Public Works articles from September 2004

Public Works archives from September 2004

Lighting fires.(Editorial Viewpoint)
September 1, 2004... Despite the fact that these days most schools open in August, September still seems like back-to-school month for me--the beginning of autumn. I love summer, but autumn is more my style: a time to stop being lazy and get down to work. It is...

Turnpike disaster not so disasterous.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I read with interest the July 2004 story by James Guinan and William Kennedy entitled "Surviving Tunnel Fires" (page 47). While an informative piece, I was shocked to see the authors claim that "traffic and commerce came to a standstill for...

EPA's new deputy administrator sworn in.(Washington Report)
September 1, 2004... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Leavitt officially swore Stephen L. Johnson into the position of deputy administrator of the EPA on Aug. 2. Johnson served as acting deputy administrator of the EPA for the past...

Upcoming elections jeopardize the highway bill.(Washington Report)
September 1, 2004... Since early June, both House and Senate members have been butting heads trying to find a compromise between the Senate's six-year highway and transit bill and the House version. At the center of the argument is the question of how much money of...

Water funding slashed by House committee.(Washington Report)
September 1, 2004... The House Appropriations committee approved legislation that would cut funding for federal water infrastructure programs by more than 20% for the upcoming year. The Veterans Administration, Housing, & Urban Development and independent agencies...

Two House bills slated to improve water quality.(Washington Report)
September 1, 2004... The U.S. House of Representatives has approved two bills regarding water quality in Orange County, Calif. One bill will provide funding to improve drinking water quality and supplies, while the other will improve the water quality of the Santa...

Watersheds to receive funding for restoration.(Washington Report)
September 1, 2004... Michael Leavitt, EPA administrator, has announced that 14 watersheds from 17 states are eligible to receive $15 million from the EPA's Targeted Watershed Grant Program. The qualifying watersheds stretch from Cape Fear, N.C., through the...

USACE reports construction is not a commodity.(Washington Report)
September 1, 2004... The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) stated in a report that reverse auctions should not be used as a means to procure construction services. Additionally, the report noted that according to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy,...

AWWA director reappointed to trade committee.(Washington Report)
September 1, 2004... The Department of Commerce's Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee (ETTAC) has reappointed Jon Runge, director of communications, marketing, and customer service for the American Water Works Association (AWWA), to the committee....

Cities receive funding for homeland security.(Washington Report)
September 1, 2004... The Department of Homeland Security's Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) will provide 50 U.S. cities a total of $2.9 billion in federal funding for homeland defense. Each city is designated to receive anywhere from $6.2 million to almost $50...

Flood management land will reduce sewer overflows.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... In an effort to reduce sewer overflows and basement backups, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is purchasing 143 acres to protect the land from development and guard against future flooding in the region. The acreage, which is...

Florida residents willing to pick up the tab for paving.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... In a time when budgets are tight and the economy is down, city governments may be struggling to find ways to maintain roads and highways. However, according to the St. Petersburg Times, residents in Brooksville, Fla., are willing to pay out of...

Global demand for activated carbon increasing.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... The world's demand for activated carbon is expected to grow by 5.2% annually to more than 1 million metric tons in 2007. With a value of $1.2 billion, the world's more mature markets--North America, Western Europe, and Japan--will account for...

EPA creates programs to ease utility land transactions.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched the One Program, which is intended to reduce the level of oversight and regulatory requirements utility companies must undergo to obtain state and federal approval for projects. Land...

New service to aid in community planning.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), New York City, has created a specialty service center, PB PlaceMaking, to assist in the development of communities through the design and development of infrastructure. The service center aims to improve the quality...

California companies enter into agreements for cleaner fuel, air.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... O2Diesel Corp., Newark, Del., will be the main supplier of [O.sub.2]Diesel fuel to California. In conjunction with Western States Oil Co., San Jose, Calif., and Lakeview Petroleum, Marysville, Calif., O2Diesel will be distributing to five...

NTEA online guide eases understanding of federal standards.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) has converted its U.S. Federal Lighting Guide wall chart to an online guide in an effort to help commercial truck and transportation professionals easily navigate the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety...

Cleaning systems work in tandem to provide better water.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... Two wells in Altadena, Calif., have been fitted with 2000 gallons per minute (gpm) perchlorate removal systems, in a project spearheaded by the Lincoln Avenue Water Co. With the successful installation complete, the new system startup,...

