C+S August 2020 Vol. 6 Issue 8

Leadership is Everything How to Successfully Lead Your Team and Firm Through Crisis and Change LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

A four-part Leadership Development Webinar and Discussion Series. There are four key elements needed for success today: Projects, Profits, People, and Purpose. This program is designed to focus on a number of the most important “People” aspects that are increasingly critical to our success both individually and organizationally. Goal: Especially during this time of significant crisis and great change, provide essential tools and insights to current and aspiring leaders and managers to improve our individual and collective success, growth, and resiliency. Format: four-part live and online webinar and discussion series; each with a 60-minute presentation followed immediately by 30 to 60 minutes of group discussion and Q&A.

About Zweig Group

succeed in a complicated and challenging marketplace. We’re the industry leader and premier ment and marketing, the go-to source for data and research, and the leading provider of customized learning and training. We’re more than just a consult

trusted partner with the expe rience and knowledge top AEC

Have questions? Interested in a discounted group rate? Interested in In-House Training?

Continuting Education: This webinar series is worth 6 PDH/LU/CEU.

Taught By:

Contact: events@zweiggroup.com

Chad Clinehens Zweig Group - President & CEO

Peter C. Atherton ActionProve - President & Founder

Yes, it exceed my expectations in that it had a greater focus on the role of people and emotional connections to our shared purpose and one another than simply on tactics.” - PAST ATTENDEE “

LEARN MORE

Zweig Group is an approved provider by the AIA & SHRM

CONTENTS

PAGE 15

THE COVER 2020 Rising Stars– story on page 22

CHANNELS ENVIRONMENTAL + SUSTAINABILITY 8 Carbon Sequestration in Cement Creates Significant Environmental Advances in New Construction 9 NextEra Energy Solar Building 2,000 Acre Solar Farm to Power 30,000 Homes 11 Designing and Building Sustainable Multi-Use Trails Using 3D Soil Confinement STRUCTURES + BUILDINGS 13 Comprehensive Monitoring of Victoria Dam 15 Hamel Music Center Uniquely Isolates Sound, Producing Outstanding Performances 18 Reengineering an Icon 21 Preparing Schools for a Safe Reopening: Recommendations for HVAC Maintenance and Support WATER + STORMWATER 29 Rapid Growth Spurs Massive Water Project BUSINESS NEWS 31 Value Engineering: A Tool for Quality Control in Design SOFTWARE + TECH 38 The Value of Connected Projects: From Design and Build to Operate and Maintain 40 New Era of BIM Lifecycle Implementation UNMANNED SYSTEMS 43 AHCEC Developed Reality Model of Second-holiest City in Islam SURVEYING 45 Driving Efficient Data Capture –– Literally

departments 7 Events

PAGE 18

47 Benchmarks 48 Reader Index Columns 5 Welcome to Rising Stars 2020 Jamie Claire Kiser 6 Live Your Legacy Phil Keil

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from the publisher

The Stars are Rising

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams This edition of Civil + Structural Engineer proudly celebrates our 2020 Rising Stars of the AEC Industry. Rising Stars are those with a record of exceptional ability and professional accomplishments related to management, leadership, teaching, research, and public service. The Rising Stars featured in this month’s publication are the future role models and leaders who will shape their firms and professions, leading to a more sustainable AEC industry. Or, that’s how the award is described on our website. One point of clarification, by way of the above quote from John Quincy Adams: remove the word “future.” The 2020 Rising Stars are role models and leaders today, though we are eager to see their continued contributions to their firms and the AEC industry. Zweig Group’s awards program is central to our company’s mission to Elevate the Industry. Recognizing the bright minds who have chosen to devote their professional energy to the AEC industry is an honor. The Rising Stars award is especially powerful to me as a way to showcase leadership that defies experience. Brilliance, tenacity, and the power to influence change and inspire others to greatness are not gifts bestowed on people once they reach a certain age. It’s so important to the future of our industry that we embrace effectiveness and outcomes and reject conflating accomplishments with the quantifiable, like years of experience or hours on a timesheet. This year has not been generous in providing opportunities to recognize professional success; many of our Rising Stars will not be able to experience the humbling delight of gathering with peers to hear the big announcement made in person at a company event, nor will they be able to shake hands as they accept their award and bask in the accolades. I encourage our readers to fill in the gaps, whether that’s emailing an award winner to congratulate them, posting online, or taking a moment to recognize the Rising Stars in your own organization and network and telling them that their work is valuable, and their contributions are inspiring. Seizing the opportunity that 2020 presents to each one of us to step up and connect personally is an act of leadership in itself, and creatively rising to the occasion and instilling pride in others is precisely the core of the spirit of our Rising Stars award. With that, it is my pleasure to present the 2020 Rising Stars of the AEC Industry!

Jamie Claire Kiser

JAMIE CLAIRE KISER is managing principal and director of advisory services at Zweig Group. Contact her at jkiser@zweiggroup.com.

