By IT Media Team
Madison's Everyday Engineering
Life’s Blueprint: an episode focusing on the career journey of one of our staff members, to share more about them, how they got here and hopefully some information on how to move into a career in this industry. Andy Zwieg...
Do you know where the water that washes down your storm drain goes? A Storm Drain Mural Program in Dane County, Wisconsin, is using art as a vessel to help teach students and communities about stormwater and where it goes....
City of Madison Engineering Division Streets and Paths Design Engineer Fadi El Musa’s journey to the City of Madison Engineering Division took a lot of work, guts to relocate and courage to work through a language barrier in the interview...
There are so many paths in our Engineering Division, and so we’ve started a segment within Everyday Engineering that focuses on the paths of different staff and careers within Engineering for anyone either looking, considering or trying to grow in...
We’ve introduced you to so many people so far as guests on Everyday Engineering, but now, we continue to kick off a new segment that shares what went into getting here, and maybe help anyone planning their path forward. Life’s...
Every little bit helps. The City of Madison has a 1,000 Rain Garden Goal, and if everyone plants just a little rain garden, not big or expensive, you rcan really help the whole stormwater system, however, in this episode, we...
John Nolen Drive— it needs some improvements in the City of Madison, and the public planning process began in 2021, which is years before any digging or disruption happens. However, it’s not that easy getting to the construction phase, especially...
We’ve introduced you to so many people so far as guests on Everyday Engineering, but now, we want to kick off a new segment that shares what went into getting here, and maybe help anyone planning their path forward. Life’s...
The City of Madison is one of many municipalities in the United States looking for creative, healthy and safe solutions to help community members experiencing unsheltered homelessness find a path forward, especially during the pandemic. The City of Madison constructed...
As the City works to plan reconstruction on an iconic passage into the City of Madison, so many people and ideas contributed to the current skyline and beautiful drive into the heart of the City on John Nolen Drive. Everyday...
Anyone who walks, bikes, drives or travels in any way in the City of Madison knows how valuable street space is. There are so many options with use or reconstruction—sidewalk space, rain garden space, bike lane space, space for café...
When we're in landscaping and yard season, a lot of people may be trying to cut cost by doing a lot of the work themselves. So we’re here to help you in a number of ways: so you don’t create...
It takes all of us to improve our stormwater system. It's a total team effort. But, if you have someone like the late Roger Bannerman leading the way through hard work and dedication, the difference for the community is huge....
You see the red lights flashing in your rear view mirror. The sounds of sirens grow louder and you pull over to the side. Chances are you’ve likely gotten out of the way for a fire truck at some point....
Have you heard what all the buzz is all about? The City of Madison is a Bee City USA and it’s busy season for our black and yellow pollinator friends! Our Engineering Division Crews are also busy tending to the...
Having a green, lush, lawn makes for a beautiful visual, but at what cost? Some people use fertilizers, others use different means to make the perfect lawn cushy and vibrant. City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer Hannah Mohelnitzky...
Anyone who is riding, driving or commuting in some form in the City of Madison is already impacted by Vision Zero. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility...
A lot of residents want the feeling of soft water, the silky-hair-out-of-the-shower-feeling, which is possible with salt. However, have you ever thought of how much damage you’re doing thanks to the amount of salt you’re putting into your water softener?...
A Town of Madison and City of Madison have existed for quite some time separately, however, come October 2022 the City of Madison and City of Fitchburg will absorb the Town of Madison. This process is called attachment, and in...
A pandemic, Wisconsin winter, growing need and a tight deadline: all things standing in the way as Engineering crews work as fast as they can to put together a temporary homeless shelter for men in need in our community. City...
Operating a backhoe, designing a street, wiring an entire floor of lighting or designing a building: they’re all jobs in the trades and construction industry. These positions are also historically, held by men, however, the industry is changing and the...
A bike path with ice and snow is no good to ride on, unless you have the right equipment or if Engineering crews make a pass through, which is the case even if on weekends and holidays. The City of...
