Video
AI/Machine Learning and Cloud Platforms for Water and Sewer Pipe Condition Assessments. Understanding the condition of underground water and sewer infrastructure is critical in determining maintenance strategies, repair and replacement costs…
To meet the demand for 5G, telecommunications companies are erecting hundreds of thousands of small cell towers—often two towers per streetlight. Many cities are adopting innovative strategies to not only…
Facilities and grounds have unique attributes that require thoughtful consideration as asset management programs are set up. Required information that agencies need to advise capital projects can vary greatly between…
This session will offer an introduction to the City of Dublin, Ohio’s snow and ice response plan known as SnowGo. The speaker will discuss how to create a positive interaction with all municipal divisions for a 360-degree response to snow and ice events. The session will include information regarding planning, preparation and execution of the SnowGo plan from preseason training events to an end of season celebration. Equipment and material information used by the community will be highlighted, and a remedy to prevent aggregate and debris being transferred from brine makers to holding tanks will be shared.
In November 2021, the U.S. Congress passed, and President Biden signed into law a bipartisan infrastructure bill known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Infrastructure investment has been a ”hot topic” for years on Capitol Hill and now with the IIJA comes $550 billion in new federal funding for infrastructure priorities over five years. Specifically related to APWA’s public policy priorities, the association was successful in advocating for the increased federal investment, continued streamlining and reduction of duplicative permitting process, efforts to strengthen the overall resiliency of our nation’s infrastructure to best stand against both natural disasters and cyberattacks, and a robust investment in upgrading water and wastewater systems while protecting them from dangerous emerging contaminants. What does all this now mean for public works professionals? Join members of APWA’s Government Affairs team for a session focused on providing a current update on implementation of the new law, the APWA policy process, and how to best advocate for public works priorities at every level—local, state, and federal.
The Village of Niles maintains geographic information system (GIS) maps of their infrastructure for sewer, water, data, and street lighting. Using GIS maps, the Village self-performs all locate requests. Inaccurate maps are a liability. After a project is built, features are selectively surveyed, field measured and used in combination with a plan mark-up to enter into GIS. This process means the GIS database may not be updated for months after construction. This time gap creates a significant risk for damage. Recently, the Village constructed a 17-mile street lighting and fiber optic infrastructure improvement. Public works (PW) worked with the contractor to use a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver to geolocate the system as it was installed. The benefits include reduced liability from incorrect locate marks, cost-effective survey-grade data, and reduced risk for service outages. PW also worked with the GIS department to have real-time data available to the entire project team.
The Cedars East Storm Drainage Improvement project consists of a 300+ acre watershed located in southeast Charlotte, North Carolina, near Idlewild Road. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services (CMSWS) identified this area for study and improvements to the storm drainage infrastructure due to failing infrastructure and residential structure flooding reports. CMSWS partnered with STV Engineers, Inc. to complete the planning study, design, public outreach, utility coordination, and construction administration services. Drainage improvements within the project area include reinforced concrete box culverts ranging in size from dual 8-foot by 4-foot to 12-foot by 8-foot totaling more than 1,300 feet in length and natural stream enhancement techniques. Due to the space constraints, an extensive shoring plan was developed to protect existing infrastructure. The design reduced impacts to vital existing utilities to reduce relocation costs and disruption of services to the residents in the neighborhood.
How we live, work, and play is rapidly transforming. For cities both large and small, there is an opportunity to reimagine the built environment for better outcomes. Discover how VHB and the City of Orlando are helping cities prepare for the future via a Smart Community Roadmap. By integrating robust public engagement, applying diverse perspectives, and harnessing the power of data and technology, they are helping emerging cities implement smart community initiatives that are future-focused and elevate equity, sustainability, and resiliency. Discover how cities identified the critical issues facing their local governments, residents, visitors, and business owners and how VHB turned ideas into action via a prioritization process. Participants will learn about the smart communities visioning process, as well as the 10 Foundational Elements of smart communities and the key Pillar Focus areas that cities must identify before implementing smart community initiatives.
As communities recover from the pandemic, the common conception of “infrastructure” as “roads and bridges” has evolved to include a vast range of digital technologies. And local governments recognize the vital role of the cloud and the internet of things (IoT) in helping their cities become more sustainable, more fiscally responsible, and less wasteful going forward. The best smart city technologies will assist cities in transitioning to remote and agile work environments as part of a renewed or reimagined push towards resilience in the age of public health crises. Moving from responding to citizen complaints to anticipating citizen needs is the mantra of a smart city at all times, but especially during challenging times. This panel will demonstrate how city leaders are now leveraging new technologies within public works operations to reshape how municipalities serve their customers and to map a more circular economy for the future.
Natural grass surfaces are not uniform but are typically managed as if they are. This presentation will outline the basics of using drones for precision grounds management. It will explain the basics of obtaining a remote pilot’s license, guidelines for flying legally, equipment available, and the types of cameras used. The speakers will also discuss how drones can be used for drought management and to monitor and map out pest outbreaks across facilities. Most pests are distributed in clusters within localized areas, yet entire surfaces are treated equally with pesticides. This presentation will provide tools to target applications to apply the right product to the right place at the right time. Finally, images and videos of their application on turfgrass surfaces will be showcased to demonstrate the diverse applications of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).