STREET TALK I APRIL ISSUE I 2014

STREET TALK VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2

REPORTING ON WHAT MATTERS TO PUBLIC WORKS

INSIDE Cover Story iAddiction: MANAGING OUR OBSESSION WITH TECHNOLOGY Everyone hearts their electronic devices, but it’s important to use them thoughtfully and keep a healthy balance.

LAND SURVEYORS: DOCUMENTARIANS OF THE CITY How technological advancements are enabling land surveyors to do what they do best – problem solve.

OBSERVING WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK Public Works highlights this important national campaign – urging drivers to slow down in work zones.

APRIL 2014

director’s message

BY HOWARD LAZARUS DIRECTOR

It Ain’t the Tool, Fool!

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ne of the building blocks of the City’s Imagine Austin Plan is the concept of a Compact and Connected City, and as part of spreading this gospel the Planning and Development Review Department has offered a series of classes on what that means. I had the pleasure of going through that educational experience along with the rest of the PWD Executive Team late last year, and I came out ready, willing, and eager to become a New Urbanist. I wanted to sell our home and move downtown into a new micro-unit, and pursue life as a slightly over-the-hill hipster. Yes, I could see it all in a grand vision – biking to work, hanging out in coffee shops, live music every night – in short, a proverbial slice of Austin heaven.

The only problem with this vision was convincing the “Chairman of the Board” that we were going to have to sell off four rooms of furniture and leave the idyllic setting of our home. Her response was that if we were going to get rid of all of our stuff, I should probably start with the collection of golf clubs I have in the garage. Now, I’m not saying I’m a packrat, but you probably could take up half a gallery in the Blanton and create a display on the “Evolution of Golfing Technology” from knickers to titanium with the assemblage of mashies, spoons, brassies, putters, and wedges I’ve accumulated in the never ending pursuit of links excellence. The only problem is that I still can’t get “upand-down” from off the green with any consistency, and I still sweat on a ten foot, downhill right-to-left putt to win a match. As my high school coach used to say, “It ain’t the tool, fool – t’is the swing, king!”

So, what does this have to do with this month’s issue of Street Talk? Glad you asked! This month we’re looking at technology. We are besieged by a plethora of electronic devices, gizmos, and peripherals.

Laptops, desktops, tablets; iPhones, iPads, iMacs, iPods – ye gads! Of all these tools are supposed to make our lives easier, but sometimes they make our daily existence more complex. How do we become masters of technology and not subordinated by it? Let’s take a look at some initiatives that are going on in your Department with a Heart.

Over the past two-plus years we’ve been implementing a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) in our Street & Bridge Operations (SBO). The selected system, MAXIMO, will allow us to initiate work requests, schedule resources and crews, track our budget, report on accomplishments, and monitor the status of our assets.

Implementation of this massive change in our way of doing business began with a complete review of our business processes so that we could ensure that the system would be successfully launched in our operating environment. SBO teams are now going through training as the system is about to “go live.”

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STREET TALK APRIL 2014

A second initiative has resulted from our partnership with the City’s Communications and Technology Management Department (CTM). Working with CTM and other City agencies, we’ve developed the Infrastructure Mapping, Management, Planning, and Coordination Tool (IMMPACT) to coordinate all work occurring within the City’s Right of Way (ROW). IMMPACT is used to ensure that capital improvement projects, utilities work, operations and maintenance, and special events are coordinated to prevent conflicts and leverage work efforts.

In addition to internal users, IMMPACT has drawn in external entities including TxDOT, Texas Gas, and Travis County. It will be the primary tool we use to work with telecommunications providers as they install high speed internet access fiber all around Austin. IMMPACT also led to the development of the Capital Improvements Visualization, Information, & Communication (CIVIC) application, which opens up data on Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects to the public on their computers, tablets, and smart phones. Both IMMPACT and CIVIC have won national awards.

A third area where we are making progress is in our implementation of business intelligence (BI) tools throughout the department.

The primary application we are using is MicroStrategies, which draws data from a variety of sources to produce reports that can be used to merge financial, performance, and technical data together. BI applications will help us match inputs (time, money, equipment) to outcomes (network condition, project reports, personnel status) and make timely decisions on how best to execute our missions and achieve our performance goals.

Finally, as part of our pursuit of accreditation by the American Public Works Association, we are working to develop a single portal to all of our practices, procedures, and plans to manage all of our critical data. The working title of this initiative is “PW Central,” and it is primarily built on the most recent update to the Share Point software. PW Central will consolidate all of the previous data sharing sites we have, and will greatly increase access to critical information.

With all of the above being said, I have always believed that technology doesn’t solve your problems - it highlights them. Over 78 percent of all software applications fail (and over 80 percent of all statistics are being made up on the spot), primarily because they are ill-matched to the business processes they are trying to help. Technology will only be successful if we continue to have well-trained, motivated, and fearless staff working on behalf of the public benefit. In short, technology has and will continue to succeed in PWD because of the quality of our staff. In the end, it’s all about you!

VOLUME 4

ISSUE 2

contents

APRIL 2014

COVER STORY

iAddiction: MANAGING OUR OBSESSION WITH TECHNOLOGY Everyone hearts their electronic devices, but it’s important to use them thoughtfully and keep a healthy balance.

Aerial view of Barton Springs Pool looking upstream.

2014 april STREET TALK

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contents

VOLUME 4

contributors

ISSUE 2

APRIL 2014

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief

Shannon Wisner

Chief Reporter

Courtney Black

shannon.wisner@austintexas.gov courtney.black@austintexas.gov

Contributing Writers Howard Lazarus

howard.lazarus@austintexas.gov

Denise Riad

denise.riad@austintexas.gov

Carmen Morgan

carmen.morgan@austintexas.gov

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Justin Golbabai

justin.golbabai@austintexas.gov

Tica Chitrarachis

tica.chitrarachis@austintexas.gov

Chelsea Donahue

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features COVER STORY: iAddiction: MANAGING OUR OBSESSION WITH TECHNOLOGY Everyone hearts their electronic devices, but it’s important to use them thoughtfully and keep a healthy balance.

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OBSERVING WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK Public Works highlights this important national campaign – urging drivers to slow down in work zones.

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milestones What Public Workers are doing out there to achieve, foster community, impress co-workers and citizens alike, and show we really are the ‘Department with a Heart’!

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divisions LAND SURVEYORS: DOCUMENTARIANS OF THE CITY

Istvan Voiculescu

istvan.voiculescu@austintexas.gov

Carolyn Perez

carolyn.perez@austintexas.gov

Max Eby

max.eby@austintexas.gov

design Chief Graphic Designer

Alexa Muraida

alexa.muraida@austintexas.gov

Director of Photography Shannon Wisner

How technological advancements are enabling land surveyors to do what they do best – problem solve.

