J. Mariah Brown

J. Mariah Brown

J. Mariah Brown is a technical research writer and the owner of Writings by Design, a comprehensive business writing service company that specializes in business development, promotion, and client outreach. She has worked in a variety of technical and non-technical industries including, but not limited to, Government, Non-Profit, Engineering, Translation and Interpretation, Christian and Women’s Publications, and Fashion and Beauty. She is a graduate of the prestigious E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University and is currently pursuing a master's degree from Gonzaga University in Communication and Organizational Leadership.

Phone Apps: Modern Tools for Today’s Contractors

Thu, Jun 16, 2011

In today’s on-the-go society, we have the capability of conducting work on smartphones to increase productivity. Beyond making calls, sending texts, and keeping track of our schedules, smartphone apps significantly enhance the user’s experience and enable them to conduct business outside the office proper. Particularly in the AEC industries, smartphone apps have become increasingly popular. These apps are more than mere gadgets; they provide functions similar to those of the tools that are traditionally used in the industry.

Forensic Engineering: Structural CSI

Thu, May 12, 2011

In recent years, CSI, or crime scene investigation, has become an increasingly popular term thanks to television. However, CSI takes place every day in the real world, in ways that you may not have previously considered. Forensic engineers assess damage to properties, determine the cause(s), and offer possible remediation. Situations in which structural CSI is required can include water infiltrating a structure; storms, fires, or explosions damaging a building; or a product defect or a material deficiency occurring.

Infrastructure at Work: Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link

Thu, Mar 31, 2011

The Fehmarnbelt region of Europe includes parts of eastern Denmark, southern Sweden, and northern Germany. Over the past few years, discussion has increased on ways to permanently link those living in the 60,895 sq. km. (approx. 23,511.7 sq. mi.) region by the creation of a direct connection between continental Europe and Scandinavia, which would significantly reduce travel time for commuters. Construction of such a solution -- the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link -- is set to begin in 2014, but, before it can, regional planners must decide whether a cable-stayed bridge or an immersed tunnel will best meet the needs of the region.

DATA by Randy Brown Architects

Mon, Mar 28, 2011

According to a 2002 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, the total U.S. land area is 1.983 billion acres, excluding Hawaii and Alaska – 107.3 million acres of which is developed, a 24% increase in 10 years. Further, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that development has significantly increased since that time. The term “building green” may seem to exclude any but new builds from sustainable design and ecologically sound practices, but this is actually not the case. When Randy Brown Architects designed the interior office space for US Data Corporation, they demonstrated how refurbishing an existing building is a viable alternative to new construction.

Daniel Libeskind’s Grand Canal Square Theatre

Mon, Jan 03, 2011

Sometimes breath-taking beauty and fantastic design can be born from a virtually blank landscape, and the Grand Canal Square Theatre and Commercial Development proves just that. For years, the Grand Canal Harbour waterfront in Dublin, Ireland, was simply a deserted former industrial site. All that changed when the Dublin Docklands Authority set out to redevelop the abandoned area and create a multipurpose cultural civic center for Dublin. World-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind and landscape architects from Martha Schwartz Partners collaborated on the project to create an architectural masterpiece that merges aesthetic appeal, functionality, and sustainability.

Denton Corker Marshall’s Broadway Building, UTS

Mon, Nov 08, 2010

The University of Technology Sydney, Australia (UTS) solicited design proposals for a new building to house its Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology as part of the school’s Broadway Building Design Competition. The school was in search of an architecture firm that could design a “gateway” building that referenced the urban context and the City Campus Master Plan while supporting a large population of students and faculty and reducing the school’s environmental impact. In July 2009, UTS announced the winning design, submitted by Australian architectural firm Denton Corker Marshall, from over 60 international entries. Selected by UTS representatives, the City of Sydney, and the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Planning, the design for the Information Technology and Engineering (ITE) Building was chosen for its aesthetic appeal, as well as its functionality and sustainable qualities.

Innovative Infrastructure: High-Speed Rail

Fri, Nov 05, 2010

The continued development of the high-speed rail (HSR) infrastructure in the United States will enable people to quickly travel from city to city, and companies to ship freight in significantly less time. However, what makes HSR unique goes beyond the offering of a new mode of transportation or shipping. Developing the HSR infrastructure in the U.S. will require consideration of various construction approaches and technology options.

The Economic Stimulus Bill: Where Has the Money Gone?

Fri, Oct 15, 2010

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), commonly known as the economic stimulus bill, was signed by Congress on February 13, 2009, and then signed into law by President Obama four days later. The government made a total of $787 billion available -- $275 billion for federal contracts, grants, and loans, in addition to $288 billion in tax cuts and $224 billion for entitlement for education and health care. Specifically relevant to the AEC industry is ARRA’s targeting of infrastructure development and enhancement using the $275 billion.

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