Rahul Parab, P.E., D.WRE

hydropolitics Role in shared water conflict (prt-2) -------------------------------------------------- Challenges to Hydropolitics in Water Sharing: Asymmetrical Power Relations: Countries with more political or economic power may dominate negotiations, leaving smaller or less powerful countries at a disadvantage. Competing National Interests: Differences in how countries prioritize water use (e.g., agriculture, industry, or energy) can make it difficult to reach consensus. Trust Deficit: Historic rivalries or conflicts can undermine efforts to cooperate, making negotiations complex. Examples of Hydropolitics in Action: Indus Waters Treaty: Despite political tensions, India and Pakistan have managed their shared river system for decades through this treaty. Mekong River Commission: Southeast Asian countries cooperate on the management of the Mekong River, balancing water needs for agriculture, fisheries, and development. In Conclusion: Hydropolitics offers a pathway to peaceful cooperation and conflict resolution over shared water resources. By promoting dialogue, legal frameworks, joint management, and environmental sustainability, it can reduce tensions and encourage mutual benefits. However, success depends on the willingness of countries to cooperate, share data, and make compromises for the greater regional good.

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🚀 5 Daily Habits That Helped Me Pass the PE Exam 🚀As an engineer, I know firsthand how challenging the PE exam can be. That’s why in this week’s Pass the PE Exam episode, I’m sharing five habits that revolutionized my study routine and helped me succeed. 💡 Here’s What Worked for Me: 🕒 Creating a consistent study schedule. 🧩 Regularly solving practice problems to sharpen skills. 🤝 Collaborating with peers for motivation and new insights. 🌐 Using online tools to study smarter and stay on track. 💆‍♂️ Prioritizing work-life balance to stay focused and healthy. These habits kept me confident and prepared, and I’m excited to share them with aspiring engineers. If you’re taking the PE exam in 2025, this episode is for you! 👉 Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eee_VKy4 What habits have helped you succeed in preparing for exams? I’d love to hear your tips—share them in the comments! 💬 #PassThePEExam #EngineeringSuccess #StudyTips

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https://lnkd.in/gNVbt-q2 Attention LinkedIn network. We should learn as much as we can about LINK 21. In a nutshell it's a second TransBay Crossing between Oakland/Emeryville and San Francisco, thereby providing transportation benefits to 21 countries throughout Northern California. Happy Reading. #highspeedrail #civilengineering #trafficengineering #transportationplanning

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Learn how we develop digital solutions to help solve client problems in the latest episode of the Stantec.io podcast!

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How can public water systems prepare for what's coming with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements? Stantec provides guidance in this article for Water Online. #StantecWater #WaterInfrastructure

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🌟 2024 LinkedIn Rewind 🌟 This year in earthquake engineering taught us an essential truth: resilience goes beyond structures—it’s about the human stories behind every building. From advancing research and teaching to making meaningful social contributions, 2024 was a year of growth and impact. Highlights include: 1️⃣ Cultural Heritage Preservation At the Academic Forum on Disaster Risk Assessment, we emphasized that preserving historic structures protects not just architecture but the identity and resilience of entire communities. 2️⃣ Proactive Risk Mitigation Our research reinforced a vital message: mitigating seismic risks before disasters strike is key to saving lives. 3️⃣ Learning from Recent Earthquakes Through our studies of masonry educational buildings, we turned lessons from past earthquakes into actionable strategies for safer schools. 🎓 Mentoring the next generation of engineers, like Klea Kasa and Daklea Hyraj, reminded me of the lasting impact of this work. Their dedication to seismic response and heritage sustainability inspires hope for the future. As we step into 2025, our mission remains clear: bridging research with real-world applications to protect communities and build a safer, more resilient future. Thank you to my colleagues, research partners, and the structural engineering community for a collaborative and rewarding year. #LinkedInRewind #EarthquakeEngineering #StructuralSafety #2024Wrapped

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In the latest edition of the Stantec.io podcast, our visualization technology leader joins the show to talk about the applications of extended reality technology for the consultative engineering industry!

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🌍 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝟓 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬? Unpacking Earthquake Resilience 🏗️ A land of diverse landscapes, also varies so dramatically in its earthquake preparedness? Here’s a quick info into why and how we map our seismic challenges: Seismic Diversity: India's seismic zoning divides the country into areas with varying earthquake proneness—from relatively stable to highly susceptible. Engineering Insight: According to IS code 1893-2016, seismic forces in buildings are calculated as Vb = Ah x W, where 'Ah' is the design horizontal seismic coefficient and 'W' is the seismic weight of the structure. This formula reflects how ground acceleration and structural load dictate our building strategies. Realistic Design Goals: We aim not for earthquake-proof but for earthquake-resistant structures. Why? Fully earthquake-proof designs lead to prohibitively heavy and costly constructions. Seismic Philosophy: The structural design philosophy Minor tremors: No damage should occur. Moderate shakes: Only repairable damage is acceptable. Severe quakes: Buildings may suffer significant damage but should avoid collapse, thanks to ductile detailing that prevents sudden failures. Zone-Specific Standards: The varying intensities expected across different zones influence how robust our building codes need to be. It’s all about tailoring our resilience to match localized risks. 🤔 Engineers and Urban Planners: How do you integrate these seismic considerations into your projects? Are current standards sufficient to meet the challenges in your region? 🔄 Share your thoughts below! Building safer communities starts with shared knowledge and experiences. Note : Zone 1 is not having any place included in it, when the code was revised  All places in Zone 1 was elevated to higher zone. Read the blog - https://lnkd.in/gBuakadD #CivilEngineering #SeismicSafety #Infrastructure #UrbanPlanning #StructuralEngineering

