Public Works articles from January 2003

Public Works archives from January 2003

New law could unlock billions of dollars in construction spending. (Editorial Viewpoint).
January 1, 2003... Following the signing by President George W. Bush of terrorism insurance into law, Stephen E. Sandherr, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) chief executive officer, said: "The new law has the potential to unlock $15.5...

Students see math as cool. (Editorial Viewpoint).
January 1, 2003... The New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers (Trenton, New Jersey) reports that thousands of middle school "Mathletes" who participate in cerebral sports events through the national MATHCOUNTS competition say "Math is cool!" For more than...

Report validates alternative fuel's ability to reduce emissions. (Editorial Viewpoint).
January 1, 2003... The EPA has released a new comprehensive technical report on biodiesel emissions. According to the National Biodiesel Board (Jefferson City, Missouri, www.biodiesel.org), the reports shows biodiesel use can reduce emissions of particulate...

Congressional Budget Office. (Washington Report).
January 1, 2003... The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said U.S. drinking water systems face infrastructure investment costs of $11.6 to $20.1 billion through 2019, not including expenses related to security or growth. CBO said its high-end estimate is close to...

National League of Cities. (Washington Report).
January 1, 2003... The National League of Cities (NLC) said although Congress voted to create the Homeland Security Department, its failure to appropriate homeland security funds for cities and towns before adjourning in November was a "colossal failure." Karen...

Maritime Transportation Security Act. (Washington Report).
January 1, 2003... In other end-of-session actions, Congress passed the Maritime Transportation Security Act, which would improve anti-terrorism security for 361 ports and 95,000 miles of coastline. The bill requires the Coast Guard to conduct vulnerability...

NUS Consulting Group. (Washington Report).
January 1, 2003... NUS Consulting Group, Park Ridge, New Jersey, said its annual review has found the price of water increased in 12 of the 14 nations surveyed. Richard Soultanian, company co-president, said, "The majority of countries reported water prices...

Seven national environmental groups. (Washington Report).
January 1, 2003... Seven national environmental groups said EPA has proposed rule changes that effectively would abandon Congressionally mandated standards and oversight for municipal landfills. EPA proposed rules in June to allow states to waive compliance with...

University of Idaho. (Washington Report).
January 1, 2003... The University of Idaho said a pilot project has shown the trademarked Vandalion process can reduce arsenic levels below the limit set by new federal regulations. University researchers tested the method, which uses readily available commercial...

Republican control of the Senate. (Washington Report).
January 1, 2003... Republican control of the Senate will bring key changes when the 108th Congress convenes in January. Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-Missouri) was expected to waive the chairmanship of the Small Business Committee in order to lead the Commerce...

Desalination facility to undergo expansion. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... The Foss Reservoir Master Conservancy District in Western Oklahoma has chosen Ionics, Inc. (Watertown, Massachusetts) to provide an expanded state-of-the-art water desalination system at its plant serving 15,000 people in the surrounding...

City to analyze its water system. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... The city of Baltimore, Maryland, has awarded a $970,000-contract to Severn Trent Services (Fort Washington, Pennsylvania) to analyze the city's water production, distribution, and customer metering system that also serves parts of Baltimore...

Consultant preparing circulation and parking plan for master plan. (Engineering notes).
January 1, 2003... Wilbur Smith Associates (WSA), Columbia, South Carolina, is preparing the circulation and parking element and developing a GIS system for Hoboken, New Jersey's master plan. Abeles Phillips Preiss & Shapiro, Inc. (New York, New York) is...

Rehabilitation planned for supply main to aqueduct. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) has selected Parsons Brinckerhoff to design the rehabilitation of the supply main for the Weston Aqueduct. The project entails rehabilitation of 40,000 ft of pipe and routing analysis of...

Sewer system evaluation survey planned. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... Atlanta, Georgia, has awarded a sewer system evaluation survey (SSES) contract to Earth Tech (Long Beach, California), as managing partner of Atlanta Infrastructure Managers, a joint venture with Roland Pugh Construction and Atlanta Utility...

