A Peculiar Sort of Way to Water System Management

Aug 26, 2018 7:30am ‐ Aug 26, 2018 8:45am

Identification: SU01

Reducing and controlling water supply costs is a prime goal of the City of Peculiar, Missouri. This session will feature two presentations about the City’s research and analyses of options for: deciding about a future water supplier, identifying hydraulic deficiencies, setting priorities for a capital improvement planning, and incorporating new technologies to facilitate improved customer service. These studies and tools have allowed the city to improve its existing distribution system, consolidate pressure zones, plan for future growth, and ultimately stabilize water rates.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to:

  • Prepare a decision matrix that aligns needs and goals, conduct a water main route analysis that considers tangible and intangible parameters, and analyze future costs by directly comparing alternate solutions.
  • Evaluate existing infrastructure, wholesale water supply opportunities, associated capital projects for wholesale delivery and the impacts on ratepayers.
  • Prioritize capital improvement planning and prepare for future growth with the aim to ultimately stabilize water rates.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliant Curb Ramps

Aug 26, 2018 7:30am ‐ Aug 26, 2018 8:45am

Identification: SU02

Designing and constructing ADA compliant curb ramps should be a straight-forward proposition. Right? This session will feature presentations from the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and the City and County of Denver, Colorado, highlighting aspects of their ADA compliance programs.

• The City and County of Denver has completed a comprehensive inventory of approximately 57,000 pedestrian curb ramps at city intersections. The inventory includes the geometric data of each ramp and the data is being used to prioritize future programs to rehabilitate and upgrade deficient ramps to meet accessibility standards.

• A construction manager from the City of Lee’s Summit will provide a down-to-earth perspective regarding the draft Public Rights-of-Way Access Advisory Committee (PROWAAC) Guidelines and how to ensure your agency can provide accessible curb ramps within geometric constraints.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to:

  • Design and conduct a systematic inventory and inspection of curb ramp assets.
  • Identify curb ramp deficiencies and prioritize and implement curb ramp rehabilitation.
  • Apply the requirements of the draft PROWAAC Guidelines to ensure ADA compliant curb ramp design.

Generational Management

Aug 26, 2018 7:30am ‐ Aug 26, 2018 8:45am

Identification: SU04

The workforce is more diverse that it has ever been. Older workers are staying in the workforce longer, younger workers are coming in without the actual skills to perform the job. The age range could be from 20 to 70. That could be challenging, but it could also present some wonderful opportunities for knowledge-sharing from all five of the generations in the work place. Learn from managers representing different generations how they handle various situations and how to build and maintain a cohesive workplace.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to: 

  • Examine the traits of the different generations currently in the workforce.
  • Discuss what management styles are working and what isn’t working.
  • Build and maintain a cohesive workplace that is moving forward.

International Perspective Presentation: Excellence in Solid Waste Management

Aug 26, 2018 7:30am ‐ Aug 26, 2018 8:45am

Identification: SU05

This session will include presentations from Norway and Australia about 21st Century solid waste management technologies, practices, and advancements.

• Dulverton Waste Management operates 60,000 tonne per annum landfill and a 30,000 tonne per annum compost facility in northwest Tasmania, Australia. (1 metric tonne = 1.10231 US tons.) In 2017, the facility claimed the Waste Management Association of Australia’s Award for Landfill Excellence. This presentation will note the challenges overcome to turn this business, with many shortcomings, around to one that achieved this prestigious award.

• Does this sound like science fiction to you? The City of Bergen, Norway uses a pneumatic waste collection system (PWCS) to collect and dispose of solid waste. The waste is disposed of and transmitted pneumatically in underground pipes beneath city streets. The construction of PWCS can be combined with other infrastructure projects installing fiber optics or water/sewer projects.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to: 

  • Engender the trust, confidence, and buy-in from key stakeholders to turn an under performing landfill operation into one that wins awards.
  • Investigate smarter waste solutions, such as PWCS, that smart cities throughout the world are beginning to use.
  • Strategically plan for new business approaches and emerging technologies that are changing solid waste management.

International Perspective Presentation: Lighting Urban Spaces

Aug 26, 2018 7:30am ‐ Aug 26, 2018 8:45am

Identification: SU06

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.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to:

  • Identify problems with current lighting features in public areas and for streets and roadways.
  • Argue for the importance of including lighting design in the early stages of planning urban green spaces.
  • Deliver results and earn stakeholder trust and confidence in the deployment of street lighting and smart controls.

LIGHTNING ROUND: Hurricane Preparation, Response, Recovery

Aug 26, 2018 7:30am ‐ Aug 26, 2018 8:45am

Identification: SU07

Public works professionals from Florida, North Carolina, and Texas will describe the challenges faced in the preparation, response, and recovery efforts for three recent hurricanes.

