This is an invitation only meeting for NACE Board Members.

This is an invitation only meeting for NACE Board Members.

-Overview of LRSP/Safety Action Plans – could use the Road Safety Champion Program Planning & Engineering Module #3 if time allows    '-Walk through of the LRSP DIY site  '-Discussion of topics such as:  ' -how to fund your LRSP/Safety Action Plan – incorporating demo projects into a SS4A grant  ' -how to incorporate non-engineering pieces into an LRSP  '  -how to incorporate SSA  ' -implementation of an LRSP  '-Case study example of a completed LRSP – how accomplished and how implementing 

Registration will be located in Discovery/Adventure Halls Foyer  Monday 2:00pm- 6:00pm | Tuesday 7:00am- 5:00pm |Wednesday 7:30am- 4:00pm Thursday 8:00am- 10:30am

Come by and enjoy a nightcap (beer and wine only) with fellow NACE attendees!

Registration will be located in Schaumburg North Foyer (Hotel) Monday 2:00pm- 6:00pm | Tuesday 7:00am- 5:00pm |Wednesday 7:30am- 4:00pm Thursday 8:00am- 10:30am

Meet in lobby of Renaissance at 8:30am to walk over to cafe. It's a 10 minute walk. Cafe is across the expressway bridge from the Renaissance. Cook County is also providing a shuttle. ALL Participants should meet at 8:30 regardless of whether walking or taking the shuttle. 

PLEASE MEET IN NORTH FOYER ON GROUND LEVEL at 8:45; Bring Ticket. 
This session requires selecting the session in registration. Checking it or adding it to your itinerary does not mean you signed up for this tour. If you have already registered for the conference, please login to the conference website and modify your registration.

Valmont/Empire Galvanizing 

When: Tuesday, April 15th at 9 AM – 12:30 PM and 11 AM – 2:30 PM

Location: Schaumburg North Foyer (hallway between hotel and convention center)

PDH Credit: 1.5 Hours

Empire Galvanizing Plant Tour

Have you ever witnessed fabricated steel being extracted from a kettle of molten zinc after the creation of a tightly bonded alloy coating that provides superior corrosion protection? Join us at Valmont – Empire Galvanizing for a behind-the-scenes tour of the hot-dip galvanizing process from rigging to immersion and final inspection. Representatives will provide educational presentations before/after the tours along with lunch. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the galvanizing process and benefits it could provide your next project.

Tours will be staggered by 15 minutes to eliminate crowding in the plant and last approximately 30 minutes. We will have a tented reception area set-up outside the facility with both Galvanizing and Bridge representatives available to answer technical questions and continue the presentation of technical information for the PDH credits.

 Getting to the Valmont Galvanizing Plant:

1. Bring your ticket with you to the bus staging area at the front of the Renaissance Lobby. 
2. There will be 2 buses leaving the hotel - one at 9 and one at 11.  Be sure to assemble in the lobby 15 minutes prior to the departure time on your ticket.
3. When you get to the bus, the bus captain will ask for your ticket prior to boarding.

What to bring:

1. Bring your ticket
2. Safety vest
3. Safety goggles
4. Hard hat
5. Closed toe shoes and attire appropriate for the weather as lunch and presentations will be provided in an outdoor tented area

This session will provide participants access to industry experts to discuss factors that lead to high performing asphalt pavements. Participants will be able to submit questions to the panel prior to the session as well as during the session.

To address rising travel demands driven by nearby development and growth, the I-55 at Weber Road Interchange underwent a $48 million reconstruction, transforming it from a traditional diamond interchange into a diverging diamond interchange. The project expanded the existing five-lane facility to six lanes, adding dual left-turn lanes to enhance traffic flow and mobility throughout the corridor. Additional improvements included the construction of new sidewalks and a shared-use path, the installation of updated roadway lighting, and the modernization of the Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) components across the interchange.

We’ll be discussing how Owners and Consultants can cost-effectively and quickly replace or install new bridge and culvert structures. We’ll cover various bridge solutions, focusing on structural plate and precast arch buried bridges, modular rolled girder bridges, and design tools. 

