Category: PILLAR Talk

VDOT Awarded Pillar Statewide Maintenance Consulting Services Contract

Post author By Steve
Post date September 8, 2020

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) awarded Pillar the contract for Statewide Maintenance Consulting Services for the third consecutive time.

The Statewide Maintenance Consulting Services contract was established so VDOT can call on experienced firms for Roadway Maintenance Consulting and Staff Augmentation related services. It provides for additional support for Maintenance Contract Development and Management, Roadway Inspection Services, the Development of Manuals, Standard Operating Procedures, Reporting, Quality Assurance and any other non-professional service of Virginia’s Roadway Maintenance Planning and Development Program. While it is administered by the Maintenance Contract Management Program section in the Maintenance Division at Central Office, the contractor is expected to work at any location statewide.

Over the past two contracts covering the previous nine and a half years, we have developed a trusted partnership with VDOT by bringing maintenance consulting and staff augmentation services in eight of the nine VDOT districts with over 96 task orders completed throughout the Commonwealth.

We look forward to working at length with VDOT as our new contract spans for 3 years, with a 2-year renewal option. The entire Pillar team is eager to support and enhance maintenance operations throughout Virginia in our valued partnership with VDOT. Discover what Pillar can do for you and contact us for a comprehensive program review.

Photo Source: VDOT Instagram

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Work Zone Safety Week 2020 – In the Time of Covid-19

Post author By Steve
Post date April 20, 2020

Despite the sharp drop in traffic volume, work zone activity does not relent. And it remains as dangerous as ever. Distracted or impaired drivers are still on the road. In our role as highway workers, the risk is clear and unmistakable.

We have tried to educate and inform our staff about these risks. Most of us have a distinct appreciation for the hazard. It starts with basic Defensive Driving and Defensive Positioning. When we are outside the vehicle in a highway setting, the risk is amplified exponentially. We know that a protective distance and position is our best defense when boots are on the ground.

Achieving this protection is easy to say, hard to practice. Each year there are triple digit fatalities in and around work zones of all types. They are uniformly preventable by workers and motorists.

Our society is basically suffering from two illnesses. The Covid Pandemic is the 800 lb. gorilla in the room right now. But it will recede eventually. The other illness is more insidious – poor driving skills by motorists, focused on all kinds of things, except Defensive Driving.

This illness is going to be a lot harder to control. In the rather sterile parlance of the US DOT, the class of “Unprotected Highway Users” includes pedestrian, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and US. Highway work zone ‘boots on the ground.’ The statistics for this class of ‘highway users’ are heading north at an eye-popping rate.

Symptoms of this illness include: oversized vehicles, cheap gas, distractions, generous speed limits, and poor driving skills. The result is pretty hair-raising for a pedestrian. Most of whom are not exactly blameless in this picture: wearing dark clothing, looking at their cell phone, bikes encroaching into travel lanes, etc. The end result is not good.

In summary, we know what the cure for this illness is. Defensive driving, high-visibility apparel, defensive positioning, focused attention on the driving equation, and a few other situational survival skills. Boring as they are, that’s the medicine. We can beat the Covid. That’s already in the works. The other illness is going to a lot harder to treat.

This week we remember the Highway Workers who sacrificed their lives in the interest of keeping roads safe. Their memory should inspire us to practice safety skills in all walks of life.

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O&M IS Critical Infrastructure

Post author By Steve
Post date April 7, 2020

During these times of uncertainty, we have all heard the call from our respective Governors about “critical industries” such as healthcare and first responders. Our infrastructure is also “critical”. As for Maintenance: Rust doesn’t stop, potholes still form, debris doesn’t stop building up, trash and debris continues to accrue. As for Operations: the trucks, busses and automobiles that keep it all moving are still out there. Motorists will need our help, meaning the Safety Service Patrol (or whatever it is called in your state) must continue – all while maintaining our “social distancing”. Electronic tolling is increased, as most states have removed human toll takers due to the obvious concerns with viral transmission.

