ASCE Metropolitan Section

The International Group was developed to create a forum within the Metropolitan area for showcasing and learning about international projects, their designers, design and construction methods, international design codes and standards, and ways that we can interact within the international marketplace. One way this is accomplished is through free technical lectures that we offer throughout the year to ASCE members and to the general public. Prominent civil engineering projects across the globe have been discussed at previous seminars organized by the International Group.

The International Group invites all Met Section members with an interest in international civil engineering works of all disciplines to join in the group's efforts, to help develop its lecture and seminar series, and to aid in offering hospitality and assistance to Met Section visitors. The group has also prepared a pocket-size booklet titled A Guide to Civil Engineering Projects in and around New York City that describes many of the world's foremost engineering projects—bridges, tunnels, highways, skyscrapers and buildings, airports, water supply, and environmental systems—that are located in New York City and its environs.

Structural Design of the Water Cube of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

If you watched Michael Phelps rewrite history during the 2008 Summer Olympics, you definitely couldn't miss the impressive design of the Water Cube, the venue for the swimming and diving events where Phelps won an unprecedented eight gold medals. Inspired by Kelvin's "Foam Theory," the National Aquatics Center—commonly known as the Water Cube—was another star of the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Designed to resemble soap bubbles, the rectangular shape of the Water Cube was intended to coordinate with the circular design and philosophy of the neighboring National Stadium (Bird's Nest).

On April 30, 2008, Christian Ingerslev, P.E. gave a presentation on the multidisciplinary design, construction, and management of the Bosphorus Tunnel (Marmaray), a new rail link between Europe and Asia under the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. Designed to the most stringent seismic criteria corresponding to a 7.5 magnitude event on the Richter scale and to the fire safety requirements corresponding to a 100 MW design basis fire, this project is over 70 km long and includes 12.5 km of bored and cut-cover tunnels, up to 40 underground and surface stations, new track, signaling systems for intercity and commuter trains and extensive maintenance facilities.