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University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Interdisciplinary Professional Programs

Municipal Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Engineers

interpro.wisc.edu/RA00356 See upcoming dates

Course Overview

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

Who Should Attend?

  • 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

Course Outline

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

 

Instructor

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.

Upcoming dates (0)

Take this course when it’s offered next!