PILLAR Talk

To ensure the safety and integrity of your bridges, you need to conduct a continuous bridge monitoring program. This activity is a critical step in identifying needed bridge maintenance and any potential structural issues early so you can plan for the work necessary to protect both the traveling public…

Snow and ice pose significant challenges to road safety, but DOTs can weather the oncoming storm. DOTs must strike a careful balance between the need to keep roadways safe for the traveling public and the need to be good stewards of the environment by looking for ways to reduce road…

Expect the unexpected. It may seem like a contradiction but that’s what it takes to efficiently deploy a rapid response to highway incidents. Preparation can be the difference between an incident and a disaster. Whether you’re dealing with accidents, snow and ice, or flooding, you need a plan and the…

PILLAR is pleased to welcome Business Development Manager Dan Collins to our dynamic and growing team. In his new role, Dan connects transportation asset managers with PILLAR’s technology solutions and services to achieve impactful results. We’re not big on titles at PILLAR, but we suppose that makes him the…

The average American driver spends 55 minutes behind the wheel every day. While they notice obvious assets like guardrails, traffic signs, and pavement markings, less visible assets may fly under the radar. These assets often do some heavy lifting when it comes to driver safety, but can go unnoticed by…

Safety Rest Areas were originally designed to reduce crashes caused by driver fatigue. They’re as vital as they are complex. Rest areas contain dozens of assets that need regular maintenance and care. To add to the complexity, most rest areas were built half a century ago, without consideration of disabled…

When maintaining your pedestrian greenways and bicycle paths, you need a partner you can trust. Keeping these green spaces safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all users requires strategic planning for operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement. At PILLAR, we use today’s leading technology to gather the data you need to do…

When pavement striping is faded, worn out or simply not reflective enough, it poses a significant risk to motorists. It is especially hazardous at night, or during rain and snow events. This lack of visibility can lead to confusion, hesitation, and potentially dangerous situations for everyone on the road. The…

Sinkholes pose significant risks to roads and the motorists who use them. Yet the first signs of trouble are subtle and can go unnoticed until serious damage occurs. With PILLAR’s proven expertise at your side, you’ll have data and solutions at your fingertips that will transform the way your team…

Hurricane season brings significant threats, from powerful winds to devastating floods, as well as risks to both lives and property. For transportation asset managers, your best defense is a proactive response plan that anticipates potential damage and puts protective measures and resources in place before you need them.  PILLAR stands…

Operating and maintaining complex transportation projects requires proactive planning, expertise, and the right tools for the job. Without proper preparation, you risk missing the right resources, purchasing equipment on the fly, and damaging your bottom line. Fortunately, annual equipment budgets can help—they lower the likelihood of being caught unaware and…

In the realm of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), data reigns supreme. It rightfully serves as the foundation for decisions, strategies, and projects for many DOTs. However, the abundance of GIS data often leads to a conundrum: how do we use it effectively? Sifting through data to find the answers you…

Each year the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) works to elevate roadway safety through its National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). The week-long campaign will be observed April 15-19 highlighting the theme, “Work zones are temporary. Actions behind the wheel can last forever.” Work Zones Are More Dangerous Than Ever: How…

Most DOT asset managers have tens of thousands of bridges to maintain at acceptable service levels. That’s a lot of inspections and condition assessments to work through, not to mention getting the maintenance done. Worrying about the condition and safety of the bridges you are responsible for is enough to…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been utilized in the background of many professions for years to analyze data and provide users with evidence-based predictions and recommendations. As developments in AI continue to make headlines, the news is greeted with a mixture of excitement and concern. It’s understandably a hot topic across…

Calm the chaos with Staff Augmentation. A tight job market, retirements, cutbacks and hiring freezes create chaos for transportation operations and maintenance teams, often leaving jobs unfilled and critical maintenance undone. Calm your chaos with staff augmentation, a solution that temporarily adds experienced people to your team when and where you…

Don’t face another day mired in paperwork. PILLAR has full-time technical writers ready to step in to develop contracts and technical documents for your agency.  Technical writers are a critical resource for your transportation asset management and operations team because they create documentation, contracts and other written materials that help…

Winter is here. It’s only a matter of time before a winter storm hits. Unless you’re prepared, it can quickly turn into one of your worst bad days. Transportation asset managers know how much goes into winter storm highway management. If you’re not prepared, winter weather can cause chaos for…

