Backsights & Foresights: 2017 Spring/Summer

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Backsights Foresights

SPRING Spring/ Summer 2015 2017

Biannual newsletter Semiannual newsletter created on company for Houston projects, Engineering, news, and Inc.'s events. clients and employees

TAKING FLIGHT Come birthdays and holidays, most people (be it loudly or quietly) hope for at least one awesome gift. In the last few years, drones have become that hot-ticket item.

But in that same time, drones have also gone from cool toys for hobbyists to incredibly valuable tools for businesses.

And while companies like Amazon explore how drones might revolutionize the package delivery industry, other companies—including Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI)—have already put drones to work serving clients on project sites.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE RDO Equipment Envisioning a New Site in Dayton, MN................4 A Drainage Management Fable.........................................................5 Serving a Basic Need: Water Supply for All....................................6 Featured Service Area: Structures.................................................. 7 Remembering Bob Muscha.............................................................. 8 Employee Spotlight...........................................................................10 News and Events...............................................................................11

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The HEI Difference.

Our 11 drone pilots are trained surveyors and technical professionals, which means we not only collect the data but also interpret and integrate it into solutions.

EYE IN THE SKY Sci-fi novels paint a scary picture of big brother watching us from the clouds. But drones help make the world of engineering simpler, safer, and more efficient by doing just that. Drones support and complement traditional surveying by gathering accurate topographic information about a project site or corridor in a short time.

The data gathered by drones can then be used to produce an impressive range of maps and other visuals, including information on vegetative health, 3D images, and more. These products have already had big impacts.

A CLEARER PICTURE With few exceptions, engineers don’t and can’t complete designs right on site, and so they depend on reliable information to guide their designs. USDA aerial photos and, more recently, Google Earth have helped engineers a great deal over the years, but these services pale in comparison to the high-resolution and detailed imagery captured by drones.

through dams or down creeks or traffic passing through a busy intersection— brings deeper insights to the design process, leading to a more efficient design process and designs that more accurately reflect the realities.

BRIDGING THE COMMUNICATION GAP Engineering is a technical field that exists to serve non-technical people. Farmers, commuters, business owners, and others may like to know how projects may affect their lives.

Drones have made this conversation simpler by bridging the technical gap between engineers and the public. Video and photos gathered by drones, as well as the 3D images created from dronecaptured data, help convey project needs and plans in a way that can be understood without the need for a technical background.

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WHY SEND A PERSON TO DO A MACHINE’S JOB? People may not often think of the dangers of surveying, but there are often times that surveyors must venture into areas that require a great deal of caution. There are other areas where surveyors simply can’t go—for example, the top of a 60-foot sand mound or a freezing/thawing river in the fall or spring.

Drones allow data to be gathered even when project sites are otherwise inaccessible by foot. And areas that used to require highly specialized equipment to access at any time—say, the underside of some bridges— can now be explored safely and more affordably with drones.

WHAT DATA CAN A DRONE CAPTURE?

Alongside these images are high-definition videos that give engineers real-time, birdseye views of project sites. Seeing project sites come to life—such as water flowing

High Quality Images 2

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4K Resolution Video

Volume of Material

Topography for Digital Elevation Models

IMAGE QUALITY COMPARISON

DRONE

GOOGLE

NAIP

3 WAYS DRONES CAN MAKE PROJECTS EASIER

Wide Coverage. From the Badlands to the Twin Cities, HEI's drone pilots are readily available to fly North Dakota and Minnesota to meet your needs. We've also flown drones in Montana and South Dakota.

HEI offices with drone pilots

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Increased Safety and Efficiency. Drones capture data in less time and eliminate the safety risks to surveyors. It only takes 1-2 hours to run a drone flight to capture the equivalent data that would take a survey crew an entire day.

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Decision-Making: Make informed decisions with high-quality design products from drone imagery.

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Public Input/Engagement: Effectively communicate project design features in an engaging visual story to a mass audience.

