Public Works articles from November 2005

Public Works archives from November 2005

Scarcity and technology.(Editorial)
November 1, 2005... Hanley Wood, the company that publishes this magazine, polled experts across the construction industry earlier this year to try to define the forces that will drive our society between now and 2030. The five things they came up with are: *...

EPA finalizes streamlining rule.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized the Pretreatment Streamlining Rule, which revises how industrial and commercial facilities manage wastewater discharge before sending it on to publicly owned treatment works for final...

Katrina water damage in billions.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... The costs to repair and replace public drinking water infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Katrina will surpass $2.25 billion, according to a preliminary assessment from the American Water Works Association. The report--presented to members of...

Transpo group examines SAFETEA-LU.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... The American Road & Transportation Builders Association has published an analysis of the recently passed Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users law. The 31-page document looks at the 1700-page...

FHWA lauds top info sites.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... The U.S. DOT's Federal Highway Administration has lauded state department of transportation Web sites in California, Connecticut, and Missouri for offering innovative and helpful online tools for the public and transportation officials....

Concrete terms online.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... The Cement and Concrete Thesaurus, a list of accepted terminology for all aspects of cement and concrete, now can be accessed on the Portland Cement Association Library's Web site, www.cement.org/library. The tool ensures that terminology is...

Recycled roofing hits the road.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... Crews in Missouri's south St. Louis County have paved a 2-mile stretch of Lindbergh Boulevard with recycled roofing material. The segment of Lindbergh Boulevard, which runs from Ronnie Lane to Roxanna Drive, was paved with asphalt containing...

Wastewater technology surges.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... A recently released report, U.S. Wastewater Treatment Equipment Markets, reveals that revenue in this industry totaled $774.4 million in 2004 and estimates it to reach $1.32 million by 2011. According to findings in the analysis--released by...

Municipal government expo.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... The National League of Cities' Congress of Cities and Exposition--scheduled Dec. 7-9 in Charlotte, N.C.--offers a broad range of learning opportunities. Through offsite educational sessions, spouse/guest tours, and other events, delegates are...

Building guide available online.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... The National Institute of Building Sciences has developed a guideline for exterior envelope design and construction for institutional/office buildings. It includes guidelines for below-grade jobs, walls, roofing, windows, and atria. Performance...

City reaches broadband milestone.(News & Views)
November 1, 2005... The first citywide commercial deployment of broadband-over-powerline (BPL) technology anywhere in the United States is now complete in Manassas, Va., according to Communication Technologies Inc., the Chantilly-based company that owns and...

Public water systems garner recognition.(AWARDS)
November 1, 2005... The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) has acknowledged several public water agencies with its 2005 Competitiveness Achievement Awards. A total of 14 utilities received Platinum Awards for Sustained Competitiveness...

Work-zone safety applauded.(AWARDS)
November 1, 2005... The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation and National Safety Council have recognized a group of public and private transportation groups for their commitment to safety at the 5th annual...

Innovation improves water quality.(DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION)
November 1, 2005... The process of restoring streams from underground or back alleys--known as "daylighting"--is arduous, but a University of Arkansas (UA) researcher claims the effort is worth it. Marty Matlock, associate professor of biological and...

Delivery alternatives reduce construction costs.(DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION)
November 1, 2005... Public owners are increasingly turning to alternatives to the traditional design-bid-build delivery method, according to a recent study. The 2005 Pulse of U.S. Public Construction survey--conducted by Phoenix-based PinnacleOne--examined...

Project converts grease to energy.(OPERATIONS)
November 1, 2005... The city of Millbrae, Calif., is partnering with San Francisco-based Chevron Energy to construct of facilities at Millbrae's Water Pollution Control Plant that will generate onsite electricity from restaurant kitchen grease and other organic...

APWA taps new president.(ASSOCIATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Bob Freudenthal, deputy general manager for the Hendersonville Utility District, Hendersonville, Tenn., took over the presidency of the American Public Works Association during the association's International Public Works Congress and...

Truck sales expected to grow.(OPERATIONS)
November 1, 2005... Leading economists at the September National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Economic Outlook Conference agreed that 2006 will be a year of continued growth for the commercial truck and transportation equipment industry. [ILLUSTRATION...

Leaky pipes drain millions.(OPERATIONS)
November 1, 2005... According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 6 billion gallons of drinking water are lost every day, thanks in large part to old, leaky pipes and mains; the amount would be sufficient to serve the population of the state of California....