As a transportation asset manager, one of your worst bad days is to receive an alert that a slope collapsed on one of your roadways. This treacherous situation can result in fatalities and/or roadway closures and require significant expenditures to repair.  Put a plan in place to help prevent this…

It’s time to gear up your crews for a crucial task. As the trees prepare to shed their leaves in preparation for fall and winter, the upcoming months provide an ideal opportunity to tackle essential roadside tree trimming and highway vegetation control. This initiative not only enhances the safety of…

The traveling public relies on roadway signs for navigation and information. But keeping track of hundreds or thousands of signs is a challenge. PILLAR’s inventory service and assessment tools will help you replace faded and missing roadway signs and stop potential problems for drivers before they start. Signs of Trouble…

According to the American Trucking Association, there were 3.54 million truck drivers working in American in 2022. That’s a 1.5% increase from 2021. The industry is exploding thanks in no small part to the continuing increase in e-commerce, which has significantly increased demand of delivery services.  Unfortunately, truck parking capacity…

Fatalities from wrong-way driving are on the rise. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, traffic fatalities caused by wrong-way driving accidents increased from 451 in 2016 to 507 in 2020. With the troubling upward trend, more DOTs have begun investigating ways to address wrong-way driving and prevent unnecessary traffic…

Let’s face it, traffic accidents cause bad days for all involved. Unfortunately, for transportation asset managers getting the damage repaired is often just the beginning of the bad day saga. Collecting third-party damage claims from a driver’s insurance company is critical to getting funds you need. If not dealt with…

The 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law addresses long-needed funding to state and local governments for thousands of “shovel-ready” transportation infrastructure improvement projects in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Over a period of five years, the law provides an unprecedented investment of $350 billion in highway programs for state and local…

As summer heats up, so do thunderstorms. This can mean sudden inundation of heavy rain, increasing the risk of dangerous flooding for your assets. Flooding is a serious issue that is exacerbated by blocked culverts which can cause road collapse resulting in trapped residents at best and loss of life…

If you use mowing contractors, you may be familiar with the incremental “bump” in acres/prices that happens as they spend more time, labor, and resources to fulfill their mowing duties. That’s because often contractors accidentally begin mowing more and more areas. This scope creep is unintentional; sometimes, it’s just a…

As an asset manager, you know how hard it can be to stay in front of potential emergencies. Asset management is a complex, ever-changing landscape and part of the job involves responding to unforeseen events. However, many asset managers report that 80% of their job is dealing with crisis and…

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy cast a vision of zero fatalities as the standard metric by which transportation safety is measured during her keynote speech at this year’s Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting  “Plenty of people think that zero deaths is an unrealistic goal,” Ms. Homendy noted.

If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of any proposal that doesn’t spell out target accuracy requirement details and is coupled with a lower price. You may be left with inaccurate data that will cost you much more down the road, opening you up to…

Guardrails are meant to keep drivers safe on the highways, but improper installation practices make guardrails yet another life-threatening hazard for motorists.  What are Frankensteined Guardrails? In the spring of 2020, high school senior Isabella Alonzo was killed after crashing into a guardrail on a Georgia highway. Instead of…

As you traveled Virginia’s roadways this summer, did you notice taller grass and wildflowers in the right-of-ways? It’s not an oversight. As part of its overall commitment to implementing sustainable approaches to managing Virginia’s roadway system, VDOT implemented a right-of-way maintenance program that significantly reduced mowing and converted eligible right-of-way…

For the third straight year in a row, DOTs are facing a shortage of snowplow drivers. A survey by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials shows that 84% of respondents reported higher to much higher snowplow operator vacancies than normal.  Snowplows are a critical component…

Apple fully embraced LiDAR technology when they released the iPhone 12 Pro that came equipped with a LiDAR scanner, giving users the ability to engage with augmented and virtual reality technologies more easily.   With LiDAR now available to any smartphone user, you may wonder if iPhones can be used…

A new partnership between PILLAR and VDOT will utilize cutting-edge technology to make Virginia a safer, more beautiful place for cyclists and pedestrians. Recently, PILLAR received a task order to inventory assets, assess, and maintain the Virginia Capital Trail. The Virginia Capital Trail was originally a scenic road that connected…

