Come to this session to understand how public works professionals must respond to “mega-disasters”—often amplified by climate change—and explore innovative approaches to critical infrastructure and resiliency planning. We will explore “resetting” critical relationships, harmonizing transportation, utility, and telecommunications infrastructure management with emergency incident command, and enhancing coordination between public works, public safety, and emergency management officials with innovative, proactive approaches to enhancing critical infrastructure resiliency to ultimately prevent loss of life. Eight case studies will prominently highlight “mega-fires,” Cat 4/5 hurricanes, and EF 4/5 tornados—in which forensic studies concluded much of the damage and most loss of life was preventable. Common to these is that public works, including water, transportation, power, and telecommunications collapsed, evacuations were chaotic, and preventable fatalities occurred. The session will highlight resiliency in five areas: Maintaining critical transportation and evacuation corridors using emerging sensing technologies and “C2” via new “digital twin dashboards.” Ensuring redundant, real-time wayfinding systems during mass evacuations. Preventing the “utter collapse” of telecommunications. Remotely managing utilities—preventing the depletion of valuable municipal water supplies. Proactively coordinating public safety power shutoffs. “After this session, participants will be better able to:
• Dynamically manage utilities and firefighting water pressure, ensure telecommunications are hardened and resilient, create dynamic wayfinding and evacuation systems, detect hazards by remote sensing, and manage traffic contraflow using AI and digital twins.
• Respond to and recover from a devasting mega-disaster and understand why the demand for infrastructure resiliency is crucial. Discover how technology is changing the playing field and understand how to add critical layers of redundancy and “”real resiliency.””
• Take 34 action steps to enhance resiliency, create redundancy, and operate “virtually everything—virtually” to build stable, future-proofed, resilient, critical “intelligent infrastructure” and safer, smarter cities/counties with incident command structures.”
Contributor/Source
Dave Zelenok-Founder/CEO & Former Public Works Director – Colorado Springs, George Wentz-Founder and CEO
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Proficiency Levels
Introductory
Focuses on a general or broad overview of the topic, awareness of basic factual recall. Limited experience of the subject matter is necessary to understand content areas.
Applied
Focuses on practical implementation of technical steps or strategies, some prior knowledge and experience of the topic is necessary.
Advanced
Mastery of basic concepts associated with an area has been obtained. Focuses on understanding nuances, advanced concepts, and intricacies with implementation within knowledge area. Strong understanding of how the concept impacts other factors or areas of operations.
Program Types
CLL
Click, Listen & Learn (CLL) are interactive educational webinars. Each program is led by top experts in the field who share new ideas, methods, and technologies in a fast-paced two-hour time frame. These programs are available free to APWA members. CLL programs are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs).
Primer
Primers are used to educate policymakers about public works roles and responsibilities in public rights of way, the impact of federal workforce development policies on the industry and workforce, and the importance of resilient infrastructure.
Public Works Radio Podcast
Public Works Radio is the official podcast of the American Public Works Association (APWA), bringing the stories behind our communities to life. This podcast shines a spotlight on the people and projects that keep our cities running—humanizing the work and the professionals who make it happen. Each episode dives into a wide range of topics designed to educate and inspire, making public works more visible to everyone.
PWX
PWX session recordings cover a wide variety of topics, including integrating modes of transportation, traffic and transit, construction management, emergency management, engineering and technology, fleet and facilities, management, parks and grounds, snow and ice control, and stormwater/flood control, as well as solid waste, roads and bridges and water/wastewater. PWX sessions are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs).
Reporter Articles
APWA Reporter articles are written by public works practitioners on subjects such as solid waste management, water resources, municipal engineering, transportation, equipment services, buildings and grounds, snow removal, and other public works-related topics.
Snow
The Snow Conference session recordings feature public works professionals sharing the latest best practices in managing winter/snow operations more successfully, taking advantage of emerging technologies, understanding and preparing for the challenges ahead, and providing better service to their communities. Snow sessions are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs).
Tech Boxes
A tech box is a PDF take-away that provides information in lists, steps, or defined areas specifically focused on trending technologies.
Virtual Program
Virtual programs are live, interactive educational programs led by top experts in the field who provide timely information or address trending topics within an area. Programs often conclude with an open forum for Q&A.