ASCE NCS-SEI April 2024 Meeting

Exploring Career Paths in Underground Infrastructure: 

A Focus on Risk Management in Tunneling Projects 

Click HERE for the registration link.

This event is designed to introduce you to the dynamic and rapidly growing field of underground construction, with a particular emphasis on the complexities and challenges of risk management in tunneling projects. This is a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of underground infrastructure and explore the vast career possibilities within this specialized sector. 

Underground structures are an integral component of modern infrastructure, playing a crucial role in urban development, transportation networks, and resilient cities. Tunnels, subways, underground utilities, and deep foundations support the functionality and efficiency of societies worldwide. However, these projects come with unique challenges, including geological uncertainties, environmental constraints, and safety concerns. Effective risk management is essential to ensuring the successful planning, design, and construction of these complex structures. This session will provide you with industry insights, real-world case studies, and expert guidance on navigating the technical and managerial aspects of tunneling projects. 

By attending this session, you will gain valuable knowledge from industry professionals who have firsthand experience in managing underground infrastructure projects. The discussion will cover key topics such as geological risk assessment, construction methods, mitigation strategies, and cutting-edge technologies used in tunneling. Whether you are considering a career in geotechnical engineering, structural design, or construction management, understanding the risks and solutions associated with underground projects will give you a competitive advantage in the field. 

Meeting Format: In-person
Location: The Catholic University of America, Maloney Hall (620 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC), Room 326
Time: Thursday, April 24th at 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
Cost of Attendance: No Fee, RSVP is required due to limited capacity

(Note: Metered parking is available around the building.) 

About the Speakers

                                Elisa Comis                                                  Parsa Heydarpour Ph.D., P.E.,PMP 

          Managing Director – ARX-Pini Group USA Inc.              Tunnel Specialist- COWI North America 

  Guest Speaker                                                                     Host 

Elisa Comis 

Managing Director, ARX-Pini Group USA Inc. 

Elisa Comis has 18 years of experience in mechanized tunneling, with an emphasis on utilizing tunnel boring machines (TBMs) in a variety of ground conditions. She has participated in key projects around the world starting with Contractor SELI as plant manager in 2007 and then with The Robbins Company as Field Service Commissioning Engineer first and then Project Engineer. She also led the design of the first Robbins Crossover TBM being used in North America in Akron, Ohio. 

In November 2017, she joined McMillen Jacobs as a subject matter expert regarding TBMs, where she served as a Lead Associate. From 2020 to 2022 Elisa was deployed as Assistant Resident Engineer at the DC Water North-East Boundary Tunnel Project. In September 2022, Elisa joined the Pini Group as the new PINI USA Managing Director. She is also Past Chair of the UCA Women In Tunneling (WIT) Group, and currently Chair of the SME Inclusion and Diversity Committee. 

Parsa Heydarpour, Ph.D., P.E., PMP 

Tunnel Specialist, COWI NA 

Dr. Parsa Heydarpour is an accomplished structural engineer and educator with a robust background in civil engineering, specializing in structural and geotechnical analysis and design. As a Tunnel Specialist with COWI NA, Dr. Heydarpour leads complex underground engineering projects, including large-scale transit systems, urban resiliency initiatives, and critical infrastructure development. His expertise encompasses advanced structural modeling, geotechnical assessments, and the development of innovative solutions for challenging engineering problems. 

Dr. Heydarpour is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states (DC, MD, and NC) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a Top Expert Engineer Member of the MIDAS Expert Network. His contributions to the engineering community include hosting expert workshops and publishing extensively in peer-reviewed journals on topics ranging from seismic analysis to geotechnical modeling. 

Apr. 8, 2025: Annual Awards Gala & Banquet [6:30-10PM: Hilton Arlington]

Click HERE for details (venue, time, cost, PDH) or to register.

Join us for our signature Annual Awards Gala and Banquet where we recognize outstanding engineers and projects from around the National Capital Section!

We will be presenting awards for:

• Project of the Year winner
• Sustainability Project of the Year winner, and
• Honoring local graduating students and accomplished local engineers.

About the Keynote Speaker

Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., F. ASCE, F.ITE, AICP, ENV SP/Trainer [ASCE President 2026]

Marsha Anderson Bomar is a civil engineering trailblazer who has held numerous leadership roles. She is the Transportation Strategic Advisor for GHD, a global consultancy.  Previously, she served as the Atlanta Department of Transportation commissioner and assistant general manager for capital program delivery of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to found and lead Street Smarts Inc., a planning, engineering, and design firm, and Data Smarts, a data collection and management firm, which she sold to Stantec in 2010.

Most recently, Anderson Bomar served as treasurer on ASCE’s Board of Direction. She was also the international past president of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and ASCE’s Transportation and Development Institute, showcasing her leadership on a global scale. She served as a Society director on the ASCE board and governor on the Technical Region Board of Governors. In 2016, she was awarded the ASCE William Wisely Civil Engineering Award, given to members who have exhibited continuing efforts to better the history, tradition, developments, and technical and professional activities of the Society.

Anderson Bomar's commitment to public service is evident in her extensive training and experience. She served four terms as a council member for the city of Duluth, Georgia, and has been mayor pro tempore. As an elected official, Anderson Bomar authored the LEAD (leadership) program and served five years on the Public Arts Commission. She has completed more than 100 hours of training with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, including courses on policy, law, ethics, lobbying, community and economic development, and cultural diversity.

Anderson Bomar's academic achievements and international recognition underscore her expertise and credibility. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s in transportation planning and engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, a master’s degree in civil engineering from Princeton University, and a doctorate in environmental planning and design earned in 2024 from the University of Georgia. Her extensive body of work, including hundreds of publications, articles, and studies, and her role as an international speaker on technical subjects, leadership, and ethics further solidifies her standing in the field. She was featured as an Extraordinary Woman Engineer in the 2006 ASCE publication Changing Our World, True Stories of Women Engineers.

Welcome

The National Capital Section encourages you to browse through content on this site to get a feel for how we can be of value to you through our educational, networking, and leadership development opportunities for civil engineers in our region.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Click the links for our Recent Section Meetings listed below. These are educational events allowing you to earn a Professional Development Hour that counts toward your PE license renewal requirement. We hold eight Section Meetings each year. Our Reston Branch holds eight Branch Meetings each year. Both Section and Branch meetings have returned to in-person over catered dinner (Section) and lunch (Branch). These had been conducted online since March 2020 but have reverted to in-person meetings. Our technical committees, such as architecture, transportation, construction, among others, host additional meetings.
• Read our monthly newsletter, issued eight times a year. Locate them in the NCS Newsletters module located toward the middle, on the right sidebar of this page. These serve as a window to our world and the people behind the activities we undertake.

If you're ready to engage with us and wish to learn more, to volunteer your time, or to run for office as a technical committee leader or a Section/Branch board member, reach out to our President by selecting Board of Directors under Contact Us, then click the President's name, open the Contact Form to email your message.

Thanks for visiting.