Iowa Infrastructure Report Card
Sponsored by: Iowa Section of ASCE
Kick-off meeting: January 17, 2014
Johnston, Iowa
Why are we here today?
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Sources and motivations
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Setting a course
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Success of the National Report Card
Encouragement of state efforts by the society
Results of 2013 membership survey*
IA infrastructure need significant and growing
Opportunity to perform public service role
Chance to promote the profession.
Personal development
Need a plan, schedule, organization, goals and methods
Commencing a process
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Time to convert intentions into action
10:05 – 10:10
Report Card background
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Started in 1988 with National Council on Public
Works Improvement's "Report Card on the
Nation's Public Works" (chartered by Congress)
ASCE followed up in 1998 with "1998 Report Card
for America's Infrastructure"
Since then: 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013
Now National, state and regional report cards
Coordinated effort to make the public and elected
official aware of infrastructure needs
Originally covered 10 categories; now 16
10:10 – 10:20 1/8
1998 Report – pretty simple
American Society of Civil Engineer's
"1998 Report Card for America's Infrastructure"
Roads
D-
Bridges
C-
Mass Transit
C
Aviation
C-
Schools
F
Drinking Water
D
Wastewater
D+
Dams
D
Solid Waste
C-
Hazardous Waste
D-
Average Grade
D
10:10 – 10:20 2/8
2009 – a bit more
10:10 – 10:20 3/8
2013 – added impact
10:10 – 10:20 4/8
ASCE’s State and Regional
Infrastructure Report Cards Program
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“In order to broaden the dialogue on infrastructure,
ASCE encourages Sections and Branches to
develop and promote Infrastructure Report Cards for
their states or regions using the national
methodology.”
10:10 – 10:20 5/8
Now – State & Regional report cards
10:10 – 10:20 6/8
Categories and sub-elements for Iowa
Select from National’s predetermined list:
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Transportation
• Aviation
• Bridges
• Inland waterways
• Rail
• Roads
• Transit
• Ports
Water & Environment
• Dams
• Levees
• Drinking water
• Waste water
Energy: Elec, Gas, Oil, Wind,
Renewables
•
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Waste management
• Solid waste
• Hazardous waste
Public facilities
• Parks/rec areas
• Schools
10:10 – 10:20 7/8
Report Card Recipe for Success: Suggested sequence
10:10 – 10:20 7a/8
“RULES” for Report Carding
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In order to use the ASCE Report Card name and
reputation in producing a State Report card, we will need
to work closely with and secure concurrence of National.
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It will be important to separate the status/condition of the
infrastructure from the skill and diligence employed by its
caretakers.
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Identify successes as well as shortcomings.
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Focus on education about issues, not specific political
goals.
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Seek to communicate why, how and where Civil
Engineers play important roles in infrastructure
construction, maintenance and operation.
10:10 – 10:20 8/8
Charge to the committee
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Comments from Iowa Section 2013-14 President,
Brian Wilham, of Shive-Hattery Assoc. in West Des
Moines
10:20 – 10:25
Iowa Report Card:
Today’s plan of action
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Identify desired outcomes
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Establish general methods framework
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Agree on a work plan
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Identify Infrastructure categories to cover
Establish a schedule
Scope out a budget
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Establish sub-committees
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Identify ways to recruit sufficient participation from our
membership
10:25 – 10:30
Guidance available from National:
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Regional Report Card Notification Form and Instructions
How to Grade Your Community’s Infrastructure
Getting Started
Suggested Timeline for Development of Report Cards
Selecting Infrastructure Categories
Data Collection and Establishing Criteria
Issuing Grades
Promoting the Report Card
Report Card Release Events
Elements of a Media-Worthy Event
Developing Media Tools
Using in Public Policy Efforts
10:25 – 10:30
Let’s get to know each other a little better
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Ice breaker
exercise
1.
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Pair up
2.
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Each person picks 2
questions to ask and
2 to answer
3.
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Interview each other
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Introduce partner to
the group and share
what they learned
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Follow-up: Talk
about our individual
visions about having
an Iowa report card.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What profession would you be in if you
hadn’t become a CE? (& why)
What profession(s) would you NOT wish to
be in? (& why)
Best and worst movie recently viewed?
Funny/intriguing memory from childhood?
Four adjectives that friends and family
would use to describe you?
What do you think other people’s first
impressions of you are (at work)?
If you could trade places with a celebrity or
public figure, who would it be and why?
What do you think will be the three most
interesting developments (in CE) in the
next 20 years?
