Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Mr. Ali Al-Adeeb visited the University of Technology Monday, February 10^{th . He was accompanied during the tour by the Heads of the departments, assistants and guests. He inspected the gallery of modern equipment for all departments and centers of the university. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Tarish showed the minister the importance of these equipment and how they work.}

The department has held a training course for the teaching members on how to use the interactive electronic blackboards. The lecture has been given by the programmer Muhannad Faqid from Al-Badri Information Technology, Limited Company. The basis of the lecture was how to control remotely the computer (by curser). One of the blackboard possibilities shown was displaying illustrative films, if needed by the lecturer.

Supervised by the Dept. Head Prof. Dr. Riyad Hassan Al- Anbari and the Director of laboratories Dr. Ma’an Salman, M.Sc student Ali Hassan Fakhry has operated the “Environmental Oven” which is for cooling and melting cement panels tested (climate chamber). The instrument has been worked on by the student with a rate of 50 cycles, each took 4 hours. It is worth mentioning that the instrument is of Italian origin and from a robust company. In future, it is expected to be utilized by students..

Remote sensing unit in the Dept. has organized a training course on DGPS using (GPS) device, through which global locations are found. The course has included eight participants from various ministries and companies. At the end of the course, the Scientific Associate Prof. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Tarish has awarded certificates to the participants blessing the staff of training (lecturers) (Lect. Tariq Naji and Lect. Asst. Hamid Sarhan) for their efforts in the success of the course.

A meeting has been conducted between the Head of the Dept. Dr. Riyad Al-Anbari and the Korean delegate of HANWA, Korean Co. They have negotiated on preparing to train some of the Dept. students in Basmaya Residential Site.

The researcher reached that concrete is one of the most world-widely used materials for construction works and permeability is considered one of the problems accompanied. Moreover he concluded that although it is possible to reduce permeability through good design of concrete mixes, harmful ions could penetrate to concrete with seeping water from ambient leading to noticeable deterioration in steel reinforcement.

Dept. Teaching Members Prof. Asst. Wasan Ismail Khalil, Prof. Dr. Hesham Mohammed Ali Al-Hassani and Lect. Asst. Lubna Salim Denha have composed a book entitled “Tensile Behavior of Effective Powder Concrete”. The book has been published in the website of German LAP Foundation (Lambert Academic Publishing).

The authors stated that the subject of the book concerns a master research conducted in the laboratories of the Department of Building and Construction Engineering at the University of Technology. Part of the research has been published in the university magazine. Soon After publishing, the German publishing house has communicated via Internet and expressed their admiration in the work. They asked to send the research results completely to publish it in a book on the website of the institution.

The book is aimed at producing a new type of concrete, effective powder concrete which is characterized by its compression strength (up to 150 N / ) and high tensile strength that helps to use in section-concrete bridges, to provide rebars and reduce dimensions of sections.

The book consists of five chapters. Chapter One includes an introduction to concrete. Chapter Two includes a presentation of previous researches conducted globally on effective powder concrete. Chapter Three handles the practical part of the subject involving the materials used to produce this type of concrete, the variables that have been studied and laboratory tests. Chapter Four displays laboratory results obtained together with discussion. Chapter five suggests design equations to define moment of sections produced from this type of concrete.

It is worth mentioning that the institution mentioned (Lambert Academic Publishing) holds the publication of books in various fields, considering their being important and modern. The number of books published by this institution is 10,000 books annually. It is one of the leading and important publishing houses in Germany. It is an associate member of the Association and Sellers of American books in the UK, the USA and Ireland.

Via presence and blessing of Dept. Head Prof. Dr. Riyad Hassan Al-Anbary and Scientific Associate, and Branch Chief and branch teaching members, Prof. Dr. Mohammed Yousuf Fattah (Chief of Roads and Bridges Engineering Branch from 2006-2014) was honored with the shield of Building and Construction Engineering Department- Branch of Roads and Bridges Engineering by the third phase students. Students expressed their thanks and gratitude to their professor on his scientific, educational and parental efforts with all students, and his appreciation for the humanitarian cases.

Al-Ishraq Satellite Channel took a video for the practical lesson of Surveying for the 2^{nd stage students in the department. The journalist Asmaa’ Al-Darrajy conversed the superior student Diyaa’ Rasool Muslim. Then, she made a questionnaire via asking the students within the TV Program “White and Gray”. The question was: What is the difference between theoretical and practical lectures?}

Sponsored by the University President Prof. Dr. Amin Dawai Thamer, Head of Building and Construction Engineering Department Prof. Dr. Riyad Hassan Al-Anbary has been nominated (Thursday, June 26^{th , 2014) to chair the meeting of Engineering Colleges Deans’ Body in the University Presidency Board. From the department, the Scientific Associate Prof. Dr. Abdul Razzaq Tarish and Dr. Nasreen Saleh Mohammed have been attended. The most important items that concern the body have been discussed in the meeting}

A delegation from Korean Company HANWA (implementing Basmayah Residential Project- the largest residential project in the Middle East) visited the Department of Building and Construction Engineering November 28^{th, 2013. They agreed with the Department Head to send an official invitation to the department for the top students from each branch, a group of teaching staff, and Department and University media to visit Basmayah site and be aware of work situation and managerial and engineering details of the project.}

The second visit of the delegation has occurred in June 23, 2014. They have agreed with Department Head Prof. Dr. Riyad Hassan Al-Anbary to employ 30 of the top graduated students from all branches (as first group) and to interview them some days in the wake of the agreement.