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Mobile sensors have evolved dramatically in the past few years. In this session the speaker will look at that evolution and how current sensors are being utilized by agencies. The newest sensors are giving operators and their agencies new data that has never been available before on snowplows. The new data will be discussed and how operators can use it, including how the presenters worked together to come up with a matrix to suggest treatments based on friction and pavement temperature trends.
Read MoreThe City of Raytown needed an asset management strategy for its sanitary sewer system. Raytown’s sanitary sewer system serves 30,000 residents. The system includes 165 miles of gravity sewer lines, 4,325 manholes, two miles of force main, and two equalization basins, each with six million gallon capacity. There are no combined sewers. The City engaged with NEER.ai to use a machine learning (ML) solution to identify the risk condition. NEER created and applied several ML techniques (clustering, classification, and regression) to populate missing values and score likelihood of failure (LoF), consequence of failure (CoF), and overall risk score for each sanitary sewer asset. NEER.ai produced more than 90% accuracy in predicting the LoF score for sanitary sewer assets. NEER also calculated CoF and the overall risk of the entire system. The City of Raytown saved several thousand dollars and significant staff hours by leveraging ML to implement its sewer asset management program.
Read MoreDo you hear complaining or an opportunity to engage? What does it take to change complaining into action, trust-building, and resolution? Using adaptive management principles and processes, you can reboot your workplace culture with employee ownership. This session is a case study and success story of how one government agency took the challenge and committed to improving the work experience for its operations and maintenance department. The story includes learning about adaptive management principles, including learning and listening, planning, and doing. This framework provided a process for tackling difficult conversations and issues with staff while also building trust. The journey includes employee engagement surveys and facilitated sessions, clearing up work rules, supervisor training including useful feedback training, internal and external hiring process clarity, and even a change to qualification-based pay versus a longevity-based system.
Read MoreThe COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the rate of retirements and caused an increase in the number of road and traffic maintenance employees resigning, being furloughed, or laid off. Some vacated positions have been either eliminated or indefinitely frozen as the economy sharply declined and agencies cut budgets. Though the economy has rebounded, the outlook for the next year or so is still cautious. Prior to the pandemic, agencies were struggling to recruit and retain skilled roadway and traffic maintenance workers. That has been exacerbated by many job-seekers becoming more selective as road maintenance operations are perceived as low-skill, low-pay, dead-end positions. Much needs to be done to attract and hold proficient and productive employees now and to build the ”pipeline” of future candidates. This presentation will discuss what agencies can do to improve recruitment and retention.
Read MoreIn the digital world in which we all live and work, evil lurks at every turn. Since the first ransomware in 1989, digital thieves, bad actors, and even rogue governments have sought to disrupt and extort funds from individuals and businesses alike. Governments have become targets for these attacks as so much information must be made available to the public. While billions of dollars are spent annually on software and hardware to protect networks, end-users are still the weak link in the chain. This presentation will provide a multitude of examples of how failed processes, training, or both, has cost entities hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in some cases, even millions. The presentation is designed to assist attendees as they have hard discussions with their staff and stakeholders on the best practices for digital safety.
Read MoreAre you interested in enhancing existing business processes in your organization but not sure where to start? If the answer is yes, come learn about how the City of Austin Public Works Department designed and implemented a department-wide process improvement framework that engages staff, optimizes business processes and improves service delivery. In this framework, staff from all levels of the organization carry out process improvement projects that address key strategic areas. These projects, also known as WIGs (Wildly Important Goals), have had an immensely positive impact on the department’s morale, operations, and resources. This session will contain insights from Austin’s experience, as well as guidance on how to implement this type of framework into your own organization.
Read MoreAs public funding for infrastructure continues to lag with demand, new and innovative ways are needed to provide public infrastructure improvements. The City of Charlotte, North Carolina, is using public-private partnerships to do so. By finding the right partnership opportunities with the development community, the Charlotte region has been able to implement infrastructure projects much faster than if these demands were being met through publicly funded processes alone. In addition, end-users experience the benefit of a more cohesive project in the seamless integration of transportation, parks, open space, and stormwater management infrastructure. During this session, we will hear from representatives from the City of Charlotte, LandDesign, and the development community, as they discuss the various benefits of implementing projects as public-private partnerships. We will discuss ongoing projects currently being implemented and walk through the lessons learned of the City’s process.
Read MoreHistorically, the most common renewal method has been to replace the pipeline using open-cut construction. A lack of investment in the aging pressure pipe infrastructure, coupled with growing congestion above and below ground, has accelerated development in the trenchless rehabilitation industry. With an array of proven trenchless rehabilitation technologies, how does a utility owner or engineer determine the appropriate technology? This presentation will briefly review the common and emerging trenchless technologies for pressurized pipeline rehabilitation. Then, it will provide a basic framework that can be used to evaluate and select an appropriate solution. We’ll review the concept of structural classification of pressure pipe linings as defined in American Water Works Association (AWWA) publications, which is a critical component to selecting an appropriate trenchless technology. We’ll also review a few case studies that demonstrate how the basic framework was followed to select a trenchless technology solution.
Read MoreTo keep a stormwater program from drowning in its data, it’s essential to manage information so it’s easily accessible and can help drive critical decisions. The Town of Apex, NC, is using data management tools to automate and streamline its stormwater information in a way that has improved operations and, more importantly, helped with municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) compliance. Apex worked with Freese and Nichols to develop a Survey123 and ESRI Field Maps mobile app that serves an array of functions: tracking, logging, adding and storing data; collecting photographs; spatially locating assets; performing real-time assessments; and using custom scripts to automate triggers that generate stormwater control measure (SCM) inspection reports. The system can automate 30-day reminder email notifications to property owners informing them of their upcoming annual SCM inspection. These tools and a custom dashboard allowed for daily quality and progress checks. As a result, the Town of Apex organized its stormwater data to meet MS4 compliance.
Read MoreEach year, CPWA develops public policy priorities to inform its work advocating for public works to federal government departments and officials. This session will provide a brief overview of past activities and the current priorities of the federal government as well as an opportunity for facilitated discussion and knowledge exchange. CPWA Board members will facilitate small group discussions among attendees focusing on CPWA’s existing policy priority areas as well as possible new areas of focus. Attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences, including the challenges they face, so that CPWA can more effectively advocate for recognition and solutions.
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