12 AUGMENTED REALITY

The latest developments in visualization technology have the ability to allow us to view design in real-time.

shannon.wisner@austintexas.gov

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The Construction Inspection Division is evaluating software and equipment that could make field engineering more streamlined.

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MAKING TECHNOLOGY COOL FOR KIDS

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columns HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR? Michelle Frith profiles two employees that work hard for PWD everyday, who you may have never met!

Two Austin area schools encourage active transportation by combining technology and sociology.

THE CROWD AND 08 18 COUNTING LIGHTING THE WAY How innovative technologies will help the Bicycle and Urban Trails teams plan for the future and illuminate our trails.

THE CLASSROOM OF THE FUTURE While there will always be a place for classroom training, PWU is looking at convenient, flexible e-learning options.

09 TECH-ING IT UP

Neighborhood Partnering staff uses inventive tactics to bring improvements to Austinites living in low-income areas.

STREET TALK APRIL 2014

susan.garnett@austintexas.gov

Sara Hartley

21 KAIZEN 04

Susan Garnett

sara.hartley@austintexas.gov

ALL AROUND AUSTIN Public Workers spent time in February and March doing all kinds of things around town to highlight the work we do in PWD. See what’s been happening and what’s coming up next.

chelsea.donahue@austintexas.gov

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DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR Why adaptation to digital trends is key to citizen engagement.

GETTING OUR PWD SOME “CREDIT” As we approach National Public Works Week in May, there is something new to be proud of for Austin’s Public Works Department.

safety zone BY contributing writer denise riad

Observing Work Zone Awareness Week Public works highlights this important national campaign – urging drivers to slow down in work zones.

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his year, National Work Zone Awareness Week took place on April 7-11 and PWD got the word out by reaching out to the media and the City’s 30,000+ social media followers with safety reminders. The department’s award-winning public service announcement, “The Jerk,” was also featured on Time Warner Cable channels as part of a longer-term public awareness campaign.

How does driver behavior impact work zone safety?

With Austin growing at a fast pace, and more than 75 new drivers hitting our streets each day, educating people about work zone safety has never been more critical. “Our employees out on the street are the backbone of our operation…their safety is our top concern and we’re urging Austin drivers to drive safely and courteously around our work zones,” says Public Works Director Howard Lazarus.

Surprisingly, 85-90 percent of work zone fatalities are motorists and their occupants.

The remaining 10-15 percent of fatalities are workers and other non-motorized users such as pedestrians and bicyclists. Drivers play a key role in making work zones safer for everyone, especially themselves.

Along with speeding, distractions (such as cell phones, texting, and radios), inattentive driving, and aggressive driving are also contributing factors. The main type of work zone crash is a rear-end collision, and adequate following distance is important in avoiding such crashes.

This year’s theme, “Work Zone Speeding: A Costly Mistake,” focuses on the consequences of speeding through a work zone.

These costs can take on various forms, including fines, jail time or tragically, loss of life.

Speed is a major contributing factor in work zone crashes, causing 36 percent of fatal work zone crashes in 2011.

When motorists are alert, obey traffic signs, maintain the posted speed limit, and pay attention to traffic patterns, everyone’s safety is enhanced.

Why is Work Zone Safety Important?

Every 14 minutes, someone is injured in a work zone accident. Work zones can present an unfamiliar situation to drivers because of changes in traffic patterns, closed or narrowed lanes, and the presence of construction equipment. This can cause challenges for motorists as they travel through work zones. While safe and efficient work zones begin with proper planning and design, drivers must pay extra attention when traveling through work zones. So who is responsible for work zone safety and mobility? Ultimately, everyone is.

10 tips for driving in work zones 1. Expect the unexpected. Things may change overnight. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be closed, narrowed, or shifted, and people may be working on or near the road.

2.

Don’t speed. Obey the posted speed limit at all times, even when workers are not present.

3. Don’t tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you and the construction workers and their equipment.

Rear-end collisions account for 30% of work zone crashes.

4. Obey road crew flaggers and pay attention to signs. The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely in the work zone.

5.

Stay alert and minimize distractions. Dedicate your full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations or using cell phones and other electronic devices while approaching and driving in a work zone.

6. Keep up with the traffic flow. Do not slow down to “gawk” at roadwork.

7. Know before you go. Check radio, TV and websites for traffic information and schedule enough time to drive safely. Expect delays and leave early so you can reach your destination on time.

8.

Be patient and stay calm. Work zones aren’t there to personally inconvenience you.

Remember, the work zone crewmembers are working to improve the road and make your future drive better.

9.

Wear your seatbelt. It is your best defense in a crash.

10. Remember: Dads, moms, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters all work here!

Work zone statistics for 2012

609 traffic-related fatalities 19 more compared to 590 in 2011

32,000 injuries 8,000 less compared to 40,000 in 2011

130 worker fatalities 8 more compared to 122 in 2011

132 fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses 18 less compared to 150 in 2011

*Source: Federal Highway Administration

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divisions

Land Surveyors: Documentarians of the City How technological advancements are enabling land surveyors to do what they do best – problem solve.

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and surveying is a profession with a long history that dates back to antiquity. The cache of surveying instruments has become increasingly more sophisticated over time, so it is a professional field known for being at the forefront of technology. Surveyors use high-tech equipment to take measurements and gather data in the field. This data is then collected, analyzed, and drafted using specialized computer applications.

Within Public Works, most of the latter falls into the able hands of Registered Professional Land Surveyors John Moore, Clark Daniel and Mary Hawkins. Land surveyors have the daunting task of accurately piecing together the puzzle of our landscape. During the week of March 16–22, 2014, we celebrated National Surveyors Week, so as part of this month’s Street Talk technology issue, it seemed only natural that we would highlight our own Public Works Land Surveying team and the vital work they perform for the City.

On a recent visit to a job site, I met with Public Works Survey Technicians David Brown, Torch Acosta, and the newest member of the survey crew, Daniel Robledo, who brings close to twenty years of experience. David Brown explained some of the advanced equipment the team uses on a daily basis. The most recognizable piece of equipment is a total station, which is the instrument typically seen mounted on a tripod. The total station mea-

sures distance based on the time it takes for light to be reflected back from a prism placed at the measurement point.

Surveying requires a high level of accuracy, so the crew uses a three-second total station, meaning that all angle measurements are rounded to the nearest three seconds. This particular total station is even more impressive, because it is robotic and remains automatically locked on the location of the prism using a data collector that communicates with the instrument. This makes single-person operation possible and allows for quicker and more-efficient data collection.

Before the construction of any new structure, whether it is a bridge or a building, a survey is needed to provide data about the lay of the land such as topography, parcel boundaries, and land ownership. Ultimately, the survey reveals possible site challenges and may illuminate how to best integrate into the larger built environment.

