December 2009

Engineering on the edge

Fear can be a friend. Perched on the edge of a 317–foot–high dam with water rushing furiously below, Kim Hansen was afraid, and it kept him cautious, he said. “If you aren’t scared, it’s dangerous,” said Hansen, 54, senior engineer with Mead & Hunt Inc., Madison. “When I get out on a very large dam, it still gives me the willies.”

Although unusual in Wisconsin, dam inspections that require engineers strap on safety gear and climb onto the dams in search of cracks and other damage can be unforgettable experiences for the men and women involved.

“It can be a strange feeling knowing you’re somewhere where other people haven’t been for five years or more,” said Jeff Anderson, senior engineer with Mead & Hunt. “It keeps you on your toes.”

These three paragraphs begin the story.  To read the full article go to this LINK

reprinted from December 2009 Wisconsin Builder