Engineering Sessions

If you own, manage, operate, or maintain infrastructure related to engineering, you can’t afford to miss the innovative and ready-to-implement ideas presented at this event. Register now to check out these targeted sessions, and much, much more!

Tuesday, March 11, 8:30

Case Study: Migrating Fully Integrated CAD Design Tools to a GIS Design Tool
Track: Planning, Design, and Engineering
Corey Clinger, Telcordia Technologies, Inc

Learning Objectives:

• Get tips and techniques for large-scale data migration.
• Learn how to meet CAD user expectations with GIS tools.
• Use the power of GIS to simplify complex problems.

This presentation outlines a case study focusing on solving the complexities of migrating 6,000 telephony engineers from multiple CAD tools to a single integrated, GIS-based design tool. The migration involved the requirement to successfully marry a GIS-based telephony design tool with the features of years of user-focused CAD tool customization. The presentation highlights examples of capabilities marrying GIS benefits to CAD user expectations, systems integration, and migration of multiple CAD drawing types into an integrated GIS view.
Copresenter: Corey Clinger, Telcordia Technologies, Inc.

Enterprise Spatial Databases Advance GIS for Infrastructure
Track: Enterprise Architecture & System Integration
Francois Valois, Bentley Systems, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn more about spatial databases.
• Learn more about how they can be used in GIS systems.
• Learn how different systems can be integrated.

For years, GIS and its associated data stores were seen as an outsider to IT standards and architectures. Open enterprise spatial databases from vendors such as Oracle and Microsoft provide for IT standards compliance, enable a higher degree of interoperability, and facilitate use of spatial information in new and innovative ways. This presentation will examine the implications of enterprise spatial databases for traditional GIS users, new classes of spatial information users, IT professionals, and GIS vendors.

Utilizing GIS for a Stormwater Drainage Utility Implementation
Track: Public Sector
Marikka Williams, City of Highland Village

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how GIS can be used for stormwater drainage utility implementation.
• Discover methodological approaches for project-specific GIS implementations.
• Understand the value of a GIS support system to solve real-world problems.

In response to the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed the NPDES Stormwater Program. In order to respond to the requirements of this program, it was necessary to implement a fee to fund a stormwater drainage utility. This presentation outlines the GIS methodology created for a stormwater drainage fee implementation and discusses how GIS can be used to serve as a support system for stormwater drainage utility management.

GPS Is Changing...A Lot
Track: Surveying
Eric Gakstatter, GPS World

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how GPS is changing.
• Understand how other countries’ emerging satellite navigation systems will affect GPS.
• Understand new GPS advancements.
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The world of GPS/GNSS is changing...a lot. It’s not just the user equipment but the satellite systems themselves. There are new GPS satellites being launched, new GPS signals being broadcast, and more of each are planned. Adding to the complexity are the Russian GLONASS and European Galileo satellite systems. How do these changes affect GPS data collection and navigation services? Which factors should you consider when preparing your GPS capital equipment budgets in the coming year(s)?

GIS for Interior Spaces
Track: New Technology & Market Direction
Stuart Rich, Penobscot Bay Media

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the current floor space measurement standards.
• Learn the business case for GIS inside the building footprint.
• Review a new GIS data model for interior spaces.

New emphasis has been focused on accounting for our facilities and managing interior spaces more proactively. GIS is providing new capabilities for facilities managers. This presentation will discuss some of the potential for using GIS to manage and monitor interior spaces.
During our hour together, we will discuss:
1. Basic context of GIS inside the building footprint.
2. Summary of applicable standards (BOMA, FICM, BIM, IFC, etc.)
3. Discussion of data model issues and presentation of a potential data model for interior spaces
4. Discussion of tools for data collection and conversion
5. Demo of visualization and reporting capabilities
6. Discussion of space monitoring issues and approaches
7. Demo of space monitoring capabilities
8. Summary and wrap-up
Copresenter: Benton Yetman, Penobscot Bay Media

Tuesday, March 11, 10:30

Leveraging GIS to Automate Field Inspections
Track: Mobile Applications
Jon Huddleston, NW Natural

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to leverage GIS to automate field inspections.
• Learn the benefits of a map-based approach to automating field inspections.
• Understand today’s code compliance process at NW Natural.

There are tremendous efficiencies to be gained through successful field automation that result in decreased costs and liability and increased safety and customer service. This session will demonstrate how NW Natural leveraged their GIS and integrated several disparate legacy applications to automate the code compliance inspection process from the field. Attendees will learn how the process has improved; not only are the inspections performed quicker, but the data is more accurate and consistent—resulting in measurable ROI.
Copresenter: Jay Lasseter, MapFrame Corporation

Tuesday, March 11, 11:30

Using a Mobile Field Data Collection Approach for West Nile Virus Treatment
Track: Mobile Applications
Steve Fang, Seattle Public Utilities

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the use of mobile applications in science and public health.
• Plan and tracking fieldwork performed.
• Synchronize data between mobile and office applications.

In the summer of 2007, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) performed preventive treatment on each catch basin, to protect the citizens of Seattle against West Nile Virus. By applying mosquito larvicide to each catch basin, SPU hopes to minimize potential future outbreaks. Inspection and treatment information was collected in the field using ArcPad running on a pocket-PC. The approach has increased SPU’s ability to obtain, analyze, and report on current treatment efforts.

