the entire print version of this month`s magazine
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the entire print version of this month`s magazine
VOLUME LIX • NUMBER 5 • May 2010 • $3.75 g n i n n a l P n w e O N s u c o F y s t l i e l i d b o a M n i a t s u S n a b Ur s d te ofile a pd ’ Pr m U ts o e Se ltan ng.c u e ns t va o a C Chewning & Wilmer, Inc. Contractors, Founded 1924 Virginia Registration #6 Machinery Installation and Process Piping Electric and Pneumatic Instrumentation Systems Robert Zahn, President John Williams, Executive Vice-President Jay Atkinson, Art Nelson, Carson Rogers Vice-Presidents Jed Wilson, P.E., Consultant Telephone (804) 231-7373 Fax (804) 231-1330 2508 Mechanicsville Turnpike Richmond, VA 23223 www.ChewningandWilmer.com Not Yet A Subscriber?! Take advantage of our ‘Money Back’ guarantee to enjoy the only publication dedicated exclusively to Virginia’s Engineers. Join the thousands of other professionals already in the know for just pennies an issue. 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Volume LIX Number 5 May 2010 THE TOP OF THE NEWS 4 Urban Sustainability Focus of New Planning Models 7 Earlier Cancer Detection New Scanner Holds Promise 9 Creating Small Antennas Engineered Metamaterials Make Possible Pollution and Nanotechnology 10 Engineers Study Relationship Analyzing ‘Green’ Innovation 14 Monitoring Environmental Impact Twisting Rigid Structures 16 Findings Reveal Light Has Ability Jewel Beetles Provide Lessons Scientists Unlock Optical Secrets 19 THE BEST OF THE FEATURES Engineers On The Move 12 Professional Directory 21 Bits and Pieces 21 Index to Advertisers 25 Editorial Comment 26 The Virginia Engineer (ISSN 0504-4251/USPS 900-720) is published monthly, all rights reserved. Tel: 1-877-779-3527. Postmaster: Forward address changes to 7401 Flannigan Mill Rd., Mechanicsville, VA 23111. Address all correspondence to Richard O. Carden, II, at the address above. Subscriptions: 1 year-$20.00; 2 years-$38.00; 3 years-$55.00; single copy, $3.75 plus S&H, except January Annual Directory Issue, $25.00 plus S&H. Editorial and advertising deadline: 20th of month prior to the month printed. Periodical postage paid at Mechanicsville, VA and other offices. www.vaeng.com www.vaeng.com – Page 3 THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER New Planning Models Focus On Urban Sustainability Engineers and energy companies are working diligently to develop plans for alternative energy production that will allow humans to continue to pursue otherwise unsustainable consumption patterns. In contrast, Steve Luoni, a professor of architecture at the University of Arkansas and director of the University of Arkansas Community Design Center, attacks the problem of limited resources from a radically different perspective. Emphasizing the city as ecology, or ecosystem, Prof. Luoni and his colleagues in the University of Arkansas Community Design Center lead the movement toward intelligent design of urban landscapes that will simultaneously reduce energy consumption and limit the human impact on the environment. Prof. Luoni presented the primary principles of this movement at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. Prof. Luoni focuses on six design models that demonstrate the essentials of what he identifies as recombinant ecologies, which are composed of urban centers and landscapes that feature: • Watershed urbanism, or a “re-wilding” of rivers and creeks; • Context-sensitive highway design; • Green and shared streets; Page 4 – May 2010 • Transit-oriented development; • Urban forestry and, perhaps most importantly; • Low-impact development. “Recombinant ecologies offer new forms of energy management requiring less fossil fuels by recombining social and environmental measures into economic development,” Prof. Luoni explains. “They solve problems through biological and urban patterns simultaneously. Their design promotes self-organization, emergence, resilience and productive forms of feedback between environment and the city. Done properly, recombinant ecologies manage natural capital in the delivery of environmental and urban services.” All well and good, but how, exactly, do city planners, land developers, engineers, and a host of affected parties go about solving modern urban problems, including such intractable challenges as non point-source pollution, effective storm-water management and filtration, poor flood control and water quality, erosion and climate disturbance, through biological patterns? Prof. Luoni and his colleagues plan to demonstrate the principles efficacy using Campus Hydroscapes, a 2,000-foot watershed regeneration project for College Branch on the University of Arkansas campus. Prof. Luoni and his colleagues propose restoring ecological functions to an urban stream that cuts through the university’s athletic complex. While massive structures, such as the university’s football stadium and basketball arena, cannot be moved, the design team proposes “re-wilding” exposed sections of the creek by re-introducing native trees and plants to stabilize creek banks. They also will incorporate nature’s riffle-glide-pool channel design to better control erosion and restore the broader flood plain, including parking areas with permeable surfaces, to mitigate flooding and allow nature to treat pollutants and other chemicals on site. The plan also includes creation of a park and recreational areas along the river bank corridor. The concept for Campus Hydroscapes exemplifies what urban designers and ecologists typically identify as watershed urbanism. Using ecological science as its basis, watershed urbanism proposes the restoration of ecological functions, such as erosion control, waste treatment and carbon sequestration, in riparian areas while forming urban networks of linear parks, neighborhood open spaces and pedestrian facilities. With assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), University of Arkansas ecological engineering professor Marty Matlock and McClelland Consulting Engineers Inc., a Little Rock, Arkansas-based consulting engineering firm, Prof. Luoni’s team is also working on Porchscapes, a 43-unit, af- The University of Arkansas Community Design Center’s 2,000-foot watershed regeneration project for College Branch on the University of Arkansas campus will restore ecological functions to an urban stream that cuts through the university’s athletic complex. Courtesy of the University of Arkansas Community Design Center. fordable neighborhood development on an 8-acre site located in southeast Fayetteville, Arkansas. The project is an example of lowimpact development, a type of residential or commercial development in which the design of streets and storm-water systems are modeled after nature in order to better manage rainfall locally through a vegetated treatment network thereby effectively retaining the water on site. This approach stands in sharp contrast to conventional infrastructure systems that simply transport runoff, through drainage grates and pipes, catch ment basins, curbs and gutters to a single collection/distribution point, thereby offering no ecological services beyond detention and storage, whereas low-impact development sustains a site’s pre-development, hydrologic state by using techniques that infiltrate, filter, store and evaporate storm-water runoff. Sustaining the site is accomplished through the use of a contiguous network of sediment filters, tree box filters, rainwater gardens, bioswales, infiltration basins and wet meadows. In the center’s study advocating political and grassroots support for construction of a light rail system, Visioning Rail Transit in Northwest Arkansas: Lifestyles and Ecologies, Prof. Luoni posits that northwest Arkansas could be a national model of smart growth if the region would progressively shape its expansion based on transit-oriented development rather than chasing expansion retroactively by building streets to reach new developments on the margins of its various