Not surprisingly, the Public Works Land Surveying team stays rather busy. Two notable projects that have required quick turnaround include: 1) the River Plantation Bridge Approach, which was damaged in the Halloween flood event last fall, and 2) repair of the City Hall driveway ramp. Surveying has also contributed to notable, green infrastructure projects like the rain gardens in front of One Texas Center and Big Stacy Park. Both serve as important civic projects that offer evidence to the community that rain gardens are a viable and ecologically functioning design solution.

Beyond the span of National Surveyors Week, we recognize the important service surveyors provide to the City and to the public at large. They are problem solvers with a calling, and their enduring achievements serve the greater good.

completed projects

One Texas Center Rain Garden

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Stacey park Rain Garden

Stacey park Rain

divisions

BY Tica Chitrarachis CONTRIBUTING WRITER

surveyors Welcome to the newest member of the survey crew, Daniel Robledo.

Daniel Robledo

Torch Acosta setting up the total station.

torch acosta

David Brown points to the prism at the top of the prism pole.

David brown

David brown Garden David Brown setting up the data collector to communicate with the total station so it will automatically track the prism.

2014 april STREET TALK

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columns BY alexa muraida CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Digital Communications in the Public Sector Why adaptation to digital trends is key to citizen engagement.

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oday, government organizations are putting more effort than ever into utilizing engaging websites and social media platforms to optimize online presence through digital communication. Delivering the right message at the right time to the right people is critical in building greater awareness and deeper engagement. When you engage the public through digital communication, you have the chance to extend the conversation. This enables government agencies to deliver greater value to the public.

As technology continues to infiltrate our world, the key to success will be less about what we already know, and more about how well we’re able to adapt and rethink our approach to communicating information.

While the “old” ways of communicating aren’t going away completely, it’s increasingly important to follow communication “trends” to enable our audience to choose the format in which they prefer to receive information.

How did we live before the internet?

According to US Census data from 2012, 74.8 percent of all households have Internet use at home. These individuals use the web to shop, pay their bills, socialize with others, get local and national news, and much more.

For a large portion of these folks, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest are where they prefer to interact with friends, family, brands they support – and even their local government.

Taking this into account, The Public Works Department’s Communications Team is able to boost engagement using digital forms of communication, whether it be through the City of Austin’s corporate website, social media or targeted email marketing campaigns. This means that Public Works is able to reach a broader audience by communicating a consistent message across all channels whether it is online or offline.

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Getting Social Social media sites currently represent some of today’s most popular forms of communication. Take for instance, Facebook. Facebook was created just ten years ago, and today, teenagers, businesses, grandmothers, non-profits, and more are using this channel to get and share information about themselves and the outside world.

To cite a Public Works-related example, recently the residents of Star Grass Circle had questions about Street and Bridge’s Seal Coat Program. Instead of in-person meetings, phone calls, or emails, the residents of this area stated that they prefer to communicate through a Facebook group that they had set up. It was a unique request, but not surprising when considering there are 128 million daily active Facebook users in the US alone.

Communicating using digital channels has the ability to greatly improve customer service by increasing our “digital footprint” to inform, engage and connect with our customers but while Social Media and engaging websites are what’s hot today, none of us can be completely sure what the future of communication will hold. We better stay on our toes.

photo courtesy graphicriver.net

divisions BY carmen morgan CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Tech-ing it Up The Construction Inspection Division is evaluating software and equipment that could make field engineering more streamlined.

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n terms of technology, there’s a lot happening in the Construction Inspection Division. Soon, the division’s field engineers will be receiving new engineering desktops for their document reviews. Also, the division’s laptops are due for replacement, so they are currently working this into the budget. In the meantime, CIPID is in the midst of exploring some new software applications – the goal being to make performing their jobs more efficient.

Exploring software possibilities One of the new software applications under consideration is called Blue Beam. This software technology could assist the field engineers with quality document review that could also be helpful for use in drafting intersection drawings.

Currently, these drawings are done manually. The division is also searching for an MS Project Viewer to help the inspectors view MS Project Schedules.

Construction Inspection is also evaluating the cost and feasibility of using Adobe Acrobat Pro and Acrobat Designer.

Acrobat Pro would allow for easy archiving of project files while Acrobat Designer would enable engineering techs and trainers to create smart forms for staff. In the long-term, Construction Inspection is also working with the Information and Architecture Group on a technical solution for automating their division-wide processes.

Upgrading and testing new equipment If that’s not enough, the CIPID is currently evaluating and testing tablets for the field inspectors. Phase I consisted of ordering two tablets for the inspectors. Eventually, these tablets could replace outdated work processes as the division moves toward electronic and paperless records. The tablets may be used for on-site record keeping and will have access to GoToMyPC via hot spots, eliminating the Air Cards that are currently in use. The tablets will each be equipped with a carrying case, protective equipment and accessories.

Now, that’s what we call “tech-ing it up!” Stay tuned for an update on these processes in a future issue of Street Talk.

jim evans

Inspector Jim Evans demonstrates the use of a tablet in the field.

2014 april STREET TALK

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columns BY michelle frith CONTRIBUTING WRITER

How well do you know your neighbor?

Michelle Frith profiles two employees that work hard for PWD everyday who you may have never met!

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upe Riojas is a man with an attitude - a great attitude. “People always ask me, ‘why are you always smiling?’” Lupe says, grinning. Talking with him, it’s easy to see why.

Lupe was born in Austin and is the oldest of four. His brother Mike drives over-theroad trucks, sister Deborah is retired from the State of Texas and the youngest, Paul, is a District Manager for Valspar. His family is close but unfortunately, both of his parents are now deceased. In 1987 their mom, NEIGHBOR Mary, the first Lupe Riojas woman to receive a heart transplant DIVISION in Austin, died a few days after Street and Bridge surgery when her body rejected the TITLE new organ. Their Crew Lead, strong family Sealcoat I helped their father through this time and he passed just two years ago.

Lupe, always active, attended the “old” Austin High School, played football and ran the 440, the 100 and the 75 yard dashes in junior high and high school. He earned a Ken Po Karate brown belt and later earned a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do. He enjoys wrestling, boxing and working out and has his own gym in his house. He participates in the City’s PE Program, this session participating in Strength Fitness.

On May 24, 1981, Lupe was hanging out for the Memorial Day holiday at his home around the Lamar and 6th Street area, near

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Shoal Creek when his brother called asking about “all the water”. They looked outside to find that Shoal Creek was well out of its banks – one of the worst floods in Austin’s history was underway. The family sprang into action.

The brothers donned wet suits to stay warm in the raging waters to help their neighbors cross to safety. They made it across with a rope tied on their side to their truck and then tied the other end to a tree on the opposite bank.

