Public Works articles from December 2001

Public Works archives from December 2001

Counties surveyed on disaster preparedness. (Editorial Viewpoint).(National Association of Counties)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... A survey released by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Washington, D..C., shows that 94 percent of all counties surveyed had disaster plans in place before September 11. The disaster plans included all aspects of disaster mitigation...

City takes proactive approach to stormwater management. (Editorial Viewpoint).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Several years ago, Norfolk, Virginia's, Division of Environmental Storm Water Management reports it was in a quandary. Despite several citations and fines, a local carpet cleaning business continued to dump the residue from its customers' homes...

Sculpture to honor victims of terrorist attacks. (Editorial Viewpoint).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Flannegan Western, a manufacturer of road sign maintenance and installation, equipment based in Emmetsburg, Iowa, has announced plans to commemorate the horrific events of September11 with the dedication of a sculpture. The sculpture, which...

Christie Whitman, head of the EPA, announced October 31 that the Bush Administration would retain the 10 parts per billion (ppb) standard for arsenic in drinking water that the Clinton Administration had set. (Washington Report).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... She said utilities must comply with the standard, down from 50 ppb, in January 2006. The phased-in standard is expected to become effective February 22. According to Whitman, the standard "will improve the safety of drinking water for...

Separately, Whitman reassured the public about the safety of the nation's water systems during a visit to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission Consolidated Laboratory in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Washington Report).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... She said EPA believes the possibility of a successful contamination of water systems is small. "As someone who drinks water at home from the tap--as does my family--this is a concern I certainly understand. People are worried that a small...

An American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) survey. (Washington Report).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... An American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) survey said transportation departments in 47 states have identified 2.277 projects across the country, worth more than $14.22 billion, that can be obligated for...

Meanwhile, the National League of Cities CNLC) reports that 66 percent of American cities and towns say the slowdown in their local economies since September 11 has or will hurt municipal revenues. (Washington Report).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The survey of 214 cities found revenues are expected to decline four percent, which could represent as much as an $11.4 billion loss for all cities nationally. Cities also reported an increase of 1.5 percent in public safety spending, or...

The Transportation Department's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). (Washington Report).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The Transportation Department's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) said a software tool developed under its Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) research initiative yielded savings of at least $50 million last year in state highway...

The U.S. Conference of Mayors. (Washington Report).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The U.S. Conference of Mayors, at an Emergency Safety and Security Summit in October, gave Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge recommendations for improving protection against terrorist attacks while stimulating the economy through...

Electric fish barrier designed to stop migration of non-native aquatic species. (Engineering Notes).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Patrick Engineering (Chicago, Illinois) is providing construction management services for construction of an electric fish barrier, said to be the first of its kind in the midwest. Designed by Smith-Root Inc. (Vancouver, Washington) as part of...

Reverse osmosis project provides El Paso area residents with clean water. (Engineering Notes).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The El Paso County Water Authority serves about 12,000 people in a 91-square mile area just east of the city of El Paso, Texas. Before the authority constructed a new reverse osmosis plant, the solidity rate in the drinking water was about...

City awards two-year contract for sewer repair. (Engineering Notes).(Plano, Texas, Insituform Technologies)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Plano, Texas has awarded Insituform Technologies, Inc. (www.insituform.com, Chesterfield, Missouri) a $1.86-million contract for repairs to the city's sanitary sewer system over the next two years. Under the contract, the company will...

System reduces odor, saves money at wastewater plant. (Engineering Notes).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Black & Veatch (Kansas City, Missouri) says its Alternative Solids Process designed for Kentucky's largest municipal wastewater utility, the Louisville & Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), is saving the utility millions of...

Two maintenance operations contracts awarded. (Engineering Notes).(LA Consulting, Fairfield and San Mateo County)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The city of Fairfield and San Mateo County, California have awarded maintenance operations contracts to El Segundo-based LA Consulting, Inc. The city and county retained the firm to evaluate their respective maintenance operations and implement...

