WSB was recently selected as a 2019 Small Cities/Rural Communities Projects of the Year recipient for the Downtown Afton Revitalization by the American Public Works Association’s (APWA). The revitalization project was featured in the Historical Restoration/Preservation award category. The award recognizes excellence in project management, administration, and coordination of public works projects. Winners are selected based on six project categories.
The APWA is a nonprofit organization that provides support to public works personnel through educational and networking opportunities. The Public Works Project of the Year winners will be recognized at the 2019 APWA Public Works Expo in September.
The term “brownfield” describes property that has the presence or potential presence of hazardous materials, pollution, or contamination. Generally, brownfields consist of current or former industrial, manufacturing, or recycling sites that are vacant and underutilized by the community. However, they can also include current/former gas stations or drycleaner sites located in residential neighborhoods. Brownfield sites are often an eyesore and contain dilapidated buildings, poorly kept grounds, and miscellaneous trash. Cities usually obtain ownership of brownfield sites through tax forfeiture which causes concern due to unknown environmental risks and pressure to redevelop. Rather than viewing a brownfield site as a liability, experienced cities and developers see them as an opportunity.
In recent years, brownfield redevelopment has become more common due to infill redevelopment and the shortage of developable land in urban areas. Through up-front work and investments, communities can take steps to ensure their brownfields are attractive to developers and ready for redevelopment. Additionally, there are numerous investigation and cleanup funding sources available along with additional avenues to obtain liability assurances, which help curb redevelopment costs and reduce contamination liability.
Do your due diligence
Performing environmental due diligence on a brownfield site uncovers potential environmental risks and contamination liabilities. Investing in the upfront due diligence is an important step in any successful redevelopment project. Typically, this is achieved by completing a Phase I Environmental Assessment (ESA), subsequent Phase II ESA (if warranted), and an Asbestos and Regulated Materials Survey on buildings (if present). The potential environmental risks are always scarier than actual risks. Once the environmental risk area is understood, the site is one step closer to redevelopment.
How do I fund this?
Investigation and cleanup funding are critical components of brownfield projects. If you don’t have the money, where do you start? There are many local, state, and federal funding sources available for brownfield projects in Minnesota. This is great, but can also be overwhelming. It’s important to understand the funding source application requirements, schedule, and scoring criteria. Funding is typically awarded in cycles (often biannually), resulting in vigorous competition among projects. The projects that best meet the funding source’s criteria will be awarded funding.
Upcoming funding opportunities
In Minnesota, two major investigation/cleanup funding sources include:
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Contamination Cleanup and Redevelopment Grants – Applications Due May 1 and November 1 each year.
These grants are available to both public and private redevelopment sites and can be used for environmental investigation and/or cleanup. Applications are eligible if known or suspected soil or groundwater contamination is present. Key scoring criterion include; creating and retaining jobs and affordable housing.
Metropolitan Council Tax Base Revitalization Account (TBRA) – Applications Due November 1 each year.
TBRA provides $5 million annually to investigate and clean up brownfields for public and private redevelopment sites. The funding is limited to sites located within the 7-county Twin Cities metro region and key scoring criteria include; increasing tax base, preserving livable wage jobs, and producing affordable housing.
Brownfields – a path to prosperity
A successful brownfield redevelopment can have a substantial impact on a community. It spurs economic momentum while showing commitment to continuous city improvements. Surly Brewing in Minneapolis was once a blighted underutilized property and is now a booming social attraction with rapid development occurring around it. Similarly, Kaposia Landing in South St. Paul – a popular waterfront park and recreation area – was once a landfill with little to no community value.
The next time you drive by a vacant underutilized property, think of what could be. Chances are, you are not the only one who has a vision of the site being repurposed, revitalized, and an asset to the community.
Ryan Spencer is a Sr. Environmental Scientist on WSB’s Environmental team. His expertise extends to Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessments, construction soil screening and documentation, contamination disposal and other hazardous material mitigation. He consults closely with both public organizations and private developers on their environmental needs.