Safe drinking water information that is easy to access.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... HDR Inc., Omaha, Neb., has released the 10th edition of the Safe Drinking Water Act wall chart. The poster-sized chart provides easy-to-use references to drinking water regulations, including a detailed listing of contaminants and health...

Mile-long water main extension complete.(Engineering Notes)
September 1, 2004... Additional piping has been installed by Underground Solutions Inc., Sarver, Pa., in a mile-long water main for Lincoln Water Systems in Lincoln, Neb. As a part of the Folsom Street Water Main Project, work began July 12 to create a 1-mile...

EMA Inc.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... EMA Inc., St. Paul, Minn., has received the ESRI Foundation Partner Award, from ESRI, Redlands, Calif. The award recognizes firms that have helped ESRI customers establish a strong foundation on which to build stable geographic information...

Dell Inc.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... Dell Inc., Round Rock, Texas, is offering $220,000 in grant money to support computer recycling events this fall. The company will award a series of $10,000 grants to select state, provincial, and local governments, along with universities and...

L.M. Scofield Co.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... Phillip J. Arnold, president and CEO of L.M. Scofield Co., Los Angeles, has been awarded honorary membership to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). It is the highest honor that the ASLA gives to recognize people other than...

Horner & Shifrin Inc.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... Horner & Shifrin Inc., St. Louis, has named two new associates to the firm. Jarrett Jasper, P.E., and Steven Donahue, P.E., are both civil engineers with experience in roadway systems designs, including layout, stormwater drainage design,...

HNTB Corp.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... HNTB Corp., Kansas City, Mo., has completed its acquisition of TEI Engineers & Planners, Orlando, Fla., making HNTB one of the largest engineering consultants in the Orlando area. TEI established itself in Florida through its engineering and...

The Rapid City Cocompost Facility.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... The Rapid City Cocompost Facility, Rapid City, S.D., has received the 2004 Outstanding Engineering Achievement of the Year Award from the South Dakota Engineering Society. The award recognizes engineering achievements that embody the innovative...

Smith Engineering Consultants Inc.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... Paul J. Gassmann, P.E., P.L.S., has joined Smith Engineering Consultants Inc., McHenry, Ill., as a senior project manager in the water and wastewater engineering service departments. With more than 27 years of experience in water and wastewater...

Vollmer Associates.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... Vollmer Associates, New York City, has been awarded a contract by the Jersey City Engineering Department to design streetscape and roadway improvements along Monticello Ave. in the Bergen/Lafayette section of Jersey City, N.J. The $1.25 million...

Construction Management Association of America.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... Psomas, Los Angeles, has been awarded the 2004 CMAA Project Achievement Award by the Construction Management Association of America for construction management of the Arena Boulevard Interchange project. The project, valued at $14.1 million,...

MACTEC Engineering and Consulting Inc.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... MACTEC Engineering and Consulting Inc., Alpharetta, Ga., has named Jennifer S. Brilliant, P.E., senior engineer. Her duties will include preparing reports and proposals for geotechnical subsurface investigations and performing related...

Woolpert LLP.(Worth Telling)
September 1, 2004... James Bradshaw recently joined Woolpert LLP, Dayton, Ohio, as a business developer in the local government sector. He has more than 32 years of experience directing economic development and planning in both the public and private sectors....

Sworn to service: every year, through its Top Ten awards program, the American Public Works Association recognizes the outstanding career achievements of officials charged with implementing these goals.(Special Report)(Cover Story)
September 1, 2004... In its mission to serve communities, the public works industry is on the cutting edge of techniques that protect citizens, improve their quality of life, and optimize the use of natural resources. Every year, through its Top Ten awards program,...

Hydroseeding restores charred slopes: bonded fiber matrix constrains silt and ash from wildfires, enabling revegetation.(Erosion Control)
September 1, 2004... The potential damage from wildfires doesn't end when the last flames are doused. The October 2003 wildfires that raged through Southern California left a thick blanket of loose silt and ash on the steep embankments and hillsides along Highways...

Four-in-one stormwater solutions: poor stormwater management led to erosion, pollution, high irrigation costs, and soggy fields. In Kitsap County, Wash., officials were able to find one technology to handle all four problems.(Stormwater Collection & Treatment)
September 1, 2004... "No games today." Baseball players in Bremerton, Wash., hear those words frequently. The Seattle area gets an average of 43 inches of precipitation annually, more than most other cities in the country. That much rain produces a lot of unhappy...