They helped several people to cross and helped others down from the roof of their house. Lupe watched in disbelief as a log struck his father and two others in the water, knocking them away from the rope but they were able to get out safely. Once everyone was safe, they pushed floating cars to higher ground. Lupe shakes his head in amazement recalling being at the epicenter of one of the most historical days in Austin.

A few years out of school, one of Lupe’s friends asked him to take her friend to the high school prom. He agreed, escorting a lovely young lady, Tamara, on a blind date. Two years later they married. This May they will celebrate their 33rd anniversary! “Tam” works for the Sheriff’s Department in the Evidence Department, processing and cataloguing the dash cam videos.

Lupe worked for many years for Walter Tips Hardware driving trucks. Later, he drove

for his cousin who owned El Galindo Chips.

When she sold her business, Lupe started his own as in independent contractor with a dump truck for 5 years. He started with Public Works in 2004. Comfortable with heavy equipment, Lupe is proficient on several different pieces. Lupe thinks highly of supervisor Byron Carter and Division Manager Brian Works “they are real good bosses, the best I’ve ever had. They are very supportive and they don’t hold you back.”

Recently certified as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), Lupe will train others how to use specific equipment. The SME Program “will help everyone to know the equipment better. Some people need more time and others need more hands on.” Lupe’s curiosity and willingness to learn has helped him in his career. “Giving knowledge makes me feel good.

I love working in Public Works.”

Lupe and Tam live the good life on their farm, tending to the chickens, a horse, a turtle and a cat. Tam sells eggs and they are thinking of getting some goats. Lupe says with a smile “I’m always laughing – because I’m happy”.

are good bosses, the best I’ve ever had. “ ...they They are very supportive and they don’t hold you back. ” -Lupe Riojas on Supervisor, Byron Carter and Division Manager, Brian Works

columns BY michelle frith CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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mpowering others is the right thing to do, both morally and economically. A community that supports education, infrastructure and research for the betterment of all makes our community stronger. Justin Golbabai sketches grids on the interview notepad in the coffee shop, explaining community building and economics. A brief sketch of Justin would include passion for his community, his family and his faith.

Originally from Connecticut, Justin is the eldest of two children. His father, NEIGHBOR Mehran, emigratJustin Golbabai ed from Iran just before the hostage crisis and is a DIVISION Nuclear Engineer.

Neighborhood His mother CaroPartnering lyn is a Speech Program (NPP) Pathologist and his sister Amanda TITLE is an IT Project Program Manager. He atManager tended Notre Dame, studying Economics and Sociology and received a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on City Management from the University of Kansas.

Later, the Assistant City Manager’s office in Savannah, Georgia offered Justin his first full-time professional job as a management intern rotating between City departments, and in 2007, Justin came to Austin as a Budget Analyst. Later he worked in the office of Assistant City Manager Robert Goode, and over time joined the Planning Department implementing neighborhood plans and working on Imagine Austin. Justin joined PWD in May 2013 taking over the Neighborhood Partnering Program.

The last few years have been rocket-fueled for him. Leading a Catholic young adult group, The “Catholic 20 Something’s,” Justin met Paula, a recent graduate, auditor and future CPA. They became friends over “policy dinners,” a dinner among friends discussing economic related current events. After two years of asking her out, Paula finally consented to dating, thereby beginning their “finance romance.” Justin proposed six months later.

“I married up” he says, laughing. The couple has a natural basketball rivalry since Paula is a Marquette graduate. They also enjoy biking, kayaking, and reading history and

building relationships with UT and Archi“ We’re tectural organizations, bringing in resources and building communities. The coolest part is watching the neighbors coming together. I have the best job in the City.

”

economics books and serving on the Board of the Austin Catholic Worker. They are strongly involved in a Catholic movement called “Communion and Liberation” which helps people to find deeper meaning in everyday life. Last May, Justin started a job in Public Works, put a successful offer on a duplex and found out that he was going to be a father – all within a week!

The baby was born in January. “It was important to give him a meaningful name,” Justin says. Francisco Jafar is named for Paula’s grandfather, St. Francis of Assisi and the new Pope Francis, and his middle name is from Justin’s own paternal grandfather. Asked what the best part of being a new father to the adorable baby is, Justin’s face softens saying “It’s amazing to see how Paula is with him. I’m falling in love with her even more.”

Justin has recently started an economics blog and hopes to continue expanding on his writing. In the meantime, he finds his new job intellectually engaging and “the fulfillment of all my interests. I love seeing these projects from a drawing on a napkin to being built! My goal is to double the 8 projects that were funded last year. We’re building relationships with UT and Architectural organizations, bringing in resources and building communities. The coolest part is watching the neighbors coming together. I have the best job in the City.”

The Neighborhood Partnering Program allows neighborhoods to work with the City, proposing projects like landscaping, community gardens, trails and trailheads, sidewalks, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Neighbors agree to partially fund the projects, or put in “sweat equity.” Justin’s goal is to de-

- Justin Golbabai, NPP Program Manager velop the program into a national model.

Less seriously, Justin enjoys working out at the boxing gym and reveals that he won the O. Henry World Pun-Offs in 2010 and came in second in 2011. A man of many interests and passions, Justin Golbabai is going places – and likely will improve them.

2014 april april STREET STREET TALK TALK 2014

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divisions

Augmented Reality

The latest developments in visualization technology have the ability to allow us to view design in real-time.

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any of us have heard of the term ‘virtual reality’. It is used so often now that it has arguably become cliché. However, few people may have heard of ‘augmented reality’ (AR). For those who haven’t, hold on to your socks because you’re going to hear a lot more of it in the years to come. During the Super Bowl, Pepsi used this technology in an advertisement that recorded people’s experiences with lions, aliens and asteroids attacking, all of which appeared to them to be real life happenings while they waited at a London bus stop. And though you may not be aware, you may already be using AR in some form or another on your smartphone, handheld device, or on your computer right here at Public Works.

By definition, augmented reality is an exact replica of a real-world environment that uses computer-generated data to modify or augment the perception of that environment.

By adding layers of digital information on top of a view of the real world around us, we can begin to interact with what we see in a completely new way. And that is exactly where we are headed.

A few years ago, ESD decided to implement the use of Autodesk software that offers 3D solutions for architectural, civil and structural engineering development, among many other areas in the industry. Currently, ESD is using one of Autodesk’s design platform suites called Autodesk Infrastructure Design Suite. By combining survey data from a project with GIS data already available to

sixth street snapshot

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STREET TALK APRIL 2014

the City, a 2D model can quickly become a 3D model visualization of a project. Add other layers of data to that, and the design can become an interactive one.

