The Appian Way, August 2006
Technology news for public works professionals
Get ready for APWA Congress!
The 2006 APWA Congress and Exposition is almost here. Are you planning to attend? If so, great! It is the best way to stay in touch with your peers and to stay current on issues and trends in public works. At first glance, this show can seem overwhelming. There are pages of session descriptions, plus aisles of important vendors. How do you tackle it? Simple – make a plan!
Make a preliminary run through of your Congress Program Preview to determine which sessions are most important to you. Then, plan your days around them. If you can’t get to all of them, get help. Consult with your co-workers and develop a “divide and conquer” plan where you can all attend sessions and then share notes/information afterward. Next, think about what innovations and technologies you are interested in learning more about. Chart the exposition floor and mark the booths that you don’t want to miss. Also, don’t forget to have some fun, too!
If you are interested in the latest in web applications for public works management, then you will definitely want to stop by the Appia booth (#1519). If you are an angler, you’ll be excited to know that we are once again giving away Ugly Stik fishing rod and reel combos! There will be one winner each day of the show, so plan to stop by and enter to win.
Your agency invests in you to attend this show. Be sure to make the most of it and take home as much information as possible. You may even consider setting up a debrief meeting after the show to share what you have learned with your peers who were unable to attend.Advice from Heavy Highway
Dear Heavy Highway:
I keep reading all about new technologies in road construction. It is all a little confusing to me, but I am too embarrassed to ask. How can I keep up?
Signed,
Techno-challenged
Dear Techno:
Are you planning to attend APWA Congress this year? It is the best way to keep up with the latest innovations in our industry. Between the information-packed sessions and the vendors in the exposition, you’ll be assured to be in the know when you return home.
While you’re there, please be sure to visit the Appia booth (#1519) to learn more about web applications for public works management.
-Heavy Highway
Dear Heavy Highway:
Recently, our agency threw out the lowest bidder for a local road construction project due to a clerical error in the bid submission. The next lowest bid was significantly higher and the error ended up costing us a lot. Is there a way we can protect our tight budget by preventing these types of errors?
Signed,
Frustrated
Dear Frustrated:
Many agencies like yours are looking for alternatives to the paper bid process and the subsequent errors that contractors can make in their submissions. There are software applications available to you that are foolproof to the contractor and can ensure that all fields in an agency’s bid document are filled out properly. Electronic and web-based bidding systems are quickly being implemented by agencies that want to avoid the human error factor in the bid process. These systems can save an agency many labor hours by eliminating the time it takes to compile and compare paper bids, as well as save budget dollars by helping to ensure the lowest bid does not contain mistakes.
Appia is one such application that allows an agency to have an electronic bidding relationship with its contractors. For more information please visit www.appia.net.
-Heavy Highway
See Appia at:
| Kansas City, MO | 2006 APWA International Public Works Congress & Expo | Sept 10-13 |
| Knoxville, TN | APWA Tennessee | October 17-20 |
| Milwaukee Lake Shore, WI | APWA Wisconsin | Nov. 1-3 |
| Brooklyn Center, MN | APWA Minnesota | Nov. 15-17 |
| Wenatchee, WA | APWA Washington | October 16-20 |
| Columbus, OH | Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference | October 26-27 |
| Detroit, MI | APWA Michigan | Nov. 1-2 |
