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CPD Poll

This past month we asked the question on LinkedIn groups Engineers Australia and The Institution of Civil Engineers:

Which method of CPD do you prefer? The poll results are shown below.

Richard Ahlvin

Whilst putting together the courses on ACN-PCN System for Airfield Pavements and the Design of Flexible Airfield Pavements with Bruce Rodway, the name Richard Ahlvin frequently came up. It occurred to me that I, and possibly others with an interest in airfield pavement engineering, do not know the pioneers of this subject area as well as we should. We therefore decided to set up an area summarising the lives and achievements of eminent engineers.

The photograph is that of Richard Ahlvin, who for many years worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers. He was part of the team involved in the Waterways Experiment Station tests (the "WES Tests"), which led to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design method used today. Relatively recently Ahlvin provided notes on these tests in his report Origin and Developments for Structural Design of Pavements (1991). The photograph is taken from Carl Monismith's Distinguished Lecture International Society for Asphalt Pavements (2004) "Evolution of Long-Lasting Asphalt Pavement Design Methodology: A Perspective."

Bruce informed me (and included a note in the Design of Flexible Airfield Pavements course) that "Dick Ahlvin turned 92 in 2011 and still consults to the FAA and participates in pavement committee work". An amazing achievement.

R.G Ahlvin

    Name: Richard G. Ahlvin

    Year of Birth: 1919

    Education: Purdue University                                          

    Nationality: American

    Achievements/Awards include the Arch T. Colwell Merit Award

    Dick Ahlvin specialised in a large variety of fields including foundation engineering, soil & rock mechanics, highway and airfield pavements, earthquake engineering, soil dynamics, engineering geology. He is known in airfield pavement circles as helping devise the ESWL concept, along with W. Turnbull.

    He completed a structural engineering degree, much of a mechanical engineering degree and an advanced highway engineering degree! He also completed three years of military service.

    Dick Ahlvin is referenced in the Engineering CPD Online courses "ACN-PCN System for Airfield Pavements" and the "Design of Flexible Airfield Pavements" by Bruce Rodway.

     

      We would welcome any comments you have on Richard Ahlvin (click on his name in the title above) and work carried out at the Waterways Experiment Station, or other eminent pavement engineers.

        Engineering CPD Online launches!

        We have recently launched a training module on the ACN-PCN System for Airfield Pavements by Bruce Rodway. It is free to sign up to our website and if you sign up in March, you can carry out a demonstration version of the ACN-PCN System for FREE!

        We also have a course by Dr. Ian Thompson on Highways Traffic. During 2012, we will be adding to our courses on both airfield and highway pavement engineering. If you work in an area which isn't covered and have an idea for a course, we would like to hear from you!

        This blog will be updated from time to time. We see it as an opportunity to tell you what we are doing at Engineering CPD Online, and a little about what's happening in the industry. One thing we think the industry does not do well is celebrate its engineers. As part of this Blog we aim to introduce engineers that have contributed to an area of the industry we have featured courses on. Our first presentation is coming soon.