Is your job controlling you? With the overwhelming work it takes to keep up with operating and maintaining your transportation infrastructure, it’s easy to feel like you’re not in the driver’s seat. But it doesn’t have to be that way.   The Problem You may be tempted to think that…

Mismanaging assets can have huge consequences to your bottom line. If you’re not using your resources and tools efficiently, you could be losing time and money. Luckily, many of these issues can be avoided with knowledge and planning. To help, we’ve put together a list of four common problems in transportation…

You know from experience that operating and maintaining transportation infrastructure is complex. It can be difficult to predict the condition of assets and accurately plan for repairs. Agencies often rely on reactive maintenance schedules and repairs motivated by public outcry, or worse, asset failure. It doesn’t have to be that…

Access to high-quality data is essential to maintaining the integrity of your transportation assets, but ensuring your data is ready to use can be time-consuming and frustrating.  PILLAR’s proprietary automated feature extraction system (AFES™) delivers a truly automated solution. When you work with us, you’ll never have to spend countless…

This year, PILLAR is celebrating 20 years of ethical commitment to the well-being and safety of the public through transportation asset management.  During our two decades of work, we’ve partnered with transportation departments and roadside workers at both the state and national level and witnessed their tremendous dedication firsthand.  To…

Out of sight, out of mind can be a costly error when it comes to your transportation assets. The health of your infrastructure is dependent on more than the condition of your visible assets. It relies on the functionality of an entire below-ground network of pipes and waterways that manage…

Cut Confusion and Utilize Your Mobile LiDAR Data With CONFIDENCE You’ve worked hard to collect data on your transportation assets and now it’s time to put that data to effective use in managing your transportation assets.  But how can you be sure your data is used in the most effective…

Over the next few months, members of the PILLAR team will be on the road at various tradeshows and conferences. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about the company’s approach to infrastructure asset management and how it can help organizations save time, save money, and save lives. Our unique…

Maintaining the integrity of your transportation infrastructure assets can be complex and overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. PILLAR is solely dedicated to maximizing the life of transportation infrastructure through our proven CAPE approach: collection, assessment, planning, and execution. There’s a reason we’re trusted by transportation departments all over…

The PILLAR Team congratulates the Virginia Department of Transportation for earning the nation’s #2 best highway performance ranking. Virginia operates the third-largest DOT network in the nation and handed in an impressive 19-position improvement in the 26th Annual Highway Report from the Reason Foundation. Virginia moved up the ranks in…

Your agency has a lot of ground to cover. Literally. Municipalities and departments of transportation have acres and acres of land that need to be managed. PILLAR can help assess the best way to tackle ground that might have to be mowed or best left unmowed and calculate the total…

PILLAR works with departments of transportation, environmental, and engineering firms to better understand the condition of infrastructure in challenging environments. LiDAR (mobile light detection and ranging) is an advanced technology that goes beyond just providing detailed maps: the data can be used to influence critical decisions to protect critical wildlife…

For years, PILLAR has been helping municipalities and departments of transportation manage and inventory infrastructure assets like signs, guardrail footage, mowing acreage, trees, striping, ditches, sewers, overhead utilities, and more. Now we’ve added a new tool that will enable our clients to manage, visualize and assess underground pipes, sewers…

Technology has made creating a geospatial inventory of transportation assets far more accessible than it used to be. However, this asset data may be accumulated from many different sources and may have been collected using disparate techniques and technology, resulting in data that is formatted differently. The inability of different…

Effective transportation infrastructure asset management starts with understanding your full inventory of assets and their condition. The resulting point clouds from Mobile LiDAR provide a clear picture of your transportation assets and their condition to make data-driven decisions quickly and cost-effectively. Mobile LiDAR captures roadway and infrastructure…

An innovative application of LiDAR-based mapping for mowing management implemented by the Virginia Department of Transportation -Staunton District is saving the agency millions of dollars annually by converting interstate rights-of-way into pollinator habitats. The innovative program just earned VDOT’s Staunton District the coveted agency’s Environmental Stewardship Award. VDOT’s…

Transportation surveyors are frequently exposed to significant danger from traffic as they work to collect the asset data required to maintain, build, or repair infrastructure. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that transportation incidents accounted for 76% of roadway work zone fatal occupational injuries between 2011 and 2017. In…

