NJIT Student Engineers Excel at Regionals, Advance to National Finals

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) emerged triumphant at the recent American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Metropolitan Student Symposium, showcasing their engineering prowess and securing top positions across multiple competitions.

Held at Stony Brook University from April 12-14, the symposium featured competition among 13 universities from New Jersey and New York. NJIT students, under the guidance of several advisors, demonstrated exceptional skills and innovation, earning accolades in various categories and earning spots in society-wide finals.

Steel Bridge Winners

NJIT's Steel Bridge Team, led by co-captains Thomas Hickey and Michael Rohe, stole the spotlight by clinching the top spot overall. Advised by Professor Matthew Bandelt, the team impressed with a remarkable build time of eight minutes and ten seconds. Their outstanding performance extended to winning multiple categories including stiffness, cost estimation, construction speed and construction efficiency.

The bridge, weighing in just shy of 220 pounds, supported a 2,500-pound load that deflected only .6 inches in the middle of its 20-foot span. The bridge team advances, for the second consecutive year, to the national event May 31-June 1 at Louisiana Tech University.

3D Printed Bridge Winners

Under the mentorship of Professors William Pennock and Eduardo Castro, NJIT's 3D Printed Bridge Team, led by co-captains Joel Florim and Saad Rehmatullah, secured first place overall. The team's win was earned by finishing first in several categories: creativity, load capacity, bridge deflection and its poster presentation.

The 3D Printing Competition has its origin at NJIT's inter-collegiate competition in November 2021, and the ASCE acknowledged NJIT's efforts in creating the competition and working to expand its reach among civil engineering students. The ASCE is currently working out details for a national-level competition.

Surveying Success

NJIT's Surveying Team, guided by Allison Laptka, displayed remarkable skill and precision, securing second place overall. Captain Antonio Petito, along with vice-captains Mauricio Inga and Paulina Lugardo, led the team to success with their dedication and expertise.

This competition recognizes the importance of basic surveying principles to all civil engineering projects and ways to solve common problems they will encounter in the industry. In this competition, competitors completed a topographic mapping project and field tasks that are part of the surveying process.

Outstanding Individual Achievement:

NJIT's Katie Nguyen shone bright with her Mead Paper presentation, earning first place overall among 14 participating schools. The 2024 essay topic was to discuss how engineers need to evaluate their ethical responsibilities as they determine whether or how to use AI to aid in their work.

With civil engineers responsible for planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and operating infrastructure, they need to protect and advance the health and safety of the public. Technology, particularly the use of AI, has the potential to change engineering in the future and design the built environment for generations with ethical responsibilities playing a vital role.

Concrete Canoe Endeavor:

NJIT's Concrete Canoe Team, advised by Professor Rayan Assaad and assisted by Professor Matthew Adams, showcased their ingenuity with the creation of "The Kracken". The team secured fourth place overall and excelled in various events including sprint races and slalom competitions.

"We are immensely proud of our students' exceptional performance at the ASCE Metropolitan Student Symposium," said Taha Marhaba, professor and chair of the John A. Reif, Jr. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. "Their dedication, teamwork and innovative spirit exemplify NJIT's commitment to excellence in engineering."

NJIT's success at the symposium not only highlights the talent and dedication of its students but also reinforces the university's reputation as a leader in engineering education.

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