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Larson Design Group (LDG) was proud to present several of its projects at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Spring Conference in April, showcasing the expertise and skill of its Bridge and Geospatial Departments.
The annual conference, which was held virtually this year, draws attendees from a broad range of fields, from transportation to architecture to water/wastewater, who share the knowledge and experience of projects that may be applicable to infrastructure work being done in the state’s parks and forest, or that may impact natural resources.
LDG presented three projects during the conference, each of which highlighted a different set of capabilities from the two teams.
Geomatics Technologies
Gary Sheets, VP of Infrastructure, presented on the benefits of Terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, also known as drones) – methods in which LDG’s Geospatial team is well-versed. Both are rapid, non-intrusive methods to capture millions – even billions – of closely-spaced measurements in a matter of minutes, making them ideal for projects like construction site logistics, engineering analysis, construction monitoring, as-built documentation, and more. The collected data can be easily viewed and analyzed in common engineering and design platforms and can be used throughout the project and asset life cycles – a “scan once, reuse often” approach that can also save a client more than 60 percent over more traditional methods of measuring and surveying.
Lower Lake Bridge & Dam Replacement at Promised Land State Park
LDG’s Director of Bridge Design, David Gunsallus, presented this award-winning project that involved the replacement of a structurally deficient bridge over a dam and spillway on Lower Lake in Promised Land State Park. As the lead on the project, LDG was faced with a number of challenges, including maintaining access to more than 220 campsites, several trails and a boat launch at the park; maintaining the water levels of the 250-acre lake itself during construction operations; addressing overhead electric lines; improving the hydraulic efficiency of the dam; provide a safer crossing for the public; and more. This project earned an award from the Susquehanna Chapter of the Association for Bridge Construction and Design (ABCD).
Route 13 Pedestrian Connector at Delaware Canal State Park
Duane Gaugler, Senior Project Manager on the Bridge Design team, presented a project in which LDG was the lead on the design of two pedestrian underpass structures that took the place of a surface road crossing on the Delaware Canal Tow Path at the park. The path had previously ended at a guide rail along Route 13, a four-lane divided highway that saw more than 11,000 vehicles a day and did not provide a safe pedestrian crossing. During the final design phase of the project, it was discovered that LDG’s project would conflict with an adjacent intersection project being conducted by PennDOT, and the two worked together to incorporate the projects to avoid conflicting construction.
Founded in 1986, Larson Design Group is a national, award‐winning, 100 percent employee-owned architecture, engineering and consulting firm with 12 offices in five states and a vision to elevate client relationships, enrich the careers and lives of its employee-owners, and enhance the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.larsondesigngroup.com.