Istvan Voiculescu graduated from the Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania as a Mechanical Engineer with a major in Industrial Robotics. After meeting his future wife, he moved to Minnesota to marry and soon began working for a small civil engineering company as a drafter. He quickly moved through the ranks becoming a civil designer and the ‘go-to guy’ for anything IT related. Eventually, Istvan began working for a civil engineering firm here in Austin as a civil designer and CAD manager until the small firm closed. By this time, Istvan and his wife were expecting their fourth child when he saw an opportunity

to do what he loves most and still have time to spend with his growing family. In August 2013, he joined the ranks at Public Works as lead manager for the implementation of Autodesk software.

Under the guidance of his supervisor, Kevin Sweat, Istvan and his tech-savvy team are at the beginning stages of taking ESD into the future of design, and they are quickly making great progress. The process by which they are implementing this technology is focused on a side-by-side introduction of these tools with the primary focus on the education and use of the design platform for civil engineering, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D. At the same time, a full development of standards is taking place that will allow them to implement nationally recognized standards to

divisions BY susan garnett & istvan voiculescu CONTRIBUTING WRITERs

make the exchange of data with internal and external clients much easier.

Istvan and his team envision that within the next two to three years, planners and project engineers will be able to use the planning and visualization tools for their meetings, which will result in making the dynamic design process happen much more smoothly.

With the help of well-defined standards by well-trained designers and engineers, a final design will be visualized and communicated to the public in a much more familiar way using interactive 3D walkthroughs. To understand how this goes beyond benefitting PWD alone, let’s look at how this can benefit the City, the public and staff alike.

The East 6th Street Streetscape Improvements project is an excellent example. After going through a public input process, the design team came up with a preliminary design that would allow 6th Street to transform itself from its current state to a festival street design that can accommodate large public events such as the Pecan Street Festival and SXSW. With a solid foundation to build upon,

aerial snapshot of sixth street

the team is now gearing up to present this new design to various stakeholder groups, as well as City Boards and Commissions who have an interest in 6th Street.

In preparation of these presentations, Istvan has been working on a virtual 3D flythrough tour that offers the viewer the perspective of driving down 6th Street as it would look with the proposed design. Once input from stakeholders is gathered and modifications to the design are made, we can immediately begin to see any conflicts that may arise with the new design features and make further modifications as needed. In this way, those who are unfamiliar with our technical world can see in a familiar way what we are trying to achieve, thus speeding up the feedback and approval process, and clearing up any misunderstandings from the beginning.

Having the ability to see a 3D model and walk through the proposed alternatives versus the same alternatives as lines on a plan can make all the difference in the world, and AR is going to push the envelope even further.

Imagine you are looking at 6th Street

through a handheld device. Rather than viewing this project virtually, AR would allow you to see 6th Street in real time, and could apply the designed changes to the street showing you what it would look like in a real-world environment right before your eyes.

Additionally, this software can provide information on not only what 6th Street looks like above ground, but as we gather and input more data, it will also be able to show you what kind of infrastructure lies below ground as well. City staff will be able to go to a project site and see what types of utilities and conflicts actually lie beneath the surface of the street and can plan accordingly.

As we move forward with this latest technology, projects will be designed with less hassle, less room for error, and the public’s money will be well spent on the intelligent design of an infrastructure element that will last for generations. As you can see, ‘Augmented Reality’ is not just another new technology; it’s how Public Works is taking project design to a whole other dimension.

augmented reality

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events

Public Works Connects You...

All Around Austin Public Works builds our city’s future and celebrates our successes with PWD staff and events all around town.

Construction Continues on Improvements to Barton Springs It’s been stated many times that Barton Springs is the soul of our city. This magical spring-fed pool has been loved for many years, and in order to ensure that the pool will remain Austin’s gem for future generations, some infrastructure upgrades were necessary.

Work on the upgrades began in October of 2013. Here’s a short summary of what’s happening at Barton Springs: Upgrading outdated equipment & resources Resolving erosion issues Removing compaction to improve heritage tree root conditions Creating an ADA accessible path on the south side Replacing the gravel parking lot with new pavement Realignment and expansion of the south hike & bike trail Throughout March, construction focused on building a suspended walkway around tree court areas and de-compacting soil. Because of this work, the overall health of the trees is expected to improve, thereby extending their projected lifespan.

Additionally, new ADA walkways were poured in the south woods and on the west side of the springs. When work is complete, there will be a south side ADA-accessible vista that looks down on the springs under a shaded area.

In April, aging utility poles will be removed and replaced with fiberglass poles. The new lighting will last 40-50 years and will better illuminate the pool surface for staff to see swimmers. The south side parking lot will also be paved as part of the project, which is set to wrap up at the end of April. Stay tuned for more project news in coming months!

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The Return of Sealcoat Season It’s that time of the year again! Yes, it’s sealcoat season.

Beginning April 14th through September 19th, Public Works Street and Bridge Operations’ sealcoat crews will resurface 360 lane miles on over 400 streets in Austin. City crews apply this surface treatment to help offset the cost of expensive road repairs by performing preventative maintenance that will prolong the life of the street.

North Acres Bridge & Sidewalk project Ribbon cutting

What is sealcoat?

Sealcoat consists of spraying a thin layer of an asphalt and water mixture over the pavement, followed by a thin layer of small gravel. This is done to waterproof (seal) the existing street surface and to increase skid resistance.

To learn more about Austin’s Road Resurfacing Programs, visit www. austintexas.gov/streetandbridge. For a list of upcoming streets, call the resurfacing hotline at 512-974-9788.

Waller Creek update: a Light at the end of the Tunnel Work on the Waller Creek Tunnel continues at a brisk pace, with the project approximately 65 percent complete. The mile-long underground flood control tunnel runs from Waterloo Park to the shores of Lady Bird Lake.

The main tunnel segment is nearly completely lined with concrete.

At the outlet on Lady Bird Lake, the contractor has completed a coffer dam which will keep water out of the area while the outlet lagoon is finished. The main tunnel shaft has also been connected to the outlet.

In Waterloo Park – the site of the tunnel inlet – the contractor is building the tunnel intake structure and a surface pond that will capture floodwaters and redirect them from the Waller Creek into the tunnel.

The tunnel will be operational near the end of 2014, but it will take another year or so to restore all of the construction areas to their final condition. Gary Jackson serves as Project Manager.

Repairs on the way to Bridge over Onion Creek In mid-April, the City of Austin began work in the Onion Creek neighborhood to repair the bridge on River Plantation Drive. Damage to the bridge occurred from the Halloween floods in October 2013 and the bridge has not been passable since. Work on this project includes removal and replacement of damaged Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) panels, repair work on the approach slab, and replacement of the sidewalk underneath the bridge.

