Woodlake & QK Partnership

Woodlake & QK Partnership

The City of Woodlake has grown remarkably over the past decade and is a thriving Central Valley community under the guidance of City Administrator, Ramon Lara. QK has partnered with the City for over 40 years, supporting the community’s vision to be a destination for future families, jobs, and visitors.

Growth by the Numbers:

  • 500+ New homes
  • 150+ New jobs resulting from the industrial park expansion
  • 1.52% Annual population growth (compared to the national average of .9% in similarly sized cities)
  • Significant retail and commercial developments

In partnership with the City, QK has executed numerous successful projects that brought immediate benefits to the community and will continue to do so far into the future. As a trusted consultant, our team works tirelessly to support the City’s aggressive development strategies over the last decade, successfully attracting residential, commercial, and industrial investments. Looking ahead, Woodlake aims to continue this trajectory by delivering ongoing projects including new parks, affordable housing, and recreational facilities. Through continued collaboration and a shared commitment to high standards, the QK/City partnership will undoubtedly continue to enhance the quality of life for Woodlake’s residents for years to come.

Downtown Revitalization: From Struggling Street to Vibrant City Center

One of the greatest testaments to our successful partnership with the City is the revitalization of Woodlake’s downtown area, which needed updated and added infrastructure like streetlighting and safe sidewalks. The downtown now vibrates with a welcoming atmosphere, attractive landscaping features, and an inviting downtown plaza. Along with City, QK was integral in securing the grant funding that made this transformation and other nearby projects possible.

Transportation improvements, including two new roundabouts with two more in design, the Community Center, the Downtown Plaza, a transit center, and numerous parks have made Woodlake an increasingly attractive area for housing developers and families. These projects have not only enhanced the City’s aesthetics but have also fostered a sense of community pride and increased local engagement.

City Engineering Partnership

Over a decade ago, the City of Woodlake chose long-time QKer, Monique Mello, PE, QSD/QSP, as its City Engineer. She has spearheaded numerous projects for the City, and constantly advocated for Woodlake residents. In her own words:

“It’s been an honor to be Woodlake’s City Engineer for over a decade where I get to help the City’s vision come to fruition. All of our projects have added much-needed infrastructure in addition to enhancing the vibrant beauty of the community. I can’t wait to see what the next ten years holds for Woodlake, and I am so grateful to be a part of its success.”

Looking Forward

The City of Woodlake isn’t slowing down. The community continues to introduce new amenities for residents and visitors, including concerts and movies in the park along with other community-focused events. QK continues to help Mr. Lara and City execute its vision by aligning our work with Woodlake’s needs. We carefully allocate our resources to maintain open and strong communication channels with City officials, and we listen to residents and local stakeholders to truly understand community needs. As Woodlake continues to expand its businesses, tax revenue, housing, and jobs, QK will be there every step of the way to ensure that every member of the community has access to the infrastructure and amenities they need to grow and thrive. 

A Thousand Flags

A Thousand Flags

Bakersfield’s annual A Thousand Flags Ceremony is more than just a Memorial Weekend tradition; it’s a profound display of respect and gratitude for the fallen heroes who have served their nation. For the past ten years, QK has played an integral role in this moving tribute, setting the points for flag installation with precision and reverence.

Surveyor Brandon Walker reflects on the firm’s enduring dedication to this meaningful event, stating, “We look forward every year to participate in the placement of the flag locations for this awesome show of respect for our fallen heroes. It has been an honor to participate in this Memorial Weekend tradition for the last ten years.”

Walker’s sentiment encapsulates the profound sense of pride and purpose that drives QK’s involvement in the ceremony. Beyond the technical aspects of their work, QK’s team approaches their role with a deep appreciation for the significance of honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

As the flags unfurl in the gentle breeze, each one symbolizing a life laid down in service, QK’s contribution stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of remembrance and gratitude. Their meticulous efforts ensure that every flag is placed with care and precision, paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the brave men and women who have defended freedom.

As Memorial Weekend approaches each year, the flags serve as a visual reminder of the debt owed to those who have served. And standing among them, QK stands as a beacon of remembrance, ensuring that the sacrifices of our heroes are never forgotten.

A very special recognition to Alan Walker, who has championed this effort every year we have participated. We admire your passion for this cause and are proud to support you and this effort for the past decade!