In a technology-driven society, we are challenged to adapt and prepare for the changing technologies of tomorrow. As a Visualization Studio Manager, helping clients see the big picture and visualize completed projects drives curiosity and reveals the potential impacts of our work. Creating visualizations plays a crucial role in helping communities and clients evolve. In the past few years, visualization capabilities have changed rapidly, allowing renderings to be completed in minutes. To stay on top of this cutting-edge technology, we must understand the software and carve out new markets from existing industries.
New developments in ray tracing
Up until last month, real-time and ray tracing couldn’t be used in the same sentence without a bank of 10 GPUs and 2500 watts of power. Ray tracing makes renderings dynamic and realistic and thanks to powerful GPUs, shortens the amount of time spent on each frame. This recent advance in technology allows clients and the public to see reflections, higher quality shadows and experience the creation for themselves. Today, we’re utilizing these technologies to create stunning visualizations for our clients. Once the projects have been modeled, iterations are produced in minutes, instead of days or weeks.
For some, classic visualization techniques and development are still the only way to produce the highest quality imagery when secondary shadows, complex caustics, and very high resolutions are required. In real-time, there is an abundance of data creating the visualizations of skyscrapers or roadways. In some cases, classic visualization allows an audience to see specific renderings that assist beyond the scope of just engineering. Ray tracing, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) allow us to visualize how things work from transportation and infrastructure to medical devices and demonstrative evidence.
Applying AR and VR
Immersive technologies, both AR and VR, allow clients to become part of their projects months or years in advance. Specifics such as material schedules, lighting, and species-specific landscaping create a three-dimensional rendered experience for people to become immersed in before it becomes a reality. From using VR to drive through a road design or using AR to see a properly placed medical device from any angle, visualizations reveal findings in a way anyone can understand. These technologies provide an unparalleled tool to investigate or market the feasibility and accuracy of a product or service.
Creating a livable city space for residents to enjoy is no easy feat.
Civil engineers who dedicate their careers to supporting a specific city or municipality are known as municipal engineers. You may only know of one main city engineer in your community. However, there is likely a team of municipal engineers working behind the scenes to ensure all city operations are running smoothly.
Here are five things that municipal engineers do to support your community.
1. Design
One of the most noticeable
things that municipal engineers do is design the public infrastructure in a
community. Local streets are designed to get you around town. Public utilities
are designed to provide drinking water and indoor restrooms to homes and
businesses. Trails are designed for recreational enjoyment. Storm sewer systems
are designed to properly manage storm water runoff and prevent flooding. All the
above and more are designed by municipal engineers.
2. Review
Developers and
residents rely on municipal engineers to review developments within their city.
Large-scale developments, usually done by a developer for a residential,
commercial or industrial area, take thorough reviewing by municipal engineers
to ensure the development is compliant with city rules and regulations and adds
value to the community. Similarly, residents with plans to modify their land seek
approval from municipal engineers to ensure their design and modifications meet
community standards and avoid potential issues for neighbors or future
residents.
3. Plan
Municipal engineers are
always looking to the future. They develop Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) to
identify the most crucial needs of the city and plan for future projects. These
plans typically project 5-10 years into the future. Additionally, municipal
engineers work with city planners and regulatory agencies to establish
comprehensive plans for the community. Most comprehensive city plans typically
project 10-20 years into the future.
4. Budget
Managing a city’s
infrastructure budget is an essential part of being a municipal engineer. Cities
often operate on a limited budget so they must think carefully about where to
allocate their spending. Likewise, municipal engineers assist cities with applying
for state, regional, and federal funding.
5. Collaborate
Municipal engineers collaborate with invested stakeholders to improve their communities. Through public engagement and speaking with residents, city officials, regional and state agencies, they gather input and analyze the best course of action to create a viable city that works for everyone.
John Gerlach, Director of Pipeline Field Operations, WSB
Learn how inspections and monitoring can keep your utilities running smoothly and safely.