National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week is April 26 – 30 National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 26-30, is a timely reminder for motorists to stay alert for DOT and other workers. In 2020, work zone crashes and fatalities increased, despite lower traffic volumes due to COVID-19. Distracted Driving…

In recent years, local municipalities and the federal government have invested millions to make their cities more resilient and prepare for natural disasters, along with mitigating the imposing threats of climate change. Local and federal governments are realizing the critical role transportation infrastructure plays in assisting in disaster and climate…

Geospatial technologies increasingly allow engineers and experts to evaluate assets quickly and accurately. Since the Department of Labor introduced geospatial guidelines for professionals in 2010, new methods and approaches have emerged with promising results. Explore these technologies and their diverse applications below. Learn how advanced firms like PILLAR can help you evaluate…

Knowing the location, material, condition, and context of all your geospatial assets requires full-scale understanding. Without this global and granular view of your assets and infrastructure, it’s difficult to support decisions intended to improve assets, manage maintenance, and more. Learn some of the most important reasons you need a geospatial asset…

Effective infrastructure asset management starts with an accurate assessment of inventory conditions. Using condition rating criteria enables managers to identify the appropriate treatments and the optimal time to maintain or correct issues. The result extends the life of infrastructure assets while controlling costs. How Condition Rating Criteria Helps Transportation Asset…

Pavement Preservation is a set of cost-effective treatments that are typically applied on pavements at their early stages and are relatively in good condition. Pavement Preservation allows transportation agencies to treat more lane miles with less cost, while lengthening the pavement’s service life. Transportation agencies adopting Pavement Preservation will extend…

Assessing and leveraging data on all infrastructure assets within your right-of-way for long term sustainability can be a challenge. As a result, it becomes even more difficult to achieve long term infrastructure goals. Operations & Maintenance advisors can be a highly effective resource in managing your assets and securing the…

Technology is revolutionizing and transforming geospatial data. Going far beyond your typical data point collection and measurements, we can use evolving geospatial tools such as LiDAR, GPS/GNSS, and remote sensing to collect comprehensive and multi-dimensional geographic data. This data is extracted and analyzed to make data-driven decisions in the development…

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) awarded Pillar the contract for Statewide Maintenance Consulting Services for the third consecutive time. The Statewide Maintenance Consulting Services contract was established so VDOT can call on experienced firms for Roadway Maintenance Consulting and Staff Augmentation related services. It provides for additional support for…

Despite the sharp drop in traffic volume, work zone activity does not relent. And it remains as dangerous as ever. Distracted or impaired drivers are still on the road. In our role as highway workers, the risk is clear and unmistakable. We have tried to educate and inform our staff…

During these times of uncertainty, we have all heard the call from our respective Governors about “critical industries” such as healthcare and first responders. Our infrastructure is also “critical”. As for Maintenance: Rust doesn’t stop, potholes still form, debris doesn’t stop building up, trash and debris continues to accrue. As…

Rose-Hulman Ventures recently featured PILLAR and reviewed our patented salinity measurement device, SAM. PILLAR President Mark Boenke, shares his expertise on how SAM will reduce harmful salt usage on public roads and highways. Boenke partnered with Rose-Hulman Ventures back in 2017 when PILLAR was trying to find the best materials to use…

In the AIAI’s recent webinar: Performance-Based O&M, PILLAR joined forces with Claudio Andreetta from Johnson Controls and Alistar Sawers from ATHS Consult to discuss performance-based O&M. With over 90 attendees, this was a hot topic among industry professionals!…

The Boy Scout Motto “Be Prepared” keeps popping up in my mind with the recent COVID-19 virus and corresponding fallout. Looking beyond the COVID-19 crises and towards your industry and business opportunities; leaders of today need to be prepared in a multitude of ways. From hiring new young talent to…

PILLAR’s Dan Dennis, Vice President of Public-Private Partnerships was quoted on the positive trend of risk allocation in the P3 model.  Read the full article to see Dan’s comments on risk allocation.

John Meola, PILLAR’s Safety Director was recently published in Construction Business Owner Magazine providing insight on the fatal four dangers that plague your job sites & how to avoid them. Read the full article here.

