Video

Past, Present & Future: The Evolution of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Snow Operations

Since statehood in 1959, little changed in Alaska’s snow removal operations beyond minor equipment configurations and operators in the seats. However, in the last 15 years, Alaska’s snow operations have undergone substantial and meaningful changes including adjustments to plow routes and work shifts, equipment innovations, and implementation of new technologies. Enjoy this overview of Alaska’s evolution from the past into the present day and their vision moving forward.

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Overcoming Operational Challenges at a Snow Storage Site

In cities where the snow does not melt for the entire winter season, snow storage facilities are an essential component of winter maintenance. Depending on the type of facility, managing a snow storage site involves not only staff and equipment costs but also the costs associated with environmental testing, utilities, and site maintenance during the summer. The City of Regina has adopted innovative technologies to gather site user data, implement a cost recovery initiative, and regularly educate snow-hauling contractors and their staff.

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Do Robots Read Signs? Technology Impacts on Roadway Maintenance and Operations

Maintenance and Operations are the cornerstones of keeping transportation systems safe and efficient. As technologies are introduced on a near-daily basis, it’s vital that public works departments discuss the benefits…

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Bringing Joy to Our Work with Lean Thinking! Transforming Infrastructure Delivery with Integrated Design

Discover how lean thinking can be integrated into the public works and transportation worlds. Among the concepts and topics we'll discuss are the lean philosophy; team development and organizational principles;…

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Development of a Utilities Strategic Plan Fueled by Staff Engagement and Input

Learn about the intricacies of developing a Utilities Strategic Plan that covers four lines of business (water, wastewater, stormwater, solid waste) within a public works organizational framework. The objectives of…

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NEW: Washington State Sea Level Projections (What they are and how to use them).

NEW SLR Projections – the science behind the data (15 min) In July 2018, new sea level rise projections were released for Washington. The background about how these projections have…

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Stormwater Summit Day Two Presentations: Part 1

Session 1: Drainage Benefits for All: Flood Reduction, Climate Resilience, and Public Open Space This presentation will describe how Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is using public open-space planning, watershed science,…

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Yes, We Can! Public Trash Bins Go High Tech to Help Keep Sidewalks Clean

Faced with a mounting number of service requests for overflowing trash cans on neighborhood street corners, San Francisco experimented with smart technology to tackle the problem. Partnering with the high-tech…

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Going Mobile! The Next Phase in Asset Management

The City of Beaverton, Oregon, uses Cityworks as its asset management software. In 2018, the city upgraded its internal GIS servers with ArcGIS Enterprise and externalized Cityworks. This streamlined and…

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How is a Weather Forecast Generated and Why is that Important to Me?

Winter operations decision-makers have to rely on weather data. When should the crews be called out? Which chemicals should be used for the type of expected snow and/or ice event?  What impacts the accuracy of a weather forecast? Not every weather model is created in the same way and each has strengths and weaknesses. Discover how a weather forecast is generated and what new technologies have been introduced in the last five years that will help in your decision-making.

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