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3-D Laser Scanning Technology
December 2nd, 2011
Blog by John V. Mettee III, Prof. LS
In a recent magazine publication called “811 – Damage Prevention Professional” Fall 2011 issue (click for article), is found an article entitled “As-built Surveys: The Benefits of 3-D Laser Scanning” under the Mapping & Technology Section. This article highlights the declining role of field surveyors on construction sites due to the proliferation and increased sophistication of today’s technology. The article goes goes on to say that 3-D Laser Scanning technology is a cost-effective way to assist with construction monitoring and verification as well as providing a means for capturing data for as-built surveys. I certainly agree that this is the reality of this technology. One is able to gather much more data in the same amount of time it takes for conventional means to gather just a few points. Even better yet, with this technology you can acquire a background photograph that is geo-referenced to further visualize where the data was gathered. The article discusses how the technology works and shares a sample project. It also goes on to highlight the benefits of using this great technology. However, it did not speak to the drawbacks.
After personal experience with this technology, I have found that the amount of data found in the “point cloud” can be overwhelming. With conventional technology, one would be concerned with having enough data and having the data in the right areas. With 3-D laser scanning technology, the concern is having too much data and the need to properly filter out unneeded or bad information. The data can be analyzed and filtered, but one needs to exercise care. Furthermore, in my experience a 3-D laser scanning project will require more instrument set ups than conventional technology. This is primarily due to items being hidden from the scope of the instrument by something blocking the view. Again this is not a problem, it just requires additional instrument set ups to gain the data that was not in view from the previous set up. The fact that this technology acquires data so quickly; certainly there is ample time in the day to make more set ups than usual.
Lastly, what was pictured in the article was a 3-D Laser Scanning Instrument that is manufactured by Leica. There are other manufacturers for this technology. Trimble makes a 3-D laser scanner. In fact, Trimble integrated the technology with conventional total-station technology in an instrument known as the Trimble VX Spatial Station (click for article).
Using the FEMA Elevation Certificate
November 11th, 2011
The official Elevation Certificate, or “flood cert” as it is sometimes referred to, was created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which now comes under the authority of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The expiration date for the current form is March 31, 2012. See www.fema.gov for more information and copies of the Elevation Certificate and its instructions.
The intent of this federal form was a mechanism for providing elevation information on property and the structures situated thereon as they relate to the National Flood Insurance Program. This information is primarily used in three ways: 1) To ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances, 2) to determine the proper insurance premium rate, and 3) to support a request for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision based on fill (LOMR-F).
First, this Elevation Certificate is used to ensure compliance with community floodplain management ordinances. Here the use of the word community refers to actual political subdivisions known as counties or municipalities. NFIP requires the community to adopt floodplain management regulations in order to reduce flood losses. It further requires that the community obtain the elevation of the lowest floor of all new and improved buildings. They must also maintain a record of such information. Hence, the Elevation Certificate provides a means to document such compliance.
Secondly, this Elevation Certificate is used to determine proper insurance rates. The certificate is required in order to properly rate post-FIRM (Flood Insurance Rate Map) buildings. In contrast, the certificate is not required for Pre-FIRM buildings unless they are being rated under the optional Post-FIRM flood insurance rules.
Thirdly, this Elevation Certificate is used to support a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision based on fill (LOMR-F). It is important to understand that the use of this certificate cannot provide a waiver of the flood insurance purchase requirement per federal law. Only a LOMA or LOMR-F from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can amend the Flood Insurance Rate Map. Only FEMA can remove the Federal mandate for purchasing flood insurance. However, the Elevation Certificate is used to support the request for a LOMA or LOMR-F.
As you examine the Elevation Certificate form as provided by FEMA, “Section D – Surveyor, Engineer, or Architect Certification” a design professional is called upon to seal and sign the certificate. Both the certificate and the instructions state that “this section of the Elevation Certificate may be signed by only a land surveyor, engineer, or architect who is authorized by law to certify elevation information”. Some professionals have debated and questioned who is authorized to sign and seal these certificates. It must be further understood that while “Section C – Building Elevation Information (Survey Required)” requires that the professional indicate that the building elevations are based on either construction drawings, building under construction, or finished construction. The form also indicates for the first two items that “a New Elevation Certificate will be required when construction of the building is complete”.