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER

 

Visalia Office

 

Position Purpose

Working in cooperation with others throughout the company, the Assistant Project Manager is accountable for successfully coordinating integrated components of projects. The Assistant Project Manager works closely with the Project Manager and other QK staff (e.g., team leaders, technical experts, accounting department, marketing staff), to assure that all aspects of the project are completed on schedule and within budget. Success is measured by achieving results, based on defined standards, in the following areas:

  • Client satisfaction: the quality of clients’ experience from pre-proposal through project completion
  • On-time product delivery, including meeting or exceeding agreed-upon project schedules
  • QK’s project staff satisfaction; the quality and timeliness of information, communication and feedback related to the client and project
  • The quality of all work products

What You'll Do

ESSENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work with senior staff to develop comprehensive project plans to be shared with clients as well as other staff members
  • Plan and monitor resources in Deltek for various projects within multiple disciplines and for multiple project managers, ensure resource availability and allocation throughout the life of the project
  • Assist project manager in formulating project proposals by researching past projects, evaluating proposal request details, and coordinating intel from various internal resources as needed to formulate a comprehensive and competitive proposal
  • Coordinate project scope, schedule and budget, including monitoring progress versus achievement of clients’ expectations, escalate to management as needed
  • Maintain continuous communication on project status with clients and all internal and external stakeholders
  • Attend meetings with clients to take detailed ordering briefs and clarify specific requirements of each project
  • Develop spreadsheets, diagrams and process maps to document client and stakeholder needs, project progress, timelines and quality milestones
  • Collect data to provide status reporting regarding project milestones, deliverable, dependencies, risks and issues
  • Documents quality control milestones and informs key stakeholders when proper documentation is not submitted
  • Participate in quality issue resolution, document for learning measures
    Assist in collecting documents needed in disputes, negotiations, arbitration or litigation, as needed
  • Monitor, track and assist in controlling outcomes to resolve issues, conflicts, dependencies and critical path deliverables
  • Work with project managers to determine the frequency and content of status reports from the project and program team. Analyze results of status reports, assist in troubleshooting problem areas. Deliver appropriate and effective management and executive level communication, especially as issues arise
  •  Anticipate client, business, and community issues and communicate suggestions to influence managerial and team attention to them
  • Monitor project performance and advise project manager of ways to correct performance gaps.
  • Build organizational relationships; understand the roles and interrelationships of all partners; foster teamwork within and across departments; and cultivate a strong, diverse network or relationships inside and outside the firm
  • Visit construction site to monitor progress and other duties per the contract documents, reporting all findings to the project manager and other stakeholders in a timely fashion
  • Attend client meetings, take notes, make presentations and represent the project manager and QK as necessary
  • Billable production: varies, typically 80-90%

Who We Need

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Ability to collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
  • Proficient with Deltek and Microsoft Office suite
  • Ability to work well with others (as a team member) and alone
  • Ability to handle pressures related to internal and external project and proposal delivery schedule
  • Proven ability to gather and interpret information, and develop and present (orally and in writing) sound business conclusions
  • Team based approach to decision making and problem solving
  • Visual acuity and ability to communicate well, in writing and verbally, with other staff, clients, and agencies to accomplish team goals.
  • Ability to sit or stand for long periods and walk on uneven surfaces to conduct site visits
  • A current driver’s license and good driving record may be required if employee will be making field visits and/or meeting with clients outside the company’s office

PREFERRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Desire to be helpful to internal and external clients
  • Ability to create strong relationships in a mentoring capacity
  • Proven ability to successfully work against a deadline and within constrained budgets
  • Strong critical thinking skills that allow for quick problem solving and innovative solutions
  • Proven ability to motivate others
  • Demonstrated ability to provide constructive feedback and/or make management aware of concerns in a positive and productive manner
  • Proven ability to communicate complex technical ideas and concepts to non-technical people effectively

Education

  • Associate’s degree or equivalent work experience in project management, engineering, land surveying, planning, etc.

Organizational Relationships

The Assistant Project Manager provides both support and leadership to project manager and project teams. This person will have to develop relationships with staff in various disciplines in order to achieve the end goal of delivering a quality product. The Assistant Project Manager reports to an assigned Group Leader or Branch Manager. Assistant PMs are expected work with all disciplines throughout the entire company and develop strong working relationships with Group and/or Technical Leaders throughout the company in order to meet our “One Company” vision. Those holding this position are also expected to provide mentorship to junior staff and insight to the Senior Management Team and Branch Managers.

Experience

  • Minimum of three (3) years’ experience in a dual role of support and leadership
  • Previous experience in engineering, construction management, planning, or land surveying preferred
 

Click here to view more about this position

Email your resume to recruiter@qkinc.com

2019 Notice of Funding Availability: Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grants Programs

2019 Notice of Funding Availability

 

By John Quiring

 

Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) Grants Program

 

Many jurisdictions have applied for and received assistance under the SB2 Planning Grants program. In a continuation of the State’s efforts to expand housing production, a group of programs were passed under the Local Government Planning Support program passed in the last budget. A key feature of this package of programs is the LEAP grants program described below.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development is pleased to announce the release of this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for approximately $119,040,000 as part of the Local Early Action Planning Grants Program (LEAP or Program). The Program provides funding to jurisdictions for the preparation and adoption of planning documents, process improvements that accelerate housing production, and facilitate compliance in implementing the sixth cycle of the RHNA.

