News & Resources
Engineering in Burundi: The trouble with water
Engineering as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary: “The application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to people.” I recently got the opportunity to use my…
Earthquake reconnaissance trip: Chile
As part of our ongoing series on earthquake reconnaissance and education, the Reid Middleton team wanted to share some notes from our reconnaissance trip to Chile following the February, 2010 earthquake. The report is below. The Earthquake Reconnaissance Team On…
Great East Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake and Tsunami Reconnaissance Trip
Reid Middleton Chairman of the Board and Principal, David Swanson, is leading a team of engineers and researchers to Japan from May 27th to June 6th to research the Great East Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake and Tsunami. The 10-member SEAW reconnaissance…
East Lake Sammamish Parkway/SE 43rd Way Roundabout, City of Issaquah, Washington: Three-leg, multi-lane, open 2010
As the main access route from I-90 into the city of Sammamish and the intersection of two trails--the East Lake Sammamish Tail and Laughing Jacob’s Creek Trail--the intersection of East Lake Sammamish Parkway (ELSP) and Southeast 43rd Way was a congested intersection for commuters,…
Christchurch earthquake reconnaissance part 3: Days 5-6
Day 5 - Monday 3/15/11 How well do seismically retrofitted URM buildings perform – what works and what doesn't? Today we start to answer that question. With engineers from the EERI Reconnaissance Team and the SEAOC Building Performance Assessment Team,…
Christchurch earthquake reconnaissance part 2: Day 4
Earthquake performance of a seismically retrofitted building. This building had steel moment frames around the perimeter of the first level with plywood diaphragm strengthening under the second floor framing. Collapsed URM second level exterior walls and a collapse prevention performance…
Seeking Japan Invitation for the SEAW Great East Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake Reconnaissance Mission
Reid Middleton Design Engineer, Erik Bishop and Principal, David Swanson, are organizing the SEAW Great East Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake Reconnaissance Team. They are contacting Pacific Northwest governments to obtain an invitation from a Japanese government agency for their team's planned…
Lessons Learned from the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake
Reid Middleton Principal, David Swanson, presented his findings on the Lessons Learned from the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake at the Structural Engineers Association of Washington April Dinner meeting. The meeting was well attended by SEAW members from throughout the Puget Sound…
Christchurch earthquake reconnaissance part 1: The first 3 days
A 2 story unreinforced masonry (URM) building roof collapse. Note the left side of the collapsed wood roof being support by a small kitchen table – duck, cover and hold. Christchurch CBD, New Zealand. Overview Christchurch has a population of…