communities. Prof. Luoni emphasizes that the geographical location and growth patterns of the region’s cities are ideal for light-rail transit. www.vaeng.com – Page 5 THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER Porchscapes, an affordable neighborhood development on an 8-acre site in southeast Fayetteville, is an example of low-impact development, where streets and storm-water systems are modeled after nature to manage rainfall locally through a vegetated treatment network that keeps water on site. Although he is convinced about the validity of this approach, Prof. Luoni certainly isn’t the first planner to argue that only fixed guide-way systems, such as subways and light rail, provide the impetus for developers to build walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods. According to Prof. Luoni, these fixed guide-way systems offer several advantages: they optimize a region’s transportation efficiency; they tend to generate revitalization of downtown commercial and residential space; they decrease land and energy consumption; and they facilitate easily accessible, neighborhood-based commerce as opposed to the suburban big box retail center. “A transportation system that includes rail provides more transit options,” Prof. Luoni says. “It increases access for transit-challenged populations while reducing congestion and individual transportation costs.” Page 6 – May 2010 Light rail systems serve to concentrate populations, which effectively relieves the stress of systems function most efficiently as peak-demand transportation systems. Automobiles and buses, as transportation modes, distribute populations and do not create economic and social benefits. “Viewing and designing the city as an ecosystem will facilitate lower energy and land consumption through novel solutions that leverage social creativity and a sense of place,” says Prof. Luoni, who holds the Steven L. Anderson Chair in Architecture and Urban Studies at the University of Arkansas. As the nation faces the continuing rise in energy costs plus increased suburban congestion, efficient land use planning and The University of Arkansas Community Design Center proposes a light rail system for northwest Arkansas, which center director Steve Luoni says could be a national model of smart growth. being forced to identify and de- development as well as effective velop more or different energy transportation options will besources, Prof. Luoni notes. These come ever more imperative. ## Scanner Holds Promise for Earlier Cancer Detection Perhaps no one can appreciate the importance of early cancer detection as much as Izora Armstrong. That’s because UVA Cancer Center researchers, using a first-of-its-kind hybrid breast imaging device, found what mammography, ultrasound, MRI and even a needle biopsy couldn’t. The unique device, the dual modality tomographic (DMT) breast scanner, developed by UVA researchers, has shown in its pilot study the ability to pinpoint to a much finer degree the exact location of breast masses – and, even more important, to more accurately distinguish between cancerous and harmless lesions. The pilot clinical study, led by Mark B. Williams, Ph.D., associate professor of radiology, biomedical engineering and physics at the University of Virginia, appears in a recent issue of Radiology. The DMT breast scanner works by marrying two cutting-edge imaging methods, one that obtains 3-D anatomical (structural) imaging and another that obtains 3-D biological (functional) imaging, into one integrated device. The machine runs the scans sequentially, obtaining both types of images with the breast in the same, immobilized position. “Using the most current breast imaging methods, only about one in four of all biopsied breast lesions are actually malignant -- that is, the positive predictive value is about 25 percent -- so there’s a great deal of room for improved imaging diagnostic capabilities,” says Dr. Williams. “Our pilot study indicates promising results toward reducing the number of false positive imaging diagnoses, which would therefore eliminate many unnecessary biopsies.” The scanner also is particularly useful in revealing the so-called wolf in sheep’s clothing for women with radiographically dense breasts. The millions of women with thicker than average breast tissue or fibrous breasts continue to present a daunting diagnostic challenge for current breast Armstrong IVS Intelligent Variable Speed Pumps Sensorless technology automatically adjusts speed and pressure to match the system load at all times. • Preprogrammed data enables the pump to continuously identify the head and flow at any point, giving accurate pressure control without the need for external feedback signals. • Energy savings can pay for the initial pump cost in as little as two years. • Speed control increases the life of the pump and motor bearings. S. E. Burks Sales Company www.seburks.com • seb@seburks.com TOLL FREE: (800) 572-2875 www.vaeng.com – Page 7 THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER Imaging results from Armstrong's case (courtesy of Radiological Society of North America, Inc.). Figure A is the 3-D anatomical image and shows regions of radiodense breast tissue (the white areas). Figure B is the 3-D functional image and contains a dark region that signifies above average accumulation of the tracer. Figure C is a fusion of Figures A and B. Note that the region of high tracer accumulation, corresponding to the location of the cancer (marked with an arrow), is in the center of the most radiodense part of the breast. The circle indicates the region in which biopsy was performed based on the traditional clinical examination results. Results of that biopsy were negative. Photo courtesy University of Virginia Health System. imaging methods. Such was the case with Ms. Armstrong, who has fibrocystic disease and who several years ago had undergone two needle biopsies (with normal results). Most recently, her physician had found yet another suspicious spot on her mammogram and scheduled her for a breast biopsy, which came back normal -- negative for cancer. Fortunately for Ms. Armstrong, she had agreed prior to her biopsy to participate in the UVA pilot study testing the unique DMT scanning device developed by Dr. Williams and his team. And the results of these new, unique images told a different story – Ms. Armstrong had very early-stage breast cancer. The hybrid scanner used to detect her cancer combines 3-D digital x-ray breast tomosynthesis together with 3-D molecular breast imaging tomosynthesis, a recently developed technique that Page 8 – May 2010 uses intravenously injected compounds (tracers) that are absorbed to a much greater degree by malignant lesions than benign ones. A special camera positioned in close proximity to the breast then performs functional imaging of the entire breast, while the digital x-ray tomosynthesis obtains coregistered structural images. In Ms. Armstrong’s case, the tracers targeted exactly where the tiny, malignant mass was hidden – in the midst of a particularly radiodense region of her breast. “Despite using the latest clinically available imaging technologies and the most expert radiologists, breast cancers are still missed, especially in women with radiodense breasts,” says Dr. Williams. “This is why our research is so important for patients.” But, as Dr. Williams points out, this pilot clinical study of the 17 women tested could have far greater implications. “Our early results show that the DMT scanner is a feasible and accurate method for detecting and diagnosing breast cancer,” says Williams. “In our study, we not only were able to detect a missed cancerous lesion but we also corroborated every single benign diagnosis from biopsy results.” “These findings demonstrate an obvious need for larger studies to further prove the efficacy of this new device,” Dr. Williams says. ## Metamaterials Enable Remarkably Small Antennas In an advance that might interest Q-Branch, the gadget makers for James