Daytona Beach updates its water disinfection system. (Engineering Notes).(Severn Trent Services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Severn Trent Services (www.severntrentservices.com, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania) recently completed the installation of its ClorTec on-site sodium hypochiorite generation system for disinfecting water at the 20-mgd Daytona Beach, Florida...

Charting the Course of Utility Management With: Private/Public Partnership. (Cover Article).(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... With the passage of time, the accomplishments of private/public partnership in the operation and management of wastewater and water treatment utilities can be measured by analyzing the progress made. SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS Oklahoma City,...

Aging Retaining Wall Replaced By: Embankment to Support Road.
December 1, 2001... At first it seemed like an impossible mission. Build a 30-ft high structure across a 185-ft wide, steep wooded ravine to replace an aging steel sheet pile retaining wall. Minimize the size of the footprint to reduce impact on the stream flowing...

Playing the Rules: To Ensure Road Crew Safety.(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... For municipal public works professionals, "Safety First" is a motto to live by. Each year, on-the-job accidents claim the lives of thousands across North America. Many of these deaths result from traffic mishaps while crews venture on or near...

Promoting: Turfgrass Health in Winter.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Turfgrass sod producers and maintenance crews are taking steps to bolster their turf's health in preparation for cold weather, according to members of Turfgrass Producers International (TPI). The actions they take can serve as an example to...

New Generation Open-Graded: Asphalt Friction Courses.
December 1, 2001... In the U.S., open-graded asphalt friction course (OGFC) evolved from experimentation with plant mix seal coats by some western states during the 1960s. The cover aggregate used for seal coats (chip seal), typically 3/8 to 1/2 in. maximum...

Paving Efficiency Leaves Airport: Smoother than Ever.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Any paving contractor will tell you that mat smoothness and density are important. But when it comes to paving an airport, it is not just important--it is crucial, especially to a high-traffic airport such as Newark International, where planes...

New Structure: Replaces storm-Damaged Connecticut Bridge.(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... The Blake Street Bridge. which crosses the West River in New Haven, Connecticut, was already in poor condition. There were settlement cracks along the vertical face of the east abutment stem and footing. The bridge also exhibited various...

Maryland Constructs A: High Performance Concrete Bridge Deck.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... In fall 2000, the Maryland State Highway Administration was charged with building a concrete bridge deck on Route 64 in Washington County, Maryland. The goal was to build a structure with an increased service life of at least 75 years. ...

The Wes Smith Bridge: A Landmark is Made.(Index, Washington)
December 1, 2001... The remote town of Index, Washington is located about a mile off major east-west corridor State Highway 2 and on the bank of the North Fork of the Skykomish River. Index desperately needed to replace a bridge along its primary access to town....

AMWA Honors: Water Utilities for Outstanding Achievement.(Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies)
December 1, 2001... In October, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (www.amwa.net, Washington, D.C.) announced the latest winners of its AMWA Gold Awards for Competitiveness Achievement. The utilities honored face challenges such as service population...

Mobile Updates: Sewer Lift Station Controls.(Mobile (Alabama) Area Water and Sewer System)
December 1, 2001... Many actions can be taken to protect motors and pumps at lift stations to improve reliability and ensure against spills. The Mobile (Alabama) Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) includes three sewer plants and 178 lift stations. The largest...

BioEngineered Channel Design: Protects Urban Streamway.(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2001... Attractive, natural environments are valuable amenities in developed urban areas. That is especially true in the suburban communities of Mission Hills and Prairie Village, Kansas, in Johnson County, just west of Kansas City, Missouri. Brush...

Buyer's Guide to Water Treatment.
December 1, 2001... Buyer's Guide to Water Treatment Company Aeration Chemicals, Chlorinators Water Treatment ABS Pumps, Inc....

PW Update: Equipment.(Public Works)(Editorial)
December 1, 2001... In-house tire maintenance vs. outsourcing Fleet equipment administrators from three cities discuss how they handle tire purchasing and maintenance--Columbus, Ohio, and Amarillo, Texas, use in-house labor for tire maintenance; Omaha, Nebraska,...