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We are lucky to be living at a time like this. That may be a bold statement to many reading this as I’ve read my fair share of articles about how 2020 has been a terrible year, and COVID-19 is only one of many reasons. However, this year, my son was born, and we’ve recently moved to New Orleans. As things slowly settle into place, it has afforded me the opportunity to reflect and regain perspective. In many ways, this is one of the greatest moments to be alive. Humanity has never been in a better position. There has been a Facebook post going around about the hardships and perspective of someone whom was born in 1900 that can really help shift your viewpoint. Sure, there is a lot of uncertainty, privation, and suffering. I’d like to challenge you to reframe your reference on the world today in order for you to see the tremendous amount of opportunity that this time presents. Great leaders are shaped by their time and environment just as much as their natural or developed ability. Rather than waiting for the new normal to emerge, what are you doing to create the new normal? It makes me think of American poet, Marge Piercy’s, words “A pitcher cries for water to carry, and a person for work that is real.” Let us reignite our passion and intensity and stop going through the motions and wasting time. This fundamental impulse is not bounded by age. It is time, not to leave a legacy, but to live one. Our mission at Zweig Group is to “elevate the industry.” I believe the foundational building block of this is the individual. Leadership can come from any level in our organizations, and what we need now are leaders. What would you like your legacy to be and how can we bind together with like-minded individuals to push beyond the limitations that have held us back? Is your vision to build people that build the future, create a more equitable world, ElevateHer, generating better health and well-being through design, to inspire healthier communities, to reinvent how people share knowledge and use their environment, world domination, or some other colossal purpose? A quick aside for those that think I’m being too ethereal. People want to do business with, work for, and most importantly contribute to those that believe what they believe. Concentrating on living your legacy will certainly be reflected in better revenue, profit, and return to shareholders, employees, and your communities. After speaking with firms around the country, many have a one-word strategic plan at the moment “survive.” This is also the bias many leaders in our firms have during “normal” years as well, though. They put legacy issues on hold and concentrate on managing the near-term concerns. This generally means doing whatever needs to be done to meet the most urgent demands at any given time. This is why in survey after survey, senior executives say that setting a clear and differentiating strategy was “a significant challenge.” The most certain way to build a company whose leadership will outlast your own, however, is to focus your attention on the few things that your company can do better than anyone else and reinforce that focus in every decision you make. It will help you win market share, generate sustainable growth, and even turn around a decline. Legacy isn’t something you arrive at by copying your competition. Developing a legacy-building strategy means looking within to the sources of your greatest purpose and potential. Where do you, your customers, and your community need you to be uniquely great? Once determined, ruthlessly concentrate your time and resources in those areas. This is “strategic coherence.” It is having a single compelling view of how your company creates value in the market, the capabilities to do so, the way those fit into a system, and the way that relates to the services you provide. This is the only way to consistently create value today. Finally, once you’ve determined how you will live your legacy building strategy, communication is key. Constantly ask yourself if your team can articulate what it is and how you hold each other accountable for keeping focus. How are you living your legacy? We want to hear from you. Stay tuned for more information and resources as we lead up to our ElevateAEC experience this year. Leadership, legacy building, and elevating the industry will be a major focus for the next year.

live your legacy Phil Keil

PHIL KEIL is director of Strategy Consulting, Zweig Group. Contact him at pkeil@zweiggroup.com.

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events + virtual Events

august 2020

unmanned — from state-of-the-art propulsion technology, sensors, energy storage and UAS mitigation solutions to what’s coming over the horizon in AI, 5G, edge computing, and more. As the largest, most significant event for the unmanned systems industry, you’ll find your edge as you explore the latest technology innovations, develop new perspectives as you hear from industry luminaries, and cultivate creativity at special networking events where you will meet some of the most influential leaders in the unmanned and autonomous space. https://www.xponential.org/xponential2020/public/enter.aspx You’ve asked. We’re answering. The Elevate AEC Conference can now be experienced 100% virtually. That’s right—the same world-class experience, but no travel required. The 2020 Elevate AEC Virtual Conference will be a week-long event, providing attendees meaningful content and networking opportunities from afar, highly produced with “live” interactions. The virtual event will include daily doses of keynote speeches, Ted Talks, breakout sessions, virtual social mixing events, and awards celebrations. https://www.zweiggroup.com/virtual-conference/ elevate aec virtual conference october 12 - 16 – virtual Learn the Language of Business: Financial Management october 20 – dallas, tx Solid financial management is crucial to the success of any company, and firms in the AEC industry are no exception. This course provides an overview of business financial management – specifically tailored to our industry – to help firm leaders make informed decisions. Topics include: interpreting financial statements; key performance metrics; benchmarking and predictive cash flow management; and how strategic decisions drive the value of the firm. https://shop.zweiggroup.com/collections/events/products/financial- management-for-non-financial-managers?variant=15425604845603