Boone County is primarily a rural county in Northern Illinois with 280 square miles, 54,000 population and 96-centerline miles of highway. Boone County received a State Planning and Research Grant for the collection and extraction of highway assets that ranged from edge of pavement, shoulder, signage, striping and guardrail to traffic signals, culverts and utility poles. The County awarded Dynasty Group, Inc. (Dynasty) and uGRIDD a contract and charged the team with collecting and extracting these assets and making them available to county staff for their enterprise purposes, including an asset management system. The Dynasty team used a highly accurate Leica Pegasus TRK 700 Neo mobile LiDAR mapping system to collect LiDAR and 360° imagery on primarily rural two-lane highways. Since controlled survey targets were not set for the collection runs, Dynasty collected 2A level accuracy data for this project based on NCHRP 15-44 Guidelines. The images collected were 360-degree high-resolution images georeferenced to the point cloud. The mobile mapping system was connected to CORS, a GPS-based geospatial network of Continuously Operating Reference Stations throughout northern Illinois. This network provided positional reference data in real time to the Leica Pegasus TRK to achieve centimeter positioning for the project. The team extracted surveyable natural and artificial target points at 500 to 600-foot intervals (10 per mile) and documented them with coordinates and photo locations for future recovery, upgradeable by target ground surveying for future design projects. Asset extraction, often known as feature extraction, is the process of mining data from LiDAR and imagery. Following data acquisition, the team deployed advanced data processing pipelines to meticulously extract highway assets. This process was powered by geospatial Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, which are specifically tailored to process the extensive datasets captured by mobile mapping technology. The system was designed to ensure each asset is not only detected but also classified with a precise geospatial location, meeting and exceeding a 99% accuracy benchmark. To uphold the highest standards of QA/QC, the team integrated a scalable human-in-the-loop system. This system served as a robust validation mechanism, ensuring all assets were accurately captured and cataloged. The entire data set of LiDAR, imagery, linear reference system and extracted assets was placed on the uGRIDD Platform for data sharing, GIS integration and asset management. uGRIDD is a SaaS platform that organizes data geospatially on web maps for 3D visualization and data sharing. The uGRIDD Platform uses ESRI and Google Map APIs as its background map for geospatial referencing. Natively, uGRIDD’s maps are embedded into the Boone County ArcGIS applications as data layers. Furthermore, the uGRIDD Platform provides APIs using standard internet protocols so that data can be served and/or exchanged with many standard applications. A rudimentary version of the Highway Asset Management System that satisfies Boone County Highway Department’s basic needs was developed with functions such as asset inventory, current conditions, repair and maintenance and capital improvement interfaces so that the top management can drill down to the detailed data from an overall snap shot.

Ideal for county engineers, this session will not only showcase practical application of Engineering AI for everyday infrastructure maintenance but also explore the impactful potential of forecasting advancements.

Join Tim Hens, as he demonstrates how Genesee County integrates cutting-edge AI technology to maintain and enhance the safety of their infrastructure, showcasing the substantial improvements in efficiency and maintenance routines.

Following Tim's insights, John Ford of Dynamic Infrastructure will take the stage to showcase the exciting next generation of Engineering AI—focusing on its forecasting capabilities. This part of the presentation will show how asset condition prediction can completely change asset management, providing a level of accuracy and insight that wasn't possible before.

What triggers are used to upgrade an unpaved road to seal coat, concrete, asphalt, or other? What costs are associated with these upgrades? What are ownership costs of an unpaved road versus a paved road? ; Metrics used to effectively and efficiently manage unpaved roads. 

Discussion on designing long lasting pavements

 PLEASE MEET IN NORTH FOYER ON GROUND LEVEL at 10:45am- BRING TICKET
 

Valmont/Empire Galvanizing Tour 

When: Tuesday, April 15th at 9 AM – 12:30 PM and 11 AM – 2:30 PM

Location: Schaumburg North Foyer (hallway between hotel and convention center)

PDH Credit: 1.5 Hours

Empire Galvanizing Plant Tour

Have you ever witnessed fabricated steel being extracted from a kettle of molten zinc after the creation of a tightly bonded alloy coating that provides superior corrosion protection? Join us at Valmont – Empire Galvanizing for a behind-the-scenes tour of the hot-dip galvanizing process from rigging to immersion and final inspection. Representatives will provide educational presentations before/after the tours along with lunch. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the galvanizing process and benefits it could provide your next project.

Tours will be staggered by 15 minutes to eliminate crowding in the plant and last approximately 30 minutes. We will have a tented reception area set-up outside the facility with both Galvanizing and Bridge representatives available to answer technical questions and continue the presentation of technical information for the PDH credits.

 Getting to the Valmont Galvanizing Plant:

1. Bring your ticket with you to the bus staging area at the front of the Renaissance Lobby. 
2. There will be 2 buses leaving the hotel - one at 9 and one at 11.  Be sure to assemble in the lobby 15 minutes prior to the departure time on your ticket.
3. When you get to the bus, the bus captain will ask for your ticket prior to boarding.