Advanced Fuel Control. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... "The Phoenix AFC (advanced fuel control) is the advanced, yet economical solution to on-site fuel management" for small- to medium-sized fleets. The turnkey system comes complete with a stainless steel chassis and pedestal for the outdoor...

Fuel Island Terminal. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Fleet managers and their drivers can benefit from the advanced technology of the C/OPT (commercial/outdoor payment terminal). Its LCD graphics display has high contrast for better viewing in bright sunlight and LED backlighting for long life....

Sophisticated Fuel Control. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The TopKAT provides sophisticated fuel control in an economical configuration for new or existing dispensers. Initiate fueling transactions with either the smart key reader or the keypad, or both. For small sites, order TopKAT in a plug 'n'...

LNG Fuel Systems. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This firm supplies all the equipment needed for a liquid natural gas (LNG) fueled fleet: from the liquefier to the on-board fueling system. Every site and every fleet has a variety of unique characteristics that impact fuel station and storage...

Fuel Management System. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This fully automated, non-intervention, vehicle identification fuel management system is designed to save labor, time, and fuel costs. The company provides site and vehicle solutions, mobile fueling, and AutoGate control. Only authorized...

Wireless Fuel Management. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... SmartFuel is a new wireless fuel management system based on Israeli military technology that employs tiny radio signal transmitters fastened to vehicle gas tanks and fuel pumps to ensure that fuel will flow only when the correct fuel nozzle is...

Automated Fueling System. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This new automated fueling system is based on intranet communication. This network enabled system uses a TCP/IP communications schedule between the fuel island terminals and the central computer. Ethernet communications allow the system to...

Two New Total Stations. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The TC700 auto total station and TCR700 auto reflectorless total station are the first of their class with ATR capability. ATR technology eliminates manual aiming, providing quicker target acquisition and more consistent precision in all...

Applies "Ribbon" of Adhesive. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This supplier of two-component adhesive dispensing systems introduces the Ribbon-Tip spreader for spreading a flat 1-in, or 1.5-in, bead of adhesive. This new tip snaps on the end of a static mixer for any application where a wide, flat...

Effective Erosion Control. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Conwed Fibers(R) 3000[TM] Mechanically-Bonded Fiber Matrix[TM] requires no cure time and combines both mechanical and chemical bonds for increased tensile strength where blankets are impractical and other mulching methods are inadequate, says...

Powerful Skid-Steer. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The Model 240 skid-steer features a 51-hp engine and engine, speed of 2,575 rpm for power and performance. The SAE operating load is 1,500 lb and the operating weight is 6,195 lb. The Model 240 provides a dump height of 88.8 in. and a reach of...

Color Video System. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This firm says you can inspect mainlines and laterals easily and confidently with its new RavenEyeT color video system. Industrial grade rigid push cable and an auto-uprighting camera image allow for easy and accurate navigation through tough...

Suspended Solids Meter. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Series 502 suspended solids meters use ultrasonic attenuation to measure the concentration of sludges and slurries that are too thick for optical methods. The microprocessor instrument features automatic pushbutton calibration, automatic...

Cleans Your Vehicles. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Keeping vehicles clean helps extend the life of their finish, inhibits rust and corrosion, expedites maintenance, and increases the residual value. This firm has been designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing wash systems for large...

Clears Land Fast. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Convert your mini or small excavator into an all-purpose land clearing machine. The 55-hp auxiliary engine and hydraulics are mounted in place of the counter-weight, giving this new model "awesome clearing and mulching capabilities for its...

DC Welder/AC Generator. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The new Hydro-Arc-6000 DC generator welds and operates AC tools, lights, etc. It is two hydraulic generators in one smart package, supplying portable electric power when and where needed. The compact combined system is rated at 240 amps DC and...

