2013 Southern Idaho Section
Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award
General Information
The American Society of Civil Engineers annually recognizes an exemplary civil engineering project as that year's Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA). This award recognizes the project that best illustrates superior civil engineering skills and represents a significant contribution to civil engineering progress and society. Honoring an overall project rather than an individual, the award recognizes the contributions of many engineers.
Submission Format
Individual firms or agencies involved in the projects may submit entries. The Board of Directors of the Southern Idaho Section must receive the entry by Thursday April 11, 2013 in one of these formats:
- Three copies of the entryin print on 8.5 x 11.0 inch paper.
- One electronic copy by email attachment in Portable Document Format (PDF) (size not to exceed 10Mb).
If a video is included, it may be submitted on USB memory sticks, CDs, or DVDs in triplicate.
Many of these criteria are taken verbatim from the OCEA Award program sponsored by ASCE National. For more information on the national award program go to the following web site
Eligibility
Any civil engineering construction project, design plan, engineering study or report is eligible. The project is to have been constructed, designed, or studied within the bounds of the Southern Idaho Section (ie. within the state of Idaho), and the project must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Bridges, tunnels, waterways, structures, roads (other than toll): eligible only when carrying traffic; the time of final completion or dedication is not important.
- Toll or similar regional roads: any portion in use is eligible. The entire road is eligible when it is 75-percent operational.
- Water supply, flood control dams: eligible when ready to take the full design head of water.
- Power dams: eligible when the major civil engineering construction is completed and the structure can take its design head of water.
- Fuel power plants: eligible when power goes on-line.
- Buildings and structures: eligible when ready for use.
- Airports and other similar large developments: eligible when initial phase is 75-percent operational. Individual structures or features (such as major buildings or runways) are eligible when operational, but will be considered separately from the entire project.
- Design plans, studies, or reports are eligible when completed and submitted to the client.
- Water supply, waste disposal facilities: the entire project is eligible when its initial phase is 50-percent operational. Any completed component is eligible, but will be considered separately from the entire project.
- Military projects (such as bases, launching units, and harbor facilities): eligible for their engineering aspects.
A panel will determine the eligibility of projects not categorized above. If a project wins an OCEA award, the project or any of its components may not be re-entered or renominated in a subsequent year.
Judging Criteria
A panel will consider entries based on the following criteria:
Criteria / Points- Contribution to the well being of people and communities
- Resourcefulness in planning and solving design challenges
- Pioneering in use of materials and methods
- Innovations in construction, design, or method
- Minimization of impact on physical environment
- Quality of submittal
- Presentation
Total / 100
Beneficial as well as adverse effects of the project, including aesthetic values, are judged by a volunteer panel composed of civil engineers.
Three finalists will be selected based on the subtotal scores. Finalists will be required to make a short (10 minute) presentation at the awards banquet. The presentation will be judged and is a part of the competition.
Entry Format
All entries for the OCEA program should include the following, in this order:
- Completed entry form
- Project description, no longer than 250 words
- At least one color photograph (or color photocopy) of project. (More photos/slides are encouraged. ASCE may use photos for publicity purposes.)
- Summary describing how project meets national OCEA judging criteria (limit to 1,000 words)
- Such attachments as articles from local papers or trade journals, if available
Include only data and charts that are essential to understand the project's technical aspects or innovations. Videos will be accepted as part of the nomination process.
Entries will not be returned, and will become the property of ASCE. Entrants will be notified that their entries have been received.
Preparation Guidelines
Entries should identify unusual aspects of the project, describe key challenges and solutions, and discuss new technology used.
Entrants should consider all phases of the project, including the plan, design, construction, operation, and maintenance. The project's environmental, political, economic, social, and legal aspects also may be significant.
Keep most technical information in lay terms. The OCEA jury members have diverse backgrounds in civil engineering. The engineers and design professionals on the jury may have expertise in structures, for example, but not in environmental engineering.
Judging and Notification Procedures
Judging is by a volunteer panel composed of members of the Southern Idaho Section. The panel will be chaired by the immediate past president of ASCE Southern Idaho Section. The panel chair will notify the finalists of their status by April 15, 2013.
The panel chair will also coordinate general and trade media announcements immediately following notification of the finalists. All finalists will be asked to make a short (10 minute) presentation of their project at the Awards Dinner on April 18, 2013. The winner will be announced at the end of the program at the Awards Dinner.
Award Presentation
A plaque will be presented to the winner of the competition at the end of the awards dinner.
Official Entry Form 2013
OUTSTANDING CIVIL ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT
Award Program
General Information
Please supply all information requested below, and complete the 250- word project description on the back of this form or on a separate sheet. Each entry must meet OCEA eligibility requirements. Entries should follow entry format and preparation guidelines stated in this flier. Three copies of each entry must be submitted. Entries will not be returned and will become the property of the Southern Idaho Section of ASCE.
Entries Due: 17:00 MDT, April 11, 2013
For Hard Copy Submissions, Send to:
ASCE - OCEA
c/o Boise State University
Geosciences Department MS 1535
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725-1535
Attn: Paul Michaels, PE
For Electronic Submissions, Email to:
Project Information
Project name (exactly as it should appear on plaque) ______
Project location (city, state) ______
Completion date ______
Entrant Information
ASCE Member: __ Yes __ No
Submitted by ______
Title ______
Employer ______
Address ______
City ______State ______Zip______
Phone ______Fax ______
Signature ______Date ______
Project Owner Information
Project owner (attach addendum for more names) ______
______
Contact person ______
Address______
City______State ______Zip ______
Phone______Fax ______
Subcontractor Information (If appropriate)
Contact Person ______
Address ______
City ______State ______Zip______
Phone______Fax______
Office Use Only: Entry Received Date______Nomination Letter Received Date______
Receipt Notification Date ______Status Notification Date ______Entry Number______