So can an engineer sign and seal this form? In the state of Maryland recently, this very question and debate came before the licensing boards for surveyors and engineers. Both the surveying and engineering licensing board agreed together that they do not have jurisdiction over the federal government or the regulations or forms they create. However, they do regulate the design professionals in the state of Maryland. No one can claim that FEMA gives them the authority to make such certifications because even FEMA indicates that “this section of the Elevation Certificate may be signed by only a land surveyor, engineer, or architect who is authorized by law to certify elevation information”. It is Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulations (DLLR) that authorizes the practice of engineers, surveyors, and architects. Both the engineering and surveying licensing boards agreed that while an engineer may sign and seal the FEMA Elevation Certificate when the elevations are based on “construction drawings”, it is the sole authority of the professional land surveyor in the state of Maryland when it involves elevation measurements for Section C of the FEMA form as the instructions state that “a field survey is required”.
jmettee 
Community, Odds and Ends
certificate, Community, FEMA
Frederick Ward Associates Welcomes Lloyd Davis
October 29th, 2011
Lloyd Davis is a Project Engineer with over 15 years of civil engineering experience in design, record research and GIS mapping, contract document preparation and site investigation for Roadways, Storm Drain Systems, Utility, Right-of-way Plats, Stormwater Management, Erosion and Sediment Control, Site Grading/layout and Pump Stations.
He has worked with several civil engineering consulting companies including: EBA Engineering, Inc., Bowman Consulting Group, Benchmark Engineering, D.S. Thaler & Associates, W. Duvall & Associates, and KCW Technologies. He also has experience as a CAD instructor at the Community College of Baltimore and has used several CAD software for design, construction document preparation, rendering and 3D modeling. Welcome, Lloyd!
Frederick Ward Welcomes Kristen Young
October 29th, 2011
Kristen is an Intern Architect. She has worked summers at Rubeling Assoc in Towson, University of Maryland Medical Center in the Planning Dept, and at Burt Hill Associates in Washington DC. She went straight from High School through graduate school and got her BS in Architecture from University of Maryland, and a Masters in Architecture as well as a Masters in Architecture Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. She graduated in May. She plans on becoming a registered architect and a LEED AP in the near future. Welcome to FWA, Kristen.
Frederick Ward Welcomes Christina Mainolfi
October 28th, 2011
Christina Mainolfi is our new Receptionist / Administrative Assistant. She brings a wealth of knowledge to FWA with over 30 years of experience in project management, administration and customer service support. She is recently retired from the State of Maryland, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Welcome, Christina! We look forward to working with you.
Congratulations Dan Himmer, Registered Architect
October 28th, 2011
The whole registered architect process starts with an intern development program (IDP). Candidates must complete a certain number of hours in various aspects of the profession, under the guidance and mentorship of a registered architect. It typically takes about 3 years. Dan Himmer started the IDP while he was interning at Frederick Ward Associates in college, and he was able to complete IDP in only a couple years because of the time he spent working with us through college.
The Architect Registration Examination (ARE) is a 7 part exam which tests candidates on various aspects of the profession, from contracts to construction documents to structural systems to MEP building systems. The exams consist of a multiple choice section and a graphical vignette which candidates must draw up a solution to. He started studying for and taking his exams concurrent with finishing IDP, in May of last year. He took his first exam at the end of June 2010 and the last exam Aug 3 2011. The MD Board of Architects issued his license at the end of August 2011. Congratulations, Dan!
STEM Summit for Aberdeen Proving Ground Benefit
October 22nd, 2011
Harford County STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Summit IV is fast approaching. It will be held on Friday, October 28th at MITRE Corporation located at 209 Research Boulevard in Aberdeen, MD. For more information, please visit www.nemdstem.org.
