Hi - I'm working on a very small site, where it appears our only method of storm water quality treatment will be underground, via a box like the ADS Baysaver or VortSentry. However, both of this are way over sized for my flow of 0.05 cfs! Do you know of anything else on the market that is an...
In rural areas, having the site flown can be done relatively inexpensively. Especially if you want to use it for your topos. Quite a few firms out there offer these services and will work with a local surveyor who sets the control.
Congratulations! I spent two summers and one full year working for the federal government before I jumped ship to the private side and have been private for 6 years now. Personally, I had a hard time dealing with the lack of work ethic with my government employee peers and was eager for more...
Invest time in organizing all the variables that will effect your design, just like the other posts said. That's the best place to start. I also want to throw out there that you might consider the use of Autodesk Civil 3D. There are some excellent tools that speed up the process.
If your an Engineer looking for a couple good references on site plans, here are a couple books I have found helpful:
1 - Land Development Handbook (Planning, Engineering, and Surveying) by McGraw Hill
2 - Land Development for Civil Engineers by Dion
3 - Civil Engineering Reference Manual, of...
I'm doing some work for a non-profit's new 900 square foot building. The foundation is a thickened slab. In our typical commercial work, I would always call out for a foundation drain around the perimeter of the thickened floor edge. However, is it really necessary for such a small structure...
Thanks for all the input. I contacted our local DEQ and found that we have a simple table that gives minimum gallons per day for septic system based on different uses. MUCH simpler than I was making it!
ADA Guideslines:
Diddo to the previous messages. Especially make sure you have a landing after going 30 inches vertical. Lots of little guidelines to make sure you meet. Certain slopes trigger handrails, etc.
Concrete Design:
Check with a local CE. You might find details that give you...
Hi -
I'm looking for some guidance on how to calculate the peak daily sewage flow leaving my building for purposes of comparing that to our permitted DEQ capacity (septic system). This seems like such a simple procedure, yet I can't find a metholology in any of my references! I'm looking in...
I'm involved with a project where it appears the gravel parking lot has been constructed over the septic leach field.
My question - is it ever "okay" to park over leach fields? Even if the leach lines were designed to a depth and strength to prevent crushing, it seems that the continuous loads...
Curious why you don't want to continue using Civil 3D for the stationing. If any changes are made to the alignment, it will automatically update along with any sections and profiles you have cut. Personally, I've found Civil 3D to be obnoxious to learn, but well worth it for its dynamic...
The Oregon Department of Transportation has a standard detail designed for "root barriers" that seems to be proven fairly effective (I have not seen a better method).
Basically, it's a 4' high 10 gauge steel panel that is place right near the curb line.
Google "Oregon Department of...
Thanks for the comments - much appreciated! And good reminder about the ADA issues. This project is a great challenge! I have a regulatory floodway on the property, with no fills allowed, a BFE elevation 8 feet above the elevation of my driveway approaches, slopes ranging from ten to thirty...
Matt -
My question, is it at all possible to build outside the floodway? I'd be cautious about avoiding a HEC-RAS encroachment study because your client won't like the results. I am by no means a lefty environmentalist, but there are good reasons why development is not allowed in floodways...
I am looking for what other designers consider maximum parking lot grades for comfort and safety. This particular case is for an office building - no shopping carts or loading necessary.
I have been looking to hold a maximum cross-slope and forward slope of 5%, which results in a net slope...
I am designing a loading area for a commercial site where all deliveries are by post (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
- No frieght vehicles -
The drive aisle to the loading area "dead ends". I'm trying to determine what the minimum width needs to be for these vehicles to turnaround, with one back-up...
Yes, structures are still allowed in the "floodway" in our area if the entire "buildable" lot is in the floodway (according to FEMA, "only if there are no other alternatives". I personally think owners should sign waivers for receiving goverment assistance in the event of a flood, but that is...
Is anyone familiar with the use of automatically opening "flow-thru" garage doors in floodways and floodplains?
This has become a relatively common practice in our area. Yet recently, a higher-up at FEMA told my colleage that these are not acceptable, that any openings required for flood...
I was interested in environmental engineering but majored in General Civil to keep my options open and am very glad I did (I now work in small business).
If you look hard and are willing to take a few risks, you can probably find something that interests you in structural engineering. Every...
I am looking for direction on finding trip-generation rates for a new homeless shelter for men. This is in regard to a "Gospel Rescue Mission" project I am involved in. The data will be used at the City for calculating system development charges for transportation. (A traffic study was not...