Whether filled with natural gas to fuel and heat homes and
businesses or transporting liquid fuels from one location to another, most
communities have miles of pipes embedded underground with other critical
infrastructure. There’s a misconception that these lines are primarily located
in remote areas. In reality, pipeline infrastructure can be found beneath our
roadways and sidewalks or near homes, businesses, landmarks, parks and other
natural resources. Pipeline infrastructure can range from large, high-pressure
steel lines that serve cities and powerplants, to small plastic lines, used to
transport gas from the street to your home or place or business. These complex
networks require expertise to ensure the safety of people and the environment,
as well as reliable access to the fuels we need to enjoy hot showers, drive to
work and keep the lights on.
With increasing federal regulatory standards, now is the
time to become more focused on pipeline integrity and safety. WSB offers
inspections that help utilities and cities understand the condition of their
infrastructure, reduce costly and inefficient repairs, improve safety and
maintain the long-term integrity of these important pipelines.
Why hire a third-party inspector?
Pipeline inspectors can add value and security to any
project near utility lines. Most commonly, inspectors are hired to oversee the
contractors working on infrastructure projects such as roadway improvements or
utility replacements. When these projects interfere with the natural gas
system, pipeline inspectors who can recognize and mitigate potential risks are
invaluable.
Third-party experts can also be utilized to verify the
results of other inspections, like performing audits that identify pipeline
locations before a project is started. A second opinion can identify costly
errors before the damage is done. In our experience, an audit of locate work
finds mistakes roughly 30% of the time.
A new regulatory environment
Investigations into high-profile pipeline releases over the
past decade have prompted new regulatory recommendations and standards. Pipeline
releases can have devasting consequences to people and the environment
including fatalities, injuries, forced evacuation and damage to properties and
natural resources. In many cases, regulators – like the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board –
require independent, third-party inspections of pipelines and pipeline
projects.
Technology advantage
New technologies have made evaluating pipeline integrity
more efficient. Rather than digging up pipelines under a densely populated area
to check for deterioration, a device can be sent through the line that shows anomalies
like corrosion and damage from past construction. Most pipes should be replaced
every 15 to 20 years. Since pipeline replacement projects are typically planned
in coordination with other infrastructure improvements, this type of check can
help communities identify which projects should be prioritized first.
WSB also offers real-time reporting on pipeline status
through an ArcGIS platform. This technology can detect an increase in pressure
or corrosion on the line and send notifications to technicians in the field.
At first glance, hiring an outside expert to ensure compliance and verify accuracy can appear costly. In the end, pipeline inspectors can make your project run smoothly, reduce issues in the field and reduce the risk of releases, accidents and other safety hazards. Reach out to WSB’s utility and pipeline experts today to learn more.
John Gerlach is a Director of Pipeline Field Operations with more than 30 years of experience. His expertise extends to pipeline design, construction inspection and safety and risk management.
Fall is here which means the Minnesota golf season is ending and winter is on its way. I am not a winter sport guy, so this season gives me a chance to evaluate our year and start planning for 2019 and the new services and markets that we are going to pursue. This has been a challenging year on many levels. Choosing to grow, expand, and improve does not happen easily and yet it’s necessary to the sustainability of any organization.
We continue to mourn the loss of Vern Hedquist, a valued staff member who was killed earlier this fall on a job site. We know that this loss is much more difficult for his wife, Cindy, and his family. Finding solutions to design and manage projects while facing the reality of construction zone dangers with the increasing number of inattentive drivers is never far from our minds. We have been buoyed by the kind support from you and all our friends in the industry. Thank you for showing how much you care. My coach Lou Holtz always said, “People want to know that you care.” That care came through in a very strong way. One of the things that we know all too well is that life doesn’t stop for anyone.
In October we celebrated our 23rd anniversary and have accomplished a lot this year thanks to our clients. It is so helpful to have clients that are willing to partner with us to find new ways to deliver solutions. We have a strong entrepreneurial culture which fuels our passion for innovation and curiosity. We have developed new software applications that are being used by real estate and alternative energy developers throughout the country. Our pipeline group now reaches across the country and continues to grow and develop. We hope it’s clear that we never shy away from trying something new and we don’t back down from a challenge. Please continue to challenge us.