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Real use case of 𝗔𝗜, 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 maintain their road networks. Blyncsy, a Bentley company, published a new public map of U.S. interstate highways. It is available to all state departments of transportation (DOTs). Access it here: https://bit.ly/3AjjY40 Blyncsy's interstate highway map empowers DOT officials with the ability to monitor and compare—in near real-time—the status of any major highway in the continental U.S. with their existing data. Continue reading to learn more about the digital map. https://bit.ly/3NJX2hg #civilengineering #AI #highwaysafety

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🚨 Upcoming ASCE National Capital Section SEI - Structural Engineering Institute October 2024 Section Meeting Announcement! 🚨 Join us for an insightful virtual presentation on “Reusing Existing Substructure – Considerations and Options for Testing and Design” by Micah Ceary, Ph.D., P.E., DBIA, Design Engineering Program Manager at VDOT’s Structure and Bridge Division. 🗓️ When: Thursday, October 24th 🕒 Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (Presentation begins at Noon) 💻 Where: Virtual – Meeting link will be sent to all registrants Creative solutions like deck or superstructure replacement are key to funding constraints and critical infrastructure needs. But how do we ensure the service life of these solutions matches the needs of the rehabilitated structures? Dr. Ceary will dive into real-world case studies, exploring substructure evaluation, testing, and design considerations to address these challenges. 🔍 Key Takeaways: Cost-effective substructure reuse options How to evaluate the existing substructure Considerations for long-term service life 👨‍🏫 About the Speaker: Micah Ceary, Ph.D., P.E., DBIA Virginia Department of Transportation Dr. Ceary is a Design Engineering Program Manager for the Structure and Bridge Division’s Project Development Program Area in VDOT. The Project Development Program Area is responsible for VDOT in-house design, coordination of consultant design, contract management, and oversight of Tier 2 projects. Before joining VDOT, Dr. Ceary worked for 24 years on Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build projects from Maryland to South Carolina. During this time, Dr. Ceary's work includes rehabilitation and repair for structures ranging from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to small structures on secondary roads. During Dr. Ceary’s time at the University of Maryland, the focus of his graduate work for both thesis and dissertation was on the investigated in-situ presence and characterization of delayed ettringite formation in Maryland. 📧 Registration Link: Click the attached ASCE link below to register 🎓 1 PDH credit is available upon request for attendees! Note: ASCE membership is not required, but an ASCE account (free) is required for registration. Don’t miss this chance to learn from an expert! Register today and secure your spot. #ASCE #NCS #SEI #VDOT #VirtualEvent #BridgeRehabilitation #Infrastructure #PDH #ASCEMemberMeetup #AssetManagement #Bridges #EngineeringLeadership

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hydropolitics Role in shared water conflict (prt-1) --------------------------------------------------- hydropolitics has the potential to relieve tensions between countries over shared water resources, but its effectiveness depends on several factors, including the level of political will, cooperation mechanisms, and the ability to manage competing interests. Here’s how hydropolitics can help: 1. Fostering Dialogue and Negotiation Hydropolitics provides a framework for diplomacy and dialogue, encouraging countries to come to the table and negotiate shared access to water resources. Regular communication helps prevent misunderstandings and can de-escalate tensions before they lead to conflict. 2. Creation of Legal Frameworks and Agreements International treaties and agreements can help manage water-sharing issues. For example, treaties like the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, or the 1995 Mekong Agreement between Southeast Asian nations, have provided peaceful mechanisms for sharing rivers. Legal frameworks that establish rights and responsibilities can promote fairness and cooperation, reducing potential points of conflict. 3. Joint Management and Resource Allocation Through hydropolitics, countries can establish joint management institutions that oversee the equitable distribution of shared water resources. This reduces unilateral actions and encourages collective decision-making. By developing integrated water management plans, countries can optimize the use of water resources to benefit all parties involved, rather than focusing on individual needs. 4. Data Sharing and Transparency Hydropolitics encourages the sharing of hydrological data and studies on water flow, usage, and potential risks. This transparency helps build trust, reduces suspicion, and ensures that countries are working with the same data to inform their policies. 5. Economic and Developmental Cooperation Countries sharing water resources can work together to develop infrastructure, such as dams, irrigation systems, or flood control measures, that benefit multiple parties. By cooperating economically, the shared benefits can offset the perceived losses from sharing water. Hydropolitics can facilitate hydroelectric energy sharing agreements, where downstream countries benefit from the electricity generated by dams built upstream. 6. Environmental and Social Considerations Hydropolitics promotes sustainable water use by addressing environmental concerns, such as ecosystem preservation and maintaining water quality. A shared commitment to the environment can unite countries around a common cause. By integrating the concerns of local communities and populations dependent on water resources, hydropolitics can also reduce social tensions that might otherwise exacerbate conflicts.