Keeping afloat in murky NPDES waters: St. Charles has successfully met its NPDES requirements by implementing a few good ideas.(Stormwater Administration & Management)
September 1, 2004... Communities nationwide breathed a collective sigh of relief when they submitted their Stormwater Management Plans (SWMPs) and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit applications by the March 10, 2003, deadline....

Taking equipment utilization to the max: Unimog. The unique solution to idle trucks.(Unimog. The Truck for All Reasons)
September 1, 2004... The Unimog may be based on the same concept the Swiss army introduced in knives over a century ago. But it's still a revolution for municipalities and other public works departments that are looking to do more, do it faster, and do it for less....

Stressed out water storage: prestressed concrete water tanks can provide maintenance-free service for many years.(Water Storage)
September 1, 2004... To account for variations in both demand and treatment capacity, we need tanks to hoard treated potable water. In other words, we want to make clean water at a constant rate and provide it at the varying rate the public demands. To handle that...

Playing the new game: a combination of federal legislation, environmental activists, strong leaders, and committed citizens is the force behind Atlanta's $3.2 billion program to rebuild the region's water and sewer systems.(Water Distribution)
September 1, 2004... Expectations of stewardship provided by today's public works departments have grown beyond the built environment to include protecting and enhancing the natural environment. These needs require both increased funding and a greater commitment to...

Partnerships vital to project's success: the story of how project managers on Boston's Big Dig worked with city officials offers a treasure trove of lessons for others working on major public works projects in an urban environment.(Infrastructure Maintenance)
September 1, 2004... The Boston metropolitan area is home to more than 5.6 million people, at least 600,000 of whom commute into downtown each day. Thousands of businesses generate billions of dollars worth of goods and services annually. The city welcomes roughly...

Adjusting to automation: buffalo has brought its treatment plant to the next level with its supervisory control and data acquisition system.(Wastewater Treatment)
September 1, 2004... Almost all U.S. municipal utilities use some type of computer and automation system for monitoring and controlling their processes and equipment. About one-half of these systems were installed 10 to 15 years ago and are reaching the end of...

Arsenic removal system meets new regs: Phoenix taps iron adsorption media for low-maintenance treatment with little waste and no chemicals.(Water Treatment)
September 1, 2004... Like many communities in the desert southwest, the city of Phoenix's water supply includes wells with arsenic concentrations that exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb). When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revised the arsenic rule from 50...

The great Phoenix bypass: a massive bypass pumping system uses a "pipe bridge" to carry sewer flows of up to 120 mgd over a railroad spur.(Pipelines)
September 1, 2004... It doesn't exactly qualify as one of the seven great engineering wonders of the world. And its record-breaking size will probably never be officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. But anyone who has ever constructed a bypass...

Using technology to preserve history: modernizing an aging wastewater system can require innovation from those trying to preserve the historic buildings that were built over it.(Wastewater Treatment)
September 1, 2004... Local public works officials in Cohoes, N.Y., needed a way to prevent combined sewer overflows (CSO) in their historic downtown. They found the answer with technology typically used for cleaning stormwater runoff--a continuous deflective...

Battling mother nature smartly: Cuyahoga Falls has started a rigorous program of testing, homeowner education, and flood prevention.(Stormwater Collection & Treatment)
September 1, 2004... Major storm events--many classified as "100-year storms"--swept across the nation last year, causing millions of dollars in damage. One city in particular was affected in a way its residents will never forget. Cuyahoga Falls was one of the most...

Using program management for design-build: program managers can help take the mystery out of design-build, a delivery method that is new to many public sector owners.(Administration & Management)
September 1, 2004... Use of the design-build delivery method is growing in the public sector. With this trend, many public agencies are seeking program management services as a way to add expertise and maintain the control perceived to be relinquished to the...

Rewriting rules for the road: technology is changing the way transportation agencies address their planning, management, and maintenance needs.(Traffic Control)
September 1, 2004... A seemingly endless line of brake lights at the same place and time every day is a sure sign that a roadway network is suffering from operational problems. So, too, are gradual slower travel times, repeated accidents at certain locations, and...

Big success in a small city: with a population that triples during the day, the maintenance department in Emeryville, Calif., found a management system to allow the small city to meet big-city demands.(Administration & Management)
September 1, 2004... The population changes of Emeryville, Calif., are like night and day. When the sun rises, the number of people in Emeryville more than triples. This 1 1/2 square mile city, located across the bay from San Francisco, has a nighttime population...

