Snyder & Associates Podcast

Hydraulic Modeling Provides Insight into the Impacts of Flows on Infrastructure
Hydraulic modeling is a commonly used tool in the field of water resources engineering for the analysis and evaluation of water and wastewater utilities. While building models to simulate a real-world situation isn’t a new concept, it’s becoming increasingly essential for decision-making by removing the risk component.

As hydraulic modeling continues to evolve as an essential tool of infrastructure management, breaking down the massive amounts of data available to create an accurate model is becoming a challenge. Listen in as Brett Paige, P.E., examines the background of standard modeling practices and shares current trends in functionality, application, and data integration.

Podcast Chapters

• Hydraulic Modeling & How It Aids Collection System Evaluations (0:18)
• Typical Hydraulic Modeling Objectives (1:45)
• Model Development and Calibration (2:14)
• Defining the Mannings Coefficients (3:29)
• Capacity Evaluation & Prioritization (4:09)

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Lauridsen Skatepark Planning and Design
When the idea of building a skatepark along the Des Moines riverfront came before the city council in 2004, no one could have envisioned the seventeen-year journey ahead to make it a reality. After years of grassroots organizing, fundraising, and more than a few design changes, the Lauridsen Skatepark became a reality. Offering over 88,000 square feet of skateable area, it was quickly billed as the largest skatepark in the United States. 

Find out how our team of Landscape Architects and Structural Engineers worked with Polk County Public Works, the City of Des Moines, and California Skateparks to design and build this impressive facility — all in time to host the first Olympic qualifying event for skateboarding. 

Podcast Chapters 

• Introduction (0:17)
• Improving Youth Recreational Opportunities in Des Moines (1:11)
• Stakeholder & Community Organization (1:48)
• Fundraising for the Lauridsen Skatepark (3:17)
• Designing the Largest Skatepark in the Nation (5:25)
• Skatepark Site Design and Construction Challenges (5:58)
• Creating Slope Stability (6:28)
• Site Utility Coordination (6:52)
• Accommodating Varying Soil Conditions (7:47)
• Adjusting Skatepark Design for Site Conditions (8:33)
• Retaining Wall Systems (9:40)
• Park and Street Course Design (10:02)
• Incorporating Skills Development Components (11:00)
• Specialized Concrete Form Fabrication (11:50)
• Skateable Art Installation (12:54)
• The Dew Tour Considers Moving to Lauridsen Skatepark (14:16)
• Accelerating Construction to Accommodate the Dew Tour and Olympic Qualifying (15:51)
• Lauridsen Skatepark Brings Recognition to Des Moines (18:10)

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ADA Transition Plans are Guides to Creating More Inclusive Communities
To attract new residents and visitors, most cities strive to be accessible to people with all levels of physical ability. This is not just a good idea, but a mandate that began with the historic signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Among other things, the ADA guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities concerning public accommodations and transportation.

Listen as ADA transition planning experts Joe Wilensky and Spencer Wignall, P.E., provides a detailed description of how communities and businesses can work toward compliance, capture funding to pay for improvements and avoid the costly legal repercussions of being out of compliance.

Podcast Agenda

• Introductions (0:18)
• Civil Rights Historical Progression (0:26) 
• ADA Evaluation & Transition Planning (1:50) 
• ADA Public Notice & Community Engagement (3:29) 
• Appointing an ADA Coordinator & Establishing a Grievance Process (4:20) 
• Developing an ADA Project Inventory (5:52) 
• Schedule & Budget for your ADA Transition Plan (8:48) 
• Requirements of ADA Compliance (10:00) 
• ADA Compliance Examples (11:05) 
• Developing a Budget to Implement a Transition Plan (14:16) 
• Available Grants for ADA Transition Plans (18:08) 
• Protecting Communities from Litigation (21:29) 

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Corridor Optimization & Safety Considerations
Safe and efficient roadway corridors are essential in every modern community — creating the transportation networks that link people with their destinations. The first step in planning a new roadway or improving an existing corridor is a thorough inventory of existing infrastructure. A careful study of key aspects, such as traffic patterns and adjacent land use, helps our transportation planners and engineers develop an understanding of the issues affecting an area. The information gathered during this initial phase will greatly influence the roadway treatment options they recommend.

Listen as our traffic engineering experts Mark Perington, P.E., PTOE, Todd Knox P.E., PTOE, and Nate Carhoff, P.E., discuss the efficiency and safety factors they prioritize when designing and improving corridors.

Podcast Agenda

• Identifying & Evaluating Corridor Deficiencies (0:18)
• Featured Corridor Safety Improvement Projects (3:17)
• Safety & Operational Effects of Geometric Road Design Features (4:41)
• Considerations to Mitigate Crash Potential (6:26)
• Alternative Intersection/Interchanges Treatment Options (8:45)
• Safety for Different Modes of Traffic (12:32)
• Infrastructure Prioritization & Budgeting (18:22)

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Multimodal Transportation Safety Goals & Considerations
Beginning in the 1940s, rapid suburban growth led to sprawling communities that made households overly dependent on automobiles. As a result, many communities created well-developed road networks, but with minimal accommodations for non-automobile travelers. As preferences shifted over the intervening years toward more healthy and eco-friendly modes of travel, the Snyder & Associates team has helped lead the way in this transition. Today, our designers consider all factors when designing transportation networks, including walking, bicycling, and public transit — and the critical connections that tie them all together.