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The outline of my book is complete. The book is "Ultra High-Speed Ground Transportation Systems: Expediting Intercity Travel". I have several historical sections including the history of railroading in the United States, and the history of the streamliner in the United States. Why so much history? I want to sell my book at the California State Railroad Museum (CSRM), and they want books with a lot of history. My book will be hard covered with color graphics throughout. I expect to have an in-print version by the end of the year. #highspeedrail

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Challenges of balancing disasters risk reduction urgent needs and expected climate change adaptation demands (prt-2) ------------------------------------------------------ 4. Risk Perception and Public Engagement Immediate vs. Abstract Risks: People tend to focus more on immediate, visible threats than on abstract, long-term risks. This can lead to greater public and political support for DRR than CCA. Awareness and Education: Effective CCA requires widespread understanding of climate change impacts, but limited public awareness and understanding can undermine support. Challenge: Engaging the public and policymakers to appreciate the interconnectedness of DRR and CCA and support both is complex, especially in communities with pressing disaster risks. 5. Technological and Data Limitations Data Needs: Both DRR and CCA benefit from data and modeling, but accurately predicting disaster risks and climate impacts over different timeframes requires advanced technology and data. Limited Forecasting Precision: Short-term disaster forecasts are often more precise than long-term climate projections, creating uncertainty in planning CCA measures. Challenge: Investing in data systems that can support both short-term disaster prediction and long-term climate modeling is costly and technically challenging, but it’s essential for informed decision-making. 6. Policy and Legal Barriers Regulatory Differences: Existing policies may not address the dual goals of DRR and CCA, limiting the flexibility to implement integrated approaches. Limited Legal Frameworks for CCA: While DRR often has more established legal frameworks, CCA policies are newer and may lack regulatory enforcement or clarity. Challenge: Updating policies and regulatory frameworks to encourage an integrated approach requires political will and can be a slow process. Balancing DRR and CCA requires innovative solutions that bridge short-term and long-term needs, create flexible funding mechanisms, improve institutional collaboration, and enhance public engagement and awareness. both DRR and CCA

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Stantec is working with AltaML and Microsoft to integrate coastal flood models into Flood Predictor, our data-driven digital solution that helps communities support emergency response and disaster mitigation. Learn more about how we're doing it at Microsoft Build next week! #StantecDigital

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The ASCE 2025 California Infrastructure Report Card update is currently underway with another incredible top-notch team of champions from across our state. The report card uses “A-F” school report card format, intended to communicate the capacity/condition of the infrastructure to elected local and state leaders, and the public. This report card is intended to continue raising awareness on the importance of Infrastructure Investment for maintaining our quality of life: •         California is vulnerable to major earthquakes, flooding, droughts, and wildfires. The weather severity and frequency are likely to increase. •         Our aging water and wastewater pipelines need rehabilitation and replacement to continue providing reliable service. •         Our electricity transmission system must be built to code to withstand major wind events. •         Our bridges require seismic retrofitting to withstand earthquakes. The 2025 report card executive committee includes ASCE Region 9 director Yaz Emrani, Tony Akel, Jeff Braun, Harvey Gobas, Ken Rosenfield, Joubin Parkpour, Jerry Burke, and John Hogan. #ASCE #infrastructure #reportcard #California #grades #engineering #Region9 #smartplans #qualityoflife 

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🚀 **Just Published!** 🚀 I’m excited to share my latest research paper titled **"Modeling Life Expectancy and Cost Effectiveness for UHPC Bridge Retrofitting Techniques"** published in the journal Advances in Bridge Engineering. In this paper, we explore how Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) can be a game-changer for bridge maintenance and rehabilitation. 🌉✨ A major contribution of this paper is the life expectancy model for UHPC concrete. This is a matter of the quandary because life expectancy for concrete structures has been quantified by evaluating the corrosion or predicting the bridge condition index. In the paper, life expectancy modeling was performed based on the corrosion and inherent properties of the concrete. https://lnkd.in/evPaNB8G #engineering #bridgemaintenance #UHPC #construction #infrastructure #innovation #sustainability

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4 Comments

https://lnkd.in/eWcQJaek A recently published guidebook is helping transport agencies in the USA understand the resiliency benefits and challenges of using ultra-high-performance concrete as they consider introducing the technology to their road and bridge projects across the U.S

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