Winter Weather Forecasting. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Winter Weather 2002)
December 1, 2001... Winter weather decision-makers now have a new winter weather management solution for forecasting and charting dangerous winter weather events, such as snow and ice storms. Winter Weather 2002 is an innovative, satellite-delivered, PC-based...

Heavy-Duty Cable for Sewer Cleaner. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... New super heavy-duty Municipal Cable comes in 8-ft sections and has a 1-1/4-in, outer cable that is reinforced with an 11/16-in, diameter inner cable. The extra spacing on the outer cable allows for faster feeding in and out of a line. The...

Controls Sewer Odors. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The Odor Sentry is a high capacity, radial-flow manhole and wetwell insert that fits below the manhole lid, past steps, so it works anywhere, even in locations with water entry problems. Enforcer odor control media is included with the Odor...

Electric Dump Trucks. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... These two new electric dump trucks produce zero emissions. The larger Dumpster (B2-48-D) model has an 83-in, long by 40-in, wide bed, with a 51-in, dump height and 1.5-cu yd, 1,000-lb capacity. The Mini-Dumper (B2-48-MD) model has a smaller...

Vehicle Lift. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The new 12,000-lb capacity SmartLift is an inground unit boasting a one-piece polymer containment housing, totally protecting the lift from the environment and isolating the environment from the lift. The SmartLift is said to use only a...

Video Pipeline Inspection. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The P376 flexi-cam portable inspection system is a self-contained handheld unit for inspecting 1- to 4-in. lines. Features include built-in LCD screen, rechargeable battery powered operation, external video recorder connection, 360 TVL...

Really Powerful Dozer. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This firm's most powerful dozer ever, the 324-hp 1050C, is powered by a single-lever-controlled hydrostatic transmission that delivers powerturns, counter-rotation, automatic load sensing, plus other production enhancing advantages. Its...

Mapping Software. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This firm announces the latest release of its popular mapping software, Autodesk [R] Map 5. Based on the AutoCAD [R] 2002 foundation, Map 5 provides mapping and GIS professionals with sophisticated and powerful new features to reduce data...

Anti-Icing System. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... The FreezeFree anti-icing system for roadway applications is designed to prevent icing before it happens. It is available as both a permanent and mobile anti-icing system that provides measured applications of anti-icing liquids on targeted...

Landfill Compactor. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... The BOMAG BC771RB refuse compactor weighs 81,000 lb and is equipped with a 370-hp Cummins water-cooled diesel engine. Its 4-- wheel independent hydrostatic drive provides greater tractive effort regardless of operating conditions. Cabin...

Fleet Management System for Heavy Construction Equipment. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... The FleetEdge system is designed to enable fleets in the heavy construction equipment industry to reduce costs by using intelligence about their fleets that has never been available before, says the company. The system uses a wireless...

Easy Way to Redirect Traffic. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... The Itsdelineator [TM] was developed as a safe and easy way to redirect traffic, especially where repetitive changes in lane usage or traffic flow patterns are needed. The Itsdelineator is made of a durable, flexible-channeling pylon that is...

Vacuum Excavation System Boasts 500 CFM. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... The E900 Evacuator [TM] vacuum excavation system features an excavation mode to expose utilities or other underground objects and vacuum-only mode for job site clean-up of non-hazardous materials. The system provides 500 cfm for high suction...

Three New Zero-Turn Mowers. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... The IS 4000Z mower features 4-wheel independent suspension for increased comfort, speed, stability, and long life. The IS 3000Z and 1000Z mowers have 2-wheel independent suspension, which allows each drive wheel to move up and down...

Pig Tracking Systems. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... This company recently achieved CE compliance for its pig tracking systems. The Model PTR pig tracker receiver is designed to work with the PIC PT-107, PT-275, and PT-750 transmitters. Applications include municipal gas, water, and wastewater...

New Auger Monster. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... The new Auger Monster[R] for wastewater treatment is built to fit in 12-in. channels and features only a 6-5/8 in. diameter spiral. Now, customers can add an Auger Monster to their existing channel systems without the additional costs of civil...

