2024 American Society of Civil Engineers Florida Section (FLASCE) Annual Conference

By Kathleen Ruvarac, PE2023-2024 President, ASCE Florida Section

The Florida Section’s main event each year is the Annual Conference, taking place this year from July 10–12 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. This year’s theme is Resilience: The Road to Recovery, which will highlight the region’s response to Hurricane Ian.

The Florida Section Annual Conference brings 75-plus technical and professional development sessions in 7 tracks of engineering: structural, geotechnical, environmental and water resources, transportation, utilities, sustainability, and professional development. In addition to professional and technical development, the state-required two-hour Laws/Rules & Ethics course will be offered as well as a new session on the Advanced Florida Building Code.

The conference also offers exhibitor space to showcase new and innovative products and hosts the annual recognitions awards ceremony. The conference offers something for everyone, including our growing number of student members who can find more info on learning opportunities and scholarships.

The conference will kick off on Wednesday, July 10, with a technical tour of the Sanibel Causeway emergency and permanent repairs presented by FDOT D1 staff. The Welcome Reception will be held at the hotel at 6:30 p.m. and provide an awesome time to unwind, reconnect with friends and colleagues and meet new ones!

Our installation luncheon will be held on Friday, July 12, and feature our keynote speaker, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. Guthrie will provide an overview of Southwest Florida’s recovery. ASCE President Marsia Geldert-Murphy, PE, F. ASCE, will join us and install our new officers on the board of directors.

Visit www.asceflconference.org or scan the QR Code for more information.

Cities Of The Future

Another amazing initiative that ASCE is championing and presenting is the Cities of the Future IMAX film featuring five young ASCE members working to solve the world’s most pressing challenges with inspiring solutions. The film also follows a team of middle school students as they compete in the Future City Competition and uses jaw-dropping CGI and the immersive size and sound of the IMAX experience to allow audiences to “step into the future.” Science centers and museums around the world have already booked the film.

Check out the movie trailer at this link: www:youtu.be/ XVyID8bYK9I

To date there are two opportunities to view the IMAX film in Florida with more planned.

Tallahassee – Challenger Learning Center www.challengertlh.com/cities/

Fort Lauderdale – Museum of Discovery and Science www.mods.org/coming-soon/

2024 Southeast Student Symposium

The 2024 ASCE Southeast Student Symposium was held at the University of Central Florida from March 21-23, and proved to be an exhilarating event for civil engineering students from 19 universities in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico. With over 1,000 students, volunteers and judges in attendance, the symposium hosted by the ASCE Florida Section included a variety of competitions that tested students' engineering skills and creativity.

Competitions included the Concrete Canoe races, where teams showcased their innovative designs and paddling prowess, and the Steel Bridge competition that challenged participants to construct and demonstrate the durability of their meticulously crafted bridges. The Sustainable Solutions competition stood out as students presented projects aimed at revitalizing urban waterfronts, promoting sustainable development.

The event was generously supported by 38 sponsors ensuring its success and providing valuable networking opportunities for the students. Beyond competitions, the symposium featured a career fair and an awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the participants. This year's symposium not only highlighted the technical abilities and ingenuity of the future generation of civil engineers but also underscored the importance of networking and collaborative problem-solving in the AEC industry.

ASCE 2024 National Convention

ASCE’s National Convention will be held in Tampa Oct. 6-9. We have many Florida projects that will be presented throughout the conference and showcased at the OPAL Awards Gala. For more information, visit convention.asce.org

2025 UPDATE ON FLORIDA’S INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT CARD

The Florida Section is preparing the 2025 Update on Florida’s Infrastructure Report Card for its release next year. The 2021 Florida report card looked at 14 types of infrastructure as compared with the 17 national categories.

The Florida report card received a grade of C, compared to the national grade of C-. A grade of “C” means the state’s infrastructure is in mediocre to good condition.

The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Florida high marks for the condition of its ports and bridges, but the report card warns of risks from aging levees and dams, with grades of D+ and D- respectively. Its highest grade, a B+, was in solid waste management, notably for innovations in the conversion of waste to energy (WTE) and construction of renewable energy facilities in the state. The 2021 report card can be accessed here: www.infrastructurereportcard. org/state-item/florida

Bridging The Gap

ASCE released “Bridging the Gap,” the update to its 2021 economic study, “Failure to Act,” on May 13. ASCE’s 2021 “Failure to Act” study found that sub-par infrastructure costs American families $3,300 annually over 10 years.

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and 2022 Inflation Reduction Act were positive steps forward, reducing that household burden to $2,700.

In 2026, if Congress continues to act with funding levels from those laws, American families will save $700 more per year from 2024-2043.

Here is a link to the report: www.bridgingthegap.infrastructurereportcard.org