10:30 – 11:00
Discuss/Select desired outcomes
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30 minutes
Let’s talk about what can be accomplished via production
of an Iowa report card.
What can realistically be achieved?
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How much work can we perform in our volunteer capacities?
What messages do we want to send with the final product?
How could passage of a fuel tax or other revenue increase
impact the effort?
Who will be our audience? Neighbors, legislators, local
officials, Governor, all?
What message or story do we want them to receive?
How do we hope they will respond?
What could go wrong?
What other groups should be included / kept informed?
11:00 – 11:30
Establish Iowa’s Report Carding
core guidelines and methods
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30 minutes
Before narrowing in on specific areas of interest, let’s
establish how the grading process will work.
What aspects of Infrastructure can we /do we want
to include in the scoring?
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What attributes and functional characteristics should be
scored?
Grade on where things are today and where they are
headed?
Grade on quality of assets alone or include assessment of
operations and maintenance.
How to produce composited scores
11:30 – 12:00 1/5
National’s infrastructure criteria:
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To develop the Report
Card grades, a
quantitative and
qualitative approach to
each of the eight
fundamental criteria
should be used to arrive
at each of the category
grades.
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Each author is expected
to review and assess all
relevant data and
reports, consult with
technical and industry
experts, and assign
grades according to the
following eight criteria:
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Capacity – Evaluate the infrastructure’s capacity to meet current
and future demands.
Condition – Evaluate the infrastructure’s existing or near future
physical condition.
Funding – Evaluate the current level of funding (from all levels of
government) for the infrastructure category and compare it to the
estimated funding need.
Future Need – Evaluate the cost to improve the infrastructure and
determine if future funding prospects will be able to meet the need.
Operation and Maintenance – Evaluate the owners’ ability to
operate and maintain the infrastructure properly and determine
that the infrastructure is in compliance with government
regulations.
Public Safety – Evaluate to what extent the public’s safety is
jeopardized by the condition of the infrastructure and what the
consequences of failure may be.
Resilience – Evaluate the infrastructure system’s capability to
prevent or protect against significant multi-hazard threats and
incidents and the ability to expeditiously recover and reconstitute
critical services with minimum damage to public safety and health,
the economy, and national security.
Innovation – Evaluate the implementation and strategic use of
innovative techniques and delivery methods.
11:30 – 12:00 2/5
Grades are developed
via composite scoring
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How to best combine scoring:
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All 8 criteria allowed 12.5
points= 100 total points to earn
No single criterion should
dominate a score – so what is
the max weighting to be used
in Iowa?
How should criteria be
evaluated?
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Technical (numerical) ratings
Professional judgment (by
whom)
Industry expert consensus
State Report Card Category Grading Sheet Example
Grading Criterion
Key Indicator Facts
Capacity
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Condition
Note: Authors should start with a balance
among the 8 criteria (12.5 points for 8
criteria) and then use their expertise and
Earned Points Available Points discretion to determine if key criteria that
may impact the category significantly
8
10 should be weighted more substantially.
However, no one criterion should represent
a majority of the grade.
10
15
8
10
14
15
8
15
5
12
8
13
9
10
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Operations and
Maintenance
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Public Safety
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Funding
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Future Need
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Resilience
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Innovation
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Fact 4
Fact 5
Final Grade
Points should be allocated in balanced
manner across the 8 Key Criteria to arrive at
the number of earned points of the
100 possible 100 points.
70
GRADE: 70% = C
11:30 – 12:00 3/5
National’s grading schema
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Grading Scale
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Grading for an ASCE Report Card uses a 100
point scale and can also be represented as a
percentage.
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Points should be allocated in balanced manner
across the 8 Key Criteria to arrive at the number
of earned points of the possible 100 points.
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Authors should start with a balance among the 8
criteria (12.5 points x 8 = 100) and then use their
expertise and discretion to determine if Key
Criteria that may impact the category significantly
should be weighted more substantially. However,
no one criterion should represent a majority of
the grade.
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The percentage earned is then translated into a
letter grade based on the following scale:
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 51-69%
F = 50% or lower
A - Exceptional
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
93
92
91
90
B - GOOD
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
C - MEDIOCRE
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
D - POOR
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
F - FAILING/CRITICAL
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
11:30 – 12:00 4/5
Selecting a final report structure
Which will be best for Iowa?
Option 1: General Framework
Executive Summary:
1.
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Analysis:
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How is [x] doing in terms of Capacity,
Condition, O&M, Funding, Future Need,
Public Safety, Resilience, and Innovation?
