Presentations, October 24-26, 2022
Rebecca Crow
Brett Vivyan
Robert Dysiewicz
Raising America's grade using federal funding
What if... Scenario-based planning and sea level rise
City of Toronto's green energy journey into renewable natural gas
2022 ASCE Convention Session: Transportation System Plans for 2028 Olympics
Jeff Berk
The Doheny Ocean Desalination Project: A Local Solution to Water Supply Reliability
Mark Donovan, PE
Mark Donovan
Infrastructure spending will reach an all-time high over the next decade. This brings many opportunities and challenges to communities across the US. ASCE’s most recent Infrastructure Report Card graded America a C minus. We can do better, but it is not always an easy path to access the funds needed. We will review strategies communities can take to “Raise our Grade”. Much of the federal grants and loans and will be tied to specific programs many of which will eventually run through state agencies. Understanding how to get prepared and when and how to apply for these programs will impact an agency’s ability to access funds.
Tuesday, October 25th, 1:00PM - 2:00 PM
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Authored by Rebecca Crow, PE
Rebecca.Crow@ghd.com
The fate of coastal and estuarine landscapes in the face of sea level rise is often simplified to a portrait of vast inundation across low-lying lands. This image is more typically a distant future beyond typical planning horizons. Moreover, it does not account for the dynamic nature of tides, wind waves, and the interaction with natural and constructed landforms. A scenario-based approach that considers a range of plausible future conditions coupled with more detailed evaluations of the interaction between coastal hazards and the landscape provides a “what if” decision support tool that makes uncertainties apparent, can be updated over time, and can incorporate insight from multiple perspectives.
Tuesday, October 25th, 10:00-11:30AM
What if…Scenario-based planning and sea level rise
Authored by Brett Vivyan, PE
Brett.Vivyan@ghd.com
Responding to the challenges of energy transition in the face of climate change is quickly becoming one of the top priorities of governments. While evaluating various strategies to decarbonize energy supply and replace high carbon fuels, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is demonstrating a favorable commercial opportunity offering low carbon energy that can be distributed and consumed by established networks. City of Toronto is one of the leading North American municipalities embracing clean energy transition by adopting the circular economy model. Today, Toronto operates one of North America’s largest organics diversion programs, collecting over 150,000 tonnes of organics capable of producing significant amounts of RNG, used by the City’s vehicle fleets and buildings.
Monday, October 24th, 2:00-3:30PM
City of Toronto’s Green Energy Journey into RNG
Authored by Robert Dysiewicz
Robert.Dysiewicz@ghd.com
Despite efforts toward creating a balanced water supply portfolio, South Coast Water District (SCWD) is currently relying on imported water for 90% of its potable water supply. Imported water must be conveyed a considerable distance through the aging infrastructure of the Colorado River Aqueduct and the State Water Project and is subjected to considerable seismic risk. The remaining potable water supply comes from recycled water and brackish groundwater from the San Juan Basin. The Doheny Desalination Project (DDP) will provide a drought proof, reliable and high-quality source of potable water for an arid region. Having a diverse water supply portfolio will provide peace of mind in the face of future water uncertainties.
Monday, October 24th, 10:30-11:30AM
The Doheny Ocean Desalination Project: A local solution to water supply reliability
Authored by Mark Donovan, PE
Mark.Donovan@ghd.com
Will LA be ready for the Olympics? This panel session includes speakers directly involved in improving the transportation system serving Southern California residents and visitors before, during, and after the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad. Projects are already underway in a region, including the build out of transit and rail systems to accommodate 7 million Olympic guests. L.A. Metro is leading coordination, but many individual projects and priorities are the primary responsibility of venue host cities, including Long Beach, Carson, and Pasadena. How are the cities using the funding influx from federal, state, and local sources? Which projects are the “right” projects? How can local leaders ensure investments are sustainable and benefit residents and the economy for years to come? How do challenges and opportunities differ across the region?
Wednesday, October 26th, 9:45-11:00AM
Authored by Jeff Berk
Jeff.Berk@ghd.com