If you are performing an outsourced O&M project, it is very likely you have a fixed budget based on your contract price. Your cash flow is known upfront, the day you sign the contract. As the Maintenance Manager, your job is to meet the contract performance requirements as efficiently as…

There have been numerous developments in recent years in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that are transforming our daily lives. Among the most commonly recognized are self-driving vehicles and voice recognition devices such as Amazon’s Alexa. While perhaps not as flashy as having your virtual personal assistant, Pillar Operations…

It’s as tough of a job as it is an important one – each year the National Safety Council tries to make a dent in the collective consciousness of America by celebrating “Safety Awareness Week.” Because safety is often forgotten until we wish we remembered it, we should applaud…

What is outsourcing? Outsourcing is simply using contractors to do things traditionally done by in-house staff. In the P3 space, virtually the entire project is outsourced, by definition. In a traditional, publicly owned and operated roadway, the Owner (DOT/Ministry, etc.) provides operations and maintenance for the roadway with in-house staff,…

North Star Infrastructure Team to build and maintain Northwest Territories Tłı̨chǫ All Season Road WYTHEVILLE, Va. (February 27, 2019) – PILLAR Operations and Maintenance Advisors worked with its client, North Star Infrastructure, on a project to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the Northwest Territories Tłı̨chǫ All Season Road in…

Why is pavement management important? The nation’s road system represents an asset valued at more than $2.4 trillion. Nearly 90% of passenger-miles traveled and 60% of the nations’ total freight is transported via the nation’s highway system. There is no doubt, it is an asset worthy of substantial investment for…

A Public-Private Partnership (P3) is a contract vehicle where a private developer – working with a public entity – designs, builds, finances and operates the infrastructure. This Pillar Talk will focus on the rehabilitation, or handback portion, of a P3. P3 transportation projects have two varieties: availability payment or revenue…

Last month I attended the 12th TRB Asset Management Conference (my third) and the 2018 AASHTO Committee On Maintenance Annual Meeting (my fifth). While both conferences were about Asset Management, the focus of each was on two different planes. The TRB Conference focused more on strategic issues (i.e. risk, resiliency,…

John Meola, PILLAR’s Safety Director, penned an article for the Richmond Times-Dispatch discussing safety rules motorist should be aware of as summer comes to an end.  Read the full article here.

Modern technology has catapulted the maintenance of roadway infrastructure to a new level. When it comes to collecting data about your assets, PILLAR utilizes the Leica Pegasus: Two Ultimate as its choice for mobile LiDAR. The laser scanning and mapping technology platform provides what we need to…

The safety measures a company puts in place tend to be taken for granted. That is until an accident occurs and the issue is brought to the forefront. June is National Safety Month, an initiative led by the National Safety Council (NSC) to ensure “No One Gets Hurt.” The month…

After many years in the safety-consulting business, I have heard the loud chorus of employer complaints aimed at “Why do I need to do all this stuff?” To educate the contracting community, here is a brief summary of the Top 10 safety issues for contractors. 10) “No one told me…

Are you still using Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) metrics as your safety standard? Do you plan on being in this business 5, 10 or 20 years from now? If you answered yes to both, you have a value conflict. Why accept some random statistical average composed of questionable…

PILLAR demonstrated its commitment to environmental issues by sponsoring a storm water program for the Leadership Roanoke Valley. Mark Boenke, President of PILLAR, agreed to sponsor the event that educated Roanoke citizens about the operations and maintenance of stormwater runoff. The event was based around the following objectives: Recognize the…

We understand generally what roadway operations and maintenance is: everything it takes to care for and operate the roadway while keeping it safe for the traveling public in the short- and long-term. We use the terms “operations” and “maintenance” together as if they are inseparable. For most projects, they are.

 Since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the science behind mapping and surveying has continuously evolved. In those days, high tech meant a brass compass placed on a staff, or maybe a fixed leg tripod combined with a wooden stick or steel chain. This equipment had its limitations regardless of…

Understanding your employee demographics is a key attribute in a human resources program. It is a big part of what makes your organization tick, and getting it right can make a significant impact on your bottom line. Ask yourself if you plan on being in business five years from now,…

Have you seen the ‘what I do’ meme? What better way to explain Geographic Information Systems (GIS) than debunking all the perceptions? What our friends think GIS is:Often times, all our friends remember is that it has something to do with maps and maybe phones. What our moms…