(Don’t forget all 8!)
Conclusion:
4.
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Highlight the most significant issues
State the grade
Recommendations:
5.
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6.
Start with the most compelling statistic
Give context – how many, how much
Compare it to a common item of
reference
Executive Summary:
1.
3-5 sentences
Most compelling facts
Introduction:
2.
Option 2: Criteria Driven Framework
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Condition & Capacity:
2.
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Includes O&M
Includes Innovation
Funding & Future Needs
Public Safety & Resilience
Conclusion:
3.
4.
5.
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Highlight the most significant issues
State the grade
Recommendations for Action
6.
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7.
3-5 sentences
Most compelling facts
What are the 3-5 solutions that can
start solving this today?
Sources
What are the 3-5 solutions that can start
solving this today?
Sources
11:30 – 12:00 5/5
LUNCH 12:00 to 12:30
How can we acquire infrastructure data?
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Basic needs
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Financial
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Extent and magnitude
Operating volumes
Customers, users served
Cost/value of the infrastructure class
O & M costs (and, for comparison, O & M needs)
Replacement needs vs. revenues
Upgrade needs vs. revenues
Status and conditions
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Performance – measure of how well the class fulfills need
Condition – measure of physical/operational adequacy
Resilience – measure of class reliability
12:30 to 12:35 1/2
Data sources identified by National
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Need to review and determine which will be useful
Need to determine what data ‘holes’ need to be filled
Need to document acquired data to assure that
results are defensible and carry sufficient “weight of
authority”
2013 Report Card Sources
• www.infrastructurereportcard.org
ASCE Infrastructure Library
• https://files.asce.org/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-2126648_1-t_O0VYZo2S
• Password: reportcard
State Reports & Interviews
12:30 to 12:35 2/2
Data evaluation and grading -1/3
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Grade reporting and consolidation
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To be done via spreadsheet
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8 criteria x submitted grades x weightings = final grade for each
class
State grade to be un-weighted combination of all classes
Sub-committee submittals needed:
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Basics, financial and status/conditions
Narrative description of infrastructure class
Rationale for grades, scores and grading discussion
Success stories and future options
Amplifying commentary
Photos, source files, links and contacts
12:35 to 12:45
Data evaluation and grading – 2/3
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An advisory panel of experts should review the
research and the assigned letter grades.
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Your panel should consist of engineers who are
widely regarded as technical experts in the
infrastructure area that will be analyzed.
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An advisory panel will lend credibility to the
project and panelists should be listed on the
report card.
12:35 to 12:45
Data evaluation and grading – 3/3
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Citizen focus group (option for consideration)
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Invite a suitably diverse group of citizens to a trial
presentation of the Iowa report card findings
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Ask them to give feedback as to how well they
understand the results.
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Seek questions from them and use their replies to guide
final wording of findings and analysis
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Ferret out misunderstandings and unforeseen flash points
before public release of the report card.
12:35 to 12:45
Preview modes of delivery and discuss
effectiveness of each.
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Brochures
Web site
Social media
Press release
Press conference
Letters to editors
Civic group
presentations
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Initial
Immediate follow up
Long term
12:45 to 1:00 PM
Establish a schedule – ASCE Countdown
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Twelve Months Prior to Release
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Submit Report Card Notification Form to ASCE National.
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Select committee members to develop report card.
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Decide which infrastructure areas to evaluate.
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Decide what data to use in assessing infrastructure and where to find it.
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Teleconference with ASCE National staff liaison and member of Advisory Council
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on State and Local Report Cards.
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Begin researching and compiling data.
Ten – Four Months Prior to Release
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Draft fact sheets and issue briefs.
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Assign grades to each infrastructure area.
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Submit regular status updates to ASCE National.
Three Months Prior to Release
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Write text for report card.
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Start planning media event to release the report card.
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Contact a graphic artist or desktop publisher to layout your report card.
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Research locations to hold event.
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Submit regular status updates to ASCE National.
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Finalize news release, fact sheets and issue briefs. Assemble these materials with
report card into a press packet.
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Finalize talking points.
One Week Prior to Release
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Eleven Months Prior to Release
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Three – Two Weeks Prior to Release
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Email media advisory to identified media contacts.
Three Days Prior to Event
Make follow-up phone calls to invited media to remind them of the event and to
make sure it is on their schedule.
Day Before Event
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Continue making follow-up calls to invited media.
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Email an embargoed copy of the report card to reporters. The embargo can be set
for midnight the night before the release or the start time of the press conference.
