How do you complete a project that requires 49 easements, runs through peoples’ backyards, employs heavy equipment and has extremely limited space in which to operate? As we learned during the design and construction of the Lake Katherine sewer line replacement project in Columbia, South Carolina, the only way to complete a task of this magnitude is by taking action, exchanging information, building trust and cooperation between engineers, contractors and the community as well as – crucially — thinking out of the box to find solutions. ... Read more

BSCES President's Report

By Katie Swanson, PE, Project Manager - Water Resources Engineer, CDM Smith

December was a busy and festive month for BSCES!

We continued to deliver high-quality technical programming and networking opportunities for our members. The second installment of the SEI Fall Mini Lecture Series took a deep dive into using AI for improving infrastructure management with speaker Dr. Fei Han from UNH. ... Read more

Energy That Fuels the Future of eVTOL

By AECOM Staff

For a Formula One racing car driver, agility, flexibility and a fast pit stop time can be the difference between winning and losing a race. The same nimbleness is needed to develop electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, a new, fully electric aircraft that takes off vertically like a helicopter and flies horizontally like a traditional airplane. For this burgeoning industry, agile, flexible energy planning and implementation solutions will be critical to winning their race and making eVTOLs a viable business venture. ... Read more

A Collaborative Approach to Micropile Design

By Mark Ruberti, PE, Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Kleinfelder, Inc.

Riverside Road in Springfield, Massachusetts has a long history of sinkholes, dating back as far as 2007. The sinkholes have been a focus of multiple past study and mitigation efforts. Recently , a sinkhole compromised a water transmission main at the intersection of Orchard Street and Riverside Road. The subsidence caused a valve to fail, leading to critical infrastructure being taken offline. The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (SWSC), and independent regional utility, tasked Kleinfelder with replacing the impacted water main and valve, assessing any further damage, and supporting the valve to help prevent any future failures. ... Read more

Apply for the Francis M. Keville Memorial Scholarship by January 16, 2026!

The Francis M. Keville Memorial Fund was established from donations in recognition of Mr. Keville’s efforts and abilities to take his vision of large public transportation projects and make them a reality.

The Construction Institute Boston Chapter is now accepting applications from students attending a Massachusetts college or university for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil engineering with a transportation or construction focus or a bachelor’s or master’s degree in construction management.

Learn more and apply

Become a BSCESNews Contributor!

Would you like to contribute to the newsletter of the oldest civil engineering association in the country? The BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board is seeking Society members who are willing to join the board and help solicit, write, and/or edit articles for publication in BSCESNews. Members of the editorial board participate in eleven 30-minute video conferences per year to develop the ten issues of the newsletter that are published annually.

The editorial board also encourages members to submit articles for publication in BSCESNews. These can be related to an issue’s theme or on any topic of interest to civil engineers. Click here to view article submission requirements.

Email BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board Chair Gus O'Leary, for more information.

Job Board

Looking to promote a job to BSCES members? Click here to learn more about posting on the BSCES job board.

Advertising Opportunities

BSCES has a variety of options for advertising in BSCESNews and on the BSCES website. Click here to learn more about advertising with BSCES.

Get Involved

Become a BSCESNews

Contributor

Email BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board Chair Gus O'Leary, for more information.

Submit Member News

Help us build the BSCES community by sharing your news. Have you recently been recognized for a professional accomplishment, or been promoted to a leadership role? Has your employer been recognized for an achievement or acquired another company? Send your news to BSCES membership associate Michelle Monette at mmonette@engineers.org.

BSCES Civil Engineering Practice Journal Needs Your Help

Are you working from home? You can use the time you're saving by not commuting to perform a household chore or better yet, write an article for the BSCES Civil Engineering Practice journal. ... Read More

Suggest a Seminar Topic

If you have a topic that you would like BSCES to feature in an upcoming seminar, send your suggestion to BSCES Continuing Education Committee Chair Antonios Vytiniotis, PE, PhD from Secretariat at b sces@engineers.org.

Learn about the Continuing Education Committee

2025 - 2026 Society Sponsors

BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board

Chair: Gus J. O’Leary, PE

Anna Beheshti-Rhodes, PE

John T. Books, PE

Kate Riley

Michael T. Sullivan, PE

Kathryn Swanson, PE

2025 - 2026 BSCES Board of Government

President: Kathryn Swanson, PE

President-Elect: Richard A. Matson, PE

Secretary: John T. Brooks, PE

Treasurer: Gregory L. Mirliss, STS

Senior Vice Presidents: Antonios Vytiniotis, PhD, PE; Anuja Kamat, PhD

Vice Presidents: Rishabh V. Iyer, PE; Elizabeth A. Clark, PE

Past President: Christopher P. Hersey, LEED AP

Western MA Branch Vice President: Vacant

Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Matt Shultz, PE

Construction Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Jamie Johnston, PE

Engineering Management Group Chair: Craig M. Steigerwalt, PE, PSP, PMP, CCM

Environmental & Water Resources Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Emanuel D. DeAndrade, PE

Geo-Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Jorge E. Fuentes, PE

Structural Engineering Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Bob Niccoli, PE

Transportation & Development Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Nicholas Manz, EIT

Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute Boston Chapter Chair: Cory A. Cormier, PE

Younger Member Group Chair: Justin Cadima, PE

2025–2026 BSCES Program Sponsors

Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE

One Walnut Street, Boston, MA 02108

Phone: 617/227-5551, Fax: 617/227-6783

Email: bsces@engineers.org, Website: www.bsces.org

The BSCES newsletter, BSCESNews, is designed to provide information and opinions in regard to the subject matters covered. BSCES and its Board assume no responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in this publication. It is published with the understanding that the Board and the authors are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The Newsletter Editorial Board encourages reproduction of BSCESNews with appropriate acknowledgment. © 2026 BSCESNews.