Why do the Army Corps of Engineers get so involved in civil infrastructure in the US - thinking of the Mississippi in particular?
In other countries the government would be involved but it would be a civilian rather than military role
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
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Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#22This is neat to see. US army crops of engineers is a negative “word” to me after growing up in FL and they destroyed so many ecosystems. And the entire Everglades. They’re still at it now. My family has basically spent the past 30 years fighting a ware they put in on our natural creek. It killed the creek, it shrunk the flow to the size of the culvert. So, It’s neat to see something competent! Imagine if they modeled…
>It’s neat to see something competent!
The existence of negative externalities or tradeoffs does not inherently imply incompetence.
I remember reading that the USACE said the NOLA levees would not adequately protect against a category 5 hurricane but the powers that be didn’t think the added cost for a more robust design was worth the risk. If true, it doesn’t imply USACE was incompetent but that we live in an uncertain world with tough tradeoffs.
Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#23Why do the Army Corps of Engineers get so involved in civil infrastructure in the US - thinking of the Mississippi in particular? In other countries the government would be involved but it would be a civilian rather than military role
Not sure about the exact thrust of your question but a few points:
- flood management is not easy to monetize so there is not much incentive for private industry. The timelines for design decisions (100 year, 500 year) often don’t mate well with private incentives
- it crosses many property boundaries which makes it hard to manage unless you have the rights of a government
- much of the work is still done by private companies but managed by the government, just like other infrastructure works like roads, bridges etc.
Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#24The bay’s first LLM (large liquid model) was invented in the 1950s.
Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, that’s a great video. The Mythbusters used the same model to understand Bay Area current flows during their Alcatraz escape attempt episode.
Someone should do a follow up episode with a person dressed up as Godzilla.
I am ... confused by your statement.
Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#26Why do the Army Corps of Engineers get so involved in civil infrastructure in the US - thinking of the Mississippi in particular? In other countries the government would be involved but it would be a civilian rather than military role
The US did not have a civilian engineering school for a few decades after the founding. West Point was the only institution creating engineers. Given they had responsibility for port defenses the civil engineering of waterways was an easy addition.
Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#27Why do the Army Corps of Engineers get so involved in civil infrastructure in the US - thinking of the Mississippi in particular? In other countries the government would be involved but it would be a civilian rather than military role
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Corps_of_En... has a good overview. Note that 97% of the employees are civilians.
Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
Someone should do a follow up episode with a person dressed up as Godzilla.
I am ... confused by your statement.
To simulate a Godzilla incursion and check if the movie where Godzilla attacks San Francisco makes an accurate depiction of what would happen.
For science.
Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#29Took my son there when he was young (6?) and we all loved it. What a great day trip.
Re: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model
#30I haven't been there in awhile.
Back in the 90's the Autodesk tech office was next door to the Bay Model and we'd occasionally pop over for lunch and tour the place.
Great to see it still around and open to the public.