Program Timeline Grants will be available to eligible applicants on a noncompetitive, Over-the Counter (OTC) basis. Applications will be accepted from the date of the release of this NOFA until July 1, 2020.

NOFA Application Webinar: February 14, 2020
NOFA Application Workshops: February and March 2020
Final Due Date for OTC Applications: July 1, 2020

The maximum amount that a jurisdiction may receive shall be as follows:

Jurisdiction Size (in pop)        Maximum Award Amount
750,000 or greater                              $1,500,000
300,000 to 749,999                             $750,000
100,000 to 299,999                             $500,000
60,000 to 99,999                                 $300,000
20,000 to 59,999                                 $150,000
Less than 20,000                                 $65,000

The list of eligible activities is lengthier than those allowed under SB2 Planning grants. Actual activities can be found on pages 5-6 of the NOFA found at the NOFA web link below. Full application package is now available at the website below.

LEAP Resource Page: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/leap.shtml

LEAP NOFA Page: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/leap/docs/LEAP_Final_Clean.pdf

For further information, please contact John Quiring, QK’s Director of Community Development and Infrastructure Funding, at (559) 449-2400 or John.Quiring@qkinc.com.

 

What Are PFAS? Are They in Your Drinking Water? And How QK Can Help.

What Are PFAS? Are They In Your Drinking Water? And How QK Can Help.

 

By QK

 

What are PFAS? Are they in your dringking water?

 

In August 2019, the California Division of Drinking Water (DDW) established notification levels for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA). The notification level for PFOS is 6.5 parts per trillion and 5.1 parts per trillion for PFOA. Collectively, PFOS and PFOA are know as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Notification levels are a non-regulatory, precautionary health-based measure for levels in drinking water that warrant notification and further monitoring and assessment.

Ace

 

The ACE Mentor Program is an afterschool program that introduces students to careers in architecture, construction management, and engineering and oftentimes, other related disciplines. QK’s involvement with ACE mentorship began in 2011 and ended in 2014. I first became involved with ACE in 2012 teaching the students at Edison High School in southwest Fresno all about planning. Other mentors assisted with engineering, architecture, construction, estimating, and even biology. The Aquarius Aquarium Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization, establishes environmental teaching programs utilizing aquariums to help bring educational parity to central San Joaquin Valley students and citizens of all backgrounds and cultural groups in addition to being the organization behind the Fresno Aquarium project. A ten-acre site was donated at the intersection of the San Joaquin River and Highway 99 – a gateway entry site to the City of Fresno. In 2011, the Fresno Aquarium became the selected project to be studied by the Edison High students. The students developed 3-D models and presented their projects at a special event hosted by the Central California Builders Exchange. The previous project was the Dickey Park Youth Center near downtown Fresno. Following the aquarium project, students later chose to select their own projects for detailed studies. The selected project in 2013-14 was a Family Entertainment Center, an all-in-one arcade that included golf carts, video arcade, trampolines, batting cages, laser tag and more. Teaching high school students all about planning, architecture, engineering, and construction can be a rewarding experience.

Where did pfas come from?

 

The major sources of PFAS are: fire training/fire response sites, industrial sites, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants/biosolids. In 2019, the DDW ordered 600 water systems and 250 locations near major source area to sample for PFAS. The results of this sampling are available on the DDW website.

What should I do?

Public water systems are encouraged to test their water for PFAS. There are only a handful of analytical laboratories in the State accredited to test for PFAS. QK can assist you in attaining the proper samples and work with an accredited lab to have the samples tested.

What if I have PFAS?

If testing shows PFAS above the notification levels, QK can assist you in evaluating options to mitigate the concentration on PFAS. Treatment of PFAS is dependent upon which of the PFAS chemicals are present. Treatment may involve activated carbon, anion exchange, or membranes. Treatment should be considered a last resort. QK will work with you to investigate the options of blending, sealing off zone of high PFAS in an existing well or drilling a new well.

If you have questions on how to treat PFAS in your existing water system and would like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to contact Brian Shoener, Senior Engineer at (559) 449-2400 or Brian.Shoener@qkinc.com.