Multimodal safety is now a chief consideration of planning efforts as communities encourage recreation and active transportation by adding sidepaths, bike lanes, and trails. These amenities benefit communities by creating increased connectivity between neighborhoods, businesses, and parks. However, they also create conflict points at intersections that must be addressed during the design process. In this podcast, our transportation experts, Rich Voelker, P.E., and Mark Perington, P.E., PTOE, discuss the critical components of multimodal transportation planning, including the concept of “complete streets”, ADA compliance, and user comfort.

Podcast Agenda

• Multimodal Planning by Corridor Classifications (0:19)
• Elements of Complete Streets (1:34)
• Evolution of Bike Accommodations on Roadways (3:50)
• Advisory Bike Lanes used for Rural Roadway Sharing (5:37)
• Bicycle Facility Types & Intersection Treatments (7:34)
• Accommodating Sidepaths at Signalized Intersections (10:34)
• Multimodal Safety Considerations (13:26)

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Managing Losses in Water Distribution Brings Recognition to the City of Bedford, IA
Water demand is on the rise and resources are diminishing. Water losses from the distribution network can be a contributing factor, however, maintaining a high-quality and efficient distribution system can be expensive.

When the City of Bedford’s water treatment plant could no longer serve the city’s needs, they decided to purchase water rather than upgrade their system. At the time, it seemed like a viable solution until they realized their water main was leaking and the valuable treated water was being lost within their network of cast iron water pipes.

Find out how Project Manager, Jeff Goodwin, P.E., and the team at Snyder & Associates helped Bedford solve their water supply issues and gain statewide recognition in the process.

Podcast Agenda

•  Approaches for Water Loss Management (0:17) 
• Obtaining Funding for Water Infrastructure Projects (1:17) 
• Bedford Recognized as Iowa Rural Water Association (IRWA) City of the Year (2:09)

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Wastewater Collection System Evaluation and Planning
Managing a sanitary sewer collection system is a complex, multifaceted assignment. Many utilities across the country are responsible for the operation and maintenance of sanitary sewers, manholes, and pump stations. Due to aging systems creating an increased potential for Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs), municipalities are now focusing on the management of their collection system in a more comprehensive, strategic manner.

Brett Paige, P.E., discusses establishing the location and condition of specific sewer challenges, the development of hydraulic models for the determination of system capacity, and some technologies available to improve system operation.

Podcast Agenda

• What are Sewer Collection Systems? (0:18)
• Wastewater Collection System Evaluation Overview (2:20)
• What's Included in the Flow Monitoring Process? (9:17)
• Inflow Coefficient Method (12:02)
• RTK (13:17)
• Capacity Evaluation (15:01)
• Mannings Equation (15:24)
• Hydraulic Modeling & How It Aids Collection System Evaluations (15:58)
• Typical Modeling Objectives (17:27)
• Model Development and Calibration (17:56)
• Capacity Evaluation (19:50)
• Condition Evaluations & Available Inspection Technology (20:38)
• Risk Assessments & How They're Used (27:35)
• Assessment Program Planning Tools (30:18)
• Wastewater Collection System Evaluation & Planning Recap (33:39)

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Optimizing Operations and Safety at Intersections
With all modes of traffic crossing paths at intersections, they are designed points of conflict. Safety and operations are critical components in limiting the number of these conflicts. Listen in to this second episode of a four-part series on transportation safety as our traffic engineering professionals Mark Perington, P.E., PTOE, Tony Boes, P.E., PTOE, and Justin Jackson, P.E., discuss their process to improve operations and mobility, reduce conflict points, and design safer intersections.

Podcast Agenda

• Key Components in Selecting Intersection Treatments (0:19)
• Benefits of Using Predictive Methods in Traffic Engineering (2:29)
• Population Density Effects Intersection Design (5:02)
• Maintaining Safety & Multi-Modal Accommodations with Private Development  (7:46)
• Roundabouts are One of The Safest Intersections (10:13)
• Public Perception of Traffic Signals (13:02)
• Considerations when Signalizing Intersections to Improve Safety (13:58)
• Snyder & Associates’ Fundamental Approach to Intersection Design (17:33)

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Transportation System Safety Goals and Considerations
The primary consideration of transportation system design is the safety of the people who use the roadways and intersections in each network. Traffic engineers strive to create efficient systems that reduce conflict points while also considering multimodal forms of transportation.

Listen as our transportation experts, Wade Greiman, P.E., Rich Voelker, P.E., and Mark Perington, P.E., PTOE, discuss the critical components of a transportation network and the processes and steps they use to keep communities safe.

Podcast Agenda

• Design Components of a Safe & Efficient Transportation Network (0:20)
• The Effects of Vehicle Speed on Traffic Safety (3:01)
• Addressing Multimodal Traffic Safety Conflicts (5:10)
• Funding Available for Traffic Safety Improvements (8:09)
• Traffic Engineering Resources at Snyder & Associates (13:29)
• Snyder & Associates Holistic Approach to Traffic Engineering (15:24)

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Pleasantville Capital Improvement Program Planning Client Case Study
For many small communities, creating an initial Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) can seem like a daunting task. However, beginning the process using a practical and comprehensive approach is the key to success. Listen in as Municipal Engineering expert, Nate Carhoff, P.E., explains how our team guided the city leaders from Pleasantville, Iowa through the creation of their first CIP. Our all-encompassing strategy included input from all city departments and considered their primary budgetary “needs,” along with their long list of “wants.” This thoughtful and efficient process has positioned the community for long-term success and created a framework for future Capital Improvement Planning.

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