Elliott Richter, RLA
Low Impact Design (LID) refers to managing stormwater runoff at the source (on-site) using green infrastructure techniques. Keeping water on-site reduces
the need for much larger and more costly management systems. It also helps prevent flooding by reducing the amount of water that enters surface waterways
during flash flood events. Conventional stormwater management uses a pipe-and-pond technique which replaces natural systems with concrete, pipes, ponds,
and extensive infrastructure. These systems channelize the water and increase its velocity; thereby greatly increasing the risk of erosion. The goal
of LID is to replace these pipes and ponds with soft engineering practices that: filter, infiltrate, store, and evaporate the run-off on-site. Incorporating
LID early in the planning and design of a project has proven to be much more cost-effective while also providing a community benefit and a much better-looking project. Each of these major
components of LID is discussed below. View Full Post
MUNICIPAL
What Is Low Impact Design (LID)?
Working with Terrain
Shawn Massock, RLA
As land planners, 7gen starts every project looking at the opportunities and constraints provided by the land along with the related regulating government
authorities’ (RGA’s) codes and ordinances. The land’s terrain plays a major role in the project’s design when these opportunities and constraints are
considered along with the RGA’s codes and ordinances. Extreme flat or steep slopes increase the challenge of the design. Relocation of dirt, rock,
or other land materials and construction of retaining walls and/or extreme building foundations increase construction costs of development. In today’s
environment of limited attainable housing costs, development and building costs must be an important consideration when planning a neighborhood. View Full Post
Environmental Constraints Aren’t Always Bad
Elliott Richter, RLA
One of the first steps of every project is analyzing the site’s existing environmental conditions. Some of these conditions are regulated by city,
state and/or federal agencies and can potentially kill your project before it ever begins. Too many existing protected or heritage trees may prevent
a building from being able to fit on site. Too steep of slopes can also prevent buildings as well as roads from being constructed, or greatly increase
the cost to build. Wetlands are an extremely regulated feature and must be protected or mitigated for. Other conditions such as depth to water table,
depth to bedrock, soil composition, endangered species, karst features, and floodplain can all decide the fate of your project. View Full Post
Working with Nature – Outside of Your Job Description
James Parker, P.E.
In the field of land development,
we typically take abandoned or previously farmed land and develop it into picturesque neighborhoods for families to have beautiful homes. During this
process, we utilize many ponds and waterways that are natural habitats for numerous species of animals. Usually, we are prepared to deal with what
nature has in store for us, but sometimes we get hit by surprise. View Full Post
Industry Collaboration
Harry B. “Hal” Walker, P.E.
You’ve heard the phrase “If you ain’t wit us, yore agin’ us!” which probably has its roots in the dialog from numerous old western movies or novels.
Or perhaps the following meme has a familiar ring, “I’m an Engineer, to save time let’s just assume that I’m never wrong.“ Although I take it as a
means to poke fun at ourselves, have you ever met a fellow engineer who believes in that statement? While I personally have not come across an engineer
with such a lofty attitude, I have had stories relayed to me by non-engineers over the years of such individuals. View Full Post
Subsurface Utility Engineering 101
Trisha D. Frederick, P.E., MBA, LEEP AP
Utility Engineer
Need to learn more about Subsurface Utility Engineering,
commonly referred to as SUE?
Imagine this. You are the project manager for a roadway project. It was advertised to the public that the roadway would be done in January, and it
is now June. Six months behind schedule and the project is not complete. Home and business owners are upset because of the backed up traffic, and everyone
is looking to you for an answer. View Full Post
Structures Need Rehab - Part 1
Corbett Freeman, P.E.
Money for infrastructure always seems to be scarce, but our great “Bayou City” continues to grow and, at the same time, continues to age. Without needs-based
programs like ReBuild Houston that prioritize replacement of crumbling infrastructure, a full eighty percent of drainage structures and streets will
outlive their useful life in the next 20 years. Nationally, the last increase in the gas tax, which generally pays for our transportation system, was
over 20 years ago. That bill, however, was passed to balance the budget, not to pay for new and replacement infrastructure. View Full Post
Blog Categories
Recent Posts
- What Is Low Impact Design (LID)?
- Working with Terrain
- Environmental Constraints Aren’t Always Bad
- Working with Nature – Outside of Your Job Description
- Lifelong Learning as An Engineer
- Financial Adulting
- Industry Collaboration
- Leaning In: Women Mentoring Women
- Tips for a Successful Career Fair
- ABC's of Leadership - A Is For Awareness
- Party Like a Professional
- Structures - Part 2
- Being Conscious About Your Social Media Presence
- ITS Equipment is Making the Tollbooth Obsolete
- Subsurface Utility Engineering 101
- Remote Sensing Applications in GIS
- Focusing On Leaders Bridges the Gap to Client Satisfaction
- Time for an Emotional Intelligence Check Up
- Benefits of a Corporate Wellness Program
- Smart Corporate Giving
- Structures Need Rehab - Part 1
- So You Think Your Vote Doesn’t Matter?
- How to Ace Your Interview
- When It Floods In Houston, The Aquifers Are Recharged…Right?
- Municipal Utility Districts (MUD) 101
- Benefits of Successful Team Building
- Environmental Due Diligence
- Detention 101: Detention vs. Retention
- Standing Out and Climbing The Ladder of Success - Young Engineers Series
- The Stereotyping Conundrum
- Do You Live in a Flood Plain?
- The Importance of Getting Involved - Part 2 of our Young Engineers Series
- Too Much of a Good Thing: Nutrient Pollution
- So You’ve Got Your BS In Engineering – Now What’s Next? (Part 1 of our Young Engineers Series)
- Hidden Biases in the Workplace
- Irrigation and Conservation
- Using GIS to Facilitate Development within Floodplain
- Our Future Water: Trends and Challenges