QK Engineering Design & Construction Management Services

ACT FAST: EPA Repeal of 2015 Clean Water Act Becomes Final in December 2019; may Lead to More USACE Regulation

ACT FAST: EPA Repeal of 2015 Clean Water Act Becomes Final in December 2019

 

By Cari Wingert, Senior Environmental Scientist

May lead to more usace regulation

On October 22nd, the EPA published a Final Rule in the Federal Register repealing the 2015 Clean Water Rule.

The effect of this Final Rule will be changes to the Code of Federal Regulations restoring the language that existed prior to the 2015 Rule.  The language would revert to a 1986 interpretation of the Clean Water Act’s definition of waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) with guidance from 2006 Supreme Court case of Rapanos v. US.  This new Final Rule becomes effective on December 23, 2019.

What this could mean for your project

  • The definition of WOTUS will become less clear and subject to greater discretion by United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regulators, making it harder for property owners to argue that a feature is not jurisdictional.
  • Waters that would not be considered WOTUS under the 2015 Rule could be considered WOTUS under the old regulations.  For example, ephemeral ditches that would not be jurisdictional under the 2015 Rule may be considered jurisdiction based on significant nexus under the prior regulations.
  • The distance-based metric for identifying jurisdiction is removed, which may result in a reduction of WOTUS determinations, but this benefit may be outweighed by the lack of clarity that will result from removal of other parts of the 2015 Rule.

Overall, repeal of the 2015 Rule is likely to lead to a lack of consistency and clarity for project proponents trying to determine if waters on their properties are subject to USACE jurisdiction.

Immediately after this repeal was published in the Federal Register several lawsuits were filed, both to challenge the repeal of the 2015 Rule and to challenge the 1986 interpretation that would come into effect on December 23, 2019. It is possible that the full repeal could be delayed by the courts, though the likelihood of that is low.

If you are working on potential permitting projects that involve the USACE, QK Senior Environmental Scientist Carie Wingert recommends the following:

 Accelerate the permitting efforts for submittal of applications prior to December 23, 2019.

  1. Submit an Approved Jurisdictional Determination request prior to December 23, 2019 if the jurisdictional nature of the waters on-site are questionable.
  2. Conduct a risk assessment for disturbing aquatic features before and after the repeal is in full effect.

Other things to keep in mind

  • The Regional Water Quality Control Board is requiring confirmation from the USACE that a feature is not a federal WOTUS before issuing Waste Discharge Requirement permits in lieu of 401 Water Quality Certifications.
  • Compensatory mitigation in the Central Valley is expensive and would be required at a 2:1 ratio of credits purchased from the In-Lieu Fee Program as there are no other mitigation options for waters and wetlands available south of San Joaquin County.

If you have questions about a project and you would like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to contact Carie Wingert, Senior Environmental Scientist at (559) 449-2400 or Carie.Wingert@qkinc.com.

What You Really Need To Know About SB 1000

What You Really Need To Know About SB 1000

 

By Jessica Bispels, Assistant Planner

 

State Bill 1000, otherwise known as “The Planning for Healthy Communities Act” was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on September 24th, 2016. It says that a local agency will now be required to address environmental justice issues when it adopts or revises two or more general plan elements. The starting date for his mandate was January 1, 2018. Thereafter, any adoption or revision of two of more General Plan elements will require an adoption of an environmental justice element or integrate environmental justice goals, objectives, and policies into other elements of the General Plan.

 

What is Environmental Justice?

The EPA defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations and policies. SB 1000 requires an environmental justice element that identifies disadvantaged communities within the area covered by the city or county’s General Plan. This part of the general plan needs to identify objectives and policies to reduce the health risks in these disadvantaged communities and to promote civil engagement in the public decision-making process.

Photo Credit:  https://www.senate.ca.gov/

Where Do We Need Environmental Justice?

Low-income residents, communities of color, tribal nations, and immigrant communities have disproportionately experienced environmental burdens and related health problems. Oftentimes most of polluting industries are located near the most disenfranchised communities.  This inequity can be mitigated by smart land use planning, enforcing proper zoning and regular inspections, preventing discriminatory housing and lending practices, prioritizing public health over business interest, and placing economic and environmental benefits in areas within disadvantaged communities. According to the California Environmental Justice Alliance, the following topics can be addressed in general plans so that it represents a positive vision for the future:

  1. Pollution Exposure and Air Quality
  2. Pubic Facilities
  3. Food Access
  4. Safe and Sanitary Homes
  5. Physical Activity
  6. “Civil” or Community Engagement
  7. Improvements and Programs that Address the Needs of Disadvantaged Communities
 

How Can We Help?

The list above spells out just a few of the many ways that cities and counties can incorporate environmental justice into their general plans. We at QK have worked with clients to include elements of environmental justice that are comprehensive and thoughtful. Our work toward environmental justice predates this law, and we are excited at the opportunity to assist cities in incorporating this essential aspect to their General Plans.

