SANTIAGO.- Recent rains seem to be exposing the weakness of many of the structures in the "Heart City." A second wall collapse in less than 48 hours adds to the problem, this time at the José Mercedes Albino Polytechnic School in Canabacoa, a municipal district.

School authorities, led by director Zoilo Marrero, expressed their concern because the walls adjacent to the affected area have cracks, and they fear they could collapse if the rains continue.

The educator called on the Ministry of Education authorities to come and repair the damage.

Last Tuesday, the rainfall in the Cibao region caused the collapse of one of the retaining walls of several apartment buildings and shopping centers located on Las Carreras Avenue.

Yesterday, the Minister of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), Deligne Ascención, visited the site, along with technicians from his department, to assess the situation, where he made some recommendations, with the purpose of mitigating the risks in the area.

SANTO DOMINGO.– Families residing within the area where the landslide occurred last Tuesday, on Las Carreras Avenue in Santiago de los Caballeros, must be evacuated immediately and completely because they are at high risk, as the buildings could collapse, warned Tirso Álvarez Fermín, a civil engineer specializing in Geotechnical Engineering, yesterday.

In addition to his main recommendation, which is to relocate all residents, the specialist suggests closing the road until the existing structures are stabilized and "placing a retaining wall with piles of significant moment of inertia to prevent the buildings from collapsing.".

Fourth, it recommends the construction of new retaining walls of adequate cross-section and with appropriate backfill. After exhausting this protocol, it assures that the road can be reopened.

Regarding the possible causes of the wall's collapse, he explains that the retaining wall appears very thin, which, in his opinion, suggests it wasn't designed to withstand the accumulation of water pressure. "It's very slender.".  

He adds, “There is no water table and drains were probably left, but the fill material looks very fine, the drains got clogged and water accumulated, which caused the collapse,” notes the PhD expert, a 1997 graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign USA.

 He adds that the problem lies in the fact that when the walls fall, the confinement of the building foundations is reduced, and it is possible that these buildings may also move or collapse.

“Therefore, they must be quickly pre-supported with a high inertia wall, a sheet pile wall probably with cast-in-place piles of 80 cm in diameter,” the engineer explained.

The collapse

The incident occurred last Tuesday around 5:00 p.m. due to the rains recorded in the city of Santiago.

The affected wall runs along Las Carreras toward the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration. Rescuers said they fear the structure on the other side of the avenue, where the Fire Department headquarters and the plaza housing the Santiago Municipal Electoral Board are located, could also collapse.

For more than 10 years, members of the relief agencies had been warning of the danger posed by that wall due to the cracks it had.

Yesterday, Civil Defense and the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) took the measure of evacuating the families closest to the landslide, as a preventive measure against the possibility of new rains.

In a press conference, the Minister of Public Works assured that they will be working 24 hours a day and asked the provincial governor, Rosa Santos, to communicate to the authorities of the Santiago City Council the measures that will be adopted.

SANTIAGO- Civil Defense and the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) have taken the measure of evacuating the families closest to the landslide that occurred yesterday on Las Carreras Avenue in this city, as a preventive measure against the possibility of further rains.

This was reported on Wednesday by Deligne Ascención, Minister of the MOPC, during a visit to the affected area, where he ordered the institution he heads to conduct an evaluation of the entire surroundings. 

The official stated that the problem had been occurring unexpectedly, but it has now surfaced at a time when we did not expect it. Therefore, the first step will be to clear the debris, which will be done today, Wednesday, to try to protect the slopes and prevent further landslides.

The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) is coordinating with Civil Defense and the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transportation (Digesett) to divert traffic on Las Carreras Avenue while the work to be carried out is evaluated and regrettable incidents are avoided, Ascención explained.

He asked for understanding from the citizens of Santiago who travel along the road where the incident occurred, given the unforeseen events that may occur, since measures are being taken, first of an organizational nature to create alternative and safe routes during the time that the evaluation lasts and, later with the solution of the works that will be carried out.

In a press conference, the Minister of Public Works assured that they will be working 24 hours a day and asked the provincial governor, Rosa Santos, to communicate with the authorities of the Santiago City Council and inform them of the measures that will be adopted.

Deligne Ascension. (External source).

