Structural Engineering for a Changing Climate: The Floating City

On June 3, 12:30pm (EST), ASCE’s Virtual Structures Congress held a session titled “Structural Engineering for a Changing Climate: The Floating City”, which I moderated and presented along side some colleagues as listed below. While our profession has made great strides in quantifying forces due to gravity, wind, seismic, and fire – the floating city will require learning about new forces (e.g. hydrodynamics) and innovative materials to withstand the harsh environment.  Major impediments to innovative structural solutions are policy driven – specifically – government regulations, insurance industry policy, and lack of codes and standards.This session brought together diverse panelists to stimulate discussion with the audience.  Challenges and future research needs were identified by both panelists and audience.  The hope is that a community of scholars and practitioners can be formed to continue communications and advance the vision for the future. Presenters and themes included:

  • David Odeh (Odeh Engin., Inc.): Floating City Systems
  • Maria Garlock (Princeton Univ.): Structural Design for Ocean Waves
  • Elizabeth English (U. of Waterloo, Buoyant Foundation Project): Amphibious Construction
  • Bill Nechamen (Association of State Floodplain Managers) : Regulatory Challenges