september 2012

I very nearly died in India, which to some begs the question “why go back?” To others the more obvious question to ask is why even go there in the first place? For those disinclined to travel far, it’s easy to drum up reasons not to go there, or

to many other places for that matter. “They’re far away.” “I’ll get sick.” “It’s dirty.” “It’s dangerous.” “They’ve neglected to learn English so that they can understand me.” So which of these is true, and why do we look for or accept this work?

Over the past 4 years alone we’ve pursued or considered pursuing work in Malaysia, Guam, Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi, Nigeria, and Spain, to name a few, and are currently pursuing work at a military base in Iraq. During the same period we’ve worked in the West Bank, Guyana, and India, and collaborated from the comfort of the US on projects in Abu Dhabi, Eritrea, India, and Mozambique. Going back a little further, APTech has worked in Hong Kong, South Korea, Norway, and Taiwan. These are not all garden spots, and many of them have either a checkered past or present. So let me start by offering a few thoughts about why APTech chases work overseas.

One reason for taking on this work is that it introduces us to new clients and new friends. Maybe this summer it has seemed like we don’t need more of either, but in the long run this pays off. Our overseas projects have put us in places where we don’t see a lot of our competitors, and when we do a good job the likelihood of being hired again increases. The work we’ve done for the Bangalore Airport is a good example of this, where the client initially found us in an internet search and has given us several contracts after the first one. Along the way, our main contact in Bangalore has also become a friend, opening up his home, sharing his life outside of work, and asking after APTech employees who he knows only from e-mails and correspondence.

Some of this work also leads us into new markets. In 2003 in Durban, South Africa I met an Indian businessman who owns a civil engineering firm in Mumbai. Later his daughter went to Notre Dame and we met for dinner a few times in the Chicago area. APTech has now partnered with his firm, SOWiL, on

The (Vice) President’s Perspective by David Peshkin

continued on page 7

PAGE 2 The winner of the

grammar game is revealed along

with this month’s topic

PAGE 3 Chris shares time-saving

shortcuts for Windows 7

PAGE 4-5 APTech’s extended

family has had a lot of activity

recently, including graduations,

weddings, and babies on the way

PAGE 6 Nathan and Laura share

pictures from the field

APTech is once again sponsoring the Annual Buddy Walk in support of the Champaign County Down Syndrome Network (DNS) on Saturday, October 6, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.The event includes a one-mile Advocacy Walk, carnival games, inflatables, face-painting, police and fire department displays, the “Raminator”, music, refreshments, raffle with amazing prizes and family

activities. Registration for the event is free, but in lieu of a registration fee, the organization encourages participants to make a tax-deductible contribution to help support the programs and services provided by the Champaign County DNS. For more information, please visit the walk website: http://champaignbuddywalk2012.kintera.org. Many Urbana APTech employees will be participating in the walk. You are

encouraged to participate.

2012 Buddy Walk

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Congratulations to last month’s grammar game winner, Prashant! Thanks to everyone who played!

When do I use an en dash, em dash, or hyphen? I have taken a lot of English classes, and I cannot remember ever learning about the different types of dashes. For those of you who need a refresher, or a first time explanation, there are three main types (em dash, en dash, and the hyphen) with distinct uses that we have to worry about when writing. While an average reader might not notice the difference, you can be proud of yourself knowing that the correct use of the dashes shows that you are extremely intelligent and refined. The three main dashes are below for size comparison:

hyphen - en dash – em dash �

When to use a hyphenUse hyphens for compound words or fractions. For example, this shows up a lot when talking about pavement severities:

Low-severity cracking was observed over the entire runway.

When to use an en dash

En dashes are used for compound adjectives when one or more of its elements consists of an open compound or when both elements consist of hyphenated compounds. The intention is to signal a more comprehensive connection to the reader, showing that the elements being connected extend beyond the two words on either side of the dash. I remember this rule by thinking about the length of the dash: hyphens are short, so they can only reach the words on either side of the hyphen. An en dash is longer, so it can reach out to more than two words. Examples:

The post–World War II years were known as a time of prosperity in the U.S.

Susan enjoyed the country music–inspired lyrics.

When to use an em dash

The em dash is the most versatile of the dashes. Their main uses include:

1. To set off an explanatory element (as an alternative to parentheses, commas, or colons).

If the phrase within commas also contains a comma, em dashes should be used instead. Example:

The conference � which had already been interrupted by the hurricane, picketers, and the key note speaker’s heart attack � was rescheduled for next month.

Grammar.quickanddirtytips.com explains the decision to use parentheses, commas, and dashes as a continuum: “Parentheses are the quiet whisper of an aside; commas are the conversational voice of a friend walking by your desk; and dashes are the yowl of a pirate dashing into a fray.” It’s strictly a stylistic decision as to which one to use, but em dashes spotlight the text more and are more abrupt. It is also more appropriate for surprising elements. Example:

The dog � who weighed 5 pounds and could fit in a shoebox � frightened the burglar away from the house. (I would use em dashes here because it is surprising that the dog is tiny.)

