Consulting Trends and the Design Process

Fundamental activities conducted by consulting firms Winning work Doing work Managing work Managing business process – Project delivery processes – Accounting and billing – Human resources

Fundamental activities continued Managing client relationships – Political action – Professional organization action – Client market research

How Consulting Firms are organized Three levels of employees – Finders – Minders – Grinders

How Consulting Firms are organized Three levels of employees – Finders – Minders – Grinders

Where staff fit in the hierarchy of the firm Finders Minders Grinders

Balancing Staff with work load Staff We Have Staff We Need

Attributes of firms Commodity oriented professional service providers – Winning work is based on relationships and/or price – Clients are generally less sophisticated Less capability of doing the same work in-house – Work generally requires lower proportion of finders and minders – Low profitability on work

Attributes of firms continued Specialized/Qualifications based profession service providers – Winning work is based on qualifications – Clients could do the work themselves but use consultants due to: Independence of decisions Capacity and work flow Efficiency and schedule Specialized qualifications – Work generally requires higher proportion of finders and minders – High profitability on work

General A/E Industry Trends

Industry trends 33% growth in the number of firms from 1993 – 1999 The top 1,000 firms (a little less than 1%) account for 40% of the revenue 105,000 + companies – 34,000 more than 5 employees – 8,500 more than 25 employees

Construction Put in Place *FMI Forecast Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce

Nonresidential Construction

Highway Construction Billions

Design process and CSS Project development process Relationship between planning and design Project design steps Context Sensitive Solutions

Project development project Long-range and Policy Plans Project Scoping Environmental Document Preliminary Engineering Final DesignContracting Construction Admin. Postmortem STIP Starts Design Build System Planning Preprogram Scoping

Relationship between Planning and Design

After project identification Develop Multiple Alternatives Screen to Fewer Alternatives The Build Alternative C.S.S.

Number of Alternatives Concept Design Low High Level of Analysis and Understanding Preliminary Design Final/Detail Design Many Alternatives Basic Understanding of a few (4) Key Features ONE Alternative Complete Understanding of ALL Key Features Fewer Alternatives Greater Understanding of more (18) Key Features Design Process

Typical Design Features

Inventory of Existing Conditions and Document Deficiencies Traffic Volumes Roadway Geometry Intersection Traffic Control Safety Access Level of Service Mobility/Travel Speed

Project Goals and Objectives Level of Service in Design Year Traffic Operating Speed/Mobility Safety Access Design Guidelines

Context Sensitive Design …is a collaborative approach, which involves all stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic, and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility.

What is Context? Context is everything related to the environment, places, and people where a project is located. And, context is that surrounds a project that defines what that place is

Every Project has Context!

Understanding Context Natural Resources Community Resources Cultural Resources People

Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Community Resources

Community Resources

Cultural Resources

Principles Qualities of Excellence in Transportation Design Project satisfies purpose and need of the stakeholders Safe facility for user and community In harmony with the community while preserving the values of the area Efficient and effective use of resources Minimal disruption to the community Adds lasting value to the community Exceeds the expectations of both designers and stakeholders

Why is CSD Important? Promotes active citizen participation Balances community needs with transportation goals Provides an integrated development framework Seeks stakeholder and community values Puts the customer first Enhances community acceptance Encourages a lasting public works legacy

Benefits Making development decisions for the right reasons Better protection for the environment and other community assets Projects look and fit better into their physical setting Enhances community livability and sustainability Can save time and money by reducing “rework” cycle Creates opportunities for design excellence

How do we accomplish the Goal? Commitment from the top Inclusion from Scope Development We need to learn to use new tools…and they don’t reside on a chart or in a computer program Commitment throughout the process

Lake Place, Duluth, MN All Minnesota Project Photos courtesy of Karl Weissenborn, ASLA, Mn/DOT

Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel TH 61

Gooseberry Falls, TH 61

Alternatives and Design Flexibility Studies

Desired Outcome: Design Excellence

Perry Projects 144 design alternatives (roughly 45 feet of pavement – rural design) – 3 lane is preferred but right-of-way is going to be an issue – Other issues Non-motorized transportation facilities Drainage Clear zone

Perry projects continued Brownfield in old rail yard – passive recreation – Access is difficult – Trail access

Perry Rail Yard Circa 1990Current Photo

141 Bypass Access Control Access control – Frontage roads – Signalization – Purchase of access rights

141 Corridor