Many individuals became aware of the growing concern over the need for more workforce development as a result of BRAC and the number of high-tech scientific jobs that were transferred to Aberdeen Proving Ground. Gary Martin, executive deputy to the commanding general of U.S. Army Research Development & Engineering Command, joined efforts with John Casner, executive director for Northeastern Maryland Technical Council (NMTC) over a year ago. Together they created a steering committee that would focus on increasing the pipeline of students in the STEM education arena could ultimately find employment at APG. Those efforts resulted in three STEM Summit events so far that has brought together academia, industry, and the government to explore how to “provide a ready workforce for the STEM-based economy.”
STEM Summit I was held on February 11, 2011 at the newly constructed facilities of C4ISR complex located on APG. The guest speakers and panel groups shared perspectives on what is already going on, what needs to happened in the future, and what hurdles needs to be overcome regarding STEM as it relates to students, teachers, and curriculum.
The focus of this summit was threefold: 1) Stimulate student participation in STEM disciplines; 2) Develop and initiate STEM enrichment opportunities for our teachers; and 3) Channel industry and government support to advance STEM education. The expected outcome from this summit event was that all the stakeholders and attendees would sign up for one of three workshop teams that would focus on students, teachers, or curriculum. By the end of the summit, it was so apparent that there were already so many STEM related activities happening that many were not fully aware of, so a fourth workshop team was added for communications. One program that is currently under way as a pilot program for the Aberdeen Boys and Girls club is known as “Let’s Go Boys & Girls” by Dr. Clark (Corky) Graham. Another program sponsored by the U.S. Army is a program called “ecybermission”. It was also noted that these efforts would keep in mind that STEM education begins with kindergarten through to job placement or “K to gray.”
STEM Summit II was held on April 28, 2011 at Cecil College. This summit’s focus was the reporting back to the larger stakeholder group on their discussions, findings, and goals of the four workshop teams. Considerable time was also devoted to breakout “brainstorming” sessions where various questions regarding STEM education was explored. The results of the breakout sessions helped to temper the future goals and directions of the four workshop teams. A recurring term that followed was a new acronym of SME (subject matter experts) and the need to find them and make them available to public and private schools.
STEM Summit III was held on July 21, 2011 at Harford Community College. This event was the least attended of the three summits. Several regular attendees were not present at this summit mostly because of being away on travel; however, there were several first time attendees. Each workshop team was given an opportunity to report back their efforts since the last summit.
During this summit it was highlighted that the best mentors for students and SME’s are what is known as “near peer,” those close to a student’s own age. Students typically look up to those at the next age level to them. It was noted that the communications to students and parents would follow the pattern as follows: elementary age students – Excite; middle school age students – Engage; high school age students – Focus; and college age students – Finish. The communications workshop team demonstrated a new look for the Northeastern Maryland STEM webpage which was launched after the summit concluded. At the conclusion of the summit, Gary Martin issued a challenge for the group. He stated that given the volume of all the efforts and enormous goals that each hardworking team has outlined, that we should focus on one school first and obtain success in that place and then move out broader from there.
Nonetheless, the Boys Scouts of America has launched a STEM merit badge. On Saturday, 15 October 2011, Aberdeen Proving Ground will host the first ever “STEM Merit Badge Day,” in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America. Approximately 650 Boy Scouts are expected to attend this event, along with parents and scout leaders, to spend a day fully engaged in interactive learning about the Army’s technology capabilities. The Senior Mission Commander, MG Nick Justice, is requesting the active participation of all those tenant organizations located on the installation, as well as the support of senior leadership, to execute this ground breaking event successfully.
PlanMaryland Draft Open For Comment
October 21st, 2011
The Maryland Department of Planning is developing a policy document that will “put teeth” into the Smart Growth initiatives that have been in place in our state since before 1997. PlanMaryland is a potentially far-reaching overall State Land Use Plan. The draft plan can be viewed at www.mdp.state.md.us and comments on the plan may be submitted through the website also.
