Urban Engineers’ Post

Please join us in celebrating Leif Garnass, the Vice President of our Traffic and Technology Group, for 20 years of service. Congratulations! Learn more about Leif and his career at SRF Consulting below. Q: Why did you decide to pursue a career as a transportation engineer? A: I’ve always been interested in highways, bridges, and skyscrapers!    Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your job? A: We solve challenges, and the challenges are different for each project. We have the opportunity to be creative and innovative—no one solution fits every challenge!   Q: Tell us about your role at SRF.  A: As the Vice President of SRF’s Traffic & Technology division, I lead business development and strategic growth while managing projects that focus on the planning and design of connected and managed freeways and arterials, transit and multimodal corridors, rural highways, and reduced-conflict intersections. My career at SRF has spanned all aspects of transportation engineering, from the planning stages of projects through design and implementation. I really enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with many people across the industry!   Q: Compared to your first year at SRF, how has your role evolved? A: My first year at SRF focused entirely on learning as much as possible from a technical perspective from as many people as possible. A strong technical background is essential to an exciting career. Over time, my role has evolved into project management and leadership, where I use my technical skills to lead teams and projects successfully.   Q: What advice would you give to a young professional thinking about a career in transportation and engineering?  A: The opportunities for diverse project experiences are endless, and many may not be apparent early on. Learn all you can from anyone you can (colleagues, supervisors, clients, friends in the industry) to find the area you are most passionate about. There will be an opportunity!   Q: What has been your favorite project at SRF?  A: My favorite project – or the project I’m most proud of – was completed early in my career. I designed the traffic signals used to manage traffic during the reconstruction of the US 169/Hennepin County 81 “Devil’s Triangle” area in the northwest metro. The project had multiple temporary traffic signals needed to move traffic during four construction stages, with multiple “minor” phases within each stage. The project was challenging and required attention to detail, and I feel the project was a success since we didn’t receive any calls from the contractor during construction!

Can't beat the views our crews got to enjoy during the installation of this lagoon liner. #EngineeredContainment #LagoonLiner #PondLinerInstallation #EnvironmentalEngineering #Geosynthetics #ContainmentSolutions #WaterManagement #CivilEngineering #Infrastructure #ErosionControl #SustainableEngineering #GeotechnicalEngineering #HazardousContainment #LinerTechnology #WaterConservation #ProjectManagement #ConstructionInnovation #EnvironmentalProtection #IndustryStandards

As I reflect on my five-year journey as a QS on the Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth project, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences, challenges and growth opportunities I've encountered along the way. I've found great satisfaction in working alongside a team of this magnitude, engaging with up to 40 Subcontractors across various fields, including ground improvements, earthworks, utilities, drainage, ITS, and most recently, pavements and road furnishing. The project did not come without its challenges, and tough conversations, but I do have a few key takeaways: - Breaking down processes: the ability to break down a complex problem into smaller, manageable steps. - Making decisions based on facts, guided by the contract. (Emotions should not cloud judgment.) - Developing the skill to write words to persuade and influence. - 'Dummies Guide': striving for clear and concise communication, ensuring straightforward, easy-to-understand information is presented. - Record-keeping: If executed properly will save the project in many arguments. This, if executed properly, cannot be underestimated. I am looking forward to the new opportunities of continued growth and learning as well as carrying forward the valuable lessons and experiences gained onto the next project. #ProjectReflection #LessonsLearned #ContinuedGrowth #Infrastructure #Gratitude

#featurefriday goes out to Keith Scarbrough, Senior Estimator. He’s been with Plateau for a little over 4 years estimating and doing project management for our Florida projects. He enjoys projects with unique challenges. Central Florida site conditions vary greatly from variable groundwater levels, tidal influences for coastal projects, questionable soils, wetland impacts, endangered (protected) wildlife species, sinkholes, etc., all of which makes every report and bid document important to read and take into consideration during the bidding process. “Estimating can tend to be tedious and stressful at times, especially in a very competitive market, so it’s always exciting to be awarded new work and negotiate contracts.” When asking Keith to describe the team at Plateau, he said “Competitive, passionate, talented, confident, relentless…I could go on. The team’s quality, discipline, and loyalty here are unmatched, absolutely the best in the business. It didn’t take me long to realize that having a team like we have is a product of culture and it starts at the top. Recruitment and retainage are important to success.” We appreciate all your hard work and loyalty to Plateau, Keith. To learn more about his role, his favorite music, and how he and his wife serve others are growing their family, head over to his feature on our website: https://lnkd.in/gKpj6Hve #plateaupeople #plateauexcavation #alwaysmovingforward #georgia #southeast #infrastructure #construction #heavyequipment #excavator #dirtwork #dirtworld #operators #heavyequipmentlife #sitedevelopment #earthmoving #earthmovers #innovationconstruction #solarenergy #datacenters #sitedevelopment #oem #missioncritical #movingdirt #heavycivilindustry #heavycivilconstruction

New week - new goals. Some of our Engineering team donned the work boots this week for a site visit to one of our large industrial estate projects. Hanlons assists financial institutions by offering independent assessment by way of progress of works reporting. Need assistance and guidance with your next land development project? Call our team today! #landdevelopment #engineeringservices #surveying #engineering #progressofworks #infrastructure #regionalinfrastructure #buildingbetterregions #assurance #projectmanagement

Plans are afoot for the development of rail sidings to enhance the capacity of a key #Sydney port facility. @ProjectoryNews https://lnkd.in/gWx9jxYm #projectory #projectleads #majorprojects

We’re only as good as what our clients say, and we appreciate that they say lovely things about us: “I can have over 50 consultants working on a major project at any one time. Glanville are among a handful that have earned this level of trust. I can’t stress how important that is, and it doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from longstanding working relationships built on mutual respect and professionalism.“ A big thank you to Alex Szarawarski – Technical Director, Barrett David Wilson. #review #clientreview #structuralengineering #civilengineering #highwaysengineering #transportplanning #geomaticssurveying #buildingsurveying #consultancy #testimonial

Plans are afoot for the development of rail sidings to enhance the capacity of a key #Sydney port facility. @ProjectoryNews https://lnkd.in/gnUF6myG #projectory #projectleads #majorprojects

At Hanlons we are geographically mobile, travelling all over the state ensuring projects are kept on track. One of our #survey teams this week are in Manildra, assisting with detail and boundary surveys. The problem: Our client needed to know track heights for a foundation design. The solution: By providing a detail and boundary survey, this ensures the location and heights of the propsed building are confirmed allowing the structural engineers to determine the zone of influence and what impact the building weight will have on the railway track. The Main West Rail line connects NSW with Southern and Western Australia as well as the Central West of NSW. Crucial infrastructure. Hanlons - building better regional communities. #surveying_official #survey #surveylife #surveyservices #boundarysurvey #engineering #civilsurvey #civilengineering #railwaydesign #infrastructure #constructionservices #railwaysurveying #regionalinfrastructure #buildingbetterregions #tamworthnsw #orangensw #armidalensw #regionalnsw

Donte Allen from Wolfline Construction is sharing his insights on improving fleet safety. Join the webinar to learn more about enhancing fleet safety. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/e4W5DZQn #fleetsafety, #construction, #AIdashcam