Speaker(s): Jacob S. Tobias, ASLA, LEED AP | Alyson Fletcher | Matthew Ridgway, AICP

Landscape architects who understand traffic engineering principles and innovations can apply these tools to make streets into better places. The presenters will discuss technical roadway-design concepts and cutting-edge approaches, and present case-studies in which innovative solutions emerged from a deep knowledge of the relationship between traffic engineering and placemaking.

Learning Objectives: 

• Understand basic street design/traffic engineering principles and standards such as lane widths, turn-lanes, bus-stop configurations, bike lane classes, and signalization concepts.
• Understand traffic data types describing traffic volumes and roadway performance, such as average daily traffic, peak volumes, level of service, and how these are measured.
• Describe innovations in multi-modal facilities including "next-generation bikeways" and bus facilities, and potential future concerns such as accommodating ride-share.
• Describe innovations in community engagement, including temporary prototyping and "tactical urbanism."

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Speaker(s): Ron Henderson, FASLA | Raymond W. Gastil, AICP, LEED AP | Nilay Mistry, ASLA | Chris Landau, Affil. ASLA

Expanding driverless vehicle use will force crucial recalibrations to streets, public spaces, and urban form. How can designers maintain human interests in increasingly autonomous cities? This panel of landscape architects and planning authorities will discuss initiatives to promote physical, ecological, and social sustainability through driverless technologies.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about case studies of current design research and experiments in design regarding autonomous vehicles.
• Learn public engagement strategies and scenario based approaches to design.
• Understand development of planning policies in various cities due to autonomous vehicle growth.
• Examine the role of partnerships with local industries and academic institutions in designing for autonomous vehicles.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Speaker(s): Marieke Lacasse, ASLA, LEED AP | Gerhard W. Mayer, AIA, LEED AP | Woodie Tescher

In the 20th century, our society gradually dedicated ever-increasing amounts of land to the exclusive use of automobiles. However, the pushback against this trend has begun. This session examines international, national, and regional methodologies to recapture land for recreation and ecological replenishment and to promote sustainable urban growth.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain awareness of land use balance in an urban fabric, and discuss ideal proportions of land for transportation, housing, office, retail, open space, and institutions.
• Use case studies to understand different mechanisms used by converted sites for community use and leveraged as open space, multimodal connectors, and tactical interventions to reclaim street space.
• Become familiar with policy and regulatory legislative initiatives influencing the reshaping of our cities’ urban form, shifting from our auto-dominated traditions to more walkable and sustainable communities.
• Learn about the legislative difficulties that are the result of pushing cars in the background and people in the foreground, and methods or tools to overcome those impediments.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Speaker(s): Wendy Miller, FASLA | Adrian Pearmine | Hermanus Steyn, PE | Gerry Tierney, LEED AP

Autonomous vehicles are coming. Will they bring utopia or a nightmare of zombie cars? How will they reshape our communities and roadside environments? Can we create policies to build Smart Cities and design our roadways to manage this new technology while providing active transportation and attractive streetscapes?

Learning Objectives:

• Discover the status and timeline for the implementation of autonomous vehicles and what it means for roadside development.
• Learn about the Smart Cities pilot projects and how autonomous and connected vehicles are being incorporated into existing urban infrastructure.
• Examine concepts and strategies for implementing a new surface transportation paradigm and learn how policies on autonomous vehicles will change highways and urban corridor aesthetics.
• Understand the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of green and Complete Streets with autonomous vehicles.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Speaker(s): Sarah F. Cawrse, ASLA, LEED GA | Andrew Irvine, ASLA | Nate Cormier, ASLA | Blaine Merker, ASLA