Managing your PM program--cost-effectively.(Ideas & Opinions / Fleets)
November 1, 2005... To make preventive maintenance (PM) cost effective, you need to strike a balance. Service intervals should be short enough to catch problems and prevent breakdowns, but if you can stretch out service intervals, you may save some money. ...

2005 Trendsetters: public works superheroes shine.(Special report)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2005... A lot has happened in the past year since we named our first 50 Trendsetters. The transportation bill passed (finally!). The Department of Homeland Security saw a changing of the guard. The standoff in Iraq continued. And 50 more people made a...

Keeping our water safe: report helps water facility managers get a lock on security.(Homeland security)
November 1, 2005... How secure are America's water facilities? Attempting to answer this difficult question led to the creation of a comprehensive report, geared toward helping water facility managers craft and maintain effective security plans. Water...

Rock-steady railway: stabilization method draws on European experience.(Roadway design, construction & maintenance)
November 1, 2005... As an officer of the Deep Foundations Institute, I have had the opportunity to travel the globe and meet engineers from around the world. We have found common ground in our engineering challenges and shared countless ideas and experiences, to...

Keeping costs manageable: maintaining infrastructures at sustainable levels.(Asset management)
November 1, 2005... Hamilton, a community of about 500,000 in southern Ontario, faced a serious problem in the late 1990s--one that now pervades the world of municipal governments. "We did a rough review of the condition of our water system to see how much...

Looking into manholes: inspection is key to protecting crucial infrastructure.(Infrastructure construction & maintenance)
November 1, 2005... Manholes are the most important infrastructure objects for both sanitary and storm sewer systems in any new development or subdivision. To maintain unobstructed flow, they must be constructed properly. Proper inspection ensures long life and...

Flying high: runway project overcomes tough obstacles.(Stormwater collection & treatment)
November 1, 2005... Imagine you're adding a runway at a busy international airport. Then, imagine doing it while saddled with the most stringent environmental impact mitigation permits issued in state history. You would be managing the third-runway project at...

Hitting the road.(Products Solving Problems)
November 1, 2005... Tom Webber, street supervisor for the city of Sacramento, Calif., is responsible for line striping and legend marking for 2750 lane miles of city roadway. This includes 600 crosswalks and more than 150 school zones. Since 1999, an average of 10...

GIS aids in hurricane relief.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... The American Red Cross is turning to GIS technology to aid in relief efforts following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Computer mapping, spatial analysis, and GIS Web services have helped the agency manage and distribute food, clothing, and...

Updated database models.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... The Cityworks asset maintenance management product now includes geodatabase models for facilities, parks, and trees; water, wastewater, and stormwater; streets, signs, and traffic; and treatment plants. The models are used to define an agency's...

Customizable system.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... GEODATAengine and GEODATAdesktop enable customization of ArcGIS-based systems. GEODATAengine gives users multiple geodatabase connections, and it delivers viewing and editing functionality for geodatabase fields, with no redundant data entry....

Zoning planning tool.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... Zoning Analyst is designed to assist planning departments in daily land use and zoning decisions. It gives users with limited GIS experience the ability to manage zoning and land-use cases and improve the department's efficiency. It includes a...

Data collection for GIS.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... The MobileMapper CE handheld GPS mobile mapping device has an open-platform design with embedded Microsoft Windows CE .NET. It supports Windows CE software for GIS and other mobile mapping applications. Features include sub-meter GPS...

Image processing software.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... Two tools designed for use with ArcGIS v9.1 provide image processing and stereo feature collection capabilities: Image Analysis helps users prepare and create GIS-ready imagery from airborne sensors, extract information from imagery, and...

Handheld data collection.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... The GeoXH receiver delivers sub-foot accuracy for GIS data collection and mapping. It incorporates an accurate GPS receiver inside a rugged handheld computer and is suitable for use by water and wastewater personnel, land reform projects,...

Customized GIS solutions.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... The company provides customized GIS applications for agencies, whether they have experience and an existing GIS system, or are just getting started. The service can help users develop comprehensive specifications, specialty applications, and...

Carbide cutter.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... This carbide cutter provides a broad range of capabilities--it can be used to clean, grind, or mill concrete surfaces, thermoplastics, membranes, epoxy, or other materials. With three times more carbide than similar products and an innovative...

Telescopic traffic cone.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... When flattened, these traffic cones offer a low 2-inch profile, but they can be extended to 28 inches in approximately two seconds. Their compact design enables them to be stacked or fit into any vehicle. The cones each feature an LED light for...