FAA UAS SYMPOSIUM – REMOTELY PILOTED EDITION, EPOSIDE II august 18 -19 – virtual The FAA UAS Symposium – Remotely Piloted Edition connects enterprise UAS operators and commercial and recreational remote pilots directly with the regulators who are enabling drone integration into the National Airspace System. Learn, train and troubleshoot with the entire UAS community to ensure your operations remain safe and

grow along with regulations. https://faauas.auvsi.net/home

ACCELERATING DEVELOPMENT OF EDGE AI august 26 – virtual

Lengthy product development cycles have always constrained Edge AI and autonomousmachine design. That’s about to change.Anewembedded platform from NVIDIA opens up possibilities with a suite of modules that offer better size vs. power capabilities for AI projects. Join AUVSI and Connect Tech to meet NVIDIA’s Jetson Xavier™ NX, explore its best use cases, and learn how to reduce application development time by harnessing the power of this innovative embedded platform. https://www.auvsi.org/events/webinars/accelerating-development- edge-ai september 2020 AUVSI Unmanned Systems—Defense. Protection. Security. (USDPS) is the only event focused on equipping our armed services and civil protection agencies with the unmanned tools they need to meet today’s threats while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities. You’ll join military officials from across all branches, federal security personnel, and industry leaders to understand the latest programs of record, navigate procurement processes and explore opportunities to do business with federal agencies. https://www.thedefenseshow.org AUVSI UNMANNED SYSTEMS- DEFENSE PROTECTION SECURITY september 8-10 – virtual This one-day event is open to all and for anyone interested in learning more about how to solve the AEC industry’s top challenge: recruitment and retention. The ElevateHER symposium will gather together leaders in the AEC industry, Zweig Group’s ElevateHER 2020 Cohort members, and speakers on topics related to hiring, retaining valuable employees, and fostering a diverse and equitable workplace. https://shop.zweiggroup.com/collections/conference/products/ elevateher-symposium?variant=31530063265864 October 2020 AUVSI Xponential rescheduled: october 5-8 – virtual AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2020 is the global stage for everything elevateher symposium september 30 – virtual

design-build conference and expo october 28-30 – national harbor, md

Design-Builders in the Water/Wastewater and Transportation sectors will be the focus of two dedicated tracks of education targeting the unique needs of each sector. https://dbia.org/conferences/design-build-conference-expo/

Leadership skills for AEC Professionals rescheduled: october 29-30 – dallas, tx

Practical leadership skills are vital to the health and success of every company in any industry. Effective leaders motivate their teams to achieve exceptional results, inspire others to be better than they thought possible, and create an environment where their team is focused and working towards a common vision. Zweig Group’s team of management experts – who have extensive experience working with AEC firms providing solutions to the challenges facing AEC firms today – deliver practical solutions that technical professionals can put to work immediately to lead their firms to success. https://shop.zweiggroup.com/collections/events/products/leadership- skills-for-aec-professionals?variant=30889848569891

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the automotive, aviation, and energy sectors. Tech hasn’t been a target of activists, but the industry is mindful of its impact and proactively searching for ways to do better. It’s a well known fact that data centers are energy intensive. According to research firm IDC, the data center industry has the fastest grow- ing carbon footprint within the IT sector. The number of data centers worldwide has grown from 500,000 in 2012 to more than 8 million today, and expansion will continue on that trajectory as more people work, learn, shop, and stream entertainment from home in the wake of COVID-19. A lot of that expansion will be new construction. Data center operators are always on the lookout for more environ- mentally responsible options. Like other commercial buildings, most efforts have been centered on less energy intensive operations– servers and cooling systems with lower power requirements and/or sourcing renewable energy to reduce the carbon intensity of operations. Given the extensive use of concrete in building data centers, from foun- dations and sidewalks to pre-cast walls and roofing, carbon capture in concrete represents a huge mitigation opportunity. In its quest to build better buildings, Compass Data Centers learned about CarbonCure™ and began due diligence on its effectiveness and the carbon offset po- tential for new projects. CarbonCure™ Potential International engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti conducted a multi- year study on embodied carbon. In it, Tomasetti recognizes that data centers and hospitals, mission critical structures, have the overall high- est levels of embodied carbon of any asset category. In consultation with Thornton Tomasetti, Compass discovered how effective Carbon- Cure™ technology could be in reducing the carbon footprint of each of its new campuses. Building sizes vary, but estimates showed that using CarbonCure™ has the potential to reduce the CO 2 footprint of each Compass campus by around 1,800 tons, equivalent to CO 2 sequestered by 2,100 acres of forest or driving a car 4 million miles. Having quantified the potential of CarbonCure™ as it relates to Com- pass Data Center projects, and with tested confidence in the integrity and application of the product for Compass’s model, the next step was to revisit Compass’s supply chain to ensure a healthy network of precast providers that would be able to deliver CarbonCure™- manufactured cement. With data centers under construction throughout the U.S. and a growing international presence, Compass needed assur- ance that there would be a sufficient network of suppliers. It turned out, CarbonCure™ manufacturers had more coverage than any other carbon-friendly products. Compass sent a request for proposal to each of its existing precast pro- viders with design specifications to gauge their readiness to work with the Carbon Cure™ technology. Several respondents were engaged, familiar with the product, and eager to support this new, better way to build. Ongoing partnership is important to Compass’ model and value to customers. Compass relies on partners who can support Compass’s strategic advantage with quality and speed-to-market.