The initial assessment to be carried out at the site of the collapse will be made up of a multidisciplinary team, including the Ministry of Public Works, Grupo Estrella, Constructora Mar, Onesvie, Civil Defense, Provincial Government and Digesset.

SANTO DOMINGO– “In five years Pedernales will change, in 10 years it will be unrecognizable, and in 20 years it will be an example for the entire southern region,” President Luis Abinader said last night, referring to the Cabo Rojo-Pedernales tourism development project, one of the most ambitious plans launched by his government.

In his speech commemorating the second anniversary of his inauguration, the president referred to the infrastructure projects underway in the province of Pedernales, stating that the port of Cabo Rojo will be ready for the arrival of tourists in November 2023.

“The construction of the first hotel is already out for tender, and the tenders for all the hotels in the first phase, which are 11, will be posted monthly. The airport designs are almost ready to be put out for tender,” Abinader noted while speaking from the Gran Teatro del Cibao in Santiago, an address made on the 159th anniversary of the Restoration War.

Abinader announced that work on the Bergatín project in Puerto Plata will begin in the coming weeks, after more than a year of design work.

“These projects will be a global example that we can all see and will have a significant impact on the lives of thousands of Dominicans; they will definitively change the face of the entire country and will bring thousands of direct and indirect jobs, boosting local economies and contributing to great economic growth,” he declared.

Amber Highway

Referring to the Amber Highway, announced in August 2020, he specified that the work has not been able to start because the government is not willing to carry out failed operations like the "Samaná highway".

“Of all the projects announced for Santiago 9 months ago, the only one we have not yet been able to start, and I want to acknowledge this, is the Amber Highway, because this government is not willing to have failed or poorly executed projects, like the Samaná highway that condemned Dominicans for years to an unfair and disproportionate shadow toll,” he said.

He also indicated that his government wants to do “many things, but to do them well. Our adherence to the law leads us to be cautious and to respect procedures even knowing that this can sometimes lengthen the process.”.

About Santiago

"And being here today, I want to refer, in a very special way, to Santiago, a city that has been forgotten for years and with which I have a very special family and emotional connection, and which is now part of the government's priority agenda, through concrete actions," the president said.

"Here we are making transformative investments such as the construction of the cable car; the monorail; the Gurabo Ravine; the entrance avenue to Santiago; and we have the Navarrete Bypass out for tender and the expansion of the Santiago-Licey highway budgeted, among others, because we are committed to the progress and well-being of this city and to giving it back what it justly deserves according to its contribution to the national economy," said Luis Abinader.

Public Works with more than 500 projects totaling RD$86 billion

President Luis Abinader also highlighted that the Ministry of Public Works and Communications currently has more than 500 projects underway, totaling RD$86 billion, including 9 ring roads and the expansion of the Santo Domingo Metro and Cable Car lines.

He also noted that during this time 87 projects have been completed with an investment of almost RD$15.4 billion.

Among the construction projects with the greatest regional impact are the 9 ring roads: those of Azua, Bani, Navarrete, Circuit 3 Santo Domingo, Moca, San Francisco, Santiago, Los Alcarrizos and Malecón de Nagua.

In Greater Santo Domingo, among the most important projects are the construction of Avenida Hípica, Avenida San Isidro, the Ecológica, from Ciudad Juan Bosch to Avenida Juan Pablo Segundo (Autovía del Nordeste), and the Andrés Overpass.

"Regarding mass transit projects, we are building the expansion of metro lines 1 and 2 in Santo Domingo and in Los Alcarrizos the extension of the metro and the cable car," he added.

SANTO DOMINGO – Since fifth grade, Roberto Monegro predicted he would become an engineer like his father, Darío Monegro, who has dedicated 50 years to the profession. He believes his own entry into the field may have been due to his father's influence. Nineteen years in the field have led him to affirm that engineering has become his deepest calling.

In light of last Sunday's celebration of "National Engineer's Day", we share an interview with this young engineer from the firm Modern Constructions Modcons SRL.

What does engineering represent in your life?

It's part of my daily life; I use it naturally in all my actions, both at work and in my daily life. Engineering is a development of skills and abilities that, when used with common sense, are capable of solving any situation that arises in the environment.

What contributions do you think this sector makes to the country's economy?

