CH2M envisions better way of managing life-cycle infrastructure development

The Framework is being utilized today in San Mateo, California, for the city's Clean Water Program, to understand how resilient and sustainable the program currently is, and to identify actions or design alternatives that would increase the level of resiliency and sustainability. The City of Los Angeles, California, Bureau of Engineering, Environmental Engineering Division (EED) is also utilizing the Framework to evaluate program performance, review individual projects for the Envision sustainable infrastructure rating system awards, and to streamline documentation efforts. EED's goal is to consolidate its current requirements, institutionalize Envision priorities and drive forward project certification for the planning and design of new construction, and operations and maintenance upgrades, at the city's four wastewater treatment facilities.

"As infrastructure investments ramp up around the world, getting large projects and programs done better, quicker, faster and cost effectively is the name of the game," said Dr. John Mogge, CH2M global environmental market director. "CH2M's new Resiliency and Sustainability Framework is helping cities like San Mateo and Los Angeles evaluate the economic, environmental and social impacts of a project portfolio, resulting in consistent, predictable and long-lasting (resilient) outcomes that reduce cost and help align program stakeholders quicker."

Changes in water supply and water quality management, transportation system disruptions and increased maintenance costs, and energy demand and distribution system stresses are driving the need for more resilient and sustainable infrastructure. With limited resources, planners are saddled with meeting this demand while reducing capital and long-term operating costs.

Addressing these challenges, CH2M developed the five-phase Resiliency and Sustainability Framework, as an extension of the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure's Envision rating system, to streamline project reviews by synthesizing all internal and external drivers. The framework elevates resilient and sustainable design principles to the program and organization level, ensuring consistent implementation across the portfolio of projects. Similar to an organization's risk management or quality management processes, the Framework is a proven method that standardizes an organization's resiliency and sustainability priorities, helping leaders to: assess current performance, identify stretch goals, operationalize and institutionalize priorities, and evaluate individual projects for increased resiliency and sustainability.

Additionally, the Resiliency and Sustainability Framework includes easily customizable tools and resources that provide for economic considerations, such as bottom line cost reduction, capital, operations and maintenance life-cycle cost analysis, and ecosystem cost/benefit analysis.

Learn more from Elizabeth Bradford, MS, ENV SP, CH2M's Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure Planning Director, at the American Planning Association Federal Planning Division Workshop in New York City on May 5; and the Massachusetts Coalition for Water Resources Stewardship, 8^th Annual Water Resources Strategies Symposium, in Marlborough, MA on May 17.

About CH2M
CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions benefiting societal, environmental and economic outcomes with the development of infrastructure and industry. In this way, CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management services for clients needing world-class solutions in environmental; industrial and advanced facilities; transportation; and water markets, from iconic infrastructure to global programs like the Olympic Games.

Ranked among the World's Most Ethical Companies and top firms in environmental consulting and program management, CH2M in 2016 became the first professional services firm honored with the World Environment Center Gold Medal Award for efforts advancing sustainable development. Connect with CH2M at www.ch2m.com; LinkedIn; Twitter; and Facebook.

SOURCE CH2M

Related Links

http://www.ch2m.com