Bond, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and partners from industry and academia have designed and tested experimental antennas that are highly efficient and yet a fraction of the size of standard antenna systems with comparable properties. The novel antennas may be useful in ever-shrinking and proliferating wireless systems such as emergency communications devices, micro-sensors and portable ground-penetrating radars to search for tunnels, caverns and other geophysical features. NIST engineers are working with scientists from the University of Arizona (Tucson) and Boeing Research & Technology (Seattle, Wash.) to design antennas incorporating metamaterials, materials engineered with novel, often microscopic, structures to produce unusual properties. The new antennas radiate as much as 95 percent of an input radio signal and yet defy normal design parameters. Standard antennas need to be at least half the size of the signal wavelength to operate efficiently; at 300 MHz, for instance, an antenna would need to be half a meter long. The experimental antennas are as small as one-fiftieth of a wavelength and could shrink further. In their latest prototype de vice, the research team used a metal wire antenna printed on a small square of copper measuring less than 65 millimeters on a side. The antenna is wired to a signal source. Mounted on the back of the square is a “Z element” that acts as a metamaterial—a Z- This Z antenna tested at the National shaped strip of copper with Institute of Standards and Technology an inductor (a device that is smaller than a standard antenna with stores energy magnetically) comparable properties. Its high efficienin the center. cy is derived from the “Z element” inside “The purpose of an an- the square that acts as a metamaterial, tenna is to launch energy into greatly boosting the signal sent over the free space,” explains NIST air. The square is 30 millimeters on a engineer Christopher Hollo- side. Photo Credit: C. Holloway/NIST. way, “But the problem with antennas that are very small are much more ‘frequency agcompared to the wavelength is ile.’ It’s possible we could tune that most of the signal just gets them to work at any frequency reflected back to the source. The we want, on the fly,” to a degree metamaterial makes the antenna not possible with conventional behave as if it were much larger antenna designs. than it really is, because the anThe Z antennas were detenna structure stores energy signed at the University of Ariand re-radiates it.” Conventional zona and fabricated and partialantenna designs, Dr. Holloway ly measured at Boeing Research explains, achieve a similar effect & Technology. The power effiby adding bulky “matching net- ciency measurements were carwork” components to boost effi- ried out at NIST laboratories in ciency, but the metamaterial sys- Boulder, Colo. The ongoing retem can be made much smaller. search is sponsored by the DeEven more intriguing, Dr. Hollo- fense Advanced Research Projway says, “these metamaterials ects Agency. ## www.vaeng.com – Page 9 THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER Relationship Between Pollution and Nanotechnology Studied of nanomaterials. The plans include new approaches, such as creating a predictive toxicology model based on cell assays and building ecosystems to track As researchers around the natural and manufactured nano- nanoparticles. world hasten to employ nano- materials in ecosystems. In one of the novel ways Dr. technology to improve producHeadquartered at Duke Uni- Marr is conducting her tests, she tion methods for applications versity, CEINT is a collaboration and her colleagues are growthat range from manufacturing between Duke, Carnegie Mellon ing human lung cells and placmaterials to creating new phar- University, Howard University, ing them in chambers that leave maceutical drugs, a separate but and Virginia Tech as the core the lung cell surface exposed to equally compelling challenge air. This placement allows for direct contact of the cells with exists. aerosolized particles at the airHistory has shown that preliquid interface (ALI). One of vious industrial revolutions, such as those involving asbestos Dr. Marr’s post-doctoral reand chloroflurocarbons, have searchers, Amara Holder, and had some serious environmental colleagues from Berkeley have previously exposed the cells to impacts. Might nanotechnology particles in diesel exhaust and a also pose a risk? Linsey Marr and Peter Vike- Peter Vikesland and Linsey Marr, methane flame. They compared sland, faculty members in the both associate professors of civil the ALI exposure to conventionVia Department of Civil and En- and environmental engineering at al in vitro exposure, where parvironmental Engineering at Vir- Virginia Tech, are members of the ticles are suspended in a liquid ginia Tech, are part of the nation- national Center for the Environmen- cell culture medium. “Our findings showed the al Center for the Environmental tal Implications of NanoTechnology Implications of NanoTechnol- (CEINT) at Virginia Tech. They are ALI exposure inhalation route is exploring the impact of nanotechogy (CEINT), funded by the Naa relevant in vitro approach and nology research on the environtional Science Foundation (NSF) ment. Virginia Tech Photo. is more responsive than the conin 2008. Along with Michael Hoventional exposure to particle chella, University Distinguished suspensions,” they concluded. Professor of Geosciences, they members, as well as investigators Now, Dr. Marr and her colleagues represent Virginia Tech’s efforts from the University of Kentucky are repeating the exposure with in a nine-member consortium and Stanford University. CEINT engineered nanoparticles. The awarded $14 million over five academic collaborations in the researchers will enhance the deyears, starting in 2008. Virginia U.S. also include on-going activ- position of smaller particles by Tech’s portion is $1.75 million. ities coordinated with faculty at generating an electric field and CEINT is dedicated to eluci- Clemson, North Carolina State, “relying on the electrophoretic dating the relationship between UCLA, and Purdue universities. force to drive charged particles a vast array of nanomaterials, At Virginia Tech, CEINT is part to the cell surface.” from natural, to manufactured, of the University’s Institute for “With this design, lung cells to those produced incidentally Critical Technology and Applied can be exposed to substantial by human activities, and their Science (ICTAS). numbers of aerosolized engipotential environmental expoScientists and engineers at neered nanoparticles, such as sure, biological effects, and eco- the center have outlined plans to silver and metal oxides, as single logical consequences. It will fo- conduct research on the possible particles rather than large agcus on the fate and transport of environmental health impacts glomerates,” Dr. Marr explained. Page 10 – May 2010 A challenge in tests of nanoparticles’ toxicity has been that very small particles like to form aggregates, so testing interactions of the smallest particles with cells requires special approaches. According to results from another study by Virginia Tech civil and environmental engineer Dr. Marr, poor air quality apparently affects the running times of women in marathons. Dr. Marr’s findings come from a comprehensive study that evaluated marathon race results, weather data, and air pollutant concentrations in seven marathons over a period of eight to 28 years. The top three male and female finishing times were compared with the course record and contrasted with air pollutant levels, taking into consideration high temperatures that were detrimental to performance. Higher levels of airborne particles were associated with slower running times for women, while men were not significantly affected, Dr. Marr said. This may be due to the smaller size of women’s tracheas, which makes it easier for certain particles to deposit there and possibly to cause irritation. “Although