EIAss.com,Article-CHICAGOLAND - An Engineering

CHICAGOLAND - An Engineering - Technology Center 2008-09

By Robert B. Johnson, PE., SE - Past Chairman Engineers Week- Chicago

When foreigners think of Chicago what is generally the first thing that comes to mind: The Gangster City? Though the gangster era is over 70 years ago, it has been tough to shed the crime image. With the demise of the "Al Capone's Chicago Exhibit" at Clark and Ohio streets maybe we can focus on some of our positive accomplishments. But hold on…..the summer of ‘09 will see the release of a new motion picture on the life of John Dillinger (Public Enemies), so one might (sadly) expect a renewed interest in the ganster era.

The Chicago Fire of 1871 brought architects and engineers to rebuild the city. Today Chicago is sometimes referred to as the architectural capital of the United States if not the world. Visitors come from around the world to view our collection of skyscrapers and significant other structures. Chicago also is a convention center. It's central location and excellent convention facilities are enticing to host trade association meetings. More recently, visitors might think of Chicago as the home of Michael Jordan and the former World Champion Bulls. Then there’s Oprah Winfrey and her national talk show. What about the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox? OH, let’s not forget the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. And will we have the Chicago Bears and Soldier Field.

In addition to all of the above, Chicago and the adjoining municipalities have a rich history of engineering achievement. All too often, however, our extensive engineering achievements are neither recognized nor celebrated. Notably, the reversing of the Chicago River is one of the engineering marvels of the world. Chicago's water filtration and distribution system for Cook and adjoining counties is the envy of many metropolitan centers. Chicago's transportation systems (highway and mass transit) though often congested are regarded as one of the better in the United States for urban centers. The first movable bascule-type bridge was pioneered by Chicago bridge engineers. Chicago is the "City of Bridges", for today we have more movable bridges than any place in the world. The first Ferris Wheel, by Pittsburgh bridge engineer George Washington Gale Ferris (born in Galesburg, IL) was constructed for the World Colombian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893. (The Ferris Wheel was America's response to the Eiffel Tower) The Deep Tunnel Project (TARP) is a national civil engineering landmark. (Commemorated by a plaque on the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue bridge over the Chicago River). It was in Chicago that the first true skyscraper was built and Chicago has one of tallest building in the world, the Sears Tower. Some of the technology used to build the tall buildings was pioneered in Chicago. Chicago can claim some of the tallest buildings constructed of reinforced concrete. The new Trump Tower presently under construction will be one of the tallest reinforced concrete structures in the world. It is Chicago structural engineers that are designing some of the tallest buildings in the world: Burj Dubai - soon to become the tallest building in the world and Moscow City Tower which may become the tallest building in Europe.

Many engineering/construction trade associations are headquartered in the Chicagoland area, as are several leading scientific, engineering research laboratories. You might not realize that pioneering work in magnetic recording occurred at one of these institutions (see MIDWEST ENGINEER, September/October 1995, "Marvin Camras - Father of Magnetic Recording" published by the Western Society of Engineers; ). Long forgotten is the fact that initial scientific experiments into the engineering principles behind manned flight to look place on the dunes at the southern end of Lake Michigan (see 1992-1993 directory, MIDWEST ENGINEER, "A Personal Reminiscence of Octave Chanute"; also see Chicago Tribune, Transportation Section, Sunday,

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June 23, 1996, "The Wright Stuff".). Chemical engineer Vladimir Haensel was recipient of the 1997 Draper Prize, sometimes referred to as the 'Nobel Prize of Engineering'. In 1947, Haensel pioneered 'platforming' at Universal Oil Products, (now UOP), Des Plaines, Illinois. "Platforming" (Platinum- reforming) is basic in the production of low cost, high efficient gasoline. Spin-offs from this patented process include raw materials essential for the production of plastics. (See Dennis Byrne Commentary, "Well-kept Secrets", Chicago SUN-TIMES, October 19, 1997.). Pioneering work in numerous electronic achievements abound including; radio, television and cell phone technologies.

Ref Lee Deforest

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Lee-De-Forest

Robert Adler/Eugene Polley http://www.geocities.com/neveyaakov/electro_science/adler.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Adler

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/9664/1103/

Martin Cooper

http://www.cellular.co.za/cellphone_inventor.htm

ZENITH Electronics

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Zenith-Electronics-Corporation

Chicago and surrounding communities are home to leading technological universities and colleges. Finally, the Chicago area is home to some of the leading scientific and engineering corporations. Companies which design power, communications, transportation, environmental, and other engineering systems are located here.

As February 15-21, 2009 is NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEKtm isn't about time Chicagoans paid homage to our engineering heritage. Let's look at the many ideas engineers have turned into reality to make Chicago (and the world) a better place to live.

And without Engineers and engineering achievements think about how your life would change.

“Scientists discover the world that exists; engineers create the world that never was."
— Theodore von Karman

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If you need additional information about NEW-2009 please do not hesitate to

visit the EWEEK - Chicago Website at:

www.chicagolandeweek.org

For additional information on Chicagoland Engineers Week activities visit the following WEBSITES:

http://www.swe.org/chicago/

http://www.SEAOI.org

http://www.iecweb.org/

http://posts.same.org/Chicago/

http://www.wsechicago.org