Protecting a fundamental capital asset: survey monuments are crucial for referencing the proper location of other capital assets.(Surveying)
September 1, 2004... Most of those charged with maintaining the capital assets for our cities and counties work in their respective public works or utility departments. Their maintenance efforts are focused on the transportation and utility facilities contained...

Satellite imagery: a path to stormwater revenues; A Denver study shows how satellite imagery and GIS combine to optimize stormwater billing.(Stormwater Collection & Treatment)
September 1, 2004... Stormwater runoff is the most common cause of water pollution, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Since March 2003, the Clean Water Act's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program has required all...

Certification programs can improve your fleet.(PW Update: Management)
September 1, 2004... It's no secret that fleet managers are being forced to do more with fewer resources these days. "More and more managers are trying to make their fleets last longer, and yet they're being asked to do the maintenance function for less money,"...

America's largest landfill gets larger compactors.(Products Solving Problems)
September 1, 2004... Many complain that there's too much "garbage" coming out of Hollywood these days. But that's nothing compared to the amount of real garbage going into California's Los Angeles County. Fortunately, the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County...

Quick stormwater system installation saves Lubbock.(Products Solving Problems)
September 1, 2004... In the past, when the National Weather Service issued warnings and the storm clouds moved in over Lubbock, Texas, residents living near the playa lakes shuddered. Severe storms caused flash flooding and lake elevations would rise--floodwaters...

Real-time inspection of an underground tunnel.(Products Solving Problems)
September 1, 2004... In 1985, three employees of the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) inspected the 2 1/2-mile long Highbury Interceptor tunnel by walking through it. During this inspection of the Vancouver, British Columbia, sewer and drainage tunnel,...

Making MTBE history.(Products Solving Problems)
September 1, 2004... A "60 Minutes" report on Jan. 16, 2000, thrust the issue of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) into the national limelight. Although the 2003 deadline for removal of MTBE from gasoline has passed, the problem has not gone away. Let's look back...

New service pack.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... AutoGraphics Enterprise Edition software has been upgraded with the release of a new service pack offering several powerful functions. The software includes a new method for clustering data indices to speed reports. The viewing of vehicles and...

Portable display board.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The patent-pending instALERT Rapid Messenger is a lightweight, portable display board for fast, simple, and clear communication. The board weighs only 40 pounds and unfolds to a size of 2.3X5 feet. Use up to 3 screens of as many as 3 text...

Polyethylene barriers.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... Designed to separate traffic and pedestrians, Rhino Safety Barriers are used in a number of safety and security situations, including road construction sites, road closure works, building or worksite pedestrian control, and special events. The...

Chain-feed mixer.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The Zim-Mixer 400N mobile concrete mixer proportions the materials by a patented chain-feed system and adjustable gate. The exactly metered materials are mixed in a nyhard blade screw auger while being discharged. The mixer is available with a...

Utility saw.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The RedZaw RZ60 Utility Gas Saw is a practical and economical alternative to other handheld masonry cutting tools and will also cut concrete and stone. Weighing only about 17 pounds, it is capable of plunge cutting to 9 inches and cut a square...

Handheld magnetic locator.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The Schonstedt GA-92XT Magnetic Locator is a handheld tool that is extendable for greater sensitivity, and retracts for easy carrying. Accurate, reliable, and portable, the product quickly and easily detects the magnetic fields of ferromagnetic...

Lightweight culvert tool.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The patent-pending Culvert Band Installation Tool was designed to save time and increase safety during installation of corrugated culverts. Made of steel, the tool weighs 22 pounds and installs both 3- and 2-hole flanged culvert bands. In most...

Gravity separator.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The PetroGuard System is a physical gravity separator that uses dynamic flow controls and an offline storage system to catch and retain hydrocarbons that leak from aboveground storage tanks. The system assists facilities with aboveground...

Membrane interlayer.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... FiberMat is a stress-absorbing membrane interlayer that uses a combination of special polymer modified asphalt emulsion, chopped fiberglass strands, and aggregate to act as a resilient waterproof membrane that inhibits reflective cracking....

Erosion control software.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... Erosion Control Materials Design Software Version 4.3 aids users with their erosion control and reinforcement applications. The new version can be accessed online through a standard browser or a CD-ROM. The software comes with the Ultimate...

Money-saving dispenser.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The Mobile Concrete Dispenser can save city, county, and state agencies time and money while improving quality. Municipalities no longer have to wait for concrete to show up. They can do multiple pours with fresh concrete, with no waste. Many...