pollution levels in these marathons rarely exceeded national standards for air quality, performance was still affected,” Dr. Marr said. Her work, done in collaboration with Matthew Ely, an exercise physiologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, appears in the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. Her studies were conducted where major U.S. marathons are located such as New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, where pollution tends to be highest. Although the person might not be significantly impacted by low-yet-still-acceptable air quality, marathoners are atypical because of their breathing patterns, she said. “Previous research has shown that during a race, marathon runners inhale and exhale about the same volume of air as a sedentary person would over the course of two full days,” Dr. Marr said. “Therefore, runners are exposed to much greater amounts of pollutants than under typical breathing conditions.” Particulate matter appeared to be the only performance-altering factor in air quality, with carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide levels not impacting race times. Dr. Marr is also a past recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program Award, supporting her work with air pollution, particularly how to measure air pollutant emissions. She is also a member of the national Center for Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology, funded by the NSF. This center is dedicated to determining the relationship between a vast array of nanomaterials and their potential consequences for the environment. Dr. Marr came to Virginia Tech in 2003 after a year of post-doctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She completed her Ph.D. in environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, where she was a NSF Graduate Research Fellow and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STAR Graduate Research Fellow. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science at Harvard University in 1996. ## EnerSys™ has the power you want, where you want it, with a complete range of UPS batteries and a service network to support your mission critical 7x24 applications, worldwide. 2260 Dabney Road Richmond, VA 23230 800-332-7316 www.ipsofva.com www.vaeng.com – Page 11 In-depth coverage of Engineers and Their Colleagues On The Move including photographs is available at www.vaeng.com Anderson & Associates, Inc. would like to welcome Ron Matney, II, to their staff as Environmental Scientist/Geologist and congratulate Keli Ratcliffe, CPSM on her promotion to Marketing Director. Dewberry has announced the following six promotions in the firm’s consulting services practice area in the Fairfax office: Theodore C. Van Kirk, P.E., has been promoted to executive vice president. A recognized leader in the evaluation and development of multi-hazard mitigation measures, he holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola University and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University; Jerry Sparks, P.E., CFM, branch manager, has been promoted to vice president. A 20year veteran of natural hazard studies, Mr. Sparks is serving as the firm’s first climate change service line leader. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University; Jeff Poplin, GIS, business unit manager, geospatial and program integration services, has been promoted to associate vice president. With 25 years of industry experience, Mr. Poplin Page 12 – May 2010 holds a bachelor’s degree in Economic Geography from Western Carolina University; Jean Huang, P.E., CFM, department manager, has been promoted to senior associate. Ms. Huang holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and has more than 11 years’ experience supporting FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program in water resources engineering and GIS mapping; Maggie Mathis, CFM, department manager within the Hazard Engineering Services Division, has been promoted to associate vice president. With 26 years of industry experience, Ms. Mathis holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Maryland; and Shane Engel, GISP, project manager for geospatial integration services, has been promoted to associate. He holds a master’s degree in Geography from the University of Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree in GIS and Remote Sensing from James Madison University. Dewberry has also announced four promotions in the firm’s Fairfax headquarters: G. Matthew Miller, Jr., manager of construction services, has been promoted to associ- ate vice president. A 47-year industry veteran, with 14 years with the firm, Mr. Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in General Engineering from the United States Military Academy and a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Chris DePascale, P.E., a senior civil engineer, has been promoted to senior associate. He has 14 years of experience in civil engineering design and permitting. A graduate from the University of Connecticut, Mr. DePascale holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering; Margaret Bower, AICP, LEED AP, a senior planner, has been promoted to associate. Ms. Bower has over 15 years’ planning experience. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University, and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Michigan State University; and Kimberly V. Larkin, a wetland scientist, has been promoted to associate. A 24-year industry veteran, Ms. Larkin holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Ferrum College. Robert H. Bengtson, LS, manager of surveys, has been promoted to senior associate in Dewberry’s Danville office. He has played a significant part in the firm’s corporate focus on transmission line surveying. Facility Engineering Associates, P.C. is proud to announce that Kristin Moreno has earned the designation of LEED® Green Associate and David Cosaboon has earned the designation of LEED® Accredited Professional, Existing Building Operations and Maintenance (LEED AP EB O+M) awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. Michael D. Hess, an Environmental Project Engineer with MSA, P.C., recently passed the Professional Engineer’s exam, completing the requirements for licensing as a Virginia Professional Engineer. Mr. Hess earned his bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Youngstown State University and joined MSA in 2004. In the fall of 2009, he transferred from the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department to Environmental Sciences at MSA. Charles Bostian, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1969, Dr. Bostian has made significant contributions to the field of radio communications. Dr. Bostian held the Clayton Ayre Professorship in Electrical and Computer Engineering for six years, and was an Alumni Distinguished Professor from 2003 until his retirement. He received his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. Harold L. Martin Sr., recently named the 12th Chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T), is the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus for 2010. Since 2006, he had served as senior vice president for academic affairs of the multi-campus University of North Carolina. Dr. Martin holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from NCA&T and a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech. J.W. “Wally” Grant, professor of engineering science and mechanics in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech and former director of the Virginia Tech Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, has been named the university’s first Kevin P. Granata Faculty Fellow by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. The Fellowship was established in the memory and honor of the tenured professor who died during the tragic shooting on April 16th, 2007. Joining the Virginia Tech community almost 30 years ago, Dr. Grant received his bachelor’s degree from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Tulane University. Michael Vorster, David H. Burrows Professor of Construction Engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “David H. Burrows Professor Emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Dr. Burroughs, a 1942 Virginia Tech engineering graduate, received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Cape Town. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Stellenbosch. Owen Hughes, professor of aerospace and ocean engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “professor emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1988, he established a new method of designing ship structures. Dr. Hughes received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales (Australia). Roger Ehrich, professor of computer science in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the “professor emeritus” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Joining the Virginia Tech community in 1976, Dr. Ehrich was a pioneer in human-computer interaction research. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. ## www.vaeng.com – Page 13 THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER nanoparticles are widely used as coating materials in cookware and tableware and as ingredients in laundry liquids and clothes because of their annterest in tibacterial proper‘green’ innovaties. You can even tion means not just buy socks infused thinking big but also with silver nanovery, very, small. particles designed At least that’s to reduce bacteria the perspective from and odor. which Omowunmi “But what hapSadik, director of pens if we buy Binghamton Unithose socks and we versity’s Center for wash them?” Prof. Advanced Sensors Sadik asked. “The and Environmental nanoparticles end Systems, operates. up in our water Working to develop system.” sensors that would Little is known detect and identify about how these engineered nanoparand other engiticles, her research neered nanoparwill advance our unticles interact with derstanding of the our water systems, risks associated with the soil and the air. the environmental Some are known release and transfortoxins; others have mation of these tiny properties similar particles. to asbestos. And “Society has a it’s difficult, if not duty to not only downright imconsider the positive possible, to monisides of science and tor them. Current technology but also techniques rely on the not-so-desirable huge microscopes sides of technology Omowunmi Sadik, director of Binghamton University’s Center to identify nanoitself,” said Sadik, a for Advanced Sensors and Environmental Systems, is develop- particles, but the professor of chem- ing sensors that would detect and identify engineered nanopar- devices are not istry. “We need to ticles. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Cohen/Binghamton Univer- portable and do think not just about sity. not provide inforhow to make these mation about the nanoparticles but also about found that nanoparticles, par- toxicity of materials. their impact on human health ticles less than 100 nanometers Prof. Sadik and a Binghamin size, are now used in more ton colleague, Howard Wang, and the environment.” A survey by the Project on than 1,000 consumer products have received funding from the Emerging Nanotechnologies ranging from cars to food. Silver Environmental Protection Agen- Monitoring Nanotechnology’s Environmental Impact I Page 14 – May 2010 cy to design, create and test sen- as a sensor, but also for cleanup,” duce the use of solvents and result in manufacturing protocols sors for monitoring engineered Prof. Sadik said. that produce less nanoparticles and waste, she said. naturally occurring “Society has a duty to not only For instance, Prof. cell particles. consider the positive sides of science Sadik has used nano“We need to unparticles to transderstand the chemi- and technology but also the not-soform Chromium 6, cal transformation of desirable sides of technology itself,” a known carcinogen, these materials in the said Sadik, a professor of chemistry. into Chromium 3, ecosystem so we can which is benign. “I take action to pre- “We need to think not just about how do see the positive vent unnecessary ex- to make these nanoparticles but also side of it,” she said. posure,” Prof. Sadik about their impact on human health “We want to noted. and the environment.” Her lab has albe able to develop nanomaterials while ready created a memThat discovery and others avoiding the unintended consebrane that will not only trap a single nanoparticle but also pro- make Prof. Sadik believe that quences of such developments,” vide a means of signal genera- nanotechnology may also prove Prof. Sadik added. “We don’t tion. It uses cyclodextrin, whose useful in the remediation of en- want to stop development, but molecular structure resembles a vironmental pollutants. Green we do want to encourage retiny cup. “It can be used not only nanotechnology could even re- sponsibility.” ## Call Chromalox ® Heating Solutions For ALL Your Products and Processes Heating Elements Tubular, Strip, Ring, Disc, Cartridge, Band Cast-In, Thin Blade, Silicone Laminate, Flexible Controls Process Heaters Immersion, Screwplug, Flanged, Over-the-side, Circulation, Process Air, Process Radiant General Purpose: Blower Convection Heavy Duty Blower, Hazardous Duty: Blower, Convection Radiant, Portable Complete Systems: Oil, Water Boilers, Steam Generators, Electric Vaporizers, Tank Heaters Global Manufacturer & Designer of “Electric Heating System Solutions” Having . . . • First Name In Electric Heat • World Wide Application & Engineering Assistance • More Than 80 Years of Experience • Large Stock Inventory • Custom Design Capability • Immediate Customer Delivery • Broad Product Line • Highly Trained Customer Support Temp. Controls, Monitors, Overtemp. Controls, SCR Components, Power Control Panels, Standard, Custom Sensors, Accessories TEL: (804) 755-6007 Heat Transfer Systems Comfort Heaters Represented in Virginia by Heating Cable Dominion Technical Sales, Inc. Richmond, Virginia Self Regulating: Freeze Protection, Temp. Maintenance Constant Wattage, Mineral Insulated, Installation Kits, Accessories, Controls, Power Control Panels www.dominiontechnicalsales.com FAX: (804) 755-7443 800-851-4328 www.vaeng.com – Page 15 THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER Unexpected Findings Reveal Light Can Twist Rigid Structures professor in the departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering who was also involved in the experiments. The twisted nanon findings that took the ex- ginning," Prof. Kotov said. "To particle ribbons are likely to lead perimenters three years to be honest, it took us three and to the superchiral materials, the believe, University of Michigan a half years to really figure out professors predict. To begin the experiment, the (U-M) engineers and their col- how photons of light can lead to laborators have demonstrated such a remarkable change in rig- researchers dispersed nanoparthat light itself can twist ribbons id structures a thousand times ticles of cadmium telluride in a water-based of nanoparticles. solution. They Matter readchecked on them ily bends and intermittently twists light. with powerful That's the mechmicroscopes. Afanism behind ter about 24 hours optical lenses under light, the and polarizing nanoparticles 3-D movie glasshad assembled es. But the oppothemselves into site interaction flat ribbons. Afhas rarely been ter 72 hours, they observed, said had twisted and Nicholas Kotov, bunched together principal invesin the process. tigator on the But when the project. Kotov is nanoparticles a professor in the were left in the departments of dark, distinct, Chemical Engilong, straight ribneering, Biomedical Engineering After 72 hours of exposure to ambient light, strands of nanoparticles bons formed. "We discovand Materials twisted and bunched together. Photo credit: Nicholas Kotov. ered that if we Science and Enmake flat