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Levels of Service (LOS) is a component of asset management planning that is significant and has a great deal of impact. Municipalities' core purpose is to provide public services to the…
Read MoreThe supply chain crisis has compelled fleet managers across the country to get creative to solve certain problems that they may have taken for granted in the past. The nationwide…
Read MoreAdverse weather events can significantly affect vehicle and driver behavior. With the advent of automated vehicles (AVs), the Federal Highway Administration Road Weather Management Program has begun research and testing to identify how vehicles and drivers will detect and react to adverse weather and road weather conditions. AVs have sensors and perception systems to detect objects and events in their vicinity. Using this information, they control the steering or speed, or both, to move the vehicle along its selected path. Their ability to properly perceive the situation and execute a maneuver can be affected by atmospheric conditions and road weather. Several tests were developed and conducted with the intent to challenge perception systems across a variety of simulated adverse winter weather conditions in a controlled outdoor laboratory setting in traffic settings. The presentation will describe the tests and results that were obtained during the testing in Winter 2021 along with some videos.
Read MoreRegular reviews of the Winter Maintenance Policy can be time-consuming but very essential to keep it valid for the changing needs of the community. The City of Regina, Saskatchewan, adopted a consultative approach with the community and other stakeholders while completing a review of their Winter Maintenance Policy. The updated policy tries to satisfy the winter maintenance related demands and changing priorities of the community as well as aligns with their corporate vision and strategic goals to promote active, sustainable, and community-friendly transportation year-round.
Read MoreThe Village of Niles maintains geographic information system (GIS) maps of their infrastructure for sewer, water, data, and street lighting. Using GIS maps, the Village self-performs all locate requests. Inaccurate maps are a liability. After a project is built, features are selectively surveyed, field measured and used in combination with a plan mark-up to enter into GIS. This process means the GIS database may not be updated for months after construction. This time gap creates a significant risk for damage. Recently, the Village constructed a 17-mile street lighting and fiber optic infrastructure improvement. Public works (PW) worked with the contractor to use a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver to geolocate the system as it was installed. The benefits include reduced liability from incorrect locate marks, cost-effective survey-grade data, and reduced risk for service outages. PW also worked with the GIS department to have real-time data available to the entire project team.
Read MoreThe Cedars East Storm Drainage Improvement project consists of a 300+ acre watershed located in southeast Charlotte, North Carolina, near Idlewild Road. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services (CMSWS) identified this area for study and improvements to the storm drainage infrastructure due to failing infrastructure and residential structure flooding reports. CMSWS partnered with STV Engineers, Inc. to complete the planning study, design, public outreach, utility coordination, and construction administration services. Drainage improvements within the project area include reinforced concrete box culverts ranging in size from dual 8-foot by 4-foot to 12-foot by 8-foot totaling more than 1,300 feet in length and natural stream enhancement techniques. Due to the space constraints, an extensive shoring plan was developed to protect existing infrastructure. The design reduced impacts to vital existing utilities to reduce relocation costs and disruption of services to the residents in the neighborhood.
Read MoreHow we live, work, and play is rapidly transforming. For cities both large and small, there is an opportunity to reimagine the built environment for better outcomes. Discover how VHB and the City of Orlando are helping cities prepare for the future via a Smart Community Roadmap. By integrating robust public engagement, applying diverse perspectives, and harnessing the power of data and technology, they are helping emerging cities implement smart community initiatives that are future-focused and elevate equity, sustainability, and resiliency. Discover how cities identified the critical issues facing their local governments, residents, visitors, and business owners and how VHB turned ideas into action via a prioritization process. Participants will learn about the smart communities visioning process, as well as the 10 Foundational Elements of smart communities and the key Pillar Focus areas that cities must identify before implementing smart community initiatives.
Read MoreAs communities recover from the pandemic, the common conception of “infrastructure” as “roads and bridges” has evolved to include a vast range of digital technologies. And local governments recognize the vital role of the cloud and the internet of things (IoT) in helping their cities become more sustainable, more fiscally responsible, and less wasteful going forward. The best smart city technologies will assist cities in transitioning to remote and agile work environments as part of a renewed or reimagined push towards resilience in the age of public health crises. Moving from responding to citizen complaints to anticipating citizen needs is the mantra of a smart city at all times, but especially during challenging times. This panel will demonstrate how city leaders are now leveraging new technologies within public works operations to reshape how municipalities serve their customers and to map a more circular economy for the future.
Read MoreNatural grass surfaces are not uniform but are typically managed as if they are. This presentation will outline the basics of using drones for precision grounds management. It will explain the basics of obtaining a remote pilot’s license, guidelines for flying legally, equipment available, and the types of cameras used. The speakers will also discuss how drones can be used for drought management and to monitor and map out pest outbreaks across facilities. Most pests are distributed in clusters within localized areas, yet entire surfaces are treated equally with pesticides. This presentation will provide tools to target applications to apply the right product to the right place at the right time. Finally, images and videos of their application on turfgrass surfaces will be showcased to demonstrate the diverse applications of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).
Read MoreThe Incident Command System (ICS) was created to manage wildfires in California during the 1970s. It is now the principal means of managing incidents in the United States. When the City of Austin Public Works Department implemented the ICS system during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization found that the traditional ICS system did not address operational needs. The City of Austin Public Works department had to adapt the systems in ways not previously described in traditional ICS training.
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