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Inspection and Observation: Document site conditions of construction progress accurately from a safe distance and inspect ditches and bridges from a higher perspective and in hard-to-reach areas exponentially faster than traditional methods.

Contact Us to Learn More Chad Qualley 701.237.5065 cqualley@houstoneng.com houstoneng.com/technology/drones Subscribe to our channel youtube.com/HoustonEngInc houstoneng.com

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The RDO Equipment building will include a showroom, several maintenance bays, a parts warehouse, and a sales department.

RDO Equipment Envisioning a new site in Dayton, MN

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DO Equipment Co. has focused on the need and demand for a new construction equipment dealer for the region around the Twin Cities in Minnesota, but, even with that demand, they couldn’t forget the golden mantra: location, location, location.

Just northwest of the Twin Cities is the City of Dayton, MN. While Rogers, MN, may be better known as a busier, more populated city, Dayton offers convenient curb appeal and has more available land.

Dayton provided that basic need—the right location.

When leaders at RDO Equipment began looking for the right site, they knew it had to be easily visible from a busy corridor like I-94.

They discovered a portion of farmland for sale that had

potential. But they wanted to make sure this site was exactly what they were looking for.

That’s when RDO Equipment began working with HEI’s GIS, planning, and drone teams.

A drone captured detailed imagery and other information about the site, which was converted into a 3D model.

This model was used to help envision what the site could— and should—look like from all angles. It became easy to envision what a motorist driving down I-94 would see.

And changes to the vision were easy to make, ensuring that, when it comes time to construct the site itself, the site will meet the exact needs of RDO Equipment. The future site will serve as a gateway to the city with construction beginning this fall.

The site is master planned to include a convenience store and business offices just north of the RDO Equipment lot.

A drone viewpoint of the future RDO Equipment site in Dayton, MN.

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A drainage management fable I

t’s a warm summer morning and early sunshine is beaming down over rows and rows of soybeans. It seems to be the perfect morning for Mark Legume and his farm, but still there is a crease in his forehead as he surveys his land. The drainage ditch that runs parallel to his crops has not drained properly for some time now and—even worse—the ditch has eroded all the way into his field!

Mr. Legume uses this final straw as momentum to get on the phone. Still glaring at the ditch, he dials Joe Tile—the local County Ditch Inspector. It’s time to finally make an improvement to County Ditch 1.

As Mr. Legume explains the issues he’s seeing over the phone, Joe clicks the shortcut on his computer’s desktop to pull up the Minnesota Public Drainage Manual (MPDM). After three more clicks of the mouse, he is able to read for Mr. Legume a summary of the basic requirements for an improvement petition. Mr. Legume is now nodding vigorously on the other end of the phone, he is sure he can find the signatures he’ll need for his petition. His neighbors along the ditch have all been tired of the same drainage problems too.

Mr. Legume, including a project planning checklist he printed from the MDPM. The next week, Joe meets Mr. Legume on his sun-drenched property, where they observe the severe scouring occurring along County Ditch 1.

Mr. Legume always strives to be a good steward of the land, and so he suggests that an ecological component be considered as part of the proposed improvement project to decrease soil loss and transport downstream. He has always quietly hoped his son would take over the farm and wants to make sure the land stays strong for many future Legume generations.

From his smartphone, Joe pulls up the new “BMP Chapter” of the MPDM and shows Mr. Legume several options of ecological project components that would be appropriate for the site. One project they find is a two-stage channel that both Joe and Mr. Legume

agree would really suit the needs of the area landowners and the interest of the general public. But Mr. Legume has a nagging concern….how can he justify the added cost of this work to his neighbors? With a few taps on his phone, Joe pulls up a page on the MPDM identifying potential external funding sources and follows a link to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources webpage for the Multi-Purpose Drainage Management grant.

After a handshake and one last look over the soybean farm, Joe and Mr. Legume depart with a common understanding of the approach their collaboration will take in beginning their project for improved drainage.