We recently rebranded. We know that changing a logo or mark doesn’t inherently change a company. In our case, we were searching to align who we are as a company with our mark and messaging. We are a bold company with a vision to find ways to improve our industry. This is expressed with passion and energy and for the sake of our staff, we needed a change. Who we are has not changed, but how we express it has. We will continue to improve our processes, quality, and solutions as we move into 2019.
I want to share one final quote that I love, and typifies our staff at WSB. “It is not simply the brightest who have the best ideas; it is those who are the best at harvesting them from others. It is not only the most determined who drive change; it is those who most fully engage with like-minded people. And it is not wealth or prestige that best motivates people; It is respect and help from your peers.” – Alex “Sandy” Pentland, Director of MIT’s Human Dynamics Laboratory
Minneapolis, MINN. – WSB today announced a new brand, including an updated logo and website, on the heels of record expansion and growth for the company. Now the second-largest engineering firm in the Twin Cities, WSB was founded in 1995 with five staff, one office, and three different services areas. Today, the company offers services in more than 25 areas, employs more than 450 people, and has expanded its markets beyond Minnesota with 12 offices across four different states. In 2017 alone, WSB opened three new offices in Denver, CO; Dallas, TX; and Fargo, ND.
“This new brand is more reflective of who we are today,” said Bret Weiss, president and CEO of WSB. “Our values haven’t changed, but our scope, services and expertise have grown, allowing us to be the innovative, forward-thinking partner our clients have come to expect. Collaboratively, we are building bold solutions for the places, spaces and systems that support our lives.”
Learn more about the new look and feel at wsbeng.com.
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About WSB
WSB is a design and consulting firm providing engineering, planning, environmental, and construction services. Our staff of over 450 improve the way people engage with communities, transportation, infrastructure, energy and our environment. We offer services in over 25 complementary areas to seamlessly integrate planning, design and implementation. Our coast-to-coast client base is served from 12 offices in four states.
Our staff is inspired to look beyond today and capitalize on the opportunities of tomorrow. Guided by a strong vision and an authentic passion, we are a company that strives to forge ahead.
It’s a mouthful. And it happens every day in every wastewater system, but it happens without many of us knowing about it. The sources vary, the flows vary, and the solutions vary, but the motivation to mitigate I/I is the same. The addition of excessive clear water (I/I) into local and regional wastewater systems can have many effects including basement backups, wastewater overflows, the excessive use of remaining pipe capacity reserved for future growth, and added treatment costs.
Inflow and Infiltration – or I/I – are terms that describe clear water that enters wastewater collection systems through defects and consumes treatment and conveyance capacity. Typical sources of I/I are broken service laterals, connected sump pumps or downspouts, aged or defective sewer mains, and deteriorated maintenance holes.
Even though many communities were developing and implementing programs to eliminate combined sewer connections decades beforehand, the story of I/I in the Twin Cities effectively begins in July 1987. Yes, the superstorm of ’87. It had big impacts 30 years ago: sewer overflows to rivers and lakes, flooded basements, comingled water in our streets, and a lingering series of videos on the internet highlighting top-notch 1980s meteorology reporting. In some areas, reported rainfall exceeded 10 inches in one day, as part of the 16 inches experienced over much of the metro region that week. It was even the second wettest summer on record (2016 was the wettest).
The storm and its effects spawned a series of studies to understand the impacts of I/I on wastewater systems throughout the region. A 1990 study by MCES concluded that roughly one-fifth of wastewater treated in the region was from I/I. It was clear (pun intended) that the wastewater systems needed some rehabilitation, and that source removal would have a significant impact on reducing base and peak flows from I/I. In response, communities and MCES ramped-up efforts on I/I mitigation and combined sewer disconnection. After years of investment, peak flows and combined sewer overflow (CSO) volumes had been reduced, but not eliminated.
