pez: (Susumu)
Pez ([personal profile] pez) wrote2005-09-20 02:00 pm

(no subject)

The last two issues of the NCE have devoted its main article to Hurricane Katrina, which is not surprising really. What's interesting is it gave a list of the 10 worst disastors over the last 100 years, the worst being the Yangtze River flood in 1931, which was estimated to have killed 3M people. The 10th worst was an earthquake in Iran two years ago, killing 50,000. I don't remember seeing as much coverage (new-wise, not engineering news-wise) on this earthquake, but that's the way the world works.

The NCE500's poll on "Should New Orleans be rebuilt" came back with 65% yes and 31% no. The question is the nature of the NCE500 poll doesn't allow it to define "rebuilt" and I'm sure different engineers have different ideas of it - restoration or extensive flood defense + drainage system, for example.

and btw, WTF, can you believe that Keith Clarke's (CEO of Atkins) annual salary in 2004 was nearly £700k??? (and Mott Mac's top earner was paid £711k salary in 2003. I wonder if he got major bonuses too...)