• In 2016, Hurricane Matthew’s path stretched from Haiti and Cuba to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The City of Fayetteville, North Carolina, received nearly 15 inches of rainfall. They will share the impacts of the storm and the actions they took to perform emergency, temporary, and permanent infrastructure repair.

• Hurricane Harvey arrived on the coast of Texas on August 25, 2017. It moved inland and then stalled and began pumping moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. The City of Houston experienced the brunt of the storm’s intensity and resulting flooding. Hear from one local engineering firm that provided support to emergency responders in the form of predictive tools for flood inundation, data collection, and information that could be distributed to the public through various agencies.

• Hurricane Irma hit southwest Florida on September 10, 2017. It eventually made two landfalls and triggered evacuation orders for 5.6 million people. Representatives from The Villages, Florida, will review the lessons-learned post-Hurricane regarding contracting for services, debris pick-up, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) support and shelter set-up.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to: 

  • Identify and address the misinformation that can surround a catastrophic emergency.
  • Evaluate the impacts that a disaster may have on municipal engineering operations and infrastructure and plan for the type of professional services the engineering community can provide in response.
  • Prepare for disaster response and collect the maximum return from FEMA.

Powerful Arizona: Storm Response in America’s 5th Snowiest Region

Aug 26, 2018 7:30am ‐ Aug 26, 2018 8:45am

Identification: SU08

Coconino County Public Works will share the key elements of their Snow Plan which was listed as an APWA Model Practice in their 2017 APWA Reaccreditation. The County maintains over 1000 miles of roads, only 200 of which are paved, in a remote, high elevation region that includes steep desert canyons, mountainous pine forests, and sprawling western plateaus. The snow season spans six months requiring a strategic response to deploy and manage resources for the 5th snowiest region in the U.S. (an average of 110 inches of snow a year). The Snow Plan is based on a “Right Place…Right Time” approach to strategically deploy snow removal resources.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to: 

  • Discuss the 4 key elements of a functional snow response plan: preparation, mobilization, response, after-storm action.
  • Review Coconino County’s Model Practice “Snow Plan Mobilization” for deploying different staff resources.
  • Examine Coconino County’s Model Practice “Snow and Ice Control-Materials” which includes using locally-sourced cinders instead road salt or deicing products.

Small Cities/Rural Communities Perspective: Asset Management: A Tale of Two Small Cities

Aug 26, 2018 7:30am ‐ Aug 26, 2018 8:45am

Identification: SU09

APWA’s Small Cities/Rural Communities (SCRC) committee is presenting case studies featuring two small cities’ experiences with implementing asset management systems. SCRC wants your feedback and participation in this discussion. So, come prepared to ask questions and to share your stories. Our goal is to help you in your decision-making as you determine the best asset management systems and tools for your small/rural community.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to: 

  • Benefit from the lessons-learned by other small cities in implementing asset management systems.
  • Define service level measures that are appropriate for your public works operations.
  • Review asset management software programs to determine the best solution for your operations.

Bringing Connected Vehicles to Your Town

Aug 26, 2018 2:00pm ‐ Aug 26, 2018 2:50pm

Identification: SU10

Emerging vehicle technologies are increasing the demand for advanced infrastructure. There are over 300,000 signalized intersections in North America and it will take several years for local governments to convert these traffic signals to include needed features. Over 46,000 potential non-intersection sites (bridges, dangerous curves, and on ramps) need to be retrofitted or replaced. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Connected Vehicle (CV) pilot program has deployed testing sites in New York City, Tampa, Florida; and the State of Wyoming. Other cities across the U.S. are installing roadside units (RSUs), modifying traffic signals. Learn about federal grants available through the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) program.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to: 

  • Explore how traffic signals, trucks, transit buses, and pedestrians will communicate with vehicles and how that affects infrastructure planning.
  • Identify the steps that your community can take today to prepare for connected vehicles.
  • Examine how to take advantage of the ATCMTD federal grants program.

Increasing Effectiveness in Prioritizing Facility Asset Funding Needs

Aug 26, 2018 2:00pm ‐ Aug 26, 2018 2:50pm

Identification: SU11

Since its first publication a decade ago, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)’s American Infrastructure Report Cards have shed an ignoble light on the state of infrastructure in many states. Attention has mostly been on transportation and water infrastructure without as much attention to aging facilities as much as parks, recreational fields, municipal office buildings, pumping stations, fleet operations, etc. This presentation will feature a case study from Southeastern Michigan about an infrastructure condition and prioritization technique.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, you will be better able to: 

  • List the infrastructure condition and criticality driven performance indicators that aid in prioritizing facility infrastructure needs.
  • Prepare a visual data evaluation and planning template that helps decision makers quickly understand large amounts of data.
  • Identify an optimization model that can be effective in developing five-year capital investment plans.