Iâve recently become a signatory to SEMAT (Software Engineering Method and Theory). Theyâve been trying to get me to sign up for some time but I resisted so far. Why did I change my mind?
Originally, SEMAT was branded as âa revolution in software engineeringâ. I didnât like that: Iâm old enough to have seen plenty of ârevolutionsâ come and go. I did not want to go down the revolution road again. I decided to wait and see.
Now SEMAT has had its first workshop and seems to have made a good start. The revolutionary language has vanished. People that I greatly respect are involved. SEMAT now starts to look like an opportunity to make a difference.
Here is a quote from the workshop report that I really like, attributed to the late Robin Milner: “Language is the raw material of software engineering, rather as water is the raw material for hydraulic engineering“.
This week, Ivar asked me again: so this time I joined. Letâs see where it leads.
This post originated from and is provided by the MSDN Blogs RSS feed. The original post of the article can be found here.
Abstract
The Department of Civil Engineering offers Bachelor of Science, Masters, and Doctoral degrees. As a professional discipline, civil engineering is closely related to the total human environment. Undergraduate students are required to take classes in each of the following subject areas, and can emphasize one or more areas during their course of study: Environmental engineering Geotechnical/Materials engineering Structural engineering Transportation engineering Water resources engineering
Course offerings cover environmental quality, pollution control, chemical and microbiological wastewater treatment, soil mechanics, foundation engineering, structural analysis, reinforced concrete, steel design, plastic analysis, finite element analysis, water resources development, hydraulic engineering, hydrology, groundwater engineering, transportation engineering, airport design, traffic engineering, mass transit system, pavement design, construction management, engineering economy, river engineering, legal aspects of water resources, waste treatment, sewage treatment, industrial waste treatment, water quality, thin shell structural design, bridge design, surveying, and engineering geology.
Heath, Nr Wakefield, North Yorkshire NMR Number: SE 32 SE 20.For centuries before piped water became generally available there occurred the occasional ambitious and ingenious scheme to bring it to the dwelling of the rich or influential.
In 1505 Richard de Wombwell, prior of Nostell, had conduit pipes laid from a well in Ryhill to take its water to the Priory (now a National Trust property). The well-head, recently restored, remains a feature of the landscape today.
About a hundred years later, this tower was erected above a natural spring and pumped fresh water via a water wheel to Old Heath Hall on the hill above. Mystery and wonder surround it as much today as it did in the 1600’s. Both modern and ancient pagans consider the spring sacred and Dame Mary is said to have dabbled in witchcraft. She asked that the room where she died (in 1662) in the old hall should be sealed. When it was unsealed, 50 years later, it is claimed that her ghost appeared and proceeded to haunt the surrounding heath.
Lady Bolles (1579-1662) owned the Heath estate from 1635 until her death at the age of 80, having purchased the Hall from the Kay family. First married to Thomas Jobson of Cudworth and, after his death, to Thomas Bolles of Osberton, Notts, she was created a baronetess by Charles I. Lady Bolles’s will, made in the year she died, refers to “the water tower or conduit, which she lately built, with the lead works and iron works belonging to it.”
The system was an unusual, perhaps even unique. The spring fed into a cistern from which, in turn, water flowed to power an 18-foot wheel. This provided the force to pump some of the water to the top of the tower from which height it would pass, probably by means of an overhead, lead-lined conduit, to the gateway at the old Hall.
Here, a further building, designed with the appearance of a gatehouse or lodge, held the huge storage cistern. This building, of a similar style and stonework to the water tower, like other of the outbuildings at the Hall, bears Lady Bolles’s coat of arms.
How long the system functioned is not known, but it may well have survived into the 19th century, though not, apparently, beyond the 1830s.
Lady Green, whose book, The Old Hall at Heath 1568- was published in 1889, refers to the tower and spring: “This spring used to be a very copious and never-failing stream, but it is much diminished by the sinking of a coal pit that tapped the water bearing stratum; nevertheless, it is excellent in colour and quality.”
The spring does, in fact, still flow with perhaps no greater loss of force than Lady Green records.
The tower stimulates considerable curiosity but its real nature is even more striking than its strange isolation suggests since it is a very early survival of English skill in hydraulic engineering.