It’s not news that buildings use a lot of concrete. There are no substitu- tions for it, and the production of it is problematic for the environment, generating 7 percent of all global carbon emissions. What is new is technology for manufacturing concrete that not only lowers cement volume but captures and sequesters CO 2 . As engineering and construction firms take the next step to deliver more environmentally responsible buildings, carbon capture in con- crete has the potential to deliver meaningful impacts. Efforts to Reduce Carbon For years, the construction industry has placed their focus on opera- tional opportunities to reduce the carbon impact of commercial build- ings. Strides have been made to reduce volatile organic compounds, creating safer environments for workers and occupants. There has been an increased awareness of transportation-related impacts on the environment and efforts have been made to source materials closer to construction sites. These have all been important steps to protect the environment. From a construction standpoint, however, solutions to reduce the carbon intensity of new builds have been limited. Recycled steel and concrete fillers have driven some reduction in embodied carbon in new construction, but not made meaningful impacts. Compass Data Centers, one of the nation’s leading data center con- struction companies, recently committed to using CarbonCure™ tech- nology in the production of concrete for its new data centers, which rely heavily on concrete and are proliferating at a rapid pace. This unique additive not only reduces the quantity of cement needed in a mix, but also strengthens the mix while capturing carbon that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. Using CarbonCure™ technology, concrete producers mineralize car- bon waste and inject it into concrete. Injecting carbon in mineral form not only improves the compression strength of the concrete, but also reduces the volume of cement used in concrete. Most importantly, it permanently eliminates CO 2 from the atmosphere, driving substantial positive change in the impact of concrete production on the environment. Search for a Solution Most climate change discussions focus on limiting emissions from Carbon Sequestration in Cement Creates Significant Environmental Advances in New Construction By Nancy Novak

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Compass is thrilled to begin constructing new centers with CarbonCure™-manufactured cement in 2020. It is an exciting new frontier and opportunity for the engineering and construction industry to deliver more environmentally responsible projects and meet goals for the future. NANCY NOVAK, Compass Datacenters’ Chief Innovation Officer, has over 25 years of construction experience and has overseen the delivery of over $3.5 billion in projects during that time. Prior to joining Compass, Nancy was the National Vice President of Operations for Balfour Beatty Construction which she joined after serving in a variety of executive positions for Hensel Phelps Construction Company. Ms. Novak is a member of the iMason’s advisory council and is actively involved in a number of organizations dedicated to the advancement of woman in business including Above the Glass Ceiling (AGC) who are working with Fortune 500 companies to aid in the advancement of women in STEM, Women in Government Relations (WGE), Women Construc- tion Owners and Executives (WCOE), The World Trade Center Initiative, For- tune Media’s Most Powerful Women and the National Women’s Party. Nancy is a frequent speaker on the topic and has participated in the White House Womens and Diversity in STEM forums. Nancy holds a degree in Construction Engineering and Management from San Diego State University.

Going Forward Compass Data Center customers are thrilled to start their projects from a more positive carbon position. As the company seeks to continue eliminating carbon in new builds, Compass is now investigating op- portunities to use aggregate with captured CO 2 in place of natural limestone mined from quarries. SE 2050 challenges structural engineers to take ownership and a more active role in reducing embodied carbon emissions in the built environment. Ultimately, the challenge is designed to prod engineers to eliminate carbon in new builds by 2050. Compass believes carbon capture in concrete is an important, if not the most important, way to achieve the goals set forth by SE 2050. To help the engineering and construction industries further reduce negative impacts on the environment, Thornton Tomasetti created an embodied carbon measurement tool, called Beacon. This free tool is a Revit plug-in. It helps engineers measure embodied carbon in projects and find ways to optimize and reduce carbon output.

NextEra Energy, based out of Florida, is responsible for the develop- ment of Conquest. The New York State Energy Research and Develop- ment Authority (NYSERDA) awarded the utility company 380 mega- watts of solar potential divided between two projects. The NYSERDA supported eligible renewable energy plans all across the state, worth a total of $1 billion in funds. Conquest Solar Farm Project New York state has set a goal to source 70 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. However, the process of completing the Conquest solar farm may meet some resistance. In rural areas his- torically dominated by agricultural activity, local feedback has voiced concern that a farm of this magnitude uses valuable agricultural land. With the average American farmer being more than sixty years old and family operations across the country struggling to keep up, some resi- dents worry that solar may take necessary land from young beginners. However, the concerns over this project are not merely agricultural. There is definitive worry over the aesthetics of solar farms influencing the real estate market and hurting property values. Compared with current solar projects in New York state, the proposed solar farm is enormous. However, the rate at which organizations in- stall it remains unknown. According to NextEra Energy, the project in

Statewide renewable energy initiatives mandated by Governor An- drew Cuomo include an aggressive expansion of solar farms across New York. The number of farms has exploded in the last few months. Due to the influx of potential projects, Cuomo plans to establish a sepa- rate permitting office in the Department of Economic Development to handle the demand. While the largest solar farm currently active in the state is 32 mega- watts, many proposed projects in the development stage would gener- ate more than 200 megawatts. The scope of these new proposals is unprecedented. The Conquest project, named after the adjacent town, could provide enough electricity for 30,000 households. Located in Cayuga County, north of Ithaca and west of Syracuse, this 2,000-acre solar farm could power every home in the county. NextEra Energy Solar Building 2,000 Acre Solar Farm to Power 30,000 Homes By Emily Folk