Temporary perimeter barrier.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... The Smart Barrier perimeter system creates a safe work zone and alerts civilians to prohibited areas. The products are visible, rapidly deployable, easy to store, and versatile. The product line includes SB1000 4-foot high stackable plastic...

Transparent noise barriers.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... Quilite barriers combine noise-cutting capability with light-transmitting aesthetics. The post/panel system consists of polycarbonate plastic modules in steel frames. The attachment process gives users flexibility in building free-standing...

Curb markers.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... These 4-inch 3-D embossed storm-drain markers, made from heavy-gauge metal, are highly durable, outlasting plastic disks by decades. Choose from four different metals: stainless, brass, aluminum, and anodized aluminum. The "call before you dig"...

Lighting design software.(Featuring: geographic information system software and accessories)
November 1, 2005... Streetscape Imaging II is a software tool that enables planners to simulate images to visualize how various lighting products will appear at a given site. To use, load the software; import a digital photo of the site; bring in the selected...

PW forum: answers to vexing questions.
November 1, 2005... Questions and answers in this section are from InfoNOW, a member-only service of the American Public Works Association. APWA's InfoNOW communities provide public works professionals an open forum for information exchange. There are 12 different...

I.D. locator.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Eliminate lost utilities after paving! Eliminate painting, measuring, metal detectors, guessing, over drilling, damage to caps, and costly mistakes. Developed form a new recyclable elastomer, which adheres to any surface and pops-up after being...

New Godwin Dri-Prime[R] diesel pump.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... New Godwin Dri-Prime[R] diesel pump combines high head capabilities with solids handling. New high volume diesel Dri-Prime automatic self-priming pump available from Godwin--the 6-inch CD160M--offers heads to 300 feet with 3 inch solids...

Sewer cleaners.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... For 40 years, Vactor has been building sewer cleaners with technological innovation, custom-configurable design and the finest quality. Vactor's ModulFlex[R] design offers multiple configurations to handle any cleaning application. The water...

Gravelpave2 system.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... The Chicago Department of Environment and the city Department of Transportation rebuilt an asphalt alley using a permeable system. The new alley has eliminated formerly chronic flooding without using the sewer system and reduced the heat island...

Natural Bacta-Pur[R] POND.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Fast-acting Bacta-Pur[R] POND is the simple and effective way to revitalize ponds and lakes of all sizes. The environmentally safe formula uses natural processes to improve water quality, without the use of harsh chemicals. Scientifically...

Pipe hangers-stainless.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... These easily installed adjustable clamping pipe brackets from RELINER[R] / Duran Inc. are made of non-corrosive 11 gauge 304 stainless. They securely attach pipes to manhole walls and other surfaces with no protruding hardware and are fully...

Water-filled barricade recycle your old pool!(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... We fix old pools, gutter and decks as well as provide a full range of pool and deck equipment. Product offers include: RenoSys PVC Pool Shell, RecDeck Recreational PVC Flooring, SoftSide Safety Padding, ToughDeck PVC Flooring, FuturaPool...

External seals.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Made from high quality EPDM rubber, INFI-SHIELD[R] external seal prevents Inflow and Infiltration in manholes or catch basins. Having excellent adhesion properties, INFI-SHIELD[R] is bonded with non-hardening butyl mastic. Being one continuous...

Garden magic wire baskets.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... RoLanka's unique Garden Magic hayracks, wire hanging baskets are manufactured to higher quality standards. They are fabricated from elegant hand welded steel with weather resistant black vinyl coating. They are durable easy to handle and save...

Boom Flail.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Almost every municipality has several areas which are difficult, unsafe or impossible to mow. Ditch, steep incline, over guard rail and waters-edge cutting become problems of the past once the Trackless Boom Flail enters the scene. The...

Multipurpose Hand-Held Vise.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Multipurpose Hand-Held Vise Save time and money with the new The Multi-Vise Tool[TM] II. It can power in like most vises but can also power out. Install culvert bands, water pipe repair clamps and bell pipe. Heavy duty J-Hooks or L-Hooks can be...

VAC-TRON ... The next generation.(SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: Products for the Pros)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2005... Introducing our new, remote, hydraulic rear door. "Easy open--easy close" back door, on more than 50 standard models from 150-1250 gallons, raises and lowers, locks and unlocks hydraulically... at the touch of a button. Operators no longer get...

Feeling 'down in the dumps'?(Out of the Ordinary)
November 1, 2005... Cheer up. Spending an afternoon being down in the dumps isn't nearly as bad as you might think. After all, with trash galore, sewers, and waste streams to visit, how could you feel low? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One of Chicago's newest...