2. To set off an introductory noun from a pronoun that introduces the main clause.

This is a rare case that will not often come up. Example:

Thunderstorms, darkness, loud noises � nothing scared the child.

Grammar game solution:

1. The updated handbook � it now included the 401k policy � was given to every employee. (em dash)

2. Two-thirds of the group voted to go to Black Dog for lunch. (hyphen)

3. The guitarist performed a Jimi Hendrix–style version of the National Anthem. (en dash)

4. Only one person was missing from the wedding � the bride. (em dash)

(mis)adventures in grammar and styleby Beth McKinney

grammargameBelow are five sentences using lay or

lie (or past tense versions). Be the first

one to get the most right and win a

Starbucks gift card!

1. I will lie/lay on the bed until my headache goes away.

2. Please lie/lay the book on the table.

3. Since we are going to work in here, please go lie/lay down in the other room, James.

4. Yesterday, I lay/laid on the floor to hear what was going on in the apartment below.

5. Last week, I lay/laid the report on your desk.

celebration!anniversary

9/23 − Tracey Smith (10 years)9/25 − Chris Childress (6 years)birthday

9/14 − Kelly Smith9/20 − RoseMary Evans

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Windows 7 has a few new features that can make managing windows and navigating the desktop a bit easier. Read on and give them a try. If you have questions or ideas for other articles, contact Chris.

Show desktop has moved

The show desktop button has moved to the bottom-right corner of the screen. Clicking the button will minimize all open applications and show your desktop.

Aero Peek

Aero Peek allows us to see through the open applications to view what is on the desktop. To activate Aero peek, move your mouse pointer over the show desktop button in the bottom-right corner and let it hover for a second. The open applications will become see-through and you can see your desktop icons and gadgets. To deactivate, just move the pointer away from the corner.

Aero Snap

Aero Snap is a quick way to resize windows to occupy half of the screen or maximize a window. Click and drag a window to the far left or right side of the screen until the mouse pointer touches the edge. The window will

snap to that side and take up half of the screen.

In the example below, we have two Word documents. To easily compare them side by side, click one and drag it to the left edge until it snaps in to place. For the other Word document, click and drag it to the right edge until it snaps in to place.

Aero Shake

Aero shake is an interesting feature that lets us quickly minimize all applications except the one that we have clicked on. To activate Aero Shake, click the title bar of an application, then shake it left to right or up and down. All the other windows will minimize leaving the one we’ve shaken open. It can be helpful if you want clear up the clutter of open applications or access files on the desktop.

KatMouse

KatMouse is a downloaded utility to enhance the functionality of the mouse and scroll wheel. With KatMouse installed, your mouse and scroll wheel will affect the window you are hovering over, not the one that was last clicked (which is the default on Windows Operating Systems). If you would like this function installed, please contact Chris. Once installed, it will appear beside the time as a small, orange cat.

Shortcuts

The following will work on all versions of Windows.

These shortcuts are mostly key combinations. When you see Windows Key+E, press and hold Windows Key while pressing E, then release. Same for CTRL, Shift, and ALT.

Launch Explorer: Windows Key+EShow Desktop: Windows Key+DSelect All: CTRL+AUndo: CTRL+ZCut: CTRL+XCopy: CTRL+CPaste: CTRL+VCTRL+Right Arrow: Move insertion point to beginning of next wordCTRL+Left Arrow: Move insertion point to beginning of previous wordCTRL+Down Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraphCTRL+Up Arrow: Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraphCTRL+Shift: Use with arrow keys to highlight a block of text. ALT+TAB: Switch through open applications. TAB can be pressed to cycle between the different applications.

Windows 7 Tips and Tricks by Chris Childress

Left: Aero Peek allows you to see the desktop without changing open windows. Below: Aero Snap makes comparing documents easier.

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Kelly Smith’s daughter Emily graduated from Monticello High School in May. She started college in August at the University of Indianapolis, where she hopes to earn her degree in physical therapy.

APTech Family Updates: Graduations and Weddings

Graduations

RoseMary Evans’ son Austin (pictured above) graduated first in his class and is currently attending Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois with a major in PreMed.

Katie Zimmerman’s son Mike Cation and Julia Stackler were married August 4, 2012 at St. Matthew’s church in Champaign, and their reception was at ARC on the University Campus. As you can tell from the mother/son dance, they had a good time!

Monika Fisher’s son Michael (pictured below with Monika’s other two sons, Jarred and Nicky), graduated high school this year and started college pursuing a degree in chemical engineering.

