Informed Infrastructure Podcast

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Christa Campbell, Director of Water Industry Solutions at Esri.They discussed how water utilities that manage critical infrastructure spanning both horizontal and vertical assets are increasingly building GIS-powered living digital twins.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Abhinoor Dhull, VP of Operations at SewerAI.They discussed how SewerAI has transformed from an AI startup to a sewer system inspection and monitoring platform. She also gave advice to fellow engineers who may be looking into their own startups as well as those who want to pursue a career in civil engineering, particularly the subsets of water and sewer practices.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Balsam Nehme, Director of Sustainability, Sidara.They discussed her role in developing sustainability initiatives inside her organization as well as for the projects she works on worldwide. For her, sustainability is not "a box to check" and needs to be part of every engineering design and project.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Pusker Regmi, Stantec Vice President and Wastewater Sector Leader.They discussed how he and Stantec are leading a new Water Research Foundation (WRF) project focused on applying artificial intelligence (AI) to wastewater treatment operations. The 31-month initiative is co-funded through WRF’s Tailored Collaboration Program, with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) in Maryland and Prince William Water in Virginia serving as co-leading utility partners.They also discussed the general role of AI in engineering and ways engineers can use the technology in their own practices safely and efficiently. Regmi stressed that AI should be a tool to augment engineering practices and not a way to replace their work.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Joseph Long, Senior Principal at Stantec, and Adham Almasri, Advanced Water Treatment Program Manager at Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA).

They discussed at length their work together to design a new pump station and 11-mile recycled water pipeline in the western part of San Bernardino County, Calif. This infrastructure will convey recycled water from the City of Rialto’s wastewater treatment plant to IEUA’s proposed advanced water purification facility in Rancho Cucamonga.

Additional topics included the general state of the water supply in this desert area as well as some of the ways water can be introduced into surface and underground reservoirs.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB, about stormwater techniques known as low-impact development (LID) or “green infrastructure.”

Page helped design a new and modernized stormwater system for the Norwaldo neighborhood in northeast Indianapolis. As impermeable development increased in the area and storms became more frequent and released more water, water began to pond in low points on the streets and surrounding land, leading to erosion and freeze/thaw cycles that rutted the streets, cracked the sidewalks and could pool in yards for weeks at a time.

HNTB worked with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works to install permeable pavers, stone and geotextile that allowed water to slowly drain into the soil.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Pat McLarin, Segment Director, Civil, Seequent.

They discussed the importance and unique aspects of subsurface engineering as well as trends for the coming year in civil engineering. The report discussed in the interview can be accessed at https://www.seequent.com/geoprofessionals-increasingly-turning-to-ai-reveals-new-survey/.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Todd Edsall, President, Power Providers Sector; Executive Vice President, Advanced Power Generation, Black & Veatch.

They discussed the booming demand in electricity worldwide as well as the roles of engineers and new technologies in trying to meet these demands. A particular focus is the Black & Veatch “19th Annual 2025 Electric Report” and its findings.

Edsall explains how the current surge in electiricy demand is being driven by data centers but that the curve will lessen as these centers improve their efficiency and battery hardware and software technology improves.

He also notes that the growing demand for engineers in the electric utility industry can be partially offset by transitioning engineers from other industries.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Dr. Fred Gerringer, P.E., Brown and Caldwell’s Water Reuse National Practice Leader.

They discussed the water-shortage problem and why water reuse can help alleviate the situation, focusing on the “State Water Reuse Regulatory Guide” Gerringer recently helped develop.

Gerringer also went through some of his favorite examples of water-reuse projects, showing the complete flow of water from one step to the next, offering expert advice to his fellow engineers.

Todd Danielson, Informed Infrastructure’s editorial director, interviewed Peter Pensa, AICP, Director of Planning and Entitlement at McAdams.

The primary topic of discussion was infill infrastructure development in urban and suburban environments.

Pensa described in great detail infill projects he worked on, particularly what worked and why. He also offers expert advice to other engineers involved in their own infill projects, which can help combat rising infrastructure costs, limited land and changing suburban demographics.