Archived News
Below you will find all the past news articles that has been posted on the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering website
Car Key Jams Teen Drivers' Cell Phone
December 11, 2008: University of Utah researchers have developed an automobile ignition key that prevents teenagers from talking on cell phones or sending text messages while driving.
The university has obtained provisional patents and licensed the invention – Key2SafeDriving – to a private company that hopes to see it on the market within six months at a cost of less than $50 per key plus a yet-undetermined monthly service fee.
"The key to safe driving is to avoid distraction," says Xuesong Zhou, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering who co-invented the system with Wally Curry, a University of Utah graduate now practicing medicine in Hays, Kan. "We want to provide a simple, cost-effective solution to improve driving safety."
Zhou notes that "at any given time, about 6 percent of travelers on the road are talking on a cell phone while driving. Also at any given time, 10 percent of teenagers who are driving are talking or texting." Studies have shown drivers using cell phones are about four times more likely to get in a crash than other drivers.
The Full University of Utah Press Release can be found here, and local video can be found here.
12 Students receive AGC Scholarships
December 10, 2008: It was announced today that 12 CvEEN students received scholarships from the Utah chapter of Associated General Contractors (AGC). The recipients of the scholarships are: Crystal Clendennen, Benjamin Rood, Richard Franz, Zach McClellan, Taylor Coulam, Daniel Norris, Logan Erickson, Brent Lund, Jason Peterson, Imanuel Aswandi, Amanda Gilliland & Trenton Gillespie. The University of Utah students received 12 of the 30 awarded scholarships.
American Water Resource Association Student Chapter Becomes Recognized
December 1, 2008: The American Water Resource Association (AWRA) Board of Directors approved to have the Student Chapter of AWRA on November 15th. This is the second Water & Environmental Student Organization to be Officially recognized this year, the first being the Water Environment Federation back in August.
Paul J. Tikalsky elected a Fellow (foreign) of the National Academy of Engineering of the Czech Republic (EACR)
November 26, 2008: Paul J. Tikalsky, M.ASCE, Chair and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah, has been elected a Fellow (foreign) of the National Academy of Engineering of the Czech Republic (EACR), a member organization to the International Council of Academies of the Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS). The announcement was made at the annual meeting of the EACR in Prague and recognizes the contributions Tikalsky has made in advancing simulation based reliability assessment techniques for long-life structures in the European Union and the Czech Republic. Tikalsky was one of 12 new Fellows elected to EACR this year to join the 140 member Academy. In a country with 350,000 engineers, the EACR was founded to recognize the eminent engineers that contribute to the country’s technological development and its international standing in the European and global engineering community.
ACI Fall Convention
November 10, 2008: November 1-5 the ACI Fall Convention was held in St. Louis, MO. Ten Civil & Environmental Engineering Undergraduate Students attended and participated in the student competitions. The Senior Team, consisting of Crystal Clendennen, Enoch Eskelson, Amanda Gilliland, Brett Raddon, & Stephan Woll, placed first in Target Compressive Strength of the Concrete Cylinder Competition. The target strength was 7000 psi with the team's strength at 7020 psi.
The Junior team, consisting of Tim Garfield, Mike Gibbons, Nathan Jones, Brock Loomis, & Rachel Smith, placed 2nd in the all-round competition. The all-round competition consisted of: Target Compressive Strength, a Target Density, Economical, cementious efficiency, and a paper written on their design of the concrete.
College of engineering outstanding teaching assistant
August 21, 2008: Mr. Alfred Kalyanapu, PhD student, was awarded the 2008 College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Assistant. Mr. Kalyanapu was recognized at the fall faculty & staff meeting held on August 21st.
Professional Practice & Design Course Featured in Tribune
August 2, 2008: The summer section of Professional Practice & Design (CVEEN 4910) presented their semester project on Friday, August 1st. The class focused on a feasibility study for the Jordan River Parkway between 1700 North to Interstate 215. The students presented two possible designs and recommended one for the city engineers office. The section that the course focused on would connect to the Legacy Parkway trail system, creating an improved commuter bike path. The proposed trail was designed around existing buildings, the proposed sports complex and environmental issues.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellowship
May 2008: Mr. Chun-Hsing Ho, PhD '10, received a Dwight D. Eisenhower fellowship from the US Department of Transportation. He will be investigating the low temperature properties of asphalt mixtures and its relation to pavement durability. His work is also supported by the Utah Department of Transportation.
Floyd And Jeri Meldrum Start CVeen campaign with $3.3 million gift
January2008 : The University of Utah today announced a $3.3 million lead gift for its department of civil and environmental engineering. The gift, from U alum Floyd Meldrum and his wife Jeri, of Las Vegas, Nevada , is the cornerstone in a $5 million campaign to strengthen civil engineering. Their gift will help fund a 14,500 square foot expansion of an existing laboratory and office building. When complete, the expanded building will be renamed the Floyd and Jeri Meldrum Civil and Environmental Engineering Building , in recognition of their total giving to the University which now exceeds $3.5 million. Floyd Meldrum received a BS in civil engineering from the University of Utah in 1962. He and his wife Jeri are the former owners of Southern Nevada Paving, an aggregate, asphalt and contracting business in Las Vegas , which they operated for 41 years prior to its acquisition in 2004 by a British company Aggregate Industries PLC. In making the gift, Meldrum credited the education he received at the University of Utah . “My career has its foundation in the department of civil engineering, and the lessons and experiences in these early days allowed me to build a general engineering construction business that helped many of my employees support families and build careers of their own.” Meldrum acknowledged the support and encouragement of his wife of 50 years and the people and profession that gave a start. “Jeri and I are pleased to contribute to the continuing growth and success of civil and environmental engineering at the U. We hope to assist you in inspiring others to join in this partnership to make it a nationally recognized program."