Column lifts.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The MP series of mobile column lifts come with capacity rating of 12,000 to 40,000 pounds per column. Easily positioned by one person, the lifts can turn any flat area into a productive work bay. The control system assures steady and smooth...

Strength and elongation.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... Flex-Seal utility sealant is a multicomponent aromatic urethane with an 800% elongation and a tensile strength of 3200 psi. It is designed to prevent inflow and infiltration, providing corrosion protection at the grade adjustment ring section...

Data retrieval system.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The new Canceiver Data System combines fleet fueling and vehicle diagnostic data retrieval into one operation. The unit scans the vehicle's on-board diagnostic system (OBD) and uploads selected data each time the vehicle is fueled. Mileage...

Cookie cutter.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The Asphalt Cookie Cutter is a heavy-duty machine that cuts a perfect circular hole around utility castings, and eliminates the use of jackhammers and compressors. The round cut doesn't destroy the surrounding road and compaction, and reduces...

Versatile, multi-use pipe.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... These pipes are ideal for open cut, sliplining, jacking, microtunneling, and above-ground installation. The centrifugally cast, fiberglass-reinforced, polymer mortar pipe is inherently corrosion-resistant. Leak-free, push-together joints reduce...

Tarp motor controllers.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... Smart Switch relay kits are available in seven models that can operate any brand of tarp motor. Choose from outside the cab, inside the cab, and wireless remote control models for 12- and 24-V applications. The kits improve tarp system...

Sediment filleting device.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The BioD-Watl coir wattle is made from coir fiber uniformly packed into a strong, durable, biodegradable twine netting (2X2 inch opening). It is available in 3-, 5-, 9-, 12-, and 20-inch diameters; 10-, 15-, and 20-foot lengths; and has a...

Street sweeper.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The Crosswind Fury, part of a diverse line of sweepers, offers an economical alternative for smaller municipalities that still want the power and productivity of an air sweeper. This addition to the company's Crosswind line of air sweepers can...

Powerful crane.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The 5540F 15-ton class Carrydeck crane has a powerful 15-ton-rated lift capacity. Its standard three-section, fully hydraulic main boom offers 41 feet of boom length, while the optional manual fourth section boom delivers an outstanding boom...

Asset management software.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... collectiveFleet Pro is a comprehensive software system for asset maintenance managers that incorporates the Integrated Process Association design architecture concept along with several new features, including warranty management, recall...

Upgraded design manual.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... Engineers responsible for the design and specification of precast concrete pipe for sanitary sewer, storm drain, and culvert applications will find the Concrete Pipe Design Manual an indispensable aid in selecting the type, size, and strength...

The Polycon systems solution.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... Polycon's E-Krete product provides a non-toxic, environmentally friendly, long-lasting alternative to asphaltic emulsions and coal tar sealers. This polymer modified cementitious micro-overlay is impervious to UV, water, chemicals, fuels, and...

Crosswalk sign.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The new Pedestrian Crosswalk sign, by Impact Recovery Systems, meets the current MUTCD requirement and comes in white with flourescent green-yellow. The 48-inch sign attaches to either the 35-pound temporary base or to a permanent mount, bolted...

Soil stabilizer.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... Soiltac, a polymer-based emulsion used to stabilize all soils from dust and erosion, is specifically engineered for large commercial projects down to smaller residential applications. It can be as simple to apply as watering the ground and is...

Safety eyewear.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... Developed as a new line of eyewear products under the K-Gear line, the Dakota features a polycarbonate lens with a wrap-around design to fit close to the face. It offers full brow protection and unobstructed field of vision, while meeting ANSI...

Sewer-cleaning jetter.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The N-truder launcher combines with a sewer jetter and transmitting equipment to clean laterals without having to enter the property. The launcher transports and positions a 1/2-inch hose and nozzle to the sewer jetter's cleaning hose. With...

Fleet management software.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The Faster Fleet Management System improves the service and operating efficiency of both large and small fleets. The system gives fleet managers real-time management information on fuel, assets, systems, parts, and work orders. Comprehensive...

Multi-purpose work machine.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... The Toolcat 5600 utility work machine is now available with new factory options to improve productivity. A turbo-charged, diesel engine and high-flow auxiliary hydraulics allow attachments such as wood chippers, stump grinders, and snow blowers...

Integrated management software.(APWA Product Preview)
September 1, 2004... CMS Version 7.0 has been upgraded to integrate work management, asset management, and activity-based fund accounting into one software application. Public works, road, and utility departments can handle work requests, scheduling, and reporting...