Twenty-five years after its original publication, HEI's team led the update to the MPDM. By creating a wiki site, users can easily access content to find periodic updates.

Once the two hang up, Joe emails Mr. Legume the hyperlink to the MPDM giving him something he can share with other landowners to educate them on the process. Joe also begins his research on the regulatory requirements for the potential project. Joe finds a link to the MnDNR website that identifies County Ditch 1 flowing through a public water. Using this information, he begins preparing a packet of information for his upcoming meeting with houstoneng.com

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Serving a basic need:

Water supply for all T

he landscape inhabited by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (TMBCI) looks different from the rest of the landscape surrounding it. While North Dakota is mostly flat, the Turtle Mountains have rolling hills; and while North Dakota has few true forests, the Turtle Mountain Reservation is covered by dense green trees.

But when it comes to civil infrastructure, the needs here are the same as everywhere else: navigable roads, effective sewer, and access to safe, reliable drinking water.

has worked hard to ensure their efforts to provide reliable water aren’t held back for lack of funding. By prioritizing projects that (1) can be constructed in the near future, (2) meet an immediate or impending need, and (3) help achieve the broader goals of the 30-year master plan, the PUC has found the means to make great improvements.

This is largely thanks to the PUC’s efforts to seek additional funding from a wide range of sources such as grants from federal agencies including the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the USDA.

A 30-YEAR PLAN, FIVE YEARS AT A TIME

HELPING TRIBAL MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS ALIKE

Around the start of the new millennium, the Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission (PUC) began working with HEI to address water supply needs by creating a 30-year master plan. The master plan looks far into the future in an effort to keep the PUC ahead of residents’ needs. The PUC then drafted a smaller, five-year implementation plan that prioritized projects by the greatest immediate need while also weighing the feasibility of getting the work completed.

With this approach, the PUC can focus resources on both immediate improvements for those most in need and on the areas where improvements will be needed in the near future.

The PUC has a specific duty to provide reliable public utilities to members of the TMBCI who reside within the region. But the PUC has seen the opportunity to do much more than that.

Toward the end of the first five-year period, the PUC reevaluated the five-year plan and put a new one into place, again focusing on the most immediate needs of those who depended (or would soon depend) on the water system.

PEOPLE NEED WATER, BUT INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS MONEY Securing additional funds to meet infrastructure needs is never a simple or straightforward process. Proving a need for instrastructure alone doesn’t always equate to dollars to meet that need. Yet the PUC 6

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There are several individuals and families who are not members of the TMBCI in the area. Nevertheless, they have the same need for reliable access to potable water.

With this in mind, the PUC has weighed and designed its projects to meet the needs of all who live within the region.

WHAT’S DONE AND WHAT'S TO COME The PUC has made significant improvements since drafting their 30-year master plan in 2006. Several old water towers have been replaced by new towers.

Those on the water system receive more reliable service thanks to improvements in the new towers that ensure ice won’t build up in the water towers’ reservoirs or that the water in the reservoirs never sits idle. The PUC also made significant improvements to the water treatment plant, improving its reliability and capacity. The treatment plant will also soon be upgraded with a membrane treatment system, which removes hardness and reduces the risk of harmful disinfection byproducts formation.

This summer a pilot study will kick off this multi-phase project and the PUC will extend the water supply to Lake Upsilon. This is the second step in the PUC’s efforts to extend its services along the Highway 43 corridor, which first began around 2010. The PUC is also looking to provide a more reliable source of water to dozens of houses to help solve low-pressure issues when they install new pipe along a 6-mile corridor of the BIA 8 highway.

The PUC shows no signs of slowing down.

With numerous projects on the horizon and a plethora beyond, those living in the Turtle Mountains will continue to see their water supply improve as the years go by.