In our real estate development sector, from the hands that conceive the product, those who acquire them, those who develop them, those who supply the materials for their construction, until all these activities reach the point of positively energizing the nation's economic market, from the lowest to the highest income brackets, and directly benefiting the country through the taxes generated by all the aforementioned activities. But most importantly, the projection generated by the city's progress in international markets attracts foreign investment.

At what level would you place Dominican civil engineering?

Our engineering is comprehensive. In every area of ​​engineering, we have excellent professionals who, when they come together for a common project, each fulfill their role, always striving for excellence. 

How much do you think engineering has evolved in the country?

We are making progress, but we could achieve greater progress if we could abolish certain obstacles in project approval departments in our country, due to outdated laws that severely limit the evolution of engineering and prevent us from taking on challenges that would allow us to compete in major international markets.

What challenges do you think they currently face in light of the new trend towards sustainable development?

The challenge is this: either we adapt to market demands using techniques and technologies that help us remain competitive in sustainable ways, or we fall behind. In these times, our competition is international, since globalization is readily available to almost every citizen of the world. Therefore, one of the biggest challenges is to interact and reach agreements internally as a country, in order to implement projects that are at the forefront of our times.

Given the rise in construction material costs and the challenges of our times, how do you envision the future?

We have to adapt. I've always said that the world took a double step up overnight with the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, and the biggest thing is that if we stop... we all lose. 

The future lies in reinventing ourselves with new ideas, as the world evolves and we must keep pace. The time has come to join forces and together position our precious country to compete internationally at the level these times demand, attracting investments that will revitalize our economy and make us stronger and more sustainable. 

In the blink of an eye, we'll be in 2030. That's the future of competition. 

For more than 10 years, members of the relief agencies had been warning of the danger posed by that wall due to the cracks it had.

SANTIAGO- One of the retaining walls on Las Carreras Avenue collapsed Tuesday afternoon in this Cibao city, protecting the land where dozens of residential apartments and commercial businesses are located.

The collapse occurred around 5:00 p.m. due to the rains that have been occurring in the city in recent hours.

Civil Defense reported that no one was injured because the structure collapsed when no vehicles or people were passing by.

The rescue agency closed the road until representatives from the Ministry of Public Works and the mayor's office arrived at the scene to conduct assessments.

The affected wall runs along Las Carreras Avenue toward the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration. Rescuers fear that the structure on the other side of the avenue, where the Fire Department headquarters and the plaza housing the Santiago Municipal Electoral Board are located, may also collapse.

For more than 10 years, members of the relief agencies had been warning of the danger posed by that wall due to the cracks it had.

Las Carreras Avenue is one of the busiest land transportation routes in Santiago during working days.

Source: Diario Libre

On National Engineer's Day, we pay tribute to the men and women who responsibly carry out the great task of building towns and cities, filling our society with progress and quality. Happy Engineer's Day!.

SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Republic celebrates “National Engineer’s Day” today. The Royal Spanish Academy defines engineering as the body of knowledge oriented towards the invention and use of techniques for harnessing natural resources or for industrial activity.

Reviewing different literature reveals a variety of engineering types, some of which place the number of specialties in this profession at up to 50, where new specialties are emerging every day with the advancement of technology and science.

Civil engineering, which we will be discussing, encompasses a broad area of ​​knowledge and is closely linked to the development of cities, and therefore, to the progress of societies. We often categorize a country's cities as metropolises to describe the modernity of their infrastructure, roads, and urban planning, which gives us an idea of ​​the level of well-being or high quality of life of their citizens.

Civil engineering is the engineering of innovation in cities; it defines their design and is therefore the profession of the present and the future.

Their practices may have begun between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia when humans began to abandon nomadic existence, creating the need for shelter.

 Civil engineering has a strong organizational component that achieves its application in the management of the urban environment, achieving a notable harmony between man and nature, not only in relation to construction, but also to maintenance, control and planning of human life in the environment designed from this same perspective.

This includes territorial organization plans such as disaster prevention, traffic and transport control, water resource management, public services, waste treatment and all those activities that guarantee the well-being of humanity that develops its life on the civil works built and operated by engineers.

“The very essence of Civil Engineering is centered on the responsibility of conceiving and materializing infrastructure works, indispensable for the provision of public services: communications and transport, water for cities, industries and agriculture; energy, building for housing, commerce, industry, health, education and tourism; and in recent decades concerned and occupied with the preservation of the environment.”.

