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Protecting people from extreme heat is one of the key resilience and sustainability challenges of the 21st century. Vulnerable, low-income, and marginalized communities experience the worst of extreme heat and its consequences because they often live in areas with more pavement and fewer trees than wealthier areas. Implementing measures to reduce air temperatures can save lives, improve air quality, and reduce energy use. Roadways, parking lots, and sidewalks cover nearly 40% of an average city, and most of them absorb solar energy and heat our communities. Cool pavements are essential for cooling communities because they reduce surface and air temperatures and store less absorbed heat. This session will cover the science behind the urban heat island effect and real-world examples of how cool pavements reduce temperatures. We will share details of five cool pavement pilot projects of varying sizes and locations across the U.S. as well as how they performed.
Read MorePublic works is the backbone of every community. It is critical for public works departments to communicate projects, initiatives, and announcements to the public. Strategic communication is a powerful tool that can tremendously improve public outreach, sharing important information, soliciting public response and feedback, and improving the overall image and connection of the department with the community. In unprecedented times and the ever-changing world we live in, communication is more important than ever. Hear from Town of Greenwich Department of Public Works’ Communication Specialist Renee Wallace on the impact of communication and the multitude of methods that can be integrated into your department. Wallace will share tips, strategies, and her personal examples on using communication, public relations, and digital marketing strategies in the public works industry.
Read MoreInflow and infiltration (I/I) sources are identified during condition assessments; knowing where to begin assessment efforts can be difficult. Flow monitoring prioritizes flow meter basins for further study, but this approach presents challenges with well over 1,000 flow meter basins. The City of Houston needed an out-of-the-box solution to assess their 1,500 flow meter basins. The City and RJN Group tackled the challenge of modeling I/I to create a prioritized assessment program called the “I/I Cafeteria Plan.” The City wanted a way to prioritize meter basins and estimate quantities of I/I while identifying potential I/I sources. The tool considers the unique challenges for a flat coastal city with no zoning regulations enabling the City to efficiently and cost-effectively implement I/I reduction solutions. A phased approach was identified: Phases I/II created the framework, Phase III calibrated the model, Phase IV will be to implement automated solutions.
Read MoreThis presentation will present the process of reconstructing a six-lane regional arterial in Coppell, Texas, and some of the innovations and tools applied to improve the project and lessen the impact on users. These include the re-evaluation and value engineering applied to the project at the 60% design completion; the use of drone technology to document project conditions before and during construction; and the use of crowd-sourced big traffic data to provide real-time delay and alternate route information to motorists and users (via social media and portable, changeable message signs). The presentation will also document some communication strategies used to inform stakeholders of the impending project and information gathered from motorists via online surveys.
Read MoreFollowing an impactful presentation at the 2012 APWA Congress from the City of Milwaukee, the speaker returned to his department to develop their own Building and Facility Capital Program. This program, which started in 2018, has funded $24 million in projects for Prince William County. Furthermore, the elected body of the County saved it from being unfunded during recent budget reductions related to the pandemic because it has been so successful. This presentation will highlight the strategies employed to develop the program and how the speaker’s department has successfully managed it.
Read MoreCollecting and managing accurate asset data is difficult, and many agencies operate with incomplete data that limit functions such as preventative maintenance, service, capital improvement planning, and more. New advancements in software, street-level imagery, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and artificial intelligence enable a scalable approach to quickly digitize environments and collect complete asset inventories that improve operational efficiencies. This session highlights recent case studies from several jurisdictions, including a deep dive into recent advancements in operations for the City of Berkeley. From defining challenges to implementing solutions and the impact on staff, hear from the consultant and agency manager how such initiatives improve agency readiness and resiliency through enhanced access to critical information, better situational awareness, and more productive telework capabilities.
Read MoreAs municipalities and suburbs grow, the available natural undisturbed land becomes much more valuable and, therefore, protected through unified development ordinances (UDO) or tree conservation areas (TCA). Urban forestry becomes a real consideration. Registered foresters and certified arborists are just the experts to find solutions and execute action plans to manage the effect of development on natural areas and advise on best practices for the future. Some tree experts have embraced new technologies to better map the existing landscape and seamlessly communicate and visualize their solutions to all involved. Tree inventories, champion tree assessments, natural buffers, basal area calculations, deformation, and hazardous tree assessments are all part of what foresters and arborists specialize in when it comes to urban development. The ArcGIS Collector app and associated geographic information system (GIS) data management software can help spatially define areas that need inventory while navigating difficult sites.
Read MorePresented by the Emerging Leaders Academy 2021-2022 Class: Studying Agency response to pandemic related shortages and analyzing methods for recovery.
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Building a truck can be a complicated process. Specifying the “right” truck can require hundreds of decisions and choices that can potentially impact each other. This session is designed to…
Read MoreOn behalf of the Utilities and Public Rights-of-Way (UPROW) Committee, the presenters will present a “Dare to Ask” session discussing lessons learned from UPROW projects and management that didn’t go…
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