Featured Service Area:

STRUCTURES

Recognized as a regional leader, HEI's award-winning structures team works on a range of projects from complex flood control structures to large bridges and retaining walls. Whether it’s a simple structure in a rural area or a sophisticated, aesthetics-based design for a populated urban center, HEI’s experience is diverse and well rounded.

WIDENING

As populations grow and roadways become busier, once adequate structures devolve into bottlenecks and slow daily commutes.

HEI’s structures team helps alleviate this pressure by widening and enhancing existing structures, helping them better serve current demands.

DESIGNS When a structure reaches the end of its lifecycle, a new structure must take its place.

HEI designs all manners and sizes of bridges and box culverts, customizing the structure to the unique needs of the client and the project site.

INSPECTION A lot can affect the lifespan and reliability of a bridge. Those responsible for a bridge’s safety need to know if their structures can be trusted to safely transport motorists and pedestrians.

Whether it’s ice floes, freezing and thawing, or just general age that affects a bridge, our inspectors can provide an accurate assessment of a bridge’s reliability and safety.

OTHER STRUCTURES

Our structural engineers do more than work with bridges—their designs include dams, floodwalls, stop-log structures, inlets and outlets, and more.

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Remembering BOB MUSCHA One of HEI's trailblazers passed away this March. His legacy resonates within the community and lives on within our firm.

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hen HEI’s founder and namesake, George Houston, began HEI in 1968, he knew that the company would only find success with good help. And that didn’t just mean having reliable employees working directly for him—it meant having insightful and experienced partners alongside him.

With this need on his mind, George drove out to meet Bob Muscha at a work site. Bob was a work acquaintance George knew from a past job, and George told Bob that he was looking for someone who would help him grow his company into something successful. George asked if Bob knew of anybody in the area who could fill that role. When Bob asked George what sort of person he was looking for, George responded that, in fact, he was looking for someone a lot like Bob. A few days later, Bob called George up and asked him to meet for lunch. His first day at HEI came shortly after.

A GREAT ENGINEER From the beginning, Bob proved his worth, and he became the first person to become an owner of HEI with George just a couple years after operations began. This began a decades-long career that helped shape the future and 8

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culture of the company.

Professionals both within HEI and without recognized Bob as an exceptional engineer.

Lawrence Woodbury, PhD—a former president of HEI and one of Bob’s first hires—said he always asked Bob to give his designs a high level look and provide a simple thumbs-up or -down. Even when Lawrence felt confident in his own work, Bob’s reassurance was welcome. “I never knew him to be wrong,” Lawrence once said of Bob’s intuition when it came to designs. Bob set an expectation for excellence in his work and in the work of others, and he passed that mindset on to those who came after him.

MORE THAN AN ENGINEER Bob was well known for bringing strong traditional and family values to what he did in life. Some at HEI can recall a time when one of the engineers came in from working in the field for the day. The engineer went to work at his desk and forgot to remove his hat after coming indoors. Needless to say, this received a sharp “Lose the hat!” from Bob that many at HEI still laugh about years later. Bob was also active in his church community, where he served as a mentor to several younger members.

Bob pictured to the right of George Houston in the early 1970s.

Bob and HEI staff during a company party in 1992 Employees in photo listed left to right. Back row: Larry Wurgler, Jim Larsen, Hank Trangsrud, Jerry Bennett, Roger Hagen, Jeff LeDoux, Darrin Myogeto, Don Josund, Mike Buerkley, Blaine Houston, and John Hoard. Kneeling: Gail Zehren, Chuck Rebsch, Jay Kulla, Rick St. Germain, George Houston, Bob Muscha, and John Frietag

With Bob’s passing, HEI has chosen to create a Founder’s Scholarship, which will be available to the children of HEI employees pursuing postsecondary educations.

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Bob set the standard for hard work, customer service, business morals, and honesty, which continue to be principle values of HEI.

Bob with his wife Carol in 1989 The military played a big role in Bob’s life. He spent several years farming before he entered active duty in the Army in 1953. After being stationed in Germany, Bob returned and attended North Dakota State University, graduating in 1963 with a degree in engineering.

