With many disciplines working together on a variety of projects, perhaps the best way to get a feel for a firm’s impact is simply, a coffee with… the people doing the work.
This video series features experts sharing insights gained during their time in the AEC industry, with an emphasis on the importance of collaboration to meeting a common goal of creating better communities.
In this edition of ‘a coffee with…’, we learn from a landscape architect and a senior designer within architecture about the importance of designing and placemaking for people’s lives. Find out in the video and its transcript below:
Improving People’s Lives through Impactful Design
I think we’re changing lives, making them better.
One of the things that I love to see is when I go to one of these places that I’ve designed and there’s a family out there or kids swinging on the swing set. You’re seeing this idea you had in your brain come to fruition and being enjoyed by the community… it’s one of the best things.
My name is Chris Maykut. I’m a senior designer here at Otak working on the architecture team and I’ve been here for five years.
I’m Gabriel Kruse, I’m a landscape architect. I’ve been with Otak for almost nine years.
What is the Importance of Collaboration between Disciplines on Projects?
I really do believe this that there’s, you know, there’s no “I” in team… that collaboration is very key to a successful project.
He’s in landscape, I’m in architecture, I’ve got the built form, he’s got the natural form, but we also kind of come together and there’s this blended area.
So, I think we both have a job of imagining, creating, and developing places for people to inhabit. And I think that’s, you know, really important, and I think collaboration makes that a much stronger end result.
We meet, like, what’s it at 5 feet outside, 5 feet outside the building? Yeah.
But you know I think on the bigger projects we have multiple buildings… we create the space in between the buildings together.
I think for me as a landscape architect and working with Chris and architecture, we’re trying to make really great places for people to live. Going home to a great piece of architecture, going through that landscape experience, also just having all those all those pieces working together in harmony is a real goal of ours.
How Does a Multidisciplinary Environment Create Unique Opportunities to Work Together?
I think of Otak as a family, it’s kind of corny. But I have one project that the landscape consultant is outside of Otak, and another project where the landscape is Gabe or someone else on this team… I can coordinate and communicate with in in both situations quite well. But I feel just the family atmosphere of Otak, I feel like I can be more open and more responsive in communicating back and forth.
We both use a 3D modeling software and we’re both pretty good at using that software. So, we can exchange models together and say what do you think of this?
You know, he’s got this big building model and a lot of things going on in there.
And then I’ll take a piece of it and say, ‘hey, give me that model,’ and I’ll take it and then I’ll put my landscape design in there and I’ll send it back to him… drop that in there see what you think and then Chris [and I] we’ll just kind of work together back and forth that way massage it back and forth, massage it back and forth.
Not everyone designs that way, but I think Chris and I both have that. We’ll use that 3D modelling as a tool, as a design tool, not just a presentation tool. I think that, yeah, that is one way I think we really work together well.
What is Most Exciting about Working in the Design Industry?
Making someone feel like they have a home and it’s just not a place that they’re sleeping at. They’re having birthday parties. They’re, you know, sharing fun times with friends and family.
And, you know… we’re helping them create memories for their lives here at Otak.
We do a lot of multifamily and specifically affordable right now. I really enjoy that as opposed to doing, you know, high end condos in downtown Portland. There’s more meaning to it and… that gets me excited to come into work everyday.
Designing a park, then going to see it afterwards and seeing people use it; enjoy it; and then talking to the neighborhood and [seeing] just how much people appreciate open space… It’s a really important part of neighborhood design and community design.
There are a lot of when that’s where, you know, all the kids spend a lot of their time and that’s what I really look forward to.
In the realm of environmental restoration, the concept of adaptive management has emerged as a crucial tool for ensuring the long-term success of projects. This approach, rooted in data analysis from monitoring a project site over time, allows for continuous improvement and informed decision-making to ultimately enhance the resilience of restored natural systems.
In this piece, we delve deeper into how an adaptive management plan furthers the understanding and benefits of multi-objective projects. We’ll also take a closer look at a stream in Boulder County, where the approach is helping to balance fish habitat benefits with water rights management and providing valuable insights to advance the practice for future projects across the industry.
Adaptive management is a systematic process that involves applying knowledge gained from ongoing monitoring. That knowledge is used to improve project specific decision-making with informed management actions that maintain project goals under uncertain conditions. The approach relies on data gained from monitoring over time to help inform ongoing project operations as well as advance scientific understanding through “learning by doing.”
The Adaptive Management Process
The process for an adaptive management plan acknowledges the dynamic nature of river systems, enabling project adjustments to meet goals and ensure long-term success. By establishing a framework for iterative decision-making, this approach adds control to situations with high uncertainty.
With an emphasis on fostering collaboration among stakeholders, an adaptive management process aligns clearly-defined project elements with desired outcomes. Collectively, these elements allow for the flexibility of agile actions and fixes (if needed) to ensure the project continues to meet the design goals. Successfully designing a plan features some key steps.
Establishing Project Goals
During the design phase, defining project goals with a diverse set of stakeholders at the table is paramount. These goals typically encompass multiple priorities and are meant to set clear direction for the expected outcome of the project.
Stating Monitoring Objectives
With project goals in mind, a project team can then establish monitoring objectives aimed at accurately measuring how those goals are being met. These objectives serve as the basis for evaluating project performance over time and informing adaptive management actions.
Linking Monitoring Parameters
Once monitoring objectives are set, the question becomes, what specifically is going to be monitored? Monitoring parameters are measurable (either qualitative or quantitative) aspects of the project that can be aligned to monitoring objectives they aim to address. By defining these parameters, stakeholders can track progress, identify deviations from expected outcomes, and define triggers for adaptive management interventions.
Photo Credit: Boulder County Parks and Open Space
Establishing Methodology
There are often several different ways to monitor a parameter. Establishing specific methods for a project outlines the techniques and tools used to address each monitoring parameter.
The selection of a method may be influenced by available budget, equipment available, as well as the importance of each individual parameter. By adhering to specific criteria, the methodology ensures the reliability, consistency, and repeatability of data collection, which could allow for not only project-specific year-to-year comparisons, but apples-to-apples comparisons between other adaptive management projects in the region.
Setting Thresholds
Thresholds are predetermined values for each parameter that, when surpassed, trigger adaptive management actions that aim to course-correct a project back to desired conditions. Setting thresholds can often be difficult, but with close coordination with stakeholders, project teams can determine values that at a minimum, maintain an ongoing conversation about potential project improvements.
Taking Adaptive Management Action
When triggered, adaptive management actions aim to address identified issues and improve project outcomes. Stakeholders collaborate to assess results, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and apply lessons learned to future decision-making processes. Adaptive management actions may vary in severity, ranging from minor adjustments to significant project revisions. By preparing for potential outcomes, stakeholders minimize uncertainty and maintain project resilience.
If all steps are taken properly, adaptive management actions should allow for agile improvements that return expected results. Altogether, this process ensures projects achieve and maintain goals while taking a proactive approach that avoids costly and time-consuming reactive adjustments.
Fish Passage, Water Rights, and Adaptive Management Along St. Vrain Creek for Boulder County Parks & Open Space
In 2013, Boulder County experienced historic and catastrophic flooding that damaged property and infrastructure and reshaped the land and riverscape of the St. Vrain Creek corridor. Rebuilding from the flood presented an opportunity to repair infrastructure and restore the stream and ditch connections in ways that improved resilience to future floods and reconnected habitat for native transition zone fishes.
This case study along St. Vrain Creek illustrates the application of adaptive management for two stream restoration and fish passage projects located three miles apart.
For both projects, Boulder County Parks and Open Space replaced flood-damaged channel-spanning diversion dams with fish-passable structures that maintained the delivery of decreed water rights at the proper time, with the overall goals of enhancing stream connectivity and resilience in the St. Vrain corridor.
Credit: Boulder County Parks and Open Space
Goals and Objectives
The adaptive management plan focuses on confirming project functionality based on project goals. These goals span water delivery, protecting infrastructure, improving fish passage and habitat, and the restoration of stream and floodplain connectivity.
Parameters
Monitoring parameters were identified based on plan objectives and included some general categories. Those include vertical and lateral channel stability, infrastructure functionality, fish presence and habitat, and vegetation. These and other parameters were chosen to serve as indicators of project performance and guide adaptive management interventions.
Methods
The methodologies selected to assess monitoring parameters included field observations and photographs, drone technology, stream measurements, and telemetry studies. Where available, use of existing standardized protocols ensure data accuracy and facilitate interdisciplinary assessments.
Adaptive Management Actions
As discussed, management actions are triggered when/if certain thresholds (identified within the plan) are met. These actions are coordinated with the stakeholder group for consideration of the benefit/impact that could come from implementing the management action. Adjustments over time that do not compromise project goals may not warrant intervention.
Possible management actions range in levels of urgency from simply verifying a parameter in question, to increased frequency of monitoring, to small-scale or large-scale modifications of project components. For St. Vrain Creek, these parameters cover a wide-range of project elements, including some highly-visible examples.
Large Wood Parameter
Large wood is an essential feature to enhance fish habitat and stabilize banks. As an established goal for Boulder County Parks and Open Space, large wood was included as part of the stream restoration design under the objective of enhancing fish habitat for regional species.
Goals
Objectives
Parameters
Methodology
Thresholds
Actions
Enhance native fish habitat in the channel
Improved fish passage and habitat
Large wood functionality
Field observation / Photo points
Reduction of in-channel large wood by 25%
Augmentation of large wood within the reach
Flanking or instability of installed large wood structures
Re-key structures into bed and bank
As part of St. Vrain’s adaptive management plan, the functionality of the large wood is monitored through established photo points and field observations. This methodology allows the team to measure the way large wood moves through the site and potentially impacts fish habitat over time. If certain thresholds on the reduction of in-channel large wood or instability of installed structures are observed, action is taken to augment or re-key those structures into the bed and bank.
Vertical Channel Stability Parameter
With the goals of maintaining water delivery and reliability and improving aquatic ecology, parameters were established in the adaptive management plan to ensure the vertical stability of the channel. The presence of an active head cut (caused by erosion) can quickly alter the channel slope and result in a channel steeper than the threshold for native fish and impact the ability to divert the appropriate amount of water.
Channel slopes exceed 4.5%, without multiple, variable margin flow paths or roughness elements present
Creation of multiple low flow paths / Regrading of the channel (localized grading by hand or with machinery)
Maintain water delivery and reliability / Improve aquatic ecology / Increase stream stability
Water delivery / Fish passage and habitat / Channel stability
Vertical stability
Longitudinal profile survey / Photo points
No longer a low flow path for fish passage
Regrading of the channel (localized grading by hand or with machinery)
Maintain water delivery and reliability / Improve aquatic ecology / Increase stream stability
Water delivery / Fish passage and habitat / Channel stability
Boulder vane stability
Field observations / Photo points
Evidence of boulders within vane moving or scouring
No longer a flow flow path for fish passage
Repair and stabilization of individual boulders
Placement of bed material to restore passability
Field observations, photo points, and longitudinal profile surveys were established to monitor for evidence of scour or head cut development, as well as any changes in slope throughout the project area. Additionally, field observations are recorded within the engineered boulder vanes to identify any boulders that may have shifted in a manner that inhibits low flow pathways for fish passage. Based on findings, localized regrading, stabilization of boulders, and/or the placement of bed material to restore low flow passability can be implemented.
Learning Lessons through Adaptive Management
Still early in the monitoring process (two years of data), insights from the adaptive management plan in collaboration with Boulder County Parks & Open Space will be used to highlight the success of diversion/fish passage designs, potential for improvements in design, and the importance of adaptive management. By monitoring these innovative approaches and applying lessons learned, Boulder County is helping pave the way for sustainable stream restoration practices region wide.
Adaptive management offers a robust framework for navigating the complexities of stream restoration projects. By embracing iterative decision-making, stakeholders can achieve a balance between environmental conservation and water rights management, ensuring the long-term resilience and connectivity of natural systems. The case of Boulder County serves as a testament to the transformative potential of adaptive management for not just one community, but for the greater industry while inspiring future innovations and best practices.
Otak is celebrating Engineers Week by sitting down for coffee with Sean Clark, senior project manager and passionate engineer! Check out the video and the transcription below:
“My name is Sean Clark, and I’m a structural engineer.”
What is your role on the structural team?
“I work a lot with architects. I also work a lot with the civil department, and water and natural resources – we do a whole lot of retaining walls on the side of roads, so I work with the transportation department as well.”
“The structure is basically anything in the built environment, and that encompasses different people at Otak, so it’s a wide variety.”
What excites you about the field of engineering?
“What excites me the most I think is the amount of technology and new types of construction. I get really excited when somebody’s like, ‘Ooh, we can use titanium rods to strengthen this girder.’ You know, something different.”
“Elegance in design is efficiency, you know? So, I take pride in being able to give an elegant design to somebody’s problem. One of the interesting ones that I’ve got recently is that we’re doing a rain shed in Hawaii. So, one – it’s Hawaii, and two – the seismic there is just crazy, it’s built on the side of a volcano. It’s really interesting to see how my part is just structures, but to get the water to all these people involves a lot of different disciplines.”
What do you enjoy most about being an engineer?
“I think what I love about engineering is that every day I create. It takes a lot of imagination, it takes a lot of work, it takes a lot of knowledge, but there’s just nothing better.”
Field Notes is a recurring series where impactful aspects of projects are brought into focus from the field, along with the people who make it possible.
There’s something special about transportation projects and the impact connectivity can have on a community. With greater connectivity comes greater access to healthier lifestyles, vital resources, and a wider range of opportunities. For public transit and infrastructure, this is especially true.
The Sound Transit East Link Extension project, which is designed to expand the light rail connection between Seattle, WA and its surrounding area, certainly fits this notion. As an analyst within our project controls group, our team has had the opportunity to bring efficiencies through tools and data to the development of this unique public asset.
I was honored to also have an opportunity to visit the project site itself, which I’d spent the last few years of my life working on from afar. What I found in this one-of-a-kind rail transport that features a floating bridge only reinforced my view of this feat of engineering, and my pride in being part of it bringing value to the community it aims to service.
Adreanna on-site at the Sound Transit East Link Extension.
The light rail has a combination of Direct-Fixation Tracks and Ballasted Tracks through the tunnels. Furthering the unique design of the 14-mile run connecting Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond.
Welcome to Judkins Park Station: Through the Eyes of An Engineer
Judkins Park Station (or JPS), located on 23rd Ave S, in the center of I-90, is one of the stations within the E130 scope and one of ten under construction within the 14-mile Eastlink Extension.
The access to this station allows the community to commute from Seattle to South Bellevue via light rail. JPS is right across the street from the Northwest Jimi Hendrix Park and is designed for people to walk, bike, or bus directly to the station!
Experiencing the East Link Light Rail
The Light Rail runs from the International District in Seattle, through Mount Baker Tunnel, to Mercer Island and concludes at Redmond. The Eastlink Extension creates yet another way for folks to commute without leaving behind a carbon imprint on our environment. The station itself is beautiful, and has a special flow of artwork and intentional landscaping throughout.
A Unique Design to Connect Communities
In the eye of an engineer, the project as a whole is a tangible form of beauty. The I-90 bridge is made up of several pontoons with a density less than water, allowing them to literally float! As astonishing as that may be, the bridge carries large volumes of traffic flow daily and will soon be carrying the additional weight of the light speed rail.
One of the most fascinating pieces of this experience is that the design of the light speed rail had to account for the water displacement caused by the weight of the materials and equipment required to build the tracks for the light speed rail. Additionally, the design had to account for the respective impacts on the bridge itself prior to construction.
One of the many things that make Judkins Park Station special is the artwork found throughout the station.
Field Notes is a recurring series where impactful aspects of projects are brought into focus from the field, along with the people who make it possible.
Land surveying is an ever-evolving profession, with data acquisition and measurement tools continuously becoming obsolete as they are replaced with faster, more accurate, safer, and more efficient tools. One such tool involves the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or what’s more generally known as a “drone”. When paired with a sensor (aka payload) the drone becomes an unmanned aerial system (UAS), capable of capturing unique perspectives from otherwise unreachable vantage points.
In the survey and mapping industry, drones have grown to be safer, less expensive, and easier to operate. Gone are the days of creating your own drones, control systems, payloads, and controllers to tailor an unmanned aerial system (UAS) to a project’s particular needs. The result of a drone survey today can provide aerial imagery, point cloud data, and ultimately data that allows for map creation and digital terrain modeling. Just as important, a drone survey also allows us to obtain a perspective of the overall context of a site in a way that is immediately understandable by non-surveyors.
In this piece, we’ll examine exactly what a drone survey is, what it’s capable of, and how it leads to more informed projects from design through construction.
Drone surveying is the art of mapping areas of land using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. Drones carrying cameras or sensors (known as “payloads”) are used to capture data that can be turned into images ranging from the visual spectrum to infrared or point clouds utilizing LiDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging).
Modern drones can be deployed quickly and safely, providing images and videos in different formats, perspectives, and angles. Drone images and videos can be used to create maps, orthomosaics (aka “aerial photos”), and help users better view and understand view corridors.
The Science of Turning Data into 2D and 3D Models
In processing what’s captured during a drone survey, flat, 2D photos are used to create 3D models and obtain a digital terrain model of a site. How? Through a technique called structure from motion (SfM).
Structure from motion is a photogrammetric technique for estimating three-dimensional structures from two-dimensional image sequences. It is based on the principle that if we know the position and orientation of a drone’s camera when images are taken, we can use corresponding features to compare overlapping images as the drone has moved to reconstruct a 3D structure of area.
The SfM process works by first finding matching features in different images of the same scene. These features can be anything from corners of buildings to leaves on trees. Once the matching features are found, the software can use them to estimate the position and orientation of the camera for each image. With the camera positions known, the software can then reconstruct the 3D structure of the scene.
Drone Survey and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
A drone survey also naturally lends itself to Geographic Information System (GIS) applications. For the practice of mapping and analyzing geographically referenced information, the perspective and data obtained from a drone can significantly streamline that process.
The ability to produce this accurate and information-rich view of a given area has widespread benefits for a variety of projects. For instance, UAV captured data can be used in GIS for anything from modeling post-fire debris flow potential or avalanche terrain risk studies to view shed studies for planning and architecture projects. It can also have major applications in environmental design including the analysis of river morphology and water turbidity, plant species and land cover classification, advanced wetland identification modeling, and many more.
[Interactive] Slider in ArcGIS Showing Water Level Change Over Time
Why Use a Drone Survey – An Essential Component of Upkeep, Planning, and the Design Through Construction Process
The world isn’t a static place, and neither are the uses for drone imagery. While the prevailing usage is to create a map or aerial photo of a site once, mapping how that site changes over time is another very valuable application. Whether it be monitoring how plantings are growing, or tracking how woody debris and boulders may move seasonally in a stream restoration project, recording change over time reveals how well the project stands up to the elements of nature and time.
As the field has evolved, many manufacturers are building UAS specifically for land surveying uses – “metric” cameras for high accuracy, high resolution photography and LiDAR to name a couple. Advances in battery life, carrying capacity, and overall capabilities have rapidly accelerated while costs have come down and piloting has become more intuitive.
Drone surveys can provide highly-accurate data with a level of detail that is not possible with traditional surveying methods over wider areas. This is because drones can fly closer to the ground and take more photographs, which can then be stitched together to create a detailed 3D model of the survey area. Whereas traditional surveying methods require intention to map every specific item with a survey field crew, with a drone, you get all the items in your photo and then decide what to include in your map.
Cost-Effectiveness
Drone surveys are typically less expensive than traditional surveying methods, as they require fewer personnel and less equipment. Additionally, drone surveys can be completed much more quickly than traditional surveys, which can further reduce costs.
Efficiency
Drone surveys may be completed much faster than traditional surveys. This is because drones can cover large areas of land in a short period of time. The approach also opens the door to a wider variety of project sites as drone surveys can be conducted in areas that are difficult or dangerous to access using traditional methods.
Safety
All work done with drones for commercial purposes must be flown or overseen by a Remote Pilot in Charge having their FAA Part 107 UAS Remote Pilot License. Drone surveys are much safer than traditional surveys, as they do not require surveyors to put themselves in dangerous situations. For example, drone surveys can be used to survey areas that are otherwise inaccessible. This could be due to steep terrain, failing infrastructure, dangerous lake or river crossings, or areas with hazardous materials among a host of other reasons.
Drawbacks to Drone Survey: Airspace, Weather, and Logistical Limitations
The drawbacks of surveying with drones generally come down to airspace restrictions. There are limitations on where and how high drones can fly in areas around secure locations such as airports. Weather also comes into play. Clouds must not be too close to the ground, and wet ground may be too reflective and shiny to create acceptable imagery for mapping.
While the costs associated with surveying – as well as drone technology – continue to reduce, the process still involves highly-skilled individuals using very advanced and expensive equipment. Each survey crew has a sophisticated setup, including their truck/mobile office – and for this reason, survey field crews are costly. They also often need to be scheduled weeks if not months in advance. Unfortunately, this doesn’t allow for rapid deployment to capture an ephemeral situation or event, such as a flood, moving slide, or traffic conditions. However, there are situations where a decent drone and a Part 107 pilot can be deployed to a site rapidly if needed, at a much lower cost than a traditional field crew.
Does this mean traditional ground mapping is no longer needed? Not at all. In addition to the limitations noted above, ground cover, tree canopy, and the ability of an experienced survey crew to discern the existence and location of objects that might be under a few leaves, or a thin layer of sand or mulch won’t be replaced anytime soon.
Orthomosaic Mapping and the Drone Capture Process
Orthomosaics are large, dimensionally correct photos made up of hundreds or even thousands of individual photos of a site. Utilizing software to create these images, they provide a surprisingly accurate view of planimetric features.
When using drones to create a mapping product, there are a number of steps to ensure that the resulting product meets the accuracy needs of project.
[Watch] Drone Survey Flight Footage at Manley Road
Mission Planning
To maximize the resulting imagery from a drone survey, there are numerous factors to consider during mission planning. Critical aspects often include determining the best time of day, anticipating low wind conditions, cloud cover, and less congestion from parked vehicles or pedestrians. Ensuring the controller and UAV are up to date on software, firmware, and airspace maps, and that the drone is physically in tip-top condition with charged batteries is vital prior to every flight. Determining the optimal height above ground for the UAV to fly, the overlap and number of images, the specific UAS to be used, and the direction and rate of travel of the drone while acquiring images all add to the considerations when planning a flight mission.
Establishing Ground Control Points (GCP’s)
Small marks are made throughout the site, visible in the drone images, that have specific coordinates and elevations associated with consistent locations on these marks. These may be “T”’s or “L”’s or “X”’s made with tape, or circles with the classic survey pattern of opposing quarters. Depending on the site size and elevation change, there may be 7 to 10 of these used to control the data, and 3 to 4 that are used to check it. The resulting map can only be as accurate as the least accurate control point, quality survey equipment and great care in this process is essential to establish these stations.
Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Flight
If all the planning was done properly, the flight is mainly about safety, safety, and safety. Immediately prior to a mission, the pilot must plan ahead to mitigate distractions, disruptions, and disputes that may arise while the mission is underway.
While a UAS can be programmed to literally fly itself , the pilot is on hand to at least ensure safe flight operations from the moment they arrive on-site to the time they depart. While the UAS is in flight, the pilot needs to give their full attention to the safe operation of the drone. Pilots need to look out for other craft entering their airspace and track that the drone is acquiring the correct number and type of images that it is programmed to capture.
Post Processing
The images, sometimes as many as two thousand, are loaded into software. What’s known as a photogrammetry module (both the module and software package can run thousands of dollars) is designed specifically for the kind of mapping needed on a particular project. There are a variety of options when it comes to post processing software packages with some better designed for different types of drone survey applications.
Mapping Creation
The process can also be taken a step further by creating a photographic point cloud, which allows us to create a digital terrain model and obtain the heights of items above the ground such as buildings, wire elevations, and trees. Point cloud data may be used simply for map quality control or to supplement field surveying with 2D items such as paint striping or concrete patterns. But it can also be used to create mapping in inaccessible areas or areas that would be dangerous to map with traditional means. While most surveying won’t rely solely on drone data, it can be an essential tool in all these areas.
Structure from Motion is used to create a 3D model of everything within the images. This is then cleaned up and items that are irrelevant to the project are removed. The clean data can then be used to create linework and digital terrain model (DTM) features (i.e., objects found on the surface area) which are transferred into AutoCAD for final mapping and drafting.
Many times, land surveying work is performed to create a basemap of a location so engineers and architects can design improvements or new uses for that site. But what if the goal is to simply have a record of what is there rather than to immediately improve it? This is where mapping that may require a lower accuracy than “survey grade” may be what is needed.
In simply documenting a project visually from a unique perspective, drone-based photography and mapping really shines. When overseen, controlled, and quality checked by a land surveyor, the resulting mapping from a drone mission will be as accurate and reliable as possible. This data can be used to create GIS datasets that track locations of site improvements, utilities, and other features.
Ultimately drones give surveyors the ability to visualize unique project perspectives, capture otherwise unobtainable viewpoints, and document site conditions in a way that can’t easily be accessed.
A Multidisciplinary Approach Supported by a Complete Survey Team
While the Otak UAV program is hosted through our land surveying group, the use of drones extends much further. From marketing and comprehensive project management to water resources engineering and construction management and inspection, the full breadth of multidisciplinary expertise can benefit from data obtained through drone imagery and video. Drones are an increasingly valuable part of our industry, and their usage and value will continue to be discovered and utilized for years to come.
While an exciting tool that provides capabilities not before available to land surveyors, UAV-based mapping is still just one of several advanced tools Otak has to map features above, on, and below the surface of the earth. Whether a project requires UAVs, terrestrial scanning, bathymetric mapping, traditional mapping, or nearly any other mapping means, Otak’s land surveying and GIS personnel are equipped with the tools and expertise to get the project done right.
No history of the United States is complete without significant conversation around the history of Native American Tribes. In fact, this often-solemn past represents merely a fraction of indigenous peoples’ place on the North American continent.
As the original stewards of the land, Tribes today now play a role in the development of public projects, supporting efforts toward the successful preservation of cultural and natural resources.
In recognition of this historical context, certain circumstances – namely through the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 – designate when and how projects need to involve Tribal consultation. But for this commitment rooted in a government-to-government relationship, truly building and benefiting from these relationships must go beyond what’s simply required by law.
In this piece, we take a closer look at the tribal consultation process, and the steps to successfully fostering those relationships when it comes to project development.
Tribal consultation is a crucial step in the development of public projects, with an overall goal of avoiding mapped culturally sensitive sites, as well as preserving landmarks and natural resources. The process is formalized by Section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, including providing at least 30 days advance notice to tribes before the first consultation session, and sufficient detail of the project to be discussed so leaders can have an opportunity to fully engage with each step in the process.
At the heart of the consultation process is allowing Tribes the chance to engage in meaningful discussions between their own representatives and federal decision-makers. Stringent records of all proceedings must be maintained. Additionally, the federal response to tribes and their input, detailing how their insights were incorporated into the final decision of development, is an equally critical part of the discussion.
When is Tribal Consultation Needed?
While tribal consultation is legally required by section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act of 1966 where federal funds are involved, it can also be triggered by state regulations, bond conditions, or simply as a best practice.
The NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) or SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) processes often initiate tribal consultation, and more recently there’s been a greater effort made to involve tribes where counties and municipalities strive to respect the public’s relationship with the land. Sometimes, projects evolve directly from a partnership with a local tribe and local government where the tribe becomes a client rather than a stakeholder.
“It’s important to consider two things. First, the Tribes are sovereign nations and communication should reflect that status. Second, the process shouldn’t be transactional. Invest in relationships that produce more meaningful and fruitful outcomes for everyone involved.”
– Jon Hedlund, Senior Archaeologist, ERO Resources Corporation
Insights to Tribal Consultation and Relationship Building
Building truly successful relationships with tribes involves more than simply checking the necessary boxes. The process requires recognizing tribal sovereignty, understanding past generational trauma, and pursuing mutually beneficial outcomes.
It’s important to recognize here that tribes are often inundated with requests and might not have paid staff to process all aspects of a project development plan – meaning the process might take additional time and prioritization of the most important aspects of a project is paramount. With that in mind, there are some key steps that can be taken both in one-off consultations or in maintaining a more regular relationship to streamline the process and meet project priorities for all stakeholders involved.
Efforts to identify interested tribes should extend beyond regional boundaries, considering relocated indigenous communities. Tribal consultation often involves groups that are native to a project area but can also include indigenous people who have relocated from elsewhere.
Leveraging State Historic Preservation Officers’ (SHPO) databases provides a starting point with insights into tribes with interests in specific areas. When required by Section 106, this is must and when operating outside the statute it remains a valuable resource. In any case, if a non-government entity is trying to get a tribe involved, mirroring that government-to-government relationship is a formal process that should not be taken lightly.
Engaging Early and Often
Early and regular communication with tribes is essential for meaningful participation. An even better method is to maintain communication, whether work is being done or not, on an ongoing basis so a real relationship can be built between a firm, municipality, and the tribe in question.
Initial outreach, including project details, invitations to consult, and breakdowns of the pros and cons to tribes directly is critical – and follow-up phone calls or emails set the stage for ongoing collaboration. Recognizing that tribes may need 45-60 days to respond underscores the importance of patience in the process and establishing appropriate timelines.
“Not only does a quality relationship [with Native American Tribes] make the consultation process smoother, we also pick up on things related to the local ecology that we might not normally.”
– Phillip Yates, City of Boulder
Creating Clear Lines of Communication
Providing concise and visually engaging information is also crucial. Establishing clear lines of communication facilitates effective dialogue and collaboration. Sometimes a tribal liaison will be established to help ensure this takes place.
Regular meetings contribute to building trust and fostering true collaboration, and visuals are often incorporated into the initial outreach portion to easily break down what is being requested of a tribe in a digestible way. Considerations of the tribe’s time and extra care in nurturing a relationship yields better project results for everyone involved, building true trust and collaboration between all stakeholders.
Tribal input should not only be acknowledged but actively incorporated into project designs. Meaningful benefits, such as opening project areas for tribes to collect natural resources they once had access to but no longer do, or incorporating a gathering space for tribal events into project planning demonstrate a commitment to tangible outcomes that align with tribal interests.
Above all else, project design should be finalized with tribe’s comments/concerns in mind, and ultimately with consideration of impacts to the ecological and cultural health of these areas.
On-Site Involvement and Unintended Archeological Discoveries
Central to this consultation process is a connectedness with the land. Involving tribal representatives on-site throughout the project, especially during construction, ensures their expertise on identifying natural and cultural resources is utilized.
For instance, during construction a tribal monitor might come out to a project site to observe where the land is being disturbed. Through site surveying and testing, sacred artifacts in the ground are typically avoided, but sometimes there are unintended archeological discoveries. In these cases, the cultural context provided by tribes is essential to setting appropriate actions. The preference in these instances is almost always to leave artifacts where they were found, but it is especially crucial regardless to have tribes guide the approach in the unfortunate event of these developments.
Lasting Benefits to Continuous Tribal Relationships
Maintaining relationships with tribal governments yields lasting benefits. The connections formed can enhance the project design process and benefit the broader community in the form of education and shared knowledge of peoples they share the land with.
There are a variety of guides related to the preservation of different natural resources also available that draw on this intimate knowledgebase. Harnessing historical and cultural knowledge for initiatives like forest management and river restoration ensures projects align with tribal values.
A Unique Approach for the City of Boulder
The City of Boulder offers a unique example of a municipality actively engaging with tribal communities. Their approach, involving annual formal consultations, specific projects with cultural connections, and virtual working group meetings, sets a precedent for fostering ongoing communication and collaboration.
To the City, navigating the tribal consultation process in project development is more than a legal requirement – it is an opportunity for meaningful collaboration, honoring the land’s history, and fostering relationships with indigenous communities. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to listen to and learn from Tribal Representatives and for all the time they have shared with us,” says Phillip Yates who leads the City of Boulder’s Tribal outreach program. “We thank them for the opportunity to build relationships with them and recognize the critical importance of sustaining those relationships in the future.”
By embracing the principles of respect, communication, and common sustainable goals we can create projects that not only meet regulatory standards but contribute positively to the cultural and environmental fabric of the communities they serve. Taking steps to maintain a relationship with regional Tribes is one area that serves that goal.
In an era marked by an increasing importance around environmental resilience, sustainable development is no longer just a buzzword – it’s the new “business as usual”. Sustainable development encompasses a wide range of practices aimed at reducing or eliminating the negative impact of human activities on the environment while fostering healthy and equitable communities.
In this piece, we’ll explore the numerous advantages of sustainable development practices, with a particular focus on the valuable role of sustainable professional accreditations in achieving these goals.
What are the Advantages of Sustainable Development?
The advantages of sustainable development are multifaceted, extending across the natural and built environments, social systems, and the economy. Approaches must be forward-thinking and use a wide lens to evaluate potential impacts. From protecting natural resources to emphasizing active transportation, when community building aligns with sustainable practices, quality of life is improved for all.
Resource Efficiency and Cost Savings
One of the most significant advantages of sustainable development lies in its resource efficiency and cost-saving potential. With an emphasis on more efficient use of resources, sustainable design results in long-term savings that have the potential to outweigh initial investment. For example, water conservation measures and low-impact development (LID) strategies can significantly reduce water bills and alleviate the strain on local water resources over the long-term, which are becoming increasingly scarce in many areas.
Additionally, sustainable buildings incorporate energy-efficient features such as daylighting and insulation, leading to reduced energy consumption and lower energy costs. Over time, these designs pay dividends by reducing both operational costs and energy-use intensity, which is a key objective of the AIA 2030.
Resilience in Design
As our planet faces increasingly unpredictable and extreme environmental conditions, designing projects with resilience in mind becomes paramount. These projects often use more durable materials and construction methods that extend the lifespan of structures, reducing waste and future maintenance and replacement costs. This resilience extends to addressing challenges like climate change, seismic activity, and flooding – ensuring that projects remain functional during times of external stressors due to extreme weather, instability or resource challenges. Many of the services provided by this type of infrastructure are critical – hospitals, power generation facilities, emergency services, and essential ecosystem services.
Low impact development (LID) and stormwater planning for instance are crucial aspects of resilience. With growing concerns from disasters like wildfire and flooding making certain areas uninsurable, resiliency planning can help mitigate the growing threats as well as the associated costs of damage and recovery.
Property Value and Market Demand
In the world of vertical construction, properties with sustainability certifications often command higher market values than their non-certified counterparts. As sustainability becomes a more prominent concern for individuals and businesses, certification from frameworks like LEED, WELL, and SITES can significantly impact the demand for properties. Prospective buyers and tenants increasingly seek out environmentally friendly spaces that result in healthier and more productive spaces, making certified properties more appealing and valuable across markets.
Healthier Communities and Biodiversity
Sustainable development also contributes to the creation of healthier communities and supports biodiversity in several ways. Indoor spaces benefit from improved air quality and other features that enhance occupant health and productivity. Outdoor spaces, too, play a crucial role, as sustainable development often involves projects like rain gardens, brownfield cleanups, and habitat restoration efforts. These initiatives not only enhance the aesthetics of the community but also contribute to the well-being of the natural world on which we all rely.
Reducing carbon emissions collectively improves the health of communities by mitigating the impacts of climate change while also creating greater mobility and community connectivity. Acknowledging and rewarding such efforts is crucial to fostering a sense of responsibility for our environment.
Profiles in Sustainable Accredited Staff
See Danah’s Profile
See Charles’ Profile
See Omar’s Profile
The Value of Professional Accreditations on a Project Team
Having staff with sustainable accreditations on a project team can be vital to the successful implementation of the practices discussed above. Various sustainability certification frameworks, each with its own unique processes and criteria, require expertise to navigate effectively. Having accredited team members streamlines the certification process, is often a requirement, and ensures that projects meet the rigorous sustainability standards set by these frameworks.
Multiple Disciplines Working Toward a Common Goal
Sustainable design takes shape in a variety of ways and across all phases of project development. From meeting – or exceeding – formal sustainable certification goals to simply finding efficiencies, a team with a diverse skillset brings a holistic perspective to the entire process.
Taking this multidisciplinary approach maximizes collaboration between a diverse and deep understanding of how sustainability applies to interconnected project elements, which can be critical to delivering on green goals. Equally as important is bringing these teams together early and keeping them engaged from project conception through construction and commissioning.
Streamlining the Certification Process
Accredited team members play a pivotal role in streamlining the certification process. Given the variations in certification frameworks, their expertise ensures that the project team selects the most suitable framework, understands the available design and reporting options, and efficiently navigates the submittal process. This knowledge helps the project progress smoothly towards achieving, verifying, and communicating its sustainability goals.
Obtaining and Maintaining Sustainable Accreditation
Earning and maintaining sustainability accreditation is an ongoing process. As the industry quickly innovates, new techniques and case studies routinely become available to advance our understanding and practical implementation of what is considered “sustainable design”. Keeping up on those is also a requirement of keeping an accreditation.
Individuals value their accreditation as a mark of expertise and commitment to sustainability. Organizations like Otak support their accredited staff by encouraging them to earn and maintain their accreditations. Through initiatives like our OtakU, staff members have opportunities to enhance their skills and keep their knowledge current.
Designing for sustainability offers a multitude of advantages, from resource efficiency and cost savings to healthier communities and enhanced biodiversity. Having an accredited project team is instrumental in realizing these benefits, as it streamlines the certification process and ensures that projects meet the highest sustainability standards. With the increasing importance of sustainability in today’s world, having accredited staff members on your team is not just an asset – it’s a necessity for creating a better, more sustainable future.
This year and every year, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with reverence and mindfulness. Reverence for the contributions Hispanic individuals have made on both our industry and our firm, and mindful of the fact that we have much left to do to advance equity for underrepresented groups essential to the ecosystem of AEC work.
Observed from September 15th to October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month is dedicated to celebrating the histories, culture, and contributions of Hispanic Americans with ancestors from across the globe. At Otak and across firms in the built environment, we use this month to highlight Hispanic culture’s contributions to and growing influence on the industry.
Hispanic individuals make up 31% of the construction workforce in the US, and the share of Hispanic people earning a bachelor’s degree in STEM related fields is up 5% in the last decade. The impact of Hispanic Americans on the AEC industry cannot be overlooked and Otak sees this in practice through our project work. From Pritsker Prize-winning architects at RCR Arquitectes in Spain, to a construction worker you may pass by on a job site, a myriad of cultures and perspectives influence our built environment.
We asked Hispanic team members from across Otak’s offices: What about your lived experience has been impactful in your approach to work and community involvement?
The answers we got were insightful and valuable.
Josh Guerra – Senior Project Architect
Josh is a proud second generation Mexican American, and says he is continually inspired by the story of his grandparents emigrating to the US in the early 20th century – something to which he credits his work ethic and ambition.
Rooted in his Hispanic heritage, his biggest design influences as an architect include pre-Columbian, megalithic architecture of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Inca, as well as modern, Spanish architecture styles a la the work of Antoni Gaudi, Enric Miralles, and Santiago Calatrava — garnered from his time abroad as a graduate student in Barcelona. In Josh’s case, his heritage and inspirations translates to nearly every project he touches!
Ken Vigil – Senior Project Manger/Engineer
Ken, senior project manager and engineer in our water resources group, is also extremely proud of his Hispanic heritage, and says it lends him a unique lens toward stakeholder involvement across all sorts of projects.
A believer in working hard, serving family, and uplifting communities – he points to his recent involvement with managing habitat restoration at the confluence of Deep Creek along the Clackamas River in Oregon. Ken says he was selected not just thanks to his technical expertise, but also thanks to his cultural values and awareness, especially when working with indigenous community members to restore a culturally significant site based on their needs and desires. To Ken – heritage and cultural knowledge translate to results when shaping the built environment and restoring natural spaces.
Sandy Stewart – Office Manager
Sandy heads our office operations out of our Louisville office in Colorado, and says her Guatemalan heritage has shaped her life and defines her to this day.
She describes her culture as colorful, vibrant, rich in tradition and values, and characterized by a fusion of Spanish and indigenous influences with which she recalls growing up. Her values of hard work, integrity, family, and good food translate directly to the bright and tenacious identity she brings to work with her every day. In her 23 years at Otak, she’s also helped deliver on many successful projects – being especially proud of the McCaslin Boulevard Underpass in her backyard of Louisville.
Javier Buenrostro – Marketing Intern
Javier is a fresh face among our Otak marketing team, and as someone who has lived in both Mexico and the United States – he says his experiences have deeply influenced both his approach to work and community service. Working with our team on relevant project pursuits has made him appreciate the impact he can have on underrepresented communities when we win work to improve their built and natural environments, and he strives to represent his heritage in authentic and relevant ways when a fresh perspective is needed.
Taking a Community-Driven Approach to Design
Otak views it as paramount that we remain intentional about enhancing the daily lives of our community members through thoughtful development, this month and every month. From ensuring accessibility and affordability in housing to investing in essential public works and fostering robust public engagement, we and our teaming partners within the industry hold the power to shape thriving communities, no matter the socioeconomic background or ethnic makeup. By embracing these values, we can pave the way for a brighter and more inclusive future, where every individual can enjoy the benefits of a well-designed and compassionate neighborhood.
For something as inherently valuable as education, the means for updating its facilities are often less than straightforward.
The process for improving education community assets often relies on many steps over a complex timeline that involves a variety of different stakeholders. Education professionals typically maintain full schedules in keeping their schools functioning as well as possible. With so many complex and moving parts, many organizations benefit from partnering with a bond program manager with the technical expertise to ensure a bond management process runs smoothly alongside typical operations.
In this piece, we’ll examine the elements of a successful school bond program and the role of an owner’s representative, or bond program manager plays in supporting the client.
A school bond program is a form of financing for capital construction projects that many communities rely on for improving their facilities. The projects that comprise a bond program can range from new construction or facilities renovation to addressing deferred maintenance. The cost for these often exceeds typical operating budgets so additional funds are sought from voters in general elections.
Falling into the category of general obligation (GO) bonds, school bonds are generally funded by leveraging property taxes, proposed during general elections. Beyond just improving the built environment for students, teachers, and the community – or in supporting the longevity of an asset – to pass bonds school districts must be thoughtful and strategic about the needs and interests of their community and appeal to those voters.
Bonds may focus on life, fire, safety, and ADA concerns. Some will also address more targeted goals like seismic improvements, pedagogy, or curriculum advancements such as career-technical education facilities. At their heart, bond programs and their passage are an expression of public trust by taxpayers.
Use of bond funds is also subject to financial management and procurement requirements established by state and local municipalities. In many states, additional grants and “match” funding are also available to help taxpayer dollars go farther to support education.
No two school bond programs are the same. Some bonds may be focused on one or a few projects, while others may touch every school within the district’s portfolio. Depending on the size and complexity, a bond may be conceived with multiple projects, budgets, and project teams. It may involve multi-phasing to prepare interim facilities and swing spaces ahead of final projects.
To account for this variety and unanticipated conditions that can arise during construction, successful program management requires experience in facilities, design, educational paradigms, administration, all phases of construction project management, managing multiple levels of stakeholders, team leadership, and community relations.
How are Bond Programs Similar?
With unique goals and requirements, each school bond program will require processes tailored to their specifications. However, there are a number of key elements that are common denominators with any successful program.
A priority for any school bond program is maximizing the impact of locally approved funding by preserving as much money as possible for the projects themselves.
Part of this effort may involve minimizing overhead, but it’s important to consider the big picture as the greatest savings are found in efficiencies throughout the process. For example, a 1–3% upfront investment in pre-planning work can result in much lower costs over the full lifecycle of the project. This is one area where a program manager can have the most value.
In pre-planning, a school district may have identified immediate and long-range needs, but determining the best solutions to meet district needs can be guided and facilitated by the program manager.
A crucial step for any school bond program is often one of the first. In selecting a project – and even prior to it – extensive planning begins with the identification of long-range district goals. This process can include focused due diligence such as facility assessments and enrollment forecasting needs (over at least 10 years), and eventually lead to project selection itself. Without these steps, projects may be compromised by short-sightedness or even subject to future rework if they are not considered in the context of a larger plan.
According to a study by Autodesk, poor schedule management is cited by 68% of project trades as the main cause of decline in worker productivity. Experience in construction management and front-end planning of a bond’s budget, scope, and timeframe components can help design the best execution strategy that maximizes approved funding impact. With this breadth of experience and knowledge, a bond program manager will be able to provide cost projections and cost-benefit analyses for potential project scenarios, and advising as such when a District is determining whether to renovate and upgrade existing facilities or initiate new construction.
In this stage of the school bond program, standardizing processes also provides the opportunity to bring together key project players and establish consensus in planning. Clear expectations for input and decision making need to be established to secure trust with these stakeholders so they can constructively engage in the design/construction process. From public engagement stakeholders and consultants to bond counsel and legal representation, coordination between the complete team early on can be an essential step in collecting necessary information to help inform project scope.
While establishing internal planning for anticipated projects is essential, they will not move forward without determining what the tax base will support. Knowing what taxpayers in the district can afford and what they value or view as necessary is key. To answer these questions, studies and polling can help tailor the dollar amount and scope of work before being put out for a vote. In-person meetings where community groups are represented can be essential engagement tools to connect with potential community champions and identify any initial dissenting opinions. Educating the public about bond goals and outcomes to garner support is also an essential investment.
After the bond’s passage, the real work begins to engage the many stakeholders invested in the success of a project including students/teachers/school-based staff, district personnel, and the partners/community members that may also use the facilities.
With a high level of scrutiny on expenditure of bond funds, districts should consider establishing an external oversight committee to observe the process. Typically comprised of interested community members, a bond manager will support the selection and engagement of the oversight committee to identify potential expertise that may be useful for supporting the bond and preparing reporting and presentations for their review across the bond’s duration.
At the end of the day, voters will want to know why a bond is needed: does it provide the best solution; what will it cost; can they afford it; and how will life continue in the meantime? To answers these questions and gain taxpayer support, a bond campaign will need to be outlined and implemented.
Strong Execution – Project Delivery, Documentation and Reporting
At the core of any successful school bond program is execution and delivery. While that may seem obvious, the path to effectively managing these steps is often anything but. Research of construction planning efficiency and delivery times by Wrike found that project planners typically have only a 58% accuracy rate when predicting delivery dates. These inconsistencies can have major impacts on staff, operations, and even student safety. In keeping complex school bond processes on track, documentation and reporting is key.
From start to finish, workflows and protocols are essential to facilitating review, approvals, and overall decision making. From augmenting project management resources at the outset of a project to setting consistent system specifications for maintenance following project completion, the establishment of strong document control and management systems helps ensure nothing slips through the cracks. The ability to quickly reference and produce consistent records also streamlines what can be complex legal processes.
When it comes to capital improvement projects, managing public contracts within a school bond requires an understanding of public procurement laws as they pertain to architectural design, engineering, construction, and consulting contracts. Contracts in the public sector are more complicated than the private sector and tend to have higher levels of scrutiny and oversight—every expenditure requires public justification. Ultimately, strong documentation and reporting in the school bond process prepares stakeholders throughout project delivery to help ensure staff needs are met and the safety of students is prioritized.
Setting Transition, Turnover and Community Use Expectations
While it’s easy to get swept away in the planning, engagement, and execution of school facility improvements, it’s important to remember that while the project itself is underway, life goes on. An important factor that is often, but should not be, overlooked is how people and programs are transitioned. This is because, as all educators are aware: the kids come back.
“We have seen projects come to completion, the owner moves in, and then it takes another 18 months before they know how to operate the building.”
– Henry Alaman, Otak Senior VP
Eighteen months is not atypical in a complex new facility where the existing facilities employees are not familiar with the new technology, systems, or equipment. To ensure the transition is seamless, all staff should receive the tools and training necessary to operate the building. Additionally, documents (drawings, plans, manuals, etc.) should be provided and stored electronically so they can be easily accessed.
Even the most well-established timelines and plans need to be prepared for unforeseen challenges. As a project progresses, the need to adapt is often inevitable. The ability to anticipate these challenges and quickly resolve them in the form of change management also becomes an important factor where the experience of an owner’s representative can prove invaluable.
Taking a Multidisciplinary Approach to Augmenting the Bond Process
Delivering a school bond, no matter the scale, is a complex process and a program manager isn’t successful without operating in an owner’s representative capacity. The ability to coalesce diverse sets of expertise from different team members and align them with individual client goals is essential to bringing the work and the promises made to the community to fruition.
As a multi-disciplinary firm, Otak provides a unique combination of program, bond, and construction management expertise, as well as knowledge and understanding of public procurement laws governing bond spending, local industry, and market knowledge. Our firm has proudly worked with many urban and rural school districts in bond development and delivery. Check out some of that work below!
In today’s rapidly evolving world, where convenience and speed often reign supreme, a quiet revolution is taking place on our streets and sidewalks. The growing popularity of non-motorized transportation, often referred to as “active transportation,” is reshaping our communities and our lives in profound ways. From bustling metropolises to quaint suburban neighborhoods, designers, planners, and entire communities are increasingly realizing the benefits of walking and rolling. In doing so, they are transforming the way we think about transportation, health, and urban planning.
In this piece we’ll examine how active transportation is playing a key role in designing healthier communities while improving connectivity, sustainability, and economic growth.
Active transportation encompasses any mode of travel that involves human propulsion – walking, cycling, skateboarding, and similar forms of mobility. It’s the human-powered movement that breathes life into our streets and invites interaction within communities in developing the public right-of-way. The benefits of active transportation extend beyond mere personal fitness; it nurtures a culture of connection and vibrancy within our towns and cities.
This movement aligns seamlessly with the philosophy of multimodal transportation and complete streets design. It recognizes the importance of accommodating a diverse range of travel choices, ensuring that our roads and paths are welcoming to pedestrians, cyclists, and users of all abilities.
Active Transportation Benefits to Public Health
Amid the pressing concerns of our modern world is the growing public health crisis of obesity, due in large part to increasingly sedentary lifestyles. According to the World Health Organization, people who are insufficiently active have a 20%-30% increased risk of death from a variety of causes.
The reality that two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese underscores the urgency of reimagining our transportation landscape. Active transportation emerges as one solution to a variety of ills surrounding both public health and the transportation, offering a practical solution that naturally infuses physical activity into daily routines.
What’s more, the significance of the movement encouraged by active transportation extends beyond individual well-being. Unhealthier communities place strain on healthcare systems and exact emotional costs from reduced quality of life. By embracing active transportation, we can collectively counteract these social costs, cultivating a society that prioritizes well-being and reaps the rewards of healthier, more fulfilled citizens.
Reducing Congestion and Transportation Climate Impact
As cities continue to expand, transportation-related congestion poses significant challenges. It’s also no secret that the transportation sector contributes significantly – approximately 45% of total emissions in the U.S. – to air pollution. The correlation between these issues and increased motorized traffic is irrefutable.
In an industry aiming to reduce climate impact while also improving connectivity, active transportation serves as a powerful remedy to both problems. By design, the approach is offering emission-free travel options that mitigate environmental strain and alleviating congestion in urban centers simultaneously.
Creating Safer, More Plentiful Commute Options
Reducing congestion has benefits that extend beyond sustainable design alone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) people are driving less while biking and walking more. At the same time, pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have also increased, further emphasizing the importance of active transportation design that naturally creates safer pedestrian right of way.
Access to reliable, equitable transportation is the lifeblood of thriving communities. Active transportation plays a pivotal role in shaping our neighborhoods by offering safer and more plentiful commute options. This is especially significant for lower-income individuals who may lack direct access to public transit or personal vehicles.
Intentional design that integrates active transportation into urban design is paramount to diverse, viable commute options. Carefully planned infrastructure ensures that pedestrians and cyclists are shielded from motorized traffic, promoting safety and fostering a culture of shared road space. This approach also contributes to more accessible, ADA-compliant communities where everyone can move with ease and dignity.
Active transportation isn’t just a health booster; it’s also a catalyst for economic growth. With greater connectivity comes not only greater access to necessary services and employment opportunities, but also local businesses. The link between healthier communities and economic prosperity is undeniable. Areas with enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities often see increased property values and vibrant local businesses, creating a cycle of improvement and investment.
Property and Business Value
From increasing retail visibility to raising real estate value, the economic impact of active transportation on a community can take many forms. Studies across various U.S. cities by the Urban Land Institute find houses located in areas with above-average walkability or bikeability are worth up to $34,000 more than similar homes in areas where those features are average. As for businesses, people who arrive by bicycle have been shown to spend more overall while making more frequent visits.
Funding and Resource Efficiency
Aside from the economic benefits to the surrounding community, advantages also extend to the feasibility of the project itself. Active transportation infrastructure diminishes the need for constant road expansions to accommodate heavy traffic and roadway repairs that come with time and influx in population. This cost-saving measure frees up resources for other community enhancements, reinforcing the attractiveness of these areas to residents, businesses, and investors.
In fact, many existing roadways are repurposed and converted to accommodate multi-use travel. With that approach, active routes can be swiftly implemented using a modest investment in curbing, traffic paint and signs, and landscaping.
Barriers to getting active transportation projects off the ground can also be reduced from a financial standpoint. Funding and grants for active transportation projects are easier to secure due to their inherent value to the community and the positive impact on pedestrian safety.
Types of Active Transportation
Active transportation comes in various forms, each with its own set of benefits and design considerations. From walking to biking, these modes of mobility interact with different facets of community life, ranging from leisure to essential transportation. Accessibility and ADA compliance remain vital in ensuring that all members of the community can participate.
Wayfinding – the art of providing clear signage to guide users – also plays a critical role in successful active transportation design. By helping people navigate these routes efficiently, we encourage broader adoption of non-motorized transportation.
Walking Transportation and Pedestrian Infrastructure
Walking is the most fundamental form of active transportation, and its role in urban planning cannot be overstated. Walkability contributes to the vitality of neighborhoods, enabling residents and visitors to engage with their environment, access essential services, and enjoy leisurely strolls.
Pedestrian infrastructure is central to this vision, ensuring safe and appealing walkways. Investments in pedestrian bridges, designed to link key areas of a community, further underscore the commitment to providing accessible and enjoyable pedestrian experiences.
Bicycle infrastructure takes active transportation to new horizons, extending the reach of human-powered travel. Protected bike lanes, cycle tracks, and shared roadways carve out safe spaces for cyclists, allowing them to navigate through urban landscapes with confidence. Protected intersections further enhance safety, ensuring that cyclists can navigate intersections without fear.
The rising prominence of active transportation symbolizes a transformative shift in the way we move and live. This movement isn’t just about physical health; it’s about nurturing communities that are vibrant, connected, and sustainable. By embracing active transportation, we invest in our well-being, our environment, and our future. As we pedal, stroll, and roll towards healthier, more equitable communities, we pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.
The concept of multi-use paths embodies inclusivity and adaptability. Such paths cater to various user groups, accommodating activities from scooting to dog walking. Thoughtful design accounts for different forms of transportation and future traffic considerations, such as the burgeoning popularity of electric bicycles. There are also a variety of surface types to consider that offer their own unique benefits for different types of users. In designing multi-use paths, it’s a delicate balance between user comfort, safety, and accessibility remains paramount in crafting these versatile pathways.
Beyond the urban landscape, trails carve a path to healthy recreation and appreciation of nature. They also offer another key option for people to seek out regular exercise. Sustainable trail design minimizes maintenance while accommodating diverse user groups and minimizing conflicts. Trails beckon people outdoors, nurturing a deeper connection to the environment and fostering a shared sense of stewardship.
Merging Transportation Design with Community Growth
Whether it be an urban corridor or rural open space, community growth takes shape in a variety of ways. More than just addressing population growth or fixing infrastructure, it’s about ultimately designing communities for both the present and future From project goals of supporting future economic development, to incorporating multimodal design, our multidisciplinary expertise allows for a comprehensive approach to achieving what matters most, improving the lives of the people who call that place home.
Take a closer look at our transportation engineering practice and learn more about how sustainability, accessibility, and mobility come together to create greater community connectivity.
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