Consultant receives preservation award for bridge projects. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... Keller & Kirkpatrick, Inc. (Parsippany, New Jersey) has received a 2002 New Jersey Historic Preservation Award for the rehabilitation of two bridges in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. The award is given annually by the New Jersey Historic...

Construction manager named for administration center. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... Kitchell, a construction management firm that is a subsidiary of Kitchell Corporation (Phoenix, Arizona), recently was selected as project and construction manager for the Shasta County (California) Administration Center. The facility will be...

City uses rubber track loaders for canyon cleanup. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... In 2001, the city of San Diego needed to clean up sewage spills in some of its urban canyons, wild open space that is surrounded by developed neighborhoods. Its only option at the time was to bulldoze through the sediment to find the problem....

Trees made available for public space planting projects. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... Some 4,000 trees planted this summer at a Dallas, Texas-area community college are being made available for public space planting projects sponsored by area municipalities, businesses, individuals, and civic groups and other organizations. ...

New parking garage opens along with city offices. (Engineering Notes).
January 1, 2003... Las Vegas recently celebrated the opening of the City Hall Expansion Project, which includes a seven-story parking structure with 641 spaces for short- and long-term metered public parking. A climate controlled pedestrian bridge over Stewart...

FRP technology repairs and strengthens municipal aqueduct system.
January 1, 2003... One of the worst nightmare scenarios for any municipal waterworks is a failure in its pipelines. If a blowout occurs, the cost of repairs is only the beginning. Add to this snarled traffic and disruption of neighborhoods--not to mention the...

Waterproofing system enhances culvert's life span.
January 1, 2003... Canada's Peel Regional Government, in 1996, determined that the effective service life of the Leslie Bridge on Winston Churchill Boulevard, located west of the city of Toronto, was coming to an end. The deck and barrier walls had deteriorated...

Trenchless rehab keeps traffic and water flowing.
January 1, 2003... Contrary to popular belief, the state of Georgia is not covered in peanut farms and peach orchards. The Appalachian Mountain range dips down into the northern part of the state to provide some of the most beautiful vistas anywhere, and the many...

Ohio WWTP maintains service with multifaceted trenchless rehabilitation.
January 1, 2003... In the past, when defective pipelines were discovered, utilities would have little choice but to excavate, remove, and replace the damaged segment. However, open-cut excavation is expensive, time-consuming, disruptive to the service function,...

Protecting the urban forest using trenchless technology.
January 1, 2003... Trees are planted along urban streets in many localities to beautify the community. A flourishing urban forest is a primary goal of municipal forestry operations. Healthy trees are valuable assets to the community. However, these trees can be...

Tires make the road--Asphalt rubber pavement construction.
January 1, 2003... Asphalt rubber is defined in ASTM D8-88 as "a blend of asphalt cement, reclaimed tire rubber, and certain additives in which the rubber component is at least 15 percent by weight of the total blend and has reacted in the hot asphalt cement...

"Vanmap" gives everyone the key to the city of Vancouver.
January 1, 2003... Once upon a time, in the city of Vancouver, staff had to pull relevant maps and engineering plans from the vaults and update them by hand. This happened often because of property subdivisions or consolidations; construction or repair of city...

WaterISAC: the next level of water utility security.
January 1, 2003... "We're drowning in information and starving for knowledge." Yale Librarian Rutherford D. Rogers, 1985. With water system vulnerability assessments at or near completion, emergency response plans updated, and security enhancements well...

Continuity of government operations--developing an alternate relocations plan.
January 1, 2003... Continuity of operations planning (COOP) is an effort within a government agency or private business to ensure the continued maximum performance of essential functions during a wide range of potential emergencies. The events of September 11,...

Stakeholder involvement works to reclaim the Rouge River.
January 1, 2003... The Rouge River--part of a 436-sq mi watershed encompassing portions of three counties and 48 municipalities, and home to 1.5 million residents--was plagued by combined sewer overflows (CSO) and poor stormwater quality for decades. An urban,...

Product Spotlight: Construction Equipment.
January 1, 2003... PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Construction Equipment Company Backhoes Bulldozers Excavators AGCO Corp. * BRADCO/McMillen, Div. of * Attachment Technologues Inc. Badger...