Bob remained active in the North Dakota Army National Guard until his retirement at the rank of colonel. He also met his

wife, Carol, during his time in the service. He fell in love with Major Carol Bowen, a nurse with the Army Reserves who helped administer immunizations to Bob’s company, and they were married in December of 1962.

Several spoke about Bob’s work ethic and how his dedication was demonstrated when he returned to the classroom after so many years away.

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Jeff LeDoux CEO/President

Bob (far right) with HEI's former CEO Lawrence Woodbury with their wives.

Those same people also referenced how Bob’s farming roots showed through even after he began his work as an engineer. Bob was known to walk around outside of the office and water

the soil, making sure it had enough moisture to keep the clay fill around the foundation from drying out and cracking the concrete floor.

And, of course, as longtime Fargo residents, Bob and Carol were avid Bison fans and were often found in the stands during home games.

“A REALLY GOOD GUY…” Different people will give different stories about Bob. Some funny. Some serious. But almost every trip down memory lane seems to end the same: “He was just a really good guy.”

And that’s how most of the people at HEI seem to remember Bob—a great engineer; and a really good guy.

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Getting to know

KRISTEN LOTVEDT Kristen's family pictured left to right: Kourtney, Nathan, Nora, Kristen, and Brinlee When it comes to water, Kristen Lotvedt, PE, knows a thing or two. Kristen is a civil engineer serving out of HEI’s Fargo office leading the flood control design of multiple projects across North Dakota. Currently, her projects involve the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection project in Minot, ND, and the Prairie Rose flood protection project in Fargo, ND. Before joining HEI, Kristen worked for an engineering firm based in Omaha, NE, where she got the opportunity to travel the United States working on site designs for several large-scale projects. In 2011, the Hatton, ND, native decided to move back to her home state to join the HEI team that offered the work-life balanced environment she desired.

Q&A What have you learned from your experience at HEI? You are NEVER done learning!

Just when you think you have something figured out, the rules change.

What has been the most rewarding project you’ve worked on thus far at HEI? I would have to say all my flood control projects because I understand the amount of good they are doing by protecting people from what could be a devastating flood.

What do you like most about working at HEI? The work environment and the flexibility to work around sick kids or kids’ programs.

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Any memorable stories to share?

One time several HEI employees took a client out to supper at Buffalo Wild Wings in Minot.

Jerry Bents asked me to order 4 flavors of wings... but I ordered larges instead of smalls, not knowing how many came in a large.

When they came out everyone started laughing at me. There were enough wings left over that the Minot office had lunch catered from Buffalo Wild Wings the next day!

Are you involved in your community?

I try to donate blood every chance I get. Currently, I have donated almost three gallons since moving back [to North Dakota].

I am also active in Lutheran Church of the Cross as a substitute Sunday school teacher and was in charge of the Christmas program this past year.

FUN FACTS Obsessed with Quilting. She can also knit, crochet, and cross-stitch... "perks of growing up as the only granddaughter."

NASCAR Fan. Her family visits Kansas City Speedway each year. "What happens at NASCAR, stays at NASCAR."

Stick Shift Skills. "I can drive anything from dump trucks to cars, but I prefer my mom's Mustang convertible."

Getting to know

DREW KESSLER

FUN FACTS

In 2014 Drew Kessler, PhD, joined HEI’s team as a senior scientist in our Maple Grove office. Since his short time with HEI, he has made a tremendous impact by leading several notable environmental projects. From stakeholder engagement to international collaboration, Drew works to develop methods that pave the path for implementing conservation practices that improve water quality among watersheds across Minnesota and beyond.

He earned his doctorate in water resource science from the University of Minnesota and applies that knowledge in his work. Before joining HEI, Drew spent 10 years in academia working on research projects ranging from economic evaluations of agricultural land value to wildlife habitat and water quality modeling.