As a business owner, I am frequently asked, “How is business?” I often used to reply “Busy” but had a colleague follow my answer up with the question “Is it productive?” Wow, that was a new one. I stopped dead in my tracks with a blank but inquisitive stare on…

Did you know that your safety program is an important part of your new business strategy? Potential clients want to know about your safety program as part of their request for proposal (RFP) screening when accepting bids on a project. John Meola, Pillar Inc.’s Safety Director, recently published an article…

Previously, we talked about the critical importance of maintaining an accurate inventory to support asset management. Knowing your inventory is just the first step in good asset management. It’s also important to know the condition of that inventory, which brings us to the next step, assessing your infrastructure inventory. None…

Some people see a survey plat as an overpriced piece of paper but it’s not just a pretty picture. It represents hours spent reading moldy court records and digging through centuries of legal documents about a piece of land two people transferred back and forth….and back and forth. It represents…

The P3 approach includes preventive, lifecycle maintenance for the asset and avoids the problems associated with deferred maintenance. Simply put, deferred maintenance is the practice of postponing infrastructure maintenance activities, usually due to lack of available funding. Lack of proper and timely maintenance leads to early deterioration that costs more…

Most folks would rather endure a root canal procedure than attend a safety meeting. And that’s perfectly fine, as long as you are confident that you know all there is to know about doing a job safely. Admittedly, most safety meetings are mind-numbingly boring. That’s largely the fault of the…

As an engineer, I am very analytical and linear in my thought process. This is natural and almost expected as I deal with equations following specific procedures to arrive at design solutions. After all, there is no gray in engineering – it is either black or white. I refer to…

Is “asset management” more than a buzz-word to you and your organization? Are regulations and costs leading you to question whether you need a better understanding of your assets and their future value, risks, and needs? You may find yourself wondering “How can we boost asset life-span?” or “Has the…

Hello friends, colleagues, and clients, I am pleased to announce that I will be presenting at the 3rd Annual BLR Safety Summit, held April 4-6, 2016 in Austin, Texas. I will kick off the Summit with a Preconference Workshop on job hazard analysis and risk management,…

Surveying is a vital step in commercial property development and construction. Land surveyors are licensed professionals who are knowledgeable about local, state and federal requirements. They also provide important information for your attorney, banker, realtor, architect and builder. An experienced surveyor will advise you on what type of survey—boundary, topographic,…

“Now where did I put that (insert item here)?” This is a question I ask myself more than I should. Usually I’m looking for some sort of tool around my house that doesn’t get used very often, but, when I need it I need it now. The wrench to remove…

“IP”… I don’t know how many times I’ve looked at a survey plat (mostly older ones) and cringed when I saw those two little letters at the change in direction of a boundary line. Over the last almost 20 years of being a Land Surveyor, I think that I have…

Pillar, Inc. offers consulting services to Public Private Partnerships, specifically regarding the many different Operations and Maintenance services these specialized procurements include. In order to better educate our partners, as part of our Continuous Improvement philosophy, Pillar periodically provides these informational O&M fact sheets to interested parties.  NOW is the season to order your…

In the US, public health authorities and OSHA have identified violence as the fastest growing occupational safety hazard and are taking steps to address this issue. Some worker populations are more at risk than others, such as delivery drivers, cab drivers, health care workers, social workers, mental health workers, and…

How many times have you asked, “where did the time go?” As my oldest child embarks into college life, as I reflect on living in the same town now for 16 years, and as I approach starting the 14th year of PILLAR, I find myself asking that question more and…

In my years of being involved in the civil engineering realm, several entities, both private and public, have undervalued the information revealed and achieved from a geotechnical or subsurface investigation program. It has been my experience that the most challenging aspects of any construction project is getting structural foundation elements out…

In our world today we have an incredible amount of freedom to move about wherever and whenever we want. We just hop in the car, spend some time on the road and voila. We go to work, visit friends and family, or just go out for ice cream. But sometimes…

“Hey, you there!” “Can I ask what you are doing on my property?!” Every Land Surveyor at some point in his or her career has heard this very question. Trespassing as defined by Meriam Webster’s Dictionary is “an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of…

Rain, and more specifically drainage maintenance, is key to well managed roadways. After the structures and pavement, drainage is the third most important asset making up a roadway system. Drainage consists of everything from main storm drain trunk lines to ditches and all the way down to pavement under-drains. Preventive…