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Conquest, New York, will not move into production until 2023 at the earliest. The project must be transparent with the local community on the economic influ- ence in the area, along with any long-term detrimental effects. While the public will have the ability to share questions and concerns regarding the project, as it's state-funded, the local government has no voting power on the implementation. NY Renewable Energy Initiatives To better understand the breadth of these new solar projects, including Conquest, it is necessary to investigate the current sustainability initiatives in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo is a huge sup- porter of renewable energy and has made promises to increase the sustainability of energy and economic practices since his original address. While his objectives may seem far-reach- ing, there are many signs that the rollout of green actions in the state will be swift. The governor has proposed changing over to a quicker project approval process, reducing the potential time involved in developing a solar farm from five to nine years to less than one. Solar energy in New York state only ac- counts for 1 percent of power generation. Most installations are residential, with homeowners incentivized to save money on utilities by adding solar panels to their homes. This move towards widespread adoption will have a significant impact on the electrical grid, especially in rural areas. Next Steps in Solar Development The Conquest solar farm project is still in the planning phase, and there is not a date set yet to break ground. The construction and installment of the farm will potentially

create 250 temporary jobs for the county, with three or four permanent positions set for long-termmaintenance. If the project proceeds without any major objections, the development will have a massive influence on the surrounding area for the next thirty years. Conquest is one of many large scale solar projects set for development across New York state. Developers are planning a half-dozen large- scale farms that will cover more than 1,000 acres in the Rochester-

Finger Lakes region. When installed, these advancements will have a momentous influence on the future of solar generation in New York, the United States and beyond.

EMILY FOLK is a freelance writer covering topics in green technology and sustainability. You can follow her on her blog, Conservation Folks, or Twitter @EmilySFolk for her latest updates.

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Trails and greenways play a vital role in communities by preserving and creating open spaces for low or no-cost outdoor recreation. They encourage people to get outside and safely explore environmentally sensitive areas that would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to access. Trails also function as a safe transportation corridor for those who commute by foot or bicycle. When talking about recreational trails, it’s also important to acknowledge the economic impact they have on commu- nities. Many recreational trails across the country are revenue-generating tourist destinations that positively impact local economies. Fundamentals of Good Recreational Trail Design There are three key considerations to good trail design: reinforcement, drainage, and confinement of surface materi- als. These are critical components required to withstand repeated traffic loading, resist degradation from erosion, and minimize environmental impact. Finding economical and low-maintenance solutions to stabilize trails and greenways can be difficult. It is even more challenging in poor soil environments or environmentally sensitive areas where minimal disturbance is allowed, or where paving or filling within an existing floodplain or coastal area is limited by local, state, or federal regulations. Presto Geosystems’ soil stabilization solutions overcome these challenges by providing low environmental impact options that offer long-term stability for pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle, wheelchair (ADA-compliant with appropriate aggregate infill), ATV, or multi-use trails. Protecting the trail surface from excessive rutting and long-term erosion while maintaining adequate permeability are key design considerations for many multi-use recreational trail projects. Build Better Multi-Use Recreational Trails with the GEOWEB® 3D Soil Stabilization System Multi-use trails can be designed to accommodate a variety of traffic, including pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians, and motorized vehicles. Through the confinement of aggregate infill, the GEOWEB 3D Soil Stabilization System creates a stable, low-maintenance trail surface. The highly permeable GEOWEB system reduces stormwater runoff and surface water ponding, allowing for natural percolation through the permeable infill and underlying granular base. The GEOWEB system is fast to install without the use of heavy equipment—even in difficult or remote terrain. Con- struction vehicles can drive on the surface immediately after infill placement, helping to expedite construction. The flexibility and versatility of the GEOWEB systemmake it the ideal solution for recreational trails. Surfaces for multi- use trails are built with GEOWEB sections that are 8.5’ wide by 27’ long, and typically 4” or 6” deep. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) used to manufacture The GEOWEB sections can be easily cut to accommodate any width or length, and its flexible structure allows it to follow the curves and contours of the landscape, seamlessly integrating into the natural environment. Building Trails Through Protected Areas andWetlands/Coastal Areas Designing trails through nature preserves or environmentally sensitive areas may require a low-impact solution to prevent damage to wetlands, coastal areas, and other protected habitats. The load-spreading ability of the GEOWEB 3D Soil Stabilization System helps minimize construction and traffic-related damage to a tree’s critical root zone by reducing soil compaction and protecting near-surface roots. The open-graded aggregate surface is highly permeable, allowing moisture to get to the tree’s roots and limiting stormwater runoff. Case Study: GEOWEB System Provides Flexible, Low-Impact Solution for Texas Shoreline Trail Developers in the City of the Colony, Texas, required a flexible and low-impact recreational trail that conformed to the Designing and Building Sustainable Multi-Use Trails Using 3D Soil Confinement Presto Geosystems | www.prestogeo.com

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curves and contours of the adjacent shoreline. The trail needed to accommodate traffic from pedestrians, bikes, small vehicles, and equestrians. The GEOWEB Soil Stabilization System with a well-graded, decomposed granite infill met these requirements. This infill material was readily available in the area, though any stone is acceptable as long as it is angular and promotes good drainage. Tendons & Anchors Secure Sections Against Potential Uplift Due to the high water table and lake level fluctuations, additional steps were taken to protect against potential uplift of the system. During installation, the contractors ran a series of polyester tendons through the GEOWEB panels and anchored them at regular intervals across each section. The use of tendons in conjunction with the stone infill material helped anchor the system, thereby providing resistance to buoyant forces that could otherwise uplift and deform the trail surface in response to elevated water table conditions This practice is recommended in wet environments with saturated soils. Permeable Surface InfiltratesWater, Reduces Runoff and Ponding Trails built with the GEOWEB system support green infrastructure initiatives because they do not disrupt the water cycle or impact the groundwater flow. No additional stormwater infrastructure is necessary when the trail surface is permeable, so there is minimal impact on the surrounding environment. The result was a stabilized, clean trail, suitable for a variety of traffic without needing constant maintenance. The path is clearly delineated while maintaining a natural aesthetic. Design Support & Resources for Recreational Trail Design The engineering team at Presto Geosystems works closely with civil engineers, offering free project evaluation ser- vices and on-site support for recreational trails and embankments.

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august 2020

An automated monitoring system, optical total stations, GNSS receiv- ers and other structural monitoring instrumentation continuously monitors Sri Lanka’s tallest dam — providing a 360-degree view in real-time — of all dam movements. Victoria Dam is the tallest dam in Sri Lanka, located on the Mahaweli River and about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the town of Teldeniya. A double-curvature concrete arch dam, it is vital to the area in terms of agricultural irrigation and the production of hydroelectric power. Con- struction of the dam started in 1978 and was completed in April 1985. Challenge Due to the age of the dam and its importance to the infrastructure of the country, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka determined the dam’s original monitoring system required a major upgrade. Authori- ties needed continuous monitoring capabilities to analyze the structural integrity of the dam, as well as to understand its behavior according to the dam’s original design. The team investigated modern structural monitoring technology and ultimately selected Trimble sensors and Trimble 4D Control software to build a sophisticated motion monitor- ing instrumentation network. The crown jewel of Sri Lanka dams Considered by many as the crown jewel of Mahaweli Development Projects, the Victoria Dam is built in a deep valley just above the Vic- toria Falls rapids and 300 meters (984 feet) below the point where the Hulu Ganga river meets the Mahaweli River. At the time of its original construction, the dam’s funding, design, and the technical expertise was provided by the United Kingdom. Then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was at the dam’s ceremonial opening in 1985 along with then-president of Sri Lanka, J. R. Jayewardene. The dam is 520-meters long and 122-meters high (1,706-feet long by 400 feet high) and has a width of six meters (19 feet) at the crest and 25 meters (82 feet) at the base. Water from the dam is fed to a powerhouse via a 5,646 meter (18,523 foot) tunnel. From there, tanks feed three 70 megawatt, 12.5 kV turbines, which produce up to 780 gigawatt hours of electrical energy annually (roughly 6 percent of Sri Lanka’s power). The dam creates the Victoria Reservoir which has a gross storage ca- pacity of 722,000,000 cubic meters. (Source: Amazing Lanka ). The region where the dam is located has periods of extreme rainy seasons, which can dramatically impact reservoir water levels to po- tentially unsafe tolerances. When the dam was originally constructed, engineers installed a comprehensive monitoring system that included a geodetic system and instruments embedded into the dam’s structure. Monitoring tasks were conducted manually, including the geotechnical Comprehensive Monitoring of Victoria Dam Modern Monitoring of Victoria Dam Performed by Sri Lanka Authorities Using Trimble Monitoring Solutions

sensors that were surveyed by staff every two weeks and the geodetic points, which were measured and recorded on an annual basis. Original monitoring equipment shows its age Over the years, some of structure’s original measurement equipment stopped working properly, parts became unserviceable, and the ac- curacy of the data produced was compromised. Er. S.R.K. Aruppola, Director of Operation and Maintenance for Victoria Dam, explains the dam’s conventional manual geodetic measurement processes were becoming tedious and dangerous to manage as the terrain is steep and slippery. Measuring and recording the dam’s movement with these in- struments was also prone to human error, requiring the team to fix each instrument on four different pillars and take multiple sets of readings at separate intervals. Adding concern, minor cracks in the dam were found in 1996. After consulting with technology specialists, the dam’s director and his team began designing a fully-automated, real-time geodetic sys- tem to replace the manual monitoring system. The new monitoring system is comprised of several components, including Trimble NetR9 Ti-M GNSS receivers and GNSS antennas, Trimble S9 robotic total stations, Trimble DiNi digital precise leveling instruments, automated water level reading systems and the integration of other geotechnical instrumentation. In addition to these components, all movement sen- sors were designed to connect to the core of the monitoring system — Trimble 4D Control monitoring software. Trimble 4D Control software collects, processes, visualizes and analyzes the data of all monitoring sensors installed at the Victoria Dam and populates the results in real-time through an intuitive web interface. The software also issues alarms automatically whenever the system detects movement outside of user determined, acceptable parameters and sends status reports at user defined intervals. Optical monitoring—setup of prisms and robotic total stations Because of the double curvature of the Victoria Dam wall and often rainy conditions in the area, installing the required monitoring instru- mentation across the dam was quite challenging. To start, the team had to develop a safe method to install the instrumentation, which included the construction of a gantry-like system suspended from a crane. This setup allowed an engineer to reach the wall of the dam safely to install the components, even at its most concave shape. The team installed