For municipalities to operate efficiently, the Fleet Service Division is often the backbone that keeps the fire department trucks tuned up, police cars up to date with oil changes and engineering’s dump truck tires filled with air. However, the work...
When we hear the term “Soil Amendments,” the first thought that comes to mind may not be an easy fix in the front yard. However, in this podcast episode, engineers explain simply how not only are soil amendments easy to...
Solar is at the center of conversation around the world, no matter if you’re a homeowner, developer, engineer or installer. GreenPower is a program at the City of Madison where trainees who have little to no electrical experience learn how...
Pumpkin spice lattes, patches, candles, carving, when it’s fall, pumpkin is everywhere! However, when the pumpkins are sitting on your front porch rotting after a busy pumpkin season, you could do something more purposeful when it comes to parting from...
You’ve heard the buzz word, but what does it actually mean? Green Infrastructure: rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs, you name it. It’s infrastructure that works with the environment, and in our case, here in Madison, a forward thinking way...
Rain gardens, they’re green, beautiful and help our infrastructure, but if you’ve never built one, have one or even know of how to make it happen in your yard, it can be hard to understand the benefits. A rain garden...
A green roof, or living roof, is a roof a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium. Plants on the roof or garden on the roof, if you picture it in your head, not...
A lot of communities have their own version of a public market: complete with diverse food, vendors and experiences to fill the space with life for the community. The Madison Public Market will be no different, and it’s moving closer...
Libraries have been part of Madison for quite some time, including one of nine locations, getting a major upgrade on the City’s east side: Pinney Library. The new location is designed with state-of-the-art facilities, designs, colors focusing on accessibility, sustainability...
Flooding impacts last years after devastation, and so does the work to look at ways to provide possible solutions so flooding doesn’t reoccur. Knowing how the watershed works as a whole and sharing every step toward finding solutions is the...
The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “engineering” may be something related to building, designing or constructing, which is all correct. However, designing isn’t just about materials, it’s about how people will use the space...
Anytime Wisconsinites see a snowy forecast, they know, travel is typically not advised, and planning begins until the roads are cleared of snow and ice. However, there’s a lot more planning that happens from the City’s perspective far before the...
PFAS, or perflourinated compounds, are a class of chemicals widely used in cookware, food packaging, stain and water-resistant clothing, upholstery and firefighting foams. The compounds do not degrade and are showing up in dust, soil and water worldwide. It’s a...
Once the water from your faucet or soggy noodles from dinner go down the drain, it’s just the beginning of a major process that many of us take for granted. One of the biggest misconceptions about drains is you can...
Keeping leaves at bay during the fall is important for any property owner, even when the work is dreaded. From City crews cleaning up leaves to you clearing them out of your gutters, the leaves require some attention otherwise it...
Riding the bus in Madison has changed over the years, however one thing has not: city agencies working together to make sure Madison residents and visitors can get from point A to point B, without hassle. In 2018, Metro provided...
Raking would be so much better if we didn’t have to do it, right? Well, how about ditching the rake, and mulch instead this fall? Mulching is a great option for any homeowner with a ton of benefits to the...
Garages, sidewalks, lakes, you name it, salt is ruining or weakening it. Why should you care? Salt Certification may not mean much to anyone, except winter maintenance professionals, until now. In this episode, salt certification and why you should be...
After a large conversation about bus stop and pad placement in the City of Madison over the summer, Engineering wants to share what the City can and can’t do within the Public Right of Way. In June 2018, a resident...
Each year, hundreds of thousands of homes undergo some sort of renovation. The average cost to finish a basement, according to smartasset.com, is about $30,000. When anyone invests that much into anything the last thing they want is the money...
In the last few years, heavy rains have become heavier and more frequent in the Madison area. After major flooding in August of 2018, the City continues to work toward possible solutions to prevent the flooding from happening again. In...
