MS4 & TMDL PERMIT SOFTWARE
ANALYSIS AND DESIGN FOR
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
Pam Cowher, GISP
Advisor: Barry M. Evans, PH.D.
GEOG 596A – Summer 2013
Agenda
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Background
Why is an MS4 Software Needed
Project Goals
Methodology
Timeline
Expected Outcomes
Introduction
• What is an MS4?
▫ Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
▫ Water conveyance system:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Owned by public entity
Collects and discharges stormwater
Not a combined sewer
Not part of sewage treatment system
• Limit pollution from suburban / urban
stormwater
Introduction (cont.)
• MS4 Types
▫ Phase 1 (Large MS4)
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Urban area
Population greater than 100,000
Approximately 100 in nation (11 in Virginia)
Permits are customized to each jurisdiction
▫ Phase 2 (Small MS4)
 Urban area as defined by U.S. Census
 Less than 100,000 residents
 General permit for all
Introduction (cont.)
• Chesapeake Bay TMDL
▫ Established in 2010 to cleanup the Bay
▫ Largest TMDL
▫ “Pollution Diet”
▫ Sets allocation goals for VA
that must be met by 2025
 Nitrogen
 Phosphorus
 Sediment
Bay TMDL Progress Reporting
• Progress towards TMDL Goals tracked by BMP
implementation
▫ Urban
▫ Agricultural
• How?
▫ Number of BMPs
▫ Drainage Area to BMP combined with land use to
determine loading
• Why?
▫ If MS4 cannot show progress towards goals may have
financial consequences
Why do MS4s need management
software?
• New permits issued in Virginia
▫ Require large amount of data tracking and
reporting
▫ TMDL requirements for Chesapeake Bay
Watershed
▫ MS4s required to inspect facilities and BMPs that
discharge into their system
▫ Annual reporting requirements
Existing COTS MS4 Software
• Many available
• MS4 specific
▫ MS4 Permit Manager / MS4 Web
▫ PermiTrackMS4
▫ Operation MS4
• Full City Asset Management Software
▫ Azteca Cityworks – Stormwater Module
▫ Cartegraph
▫ Accela
Why are commercial software not
being used?
• Asked 2 local cities this question.
• Similar responses:
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Not customizable enough for individual needs
Inputs are required from too many departments
Duplicated entry into many systems
High cost of implementation
Study Area
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Norfolk, VA
Phase I MS4
Approx. 33,000 ac
MS4 Area = 23,000
ac (70% of land area)
• 42% of land area is
impervious
• Drains directly to Bay
Project Goals
• Design a relational database to store data related
to Bay TMDL and MS4 Permit
• Design front-end system for data entry and
attribute reporting and querying
• Front-end system must:
▫ Have an interactive map
▫ Be web based
▫ Be customizable
Methodology
• Conduct user group interviews
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Norfolk Storm Water managers
Field inspectors
Customer service agents
GIS Staff
Methodology (cont.)
• Design Database Schema
▫ Over 25 sections in MS4 permit that must be
tracked – Data are both spatial and non-spatial
▫ Tables will include:
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Land Cover (spatial)
BMPs (spatial)
E & S Inspection (non-spatial)
BMP Inspections (non-spatial)
Nutrient management areas (spatial/non-spatial)
Dry and Wet weather monitoring data (spatial/non)
And many others….
Methodology (cont.)
• Data schema result will
be UML diagram or
similar documenting
tables and relationships.
Methodology (cont.)
• Prototype application
▫ Design web forms
 Input
 Reports
▫ Forms will not be linked to “back-end” data at
this point
▫ City of Norfolk staff will review and comment
Methodology (cont.)
• Create "Tie-ins" from the Prototype application
to the database
▫ Database to GIS Services
▫ Database to Web applications
▫ Link data to forms and reports
• Start to create ArcGIS for Flex Application
• Finalize Application with input from Norfolk
staff
Methodology (cont.)
• Design System Architecture
Web Application
Server
Web forms, editing,
report creation.
SQL Server
Express
Database
GIS Server
(ArcGIS for Server)
Mapping Services
Geoprocessing
Other data hosting
MS4 & TMDL
Permitting App –
Desktop Internet
MS4 & TMDL
Permitting App –
Mobile
Application
Timeline
• Prior to August 14: Conduct user interviews
• August 14 - 21: Develop data schema that will be the basis of the project
• August 22 - 31: Provide schema to City of Norfolk staff to review
• September 1 - 8: Develop sketch of application design (non-working prototype)
• September 9 - 15: Create tie-ins between data and application
• September 17: Present prototype at the Virginia GIS conference (Williamsburg, VA)
• September 18 - October 4: Continue development (working prototype)
• October 4 - October 11: Working prototype to City of Norfolk staff for review and
comments
• October 12 - 23: Finalize application to acceptable research grade quality, write final
report, and provide research grade application to the City of Norfolk.
Expected Outcomes
• Working web application to:
▫ Manage the MS4 / TMDL portion of Stormwater
program
▫ Allow multiple tabular edits
▫ Allow map inputs and spatial edits
▫ Report on progress towards TMDL goals
▫ Report on MS4 Annual Report requirements
• Application will be considered research grade
and not production ready
Acknowledgements
• Barry M. Evans, PH.D.
• City of Norfolk Storm Water Department
• Penn State University MGIS Program
References
• Accela, Inc. (2013). Accela, Inc. Better Government through Civic Engagement. Retrieved
6 28, 2013, from Accela, Inc.: http://www.accela.com/
• ASSIST. (2006). ASSIST - Comprehensive Asset Management. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from
ASSIST: http://www.asist.net/
• Azteca Systems, Inc. (2012). Home. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from Cityworks:
http://www.cityworks.com/
• Butler, Fairman, and Seufert. (2013). Home. Retrieved 6 28, 2016, from Operation MS4:
http://www.operationms4.com/
• Cartegraph. (2013). Cartegraph. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from The Operations Management
System: http://www.cartegraph.com/
• CBI Systems. (2013). Home. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from MS4 Web MS4 Permit Manager:
http://www.ms4web.com/
• Committee on the Evaluation of Chesapeake Bay Program Implementation for Nutrient
Reduction to Improve Water Quality. (2010). Achieving Nutrient and Sediment Reduction
Goals in the Chesapeake Bay: An Evaluation of Program Strategies and Implementation.
Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.
• Houston Engineering, Inc. (2012). MS4Front.com. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from MS4Front:
http://www.ms4front.com/
• SEH Technology Solutions. (2013). PermiTrack. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from PermiTrack:
https://www.mypermitrack.com/sehsvc/
Contact:
Pam Cowher, GISP
pjc256@psu.edu