3-D Land Use: Applications and Challenges
Track: Public Sector
Dr. William Gribb, University of Wyoming

Learning Objectives:

• Better understand the definition of 3-D land use.
• Identify applications to planning and analysis.
• Know the challenges to databasing and display.

This research focuses on the development of a 3-D land use database for downtown planning. 3-D land use is defined as the land use in each building on individual floors and the segments of the floor of multistoried buildings. The analysis and display of 3-D land use is a challenge because of the multiple dimensions of the information. Laramie, Wyoming’s downtown district is used as an example.

Another Hammer In the Toolbox: A Surveyor’s Perspective
Track: Surveying
David Boyles, Landdesign Surveying

Learning Objectives:

• Gain a surveyor’s perspective of GIS and its applications.
• Create understanding of the improved use of as-builts.
• See how combining surveying and GIS improves deliverables.

With the use of GIS technology in a traditional surveying company, there are new opportunities for improving the overall deliverables plus an improved workflow for existing projects. LandDesign Surveying used this innovative collaboration to create digital submittals for the North Carolina Research Campus, a 350-acre biotechnical research campus and mixed-use development. These as-built documents will become the base for the project’s GIS that will include all improvements and existing infrastructure.
Copresenters: Brian Elliott, Landdesign Surveying; Paul Badr,Independent Mapping Consultants

Tuesday, March 11, 2:30

Modeling Green Infrastructure Using a GIS-based Explicit Sewer Modeling System
Track: Planning, Design, and Engineering
Mark A. Liebe, City of Portland

Learning Objectives:

• Use GIS in advanced modeling of sewer infrastructure.
• Apply and manage high-resolution GIS data for engineering and planning.
• Exercise green engineering principles and the use of GIS.

The City of Portland has created a set of GIS-based tools for sewer modeling. Dependent on high-resolution and high-precision GIS data, the system is the basis for much of the city’s sewer infrastructure planning and engineering design. This presentation shall show the overall framework integrating GIS with advanced numerical hydraulic models and the levels of modeling precision that detailed GIS data can provide. It will also present the challenges of managing such GIS data.

Tuesday, March 11, 3:30

Using 3-D GIS to Visualize Landfill Expansion Plans
Track: Planning, Design, and Engineering
Charles Penasack, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

• See why 3-D viewshed modeling is effective at rapidly predicting visual impacts.
• Understand how 3-D visualization modeling reduces field time and highlights critical sites.
• See how USGS DEMS can be enhanced by approximating tree canopy heights from vegetated areas on USGS topo sheets.

Chautauqua County, New York, recently applied for a permit to laterally and vertically expand its landfill from an approved elevation of 1,748 feet to 1,848 feet. A GIS-based 3-D viewshed model of the current and proposed landfill achieved the SEQRA required visual impact analysis. This model used USGS 30-meter DEMs, local site elevations, and CAD drawings of the proposed final grading plan to create line-of-sight maps, profiles, and 3-D renderings of the proposed landfill expansion.

GIS: Portal to the Enterprise Decision Support System
Track: Enterprise Architecture & System Integration
Sree Palapuka, Wssc

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the fundamental concepts of decision-support systems.
• Identify GIS needs at an enterprise level.
• Understand the role of GIS as a business intelligence tool.

Water and wastewater utilities are facing an aging and crumbling infrastructure. Repair, replacement, and rehabilitation of pipes, manholes, and other appurtenances are essential to maintaining the health and safety of the community. Decision support systems (DSS) facilitate the process of selection, scheduling, and prioritization of infrastructure maintenance. A GIS can play a pivotal role in guiding the knowledge worker toward the best decisions, so long as the GIS is designed and developed in a way that seamlessly integrates with other facets of the enterprise DSS.
Copresenter: Sree Pulapaka, Wssc

Tuesday, March 11, 4:30

Evaluating the Effects of Development on Water Treatment Operations
Track: Public Sector
Amy Atamian, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how GIS is used for watershed assessment and management.
• Discover lessons learned in data management and integrated modeling.
• Understand an implementation of performance-based watershed management.

The Birmingham Water Works and Sewer Board is concerned about forthcoming development in its watersheds, the impacts to the raw water quality, and subsequent treatment costs. A step-wise decision-making approach was designed to focus on specific board goals for water resource protection that maximized the use of existing information. Unique aspects of this program include modeling treatment plant costs based on inputs from watershed models and development of the Reservoir Overlay Protection District Ordinance.
Copresenters: Jerry Jones and Cindy How, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.

Wednesday, March 12, 10:00

Regional Watershed Management System
Track: Public Sector
Durmus Cesur, San Antonio River Authority

Learning Objectives:

• Learn basics to use an ESRI GIS platform for integrated modeling management.
• Learn to implement workflows using enterprise GIS.
• Learn to use enterprise GIS to communicate/coordinate modeling efforts.

The presenter will describe the use of geographic information system (GIS) as a framework to manage water resources modeling information—as well as to facilitate business processes and workflows that rely on this information—through the integration of hydrologic, hydraulic, and environmental modeling systems, enterprise databases, and the Web portal technologies. The GIS-based data models and application extensions are used to integrate hydrologic, hydraulic, and environmental models of interest on the GIS platform.