Weddings

Maura Hankinson’s daughter Taylor graduated from High School in May and is attending Parkland College in Champaign, trying to figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. She is very interested in pursuing a career in nursing. Her future is bright so we will have to see where it leads her.

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DUE DATE: December 31, but she may arrive anytime between Christmas and my birthday. This adds another celebration to a very cheerful season.

NAME: We are having a little girl named Finley Grace Brynick. Tay hopes to call her Finn, but I want to call her Huck.

NURSERY DECORATIONS: Pink, lots and lots of pink!

MOST EXCITED ABOUT BEING A DAD: Doing everything fun all over again so she can experience them too.

MOST WORRIED ABOUT BEING A DAD: Boys named Dusty.

BEST ADVICE: Liquids and solids come out of everywhere when you are lest expecting it.

WORST ADVICE: That I should catch her at delivery.

MOM-TO-BE’S CRAVINGS: Sweets; specifically brownies, chocolate, cupcakes, pies, and ice cream.

HOW BEING A FATHER WILL CHANGE MAT’S LIFE: I think I will learn what patience feels like.

APTech Family Updates: Babies

Baby Girl Brynick Baby Girl PulleyblankDUE DATE: December 14.

NAME: Josephine Jane (Josie or JJ) after my 104 year old great-great aunt.

NURSERY DECORATIONS: However my wife tells me to decorate it.

MOST EXCITED ABOUT BEING A DAD: The underground baby fight clubs that I keep hearing about.

MOST WORRIED ABOUT BEING A DAD: The lack of sleep worries me most. I am old now, and need more than I used to.

MOM-TO-BE’S CRAVINGS: She has more aversions than cravings. Green peppers make her ill for some reason now.

HOW BEING A FATHER WILL CHANGE DUSTY’S LIFE: I will have less time to watch football, and I am sure that I won’t mind a bit.

With the APTech sponsorship of the Champaign County Down Syndrome Network Annual Buddy Walk in October (which you can read more about on page 1), October seems like a great month to focus on the other philanthropic

activities APTech employees engage in throughout the year.

If you volunteer your time for any organization, please let me (Beth) know. I would love to include it in next

month’s newsletter and hopefully give other people ideas of ways to work in the community. Also, if you have suggestions for places that may need volunteers, please let me know. See you next month!

Coming in the October Issue

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NEW PROPOSALS2007-056-RR18 Factors Affecting Pavement Preservation Performance2007-056-RR20 Development of Bridge and Highway Construction Technical Briefs2009-100-RM02 Fort Hood PMS Implementation2012-026-RR02 IDTSA - Support for the Every Day Counts Regional Summits2012-103-RR00 FHWA Construction Management Tech Transfer and Support 2012-104-AM01 Defence Construction Canada Airfield Pavement Condition Inspections2012-105-RR01 IGGA DBR Performance Curve2012-106-RR01 International Scan Implementation2012-107-RR01 Project Management and Project Support for Various Illinois

Counties2012-108-RM00 City of University City Civil Engineering2012-109-RM01 Independent Assessment on Washington County, OR Preservation and Maintenance Practices2012-110-AM01 Burlington Vermont APMS Update2012-111-AE01 Pearson Field Airport2012-112-RM01 Pavement Management Support for Potomac Green Community Association(Ashton VA)2012-113-RE01 Virginia I-64 and I-81 FWD Testing2012-114-RM01 Pavement Management Support for Toll Brothers at Damonte Ranch2012-115-AM01 Balad Air Base PCI Inspections

NEW PROJECTS2007-098-0230 MLA Pilot Presentations 2011-023-AM02 Colorado 2011-2015 APMS Update 2011-051-AE01 Texarkana Runway 4/22 Evaluation2011-067-RD02 Pavement Support for US36 2011-133-AM01 2012 North Dakota APMS Update2012-026-RR00 IDIQ - FHWA IDTSA2012-026-RT01 3D Engineered Models for Construction2012-091-RM01 PE&RMS for Lake Country Estates 2012-094-RE01 Douglas County Pavement Analysis 2012-117-RE01 Ft. Lauderdale Intermodal RCC Design

Proposals and Projects compiled by Beth McKinney

photos from the field

Right: Ultieg, the company APTech is working with on the North Dakota APMS update, took this photo of Laura and a Ultieg engineer in the field September 7. Bottom Left: Nathan spotted this very small experimental plane in Sac City, Iowa while doing PCI surveys for the Iowa APMS Update. “I’ve seen one of these in Washington but it was not operational. I saw this machine fly,” Nathan said. Its body is made of plastic, and it has a light metal frame. Bottom Right: Nathan snapped this picture of the plane flown by Craig Gifford for the USA Advanced Aerobatics Team in various national and international competitions. It was taken in Pocahontas, Iowa.