Bobcat company introduces new utility work machine.
January 1, 2003... Late last year, Bobcat Company (West Fargo, North Dakota) unveiled its latest addition to the compact equipment industry, the 5600 Toolcat[TM] Utility Work Machine. Designed specifically for the needs of professionals in grounds maintenance,...

Center for Transportation Analysis. (PW Update: Information Technology).
January 1, 2003... If you are dealing with transportation, you should become familiar with the Center for Transportation Analysis CCTA) Web site at: http://www.cta.ornl.gov/cta/Index.html. CTA is a division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and is...

Cellular confinement system. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... EnviroGrid[TM] cellular confinement systems for erosion control, construction, and soil stabilization applications use a lightweight, highly flexible HDPE matrix that, when filled with native granular materials, creates an economical erosion...

Erosion control blankets. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Futerra lightweight revegetation blankets use wood fiber mulch combined with crimped polypropylene fibers, heat-bonded to an accelerated photo-degradable net. Futerra contours to the soil surface, and its high water holding capacity enhances...

Weathered retaining walls. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... A Weathered[TM] option is now available for this firm's retaining wall units, including Standard, Cobble, Accent, and Mosaic. They can be used for everything from 40-ft tall walls to shoreline applications to smaller walls. The Weathered option...

Revetment system. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The Armorflex[R] system for erosion control applications consists of machine compressed cellular concrete blocks of a unique interlocking shape that are made up into mats for easy handling on-site. The (open- or closed-cell) blocks are cabled...

Degradable erosion control blankets use double netting. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... These extended and long-term degradable erosion control blankets use a double netting structure and a coconut fiber component that provides extra protection during an extended grow-in period. The blankets are designed for immediate to long-term...

Silt fence controls run-off from construction sites. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Mirafi[R] silt fence for efficient control of sediment run-off from construction sites is prefabricated with support posts and is ready for immediate installation upon delivery to your site. It is available in 8.3 ft and 10 ft post spacings....

Cellular confinement system. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The Geoweb[R] cellular confinement system is a 3-dimensional polyethylene, honeycomb-like structure that provides cost-effective solutions to load support, slope and channel protection, and earth retention problems. The Geoweb version with cell...

Determine concrete air content. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The new HM-30 pressure meter for determining concrete air content features long lasting stainless steel clamps that are easier to use, adjust quickly, and cost less to replace than previous models. A larger, more reliable gauge, housed in...

Pipe for sliplining. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... This pipe's "high strength-to-weight ratio, smooth surface, and flush, push-together joints make it ideal for sliplining because its superior hydraulics provide maximum flow recovery." The centrifugally-cast, fiberglass-reinforced, polymer...

Four concrete trowels. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... These four-blade walk-behind trowels for concrete work boast power options ranging from 5.5 to 11 hp. The 36-in. ring diameter SCT36H55 and SCT36H80 weigh 166 and 188 lb, respectively, and have a rotor rpm of 60 to 125. The 46-in. ring diameter...

Track-type tractor. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The D6R Series II track-type tractor features a new C9 engine that meets U.S. emissions requirements. The engine's electronically-controlled, hydraulically-actuated direct-injection fuel system improves fuel economy and reduces emissions....

Hydro-air excavating unit. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The Soil Surgeon water-air excavating unit fits all combination trucks to allow the user to trench, pothole, locate lines, clean basins, etc. Its water ring cuts all types of soil. Use it with air or water combination or separately. You can...

Precast concrete fence. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Superior-Cobblestone[TM] decorative precast concrete fence has a rich cobblestone texture on both sides. The wall is offered in several integral colors and heights to 14 ft. Other products include Superior-Stone[TM] (ledgestone),...

Snowplow line. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The Displacer Series snowplow line includes reversible, one-way, wings, underbodies, full trip, and trip edge designs with several hitch options. All plows are heavy-duty. For example, the reversible poly trip edge snowplow boasts a 3/8-in....

Document storage systems. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... One Easi File vertical file can store the same number of documents (such as large drawings, maps, and charts) as three 5-drawer flat files, and requires 75 percent less space, says the company. With Easi File, it usually takes less than 10...

