Public Works articles from September 2005

Public Works archives from September 2005

Join us.(Editorial)
September 1, 2005... As the oldest in a family of four kids, I had to become self-sufficient pretty early. By the time I was in first grade there were babies everywhere, so when I wanted something, the most likely way to get it was on my own. As a result, I was...

Test predicts WWTP upsets.(News & Views)
September 1, 2005... The chemical oxygen demand (COD) test by Bioscience Inc., Bethlehem, Pa., can predict possible plant upsets before they occur. A more rapid and mercury-free test now is available that measures contaminants that can be readily oxidized. High COD...

Book offers practical information.(News & Views)
September 1, 2005... Practical Steel Tub Girder Design is a free book from the National Steel Bridge Alliance that addresses the design of steel tub girder bridges. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It addresses the entire design process, including layout, design,...

Bush signs transportation act.(RULES & REGULATIONS)
September 1, 2005... The "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users" (SAFETEA-LU) was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush on Aug. 10. SAFETEA-LU will provide $286.5 billion in guaranteed funding for...

Plant provides 'green' energy.(COMMUNITY)
September 1, 2005... DeKalb County, Ga., is developing a new landfill gas generation plant and has approved a 10-year contract to sell energy from the landfill to Georgia Power. The utility will offer the energy to its customers as part of its voluntary Green...

Work truck show announced.(News & Views)
September 1, 2005... The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) is hosting the Work Truck Show 2006 and the Work Truck Show 2007 in conjunction with the NTEA Annual Convention. The 2006 show will be held March 1-3 in Atlanta. The 2007 show will be held March...

APWA call for presentations.(News & Views)
September 1, 2005... The American Public Works Association is looking for professionals to speak at its 2006 International Public Works Congress & Exposition in New Orleans Sept. 10-13, 2006. The organization is looking for speakers on best practices and innovative...

Baltimore/Washington announce Clean Water Act.(COMMUNITY)
September 1, 2005... Two major Clean Water Act settlements recently announced by Baltimore County and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission are anticipated to lead to more than $1 billion in sewer system improvements. Baltimore County has committed to...

Water infrastructure bill calls for $38 billion.(RULES & REGULATIONS)
September 1, 2005... A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a water infrastructure bill seeking $38 billion over five years in provisional funding for the nation's cities and municipalities. The bill aims to address the aging water infrastructure and provide...

Home Depot acquires Waterworks.(News & Views)
September 1, 2005... Retail giant Home Depot Inc. has purchased water system supplier National Waterworks Holdings Inc. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the report did note that National Waterworks, which had $1.5 billion in 2004 sales, will operate as a...

Great Lakes overhaul planned.(News & Views)
September 1, 2005... A wide-ranging group of federal, state, tribal, and local officials, convened by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, released a draft plan to clean and improve the Great Lakes with an estimated cost ranging from $18 billion to $20...

Composting conference.(News & Views)
September 1, 2005... The 14th annual U.S. Composting Council conference and tradeshow will be held Jan. 22-25, 2006, at the Park Plaza Hotel in New Orleans. It is a national forum for those involved in the development and expansion of the composting and organics...

Engineering students win design competition.(PEOPLE)
September 1, 2005... A team of engineering students from Iowa State University won the 2004-2005 Metcalf & Eddy (M & E) Academic Design Competition. The students presented the winning solution to M & E's environmental design challenge, which was to develop a...

Roundabout success yields plans for more.(COMMUNITY)
September 1, 2005... Based on the success of the Muirfield Drive/Brand Road roundabout in Dublin, Ohio, plans are underway to build three more of the innovative intersections. Since the opening of the roundabout nearly a year ago, only two traffic accidents have...

California agency to receive federal water funding.(COMMUNITY)
September 1, 2005... The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that will authorize $15 million in federal funding for water reclamation and distribution by California's Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA). The Water Resources Development Act...

Letters to the editor.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2005... Weird as it sounds from a parks and recreation director, I liked the story on automated trash collection (June 2005, page 42). I recently completed a study for a city in Wisconsin as a class project for the master's in public works...

Front-seat traffic engineers.(Ideas & Opinions)
September 1, 2005... 'What? Does some kid have to get killed?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Isn't that always the last question thrown at you after you explain why a stop sign is not warranted or speed humps can't be installed? As a traffic engineer who deals...

Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to waste.(Ideas & Opinions)
September 1, 2005... A Chinese proverb advises, "When you drink the water, remember the spring." With an exploding global population placing ever-greater demands on a precious, finite resource, that maxim takes on a new urgency. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Building legacies: insights from APWA's top ten leaders.(Special report)(Cover Story)
September 1, 2005... It takes determination, originality, and professionalism to be a true leader. It also takes patience and humility. The American Public Works Association (APWA) acknowledges these qualities with its annual Top Ten Public Works Leaders program....

Reaching to the Pacific: water desalination in the limelight in southern California.(Water treatment)
September 1, 2005... Seawater desalination is riding a rising tide of interest as many municipalities and utilities in drought-stricken southern California are turning to the ocean as a source of more reliable and drought-proof water. Less than a dozen small...

The sound of traffic: quiet pavements reduce noise levels.(Roadway design, construction & maintenance)
September 1, 2005... Highway design was never easy. Increasing scrutiny and critical public opinion only have added to the challenges facing transportation engineers. With each project, there always seems to be someone upset with the proposed location, the number...

A ship-shape shop: in-sourcing, technician training, and equipment replacement programs.(Fleet management)
September 1, 2005... In these days of rising costs for everything from fuel to new vehicles, fleet managers are looking high and low for new ways to meet their budgets. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "You're asked to do more with less or the same budget," said...

Map the progress of public works with GIS.
September 1, 2005... ESRI[R] geographic information system (GIS) technology provides the tools that infrastructure managers, surveyors, and engineers need to map, analyze, inventory, and plan the progress of public works projects. GIS assists public works...

Recycling rates reached: Metro project removes C & D waste at low costs.(Solid waste collection & disposal)
September 1, 2005... Nashville, Tenn., mayor Bill Purcell is optimistic about recycling. "Our goal is to establish a waste management system that is clean, green, and lean," he said when presenting his waste management plan in December 2000. Since then, the...

How we bring your job together sets us apart: whether building new or maintaining existing, Simpson has the innovative anchor products you need.
September 1, 2005... From the highway to the runway--from water treatment to warehouse and everywhere in between--Simpson Anchor Systems has the right anchor for the job. We offer a full range of innovative anchor products including mechanical anchors, structural...

Tips for selecting a refuse vehicle: items to consider when choosing a truck.(Solid waste collection & disposal)
September 1, 2005... Because every community is different, the process for specifying refuse collection vehicles should start with an evaluation of your municipality's needs. Information to consider includes street layouts, population density, services provided,...

Keeping the 'Red' out: working together to protect sister cities from floods.(Stormwater control)
September 1, 2005... Most rivers in the continental United States flow south to warmer waters. An exception to that rule is the north-flowing Red River of the North. The Red River empties into Canada's Lake Winnipeg and, eventually, into Hudson Bay. In spring 1997,...

From concept to reality: Indianapolis projects use public-private partnerships to reach goal.(Privatization)
September 1, 2005... Many cities are struggling to find new ways to meet the challenges posed by an enormous infrastructure funding gap. Indianapolis is using the flexibility of a public-private partnership to implement new practices to reduce capital improvement...

The people's park: St. Louis restores its crown jewel, Forest Park.(Parks & recreation facilities)
September 1, 2005... When St. Louis mayor Chauncy F. Schultz dedicated Forest Park on June 24, 1876, he promised his citizens it would exist for the "enjoyment of your-selves, your children, and your children's children, forever... all without stint or hindrance...

Air quality detected at the speed of light.(Products Solving Problems)
September 1, 2005... Mike Casanova of the Lee County Facilities Management Group in Ft. Myers, Fla., responds to about 60 air quality complaints each year. Each usually requires a one-week inspection to pinpoint the problem; some then call for complex...

Patching potholes post-haste.(Products Solving Problems)
September 1, 2005... The RA-300 from Rosco Manufacturing, a division of Denver-based Leeboy Co., patches more than just potholes; it also helps patch thin highway department budgets. Anything that can stretch those dollars is of interest to county engineers. ...

