2018 Winter Meeting

Conference Information
The Montgomery Branch of ASCE is hosting the 2018 Winter Meeting of the Alabama Section on Thursday, March 1, 2018. Join us at the Wetumpka Civic Center located at 410 S Main St in Wetumpka, AL 36092, for a day of educational presentations on a range of professional and technical topics in a unique setting. Participants can receive up to 6 Professional Development Hours and will have an opportunity to conduct a guided van tour of the Wetumpka Impact Crater.

The Alabama Section Board of Directors Meeting will be on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the Alabama Department of Transportation Conference Room 5 and 6.

Registration
Registration for the event is now open. Click here to register

For questions with registration, please contact the Conference Team at conferences@montgomery-asce.org or (334) 242-6517.

Meeting Agenda
This promises to be an exciting day at a great venue. The program includes discussion on a number of topics including major ALDOT projects, Legislative Update, Drones and much much more. Continental Breakfast and registration kick off at 7:15 am. Lunch will be provided. Don’t miss this great opportunity to get PDH credits and support ASCE.

For a detailed agenda of all presentations, please click HERE.

Sponsors/Exhibitors

There will be opportunities for Sponsorship and Exhibitors at the Winter Meeting.  To become a Sponsor or Exhibitor, please click HERE to access a downloadable file or click above for online registration for Sponsors and Exhibitors.  Sponsorship’s are available for $200 and includes 1 attendee. The sponsors/exhibitors logo will be displayed on the website and during the conference. Exhibitors are available for $500 and includes 1 attendee.  Exhibit space includes 8’ x 8’ area with 6’ table and chair.  Exhibit space selection preference will be in order of receipt of payment.  Exhibitors will have the opportunity to setup the day before.  

For recognition at the conference, email an electronic copy of your company logo to Mr. Charles Wright no later than February 21, 2018. For more detailed information, please contact Mr. Charles Wright at  charles.wright@gmcnetwork.com or  (334) 271-3200. 

Hotel

Here is a map of available hotels in the Montgomery Area. We recommend staying Downtown or at Eastchase hotels.

Social Event

You’re invited to participate in a No-Host Social Event the night before the Conference on February 28th at 7:00 p.m. Location and additional information will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

Impact Crater Tour

The location of the Wetumpka Astrobleme —“star-wound”— originated from a cosmic event that occurred some 80 to 83 million years ago. It was confirmed only recently, after more than two years of extensive investigation and deep earth core drilling conducted on site. It is one of the few above-ground impact crater locations in the United states and one of only about six in the entire World. Even more unusual is the fact that the structure is actually exposed (as you can see from the rim evidence in these photographs). Despite the weathering that has occurred through millions of years, the crater walls are still prominent, so the rim was obviously much higher at one time.

The projectile of the meteor impact was probably travelling between 10 and 20 miles per second. So this means the impact would have produced winds in excess of 500 miles per hour, and the meteor most likely struck at a 30-45 degree angle as it came from the northeast. They determined that it came from the northeast by the angle at which the rocks are slanted within the impact area which includes the current flow path of the Coosa River.

This can be seen looking from both directions on the Bibb Graves Bridge. Geologists speculate that the shock waves, the damage, and other effects of the impact explosion radiated out from the strike several hundred miles. Debris may have been thrown as far away as the present Gulf of Mexico. Geologists also theorize that the strike area would have been under a shallow sea, perhaps 300 to 400 feet of water, that covered most of southern Alabama at the time of the impact. It is estimated that the diameter of the meteorite to be 1,100 feet and could have been as much as three to four times larger.

Previous Winter Meetings

Click below to view presentation and pictures:

• 2017

Tuscaloosa Branch Raises $1,100 for Charity

October 12, 2017 – As the new officers took their positions in October 2016 in the ASCE Tuscaloosa Branch, the President, Ashley Tu, set a few goals for the 2017 year.  One of those goals was to plan a social event.  A lot of our members are not able to make the monthly meetings so planning a social event after work would give them an opportunity to come together and spend time with the other members.  After discussions were held at the monthly meetings, it was decided a social in the fall would be best for everyone’s schedule.  However, as Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and eventually Nate hit the country, the officers knew they needed to give back.  It was decided among the Branch officers that the social event should be more than just a get together. They wanted to center the social event around giving back to hurricane relief.  Ashley Tu stated at the September monthly meeting “Living in Tuscaloosa, the majority of us have probably not experienced a hurricane personally, but we have all lived through a tornado and remember when others gave back to help our community”. 

The event was held on October 12, 2017 at the Hotel Indigo rooftop venue.  Members were charged $10 to attend and encouraged to bring their spouses.  They were also encouraged to give more than the required $10.  Our Branch rented a private room at the venue and provided heavy hors d’oeuvres.  One hundred percent of the donated money raised was given to Samaritan’s Purse, a charity that is assisting in hurricane relief.  This charity was remembered by members as being present assisting Tuscaloosa after the April 2011 tornado.  The total money raised was over $1,100 with over 30 members showing up to contribute.  There was such positive feedback from the members who attended that hosting a social event annually will likely be continued by the Tuscaloosa ASCE Branch.

33 Years of Excellence Recognized

October 10, 2017 – The Montgomery Branch of the Alabama Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers dedicated the October Branch meeting to recognizing the leadership and volunteerism of each of its former Branch presidents. Those leaders, during their time with the Branch, put forth great effort to uphold and enhance the integrity and ethics of the civil engineering profession, while serving engineers and the community in the River Region. By way of our past presidents, the Branch has been able to foster professional interaction between students, younger members, and experienced professionals as well as instill enthusiasm in the profession and Branch membership and involvement. Dr. Dan Turner, P.E., Ph.D, presented each recipient with a certificate of recognition. Dr. Turner is a tireless advocate, promoter, and leader for the transportation engineering profession, and he has the distinction of being the only member of the Alabama Section to serve as the national Society President of ASCE.

The Montgomery Branch of ASCE was established in 1984 with 30 original members, and several of these charter members were on hand to witness the recognition of our past presidents. Thirty-three years later, the Branch continues to be a highly active professional organization within the River Region, largely due to the efforts of these honored individuals.

According to Mr. Brian Felder, 2009 Branch President, “It was an honor to be recognized with so many leaders in the ASCE community. In my current job, I have the opportunity to attend and present to ASCE branches throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and I can honestly say that the Montgomery Branch is the most organized, well run, and impactful of all of them”.

The Montgomery Branch would like to once again thank each of its former presidents for their service and sacrifice to the Branch, ASCE, and the civil engineering profession. As often quoted, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Past Presidents’ Appreciation Day Press Release