ENGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY
Northwest Public Works Institute
Liz Moorhead, PE
Senior Engineer, City of Portland
Engineering and Technology
Overview
• Roles and responsibilities of municipal engineers
• Career issues
• Best management practices in
– Planning, development & engineering design
– The bid process
– Construction
– Utility coordination
• Engineering technology
• Emerging issues
Roles and Responsibilities of
Municipal Engineers
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Project manager
Designer
Engineer-of-Record/Permit reviewer
Construction Manager
Inspector
Subdivision Plan Checker
Emergency Responder
Technical Expert
– Traffic, structural, civil, hydraulic, etc.
Engineer as Supervisor/Manager
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Design Team Leader
Technical Manager
Construction Manager
Project Manager
City Engineer
Director of Public Works
Career Issues
• Licensing (www.osbeels.org)
• Continuing education (30 PDH’s in 2 years)
• Professional development - APWA, ASCE,
conferences, subscriptions
• Rotation to promote well-rounded engineers
• Training
– Management/Leadership/Scheduling/
Computer/Design/Construction Mgmt
Best Management Practices
Planning, Development & Design
• Project scope, schedule, budget &
coordination
• Stakeholder input
• Design criteria, regulations, standards and
specifications
• Consultant or in-house design
• Utility coordination
• Production of (biddable and buildable) plans,
specifications and estimate
Best Management Practices
Bid Process
• Advertise notice to bidders (Oct-Apr)
– Daily Journal of Commerce, Oregonian
• Pre-bid/Pre-proposal meeting (opt)
• Bidder Pre-qualification - insurance, bond,
capacity, equipment, experience
• Bid opening & evaluation
• 7-day notice of intent to award
• Bid award/rejection
• Execute contract - provide ins. & bond
Best Management Practices
Pre-Construction
• Issue notice to proceed
• Assign inspector & construction manager
• Have a preconstruction utility coordination
meeting
• Have a preconstruction meeting
• Site survey
Best Management Practices
During and After Construction
• Inspection and record keeping
• Material testing
• Measurement and payment
• Change orders
• Acceptance and final payment
• 2 year warranty bond,
record drawings,
close out & cert.
of completion
Best Management Practice
Utility Coordination
• Identification & coordination
• Long-range utility planning
• Utility maps and records (GIS)
• One Call Centers/Uniform Color Code
Engineering Technology
• Computerization
– Basics (Excel, Word, Outlook)
– Drafting, survey and geometric design
(AutoCAD, Microstation, INRoads, Land Dev.
Desktop, Civil 3D, TDS)
– Analysis (SWMM, SAP)
– Record
Keeping
(MMS & GIS)
Emerging Issues
• Decrease in engineering graduates
• Fragmentation of public works
• Non-engineers as project managers &
department of public works directors
• Greenstreet facilities
• Paying to maintain
infrastructure
• Privatization
SE 20th and Division