UAV/UAS (Drones) And Land Surveying: Do I Really Need A Land Surveyor’s License For That?

UAV/UAS (Drones) And Land Surveying

 

By Michael D. Knopf, PE, PLS – Principal Engineer/Land Surveyor

 

Do I really need a Land Surveyor’s License for that?

This article examines the use of Drones in Land Surveying and mapping, differentiating the roles and responsibilities of the Land Surveyor from that of the UAS operator.  While these roles may appear to overlap, each has its own set of laws, rules and regulations.

 

The profession of land surveying has been experiencing a technological sea-change, its tools and technologies transitioning from the Iron Age to the Space Age in a single generation. Within that short time period, surveyors have transitioned from using antique instruments, hand calculations and bound field books, to powerful new technologies such as electronic total stations, computing, electronic distance measurement (EDM), global positioning systems (GPS/GNSS) and robotics.

Today the surveying profession is completely dependent on the digital environment. The development of many advanced electronics, automation and computing tools has presented new challenges for surveying professionals. Like other professions, surveyors sometimes have a difficult time learning and adapting to this unending flow of disruptive new technologies. Often the earliest adopters of a new technology are not surveyors, but those whose primary skill is the new technology itself rather than the technical principals that ought to govern its proper use. For example, when GPS signals were ordered unscrambled by President Bill Clinton on May 1st of 2000, geodetic coordinates could theoretically be determined by anyone, simply by pressing buttons on a GPS device operating as a “black box”. Unfortunately, non-surveying professionals were mostly unaware of the limitations of such things. People, even educated geospatial professionals, often lack a complete understanding of different horizontal and vertical datums. Sometimes, hardware and software vendors suffer similar weaknesses and as a result, they are prone to advertise capabilities that are not always accurate.

UAV / UAS

The latest new technology to emerge in the mapping world is UAV/UAS, which is a confluence of all the earlier mentioned technologies.  UAS combines GPS, robotics, automation and computing in a single system.  Having some of the same “black box” characteristics as GPS, these amazing “flying robots” can present similar risks from use by non-surveyors who try to provide mapping solutions depending entirely on the magic of the software and results provided by the “black box”. Without having a solid understanding of the limitations of the system or the surveying principles involved, operators can unknowingly provide outputs that contain serious errors.

Regulatory changes by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in June of 2016 have unleashed a flood of new UAV/UAS users. By the way, UAV stands for unmanned aerial vehicles, referring to the aircraft itself, while UAS stands for unmanned aerial systems, which more broadly encompasses the aircraft, navigation systems, sensors, controllers, and any associated software and data processing apparatus. When used for any commercial purpose, FAA Part 107 regulations now treat all types of unmanned aircraft between 0.55 lbs. and 55 lbs., (including payload) as serious aircraft, requiring registration, strict operating rules and a commercial UAV pilot’s license to operate.  While pilot certification is required, the UAV regulatory environment is still developing, and it has been characterized by some as “the wild west”. The government has decided to take a light grip for the time being and let the technology “cook” for a while before adding new regulations and standards. Important safety factors such as aircraft maintenance, airworthiness, recordkeeping etc. are still, for now, the responsibility of the operator.

QK’s UAV – Matrice 600 Pro with RTK/GNSS Positioning

With the increase in drone operators, the marketplace has quickly recognized the value of UAV’s. The ability to safely gain visual access from an aerial vantage point has increased the demand for all types of services. Construction and industrial applications have already recognized significant benefits, particularly for locations or activities that fall into the dirty, dull, or dangerous categories, where drones offer significant advantages. The addition of sophisticated navigation systems, advanced sensors (especially better cameras) and automated software has added tremendous value to this technology, but it has also created the potential hazards mentioned previously, which certain users need to be aware of.

A specialized group of drone operators has begun developing applications for UAS in aerial mapping. Members of organizations such as Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) and the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) have begun testing UAS mapping applications using low altitude, high resolution photogrammetry and LiDAR, achieving results comparable with traditional manned photogrammetry missions.  A more limited number of land surveyors have gone even further. Undertaking extensive testing, some have achieved map accuracies with UAS comparable with terrestrial GPS surveys. These results are very exciting, both on a cost basis and in terms of the richness of the data being produced, likely indicating the next great advance in surveying and mapping technology.

However, UAS operators and their clients can get into serious trouble by relying only on the “black box” aspect of the system without the guidance of an experienced land surveyor or mapping professional. As already mentioned, despite the claims of various equipment and software providers, black box hardware and software solutions cannot by themselves, always be relied upon to produce desired results. When considering use of UAS for mapping purposes, it is important to adhere to Rule 415 adopted by the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists, which states:

“A professional engineer or land surveyor licensed under the code shall practice and perform engineering or land surveying work only in the field or fields in which he/she is by education and/or experience fully competent and proficient.”

