Video

Resiliency in Solid Waste

In today's world a community cannot plan enough for a potential disaster, especially those 1000-year occurrences. This presentation provides effective strategies and lessons learned that will assist in the planning, response and recovery from a disaster as it pertains to Debris Management. We will look at debris management challenges from an administrative, operational, and financial perspective providing examples of the challenges, mistakes and learning experiences from previous disaster events. This program is two hours in duration and is elibible for .2 CEUs.

Read More

Dare to Ask Session: What it Really Takes to Be Resilient

From flooding to wildfires, mass shootings to hate crimes, extreme events seem to be a constant topic on the nightly news. Is your community connected enough to help each other through such events? What if there was a way to bring harmony to our communities both in the way we engage with each other as well as how we engage with our environment? Could that be the key to our resilience? As public works professionals, we have a large role in shaping the look and feel of our communities. We also have the opportunity to help our communities be more resilient. In this Dare to Ask session, we will hear from two local leaders that have been through an extreme event. They’ll lay it on the line about what worked and what they would have done differently. Then we’ll have a discussion about regenerative thinking as applied to how we interact with our community members and how we design and deliver projects. Join us for this interesting conversation. Let’s challenge our current thinking about what it means to be resilient and how we approach our communities about infrastructure projects.

Read More

What Does it Cost to Do Public Works?

Volusia County, Florida will share how it calculates both overhead and equipment rates into the overall budgeting for maintenance and capital improvement projects. They will also discuss how to apply theses rates into decision-making for internal costing, outsourcing decisions, and billing. This presentation will be geared to non-financial professionals and will and offer easy-to-follow examples and case studies.

Read More

International Perspective Presentation: Asset Management in Australia: Part 2

There are lots of different understanding of the term asset management. This session provides the perspective from Australia and New Zealand. Strategic asset management, as practiced down under, goes beyond good maintenance management. It provides real input, and a valuded seat at the table in budget decision-making and long-term planningby elected officials. It is about balancing priorities, risks, levels of service, and available funding. This session will also use case studies as examples.

Read More

International Perspective Presentation: Lighting Urban Spaces

As the world readies itself for smart and connected cities, lighting for streets, public green spaces, parks, and playgrounds is an essential component. This session will feature presentations from Australia and Sweden. • In Scandinavia, the general approach to lighting has been shaped by extreme fluctuations between light and dark, proximity to natural surroundings, and environmental and social sustainability. Discover how informed lighting design choices help increase the safety and security of an area, while reducing energy consumption and costs. • The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) has taken the lead in helping shape the direction, policy, and implementation for accelerated deployment of LED Street Lighting and Smart Controls (SLSC) in Australia and to a lesser extent in New Zealand. The SLSC Model Specification for LED Lighting and the SLSC Model Specification for Control systems have helped catapult Australia from a late-starter to a world respected contributor in the LED and smart controls sector.

Read More

Meadowbrook Park Redevelopment

Prairie Village, Kansas, is converting a golf and country club into a mixed-use development. The master plan calls for gardens, walking trails, large destination playgrounds, and tennis and pickle ball courts. It also includes 53 single-family homes, 70 duplex homes, 289 apartments, 120 person assisted living and senior care units and a 50-room hotel. The project brings with it the opportunity to improve drainage, provide more detention basins, and incorporate sustainable features. Explore how public works is involved in this complex project.

Read More
APWA NASC 2018 logo

Liquids 201 – Part 2

To switch from dry material (sand or salt) usage to pre-wet salt and liquid anti-icing applications, several factors need to be considered: the type of equipment needed for pre-wetting and liquids application; approaches for staff training regarding the benefits of liquids and overcoming the “”we have always done it this way”” attitude; and the environmental impacts and benefits of using liquids.

Read More
APWA NASC 2018 logo

Technology Implementation

Seeking to continuously improve operational efficiency, transparency, and oversight, the City of Omaha, Nebraska, implemented status applications tracking real-time plow movement, route completion, and material usage. Expanded GPS options allow for public-facing websites showing operational status. We?ll share lessons-learned and best practices implemented.

Read More
APWA NASC 2018 logo

Fundamentals of Liquid Deicer Performance: Knowledge is Power

Join us for this overview of the fundamental performance properties of liquid deicers including: •How standard deicer chemicals compare in performance at different temperatures •The difference between ice-melting capacity and ice-melting rate and why that matters •How performance enhancing additives and blends affect salt brine performance •The effect different pre-wetting brines have on the ice melting performance of rock salt •The effect of traffic action on performance and chemical selection •Whether salt pre-wetted with magnesium chloride brine will damage concrete.

Read More

Knowledge is Power: Rethinking Customer Engagement

Columbia Water serves 375,000 customers in the greater Columbia, South Carolina, area. They were experiencing an increase in negative community and media attention due to unexpectedly high-water bills or bills that fluctuated month-to-month. Their solution was to create a program that proactively engages customers providing information on billing, meters, and water quality. The goal is to give customers the tools they need to understand the water system, the billing process, and the impact that leaks can have on their bills. They are engaging the community through videos, booklets and other materials, and public meetings.

Read More