Underground Infrastructure - May 2023 - 25

the safe and efficient movement of resources from offshore
production facilities to onshore processing facilities or distribution
points.
However, like all infrastructures, subsea pipelines are subject
to a range of issues and challenges that can affect their
operation and integrity. Such challenges include corrosion,
fatigue and natural disasters. Smart monitoring systems and
smart networks implemented in digital twins will help provide
real-time data to not only safeguard the pipeline infrastructures
but to also optimize its operation. New and smart materials
will further be leveraged to increase the robustness of the
pipeline infrastructure.
Four technical sessions were then held on various topics
to highlight the growth, challenges and changes happening in
and around major cities.
Flooding, Treatment Plant Construction,
Subsidence
The first panel discussion, moderated by Rafael Ortega from
Aurora Technical Services, was titled " Flooding, Water
Treatment Plant Construction and Subsidence Issues. "
Atul Hannan, director of planning at Harris County
Flood Control, discussed how Harris County Flood Control
District and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) are working together to deliver the Modeling,
Assessment and Awareness Project (MAAPnext).
This flood hazard assessment project uses the latest available
technology and data to produce the most comprehensive
set of flood hazard maps and information to-date for
all watersheds within Harris County. The updated information
from MAAPnext will impact how future projects, new
development and associated flood mitigation strategies are
planned and implemented.
Now that MAAPnext data has been compiled by the
Flood Control District and submitted to FEMA, the goal is to
build community awareness prior to FEMA's release of preliminary
Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), anticipated
to occur in 2023.
Eric Garza, assistant director from the city of Houston Water,
discussed the Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP)
Facilities and On-going Expansion Work, initiated in response
to subsidence regulations in the region, which required the
conversion of ground water to surface water supplies.
By 2025, Houston and its four Authority partners (North
Harris County Regional Water Authority, West Harris County
Regional Water Authority, North Fort Bend Water Authority
and Central Harris County Regional Water Authority) will
be responsible for supplying 60 percent of their annual water
distribution from surface sources.
NEWPP Expansion is one of the largest water treatment
projects under construction in North America. When comUndergroundInfrastructure.com
| MAY 2023 25
pleted, it will deliver 320 million gallons of drinking water per
day to over 2 million citizens through Harris and Fort Bend
Counties. The project is nearing the 80-percent completion
mark and will begin producing the first installment of drinking
water sometime in 2023.
Michael J. Turco, general manager at the Harris/Galveston
Subsidence District (HGSD), reviewed and updated the district's
programs and issues in working with various cities and
counties to comply with the new rules and regulations.
Transportation, helical piles
The second session, " Transportation Projects and Helical
Piles, " was moderated by Daniel Wong, from Tolunay-Wong
Engineers, Houston.
Brian P. Alcott, assistant director at Harris County Toll
Road Authority (HCTRA), covered ongoing projects and
plans to continue evolving the mobility system to meet the
diverse connectivity needs of all of Harris County residents.
Established in 1988, the current tollway system is about
130 centerline miles and current system improvements account
for approximately $3.8 billion.
Shri Reddy, executive vice president at METRO-Planning
Not Ready for the
Unveiling Just Yet!
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