This volume presents the background to the recently developed European standard (CEN standard) on snow loads. Many of the papers on ""structural engineering"" describe results from a European snow project that was completed in 1999.

The objective of the conference was to provide a forum for engineers, architects and scientists to discuss a broad range of research and design methods for various problems related to snow engineering. Specialists in building and civil engineering, environmental engineering, energy engineering, urban planning, and regional development as well as snow scientists were brought together for the conference. The technical sessions were in five thematic areas as follows: Snow technology and science; Building and construction engineering; Infrastructure and transportation; Housing and residential planning; Development strategy in snow countries. The 115 papers provide keys to realize more comfortable living conditions in snow countries and to overcome many problems in heavy snow regions.

Specialists in building and civil engineering, architecture, traffic and transport engineering, urban planning and avalanche science came together at the Fifth International Conference on Snow Engineering, organized by the Federal Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos 2004. This event belongs to a series of Snow Engineering Conferences held every four years since 1988. These conferences have become an important event for the international exchange of information on recent developments in snow engineering. The following thematic areas were discussed in the technical sessions and are here presented in this volume: - Transportation - Housing and Residential Planning - Snow Loads - Ski Mechanics - Hazard Mitigation - Snow Technology and Science - Avalanche Engineering

This volume presents the background to the recently developed European standard (CEN standard) on snow loads. Many of the papers on "structural engineering" describe results from a European snow project that was completed in 1999.

Significant Changes to Seismic Load Provisions of ASCE 7-10: An Illustrated Guide focuses on the revisions to the seismic load requirements set forth in the latest edition of the Standard for minimum design loads. Mirroring the organization of the seismic chapters in ASCE 7-10, this handy reference briefly summarizes each change to the seismic provisions that might affect actual practice or enforcement and immediately follows up with the precise wording of the change. The impact of each update is explained in clear, straightforward language accompanied by diagrams, examples, and color photographs and illustrations to enrich the reader s understanding. Significant Changes to the Seismic Load Provisions of ASCE 7-10: An Illustrated Guide translates the changes to the seismic provisions of ASCE Standard 7-10 into a form readily accessible by structural engineers, architects, contractors, building officials and inspectors, and allied professionals. S. K. Ghosh is president, Susan Dowty is vice president and Prabuddha Dasgupta is engineering manager of S. K. Ghosh Associates Inc., a seismic and building code consulting firm based in Palatine, IL and Aliso Viejo, CA. All three are active in development and interpretation of U.S. codes and standards.