Temporary perimeter systems.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... Smart Barrier is a temporary perimeter system designed to provide first responders and emergency managers with a quick method to secure a dangerous area. It consists of SB1000 security devices; 4-foot-high stackable plastic cylinders with tops...

Dump body configurations.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... Front-center and rear discharge configurations (both featuring a reversible conveyor) have been added to the Munibody line of dump/spreader bodies. The front-side discharge version is available with a cross-auger or a cross-conveyor to deliver...

Manhole lift.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Magnetic Manhole Lift System eliminates the use of pry bars and reduces injuries caused by the handling of the covers. A locking mechanism is created with a series of magnets, which enable the unit to clamp onto the manhole cover without...

High-performance loader.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The A300 loader offers all-wheel steer and skidsteer drive, has a vertical lift path, and has a 3000-pound rated operation capacity. The product comes standard with two-speed transmission; top speed is 12.4 mph in high range, 7 mph in low...

Diverse metal pipe.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Ultra Flo pipe has exterior box corrugations that allow hydraulic flow equivalent to concrete pipes. In addition, it provides structural properties needed to manage HS 20 and HS 25 vehicular loadings. The product is available in diameters...

Lasting storm drain markers.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... These 3-D embossed, 4-inch discs remain legible for 30 years, with a material choice of stainless steel, aluminum, brass, or anodized aluminum. The product can be installed with or without adhesives in any weather condition. The markers can be...

Hydraulic broom drive sweeper.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The MS/MT350 sweeper is mounted on a commercially available truck chassis with dual steering controls and operating positions. The product features a 60-gallon fuel system, single or twin engine, 4.4-cubic-yard hopper capacity, direct hydraulic...

Versatile materials shredder.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The B-2060 line of twin shaft, low-speed, high-torque shredding machines is diesel or electric powered. The low-speed rotating twin shafts and high torque almost eliminate vibration and dust. The product can process mixed construction and...

Automated entry systems.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... These entry systems that automate and streamline the waste receiving process are suitable for applications like land-fills, transfer stations, recycling facilities, and wastewater plants. The entry stations can measure the amount of waste...

Radar system.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... UtilityScan is a self-contained, ground-penetrating radar system used to locate metallic and nonmetallic subsurface utilities. A digital control unit is at its core. The product is compatible with the G-30L compact GPS receiver/data logger,...

Durable surface protection.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Mastertop Anvil-Top cement-based, metallic-aggregate floor topping provides extra protection in areas subject to abrasion and impacts. The iron provides up to 800% more impact and abrasion resistance than regular concrete. The product's...

Corrosion-resistant pipe.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The company's new pipe is 18 to 110 inches in diameter and is designed for pressure and gravity applications. It is centrifugally cast, fiberglass-reinforced, corrosion resistant, and has a life expectancy of 100 years or more. The product has...

High-speed radar system.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Radar Explorer--developed to determine the integrity of underground utilities--features user-friendly features in real time data elaboration and interpretation. TESMEC software allows a simplified representation of the detected underground...

Easy sidewalk removal.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Lightning Loader grapple truck takes 30 minutes to remove more than 70 feet of sidewalk. To remove sidewalk, it cuts along every second or third expansion joint, then removes the sections with the grapple. The product comes with greaseless...

Versatile lamp post.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The 150 Series lamp post is a straight, smooth, 5-inch model. It is available in mounting heights from 6 to 16 inches and can be used with single or double luminaries. The product can be used for residential and municipal. Whatley, a Valmont...

Efficient tire changing.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Tire Tamer uses physics and leverage, rather than force, to remove and replace tires from the axle, transport the tire assembly, and enable the user to stand tires up from the ground without lifting them. This increased control helps avoid...

Compact sweeper.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The 636HS is a compact sweeper with a higher performance level due to an oversized pure vacuum fan. It has a 1.34-cubic-yard hopper with 42% more payload, 4-wheel drive with a 25 mph top speed, and 21-foot turn circle. The brushes are joystick...

Stormwater catch and filter.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... EnviroSafe is designed to capture and retain the pollutants associated with stormwater runoff. The product can be retrofitted to any flat-grated and combination curb-grated catch basin. The debris basin is more than 8 cubic feet and 30X48...