This mandate is especially applicable to UAS technology when used in mapping applications. Traditional standards of accuracy such as National Map Accuracy Standards were developed in an age of paper maps and are not easily applied to newer mapping systems. To better relate to the types of digital map data being produced today, ASPRS has developed a digital accuracy standard more suitable for UAS mapping applications called “ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data”. This change is important because land surveyors and photogrammetrists no longer provide only two-dimensional maps as their end-product deliverable. With digital data captured in three dimensions, the options for deliverables might just as easily be a series of measurements, a three-D model, a CAD surface or a domain-ready dataset.

3D Model Generated from UAV Data

Orthomosaic

Same Image Showing Detail Possible with High Resolution Imagery

Outputs Using uas

It should also be pointed out that producing certain outputs using UAS without the involvement of a certified photogrammetrist or licensed land surveyor is not only unreliable, it is also against the law.  State land surveying statutes are clear in defining the required role of the licensed land surveyor or photogrammetrist. Section 8726 of the Land Surveyor’s Act defines land survey practice to include any of the activities listed below, almost all of which can occur with any mapping project utilizing UAS:

(a) Locates, relocates, establishes, reestablishes, or retraces the alignment or elevation for any of the fixed works embraced within the practice of civil engineering, as described in Section 6731.

(b) Determines the configuration or contour of the earth’s surface, or the position of fixed objects above, on, or below the surface of the earth by applying the principals of mathematics or photogrammetry.

(g) Determines the information shown or to be shown on any map or document prepared or furnished in connection with any one or more of the functions described in subdivisions (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f).

(i) Procures or offers to procure land surveying work for himself, herself, or others.

(m) Creates, prepares, or modifies electronic or computerized data in the performance of the activities described in subdivisions (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (k), and (l).

(n) Renders a statement regarding the accuracy of maps or measured survey data.

While the UAS operator or drone pilot is required to be knowledgeable about flight operations, airspace, flight characteristics of the aircraft, weather, FAA regulations and pre/post-flight procedures, etc. these factors, important as they are, do not address the other critical aspects of planning a mapping mission. Other critical elements for a successful mapping mission include an understanding of the clients required map accuracy, density and location of ground control points, proper sensor selection, proper flight altitude and ground speed, location and number of required ground check points, flight pattern overlap, to name a few. For these activities, as well as post-processing of data, quality control, etc. a licensed land surveyor or photogrammetrist must be in responsible charge.

It should be noted that many commercial UAS applications do not involve mapping and therefore do not require a land surveyor or photogrammetrist. The images that can be produced from even a modest camera sensor mounted on a low-altitude UAV can be stunning and capturing these high-resolution images for a variety of purposes is one of the most valuable uses of UAS. Most of the time this type of work does not fall within the definition of land surveying or photogrammetry, that is, unless it is accompanied by certain representations.

Qualified Mapping Professional

How can you know when the use of UAS might also require a qualified mapping professional to be involved? In discussing the planned work assignment, listen for project objectives that use certain words such as acreage, area, dimension, location, contours, volume, accuracy, scale, coordinates, or units of measurement such as acres, feet or cubic yards. These words usually indicate work intended to provide a geo-positional, relational or dimensional reference and as such are likely describing activities that should be performed under the direction of a properly qualified licensed land surveyor or photogrammetrist.

While the Land Surveyor’s Act regulations do restrict certain types of UAV activities, they hardly make a dent in the rapidly expanding number of other potential uses for this amazing new technology. When considering use of UAS, it is important to understand these distinctions.

Read More

 

3-Dimensional Terrain Model with Contours

Additional resources on the subject can be found at the links below:

http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.acec-ca.org/resource/resmgr/policy_platforms/UAS_Policy_Platform.pdf

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/owning-drone-does-make-you-surveyor-photogrammetrist-rant-john-rankin/

About the Author

The author, Michael Knopf is a licensed Land Surveyor and Civil Engineer in California, Nevada and Arizona. He is also a licensed private pilot and Part 107 Commercial UAV pilot. First licensed as a land surveyor in 1977, he stepped down in 2018 after 12 years as President and CEO of QK and returned to a technical and supervisory role including leadership of the company’s Land Surveying practice.  QK is a multi-disciplined surveying, engineering, planning and environmental firm with California offices in Bakersfield, Porterville, Visalia, Clovis, Merced and Roseville.  The firm boasts nine (9) Part 107 Commercial UAV pilots and flies seven (7) UAV’s throughout the company’s practice areas, including surveying.