Its origin

The first engineers were architects, who built walls to protect cities and the first buildings, for which they used some engineering skills.

The development of engineering passed from culture to culture, including Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Eastern and European, until what it is now in our time.

Before the Industrial Revolution (18th-19th centuries), civil engineering as a discipline did not exist. Builders inherited their knowledge, and architects used fine art techniques in their constructions.

The use of low-strength masonry in monumental and sculptural proportions prevailed. Leonardo da Vinci, René Descartes, and Isaac Newton were developing the foundations of engineering sciences, and in 1747, the Royal School of Bridges and Roads of Paris was created, and the term "Civil Engineering" emerged to differentiate infrastructure works from military constructions. 

With the invention of reinforced concrete to improve the construction of houses (William Wilkinson, 1854) and the large-scale production of steel (Henry Bessmer, 1856), during the Second Industrial Revolution (1850-1914), the transformation of urban buildings began and construction acquired an industrial character.

Engineers like Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923) are renowned for breaking with tradition by combining elegance with innovation, using new technologies (low corrosion steel) with efficient designs that optimize the size and shape of structural elements.

Civil engineering is everywhere and has changed the way we live. We see this clearly in self-sustaining buildings, where the aim is to use resources more efficiently, optimizing savings and investment processes, which represents a world of difference compared to the way of life of early humans.

Today, this profession faces challenges that past generations could barely imagine. Today, it is a priority to minimize the impact on ecosystems, take advantage of resources through smarter use, improve energy efficiency, and innovate in the development of sustainable alternative materials.

According to the analysis of the global outlook for civil engineering in 2025, carried out by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the world will be very different from today's; the population will increase and remain on the move, constantly relocating from one place to another, which will intensify the need to create sustainability in the face of the demand for energy, drinking water, transportation, and infrastructure.

It is not possible to conceive of societies without the helping hand of a civil engineer who, with his infrastructures and buildings, invade the walls, streets and communities of enormous and modern works.

Sources: CATDIC

My university degree

Ferrovial blog

ChooseCareer.net

The official information that builds

Marist University (Mérida)

SANTO DOMINGO –Civil engineering is a field rich in functions, offering professionals in this branch a wide range of career options. Here are 20 of the main ones:

1. Buildings for commercial, residential and state use.
2. Maintenance of aqueducts and their corresponding drainage works, sanitary installations such as drinking water systems, sewage systems and wastewater treatment.
   Hydromechanical installations (water supply).
3. Projects aimed at harnessing hydroelectric power and other alternative sources.
   Urban, rural, and regional sanitation works, and erosion control works.
4. Development of state-run urban planning and organization of public services related to hygiene, transportation and communications.
5. River correction and regulation works.
6. Testing and consulting services related to: Soil mechanics and geological studies.
   Seismic risk analysis and seismic resistance in buildings.
7. Urban, rural and transport planning, evaluating its profitability and social impact.
8. Urban permits and subdivisions under the horizontal property regime.
9. Traffic studies in urban and rural areas.
10. Water resources management and hydrological studies.
11. Construction of civil works, working as a project designer or site manager.
12. Topographic, cartographic, geodetic and cadastral work, drawing the graphic representation of a terrain in the form of a map that shows the relief of its surface.
13. Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering and University Administration.
14. Inspector of public infrastructure: housing, buildings, roads, water supply and treatment.
15. In the Geology Area, it collects, evaluates and analyzes information, topographic, soil characteristics, adverse environmental conditions such as strong winds or seismic activity to establish a firm foundation design, complying with safety and feasibility requirements.
16. Structural analyst, performs calculations and computations of the work, beams, columns, foundations and evaluates through tests the resistance of the materials used in the construction and their mechanical properties (such as steel, concrete, soils, rocks, plastics), as well as the loads they support, in addition to considering the capacity to resist strong seismic impacts.
17. Consulting in the public sector; their services are required in the ministries of Public Works, Housing, and others.
18. Consulting in the private sector, collaborating with construction companies, consulting firms, professional association companies, joint ventures and private contractors for recovery and maintenance works.
19. In the free exercise of the profession, he can dedicate himself to teaching, private consulting, giving technical courses and additionally has the license to approve and certify the execution of works verifying that they comply with the regulatory parameters.
20. Structural analysis.

Source: Beta Engineer