Video

Using Drones for Grounds Management

Natural 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).

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Using ICS to Manage the COVID-19 Pandemic

The 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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Emergency Management Committee Jam session

The Emergency Management Technical Committee members will facilitate discussions about pertinent emergency management topics with each of the technical committee members. Each facilitated discussion will be shared with all attendees to share knowledge and ideas on how multiple agencies handle emergency management tasks.

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How to Engage Elected Officals Toward an Effective Asset Management Program

A local agency’s most challenging obstacle to creating an asset management program often is convincing its administrators and elected officials of its importance. However, agencies that have implemented an asset management program and overcame this obstacle and those with mature programs have a lot to share. In addition, they can provide insight into their programs’ success for their community. This session will assist communities struggling with their asset management program development by providing effective and economic programs to engage their community successfully.Dan Kaup, Dave Lawry, Kyle Johnson, and Dan Randolph, all from the Chicago Metro Chapter’s Asset Management Committee, will present examples from various communities regarding implementing their local asset management programs. The committee received survey responses from 54 member communities indicating the need to share best practices, software examples, and how to engage elected officials. This session directly addresses those member suggestions.The speakers will show how they use their programs to benefit their communities through efficient operations and well-coordinated capital programs, all developed from data generated through their asset management efforts. They will feature two different software applications, not as endorsements, but as examples of the effectiveness of asset management software to the success of a local agency’s program.

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Public Fleet Rates

This session will guide the manager through the different aspects of knowing their cost and how to apply those to promote their ability to provide cost-effective services.  

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Levels of Service

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…

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Refurbish/Repurpose Fleet Units in Times of Vehicle Shortages

The 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…

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Automated Vehicles vs. Adverse Weather: FHWA’s Research Results on Adverse Weather Impact on Automated Vehicle Function

Adverse 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.

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Winter Maintenance Policy Review: Enhancing the Level of Service for Key Winter Maintenance Activities

Regular 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.

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Real Time Digital As-Built Preparation for Utility Construction

The 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.

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