ribbons gineering. in the dark and then illuminate While light has been known bigger than molecules." to affect matter on the molecular Prof. Kotov and his colleagues them, we see a gradual twisting, scale, bending or twisting mol- had set out in this study to create twisting that increases as we ecules a few nanometers in size, "superchiral" particles, spirals of shine more light," Prof. Kotov it has not been observed causing nano-scale mixed metals that explained. "This is very unusual such drastic mechanical twisting could theoretically focus vis- in many ways." The light twists the ribbons to larger particles. The nanopar- ible light to specks smaller than ticle ribbons in this study were its wavelength. Materials with by causing a stronger repulsion between one and four microm- this unique "negative refractive between nanoparticles in them. The twisted ribbon is a new eters long. A micrometer is one- index" could be capable of promillionth of a meter. ducing Klingon-like invisibility shape in nanotechnology, Prof. "I didn't believe it at the be- cloaks, said Sharon Glotzer, a Kotov said. Besides superchiral I Page 16 – May 2010 materials, he envisions clever applications for the shape and the technique used to create it. Sudhanshu Srivastava, a postdoctoral researcher in his lab, is trying to make the spirals rotate. "He's making very small propellers to move through fluid— nanoscale submarines, if you will," Prof. Kotov said. "You often see this motif of twisted structures in mobility organs of bacteria and cells." The nanoscale submarines could conceivably be used for drug-delivery and in microfluidic systems that mimic the body for experiments. This newly-discovered twisting effect could also lead to microelectromechanical systems that are controlled by light. And it could be utilized in lithography, or microchip production. Prof. Glotzer and Aaron Santos, a postdoctoral researcher in her lab, performed computer simulations that helped Prof. Kotov and his team better understand how the ribbons form. The simulations demonstrated that under certain circumstances, the complex combination of forces between the tetrahedrally-shaped nanoparticles could conspire to produce ribbons of just the width observed in the experiments. A tetrahedron is a pyramid-shaped, three-dimensional polyhedron. "The precise balance of forces leading to the self-assembly of ribbons is very revealing," Prof. Glotzer said. "It could be used www.nhyates.com 1-800-878-8181 Mark Turner Moneta, VA 800-878-8181 Todd Kampfmueller Virginia Beach, VA 757-437-0300 Marty Smith Toano, VA 804-200-6716 to stabilize other nanostructures made of non-spherical particles. It's all about how the particles want to pack themselves." Other collaborators include researchers from the University of Leeds in the UK, Chungju National University in Korea, Argonne National Laboratory, Pusan National University in Korea and Jiangnan University in China. The paper, “Light-Controlled Self-Assembly of Semiconductor Nanoparticles into Twisted Ribbons”, was published in a recent edition of Science. The research is funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. ## Pumps - Boilers - Valves - Tanks Water Heaters - Booster Systems Steam Specialties Flexible Connectors Expansion Loops Water Filters & Separators Richmond Office 804-200-6704 www.vaeng.com – Page 17 Positioning YOU For Success Helping companies offering commercial and industrial products and services to reach Virginia’s engineering community has been our only business for over 50 years. The Virginia Engineer gets your message in front of those who buy and/or specifiy — reaching more than 20,000 potential clients in private practice, industry, or government each and every month. Contact us today to learn how we can help position you for success. www.vaeng.com 804.779.3527 • sales@vaeng.com Page 18 – May 2010 Scientists Unlock Optical Secrets A macro image of the jewel beetle studied by Georgia Tech researchers. Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek. dation, Prof. Srinivasarao and colleagues Vivek Sharma, Matija Crne and Jung Ok Park used two different microscopy techniques to study the beetle shell’s surface structures. What they found confirmed earlier suggestions that the colors are produced from liquid crystalline material, which self-assembles into a complex arrangement of polygonal shapes each less than 10 microns in size. “When we looked at the beetle’s surface, we found tiles in the shapes mostly of hexagons, pentagons and heptagons,” Prof. Srinivasarao said. “These patterns arise, we think, because of the nature of the cholesteric liquid crystal and how the liquid crystal phase structures itself at the interface between air and fluid. We think these patterns result because the liquid crystal must have defects on the surface when exposed to air, and those defects create the patterns in the beetle’s shell or exoskeleton.” Because of simple geometric restrictions, the percentage of each shape depends on the curvature of that particular section of the shell. “This is A small green beetle may have some interesting lessons to teach scientists about optics and liquid crystals – complex mechanisms the insect uses to create a shell so strikingly beautiful that for centuries it was used in jewelry. In an article published in Science, researchers provide a detailed analysis of how a jewel beetle (Chrysina gloriosa) creates the striking colors using a unique helical structure that reflects light of two specific colors – and of only one polarization: left circular polarization. The reflecting structures used by the beetle consist predominately of three different polygonal shapes whose percentages vary with the curvature of the insect’s shell. “Iridescent beetles, butterflies, certain sea organisms and many birds derive their unique colors from the interaction of light with physical structures on their external surfaces,” said Mohan Srinivasarao, a professor in the School of Polymer, Textile and Fiber Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “Understanding how these structures give rise to the stunning colors we see in nature could benefit the quest for miniature optical devices and photonics.” With support from the National Science Foun Power & Heat Systems, LLC 800.552.6661 www.powerandheatsystems.com www.vaeng.com – Page 19 THE VIRGINIA ENGINEER really a pattern formation issue,” said Prof. Srinivasarao. “It is difficult to pack only hexagons onto a curved surface. On flat surfaces, there are fewer defects in the form of five- and sevensided cells.” In addition, the five- and seven-sided cells normally appear in pairs, an issue also dictated by the geometric difficulties of packing the shapes onto curved surfaces. The researchers found very similar structures in the ten different Georgia Tech Professor Mohan beetles purchased Srinivasarao holds a collection from an insect supof beetles and points to the one ply house. used in this study. Georgia Tech Liquid crystalPhoto: Gary Meek. line materials are valuable industrially, used in displays for laptop computers, portable music players and other devices. They are also used in children’s thermometers, where temperature affects the color of light reflected from the material. While the structures are determined genetically, their final form depends on the living conditions the beetle experiences during its growth and development, Prof. Srinivasarao noted. The fact that these jewel beetles reflect circular polarization was identified in the early 1900s by a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, A.A. Michelson, who hypothesized that the circular polarization might result from a “screw structure” within the insect’s cuticle, but he did not elaborate on it further. The solidified structures produced from a cholesteric liquid crystal and its defects on the beetle’s shell reflect bright green light with a wavelength of 530 nanometers mixed with yellow light in a wavelength of 580 nanometers. “The most dramatic way to get saturated color is through what this beetle does with the circularPage 20 – May 2010 ly-polarized light,” Prof. Srinivasarao said. “The reflection is very metallic and angle-dependent, and this is due to the helical pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal.” Sunlight normally contains light in equal quantities with a left circular polarization and a right circular polarization. The jewel beetle’s unique exoskeleton, however, reflects only light with a left circular polarization. How the beetles benefit from the specific color and polarization isn’t known for sure, but scientists speculate that the optical properties may confuse predators, causing them to misjudge the location of the insects – or suggest that they may not be good to eat. The colors may also help the insects find mates. In future research, Prof. Srinivasarao hopes to study other insects that use complex structures to create unique colors. He believes that scientists still have a lot to learn by studying the optical Georgia Tech Researcher Jung Ok Park with a laser scanning confocal microscope used for imaging the spiral structure of the individual polygons in the jewel beetle's exocuticle. Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek. structures of beetles and other insects. “We are just now starting to catch up with what these beetles have been doing for many, many years,” he said. “There are hundreds of thousand of species, and the way they generate color is just stunning – especially since it is all done with water-based systems, mostly based on the biopolymer chitin. This is self-assembly at several levels, and we need to learn a lot more to duplicate what these insects do.” ## DIRTY WATER is one of Mother Nature's overlooked assassins. More than one million people perish each year after imbibing it, and according to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people lack access to its clean counterpart. Purging water of parasites, viruses, bacteria and other grunge is nothing new. But unlike the fuel-guzzling, generator-driven systems of yesteryear, Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking a portable and self-sustaining purifier, one that would lend itself to ready usage on a stand-alone basis. Several companies responded when S&T issued an operational requirements document (ORD) for a self-contained, self-powered water purification system. The ORD was released in April 2009 through an S&T public-private partnership known as SECURE (System Efficacy through Commercialization, Utilization, Relevance and Evaluation). The document attracted the attention of several small businesses. Today, these firms are actively honing their systems to the ORD's specifications. When testing is complete, each firm will deliver its data to S&T. If a technology passes muster, S&T will certify it and the firms can start marketing their wares using the SECURE insignia. The SECURE seal of approval will help guide emergency managers who must purchase water purification systems. One of the proposed solutions is WorldWater and Solar Technology’s MaxPure. This lightweight and portable water purifier can be flown in by helicopter or towed in by pick-up truck. Its seven cubic feet and 6,200 pounds arrive on its own trailer, which can be parked alongside any water source, as long as it gets sunlight. Put the system’s pump in the water, flip a switch, and within 20 minutes you’ll have a flow of thirst-quenching, life-saving water. At full capacity, it can generate up to 30,000 gallons a day. For daily operation, it needs five hours of sun exposure. Its six-foot by three-foot grid of solar panels can pocket the leftover exposure into a 31 kWh battery bank for cloudy conditions. The panels generate electricity, powering the pump to draw the water through a series of hoses and filters before storing it in a 2,500-gallon tank. Mobile MaxPure graphic courtesy of DHS S&T. DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES Bits & Pieces DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES Numerous other news items, updated weekly, are available at www.vaeng.com Call For Study of Air Quality The U.S. Senate recently passed legislation that could make air travel a little less stressful and much more healthy by calling for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a study of air quality in the cabins of U.S. airliners. The measure to protect the flying public from harmful toxins in cabin air planes was put forth by Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-Calif.) and approved by the Senate on March 22nd. In her address to the Senate, Sen. Feinstein supported her ar www.vaeng.com – Page 21 DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES Send new office announcements to news@vaeng.com! Page 22 – May 2010 gument for further study of the quality and safety of cabin air with a 2009 letter from ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Presidential Member William Harrison, in which he called on the FAA to “investigate and determine the requirements for bleed air contaminant monitoring and solutions to prevent bleed air contamination.” In the letter, Mr. Harrison urged the FAA to consider adopting ASHRAE Standard 161-2007, Air Quality Within Commercial Aircraft, which covers issues such as temperature, cabin pressure, air contaminants and ventilation rates. The standard also addresses chemical, physical and biological contaminants that could affect air quality as well. Methods of testing are provided for ensuring compliance with the standard’s requirements. Mr. Harrison’s letter was submitted to be included in the Congressional record. The measure now must be considered by both chambers for inclusion in the final bill to reauthorize the FAA. Jail Dedication Held A dedication ceremony was held on March 12th, 2010 to mark the official opening of the newly expanded and renovated New River Valley Regional Jail located in Dublin, Virginia in southwest Virginia. Simultaneously, the new facility was featured on the cover of Correctional News magazine, a national publication “dedicated to correctional facility construction, maintenance and operations.” The feature titled “Regional DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES For More Complete Information, Including Links, Visit the Consulting Firms’ Directory at www.vaeng.com DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES Effort,” highlighted the unique features of the facility expansion and the challenges faced by Project Architect Mark Swecker, AIA, LEED AP and the entire design team to meet the facility needs while maintaining feasible construction cost. Originally constructed in 1999, the Jail was initially designed for a general population of 371 based on certification by the Virginia Department of Corrections. Since that time, an increase in population growth in all classifications within the facility had pushed inmate population numbers to 700 plus. Due to these unexpected increases, an expansion and renovation to the existing facility was required. The project was completed under the construction budget of $55.2 million. Since this is a regional facility, the State of Virginia will reimburse the Jail Authority 50% of the total eligible project costs, which include construction and other eligible project costs. DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES Corrosion Expert Testifies on Chinese Drywall John R. Scully, professor of materials science and engineering, co-director of the Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia, and an internationally recognized corrosion expert, presented failure analysis reports on plumbing and wiring affected by Chinese drywall and testified about the case in the U.S. District Court in New Orleans in February. On April 8th, the judge in that case awarded seven Virginia families $2.6 million in damages for homes ruined by sulfuremitting drywall made in China, www.vaeng.com – Page 23 DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES MAYES ENGINEERING, INC. INDUSTRIAL – COMMERCIAL Mechanical • Electrical HVAC • Plumbing • Process Energy Management P. O. Box 4468 • 21 Timber Oak Court, Suite A Lynchburg, VA 24502 Tel: (434) 239-1616 • Fax: (434) 239-6164 800-283-1077 a decision that could affect how lawsuits by thousands of other homeowners are settled, according to the Associated Press. Before writing several expert reports concerning corrosion of copper and silver and testifying, Prof. Scully tested copper from appliances and electrical components in Virginia homes built with Chinese drywall. Prof. Scully found that copper components in lamps, HVAC units, heat pumps, light switches and other appliances were significantly corroded from the Chinese drywall’s emission of high levels of reduced sulfur gases. This corrosion could cause appliances to fail and possibly cause electrical fires through increases in contact resistance with corrosion product formation. According to Prof. Scully, evidence from Virginia homes was presented in the U.S. District Court before cases from other states because manufacturer stamps on drywall in Virginia homes showed a clear link between its Chinese origins and corroded plumbing and wiring. Prof. Scully’s findings on the corrosivity of Chinese drywall led the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue guidelines calling for homeowners to remove the toxic drywall. Chicken House Air Studied Significant cost reductions associated with keeping broiler chickens warm could result from research by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and university cooperators. Insulating, ventilating and heating broiler chicken houses can be expensive, especially when fuel prices are high, ac- Page 24 – May 2010 DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES A little ad may bring BIG results! Call Richard at 804-779-3527 DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES cording to study leader Joseph Purswell, an agricultural engineer at the ARS Poultry Research Unit at Mississippi State, Miss. He worked with Barry Lott, a retired professor at Mississippi State University, to investigate ways to reduce the energy costs of heating chicken houses, thus increasing profits for producers. They found that the air that gathers in broiler house attics can be as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the air outside. The attic air is at least 5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer about 70 percent of the time. Purswell and Lott developed a ventilation system that uses ceiling inlets to redistribute solar-heated attic air, as opposed to bringing in cooler, outside air. They began gathering operational data in 2006 from a Mississippi chicken producer who installed several broiler houses based on their design. The scientists concluded that circulating the warmer attic air within the chicken houses reduced the demand for heating fuel by about 20 to 25 percent. In one study in mild weather conditions, the technology reduced fuel use by 35 percent. Similar technology has been applied to swine and layer facilities, but this is the first research to examine whether the technology works with broiler houses, which have a significantly different construction. The newly developed ventilation system also reduces moisture and ammonia inside the houses, improving air quality. ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ## DIRECTORY OF ENGINEERING SERVICES For Complete Company Profiles, Including Site Links and Areas of Specialization Visit the Consulting Firms’ Directory at www.vaeng.com Index to Advertisers Applied Industrial Technologies . . 7 S. E. Burks Sales Company . . . . . 7 Chewning & Wilmer . . . . . . . . 3 D & S Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Dominion Technical Sales . . . . . . 15 Integrated Power Sources . . . . . . 11 Power & Heat Systems, LLC . . . . 19 Southeastern Engineering Sales . . . IBC Tate Engineering Systems . . . . . IFC Wetland Studies and Solutions . . 13 Wood Equipment Company . . . . BC N. H. Yates . . . . . . . . . . . 17 www.vaeng.com – Page 25 The Virginia Engineer A IIr Associates Publication Friday, April 23, 2010 ille, Virginia 23111 7401 Flannigan Mill Road • Mechanicsv Ms. Lisa P. Jackson n Agency Administrator - U. S. Environmental Protectio 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Dear Administrator Jackson, arkip by setting a positive example - what a rem ersh lead ed need h muc g idin prov ent ernm The federal gov ntly released some confusion, I refer specifically to the rece be e ther t Les h. roac app g risin surp and able ly 8 percent of sapeake Bay. Since federal agencies own near guidelines for restoring the health of the Che largest landinia, it is indeed refreshing to see one of the Virg in it of h muc ed, ersh wat bay the in the land a continuing part onsibility to be part of the solution rather than owners begin to aggressively address its resp overdue in implementation. of the problem. Even if the effort is decades rding to the auent guidelines, the report's initial focus, acco In formulating the new federal land managem Bay. Since ce of nearly half of the pollution entering the sour the as tion tribu con s ure' cult agri on thor, was termed as agriculspecifically dedicated to what is traditionally the federal government has very little land until reals is somewhat surprising. Surprising that is tice prac tion liza ferti g rdin rega ns atio end ture, recomm in the watershed. e 3.8 million acres, as the single largest crop som g erin cov s, gras s tifie iden rt repo the g rses, izin logic can grass, specifically lawns, golf cou ted volu con t wha by k, stoc live for hay Beyond pastures and wheat? modity in the same category as say corn or com ural cult agri an as d sifie clas be ys, or greenwa urban of Bay pollution, it is important to note that ce sour le sing est bigg the ably argu is ure While agricult According to the pollution source that continues to increase. nt ifica sign only the is ff runo rban subu and s that of t of all land uses, as much as 10 to 20 time men sedi t mos the te tribu con can sites n report, constructio ctively elimias parking lots, roof tops, and highways, effe such , aces surf e eabl erm Imp s. land ural agricult runoff on-site. ts as well as store and evaporate storm-water nate the land's natural ability to filter pollutan the midst of reviewfederal government, Virginia is currently in the of est beh the at that you ind rem I ht Mig l maximum daily part of the federal strategy to establish tota ing and revising storm-water regulations as g specific ly some of the most vital information regardin nate ortu Unf ts. utan poll ous vari for ) DLs loads (TM EPA. tributors is still to be forthcoming from the pollutant levels and their most egregious con ent techniques project forward by using federal land managem n-up clea Bay the e mov to rt effo the laud ve, app I to help the states involved create comprehensi be ld wou h roac app ve ucti prod e mor a y as a guide. Possibl specific to their individual circumstances. forward-looking, and fact-based regulations Hopefully, Richard O. Carden, II neral Manager Richard O. Carden, II, Publisher/Ge rnet: www.vaeng.com aeng.com • Fax: (804) 779-3032 • Inte Tel: (804) 779-3527 • E-mail: sales@v Page 26 – May 2010 Your Place ... ...Or Ours Keeping Your Air Moving With Quality Fan Repair At Southeastern, every repair/rebuild project receives the same professional analysis and assessment, quality parts, and expert workmanship guaranteed to meet your requirements, whether in our shop or at your facility. Our trained technical staff can provide repair, rebuild, or replacement services for your existing fans and blowers including: • Impellers • Bearings • Housings • Motors • Shafts • Structural Get the job done right the first time — call Southeastern Engineering today! Southeastern Engineering Sales, Inc. 1001 Port Walthall Road • Colonial Heights, VA 23834 800-220-2210 Wood Equipment Company P. O. 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