We have noticed that while automobile traffic has subsided, truck traffic is still present, if not increasing. Our clients have seen this lower traffic volume overall and decided to take advantage of the lower traffic volumes by INCREASING the amount of preventive maintenance by extending or lifting lane closure restrictions.

While future state budgets will undoubtedly be affected, we must continue to maintain our assets, even during an impending budget crunch. If not, as we have seen time and again, the cost to play catch up will be multiple times the cost of doing it right while we can.

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Pillar Partners With Rose-Hulman Ventures

Post author By Steve
Post date March 30, 2020

Rose-Hulman Ventures recently featured PILLAR and reviewed our patented salinity measurement device, SAM. PILLAR President Mark Boenke, shares his expertise on how SAM will reduce harmful salt usage on public roads and highways. Boenke partnered with Rose-Hulman Ventures back in 2017 when PILLAR was trying to find the best materials to use for the SAM device that would not be damaged by the highly corrosive saltwater. SAM was first developed by Mark’s daughter, Bridget, as her high school senior year science fair project!

SAM is a salinity measurement device that reads the salt concentration, via electrical conductivity, in the water spraying off of the salt spreader’s back tire. If the salt concentration levels are too low to prevent the forming of black ice, the driver is notified to apply more salt. If concentration levels are adequate, the driver is notified that no additional salt is needed.

PILLAR hopes to bring SAM to the market by 2021. Be sure to check back in for updates on SAM’s release and all of PILLAR’s projects!

Read the full article.

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Perfomance Based O&M Webinar Recap

Post author By Steve
Post date March 26, 2020

In the AIAI’s recent webinar: Performance-Based O&M, PILLAR joined forces with Claudio Andreetta from Johnson Controls and Alistar Sawers from ATHS Consult to discuss performance-based O&M. With over 90 attendees, this was a hot topic among industry professionals!

View a recording of the full webinar!

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Are You Prepared?

Post author By Steve
Post date March 13, 2020

The Boy Scout Motto “Be Prepared” keeps popping up in my mind with the recent COVID-19 virus and corresponding fallout. Looking beyond the COVID-19 crises and towards your industry and business opportunities; leaders of today need to be prepared in a multitude of ways. From hiring new young talent to managing various demographics in the workspace to looking towards future business opportunities and growth – to being flexible enough to bend and shift with the influx of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and machine learning – being prepared is synonymous with success.

One of the key podcasts I listen to is How I Built This by Guy Raz. At the end of every interview Guy asks the owners and entrepreneurs of the profiled business, “How much of your success is built on hard work and how much is built on luck?” It’s always interesting to hear the answers and almost everyone inevitably banks some of their success on luck. Whether that is being in the right place at the right time, catching a break via some generous offer, or getting a helping hand at a critical moment.

Reflecting on Pillar, I know a lot of people have worked hard to place us in our current position, with great generosity from individuals both inside and outside the firm. What about luck? I would argue it isn’t luck, but rather being prepared enough to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Whether this preparation is financial, relationship, location, or confidence driven – being prepared to take hold of opportunities is what will define that opportunity as successful.

Looking back at our “failures” as well as our “successes”, both are defined by how prepared Pillar was to tackle the assignments. In fact, it is rather obvious when reflecting and analyzing the end results of either case. The challenge remains to be forward-thinking and positioned in such a way as to be prepared to seize on the correct opportunity and avoid the distractions.

Pillar is prepared, are you?

To learn about how Pillar can help more efficiently manage your Operations and Maintenance projects contact Mark Boenke, President, at mboenke@pillaroma.com

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P3 Market Outlook for 2020 in USA & Canada | Inframation News

Post author By Steve
Post date January 14, 2020

PILLAR’s Dan Dennis, Vice President of Public-Private Partnerships was quoted on the positive trend of risk allocation in the P3 model.

Read the full article to see Dan’s comments on risk allocation.