In 2004, the first MCES I/I Task Force – representing communities served by the regional wastewater system – recommended a long-term systematic approach to reducing peak flow, now known as the Ongoing I/I Program, which is administered by MCES. The superstorm is still having effects today as communities throughout the region work to repair their systems before an event of that magnitude happens again. During much of the last decade, the efforts to mitigate I/I have focused on repairing sewer mains and maintenance holes through lining or replacement projects. There has also been significant effort into mitigating surficial inflow sources such as vented MH covers, rain leaders, and roof drains.
There is evidence of success from all this effort.
At the regional level, there is a diverging trend, with rainfall totals increasing and wastewater flows decreasing, even as the population has increased. Also, by comparing major rainfall events in 2005 and 2014, regional precipitation increasing by 62% in the weeks leading up to the 2014 event, but the peak wastewater flow at the Metro Plant in Saint Paul decreased by 12% for peak hour and 6% for the peak day. However, almost half of communities in the region discharged excessive I/I during the 2014 event.
So, what’s next? When the Ongoing I/I Program began in the early 2000s, the estimated cost to mitigate excessive I/I into the regional system was largely based on removal of sources at the far upstream ends of the systems – namely from private infrastructure such as service laterals and sump pumps. Many communities have worked to eliminate sump pump connections, and some have instituted programs to inspect and repair service laterals. And it has worked. In a 2016 flow study, communities that included private infrastructure as part of their I/I mitigation strategy were able to achieve up to four-times greater reductions in peak flows than those that focused on public sources.
Being the proverbial low-hanging fruit, it’s understandable that many communities have focused on the easily-accessible public infrastructure. And that’s why the MCES I/I Task Force identified some specific strategies to address the technical and financial challenges of private property I/I mitigation. The main outcomes will be increased public outreach (you’re reading some now), technical support, and continued support for funding of public and private I/I mitigation. Why the focus on private infrastructure? In the words of the latest task force:
“Private sewer service laterals represent a significant portion of the overall collection system but are often not part of public system inspection, replacement, or I/I mitigation programs. These service laterals tend to represent an unquantified and unresolved share of the I/I problem. Another reason is because previous studies indicate that up to 80% of I/I is from sources on private property.”
MCES is in process of completing the recommendations of the task force, with most planned for launch in 2018. Communities can expect to see an updated public outreach toolbox intended to share simplified communication materials in a variety of formats. They can also expect more details on an I/I mitigation demonstration project that would provide additional opportunity for measurement of the impact on wastewater base and peak flows. The recommendations are located in the 2016 I/I Task Force Report. A common theme of the recommendations is using regional resources to support communities with effective decision-making and implementation of their respective I/I mitigation strategies.
Anyone interested in more information on the program or the demonstration projects is encouraged to visit the program website at www.metrocouncil.org/iandi or email the team at [email protected].
And if you have more to add to the regional story about I/I mitigation or the superstorm, we’d be happy to have it! Photos and videos, reports, anything you have. There’s a wealth of information throughout the region, and it would be great to capture that. Marcus Bush, PE is a Principal Engineer for the regional wastewater treatment provider, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services. He administers the Ongoing I/I Program that provides resources and incentives to communities for mitigating excessive flows due to I/I. Prior to his role with MCES, he worked in municipal and environmental engineering, land development, industrial brewing, and the bicycle industry.
Marcus Bush, PE is a Principal Engineer for the regional wastewater treatment provider, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services. He administers the Ongoing I/I Program that provides resources and incentives to communities for mitigating excessive flows due to I/I. Prior to his role with MCES, he worked in municipal and environmental engineering, land development, industrial brewing, and the bicycle industry.
Up until last month, real-time and ray tracing couldn’t be used in the same sentence without a bank of 10 GPUs and 2500 watts of power. Ray tracing makes renderings dynamic and realistic and thanks to powerful GPUs, shortens the amount of time spent on each frame. This recent advance in technology allows clients and the public to see reflections, higher quality shadows and experience the creation for themselves. Today, we’re utilizing these technologies to create stunning visualizations for our clients. Once the projects have been modeled, iterations are produced in minutes, instead of days or weeks.
