The White House recently released guidance on the Build America, Buy America (BABA) initiative, an important component within the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) from 2021. BABA stipulates that certain products must be manufactured in the U.S. to qualify for federal funding in infrastructure projects and emphasizes the use of domestically produced construction materials. BABA Highlights: Scope: The BABA guidelines apply to federally funded infrastructure projects, including those under the IIJA. Material Categories: BABA focuses on three primary categories: iron and steel products, manufactured products, and construction materials. Notably, the list has been expanded to include engineered wood but excludes coatings, paint, and bricks based on feedback. Made in America Criteria: To wear the “Made in America” badge, a product must be produced in the U.S., with at least 55% of the cost of its components sourced domestically. Included Materials: The guidance specifically lists plastic and polymer-based products, non-ferrous materials, glass, fiber-optic cable, engineered wood, drywall and lumber. Implications for Infrastructure Development For manufacturers involved in infrastructure projects, these guidelines carry weight. The inclusion of polymer-based products, in particular, sheds light on the growing importance of innovative geosynthetic solutions in federal projects. With BABA’s focus on polymer-based… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Civil Engineering
Women in Engineering: Meet Sam Justice, P.E., Design Engineer at Presto Geosystems
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) takes place every year on June 23 to celebrate the work and achievements of women in the field of engineering. INWED provides an opportunity to raise the profile of women engineers and highlight the career opportunities available in this industry. Historically, women have been under-represented in the academic and professional engineering fields; however, numbers have increased over the years. In 1960, about 1% of all engineers were women. In 2019, women made up approximately 20% of the engineering workforce. Organizations like the UK’s Women’s Engineering Society (WES) hope to see these numbers grow even more as they work to provide young women with resources and opportunities that encourage them to pursue careers in engineering. The organization launched Women in Engineering Day in 2014, and the holiday became globally recognized in 2017. Each year, people participate in hundreds of INWED events across the globe. In honor of INWED 2021, we’re sitting down with Presto Geosystems’ very own Civil Design Engineer, Sam Justice. Backed by a decade of specialized engineering experience, Sam is an accomplished civil engineer with a proven history of guiding complex projects to successful outcomes. She holds a geotechnical engineering degree from… Read more »
Presto Geosystems Announces New Series of Professional Development Courses
We are pleased to announce that Presto Geosystems will continue to offer regular online learning opportunities throughout 2021. Our webinars will explore soil stabilization and stormwater solutions for the civil, industrial, stormwater, and construction industries. The series will also include webinars that address improving resilience in industries including landfills, rail, mining, and ports. PDH credit is available for Presto Geosystems webinars. We will kick off our new series, Geosystems University: Professional Development Courses on Tuesday, Jan. 12 with “Repair & Reduce Slope Erosion with the GEOWEB 3D Confinement System.” Business Development Specialist Jose Pablo George, M.S. will provide an overview of the GEOWEB geocells and how the system works to protect earthen slopes against erosive forces. For an up-to-date schedule of professional development courses, please visit prestogeo.com/webcasts. New courses will be added on a monthly basis, so check back often to secure your virtual seat.
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