Skip to main content

2003

Universal Soil Loss Equation
Society: ASABEMain Category: Agricultural & BiologicalEra: 1960-1969DateCreated: 1965National Soil Erosion Research LabWest LafayetteState: INZip: 47907Country: USAWebsite: https://www.asabe.org/awards-landmarks/asabe-historic-landmarks/universal-soil-loss-equation-41.aspx

The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was developed at the USDA National Runoff and Soil Loss Data Center at Purdue University in a national effort led by Walter H. Wischmeier and Dwight D. Smith. The USLE was published in 1965 in USDA Agriculture Handbook 282.

YearAdded:
2003
Image Caption: The Universal Soil Loss Equation for estimating average annual soil erosion.

A = average annual soil loss (in tons/acre)
R = rainfall erosivity index
K = soil erodibility factor
LS = topographic factor
C = cropping factor
P = conservation practice factor
Rumely OilPull Tractor
Society: ASABEMain Category: Agricultural & BiologicalEra: 1910-1919DateCreated: 1910La Porte HospitalLa PorteState: INZip: 46350Country: USAWebsite: https://www.asabe.org/awards-landmarks/asabe-historic-landmarks/rumley-oilpull-42.aspx

The Rumely Companies, which operated in La Porte, Indiana, from 1853 to 1931, produced a variety of equipment including threshers and steam engines, which helped to change the nature of American and world agriculture. The revolutionary OilPull Tractor, which was introduced in 1910, used a unique carburetion system developed by John Secor, the Company's Chief Engineer. The OilPull tractor efficiently converted a low cost petroleum product to mechanical power, greatly reducing the need for animal and steam power on American farms. Dr.

YearAdded:
2003
Image Credit: Courtesy Wikipedia/BulldozerD11 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
RIM-8 Talos surface to air missile built by Bendix Corporation in test launcher at White Sands Missile Range New Mexico
Society: AIAAMain Category: Aerospace & AviationBendix Aviation CorporationTeterboroState: NJCountry: USACreator: Bendix, Vincent

This site, originally the home of the Eclipse-Pioneer Division of the Bendix Aviation Corporation, has produced navigational instruments and engine components since 1938.  Providing instruments that flew with Lindbergh across the Atlantic, and Admiral Byrd in the cold of Antarctica; from guiding American pilots in times of peace and war, to putting men on the moon, the “Bendix Invisible Crew” has been a leader in innovation and technology in the world of aviation and space exploration.

YearAdded:
2003
Image Caption: RIM-8 Talos surface to air missile built by Bendix Corporation in test launcher at White Sands Missile Range New Mexico
Point Mugu Aerial
Society: AIAAMain Category: Aerospace & AviationSub Category: AerospaceEra: 1940-1949DateCreated: 1946Point Mugu Naval Air StationState: CACountry: USAWebsite: https://www.aiaa.org/

Established in 1946 to provide a comprehensive test and evaluation site for tactical missiles, Point Mugu has been instrumental in the development, test, evaluation and in-service support of systems including Regulus, Sparrow, Phoenix, Bullpup, Harpoon, SLAM, Tomahawk, Standard, and Rolling Airframe Missile. The first missile launch from an operational submarine was also accomplished at Pt. Mugu.

YearAdded:
2003
Image Caption: Aerial view of Naval Air Station Point Mugu — at Naval Base Ventura County, California, 2008
Pilot at College Park
Society: AIAAEra: 1900sDateCreated: 1909College Park AirportCollege ParkState: MDCountry: USAWebsite: https://vtol.org/files/dmfile/AIAAHistoricSite-CollegePark2.pdfCreator: U.S. Army Signal Corps

College Park Airport was founded in 1909 when the Wright Brothers came here to train the first military officers to fly in the givernment's first airplane. The airport is the oldest continuously operated airport in the world, and has come to be known as "The Field of Firsts" due to it being the location of a great number of groundbreaking achievements, such as:

 

 

