• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Motion Control Tips

Automation • Motion Control • Power Transmission

  • News
    • Industry News
    • Editor Blogs
  • Controls
    • HMIs
    • PC-Based Controllers
    • PLCs + PACs
    • Stand-Alone Controllers
    • Software
  • Drives
    • Servo Drives
    • Stepper Drives
  • Encoders
    • Absolute Encoders
    • Incremental Encoders
    • Rotary Encoders
  • Mechanical
    • Bearings
    • Brakes + Clutches
    • Belt + chain
    • Couplings
    • Gears + Gearing
    • Lubrication
    • Shock + Vibration Mitigation
    • Springs + Rings + Seals
  • Linear
    • Actuators
    • Linear Motors
    • Linear Encoders
  • Motors
    • AC Motors
    • DC Motors
    • Brushless Motors
    • Gearmotors
    • Piezo Motors
    • Servo Motors
    • Stepper Motors
  • Systems
    • Conveyors + linear transport systems
    • Gantries + Stages
    • Rotary Tables
    • Grippers + End Effectors
    • Robotics
  • Networks
    • Connections + Sliprings
    • Fieldbuses
    • I/O
    • Sensors + Vision
  • Resources
    • FAQs
      • Motion Casebook
      • Motion Selection Guides
    • Suppliers
    • Video
You are here: Home / Featured / Editor Blogs / Shining a light on our nation’s infrastructure

Shining a light on our nation’s infrastructure

May 13, 2015 By Miles Budimir Leave a Comment

This week, May 11th through the 15th, is Infrastructure Week. Now in its 3rd year, the aim is to raise awareness of the critical importance of infrastructure to America’s economic well-being. NatInfWeek photo

Events during the week aim to bring together business, labor, and public officials, centered on Washington DC but including the rest of the country, to highlight the critical importance of investing in and modernizing America’s infrastructure systems, and the essential role infrastructure plays in our economy.

What exactly is meant by infrastructure? It encompasses most of our built world including roads and bridges, the country’s railroad network, the electrical grid, water and sewer systems, levees and dams, and port facilities. Every one of these systems is critical to every person in the country, not to mention their obvious importance to industry. And clearly, this is not just a concern for civil engineers but for all engineering disciplines.

The origin of this national focus on infrastructure is the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Infrastructure Report Card. Issued every four years, it assesses the condition of the nation’s infrastructure. And for well over a decade now, the results have not been good. (You can view the full report card here and see for yourself, including the condition of the infrastructure in your own state.) Last year, even 60 Minutes ran a segment that spotlighted some of the truly head-scratching stop-gap measures currently in place as well as the close calls we’ve already had.

The focus on our infrastructure is ultimately a long-term project, an investment in our nation’s future. However, I wonder how challenging such a focus can be given that so much of our culture seems to be geared toward the short-term, be it quarterly earnings reports or what’s “hot” today or this week or this hour even. One could reasonably question if we, collectively, are even capable of thinking long-term any more. Can we envision planning, designing, building, and maintaining infrastructure for decades beyond the present moment?

Still, events like Infrastructure Week are useful ways to raise awareness of the seriousness of the problem and begin to discuss solutions to the challenges, including less expensive, alternative solutions to some of the most challenging issues facing our nation.

You Might Also Like

Filed Under: Editor Blogs

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center

Motion Control Handbook

“mct
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.

RSS Featured White Papers

  • Robotic Automation is Indispensable for the Logistics Industry’s Continued Growth and Success
  • Reliable Linear Motion For Packaging Machines
  • Polymers Outperform Metals In Precision Gearing

Footer

Motion Control Tips

DESIGN WORLD NETWORK

Design World Online
The Robot Report
Coupling Tips
Linear Motion Tips
Bearing Tips
Fastener Engineering.
Wire and Cable Tips

MOTION CONTROL TIPS

Subscribe to our newsletter
Advertise with us
Contact us
About us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy | RSS