Project Background

The existing bar screens around Flagstaff, AZ are being clogged and destroyed by flowing debris. Small debris, such as pine needles, are clogging the bar screens, causing significant flooding to occur. Larger debris are damaging these bar screens as well, rendering them almost useless. Due to this, the City of Flagstaff wants to invest in upgrading their current bar screens to mitigate the effects of the flooding that occur during monsoon season. The client proposed that studies for a new bar screen should be based off the Spruce Avenue Wash, since it is a significant area for flooding. However, they also stressed that the new bar screen design needs to be easily usable throughout all of the Flagstaff area.

Destroyed Bar Screen in CoF
Photo Provided by Ed Schenk

Aerial Map of Project Site

Flagstaff, Arizona

Photo Source: Google Maps

Spruce Avenue Wash Location

Flagstaff, Arizona

Photo Source: Google Maps

Flows from the Spruce Avenue Wash enter Flagstaff from the North, passing through several culverts before entering an underground stormwater system at the intersection of Arroyo Seco and Rose and at the Dortha Apartment complex. Due to their importance for conveying flow of the wash, maintaining integrity of the stormwater system is crucial to flood prevention. Recently, this location has experienced significant flood damage and any existing culvert protection has been destroyed or removed. Channel banks around the culvert entrance have also been eroded and there are clear signs of overtopping.


Project Constraints

  • Tight timeline - design needs to be implemented before the next rainy season.

  • Difficulty of correctly modeling a complex system.

  • Balancing efficiency, cost, and efficacy of various designs.

  • Designing a bar screen that can be used at all in the City of Flagstaff.

  • Current channels not being able to withhold the capacity that the City of Flagstaff wants.

Project Tasks

  • Task 1: Preliminary Site Visit

  • Task 2: State of the Art Research

      • This task covers research for safety and bar rack design.

  • Task 3: Real-World Data Collection for Scale Modeling

      • This task covers collecting survey data, flow rates, and inlet dimensions.

  • Task 4: Bench Scale Model

      • This task covers flume design, flume construction, and flume testing.

  • Task 5: Bar Screen Design

      • This task covers the initial brainstorming session and construction of the bar screen.

  • Task 6: Bar Screen Model Testing

      • This task covers developing testing methods and testing those methods.

  • Task 7: Alternative Selection

      • This task covers scoring criteria and scoring of the bar screen model selection.

  • Task 8: Bar Screen Optimization

  • Task 9: Project Impacts

      • This task covers social, economic, and environmental impacts.

  • Task 10: Project Deliverables

      • This task covers the 30%, 60%, 90%, and final submissions of the project.

  • Task 11: Project Management

      • This task covers team meetings, technical advisor meetings, client meetings, and schedule and resource management.

  • Task 12: Exclusions

Gantt Chart

Complete Schedule of the Project

Staffing

  • Senior Engineer (SENG)

      • Responsible for maintaining communication between the team and the project's client while also overseeing the project from an organizational and managerial perspective.

      • Has a Master's Degree in Engineering with a background in business administration and at least eight years of experience in various engineering roles.

  • Engineer (ENG)

      • Responsible for many tasks including heading the site investigation, making critical analysis and design decisions, creating cost estimates, and monitoring the progress of the project.

      • Has a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, six years of project experience, and a PE license.

  • Engineer in Training (EIT)

      • Responsible for project communication, design development, and conducting all analyses required for the project.

      • Has a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, is familiar with federal, state, and local civil and environmental regulations, and has an FE license.

  • Engineer Intern (INT)

      • Responsible for assisting the other members with software analysis modeling and technical research. Will also be assigned tasks by either the Senior Engineer, the Engineer, or the Engineer in Training.

      • Currently studying Engineering and has excellent writing skills and experience with data analysis and good problem solving skills.

Summary of Billable Hours

  • Senior Engineer - 98 Billable Hours

  • Engineer - 157 Billable Hours

  • Engineer in Training - 243 Billable Hours

  • Engineer Intern - 259 Billable Hours

  • Total - 757 Billable Hours

Cost of Engineering Services