1909: First woman passenger to fly in the United States

YearAdded:
2003
Image Caption: An early pilot flying a Curtiss aircraft at College Park, 1912
Wright Flyer III
Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Air and Space TransportationEra: 1900-1909DateCreated: 1905 Aviation Heritage Natl Hist ParkDaytonState: OHZip: 45409Country: USAWebsite: https://www.asme.org/about-asme/who-we-are/engineering-history/landmarks/224-wright-flyer-iii, https://www.asme.org/getmedia/3764d124-ce32-4335-bbac-24836c780066/224-Wright-Flyer-III.aspxCreator: Wright, Wilbur, Wright, Orville

The 1905 Wright Flyer III, built by Wilbur (1867-1912) and Orville (1871-1948) Wright, was the world's first airplane capable of sustained, maneuverable flight. Similar in design to their celebrated first airplane, this machine featured a stronger structure, a larger engine turning new "bent-end" propellers, and greater control-surface area for improved safety and maneuverability.

YearAdded:
2003
Image Credit: Public Domain (Copyright Expr.)Image Caption: Wright Flyer IIIEra_date_from: 1905
Tennessee State Capitol
Society: ASCEMain Category: CivilSub Category: BuildingsEra: 1840-1849DateCreated: 1845-1877Tennessee State CapitolNashvilleState: TNZip: 37219Country: USAWebsite: http://www.asce.org/Project/Tennessee-State-Capitol/Creator: Strickland, William , Bogart, John

The Tennessee State Capitol, the first and only home of the Tennessee General Assembly, was designed by engineer and architect William Strickland. Since its construction, it has ably served, with little modification, as the seat of Tennessee's government.

YearAdded:
2003
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Ron CogswellImage Caption: Tennessee State CapitolEra_date_from: 1845
Suez Canal Project
Society: ASCEMain Category: CivilSub Category: Water TransportationEra: 1860-1869DateCreated: 1869Canal del EslaIsmailiaCountry: EgyptWebsite: http://www.asce.org/project/suez-canal/Creator: de Lesseps, Ferdinand , Suez Canal Company

The idea of creating a canal linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea is a very old one that dates back about 4000 years to the ancient Egyptians. They thought of linking the two seas by using the River Nile and its branches. It was this very old desire that led to the digging of the present Suez Canal.  

YearAdded:
2003
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/eutrophication&hypoxia (CC BY 2.0)Image Caption: Suez Canal ProjectEra_date_from: 1869
Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory
Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Research and DevelopmentEra: 1950-1959DateCreated: 1954University of Florida
GainesvilleState: FLCountry: USAWebsite: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-m-z/research-and-development/-223-solar-energy-and-energy-conversion-laboratory, https://www.asme.org/getmedia/6ab985e7-a7b5-4c91-b4d7-8c32af04334c/223-Solar-Energy-and-Energy-Conversion-Laboratory.aspxCreator: Farber, Erich

This highly diverse facility has pioneered the development of solar energy applications worldwide. The Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory (SEECL) was unique in developing practical solar energy devices based on established principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics long before solar energy was considered a serious energy alternative.

YearAdded:
2003
Image Credit: Courtesy ASMEImage Caption: The SEECL was originally located at the Gianesville Regional Airport. Early experimental devices stood on the pad near the WW II bunker (early 1950s).Era_date_from: 1954
Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Minerals Extraction & RefiningEra: 1920-1929DateCreated: 1922Cameron World HeadquartersHoustonState: TXZip: 77041Country: USAWebsite: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-m-z/minerals-extraction-and-refining/-227-first-ram-type-blowout-preventer-%28bop%29-%281922%29Creator: Abercrombie, James, Cameron, Harry
This mechanism allowed the manual closing of a well, saved lives and prevented surface oil accumulation at drilling sites, quickly becoming an industry standard. In the early days of oilfield operations, there was no way to control the underground pressures encountered during drilling. When an oil or gas reservoir was tapped, wells were allowed to "blow out" until pressure was reduced sufficiently to allow capping. Many inventors attempted to develop a device to control such blowouts. In 1922, oil wildcatter James Smither Abercrombie (1891-1975) and machinist Harry S.
YearAdded:
2003
Image Credit: Original Image: Flickr/Ed Schipul (CC BY-SA 2.0)Image Caption: A modern Blowout Preventer (BOP)Era_date_from: 1922
Subscribe to 2003