The Project Manager, Clay Harris, says that work is expected to take approximately 90 calendar days to complete and the bridge should be open for passage by June of this year. Until then, traffic will be detoured south to Bradshaw Road or north to Pinehurst Drive.

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this will be a full page illustration

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divisions

BY CHELSEA DONAHUE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Making Technology Cool for Kids

Two Austin area schools encourage active transportation by combining technology and sociology.

or staff members to reward students with fun prizes and incentives; that’s where the sociology takes over. The colored wristbands for different participation levels become status symbols that students want to collect. The allure and “cool factor” of the Bing Machine can’t be discounted either. It’s fun to pass by and publicly record your active transportation!

The success of Boltage at Brykerwoods and Doss shows that technology can be a valuable asset for increasing active transportation.

While the cost may be prohibitive at other schools, these lessons are valuable in spreading the active transportation message. The Child Safety Program will continue to partner with schools to improve the biking and walking accessibility of schools and explore how new technologies can help increase active transportation.

I

t may not seem like there’s much need for technology with something as basic as walking or biking to school, but one non-profit group, Boltage, shows that combining technology and sociology can be the key to get more kids biking and walking. Brykerwoods and Doss Elementary are two Austin-area schools currently using the Boltage program.

With the Boltage program, each participating student receives an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip to attach to her backpack. When she bikes or walks to school, she passes by the “Bing Machine.” This solarpowered post lights up and rings a bell whenever a student bings, while also tracking the student’s mileage and participation. Kids can earn prizes like wristbands or special privileges for racking up bings, and parents can track their children’s distance walked, calories burned, and carbon dioxide saved.

While the program is costly to set up and maintain (nearly $5,000 to install and $950 annually), these schools have been able to partner with local bike shops and hold fundraisers to cover the costs. Schools like Doss and Brykerwoods have seen a major impact

since implementing this program.

Doss Elementary launched its Boltage program in fall 2011. Before the program started, only twelve or so students biked to school daily. On the first day of school in August 2012, Doss had the highest Boltage participation in the country. Now, in the program’s third year, over a hundred students ride in each day! Brykerwoods Elementary also has excellent participation levels for biking to school. Now, on any given school day, 10 percent to percent of the students arrive by bicycle!

These impressive numbers are a result of the biking culture these schools have been able to create using the Boltage technology.

The automatic tracking of mileage and participation makes it easy for parent volunteers

Now, on any given school day, 10 percent to 25 percent of the students arrive by bicycle!

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Counting the Crowd and Lighting the Way How innovative technologies will help the Bicycle and Urban Trails teams plan for the future and illuminate our trails.

Y

ou may not even know it, but there are counters all around town – helping our bicycle and urban trails staff plan for the future, and analyze the present. The Bicycle staff has been using technology from the company Eco Counter and currently has one permanent counter and various temporary counters in place all over Austin. (Austin’s other permanent counter was temporarily removed due to construction). Another new technology that the Urban Trails Program is evaluating is solar panel lighting. This lighting could help light the way for trail users after dark.

Data from counters – Why is it needed?

Information from our bike and pedestrian counters is used in a variety of ways. Recently, the data was used to evaluate trail curfews that went into effect at 10 pm. City staff analyzed the pedestrian and bicycle counts to help determine whether removing the curfew from the trail system would be warranted.

Another important use of the data is to determine the peak hours of travel and the volume of users. This information is vital when planning detours for trails and bicycle routes. For example, our permanent counter at Waller Creek on 4th Street revealed that during this year’s SXSW event, around 5,000 bikes and 10,000 pedestrians used the crossing in just one day!

In addition to the permanent counter, temporary counters are utilized as well. These temporary counters are called “portable pneumatic tube” counters, and they collect trail data and short-term bicycle counts all throughout Austin. The team collects data from about 15 locations annually.

You may be wondering, how do I know if I’ve been counted? The counters themselves are vey discreet. If you are traveling along a trail and notice a cut in the concrete (much like the cuts that are used for signal detection at signalized intersections), you’ve just been counted! In the case of the pneumatic tube counter, if you see a thin black tube that stretches across the roadway or trail, you are counted as you move over the tube.

nent counters installed in Austin. They are hoping to have ten new counters installed within the next six months and have been looking into potential locations. These locations could include areas like the new Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk and the Guadalupe Cycle Track.

Another counter option is a “totem” counter that actively displays counts on a large display as people pass through. These types of counters are very pricey, but the interactive touch can’t be beat! The Bicycle and Urban Trails Programs hope to be able to get one of these counters installed so that the results can be publicized for all to see.

lighting the way If you’ve ever used one of Austin’s trails at nighttime, you may have found it hard to see where you’re going. Enter: solar path lighting. This innovative technology is being explored in the Bicycle and Urban Trails Program and includes installing small panels directly into concrete or pavement. During the day, sunlight hitting the individual panels charges them up, and come nightfall, the panels light up – helping illuminate the path for trail users.

Why not just install normal street lighting? In many cases, dark sky ordinances pre-

What does the future hold for counters in Austin?

Currently, the Bicycle and Urban Trails Program staff is working to get more perma-

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Solar path lights to be installed on urban trails in Austin. Each light measures 5”x4”.

divisions

BY SHANNON WISNER EDITOR IN CHIEF

vent us from installing bright lights on or near trails. The solar path lighting system works for these areas, because the lighting is not bright enough to cause light pollution. The other great thing about these lights is that they need little to no maintenance, and do not need electricity – making the system very environmentally friendly. Once installed, the lights should last up to ten years before they need to be replaced.

Staff hopes that the addition of these lights will increase safety and visibility for trail users. The first planned installation will be at the Lamar Trail Underpass under 24th Street as part of the Shoal Creek Restoration Project.

The lights will be installed about 50 feet from each other on either side of the trail, and will probably include 50 or so panels in total. This portion of the project should be completed around summer 2015.

Both counters and lighting technology are very important to the success of our bicycle and trail systems. Counters provide vital information on how many people are using the trail, when, and by what mode, and solar path lighting will help keep trail users safe.

Austin’s permanent counter, located at Waller Creek on 4th Street.

Photo Credit: TTI

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columns

BY SARA HARTLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Getting Our PWD Some “Credit”

As we approach National Public Works Week in May, there is something new to be proud of for Austin’s Public Works Department.

L

ast year we celebrated our Director, Howard, receiving the Top Ten Public Works Leaders of the Year award from the American Public Works Association (APWA). This year, we have been challenged by him to become an accredited Public Works Department through the APWA.

One of the ways this will help our department is through the ability to use technology to streamline our work processes and records management. The process itself is done through a web portal, so paper files do not have to be reproduced, merely scanned and uploaded. All of the people that are involved in the project have access to the web portal, which will be managed by the Accreditation Manager for the project, Shelley Kilday.