A video of the tower is here
(Thanks to David Blackburn for much of this information.)
Lake Ozark has one contested race for Alderman in Tuesday’s municipal election.
Jeff Van Donsel
Occupation: My wife and I are owners of the Rockwood Resort Motel in Lake Ozark.
How long have you lived in Lake Ozark?
We retired in 2001 from the corporate world and moved to Lake Ozark and purchased the Rockwood at that time. I am a native of Camdenton, Mo., Education in K.C., Kan., public schools with continued studies in Hydraulic Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Labor Management. Retired in 2001 as Manager of Finishing Operations at Fairbanks Morse Pump Corp. in Kansas City, Kansas after 30 years, and moved to Lake Ozark.
Do you have any prior political experience?
I have served on all City committees- Planning & Zoning Committee, Utility Commission, Finance Board, TIF Commission, Lake Ozark Betterment Committee and since 2006 I have had the honor of serving as Alderman of Ward 3. I am on the Board of Directors of the Bagnell Dam Strip Association, a member of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Tri-County Lodging Association and the Convention & Visitors Bureau.
What inspired you to run for the Board of Aldermen?
The same reasons that I am seeking re-election now. The city has very serious issues concerning infrastructure, declining business revenues and not being in tune with what the citizens feel are important to our city. This city cannot seem to shake the good old boy politics that have caused duress for so many years. A city that is ran by consensus, and is sensitive to what the citizens feel are important is what I have worked for and is why I seek to continue to represent the citizens of Ward 3 to press on with those ideals.
If elected, what city issue do you feel is the most important to focus on?
Improvements to the infrastructure and streets in our neighborhoods. We seriously need to look at possible ways to incorporate all roads within city boundaries to city ownership and responsibility. There are too many unkempt small narrow roads, some no more than mere alleys, that are not suitable for safe passage, yet our citizens have to drive on them everyday.
We need to change policies to be more business friendly and promoting of development and investors, while protecting and enhancing the small business interests in Ward 3 and continue working to get our city focused in a cooperative, professional, fiscally responsible and positive direction.
What new initiatives and ideas do you bring to the table?
Even in tough economic times, we still need to look at ways to improve the quality of life in our city, especially for our youth. As I have stated many times before, this city needs to develop and put in action a parks and recreation commission to investigate plans and funding for the recreational needs of our community and our youth.
The mayor has recently drawn a lot of attention because of an alderman’s attempt to impeach him. How would you have voted if the motion was raised?
Did not answer question.
Where does the city go from here?
To move forward, the city needs stability and an end to the partisan political grip that again affects our city. The citizens want a clear and consistent plan for the future and want to be heard, be kept informed and know their opinions are listened to and considered relevant to the success of our community. The past three years the Board has been more scrutinizing of policy and proactive in its governance. It has taken a more active role as it should. There needs to be a more open and cooperative working relationship between the City Administrator the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen.
Bill Bolin
Occupation: Self-employed contractor
How long have you lived in Lake Ozark?
6 years
Do you have any prior political experience?
I was an alderman for Ward 3 for two years.
What inspired you to run for the Board of Aldermen?
I feel as an alderman, I can help bring stability back to the City of Lake Ozark.
If elected, what city issue do you feel is the most important to focus on?
Growth of the City through new jobs and new businesses.
What new initiatives and ideas do you bring to the table?
What I bring to the table is an open mind and a willingness to listen to all ideas and suggestions.
The mayor has recently drawn a lot of attention because of an alderman’s attempt to impeach him. How would you have voted if on the board when the motion was raised?
Since I was not on the Board and not privy to all the infornation to make a well inform decision, I feel this question can not be answered.
Where does the city go from here?
Hopefully only forward.
Sean P. Murphy
Occupation: Did not answer.
How long have you lived in Lake Ozark?
I have only lived in Lake Ozark for 2 years, but I have family that has lived here since 1985, which is how long I have been coming here.
Do you have any prior political experience?
No I do not, but it seems to me this city’s politics has become more of a circus than something to be proud of.
What inspired you to run for the Board of Aldermen?
Seeing that a change is needed. So much negative attention focused on the city because of the bickering and selfishness of some of our board members inspired me to take my chances and try to bring a fresh view to this city and its needs.