Q&A What has been the most rewarding project you’ve worked on thus far at HEI? Developing a framework for alternative practices under the Minnesota Buffer Law. The most rewarding part of this project was working with a landowner and local soil and water conservation districts to get the landowner's current conservation practices approved under the Buffer Law. What have you learned from your experience at HEI? In the words of Henry Ford, “Whatever you think you can or think you can’t, you are right."

What do you like most about working at HEI? Before starting at HEI, I heard that engineering consulting was a grind. Life at HEI couldn’t be further from the truth! Every day I get to work on exciting problems that lead to better outcomes for our clients.

What was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had before joining HEI? I worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service at Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge. I had to perform pelican banding in waist-high poison ivy "Dirty Jobs" style like Mike Rowe.

North Dakota Roots.

He was born in Kenmare and raised in Crosby.

Puck Skills.

Plays recreational hockey in his spare time.

How did you first learn about HEI and what made you interested in working here?

I met several different HEI staff at local and national conferences. I was impressed by the type and quality of work HEI was doing. When a job opened up that looked to fit my background and future interests, I jumped at it.

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NEWS AND EVENTS WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES

Kory Alexander Survey Crew Chief Minot

Melissa Benda HR Generalist Fargo

Gabe Brien Civil Technician Minot

TOP SPEAKER AWARD

Donna Bye Planner Minot

Adam Nies (right) and Greg Thompson (left) were voted as one of three Top Speakers at the Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers 2016 Conference for their presentation about the HEC-RAS 2D modeling analysis they completed for the City of Fargo.

Ryan David Civil Engineer Bismarck

Anne Haws Civil Engineer Maple Grove

Clay Jorgensen Civl Engineer Fargo

Jamison Kath Civil Engineer Fargo

Joshua Pape CAD Technician Bismarck

Jennifer Vanderheiden Civil Engineer Fargo

Mike Hildreth Civil Engineer Fargo

Hope Krumm Civil Technician Bismarck

TRANSFERS

Adam Nies Civil Engineer Fargo to Maple Grove

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Hannah Rollin Civil Engineer Fargo to Maple Grove

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Matthew Jacobson Watershed Planner Fargo

Cody Oltz Civil Technician Fargo

Adam poses with the award, which isn't a typical plaque. It's a homemade design featuring large blocks of "granite" representing the Granite City of St. Cloud where the conference was held.

It shows individuals preparing for a flood with sandbags—fitting for a floodplain conference.

BRIDGE INSPECTION TEAM LEADER CERTIFICATION

Congrats to Luke Beckermann on earning his Bridge Inspection Team Leader Certification with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Luke is the second to earn this credential at HEI, joining Jeff Langan.

With this certification, Luke can inspect and rate in-service bridges and culverts throughout Minnesota. Both Jeff and Luke are experienced in MnDOT bridge design, which complements our inspection services and ensures high quality.

EARNED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER REGISTRATION

Keaton Arneson Transportation Grand Forks

Bjorn Berg Water Resources Fargo

Nic Cullen Water Resources Bismarck

Thomas Eskro Water Resources Fargo

Michael Ferrie Water Resources Fargo

Garrett Monson Water Resources Maple Grove

RUUD COMPLETES FMWF CHAMBER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Ashley Rolland Transportation Fargo

Jacob Wognum Water Resources Fargo

CONFERENCE SEASON RECAP 2016-2017 Each year our staff attend dozens of business development and educational conferences across the country to network with our clients and peers while staying up-to-date with the latest innovations in our industry. Here's a little recap from last year's conference season from August through May.

Team Go Green courtesy of FMWF Chamber Adam Ruud completed the Leadership Fargo Moorhead West Fargo (LFMWF) program in May hosted by the FMWF Chamber. The 10-month program is made up of 40 up-and-coming community leaders. The program exposes emerging participants to issues that face our region while challenging and engaging them to strengthen the community through service and leadership. Adam served on Team Go Green, which partnered with the City of Fargo to develop a marketing plan for the City's all-in-one recyling initative.

