FEATURED TESTIMONIAL – The Best Method to Help Me Prepare Well
“I passed the Civil Geotechnical PE Exam with a score of 79. Thank you for providing excellent tools for taking the test. It really was the best method to help me prepare well. I will be telling my colleagues about your course and how well it worked for me. Thanks again!” – PE, Texas Civil […]
Earthquake Hydrogeology
A new study shows earthquakes can shake up permeability and change groundwater behavior. Groundwater systems generally are made up of layers of permeable rock called aquifers separated by low-permeability layers called aquitards. When an earthquake shakes things up, the structure of these layers can change and cause an increase in stream flow as water is […]
Cactus to the Pollution Rescue
Could the humble cactus be the solution to our plastic waste problem? Chemical engineering professor Sandra Pascoe Ortiz is beta-testing an edible, biodegradable packaging material made from the juice of prickly pear cactus leaves. The juice “is a natural polymer that can be improved by combining certain substances to give it a similar appearance and […]
FEATURED TESTIMONIAL – Instrumental in Passing the Exam!
“After taking your course, I sat for the PE Civil Transportation Exam. I graduated from The Ohio State University in 1990. I have worked in the field for 27 years and this is my first time taking the exam. I received my NCEES results and I passed. Your course was instrumental in passing the exam.”– Brent Tucker, PE, […]
Concrete – The Most Popular Man-Made Material on Earth
I’m not surprised that concrete is the most used building material, but I was surprised to find it’s the second most used substance behind water. I don’t think I’ve ever had a construction project where we didn’t use concrete. A fascinating article talks about the past, present and future uses of concrete. – Jason Savage, DTC […]
Fish Friendly Hydro Power
A recent ASME article noted that in 2012 a Department of Energy study identified 54,000 Non-Powered Dams, dams with changes of elevation of 15 feet or higher, which could provide 13 gigawatts of power, enough to power 5 million homes. That potential is to say the least staggering. The primary reason that these “small dams” are […]
FEATURED TESTIMONIAL – All the Hours Paid Off!
“I participated in the 20-Week Review class for the Civil: Water Resources and Environmental exam. All of the hours put into studying and developing the materials following the Dr. Tom method paid off as I passed the Exam. One of the critical items to my success was understanding the test taking method of taking multiple passes […]
The Most Famous Crosswalk in the World
Crosswalks are intended to make crossing a road easier and safer for pedestrians. the world’s most famous crosswalk, on Abbey Road, of Beatles’ fame, just celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the photo that would make it a tourist destination. According to a CityLab article, this fame has turned a utilitarian and often-overlooked roadway feature into a would-be photo […]
Rolling Bridge – Good Design Never Gets Old
An 18th century bridge design could be taking on a new life through London architect Thomas Randall-Page. His rolling bridge design is a low tech and elegant solution that requires no motors or electricity. I could try to describe how it works, but this animation from a curbed.com article tells all. For a mechanical engineer this […]
FEATURED TESTIMONIAL – Beyond Helpful
“I didn’t finish college. Having history as a CAD drafter for architecture firms, I got a job at a small civil engineering firm in Florida. I stayed there 4 years, learning and growing into a design engineer before moving to California where I remained in the field for another ten years. However; without a degree, […]