Suggestions For Growth Of The Central Valley

Suggestions For Growth Of The Central Valley

 

By Jessica Bispels, Assistant Planner

 

As the country’s population continues to grow, it should be no surprise that the United States is becoming more and more urban. Cities across the country are preparing for that growth by utilizing innovative methods that are particular to their identity. What does that mean for the cities in a primarily agricultural area like the Central Valley of California? Agriculture has been a fundamental property of the cultural identity of the Valley for decades, yet a growing population is changing the face of the valley’s economy. With increasing urban development in metropolitan areas combined with a continual population growth, the Valley’s economy is shifting away from being exclusively agricultural.

This raises questions regarding the future of the Central Valley. What are the social, economic, and cultural implications for this kind of growth? What are the potential problems that need to be solved to accommodate for this rapid growth, while still maintaining the area’s distinctive identity? Urban Planners of the Central Valley are asking these questions, and their role is changing along with the changing face of the Central Valley. Because of this, the role of the urban planner is increasingly indispensable. Planners will be working to help shape the Central Valley’s future, from how it looks, drives, functions, grows, feels, and everything in between. We need to look at the current state of the Central Valley in terms of density, economics, and transportation, and begin to understand how the valley will need to adapt in order to incentivize a strong, thriving, welcoming, and prominent area. By increasing population density, providing economic incentives, and decreasing the dependency on the automobile, the Central Valley can realize its full potential and become an attractive option for potential migrants.

In August 2019, several Clovis QK’ers braved the brutal summer heat and helped build a new home from the ground up for a deserving family in Clovis. A local fireman lost his wife during childbirth and was forced to raise his children, with the help of their grandmother, in the small space they live in. With the leadership and generosity of DeYoung Properties, a new home was built complete with in-ground swimming pool and playhouse for the kids.   Not many QK staff members know this, but a decade earlier, QK helped build a home in central Fresno for the remake of that same television show in 2009. Led again by our generous client, De Young Properties, QK was involved with assisting 5,000 volunteers who demolished a 1955 ranch home that was in serious need of repair and renovations. The homeowner, born without legs and only one fully developed arm, needed a wheelchair friendly home for her and her four children. This project began a decade long list of community involvement and public services that QK has been unselfishly engaged.

I spoke with members of the QK team who helped the television show achieve a better environment for the homeowner, and here is what they remember about that event. Jessica Louie: “It was a very cold day as we waited for the television crew to set up and film the episode. The QK volunteers arrived early in the morning and spent the entire winter day shivering while waiting for the big reveal…and I never met Ty Pennington”. She added, “I saw him, but never met him”. Scott Zaayer: “De Young Properties was the true hero here. They devoted an incredible amount of time and resources for the new home”. He added, “We had to jump through hoops just to get the house staked on the lot.” The home was completed in less than ten days from tear down to opening day. The new home was one of the earliest in Fresno that included a solar energy system cutting electricity use by 75 percent.

 

An example of mixed-use, with stores on the first floor and residences on the top floor.

 

Making Sense of the Density Question

 

It’s not a question of if the cities of the Central Valley will grow, but how. It’s the age-old question of development: do we grow out, or up? The previous trend in the valley was to annex new land into the city and develop in this unchartered territory. This in turn causes the surface area of the city to increase as the population density decreases. With this sprawl, the cities continue to be dependent on the automobile as their main form of transportation, bestowing harmful pollutants like hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide into an already dangerously polluted air supply whilst simultaneously decreasing the walkability of the city. Cities in the Central Valley will need to strategize ways to develop in a sustainable fashion that increases the population density of the city while maintaining the quality of life of its residents. This is not an easy task, nor is it impossible.

Planners can help facilitate this change by helping cities implement policies that will help them grow sustainably. Putting restrictions on annexations of cities will both protect the surrounding agricultural land and incentivize developers to utilize infill sites to their fullest potential. If they shy away from the costs of demolishing and beginning anew, they can get creative with adaptive reuse projects that involve transforming an existing building into something new, which reinvents its function while keeping the old structure. Portland, Oregon’s Urban Growth Boundary makes sure there is a clear distinction between what is and is not the city, pushing for the city itself to find innovative ways to grow without growing out. Granted, the Central Valley is not expected to grow as quickly or rapidly as Portland, but small cities in the area can look at and learn from the strategies of other cities and decide which they will implement to induce sustainable growth. In all, a wholistic approach needs to be utilized when cities welcome new development into their borders.

