By Kenneth Jung, P.E. and Bob Humer, P.E.
Renovating the main runway at Oakland International Airport with asphalt in 14 days, working around the clock (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), and paving in echelon was the best option to avoid interrupting air traffic. (more…)
Dr. Mark Buncher, Ph.D., P.E. is Director of Engineering for the Asphalt Institute (AI). He recently marked his 20-year anniversary with AI.
What drew you to engineering and transportation?
Engineering because I was stronger (relative term) in math and science than other subjects. I chose civil engineering because I had this vision of working outside on a big construction site (at age 18, suntans were important). How ironic…now my job rarely gets me out in the field, and when it does, my doctor says to wear a hat and sunscreen. At the end of my undergrad, I joined the United States Air Force as a Civil Engineering Officer. I developed a passion for pavements during my favorite assignment–Pavement Evaluation Team Chief. We traveled around the world conducting structural evaluations of airfields and remote airstrips. I learned enough about pavements to be dangerous, and to realize there was so much more I wanted to learn by specializing. During my Ph.D. program, one of my favorite professors liked to say “Pavements are for simple minded people.” This confirmed I made the right choice. (more…)