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Keep Control of the “Fatal Four” At Your Jobsite

Post author By Steve
Post date January 7, 2020

John Meola, PILLAR’s Safety Director was recently published in Construction Business Owner Magazine providing insight on the fatal four dangers that plague your job sites & how to avoid them.

Read the full article here.

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Delivering Maintenance Cost Efficiencies in P3/O&M Projects

Post author By Steve
Post date December 11, 2019

If you are performing an outsourced O&M project, it is very likely you have a fixed budget based on your contract price. Your cash flow is known upfront, the day you sign the contract. As the Maintenance Manager, your job is to meet the contract performance requirements as efficiently as possible while meeting your budget. How do you do this? Simple: Spend resources wisely and efficiently. Basic planning can help you do this.

A typical example could be: The roadway shoulder has accumulated dirt, weeds, etc. in the longitudinal joints on a narrow shoulder next to a barrier wall. Simple enough to clean up, right? But the work area is three feet wide and adjacent to the left (high speed) lane on a 75-mph urban interstate. MOT requirements called for a full lane closure – in both directions.

What does this all mean? Before any work starts, you have already spent $2,800 for the two lane-closures. To save money and be efficient, how many other tasks can be done in that lane closure?

Burn out the roots with a propane-hot lance torch.
Seal the joints with hot or cold-pour asphalt joint sealer = no more weeds for five years.
Jet-vac all the drop inlets within the lane closure.
Install barrier-wall mounted delineators.
Repair any potholes or crack-seal the longitudinal joint
Sweep/vacuum the dust and debris.

These additional tasks will be required at some point. Why not do it all at once? The additional labor is minimal, and you likely have all the small tools; if not then rent them. By combining the activities, you have saved multiple lane closures and perhaps up to $10,000. This adds up.

This is basic preventive maintenance. And all it takes is – a little planning.

To learn more about how Pillar can help more efficiently manage your P3 project, contact Mark Boenke at mboenke@PillarOMA.com

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Transportation Asset Management

Post author By Steve
Post date November 8, 2019

There have been numerous developments in recent years in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that are transforming our daily lives. Among the most commonly recognized are self-driving vehicles and voice recognition devices such as Amazon’s Alexa.

While perhaps not as flashy as having your virtual personal assistant, Pillar Operations & Maintenance Advisors is a leader in the important integration of AI into the world of transportation asset management.

Using AI, Pillar can collect and assess vastly larger datasets in less time with fewer resources than ever before. What once took months to identify, collect and assess transportation assets can now take as little as three days.*

Why does this matter?

Pillar can help clients make cost-effective, data-driven transportation maintenance decisions and plans based on actual priorities derived from clear and comprehensive data. This data results in safer, better-maintained roadways for the traveling public.

For example, we gathered guardrail length inventory by assessing its condition in accordance to the Maintenance Rating Program for a state Department of Transportation. This data enabled the state DOT to develop a maintenance plan, allocate the workforce and secure a budget for the project.

Here’s a more in-depth look at how AI is being used in Pillar’s proprietary CAPE approach to transportation asset management:

Collection – We are using AI to help identify assets for gathering a database of inventory. To do this, we have trained algorithms that scan our imagery and point cloud data to locate assets. We also utilize a system that automatically extracts these features into a legible format. The two systems provide a level of redundancy and quality assurance that is integrated with your GIS. Together, these systems create a sophisticated level of detail that was previously unattainable.

Assessment – AI helps us assess the condition of transportation assets by using algorithms to identify items such as a leaning sign, clogged ditch, and much more.

Planning – AI is an extremely useful aid in conducting research. By combining “big data” with the inventory collection and assessment data, we developed algorithms to build predictive analytics that make proactive maintenance possible.

Execution – We use AI to monitor operations to ensure quality standards are met. Further, the data stays current as tasks and projects are completed.

*Timeliness will vary from project to project based on size and number of assets collected.