Heavy-duty salt spreader.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... This salt spreader features a corrosion-resistant, long-life poly hopper. It is available with an 11-hp engine, or a hydraulic drive with two independent hydraulic motors. Units come standard with top screen, heavy-duty tie downs, center...

Heavy-duty snowblower.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The RPM-227 is a two-stage, twin-auger, self-contained, heavy-duty snowblower. It has a 350-hp diesel Tier 2 electronic engine. It weighs 9850 pounds and has a detachable, modular front and rear section, and an enclosed maintenance cabinet. The...

Fiber-reinforced pipe.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... This composite pipe can be used to rehabilitate pipes in the 24- to 60-inch diameter range. The fiber reinforcement reduces the required wall thickness by 30% to 50% from a standard cast in place pipe (CIPP) design. The reduced thickness...

Multi-functional mower.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The DewEze ATM-72LC is a 72-inch mower that has hydrostatic propulsion and power steering. It combines a 30-hp liquid-cooled diesel engine, hydraulic deck lift system, and a seat with a low-maintenance hydraulic system. The hydraulic system...

Salt storage building.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Hi-Arch Gambrel building is a complete, permanent, economical structure designed for salt and sand storage. Interior clearance of 30 feet or more allows inside dumping and operation, which prevents double handling and runoff, reduces...

Portable barricade system.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The X-Pand-Er can range from 30X28 inches to 4X6 feet. It weighs 15 pounds. A hinge pin design allows the panels to lock into place or swivel freely. The product is made from high-impact, weather-resistant, vinyl resins. Astro Optics Corp. APWA...

Stormwater trench drains.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... These drains are modular polymer concrete trench drain systems. They are frequently used to aid stormwater management by capturing water runoff and transporting it to nearby catch basins. A continuous barrier can be created to ensure maximum...

Cure-in-place pipe.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... National Liner consists of a non-woven, needled polyester felt liner saturated with a thermosetting resin system designed for the environmental conditions of a rehabilitation project. Pipes ranging from 6 to 84 inches have been rehabilitated...

Remote machine controls.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Freedom MDC control series enables a machine operator to control spreaders, plows/hoists, and other units remotely. Its functions combine the proportional spreader including the auger and spinner. The system consists of a spreader module, a...

Continuous external sealant.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... Infi-shield External Seal is a sealant of a high-quality EPDM (ethylene propylene dimonomer) rubber with a minimum thickness of 65 mils. It is bonded using a non-hardening butyl mastic with adhesion properties. The product is one continuous...

Speed alert messages.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The speedALERT option is now available on the instALERT rapid messenger. The product displays speed radar and speed alerts. For each selected speed range, the speed management module allows a one-, two-, or three-screen message. Speed-obeying...

Pavement distress surveyor.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... ADVantage (automated distress vehicle) is an automated digital pavement distress surveying system. A specialized van takes images of pavements, which are viewed in real time. The camera gets up to 12 frames of digital images of roadway per...

Utility trash pump.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The 2T 2-inch utility trash pump is made of heavy-duty cast aluminum with a cast-iron volute. The pump provides an easily removable clean-out cover that opens without tools and does not disturb hoses. The product pumps up to 230 gallons per...

Easy-mount warning signal.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The SLWIC3 is a warning light that uses surface-mounted, high-intensity LEDs in a thin, waterproof enclosure, and it can be mounted to any surface or retrofitted to existing applications. It contains 56 wide-angle, high intensity OSRAM Power...

Concrete embedment liner.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The StudLiner is a high-density polyethylene concrete embedment liner that provides protection from mechanical damage and chemical and environmental threats. It has minimal lateral movement of the liner system due to thermal expansion and...

Software manages CIP.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... CIPAce Software 4.0 provides a single software application to manage an entire capital improvement program (CIP) on a real-time basis across an entire organization. It enables the organization to manage the CIP with an integrated and systematic...

Road weather information.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... RWIS (road weather information systems) are integrated with the FreezeFree anti-icing system and offer road temperature monitoring. The product contains an active sensor in the pavement that collects a sample of a chemical or liquid that is on...

Portable pipe inspection.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The P330 flexiprobe pipe inspection system is applicable for pipes from 1 1/4 to 8 inches in diameter and up to 500 feet in length. All the components of the product are interchangeable and upward/downward compatible. The command center is...