If elected, what city issue do you feel is the most important to focus on?
I feel the current issue that is most important to this city is the water/sewer situation. The citizens are under a burden of rising costs while the economy is less than ideal. We have land available to develop on in areas that do not need a lot of equipment to operate a sewer system. We need to work on getting these areas developed to help ease the citizen’s burden.
What new initiatives and ideas do you bring to the table?
This city needs to crack down on properties on the Strip that are not making efforts toward being usuable property. The Strip is becoming an eyesore. As a kid, I remember the Strip was full of life and businesses that were doing well; now, the Strip is full of ‘for sale’ and ‘for rent’ signs. This is not bringing sales tax revenue to our city and without that revenue the city will not move ahead.
The mayor has recently drawn a lot of attention because of an alderman’s attempt to impeach him. How would you have voted if on the board when the motion was raised?
I feel that when the issue was raised and the aldermen agreed to take it further, they should have followed through. I attended the meeting where the issue died and I listened as board members spoke about the problems with the mayor and what compelled them to raise the issue in the first place, but there was no follow through. If you feel there’s a problem, then don’t back down when it counts. Inconsistent leaders diminish the citizen’s faith in their future here.
Where does the city go from here?
We have a promising development brought to us by Gary Prewitt. Hopefully, with this project coming in, it will spur other developments and the HH extention that will give a new life to Lake Ozark.
Moran Rice
*Could not be reached for his profile. However, he did run for alderman last year. Using that information, here’s some background:
• Moved to Lake Ozark four years ago to start Our Place Deli.
• Has served on multiple city committees including Lake Ozark Downtown Revitalization Master Plan and Tax Increment Financing Commission as well as a number of community organizations.
• Was motivated to run for the alderman seat so he could help bring in a more positive image and change to the city. Change is a sign of growth, Rice answered in last year’s profile. Without change, things become stagnant and decay. Changing requires creating a business-friendly atmosphere (through professional, consistent information) to attract new development who will in turn create jobs for our community.
While the oil and gas industry has worked to reduce the risk of flash fire incidents, these efforts have not eliminated the occurrence of flash fires, nor the resulting burn injuries and fatalities. The use of Flame Retardant Clothing (FRC )Â greatly improves the chance of a worker surviving and regaining quality of life after a flash fire. FRC can significantly reduce both the extent and severity of burn injuries to the body.
A flash fire is a fire that spreads rapidly through a diffuse fuel, such as dust, gas, or the vapors of an ignitable liquid, without the production of damaging pressure. The intensity of a flash fire depends on the size of the gas or vapor cloud. Hydrocarbon (oil and gas) flash fires generate temperatures of 1,000 to 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit. See NFPA 2112, National Fire Protection Association Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire, 2007 Edition. The duration of a flash fire can last up to five seconds. NFPA 2112 and NFPA 2113 (Standard on Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire, 2007 Edition) apply to general industry workplaces, including drilling, well servicing, and production-related operations. Inherent flash fire hazards are associated with oil and gas well drilling, servicing, and production-related operations. Additionally, the industry has a history of burn-related injuries and fatalities due to flash fire hazards when engineering and administrative controls have failed. Therefore, OSHA has concluded that employers are required to provide and ensure the use of FRC during certain operations as discussed below.
A flash fire requires oxygen, an ignition source, and a fuel source such as hydrocarbon or an atmosphere containing combustible, finely divided particles with a concentration greater than the lower explosive limit of the chemical. See NFPA 2113, Annex A. Ignition sources are present in drilling, well servicing, and production-related operations in several forms, including but not limited to: electrical systems, handheld electrical tools, motors, generators, hot work activities, and static electricity. Exposure to flash fires can result in devastating burns and death — 16% of fatalities in the oilfields result from fire and explosions. Curlee, Broulliard, Marshall, Knode, and Smith, Upstream Onshore Oil and Gas Fatalities: A Review of OSHA’s Database and Strategic Direction for Reducing Fatal Incidents, Society of Petroleum Engineers, March 9, 2005, at 2.
This article is Part 1 in a Series of 3. For more information on this topic, visit the OSHA website.
