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Traffic incidents caused by wrecks, breakdowns, hazards in the road and weather events happen every day. These incidents result in injuries, fatalities, billions of dollars of damages, and delays in travel. They also create great risk to responders from all disciplines. The lack of standard protocols, coordination, and communication among responders from police, fire, EMS, towing and public transportation agencies has caused major hindrances to safe, quick clearance. FHWA created this multi-disciplinary TIM Responder course to address these problems. If your agency deals with traffic incidents, this workshop is for you.
Read MoreKnowledge experts will discuss why a smart irrigation system is a sound choice for your lawn and landscape program. The presenters will discuss the benefits of water conservation and the benefits…
Read MoreOne of the core jobs of the fleet manager is to make sure fleet assets are provided in a cost-effective, efficient manner. Having a solid, reliable basis for determining those…
Read MoreMobile observations have become an integral part of snow and ice programs. Mobile sensors have also evolved throughout the years from traditional units that only gave air and pavement temperatures. Learn about the FHWA IMO (integrating mobile observations) initiative. Learn how these sensors have evolved and what these new units are capable of doing. The speakers will discuss how they help both the operator and the agency, how the data is visualized and used, and how agencies and airports have implemented these units.
Read MoreThe speaker will share how bringing new ideas to his department as a new Street Supervisor were initially met with resistance, making his transition difficult. However, as time went on, with some employees leaving and new ones being hired, he was able bring new strategies from the APWA North American Snow Conference to his division. By learning how to get total team buy-in and learning from his failures, the department is now seeing great success with snow removal efforts while minimizing salt use.
Read MoreTo successfully handle snow management and removal, public works professionals must look to current and future equipment capabilities to operate more safely and efficiently. This session will provide insight on the benefits and implementation of current and future connected technology for snow management and removal for public roads and private lots. Examples of possible functionality include route optimization, traffic signal prioritization, object detection, lane detection and real-time traffic reporting, and customer communication and transactions.
Read MoreProtecting 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.
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