Add Color to Mulch. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... The easy-to-use Rainbow Mulch[R] colorant pump stand enables mulch producers to add color to their processing capabilities and dollars to the bottom line. The pump stand can color 50 to 200 yd of mulch per hour, using any model of mixer or...

Utility One-Call Software. (Public Works Equipment & Services).
December 1, 2001... U-Can-Dig-It software will encourage participation and help contractors with the utility one-call, before-you-dig authorization process. The authorization and renewal process requires participation and continuing renewals throughout the life of...

Channelizer Drum. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Lifegard [R] channelizer drums are said to reduce labor costs in set-up and take-down time. No locking or assembly required; simply drop the 100 percent recycled base over Lifegard. Its design reduces "walking" and allows drum to separate on...

Portable Arsenic Test Kit. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This new arsenic test kit provides an economical, simple, accurate way to monitor treated or groundwater onsite or in the field. It can determine arsenic levels down to 10 ppb. "Plus, it also minimizes exposure to hazardous reagents and arsine...

Laser Rangefinders. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... This family of laser rangefinding products for GIS applications includes the Laser Locator and the handheld DISTO pro4. The Laser Locator is designed for long-range distance measurements from 10 to 4,000 meters. The high-precision 7x42...

Diesel Tractors. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The diesel-powered Grand L Ten-Series diesel tractor comes in five models (L3010, L3410, L3710, L4310, and L4610) with different horsepower ratings. Choice of three transmissions: the FST manual, the clutchless Glide Shift, or the Feather-Step...

Innovative Pipe Lifter. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The Rig-Master [R] C-Hook pipe lifter eliminates the need to dig a hole under the pipe or roll it over a cable or chain for lifting. It can handle 8ft long sections of 10- to 27-in. ID precast concrete pipe. With its dual lift point it can be...

Hot Water Pressure Washer. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The Model SHW 3040 hot water gasoline engine pressure washer is a 3,000 psi, 4-gpm portable workhorse equipped with a 13-hp Honda ohv engine. The belt drive, triplex ceramic plunger pump configuration is designed for reliability and long life....

High Powered Leaf Blowers. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The Whisper Jet(TM), Classic Series, and Chip-N-Blow leaf blowers boast unibody construction to reduce vibration, extend machine life, and prevent axle wear. Whisper Jets are available in 6, 8.5, 9, 10, and 16 hp and provide from 2,100 to 2,700...

Maintenance Management Software. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... Multi-Currency and Multi-Drawing, two features now available in ProTeus II 8.1 maintenance management software, allow program users to carry out transactions in foreign currencies and attach multiple drawing files to maintenance work orders....

Reversible Plate Compactors. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... San Diego-based Shariden Design Asphalt uses a patented "stamping" technique to put an artistic finish on asphalt paving jobs. The company uses customized templates placed down and vibrated by Multiquip compactors into heated asphalt. Steven...

Sports Field Lighting. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The Powr-Spot(r) luminaire comprises the core of GE sports lighting solutions for recreational and competition sports fields at all levels. The fixture offers the user single-vendor integration and responsibility. At the same time, an...

New Data Collector. (Public Works Equipment & Services).(Brief Article)
December 1, 2001... The TSCe Controller(TM) is the latest addition to the Trimble Toolbox(tm) of Integrated Surveying(TM) solutions. The TSCe is described as a powerful handheld data collector that uses sight, sound, and touch to allow surveyors to conduct...

Worth Telling.(public works contracts in Canada and the United States)
December 1, 2001... * Contour Tek Inc. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) recently was awarded the 2001 Annual Entrepreneurial Innovation Award in the business category by Quebec's Fondation de l'entrepreneurship for developing Flex-Vest, a reusable road sign cover. *...

Legal Aspects of Public Works.
December 1, 2001... Bicycles, sidewalks, streets, and Liability. On appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County (Illinois), the Second Division of the Illinois Appellate Court heard the case of Donnita Latimer, Plaintiff-Appellant, vs. The Chicago Park District,...