Municipal Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Engineers

Learn about basic engineering concepts and methods used by public works engineers to design, construct, operate, and maintain municipal infrastructure. (PWMI)

• Planners and economic development professionals 
• City managers and assistant managers 
• Municipal finance officers 
• Engineering technicians 
• Elected city and county officials and their staff 
• Engineering technicians
• Maintenance supervisors preparing for additional responsibilities
• Individuals in the Public Works Management Institute (PWMI) certificate program

Online Course Modules Starting May 10th 

Pre-course Activity

• Overview of the Course
• Overview of the Municipal Engineering Function
• What is unique about municipal engineering?
• What are the challenges of designing municipal infrastructure systems?
• What tools and standards are used by municipal engineers?

Session 1 Friday May 10, 2024  - Street Design, Maintenance and Rehabilitation

• Soils, water, and pavement thickness design
• Pavement management
• Preventive maintenance and rehabilitation
• Estimating and Bidding

Session 2 Wednesday May 15, 2024 - Street Planning and Traffic Engineering

• Planning and functional classification systems
• Urban vs. rural roadway geometric standards
• Intersections and sidewalks
• Traffic engineering and operation
• Traffic engineering studies 

Session 3 Friday May 17, 2024  - Storm Drainage

• Catch Basins & Inlets
• Regulatory considerations
• Combined Sewers
• Stormwater Quality
• BMP’s & BMP Application

Session 4 Wednesday May 22, 2024 - Water Systems

• Water Supply
• Water Treatment
• Water Demand and Water System Sizing
• Water Distribution System 

Session 5 Wednesday May 29, 2024 - Sanitary Sewers and Waste Treatment

• Projecting System Capacity
• Collection System
• Treatment Techniques
• Treatment Plant Design

In-person outline: (Not Scheduled at this time)

Day 1

Overview of the Municipal Engineering Function

• What is unique about municipal engineering?
• What are the challenges of designing municipal infrastructure systems?
• What tools and standards are used by municipal engineers?

Street Planning, Design, and Maintenance

• Planning and functional classification systems
• Urban vs. rural roadway geometric standards
• Intersections and sidewalks
• Soils, water, and pavement thickness design
• Pavement management systems
• Preventive maintenance and rehabilitation
• Traffic engineering and operation
• Traffic engineering studies
• Understanding a civil engineering plan set

Water Supply Systems 

• Projecting water system demand
• Calculating average demand
• Estimating peak demand
• Accommodating fire flows

Water Distribution 

• Water mains
• Water storage requirements
• Metering and water loss
• Valves and hydrants
• Testing

Water Treatment - Groundwater and Surface Water

• Physical and chemical processes
• Hardness and softening
• Filtration and disinfection

Day 2

Sanitary Sewerage Systems

• Projecting system capacity
• Sewer collection systems
  • Design parameters
  • Materials
  • Maintenance
• Treatment Plant Considerations
  
  • Hydraulic and waste loadings
  • Phosphorous and nitrogen
  • Special loadings
• Treatment processes:
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary

Stormwater Drainage and Control Systems

• Why we manage stormwater
• Understanding rainfall and runoff, and the “Rational Formula”
• Drainage system design
• Catch basins and inlets
• Flood control: detention, flow control, and regional approaches,
• Water quality: EPA, NPDES, and MS4s
• Combined sewers
• Stormwater best management practices (BMPs) and sustainability

Benjamin Jordan

Benjamin J. Jordan, PE, is a program director with Interdisciplinary Professional Programs in the transportation sector. He has over 35 years of experience in civil engineering and public works. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Master of Public Affairs degree with a Certificate in Public Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois.