CHA, Inc. of Keene was named a finalist in the American Council of Engineering Companies' 45th annual Engineering Excellence Awards competition. The company won for a statewide bridge evaluation program it conducted for the NH Department of Transportation.
CHA developed innovative procedures to assess the vulnerability of 170 bridges to scour, which is the erosion and accumulation of riverbed sediment that happens around a bridge's foundation during a flood. Scour is the leading cause of bridge failures in the U.S., and the state's DOT needed an accurate assessment in order to prioritize repairs and ensure the safety of the public.
The project team's flood monitoring plan combined digital mapping information with real-time National Weather Service data, allowing each bridge's condition to be evaluated in real time before, during, and after a flood or significant rainfall. The project yielded an innovative monitoring system that other states may now adapt to ensure the integrity of their transportation infrastructure.
The project is among 161 engineering projects nationwide that were recognized as preeminent engineering achievements for 2010. Judging for the Engineering Excellence Awards took place in February, by a panel of more than 30 engineers, architects, government representatives, media members, and academics. Criteria for the awards included uniqueness and originality, technical, social and economic value, complexity, and success of the projects in meeting goals.
CHA will be recognized with the other winners at the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, to be held Friday, April 1, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C.
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