System Requirements for Viewing this Course
Sponsored by ASCE Continuing Education and the Coastal, Oceans, Ports & Rivers Institute (COPRI).
The teleconference method allows the audience to see this webinar straight from my office, without having to travel. I have attended many ASCE webinars and find that ASCE knows how to put together an effective webinar. - Anonymous Attendee
INSTRUCTOR: William H. McAnally, Ph.D., P.E., D.NE, F.ASCE
Course Length: 1 hour
Purpose and Background
Navigation engineering is a civil engineering specialty that involves the life-cycle planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of safe, secure, reliable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable navigable waterways (channels, structures, and support systems) used to move people and goods by waterborne vessels. It includes many existing engineering fields related to waterways and combines them into one specific discipline that supports the United States Marine Transportation System (MTS) .
The importance of the Marine Transportation System cannot be overstated. Despite growth in communications and high speed transportation, the nation's ports and waterways remain the critical backbone of our economy and national defense. Considering that in the United States:
- Waterborne transport moves more than 95% of imports and exports - oil, grain, autos, coal, and many other goods
- 134 million passengers are moved each year via navigable waterways
- Waterways support a $100 billion commercial and recreational fishing industry
- Rapid deployment of Navy and Coast Guard ships is essential for both national defense and shipment of materials in peacetime
- One gallon of fuel moves a ton 514 miles by barge compared to 202 miles by rail and 59 miles by truck
This webinar presents the basics of the specialty area of navigation engineering - what it is, who's doing it, and where its information resources are available.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the basics of navigation engineering
- Learn about the Marine Transportation System (MTS)
- Understand the roles of Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, and The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in supporting the MTS through navigation engineering
- Learn how to get started in locating and using standard criteria for design, construction, and maintenance of navigation facilities
- Find out where to get additional information and education in navigation engineering
Seminar Benefits
- Learn the basics of the growing new specialty of navigation engineering and what it means for your job
- Learn how your business or agency can benefit from the U.S. Marine Transportation System Understand the navigation engineering roles of the Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, and NOAA
- Identify opportunities for navigation engineering services and position yourself for jobs in this growing specialty
- Help clients understand the need for professional navigation engineering services
Intended Audience
The seminar will be useful to those who work in the private sector, beginning engineers in the Corps of Engineers and other government agencies involved with navigation engineering, and also to those who advise these organizations such as attorneys. The discussion, though technical, involves no equations. Non-engineers can follow the material.
Webinar Outline
- What is the Marine Transportation System?
- What is navigation engineering?
- How do channels, locks, and ports function?
- What do federal agencies and consulting firms do in navigation engineering?
- Who practices navigation engineering?
- What standard criteria should I use?
- How can I build my expertise?