Subsurface water storage. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Rainstore3 (RS3) is described as a new class of subsurface water storage featuring modular units that can be stacked from 4 in. to 8.2 ft deep. Used for detention, retendon, or stormwater harvesting, the RS3 units are 94 percent void and exceed...

Civil series software line expanded. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Autodesk has added OnSite Desktop 7 to its Civil Series software. It allows civil engineering teams to import LandXML, GIS, and mapping data and aerial photographs in the conceptual stage of a project. Using these data, teams can render 3D and...

Pipe in-service report. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... "Condition Investigations of HDPE Pipe In-Service in the United States" is a report done for the ACPA by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., Northbrook, Illinois, that looks at HDPE culvert and cross drain installations in six states. To...

Mailbox support system. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The NEX[R] mailbox support system is made from octagon shaped 2-in., 14-gauge tube and is available for single, double, and multiple (up to five) mailbox applications. It meets FHWA NCHRP350 requirements. A special anchoring system, using the...

Bluetooth enabled GPS. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The 5800 GPS RTK Rover system is described as the world's first survey-grade receiver with Bluetooth[TM] technology. The 5800 RTK rover is a small, cable-free system that integrates a GPS receiver, GPS antenna, UHF radio, Bluetooth technology,...

Blades improve cutting. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Side Winder II diamond blades come in 12- and 14-in. models with a ribbed core that reduces friction and heat while providing faster cutting. The blades' T-shape diamond segment design enhances fast cutting performance, and is said to make them...

Pumps resist chemicals. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... This company now offers progressive cavity pumps in exotic materials that resist aggressive chemicals. These pumps are designed for metering NaOCl, [FeCl.sub.3], [H.sub.3][SO.sub.4], NaOH, HCl, and strong acids and bases. Pump bodies are...

Robotic total station. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The GPT-8000A robotic total station with RC-2II FastTrak is a one-person surveying system that provides optical communications for radio-free operation, an instant lock/remote location system, and reflectorless distance measurements so that...

Enhanced litter collection. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The Model 61 litter collection machine's new 360-degree rotating vacuum hose support boom is a horizontal arm that moves from side-to-side to help pick up litter in areas that are not easily accessible such as over guard rails. The Model 61...

Skid-steer loader. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The S300 skid-steer loader has a rated operating capacity of 3,000 lb. Its forward reach of 34 in. and a lift height of 10.5 ft make it easy to load and unload trucks. Powered by an 81-hp turbo-charged, liquid-cooled Kubota diesel engine, the...

Vacuum wellpoint pumps. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The portable Vacuum Wellpoint pump can handle more than one application, which can save time and money. Use it for sewage bypasses, flood control, air evacuation work, and wellpoint and sock applications. These pumps are available in 6-, 8-,...

New motor graders. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The 845, 865, and 885 motor graders range from 140 to 205 hp and operating weights from 29,777 to 37,950 lb. The optional 865 DHP delivers variable horsepower and extra power for long-haul grading or snow removal. Features include streamlined...

Water distribution modeling software. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Now available is Version 6.0 of WaterCAD water distribution modeling software. Using the power of next-generation Microsoft .NET technology, WaterCAD 6.0's database design reshapes the way in which users can access, view, and manipulate data....

Aluminum fittings for railings line expanded. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... This firm has expanded its line of Kee Lite[R] aluminum fittings for railings, lighting grids, playground equipment, racks and shelving, guard rails, and other tubular pipe structures. Made of high-grade aluminum silicon magnesium, Kee Lite...

Powerful new software. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... This developer of civil engineering and surveying software automation solutions announce the release of Visual[R] PE 9.1.0. Seven new ToolBoxes have been added to Visual PE 9.1.0. The product also includes over 90 new commands and enhancements...

Stump cutters can remove three-ft diameter stumps. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The 9-hp SC9O and 13-hp SC130 feature enough power to effectively remove three-ft diameter stumps, while their narrow width enables them to tackle stumps in confined areas. Convenient lift handles make for easy, two-person loading without the...

Safety work platforms. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The new Quick-Tach safety work platform connects directly to your forklift quick-tach. With this system, the carriage and forks are removed leaving more of the lift capacity available when you elevate personnel. The new platforms are available...

