In construction, we are continually faced with shrinking budgets, compressed schedules, and expanding scopes. These are the realities that Owners, Design Professionals, and Contractors have come to accept. So while all of this juggling to balance the differing requirements and return on investment is taking place, here comes the Inspector. Some common misconceptions of Inspectors is that they are going to add costs to the job, state that you’ve been doing it wrong for years, or that you can’t do it a certain way in a particular area in spite of what they are doing allowing in neighboring counties.

Is your municipality looking for ways to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and accelerate community development? Are you still using a paper-based plan review process? Your municipality should consider a paperless, electronic plan review solution.

This article presents local soil and water resource organizations with insights into the One Watershed, One Plan (Plan) development process to assist preparation for planning. It synthesizes the experiences of the author during the Pilot phase of the program, his involvement with the development of one of the Pilot Plans and “lessons learned” from BWSR program meetings and documents.

Coined less than 25 years ago, the term “brownfields” is relatively new to the environmental science lexicon and remains unfamiliar to many outside the profession. Few realize that, since 1995, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has overseen a program devoted to improving these unpleasant-sounding places.

The purpose of water storage tanks is usually to meet peak demands, such as fire flows and times of the day when water use is high. There are a few items to consider when selecting a new water storage tank for your community or industry. Traditionally, it has been a common practice of many water

Before the start of any project, HR Green construction professionals verify that the design will fit the existing field conditions. In some cases, as such with making sidewalks ADA compliant, the application of design standards is the responsibility of the construction engineer.

The challenges to transportation project designers are more difficult today than ever. Right-of-way (ROW), easements, utility adjustments, and the ability to efficiently stage construction while safely maintaining traffic are critical factors to keep projects on track, especially in constrained urban settings. Add to the mix are a broad range of regulatory clearances that must be obtained in a sequential manner during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to keep the project on schedule. These clearances are often based on conceptual and preliminary design that if not thoroughly developed during the location and route studies phase can lead to rework and schedule delays later in the project life cycle.

The use of 3-D Design tools aids engineers in evaluating designs and the conditions present that can create construction delays, cause expensive changes to the design or could affect long term maintenance costs if not adequately analyzed at key steps in the design process.

2015 has been a year of recovery for many communities. As the economy has steadily improved, leaders in local governments have moved from survival mode to planning for a more predictable future.

When a building is being constructed or modified, or an addition to an existing building is constructed within a community, municipal plan examiners will review the construction documents prior to issuing a permit. Building inspectors will visit the site at various times to ensure contractors are producing a safe and durable structure; adhering to the approved documents.