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several design-build-maintain-operate-transfer (DBMOT) projects in India, and will likely continue to do for several years. India’s 12th 5-Year Plan (2012 to 2017) contains ambitious objectives for transportation infrastructure growth, and much of this growth will only be possible through the use of public-private partnerships such as DBMOT. Sound pavement engineering on these projects helps the contractor to reduce their costs and lower their bid prices. Working with SOWiL we’ve been able to apply our knowledge in pavement design, analysis, and preservation to fine tune pavement designs and provide expertise that is not widely available there. We are also providing some of these services in the US, and I expect that in the future we’ll be using lessons learned in the US in India and lessons learned in India in the US.

At some point financial considerations do play a part, and here, perhaps, the balance sheet is not so straightforward. Ideally we would always cover all of our expenses using our loaded billing rates, and perhaps be able to charge a premium for the extra effort that is associated with working half a world away. So far, the greatest challenges to achieving this ideal include scope creep and taking on some projects as loss leaders for future work that is expected to be more lucrative. One difference we’ve found in countries such as India is that taxes are withheld by the client, so we end up taking home less than expected. As we’ve learned that, we’ve also learned to make adjustments. On the positive side, we have always ultimately been paid for our work, which in talking with colleagues at other firms is not at all a universal experience.

A final reason for seeking out overseas work is that it provides us a chance to see and experience the world. I’ve already acknowledged that this isn’t for everyone, but for some it can be a powerful draw. Yes, it’s probably a lot easier to find staff willing to work in the Bahamas or Hawaii or Hong Kong, but when the chance for work in Iraq came along there were still a few employees

willing to sign up for the adventure. I suppose that as long as we don’t try to force anyone to go to any of these places, the travel, and the associated opportunities to learn and grow, can be attractive.

The other topic I wanted to cover relates to the perceptions, or possible misperceptions, about distant lands. This is solely from my perspective, which I’ve come to learn is not shared by everyone.

It’s far away: yes, some of these places are far away. And in some cases they’re hard to get to. Hawaii and Alaska are in the same category, although you can leave your passport at home, which may make them seem a little closer. Certainly if you don’t like to travel, traveling a long way doesn’t make it any better. I still find this travel to be interesting and a chance to learn and to see things to which I wouldn’t otherwise be exposed. Probably the biggest challenge I’ve had is finding the time to explore once I’ve traveled so far.

I’ll get sick: well, yes, health is a concern and getting sick in some of these distant places can be uncomfortable. However, if you follow normal precautions (bottled water, heated foods, avoid street vendors) you can reduce those probabilities considerably. Probably the biggest difference is that some health-related practices that we take for granted require more awareness when overseas. Over the course of my professional career I’ve been to more ERs while traveling for work in the US (two) than I have while overseas (zero). I’m also reassured that the level of healthcare in many other countries is good, so if I do fall ill there’s a good chance I’ll receive the medical care I need.

It’s dirty. Or dangerous: there’s no doubt that many parts of the world can be given either (or both) of these labels. As can many parts of the US. Sometimes at home we don’t see these things anymore, or we know how to avoid them, so that when we do encounter them overseas it can be startling. Regarding dangers abroad, I try to use common sense. Again in the US this is easier to do because it’s easier

to pick up on the cultural or situational signs that suggest what we should and shouldn’t be doing. Overseas, it’s probably best to ask for help or err on the side of caution. Especially if your ground speed is no longer what it used to be. The hotel front desk, the people you’re working with, or even the US Embassy/Consulate can all be good sources of local information. For international travelers, the State Department offers great country specific information at http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html and travel alerts and warnings are at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html.

As for the filth and squalor, I am the first to admit I’ve seen astonishingly poor conditions. The daily trip between my hotel in Mumbai and the airport, where people live their lives on every square inch of available land, including the curbs, sidewalks, and other public spaces, comes to mind. Perhaps this is unavoidable in a country of over 1.2 billion people. On the other hand, has anyone been in NYC during a garbage strike?

You probably see my point by now. It is a different world out there, but it’s not necessarily a bad one. There are amazing things to be seen, both man-made and natural, and you’ll have to believe me that the pictures just don’t do them justice. There are also a lot of interesting people to meet and cultures to learn about. And there are certainly challenging projects to work on, and perhaps some money to be made from them along the way.

As for my near-death experience, I did almost die in India. But it wasn’t from the food I consumed, the bugs and germs to which I was exposed, riotous crowds, or even the insane traffic of Mumbai or Delhi. The way I remember it, I was walking in a river above a waterfall, lost my footing, slipped, and started to be carried away by the water over the edge. I was between 4 and 5 years old at the time and my father grabbed my hand at the last moment to avert certain (to me) tragedy. Somewhere there’s a 16 mm home movie that proves this.

The Vice President’s Perspective continued from page 1