Over the past century, North American cities have prioritized their streets for cars, trucks, and buses at the expense of social and cultural aspects of streetlife. Current trends towards urbanization have re-awakened our interest in making streets multi-functional places. Panelists will discuss successful projects and methods for measuring these transformations.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore trends leading to current public realm challenges and the changes in cultural values, mobility, and technology that provide the opportunity to reconsider the public realm within our rights-of-way.
• Analyze the social function of streets to understand how existing or planned infrastructure can better accommodate pedestrian and bicyclist use.
• Examine how shared spaces prioritize pedestrian activity, while still promoting bicycling and public transport.
• Learn about transformative projects that have positively altered how people use the public right-of-way.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Speaker(s): Ellen Alster, ASLA | Barry Fagan, PE | Richard W. Gibney, ASLA | Wayne Colebank

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) are included in the options for SITES, yet few landscape architects are involved. As green infrastructure is implemented, learn why SWPPP literacy should complement your skill set. Explore how California’s DOT leads this effort. Observe additional case studies in Arizona, Alabama, and New York.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover how the inclusion of erosion control and pollution prevention plans as part of your practice can insure greater project success.
• Learn why the Landscape Architecture Program at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) became an innovator and worldwide leader in stormwater pollution prevention practice and education.
• Understand when and how to apply a common-sense framework and fundamental approach to construction storm water management focused on effective communication.
• Hear professionals compare storm water pollution prevention and erosion control issues in their regions, and apply lessons learned to your practice.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Speaker(s): Tobi Louise Kester, ASLA, PLA, AICP, CA, LEED AP

The use of bioswales to treat stormwater runoff by reducing Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Phosphorus (TP), and Total Nitrogen (TN) loads is an increasingly common Best Management Practice (BMP) throughout state and local jurisdictions. However, the successful design, construction, and maintenance of bioswales is proving to be difficult, as evidenced by poor vegetation establishment and unanticipated short- and long-term maintenance requirements of desired plantings. Plants are a vital component of bioswales for a variety of reasons, so when a bioswale does not have healthy, vigorous vegetative cover, we know the entire BMP is not functioning to its greatest potential. This webinar will present insight into how bioswales work, why creating fully functioning bioswales is challenging, and key factors in successful design and implementation, so that the fully integrated ecosystem of bioswales can be brought to life.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how bioswales function and why we use them.
• Identify challenges to successful implementation of bioswales.
• Recognize key components of good design, construction, and maintenance practices that affect the success of vegetation establishment in bioswales.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Landscape architects and their clients often worry that accessibility requirements will compromise design quality and water down otherwise cutting-edge projects. Join a landscape architect, an urban strategist, and a disability-rights advocate in a panel discussion as they share successes and bemoan compromises on both sides of the conversation.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the basic principles of Universal Design as applied in urban landscape architecture.
• Learn specific design choices relative to accessibility and Universal Design for “special” populations, and how they can be of benefit in all design contexts.
• Learn about global approaches to the design of streets and public spaces from a “complete streets” perspective.
• Understand the “carrots” and “sticks” of the regulatory environment and disability rights advocacy, and how both benefit the public at large.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Speaker(s): Mark Madden | Marcus Elliott | Shannon Nichol, FASLA

From sidewalk widths to curb layouts, street design is often led by traffic engineers. The goal of this session is to help landscape architects understand the traffic engineering vocabulary and technical considerations. Become effective contributors to the dialogue that shapes these public spaces.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify opportunities for improvement in the knowledge base and training of landscape architects.
• Learn the key methods, regulations, and considerations that guide traffic engineering and street design.
• Understand how the pedestrian is and is not factored into the typical traffic engineering process.
• Help landscape architects collaborate effectively with engineers for better street and multi-modal design.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.

Speaker(s): Jeff Jacobberger | Mott Smith | Allen Compton, ASLA | Bob Gotham

The Complete Streets movement has focused much discussion on the opportunities for healthier and more humane public streets. This panel, in particular, will focus on the Take Back the Boulevard grassroots initiative in Los Angeles as a case study for how communities can self-organize to bring about Complete Street improvements.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how landscape architects can be a catalyst for Complete Streets.
• Learn key first steps in organizing for change.
• Discover partnerships with community organizations and political offices that are vital to success.
• Understand the challenges and opportunities of communicating change to a wide audience.

Please complete a brief evaluation of this Online Learning presentation.