ON CAMPUS AT UCI:

When a heavily traveled bridge collapsed in Minneapolis on Aug. 1, Maria Feng, UC Irvine professor of civil and environmental engineering, was inundated with media questions about the tragedy. Working in The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, Feng develops sensors to monitor the soundness of bridges and other structures. Now, a topic that once might have interested only structural engineers is on everyone’s minds, and Feng’s work has taken on a new sense of urgency.

“On the Minnesota bridge, there may have been early warning signs that could have been detected by such sensors, so we at least could have shut down traffic,” Feng says.

In 1999, Feng patented a fiber-optic sensor she designed that’s uniquely suited to bridges and other structures. No larger than a Bic lighter, the sensors are easier to install than conventional electric sensors and they won’t go haywire if struck by lightning — a crucial feature for bridge monitoring. By continuously measuring bridge vibration and processing the signals in real time using diagnostic software she developed, the sensors can instantly signal via the Internet when damage has occurred.

She’s monitoring three Orange County bridges and the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Bridge Inventory, 24 Orange County bridges are “structurally deficient,” 16 with ratings equal to or worse than the Minneapolis bridge.

To install the sensors, Feng ventures onto bridges’ narrow catwalks, often working hundreds of feet above ground. It’s no small feat, considering she’s scared of heights.

“My work in the field often requires me to climb to high places,” she says. “I’m getting used to it. I try not to look down.”

Feng envisions the day when sensors will be installed in all critical infrastructures.

“The bridge disaster has shown us we must do something. The technology is there,” she says. “It’s a wake-up call.”

 UCI participates in Project Playhouse

UCI volunteers have contributed a miniature “Lakeside Retreat” to Project Playhouse 2007, a fundraiser for HomeAid Orange County in which elaborate playhouses are auctioned to raise money for homeless shelters. The playhouses are on display at Fashion Island, Newport Beach, until the Oct. 13 auction; for a $5 donation, visitors can tour the playhouse village 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.

UCI’s playhouse recalls the quaint cabins of Lake Tahoe, complete with wrap-around deck overlooking a sparkling miniature lake, with campus mascot Peter the Anteater at the helm of a little rowboat. A team from UCI’s Facilities Management department, led by supervising carpenter Bill Mitchell, donated their free time and trade skills to construct the playhouse. It’s the second time UCI has participated in the fundraiser. Last year’s playhouse sold for $40,000. For more information go to www.projectplayhouse.org.

 Ron Carlson to speak on writing

Ron Carlson, director of UCI’s acclaimed MFA writing program in fiction, will discuss “The Creative Process of Writing” at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, in Langson Library.

Praised as a master of the short story, Carlson is the award-winning author of four short-story collections and three novels, including the recently released “Five Skies.” After the talk he will sign his new book, “Ron Carlson Writes a Story.”

Presented by UCI Libraries, the event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. For more information call (949) 824-5300 or e-mail partners@lib.uci.edu.

SUSAN MENNING is the assistant vice chancellor of university communications at UC Irvine. Reach her at smenning@uci.edu.