Innovations

Discovery of Camptothecin and Taxol

Monroe Wall, Mansukh Wani and colleagues at the Natural Products Laboratory of the Research Triangle Institute discovered and elucidated the structure Taxol®and camptothecin, two life-saving compounds for the treatment of cancer. These natural products kill cancer cells via unique mechanisms of…

Read More
"Benjamin Franklin, American electrician, printer, and diplomat, spent many years on Craven Street. He lived at No. 7 between 1772 and 1775 and at No. 36 from 1757-1762 and again from 1764-1772. During these years, Franklin popularized the study of electricity, performed experiments, and served as… Read More
Eddystone Station Unit #1

Operated by the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO), now known as Exelon Corp., Eddystone Station Unit #1 is a 325 MW pulverized-coal-fired plant that pushed the technology of steam-electric generating plants. When built in 1960, engineers sought to make a more efficient plant using higher…

Read More
Herman Mark

The Polymer Research Institute was established in 1946 by Herman F. Mark, a pioneer in the study of giant molecules. The Institute brought together a number of polymer researchers to create the first academic facility in the United States devoted to the study and teaching of polymer science.…

Read More
This mechanism allowed the manual closing of a well, saved lives and prevented surface oil accumulation at drilling sites, quickly becoming an industry standard. In the early days of oilfield operations, there was no way to control the underground pressures encountered during drilling. When an oil… Read More
Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory

This highly diverse facility has pioneered the development of solar energy applications worldwide. The Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory (SEECL) was unique in developing practical solar energy devices based on established principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid…

Read More
Suez Canal Project

The idea of creating a canal linking the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea is a very old one that dates back about 4000 years to the ancient Egyptians. They thought of linking the two seas by using the River Nile and its branches. It was this very old desire that led to the digging of the present…

Read More
Tennessee State Capitol

The Tennessee State Capitol, the first and only home of the Tennessee General Assembly, was designed by engineer and architect William Strickland. Since its construction, it has ably served, with little modification, as the seat of Tennessee's government.

For a relatively poor…

Read More
Wright Flyer III

The 1905 Wright Flyer III, built by Wilbur (1867-1912) and Orville (1871-1948) Wright, was the world's first airplane capable of sustained, maneuverable flight. Similar in design to their celebrated first airplane, this machine featured a stronger structure, a larger engine turning new "bent-end…

Read More
Pilot at College Park

College Park Airport was founded in 1909 when the Wright Brothers came here to train the first military officers to fly in the givernment's first airplane. The airport is the oldest continuously operated airport in the world, and has come to be known as "The Field of Firsts" due to it being the…

Read More
Point Mugu Aerial

Established in 1946 to provide a comprehensive test and evaluation site for tactical missiles, Point Mugu has been instrumental in the development, test, evaluation and in-service support of systems including Regulus, Sparrow, Phoenix, Bullpup, Harpoon, SLAM, Tomahawk, Standard, and Rolling…

Read More
RIM-8 Talos surface to air missile built by Bendix Corporation in test launcher at White Sands Missile Range New Mexico

This site, originally the home of the Eclipse-Pioneer Division of the Bendix Aviation Corporation, has produced navigational instruments and engine components since 1938.  Providing instruments that flew with Lindbergh across the Atlantic, and Admiral Byrd in the cold of Antarctica;…

Read More
Rumely OilPull Tractor

The Rumely Companies, which operated in La Porte, Indiana, from 1853 to 1931, produced a variety of equipment including threshers and steam engines, which helped to change the nature of American and world agriculture. The revolutionary OilPull Tractor, which was introduced in 1910,…

Read More
Universal Soil Loss Equation

The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was developed at the USDA National Runoff and Soil Loss Data Center at Purdue University in a national effort led by Walter H. Wischmeier and Dwight D. Smith. The USLE was published in 1965 in USDA Agriculture Handbook 282.

The USLE is…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support America's only magazine of the history of engineering and innovation, and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to Invention & Technology.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.