Assistant Director James Snow is the Executive Sponsor for the accreditation and had this to say about the process. “We know

that our divisions are already doing excellent work at documenting processes, and we fully expect to be ahead of the curve in our selfassessment. But there are always things we can improve, and we expect to find areas of opportunity along this process.”

The first phase of the accreditation is the self-assessment, where PWD sort of “looks under the hood” to see where we stand as a department in comparison to the best practices. Once that is completed over the next few months, the work of building out our business process improvements will begin.

In order to seek accreditation, PWD will have to satisfy the requirements of the general chapters of APWA Accreditation. Those are Organization and Strategic Planning, Human Resource Management, Occupied Facilities, Finance, Risk Management and Legal Review, Communication, Information Technology and Telecommunications, Emergency Management, and Safety. We also have overall responsibility for the areas of Engineering Management, Project Management, Street Maintenance, Bridges, and Snow and Ice Control (not that it happens too often).

Some of the processes in these areas may overlap with operations in other city departments, so they will likely get into the accreditation game with us. There are many pieces to the “public works” puzzle and not all of them are housed directly in our department. In many cities, operations like solid waste, water, and transportation are all under the Public Works umbrella.

The more that we can distinguish ourselves through excellent processes between our departments, the better off we are in gaining accreditation.

We all play a part in making our Public Works Department a best practice organization, and APWA Accreditation will be our path forward to it.

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divisions BY justin golbabai CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kaizen

Neighborhood Partnering staff uses inventive tactics to bring improvements to Austinites living in low-income areas.

“K

aizen” is a Japanese term that refers to the process of continuous improvement. It was made famous by Toyota in its engineering, manufacturing and production processes, and is a system that expects workers to continuously make suggestions on how the company can improve upon every aspect of their business. Once a suggestion has been implemented, the team measures and follows up with the results and repeats the cycle, looking for further ways to improve.

Similarly, having just completed its October application process, the Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) is looking to make several continuous improvements as it prepares for the next application deadline in June.

targeted outreach Neighborhoods can’t apply to NPP if they’ve never heard of it. Since the program’s inception in 2010, some Austin zip codes have already successfully had two or three projects approved while other areas haven’t had any. In particular, NPP has had only one successful application from Austin’s 10 lowest median income zip codes. To address this disparity, NPP has teamed up with the Americorp VISTA, a federal program that helps work on issues in low-income areas, to address gaps and target its outreach so all Austinites can better participate in the program.

adding strategic partners In addition to working with Americorp VISTA, NPP has reached out to a number of external partners in order to provide communities with additional resources to help develop their applications. Some of those potential partnerships include: The American Institute of Architects – Austin is helping NPP to find volunteer architects to work with communities in need of design assistance.

The University of Texas is partnering with NPP to find research and expertise opportunities for students and faculty.

The Sustainable Food Center provides project assistance and sponsorship for community garden projects.

Various Austin Area Chambers of Commerce are helping to connect the business community to potential NPP projects.

United Way/Hands On Central Texas provides project management, leadership and training opportunities for volunteer groups.

Project Kickoffs Rather than just emailing community groups an application, NPP is experimenting with implementing its own version of the Texas two-step to help neighborhoods build momentum for their projects.

Step 1 Meet with the neighborhood’s core project group on-site to discuss the scope of the project and give technical parameters. NPP follows-up with a preliminary cost estimate.

Step 2 NPP conducts a project application kickoff meeting with the core application group, strategic partners and broader neighborhood community.

By making these improvements, the Neighborhood Partnering Program hopes to become more accessible and empowering for its citizens. As with the Kaizen method, once these processes are implemented, we’ll assess and look to continuously improve to do better next time.

Neighborhood Partnering Program Huffstickler Green Project at 38th and Duval.

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iAddiction: Managing our Obsession with Technology Everyone hearts their electronic devices, but it’s important to use them thoughtfully and keep a healthy balance.

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feature BY carolyn perez contributing writer

T

echnology is shaping our world at a rapid fire pace. Amazing tools that were unheard of even 10 years ago are changing all aspects of our lives and affecting how we work, play, socialize, and parent. Each day, billions of people around the world log on to digital channels such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for social interaction.

Nearly 90 percent of us say we can’t go a day without our phone, and many of us check our phones up to 60 times a day.

As a society, psychologists say we’re suffering from iAddiction.

New technology can be a force for good by giving us access to information earlier generations could only dream of.

Think about it: with the click of a mouse you can take a virtual tour of the Louvre museum, stream a live concert taking place on the other side of the globe, attend college, and book a vacation, all from the comfort of your home. Healthcare technology can improve the quality of life for millions of people via virtual clinics. 3D printers can now print out replacement body parts and there are remote-controlled robots that can perform lifesaving surgeries.

Technology is also changing the way we do our jobs here at PWD. Citizens can now connect with us and get information quicker than ever before. For example, more than 34,000 Austinites follow the City on Twitter to get the latest news and updates while online portals such as CIVIC make it easier for the public to track progress on bond projects.

Despite these exciting prospects, technology is like chocolate, sun, and shopping: too much of a good thing can be bad for us. For some, the warp speed pace of hi-tech change is just too much. There are studies to back this up: in 2013, the University of Cambridge published reports showing that one in three people feel overwhelmed by new technology. The study lasted for eight months and looked at 1, 269 people from different countries, ages and backgrounds.

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feature

continued from pg. 23

But I love my phone! What’s the harm?

For all of its convenience, being constantly plugged in is not a good idea. According to research conducted at Harvard Medical School, technology overstimulation negatively impacts our brains and bodies in many ways. In our jobs as public works professionals, it can even put us in danger.

Physical: Doctors are noticing more complaints related to technology overuse. Some of these include: stiff neck muscles from continually looking down at a screen, chronic dry eyes, tension headaches, and insomnia. iAddiction can also lead to poor muscle tone and weight gain if we skip exercise to be online.

Mental: It’s hard to concentrate when random bits of information are constantly coming at us through digital channels. If you’ve ever sat at your desk and tried to focus on a task while your desk phone, cell phone, and email notifications are all going off, you know how this feels. In fact, studies have shown that it takes workers an average of 22 minutes to refocus on a task after being distracted by a text message, email or other distraction.

Social: When we’re constantly plugged in, we tend to ignore those around us.

Gary Coleman, a Harvard-trained psychologist and author of Focus, states, “What we don’t notice is what’s happening in the present, what we’re supposed to be paying attention to, or what it does to our relationship to the person who we’re now ignoring.” You see this all the time at playgrounds where parents ignore their kids, and at restaurants, where diners ignore each other because they’re too busy texting.