august 2020

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72 monitoring prisms set across the dam wall and on the dam crest next to the overflow gates. 48 of these prisms were placed at the same locations as the pre-existing survey targets, and 24 were added at new locations. In addition to the prisms at the dam, 40 prisms were installed on the left bank of the dam and 32 on the right bank. During installation, the team also set up 64 millimeter (2.5 inch) prisms as part of the control network for the Trimble total stations, comprised of four points per station. The Trimble S9 total stations collect data measurements automatically for consistent and reliable data capture of all movement across the dam. Today, the total stations are scheduled to take a two-face observation of all prisms every three hours, which takes approximately 20 minutes. The collected data is then sent to Trimble 4D Control software for processing, analysis and visualization.

In total, data from 479 sensors is pulled into the Trimble monitoring software. Because the data can be collected and correlated in one plat- form, today’s dam engineers have a much better understanding of the structure’s history and transitions over time. Improved monitoring leads to enhanced analysis With the implementation of an automated monitoring system, Victoria Dam engineers now have a much more comprehensive and accurate collection of movement data at their fingertips. The team can focus their efforts on detailed analysis, predicting future behavior and con- tinually studying the behavior of the dam with the added security of the system’s automated alarm system that alerts them to any changes to the dam exceeding set thresholds. The real-time, and now accurate, data allows the team to determine temperature and water level effects, and their influence on temporary movements, as well as permanent deformations. Among other observations made since the adoption of Trimble equipment, the team has noticed irreversible swelling of the concrete of the dam, which will continue to be observed. Commenting on the new monitoring system post-installation, Er. Arru- pola observed, “Working with Trimble’s automated, real-time geodetic GNSS monitoring data, combined with automated water level read- ings, has enabled us to establish a more complete and more accurate method for monitoring movement, reservoir crest levels and possible swelling of the Victoria Dam.”

GNSS and water level monitoring—setup of GNSS receivers and piezometers To provide redundancy to prism monitoring and to monitor the stabil- ity of the control network, GNSS monitoring was integrated into the system. The team installed three Trimble NetR9 Ti-M GNSS receivers on the dam crest and one as a base station in the control center building. For integrated data processing, each GNSS antenna is co-located with a prism. All GNSS receivers on the dam crest transmit the observa- tion data to the control center over Wi-Fi with a backup power source completing each GNSS station. Amongst other sensors, the team also incorporated vibrating wire piezometers and a wireless data logger system to automatically read water levels. The wireless data logger transmits readings from close to the center of the dam crest to the control center building where the server hosting the system’s monitoring software is located. Currently, the GNSS processing interval is set to three hours, while the data log- ger of the piezometers sends new data sets once per hour. Bringing it all together—Trimble 4D Control monitoring software The heart of the monitoring system is Trimble 4D Control monitoring software. Victoria Dam project leaders decided to install Trimble 4D Control on a server in the dam’s control center. The software processes data from optical total stations, GNSS receivers, geotechnical and other types of sensors. The historic monitoring data was imported into the software to analyze the behavior of the dam since it was erected. The manually collected historic data, the new real-time raw data, as well as the processed results allow project engineers to apply additional, customized calculations to the sensor data.

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august 2020

The Hamel Music Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a world-class concert hall that required extreme accuracy in its design. This one-of-a kind music facility required structural and acoustic designs that would work together. Teamwork and expert knowledge resulted in just that: extraordinary sound quality and listening experi- ences for university students, faculty and community patrons. Many experts gave careful consideration to the facility’s structural strength and support, reverberation and sound isolation, acoustical performance and materials used, among other specifications. As part of the design team, raSmith (structural engineering) worked with Strang, Inc. (architect) and Talaske (acoustics) to provide a struc- The Mead Witter School of Music was housed within a campus build- ing constructed in 1969. Over the years, significant building changes to keep pace with the times had not occurred, outside of a major asbestos removal in the 1990s. Staff were teaching, and students were learning in an environment that begged for physical and functional upgrades as the school continued to grow. The need for sound isolation was para- mount to the musicians’ achievements of excellence. Predevelopment for a new School of Music with a modern environ- ment began in the mid-2000s. While the goal for building occupancy was early 2017, multiple setbacks left the project on hold until many generous donor contributions allowed the project to resume in 2014. Beyond budgetary considerations, the new building would need to con- nect the campus to its surrounding community. But how would this connection be achieved? In order to create this new arts corridor, the Hamel Music Center would be situated along busy University Avenue. Next door to the Hamel Music Center stands the Chazen Museum of Art, University Theatre across the street, and the Wisconsin Union and Wisconsin Union Theater down the block and around the corner. Top-Notch Sound The team’s goal was to design a building fit for rehearsing and perform- ing. Acoustics and sound isolation needed to be top tier for exceptional performances unlike any other. Our structural engineering team faced challenges of isolating sound stemming from busy pedestrian and ve- hicular traffic (including ambulances) along University Avenue, which is one of the city of Madison’s most traveled vehicular streets. Addi- tionally, noise pollution was expected from doors opening and closing, chatter within the lobby, loud HVAC systems, and music played in adjacent halls. Each of the music center’s halls (concert, recital and turally smart design. A School in Need Hamel Music Center Uniquely Isolates Sound, Producing Outstanding Performances By Steve Roloff, P.E., LEED AP