You can see their work on local billboards and publications. This initiative brings single-sort recyling to 26,000 residences starting July 2017.

What did you get out of the LFMWF program?

Through this program I was able to further understand the workings, issues, and opportunities within the community. It also provided me with the chance to interact and develop lasting relationships with other leaders, from all different professions, within the community.

What did you enjoy most?

One of the events I enjoyed the most was the day at the capital where we sat in on the legislative session and had a chance to meet with Governor Burgum. I also enjoyed seeing some of the “hidden� parts of the community. I gained exposure to places ranging from different homeless shelters to the FM SWAT Team to the Fargo Jet Center.

conferences attended

by HEI staff

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presentations given to our peers and clients

What was something you didn't know before the LFMWF program that you know now?

I would say the biggest thing I gained from the program was the exposure to the different aspects of the community and the relationships gained from all different industries.

Would you recommend this program to others?

Yes, it not only shows you how [the community] works but exposes you to current issues. It also provides you with the opportunity to network and build relationships with other community leaders.

#VisitOurB

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INSIDE HEI

RIBBON CUTTING & GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES

2nd Street In-Town Levees and Floodwall Downtown Fargo

Phase 2–Main Street Downtown Minot

FM Diversion Inlet and Control Structure Groundbreaking near Horace, ND

AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS 4th Street South Flood Protection Project in Fargo was recognized by the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers with the state level 2016 Oustanding Engineering Design Award after securing the chapter level award. This marks the fourth award for this project, which was also recognized by the American Public Works Association and the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Dakota.

The Grand Marais Channel Restoration was recognized with an Engineering Excellence Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota.

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THEN AND NOW: REMEMBERING 1997

Fargo's Rose Creek Golf Course in 1997 compared to today

Two decades ago, the Red River Valley in North Dakota faced a devastating flood fight that residents will never forget. This past April marked the 20th anniversary of that historical event. Much has changed since that time with many flood protection projects completed to secure safety for the communities along the river to avoid having to relive that previous devastation.

INSIDE HEI

COMMUNITY AND CULTURE

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4 1. When it comes to holidays, our employees know how to celebrate! From beer exchanges and ugly sweater contests to foosball competitions and trivia, there was fun had by all this past Christmas season.

2. Several of our offices welcome employees' dogs to spend the day with their human in the office. The furry family members create a paw-sitive atmosphere enjoyed by all when they visit.

3. The Minot Chamber of Commerce held their annual Project Cleanup in May. Our team participated by cleaning up 26 newly renovated blocks downtown!

4. Inspiring our youth to explore careers in engineering is important to HEI. Throughout the year several of our employees volunteer at MATHCounts, Discover Engineering, BEST Robotics, and also visit several schools to educate students on careers in engineering.

5. Our staff have become regular chefs cooking meals for familes at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Fargo. We've built a solid reputation of crafting memorable meals that are the talk of the house. Even a surprising April snow shower couldn't stop our team from grilling.

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1401 21st Avenue North • Fargo, ND 58102 houstoneng.com

Serving You Today

NORTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY 23 REHABILITATION

AFTER BEFORE

The oil boom in western North Dakota increased traffic and loads along ND 23 causing wear and tear on this highway segment. The increased traffic also created safety concerns caused by large semis and agricultural equipment stopping the 65 mph traffic to make left turns along the two-lane highway.

To address these problems, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) worked with HEI to provide a full-depth reclamation of this segment, improving ride quality, renewing the roadway’s life, and increasing safety.

Our design added new turn lanes to intersections and passing lanes every 2-3 miles, allowing safe opportunities to pass slower moving traffic. One complication came during a 2011 flood in the area while the project was in preliminary planning. HEI explored several solutions with the NDDOT and completed two grade raises. ND 23 is now a safer roadway with improved traffic flow that’s also protected from flood events.

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