments be compiled into a single, readily accessible source. The task force, led by retired congressman and the former chair of the House Science Committee Sherwood Boehlert, was commissioned in late 2007 to review how the Society participates in engineering studies of national significance.

ASCE has participated in more than a dozen assessments in the last decade, including studies of the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001; earthquake assessments in Italy, China, Peru, Japan, Sumatra-Andaman, Algeria, Alaska and California; and assessments following hurricanes Katrina and Ike. According to Society president D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., D.WRE, F.ASCE: "ASCE has been conducting post-disaster assessments since the Johnstown Flood. As engineers sworn to protect public health, safety, and welfare, it is imperative that the public have confidence in our work. I believe that the publication of this manual will be an important element in continuing to guide this vital work in the future." ASCE’s purpose in doing such assessments is twofold. First, the behavior of engineered facilities that have been exposed to extreme forces must be evaluated so that engineers may learn from the disaster. Then, and perhaps more importantly, those lessons learned must be documented to inform the future actions of both the profession and society. In a letter to then-ASCE president David G. Mongan, P.E., F.ASCE, Boehlert noted that "ASCE possesses the expertise, resources, and commitment to public service that the job requires."

TCERP’s role was to analyze recommendations made by the Boehlert Task Force against the unique mission and governance of a membership-based professional society, according to the committee’s chair, ASCE president emeritus H. Gerard Schwartz, Ph.D.,P.E., NAE, Pres.02.ASCE. "Our goal was to ensure that ASCE’s procedures reflect the high standards required of our profession."

When developing the manual TCERP assessed not only ASCE’s longstanding practices for such reviews, but also the practices of more than 20 other organizations. The resulting document provides a single, comprehensive source for policies and procedures governing every aspect of post-disaster assessments, including: criteria for launching an assessment; funding mechanisms; selection of team leaders and members; team responsibilities; conflicts of interest; coordination with other organizations; schedules; staff support; public communications; and dissemination of lessons learned to engineers and the public.

TCERP’s membership also included: W. Gene Corley, Ph.D., P.E., NAE, Dist.M.ASCE (chair of ASCE’s World Trade Center Building Performance Study Team); Eugene Raymond Desormeaux, P.E., F.ASCE (former president of ASCE’s Louisiana Section); Billy L. Edge, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE (member of ASCE’s Hurricane Katrina External Review Panel and former president of the Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute); Curtis L. Edwards, P.E., F.ASCE (member of ASCE’s South Asian Earthquake and Tsunami Assessment Team); and, Joseph Wartman, Ph.D., P.E. (member of ASCE’s Hurricane Katrina Levee Assessment Team).

A copy of the manual can be found at: www.asce.org/inside/TCERP_Manual_Final.pdf. For more information on ASCE assessments, including copies of resulting publications, visit: content.asce.org/TaskForce/TaskForceonEngineeringReviews.html.


Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 146,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. For more information, visit www.asce.org.

Subscribe to POB

Related Articles

Aerial Maps Assist Insurers with Post-Disaster Claims

ASCE Elects New Officers 11.12.2003

ASCE Publishes Book on New Global Positioning Technologies

New rating system assesses financial risk

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscription Center
  • Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Renew
  • Create Account
  • Change Address
  • Pay My Bill
  • Free eNewsletters
  • Customer Care

More Videos

Popular Stories

FAAlogo21Aug19News

Iris Automation and Kansas DOT BVLOS Drone Flight

Stonexnews4Dec19

Stonex Announces Camera Add-on

LeicaZenoPOBnews20Nov19

Leica Geosystems Enables GIS Data Capture

LeicaBLK3Dnewsletter27Nov19

Leica Geosystems Launches “BLK3D Web”

IQGeonewsletter27Nov19

IQGeo to Enable Digital Transformation for Stadtwerke Sindelfingen

Poll

Surveyor Outreach Opportunities

What kind of community outreach do you perform on behalf of the survey/geospatial profession?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

POB Top 100 Report

POB Top 100 Report

We began by creating a survey as a cooperative effort between several high level geospatial leaders, POB staff, and Clear Seas Research market research experts. The survey was sent out to more than 25,000 geospatial professionals who subscribe to POB and/or are members of MAPPS.
See More Products

FARO webinar series

POB

POB December 2019 cover

2019 December

In the December 2019 issue of POB, learn how GNSS field mapping played a crucial role in creating the Port of New Orleans first enterprise GIS. Also in this issue, find out how a recent regulatory proposal could restrict UAV flights.
View More Subscribe
  • Resources
    • Construction Group
    • List rental
    • Survey And Sample
    • Associations & Industry Links
    • Subscribe
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Order Reprints
    • Want More
    • Connect
    • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
    • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • My Account
    • Renew
    • Create Account
    • Change Address
    • Pay My Bill
    • Free eNewsletters
    • Customer Care

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing