With the ability to grow clear through roadways, survive up to 20 years in total darkness and uproot the foundation of homes, Japanese knotweed sounds like something out of a movie. The invasive species, which has already been wreaking havoc … Continue reading →
Ground-penetrating radar is a method that has potential for municipal use, especially when it comes to public works projects. Two projects, in Michigan and Florida respectively, illustrate its capabilities and limitations. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “ground-penetrating radar (GPR) … Continue reading →
For low-lying coastal cities, the global trend of rising sea levels is not something to be taken lightly. By 2050, Virginia may experience about 24 inches of sea level rise. In North Carolina, the state’s Coastal Resources Commission issued a … Continue reading →
When the residents of Westerville, Ohio, voted to raise their income tax rate to 2 percent in order to fund some critical infrastructure improvements in 2008, they did so under a few conditions. They insisted that all streets in less … Continue reading →
The old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention” could be applied to Council Bluffs, Iowa’s, public works department as challenges faced in a high water table neighborhood created the need for them to think outside the box for solutions. … Continue reading →
Using lighting to send a message is becoming more prominent in municipalities across the country. Lights can be used as celebration for holidays and to show solidarity with other cities and countries when tragedy strikes such as in France, Belguim … Continue reading →
It’s never easy to let go of the past, much less embrace the future, but the Michigan Department of Transportation managed to span the divide and do both when it announced plans last year to replace the M-86 bridge over … Continue reading →
Unpredıctable extreme weather has become normal in the world, which is why municipalities have started taking the initiative to make their utilities — including electricity, water and wastewater — more resilient in retaliation, especially since outages can last for weeks … Continue reading →
Remember jaywalking as a kid? Well, outside of that dangerous little practice being against the law, crossing the street has gotten a lot more sophisticated. You still have to look both ways, but there are new items in place that … Continue reading →
“Stop, drop and roll.” We’ve drilled that into our children so that in the event of a fire — rather than panic — they’d automatically know what to do. A similar mindset needs to be implemented when it comes to … Continue reading →
In April 2014, the water coming out of the taps in Flint, Mich., began to turn a strange color. Residents began to complain about its taste, color and odor. The water would later test positive for high levels of trihalomethanes … Continue reading →
