Latest News & Analysis
HEADLINES ARCHIVE
ASTM Consolidates Six Standards on Structural Fasteners
A new ASTM standard consolidates six current standards on structural fasteners.
Can Oil Well Monitoring Systems Withstand Stimulation Treatments?
Downhole data acquisition has evolved with many well completions now integrating fiber optic technology so that engineers and operators may gain a better understanding of well and reservoir behavior.
Europe Launches Energy Union
Citizens of the 28 European countries that make up the European Union will be able to "take ownership" of their energy supply needs through smart meters, domestic generation, and choosing their energy suppliers under a new Energy Union (EU).
Google Investment Backs Solar City's Rooftop Photovoltaic Push
Google Inc. is making a $300 million investment to pay for designing and installing at least 25,000 SolarCity Corp. rooftop solar photovoltaic power systems on U.S. homes, reports Bloomberg Business.
Ground Penetrating Radar Used for Bridge Inspections
The risk of bridge failures has led U.S. engineers to seek better methods of surveillance and inspections. Tarek Zayed, a professor in the department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University, has developed a visualization method that could improve the quality and and reliability of bridge inspections.
Project Management Tips for Engineering and Construction: Part 4, Software Project Management
All projects need to be managed, but software projects present particular challenges due to the intangible nature of the deliverables, which are typically lines of code. Unlike construction and many other projects a rough estimate of progress can’t be measured at a glance, making the project schedule especially difficult to monitor. Although software projects have important differences from more conventional undertakings, the official definition according to the Project Management Institute remains the same: “A project is defined as temporary in that it has a defined beginning and end in time, and therefore defined scope and resources.
Billboard Recognizes Vehicle and Offers Targeted Messaging
Porsche drivers got even more attention than usual when one of the first vehicle recognition technologies of its kind was deployed above Airport Drive near Melbourne Airport in Australia.
Catalyst Aids in Creating Chemicals from Biomass
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a selective catalyst that allows the creation of several basic chemicals from biomass rather than petroleum.
Drone Sales May Grow as U.S. Eases Export Rules
U.S. drone-makers expect to see an uptick in sales of military and civilian drones following a change in the export rules announced by the State Department in mid February.
Hispanics Will Account for More Than 40% of Increase in U.S. Employment in Next 5 Years, IHS Says
The Hispanic population will play an increasingly significant role in future U.S. employment growth, accounting for more than 40% of growth in the next five years and more than 75% between 2020 and 2034—an increase of 11 million jobs out of an economy-wide gain of 14 million—according to a new study from IHS.
Producing More, Cleaner Bioethanol with Nitrogen Gas
Indiana University (IU) biologists believe they have found a faster, less expensive and cleaner way to increase bioethanol production by using nitrogen gas in place of more costly industrial fertilizers.
Surface Scanning Technology Aids Vehicle Development
Simulator software company rFpro has used surface scanning technology to produce what it says are more accurate digital road models.
ASTM Guide Would Help Companies Explore Green Chemical Alternatives
A proposed new ASTM International guide could help companies explore how to analyze alternative chemical use throughout the life cycle of their products.
China to Launch Test Flights for C919 Aircraft
State-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) is expected to launch test flights this year of its C919 passenger aircraft, which recently completed basic assembly.
Design Innovations Led to a Compact, Simple-to-Use Medical Defibrillator
You've seen those live-saving defibrillators in offices, shopping malls and even homes, standing at the ready for immediate use in case of a medical emergency.
NEMA Publishes U.S. Standard for Watthour Meter Sockets
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) published ANSI C12.7-2014 American National Standard for Requirements for Watthour Meter Sockets.
Renesas Creates Chip for Safety, Experience in Connected Vehicles
Renesas says it has built a microcontroller (MCU) for use in instrument clusters found in connected cars that can deliver a safer and better driving experience.
Revenues from Smartphone and Automotive Displays Grew in 2014, IHS Says
As smartphones monopolize product sales for cameras and other devices with small and medium displays, automotive display revenues rose 26% to become the second-highest growth category in 2014, according to IHS.
Ricardo Builds Electric Motor without Rare Earth Materials
Ricardo, a global engineering, strategic and environmental consultancy, has developed what it says is a low-cost 85-kilowatt (kW) electric motor.
Serving a Thirsty World, Trends in Desalination, Part 2
Desalination is used to produce water that is potable for drinking, industrial use and irrigation. The engineering challenges of desalination projects include not just technology, but also geography, environmental impact, finance and politics.