The plan includes an a outline of goals and visions for future growth, protection of environmental resources, and protection of agriculture and natural resource lands. The time horizon of the plan is through 2035. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 contain a summary of the plan, an evaluation of past and projected land use trends and implications, and goals from altering past land use trends by setting Smart Growth targets for directing growth to existing urban and town centers, and for protecting the environment and agriculture. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 provide an outline of coordination with local jurisdictions, implementing the plan, and monitoring progress toward meeting the targets.
Unfortunately there is very little detail in Chapters 4, 5, and 6, as they will be developed over the next few years. The long term benefits, costs, and consequences of this plan will only be understood once these elements are completed.
So far, the plan also does not include any evaluation of the challenges to reaching the established targets. Urban in-fill and revitalization is expensive, time consuming, and fraught with community and regulatory pitfalls, especially in comparison with suburban development. How can these be overcome? This will have to be a part of the conversation, which Frederick Ward Associates plans to join. This plan will also have to be evaluated and dovetailed into other, ongoing planning initiatives such as revision of septic regulations, the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Improvement Plan and TMDL’s, AG Preservation programs, and environmental regulations.
Remember that you can share your thoughts on Plan Maryland with The Maryland Department of Planning until November 9, 2011. Keep an eye on this – there will be much to discuss moving forward.
Frederick Ward Associates and the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program
August 2nd, 2011
Many of you may have heard of Baltimore Gas & Electric’s (BGE’s) “Smart Energy Savers Program” (SESP) that has been available the last few years. The SESP program consists of a variety of programs, services and incentives intended to help customers conserve energy, save money and improve the environment.
I attended a Harford County Green Business Network presentation earlier this year which was focused on energy solutions for business and was very intrigued on how we at Frederick Ward Associates could get involved. After contacting BGE, coordinating with ICF International, obtaining the required references, and going through the appropriate training, Frederick Ward Associates became a registered Service Provider for the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program.
Our first project in the program is for Luna’s House Animal Care and Education Center, a registered LEED Silver Core and Shell project that was awarded a US Green Building Council Maryland Chapter award (in the major renovation project category) at the Wintergreen Awards Celebration in January 2011. Our design team, which includes Paragon Engineering Services, has submitted for the Prescriptive Lighting Program and Unitary HVAC Program for Luna’s House. We anticipate that the owners of Luna’s house will benefit substantially from the incentives that each program offers.
We are working on other projects that we hope to apply the SESP program to as well, such as Variable Refrigerant Management systems for new construction, new construction Performance Lighting, and HVAC Chillers. FWA is currently working on several energy-efficiency projects and LEED Projects, and updates will be provided from time to time on the FWA Daily Build and our main Frederick Ward website.
Find out more information on the various Smart Energy Savers programs that BGE Offers. Read more about Luna’s House.
Frederick Ward Partner Aids in Preparation of Baltimore Grand Prix
July 30th, 2011
Recently there has been much chatter over the upcoming Baltimore Grand Prix that is scheduled to take place over the Labor Day weekend. Construction activities have been underway in the downtown Inner Harbor area of Baltimore for some time now and is nearing completion. This is what the raceway will look like. The Baltimore Business Journal reported that “Baltimore will be open for business before, during, and after the Baltimore Grand Prix is held Sept. 2-4.”
In recent conversations with one of our sub-consultants, Virginia Resource Mapping (VRM) located in Purcellville, Va., we discovered their role in the design of this high profiled raceway for Baltimore. VRM was responsible for the helicopter mapping of the raceway corridor. The original specifications for this project evolved scanning the raceway without closing the corridor to traffic and business. Matthew C. Smith, president of VRM, outlined a plan that permitted short, rolling road closures as the helicopter was performing the photography so the streets would be clear. His plan was approved by the city.
Frederick Ward Associates have used VRM exclusively for our mapping needs since 2005. What we like most about them is their collaborative approach to solving project problems. VRM is a company that utilizes the latest techniques and equipment in delivering quality product in a timely manner. We appreciate their “team player” approach during the work process, and congratulate them for their participation in such a high profile event as the Baltimore Grand Prix.
jmettee Community
Baltimore Grand Prix, Virginia Resource Mapping
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