Asset maintenance software.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... CFAWin v.7 asset maintenance and inventory control software offers optimal equipment replacement scheduling. Features include the quick analysis of costs per equipment, department, class, location, and model; transfer of equipment and inventory...

Efficient vacuum system.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Ring-O-Matic 550 offers vacuum and excavation capabilities. The product is powered by a 50 hp electric start diesel engine and has 24 centimeters cubed of suction created by a lobe-type blower. A high-pressure triplex plunger pump delivers...

Web-based asset management.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... Asset Management is a Web-based enterprise application for tracking and managing assets and resources, providing an automated solution for costing, inventory, maintenance, and inspections. The product can manage an agency's entire...

Floor removal machine.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Hydraulic Panther will remove glued down floors from gummy carpet to solid vinyl to sheet rubber and roofing material. The random orbital action will clean residue from floors that other machines leave behind. The speed ranges from 10 to 45...

Solutions suite addition.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... Version 6.71 of this infrastructure management software suite includes more than 90 new or enhanced features. It focuses on increased sophistication of the software's GIS capabilities, maintenance management applications, and water resource...

Clearing made easier.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Boom-Grapple attachment offers a high degree of versatility. It can be used for cleaning ditches, lakes, and pond banks. The booms run 8 to 10 feet in length and are made out of 2 1/2-, 3-, or 4-inch reinforced tubing. The lift capacity is...

Pavement coring.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Utilicoring process combines a robust, purpose built, field-proven rotary coring truck or skidsteer-mounted coring unit with a proprietary bonding compound. Once the pavement is cored, the hole is backfilled to the base, and the original...

Electric powered spreader.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The LPV (Low Profile V-Box) spreader is designed for 1/2- to 1-ton pickup trucks and its height is 25% lower than typical pickup spreaders. The product can hold up to 1.39 cubic yards of material. The top edges are double crimped and it has...

Tool carrier.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The WA250PT-5 tool carrier has a parallel lift boom that allows the operator to carry loads susceptible to dumping or spilling. The product features a quick coupler for easy changing of attachments. The operator cab is 5% larger than previous...

Full-size pickup dump body.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The TC-200 COMBO kit converts a pickup to an all aluminum service/dumper. Its dump body provides 54 cubic feet of tool storage; holds 2.4 cubic yards of mulch, grass clippings, and firewood; and dumps 5000 pounds. The product weights 425...

Valve exercising program.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Spin Doctor Valve and Vac system exercises all valves and fire hydrants. The vacuum cleans the valve box while the Valve Star feature controls all critical operating functions. Valve Star locates the valve and data logs. The wide range of...

Durable, customizable bag.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... Eco-Bag is made from synthetic material and can endure years of weather, sunlight, and repeated movement. It is appropriate for sand, gravel, dirt, or water. A 1- or 1 1/2-inch valve allows for fast and easy filling and sealing. The product is...

Heated hose melter/applicator.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The 230DHDC Generation II Magma offers the dual capabilities of crack cleaning and sealing with a 100-psi compressor. The heatlance is directly incorporated into the product. The air and propane tank are routed to 50-foot hoses on a retracting...

Flat grate protection.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Dandy Bag is designed for use with flat grates (including round) and mountable curbs to filter sediment-laden stormwater. The suspended solids are allowed to settle out of the slowed flow and are captured by the product before entering the...

Visible traffic signs.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... Diamond Grade DG3 reflective sheeting is a thin reflective sheeting adhered to the surface of traffic signs. Through the principle of retroreflection, a light beam hitting the material is reflected directly back to its source. Since drivers sit...

De-icing spreader.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Hi-Way Super-P de-icing spreader is ideal for winter maintenance of parking lots, schools, alleys, parks, and intersections. Features include 10-gauge feed gates, bottom panels, and sills that are resistant to bowing from heavy loads and...

Salt and chloride neutralizer.(Featuring: APWA exhibitor products)
September 1, 2005... The Neutro-Wash salt and chloride neutralizer breaks apart rust-causing white salt film. It also prevents fading and chalking of a vehicle's paint and finish, keeps pumps and spray bars working, and reduces corrosion of electrical wires and...