The Hamel Music Center is the new addition to the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Mead Witter School of Music. The building consists of a concert hall, recital hall and rehearsal hall, all open to the campus community and members of the surrounding community. The building features superior sound isolation design and construction to enhance and treat patrons to performances like they have never experienced.

rehearsal) and its lobby needed to be isolated from one another, like a vault for acoustics. Solutions to highly unique problems were inventive, such as the use of acoustical isolation joints (AIJs) that were essential to providing superior sound isolation around the three individual halls. Acoustical isolated construction, an acoustical coffer system and other techniques were also employed. Unique Sound Treatments The overall structural design that worked perfectly for acoustical re- quirements and sound isolation was to essentially place three separate buildings within one larger building. The concert, recital and rehearsal halls are self-supporting, using independent lateral truss systems, and Upon entering the Hamel Music Center, a large, modern lobby opens to both the first and second floors. A monumental staircase winds its way to the second floor, or a lobby area that appears to float, due to the structural ingenuity of raSmith’s structural engineers. On either side of the lobby is unique zig-zag paneling on the walls of the rehearsal and recital halls. These precast panels, which aid in sound isolation, were specifically designed for the Hamel Music Center project.

august 2020

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A typical joint consists of steel beams connected to a steel haunch welded to an embedded plate placed at the outside face of the hall’s concrete wall. Direct steel-to-steel contact would transmit noise and vibration in the finished building and this needed to be avoided. To create the isolated joint, a neoprene bearing pad was added on top of the steel haunch on which the in- framing steel beam sat via a steel bearing plate atop the neoprene pad. To secure this connection, a pair of threaded studs welded to the haunch bolted down the beam. To avoid direct contact of the stud’s washer and nut to the in-framing beam, a neoprene washer was added between the beam and stud washer. But the problem was not fully re- solved, as the steel-on-steel contact could still occur between the studs and the beam and its bearing plate. To further eliminate noise transfer, a

The concert hall is the largest hall in the Hamel Music Center. The hall applies many creative, smart techniques to maximize the fine art of acoustics. Circles, better known as an acoustical coffer system, line the walls and ceiling to absorb and reflect sound. Two hidden, large (each capable of fitting 14 public transportation buses!) reverberation chambers flank either side of the stage. Curved balconies redirect sound back to the audience.

isolated from the large overall building (including the main lobby and its required support space) via the acoustical isolation joint. The two-inch acoustical joint assembly may be small but its impact is critical to the structure: It essentially separates the concert hall from the rest of the building framing into, and supported by, the 16-inch concrete walls surrounding and serving as part of the hall’s structural system.

neoprene bushing surrounded the weld stud. This resulted in a connec- tion design in which no steel touched and eliminated the possibility of reverberation. (However, these connections were permitted to transfer loads.) The structural design incorporated hundreds of these joints. Beyond this joint assembly, the concert hall’s perimeter concrete walls, soaring to a 70-foot maximum height, easily addressed lateral stability needs. The structure outside of the hall was attached to the hall’s walls via the acoustical isolation joint. This connection eliminated the need for unsightly and costly columns in the structural design. Instead, the column-free areas offer unobstructed views of concert performers. The recital and rehearsal halls utilized double-wall construction. For the recital hall, this consisted of an exterior precast wall panel in con- junction with an interior acoustically isolated concrete masonry unit wall. Similarly, the rehearsal hall’s perimeter used a precast panel but with an acoustically isolated interior drywall system instead. An acoustical coffer system (a series of strategically sized and strate- gically placed concave and partially or fully hollow circles) line the concert hall’s walls. These sizable circles treat sound by absorbing and reflecting it, along with the hidden reverberation chamber areas where sound actually passes through. The coffer system is visible and fits in beautifully with the rest of the hall’s aesthetics. Structural Design Enhances Building Aesthetics The Hamel Music Center’s second floor lobby hangs from the roof structure to create a column-free area at the main lobby and a floating lobby appearance, with a monumental staircase connecting the two levels. The lobby combines ductwork laterally into a curtain-wall sys-

An aerial view of the project: The largest area with circles in the concrete is the concert hall; both sides have large reverberation chambers for acoustic treatment. Adjacent to University Avenue in Madison, Wis., are the recital hall (left) and rehearsal hall (right).

csengineermag.com

august 2020

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