 
 

If You Incentivize It, They Will Come

The discussion of growth brings into question the next thought Central Valley residents might ponder: What kind of growth will we have? What will be the reasons that people come into the Central Valley? Since 1970, over half (59%) of the Valley’s growth has been due to migration. Since the beginning of the millennium, migration accounts for two-thirds of population growth in the Valley. So, what are they coming for? The Public Policy Institute of California says it’s for jobs, housing, and family. The Institute also observed how migration is changing the socio-economic profile, and if the valley is losing its best-educated adults and most promising high school graduates to other parts of California and the United States. The Central Valley needs to find incentives for its best-educated adults to stay here, and even more importantly attract and welcome the creative class to help bolster the economy.

There are many different strategies to help cities attract migrants and grow, but oftentimes the best strategies involve investing in particular economic sectors. For example, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania worked hard to invest in the education and medical sector (“meds & eds”) after the tumultuous decline of the steel industry and subsequently the economy in the 1960s. This investment helped transform the economy and the housing market and even shielded them from many of the symptoms of the Great Recession in 2008. As cities in the Central Valley are changing the face of the agricultural and gas economy, it’s imperative that they find ways to attract particular sectors, thus having an influence on the way they grow. The agricultural and gas economy is currently inefficient for continued growth and employment opportunities.

The University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning. The university is just one of many institutions of higher education in Pittsburgh, helping to bolster its economy.

Urban Travel, Rethought

Since the 1920s, Americans have been infatuated with the automobile. Having your own car means you have the freedom to travel where you want, and when you want. However, this comes at a price. Transportation is the top producer of greenhouse gas emissions, with 83% of those emissions coming from cars and trucks. The federal gas tax, designed as a mechanism for drivers to pay for the upkeep of roads they use, hasn’t been adjusted in two decades. Not adjusting the tax for inflation has reduced the tax’s value from 18.4 cents to 11 cents. In 2013, gas taxes, tolls, and motor vehicle fees covered just 41.4 percent of state and local road spending. The rest of the funding needs to come from other sources such as general tax revenue and issuing municipal bonds. California just recently tried to solve this problem by increasing the gas tax at the end of 2017, but it’s still not enough. Sixty-five (65) percent of the new tax money is used to repair the already damaged roads. The road & highway system is not self-sustaining, forcing the general public, many of whom might not even be drivers, to pick up the leftover tab.

Aside from the exorbitant cost of cars and the roads they drive on, designing a city road around the car creates a less walkable, more dangerous, and outmoded street system. There hasn’t been any organizing principle within cities themselves that creates roadways that welcome more than just the car. Former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, Janette Sadik-Khan describes it well in her book, Streetfight:

“Let’s look at a one-way street with four twelve-foot lanes. It’s two parking lanes on each side, along the curb. The two center lanes are dedicated to moving vehicles. A twelve-foot lane is a standard width on many highway lanes, as laid out in the federal guideline meant to create highway lanes able to accommodate the widest semis safely. A 2015 Toyota Camry is only about six feet wide, and the vast majority of trucks and commercial vehicles are less than eight and a half feet across. When you multiply the up to fix feet of excess lateral space built into every traffic lane, you can begin to see how this street is grossly overbuilt.”

An example of a creative rideshare program: Seattle to Portland, on a school bus.

Cities in the Central Valley were designed with the understanding that the car was going to be the main way to get around the city, and because of that, it is extremely difficult to get around the cities without owning a car. Designing cities in a way that not only encourages but demands ownership of the car creates more sprawl, pollutes the air, and doesn’t allow for a sense of community on the streets. Also taking into consideration that cars sit idle 92% of the time means that we are building our cities and communities around something that Morgan Stanley called the world’s most underutilized asset. Let’s reconsider transportation in our cities. Let’s consider rideshare options like Uber and Lyft, see where bicycle lanes can be added to our grossly overbuilt roads, and use the bus as a viable mode of transportation. Most importantly, let’s build cities having the understanding in mind that we will want to walk throughout them, not just drive.

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is known for being the most bicycle-friendly city with over a million people in the world.

The People’s Place

This article has sought to promote the indispensability of the Urban Planner and the future of the profession. It has thus far failed to discuss the most important part of the Planning Profession, the variable that is essential to the success of any planning project: the people. In essence, the role of the Planner exists purely to help the citizens of a particular area create a community that serves, represents, and invigorates them. This is no different in the Central Valley, as citizen engagement will guide the planners toward projects and policies that are representative of the people they hope to adequately serve. Cohesive solutions to difficult problems involve just that, cohesion. Cohesion of the multitude of different backgrounds, stakes, motives, ideas, fears, loves, and hates will ensure a well-thought-out, comprehensive solution to our most critical problems. This is no easy feat, as more problem solvers can ironically create more problems. But Planners exist to ease these tensions and secure the progression of the communities they represent. It is the only way to ensure that we actualize a community of, by, and for the people.