Plate compactors. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The new BOMAG BP25/48 and BP25/48D single-direction, vibratory plate compactors deliver 6,075 lb of centrifugal force--an increase of up to 35 percent compared to previous models. The new units offer a frequency of 5,500 vpm, an increase of 15...

Weirflex for combined sewers. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... This new Weirflex for combined sewers is a variation on the pinch valve principal. By closing from the bottom only, a weir is created that controls the rate of flow within a sewer line. This allows the user to maximize existing stormwater...

Tank for spreading liquids. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The 1850 LP tank assembly lowers the center of gravity and improves the weight distribution to the vehicle's axles. The UV-stabilized tank boasts a wide flat bottom, a strong radius top, and integral vertical and horizontal baffles. Boom...

Epoxies extend equipment life. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... WearGuard[TM] epoxies are said to extend the service life and simplify maintenance of processing equipment by protecting it against abrasion. These bead-filled coatings and linings cure rapidly at room temperature in as little as 1.5 hours....

Electric submersible pumps. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Sub-Prime[R] electric submersible pump models feature a top discharge, flow rates to 5,000 gpm, and discharge heads to 375 ft. The new units, with a slim-line design that allows them to fit into confined spaces, are designed for large...

Fast-packing rear loader. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... Super Series[R] rear loaders feature packing cycles as fast as 10 seconds. A lower hopper loading height helps reduce operator fatigue while an automatic locking tailgate increases safety. Designed for rural routes, downtown locations, and...

Spreader fits pickup trucks. (Equipment & Services).
January 1, 2003... The Mate 9-cu ft capacity spreader for snow and ice control is designed for standard pickups on small- and medium-sized jobs such as driveways, parking lots, walkways, access ramps, and intersections. The Mate is easily attached and removed...

The Plastics Pipe Institute. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) has scheduled a one-day seminar January 29, 2003, in Phoenix at the Hilton Phoenix Airport on "Designing and Installing High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Piping Systems." Manufacturing experts and engineers...

International Erosion Control Association. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * The International Erosion Control Association (Steamboat Springs, Colorado) will hold its 34th Annual Conference & Expo, February 24 to 28, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nevada. For details call the IECA at 970-879-3010 or visit www.ieca.org.

Backflow Prevention Manufacturer's Association. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * The Backflow Prevention Manufacturer's Association (BPMA) announces the first BPMA Harrington-Arthur Scholarship Fund essay competition ($1,000 scholarship), whose purpose is to advance the education of high school students in the area of...

Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * Oakland B. Adams has been named area manager for the New Orleans office of Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc., the U.S. infrastructure arm of Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Vollmer Associates. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * Vollmer Associates has relocated its southern New Jersey office to 161 Gaither Drive in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

Black & Veatch Corporation. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * Black & Veatch Corporation (Kansas City, Missouri) has appointed Dave Hunt as a senior vice president and manager of the Midwest region and Steve Phillips as manager of the Kansas City regional office within the Americas Division of the...

Tensar Corporation. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * Tensar Corporation (Atlanta, Georgia), a leading manufacturer of high performance polymeric products, has acquired Geopier Foundation Company, Inc., a provider of intermediate foundation systems.

HDR Engineering Inc. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * Laurence D. Bory has joined HDR Engineering Inc. (Omaha, Nebraska) as federal government relations director in the company's Alexandria, Virginia, office.

JWC Environmental. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * Joining JWC Environmental (Costa, Mesa, California) are David Lokken as director of sales, Kenny Oyler as engineering product manager, and Christopher Kushner as sales manager in the Midwest region. Tony Dana, previously Midwest regional...

Severn Trent Services. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * As part of its Safe Drinking Water Program, Louisiana recently purchased 12 units of the Severn Trent Services (Fort Washington, Pennsylvania) Eclox[TM] Rapid Response Water Testing System.

Schoor DePalma. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * Schoor DePalma (Manalapan, New Jersey) has been re-appointed for a three-year term as engineer of record for the town of Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

National ITS Division. (Worth Telling).
January 1, 2003... * Jeffrey D. Coil has joined PBS&J (Orlando, Florida) as a senior intelligent transportation systems specialist in the firm's National ITS Division, Houston, Texas.