Day of Event
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Continue making follow-up phone calls to key reporters.
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Send news release if an embargoed copy was not distributed the day before the
event. If sending a news release without an embargo time, mark it “for immediate
release” in place of the embargo time.
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Distribute press kits at the press conference.
Two Months Prior to Release
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Finalize location for event.
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Begin to compile a list of key decision makers to invite to the event.
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Decide who will speak at the news conference and begin drafting remarks.
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Submit final drafts to ASCE National for Advisory Council review.
Six Weeks Prior to Release
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Finalize changes recommended by Advisory Council.
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Draft media materials including media advisory, news release, spokesperson, bios
and talking points.
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Compile media list of appropriate reporters, producers and editors, preferably ones
that cover transportation, schools, local government, the environment and other
infrastructure-related issues. Be sure to include titles, email addresses and Finalize
remarks for the event and show how much time is allotted per speaker and what
topic each speaker will cover.
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Send final layout of the report card to printer.
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One Day After Event
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Send copy of report card to key decision makers asking them for their support for
infrastructure investment and renewal.
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Monitor media coverage of the report card release.
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Draft an op-ed that presents the issues highlighted in the report card and pitch it to
your local newspaper. (Some large papers may ask that an op-ed be submitted on
an exclusive basis, meaning no other publication can simultaneously print the piece.
Check each publication’s editorial policy to be sure.)
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Monitor opportunities to send letters to the editors and to comment on blogs, etc.
1:00 to 1:15 PM 1/2
Establish a schedule
Trial Iowa calendar
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January 17 – kickoff – receive the charge – prelim decisions – select subcommittees
Feb – Get organized : Topics, grading criteria, official schedule
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Mar OL -- progress reports – issues – concerns
April OL -- status report
May – Meet for questions, problems progress report, review trial data, grades and composite results
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Teleconference with National
June OL -- online status report
July OL -- online status report / advance publicity planning
Aug – OL Turn in grades for consolidation
Sep - Meet to review and finalize
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Independent peer review for credibility
National review
Oct – OL Review graphics, discuss roll out and publicity
Nov -- OL Prepare / procure print, web and digital materials
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Dec PR University session from National
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January 2015 – Official roll-out
1:00 to 1:15 PM 2/2
Establish a budget /
preliminary version now / final in Feb
Cost items
Notes
Meeting expenses
Jan-14
Feb, May, Sep, Dec?
Graphic arts
Where to procure; at what cost; how ‘jazzy’?
Printing
What items; how many of each?
Misc.
Special
Revenue
SPAG grant; Region 7; Iowa Section
1:15 to 1:30 PM
Iowa Report Card –
what resources will be available to us?
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Data, templates, direct advice from National
Iowa Report Card e-room
Meeting sites & means
Funding
Other organizations
1:30 to 1:35 PM
Sub-committees
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Self select into committees, or at least committee
chairs
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Establish what infrastructure items have been ‘taken’
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Determine which, if any, of the remainder ought to be
included in final report.
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Make sure we have everyone’s particulars and
contract information.
1:35 to 1:50 PM 1/2
Infrastructure
category
Sub-committee Chair
Additional members
•Transportation
•Aviation
•Bridges
•Inland waterways
•Rail
•Roads
•Transit
•Ports
•Water & Environment
•Dams
•Levees
•Drinking water
•Waste water
•Energy: Elec, Gas, Oil, Wind,
Renewables
•Waste management
•Solid waste
•Hazardous waste
•Public facilities
•Parks/rec areas
•Schools
1:35 to 1:50 PM 2/2
Recruitment of additional help
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At this point, we should brainstorm about who else to
involve in this project, what to ask of them and how
to procure their participation
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Other Iowa Section ASCE members
Other professional societies with parallel interests
Representatives of infrastructure organizations
Looking ahead
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Will need to recruit domain experts who are not part of
this committee to perform critical reviews later in the
process
1:50 to 1:55 PM
Wrap-up
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Thanks for coming and agreeing to be involved in the development
of an Iowa report card.
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Next Steps:
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SWD will prepare and file a notice of intent with National
All of us should invite additional people to participate
Sub-committees need to make an initial assessment of the topics that
they have chosen to evaluate.
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We’ll need to be able to pool our findings at the next meeting
Next meeting
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ASCE staff will teleconference with us to discuss project
Invite prior state
An official grade repository worksheet will be reviewed.
Each committee will be asked to report on the status of their infrastructure
categories
Finalization of schedule and budget