AMEC Studies, Research and Consulting

Following the May 2010 flood in Nashville, a multi-agency partnership was formed called the Nashville Situational Awareness for Flooding Events Program. AMEC was hired by Metro Water Services to join the program and develop products and processes that would carry out the mission of Nashville SAFE; to address the needs for improved coordination, more and better data, and trained personnel. For this project, AMEC created the Watershed Advisory Guide, developed emergency procedural documents, produced a training video, and developed other techniques that helped Nashville SAFE set the new standard for flood warning systems in the Southeast.

AMEC Survey and Mapping

The EcoSpatial Information Database was designed by AMEC as a foundation for an ecosystem‐based approach to management. By centrally warehousing ecological resource data, such as scientific reports and journal articles, along with bibliographic information and spatial data, the system provides an organized, all-encompassing archive that will allow the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to have a better understanding of ocean habitats and marine organisms. The system is accessible through a cloud based mapping interface with elaborate text and geographic search functionalities to streamline federal decision making and the regulation of oil and gas development activities with proper environmental
assessment.

Want to see the stars? Just look underground.

(Gatlinburg Utilities Undergrounding)

Gatlinburg wanted a streetscape to match the context of the mountain village and give visitors an uncluttered view of the Smokies.  BWSC suggested expanding the streetscape improvements to include overhead utilities undergrounding and 19 years and $24,000,000 later, four miles of overhead power, telephone, and cable services have been placed underground.  The design team’s bold vision and an initial $180,000 grant combined to transform Gatlinburg while spawning $100 million in public and private investment.  The eye-catching results have enhanced the character of downtown Gatlinburg forever and secured it recognition in 2012 as one of the 10 Prettiest Cities in America.

Korean Veteran’s Boulevard - Gateway to Nashville’s New Downtown

The Korean Veterans Boulevard is a TDOT Local Programs Project by Metro Public Works to extend the roadway from 4^th Avenue to 8^th Avenue, terminating in a new modern, dual-lane roundabout in downtown Nashville. Project highlights include an ever-evolving design and extensive coordination to accommodate concurrent construction of major utilities, the Omni hotel and Music City Center immediately adjacent to the project. The environmental, design, right-of-way and construction phases of the project were all expedited to ensure that the roadway was completed prior to the opening of the Music City Center. The resulting project is a complete, green street, which provides an iconic ”Gateway to Nashville’s New Downtown”.

James + Associates 

James + Associates had the privilege of working with the Tennessee Department Of Transportation (TDOT) in developing the first full-depth deck panel system used in Tennessee. The replacement of the bridge decks on I24 over Main and Woodland Streets, two of the most heavily traveled bridges in the state represented challenges in design, traffic control and constructability.  The bridges are located near LP Field and downtown Nashville.  This is the first use of Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques in a high ADT location in the Tennessee.  We worked closely with TDOT in developing the new concept from design through construction.

Gresham, Smith and Partners 

Gresham, Smith and Partners was commissioned by Bowling Green Municipal Utilities to upgrade and expand their wastewater treatment plant, design a facility that could produce an effluent compliant with more stringent nutrient requirements, and provide sustainable, cost-effective solutions for biosolids handling and disposal. The new facility’s capacity increased from 10.6-mgd to 15-mgd. The project included a new preliminary treatment facility with an electronic card reader-controlled septage receiving station, biological treatment using sequencing batch reactors with high-efficiency turbocompressor blowers, ultraviolet effluent disinfection with post-aeration, thermal drying biosolids management process, utilization of existing structures as aerated sludge-holding tanks, and SCADA communication systems.

J. R. Wauford & Company

J. R. Wauford & Company Consulting Engineers, Inc. stayed the course with the Carroll County Watershed Authority for 14 years to deliver the 1,000 acre Carroll County Lake and its associated 500 acre environmental impacts mitigation site. The 21.98 million dollar project is estimated to produce 58 million dollars in economic activity during the ten years after construction began. 

In addition to providing quality of life enhancing recreational opportunities for the region, the project converted over 300 acres of farmland to its prior wetland status and restored 2.3 miles of channelized stream to its natural meandering configuration.

Stantec

Stantec accelerated the stream mitigation design using pioneering design software for the Little Swan Creek Stream Restoration project to provide mitigation credit for environmental impacts associated with the development of State Route 99. Extensive coordination by Stantec during the project development resulted in meeting the desires of the land owner, Swan Conservation Trust, and the mitigation needs of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Stantec was able to successfully implement this project on-time and under budget.

The partnership showed that with the desire, opportunity, and experience; positive environmental impact through stream mitigation can be accomplished as part of infrastructure development.

 AMEC Environmental

A train derailment in Alabama resulted in the release of phenol and acetone to soil and groundwater. AMEC used a nontraditional application of Alabama risk guidance which included target organ segregation for non-carcinogens. Results provided a 10-fold increase in groundwater cleanup goals and over a 100-fold increase in soil cleanup goals providing for focused soil source excavations and a cost effective groundwater remediation system.

The target organ approach had not been used in Alabama before and regulators sought EPA guidance for the precedence-setting evaluation. It was approved and estimates indicate the approach will save approximately $1,000,000.

Congratulations Award Winners 2013

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 Engineering Excellence Award and a big thank you to all companies having entered the challenge with the most advanced project.

We are looking forward to see everybody again for the 2014 Engineering Excellence Award.