Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Navigating an Environmentally Sensitive Area: Planning through Construction of a 54 in. Transmission Main in Austin, Texas
The Martin Hill Transmission Main is one of several distribution system improvements designed to bolster the reliability of water supply to the City of Austin's northwest service area. The project includes the construction of approximately 15,000 linear ft of 54-in. welded steel waterline, which will provide much-needed transfer capacity between two of the City's larger reservoirs. The alignment traverses environmentally sensitive areas and public school frontage, both of which presented unique challenges in the planning, design, and construction of the project. Included in this paper is a detailed account of the efforts made by design engineers and Austin Water Utility professionals to navigate the regulatory requirements essential in moving this project into construction while incorporating provisions to protect the environment and area residents. The location of the Martin Hill Transmission Main is within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, an environmentally sensitive area home to several endangered species. The recharge zone is characterized by karst features, or voids in limestone through which water can percolate and reach the aquifer. Minimizing the disturbance of these features during construction was a priority of preliminary engineering, which included a horizontal and vertical route evaluation. Runoff from trench excavation into the recharge zone could potentially threaten water quality and the habitat of endangered species. The use of subsurface geophysical surveys was employed to characterize the limestone during the preliminary engineering phase. The results of this investigation were used to identify the pipeline alignment with the least potential for traversing sensitive karst areas. In detailed design, this information was used in developing the pipeline profile. The depth of the pipeline required careful balance between protecting the City's assets and minimizing the potential for water in the trench to eventually reach several protected karst features (caves) through subsurface migration. In addition to addressing these important environmental constraints in the preliminary and design phases of the project, a major revision to the alignment was made early in design as a result of a new City ordinance that extended the protection of trees larger than 24-in. in diameter. The ordinance established an extensive review process for proposed tree removal, which could add more than six months to the project timeline and could or could not result in approval to remove the trees. After careful consideration of the time and cost benefits of other alignment alternatives, it was decided that a portion of the Martin Hill project would be located in the pavement of a road serving a public high school. Although this adjustment in alignment enabled more timely environmental permitting review, the relocation to the pavement and proximity to the school made it necessary to incorporate traffic control design and schedule restrictions into the project.
Navigating an Environmentally Sensitive Area: Planning through Construction of a 54 in. Transmission Main in Austin, Texas
The Martin Hill Transmission Main is one of several distribution system improvements designed to bolster the reliability of water supply to the City of Austin's northwest service area. The project includes the construction of approximately 15,000 linear ft of 54-in. welded steel waterline, which will provide much-needed transfer capacity between two of the City's larger reservoirs. The alignment traverses environmentally sensitive areas and public school frontage, both of which presented unique challenges in the planning, design, and construction of the project. Included in this paper is a detailed account of the efforts made by design engineers and Austin Water Utility professionals to navigate the regulatory requirements essential in moving this project into construction while incorporating provisions to protect the environment and area residents. The location of the Martin Hill Transmission Main is within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, an environmentally sensitive area home to several endangered species. The recharge zone is characterized by karst features, or voids in limestone through which water can percolate and reach the aquifer. Minimizing the disturbance of these features during construction was a priority of preliminary engineering, which included a horizontal and vertical route evaluation. Runoff from trench excavation into the recharge zone could potentially threaten water quality and the habitat of endangered species. The use of subsurface geophysical surveys was employed to characterize the limestone during the preliminary engineering phase. The results of this investigation were used to identify the pipeline alignment with the least potential for traversing sensitive karst areas. In detailed design, this information was used in developing the pipeline profile. The depth of the pipeline required careful balance between protecting the City's assets and minimizing the potential for water in the trench to eventually reach several protected karst features (caves) through subsurface migration. In addition to addressing these important environmental constraints in the preliminary and design phases of the project, a major revision to the alignment was made early in design as a result of a new City ordinance that extended the protection of trees larger than 24-in. in diameter. The ordinance established an extensive review process for proposed tree removal, which could add more than six months to the project timeline and could or could not result in approval to remove the trees. After careful consideration of the time and cost benefits of other alignment alternatives, it was decided that a portion of the Martin Hill project would be located in the pavement of a road serving a public high school. Although this adjustment in alignment enabled more timely environmental permitting review, the relocation to the pavement and proximity to the school made it necessary to incorporate traffic control design and schedule restrictions into the project.
Navigating an Environmentally Sensitive Area: Planning through Construction of a 54 in. Transmission Main in Austin, Texas
Wiesehan, Erin G. (Autor:in) / Stark, Janet (Autor:in) / Coonan, Steve (Autor:in) / McPherson, David (Autor:in)
Pipelines 2014 ; 2014 ; Portland, Oregon
Pipelines 2014 ; 2085-2095
30.07.2014
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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