Safety: When you operate a car or heavy machinery, iAddiction is more than a nuisance – it can be deadly. Consider the fact that 3 out of 4 adults use their phone while driving and that, on average, one text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. As accident statistics show, the human brain is not good at doing two things at once. When you’re part of a work crew, you are responsible for the safety of your entire team and being mentally checked out—even for a few seconds—puts everyone at risk.

additional resources Headspace.com- this website and app offers free guided meditation lessons. It’s wonderful when you need to clear your mind and relax http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/ PE Classes- exercises such as yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi can help counter the effects of a distracted mind.

Software programs- If online distractions are killing your productivity, there are software programs that can help. Freedom and Dark Room are two popular ones.

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feature BY carolyn perez contributing writer

constantly connected by phone and the “ Being internet can leave us in a mental state that neuro-

biologists call frazzle, where stress overloads our nervous system with floods of cortisol and adrenaline. This can lead to fatigue, forgetfulness, and job burnout.

-Ben Dickinson, Senior Contributor, Elle

�

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milestones awcaorgdnsi& tion re Above and beyond Carmen Morgan, Peggy Howard & Nannett Holweger for taking on additional tasks to facilitate several division events, retirements, employee hiring, training new employees and serving on business improvement teams and committees – in addition to their core duties and responsibilities. Several accolades from internal and external customers were received for their positive team spirit and professionalism.

pat on the back

Eddie Cooper - This inspector oversees the Blarwood Stormdrain Improvement Project. He has been diligently protecting the City’s interests with regards to this project. This is what Eddie’s P.E. had to say about him: “I have come to count on him for accurate records, for vigilant observation of the construction work and for sound recommendations. He has kept me informed and has been steadfast in holding the contractor to high construction standards, even when it was not popular to do so. Being an inspector, it can be easy to simply go through the motions when performing a thankless job, but he takes pride in his work. Thank you for having an employee such as Eddie Cooper!”

Women’s Alliance (YWA) and the Young Men’s Business League (YMBL) have partnered to host one of the city’s most prestigious awards events, Austin Under 40.

Austin Under 40 nominee and winners are recognized each year for demonstrating leadership in their respective industries and for their commitment to serving their community. Keri was nominated in the field of Engineering, Architecture & Design. Congratulations, Keri!

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ncd:

adrian lipscombe Adrian Lipscombe was recently chosen as one of the Next City Vanguard “40 under 40”. These are 40 ambi-

tious individuals under the age of 40 who have demonstrated the ability to have an impact on their city or on the national dialogue about urban issues. She will be flying to Chattanooga, Tennessee to attend the leadership conference and to present to her peers. Congratulations, Adrian!

Bike share Project Coordinator

Wins “40 under 40” Award

Assistant Director Keri Juarez was recently nominated as an Austin Under 40 finalist.

Since 1998, the Austin Young

Nominated

keri juarez

Austin Under 40

ood:

street talk extra UPDATES FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Crossing Guard gets Recognition at Area School On March 6, 2014, Public Works’ Cedar Creek Elementary School Crossing Guard, Debra Aupperle, was recognized by Eanes ISD and was awarded the Cedar Creek Elementary School EANESpiration Award in the Heroes category. This is what those who nominated her had to say:

Superintendent Wellman and Principal Lisa Streun presenting the award.

“Her unwavering dedication to keeping the kids safe is unparalleled. Debra goes out of her way to know everyone’s name and to know a little bit about them. She always has a big smile on her face and is out braving the weather in the heat, the cold and the rain. She’s a great role model to the kids.”

Dr. Nola H. Wellman, Eanes ISD Superintendent of Schools, presented the award to Ms. Aupperle at the Cedar Creek Elementary School assembly to a standing ovation by the students, faculty, and parents.

Neil Kopper Neil Kopper, Engineer Associate with the Bicycle Program, taking his son Harvey out for a ride. We couldn’t resist this cuteness!

Just for Fun

NCD:

Debra with her award.

10 years of service jamison smith

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divisions BY max eby CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Classroom of the Future

While there will always be a place for classroom training, PWU is looking at convenient, flexible e-learning options.

P

ublic Workers University is always asking the question, “How can we work smarter?”

While classroom training has its benefits, we’ve been rethinking the way courses are delivered to you. Classroom training isn’t going away completely anytime soon, but we also see that electronic learning is the ideal fit for some topics – and bringing with it great employee perks.

We’ve already tried out online course delivery for several new-hire classes and so far, employees loved the new format.

Why would we want to move courses online?

E-learning as a solution

Scheduling training sessions proves to be a logistical challenge. Rooms are often booked full for months on end and renting space is costly. Free time in employee schedules remains scarce and the preferred days and times for training differ greatly among the various Public Works teams.

Leveraging Electronic Learning (or elearning) removes the need to book training rooms. E-learning also brings an element of flexibility that’s hard to beat! Employees can select the best time to complete training and even break the class into smaller chunks in order to accommodate a busy schedule. Field op-

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erations crews have the flexibility to undergo training individually or in small groups—very helpful in case there are last minute schedule changes due to severe weather. Night crews are able to train during their regular waking hours instead of fighting sleep in a classroom after having worked all night. Finally, e-learning sessions save time and money normally lost when students travel across town to various classroom locations.

Currently, we’re using Adobe Presenter to convert PowerPoint and animations into eLearning courses. The presentations require no username or password. Students view the video then take an automatically graded test online. Paper versions of our tests are also available for small group training sessions.

Public Workers University is currently assessing our training portfolio to determine which courses move online and which remain in the classroom. We strive to meet employee needs while still using the most effective method for the various learning topics. In the near future, we plan to publish a newsletter with lots of helpful information, so stay tuned!

In the meanwhile, you may contact Public Workers University by phone at 512974-7252, via email at pwu@austintexas.gov, or online at http://smarturl.it/pwu (SharePoint site). We’d love to hear from you!

street talk extra UPDATES FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Where in the World Is Shuv-l-Reddy?

Remember Carmen San Diego? Waldo? Well, Shuv wanted in on some of the action…play our guessing game as he wanders around the city at various PWDrelated sites...and beyond!

Can you correctly identify both project site locations that Shuv-L-Reddy has visited? Write in to: streettalk@austintexas.gov for a chance to WIN A PRIZE!

location 2

location 1

ANSWERS FROM LAST ISSUE: Location 1: Driving a new Metro Rapid bus.

Location 2: On the North Acres Bridge.

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Earth Day

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class 8-9 AM Cheathem Facility

Passover Ends [at sunset]

Austin Fashion Week

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class 8-9:30 AM 105 Riverside Dr. Ste 200

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Capital of Texas Triathlon OFFICE CLOSED Memorial Day

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Write in to us with your suggestions regarding:

Milestones

nominations

writing a guest column photo contribution

special events going on in your division employee PROFILE NOMINATIONS ...and anything else we may have missed or you want people to know about

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