What to bring:

1. Bring your ticket
2. Safety vest
3. Safety goggles
4. Hard hat
5. Closed toe shoes and attire appropriate for the weather as lunch and presentations will be provided in an outdoor tented area

Human Factors Guide for Roadway Systems & General Federal Safety Updates

Presentation will focus on pre-preservation, early-life, and mid-life preservation treatments for HMA pavements and we will work in sustainable rehabilitation treatments to extend the end of life.

Granular roadways in northern plains are routinely subjected to seasonal freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles, resulting in extensive damage from frost-related problems such as frost heave, frost boils, thaw settlement, thaw weakening, rutting, and potholes. As a new method, the current project funded by Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) studied to make subgrade soils water repellent via the use of nanoscale organo-silane (OS) products as additives to mitigate the damage that occurs due to F-T cycles. The presentation will present and explain the evaluation of the use of OS to control water and increase subgrade and overall granular roadway performance.

County bridges play a crucial role in infrastructure, and ensuring their long-term durability is essential to maximizing value. Several chemistry and coating solutions are available for corrosion protection in steel bridge systems. Each system offers distinct advantages in terms of performance and cost-effectiveness, making them suitable for various county bridge projects. Industry experts from the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) will provide detailed presentations on the applications, benefits and limitations of weathering steel, galvanizing, metallizing, and painting systems for both new construction and repair/rehabilitation work. A moderated discussion with county personnel will follow the presentations, offering further insights into these protection options.

Presenters include:

Session Introduction, Michael Barker, Univ. of Wyoming

Weathering Steel, Brandon Chavel, National Steel Bridge Alliance

Metalizing, Ben Bristol, Industrial Steel Construction

Galvanizing, John Krzywicki, American Galvanizers Association

Paint, Derrick Castle, Sherwin-Williams

Panel Discussion, NACE county personnel

Discussion on thin overlays, their preservation, and other related information

SS4A Application Process in Peoria County, Illinois & Safe Systems Approach, Clinton County, Ohio

-learn how Base One® Stabilizer has been helping counties and other entities stabilize their gravel bases/roads.

- learn how Base One®  Stabilizer has been added to a gravel / asphalt millings mix to improve their gravel roads

-learn how Base One®  Stabilizer has been helping counties stabilize their shoulders.

-learn how Base One®  stabilizer has helped counties minimize their gravel loss, thus saving them money and materials.

Development of the preferred alternative for I-80 Mississippi River bridge and issues involved with its development

Included in all Delegate/Exhibitor Full Conference, and Spouse Program registrations. Exhibit Hall Only badge holders can purchase tickets for Taste of Chicago during Registration. 

Registration will be located in Discovery/Adventure Halls Foyer  Monday 2:00pm- 6:00pm | Tuesday 7:00am- 5:00pm |Wednesday 7:30am- 4:00pm Thursday 8:00am- 10:30am

Breakfast in the Hall

MEET IN THE LOBBY OF THE RENAISSANCE at 8:30. Special thanks to Cook County for providing a shuttle that will take all participants over to the community center. 

Refreshments & light breakfast snacks provided by NACE. For people who signed up after the paint selection deadline, you will have a welcome sign to paint.

Transportation: Cook County DOTH passenger van (seats 12) will transport participants from the lobby starting at 8:30am and make 2 trips. Possibly 3 trips if needed.

The van will be parked outside the community center at 11am incase people want to start heading back to the hotel. It will take 2-3 trips again to get everyone back.

Strategic planning is essential for county engineer and public works departments to ensure effective service delivery, resource management, and community impact. This panel will explore how to create, implement, and maintain strategic plans that align with organizational goals and adapt to evolving community needs. Panelists will share insights on integrating strategic priorities into daily operations, tracking progress through key performance indicators, and fostering accountability through effective communication. Participants will gain actionable tools to enhance strategic consistency across their departments.
1. Learn how to integrate your strategic plan into daily operations to keep your team aligned and focused on long-term goals.
2. Discover tools and techniques to track progress and ensure your plan doesn’t sit on a shelf.
3. Explore strategies to foster accountability by assigning champions to oversee plan implementation.
4. Identify ways to enhance communication and engagement around strategic priorities for internal and external stakeholders.
5. Walk away with actionable steps to balance immediate public works demands with long-term strategic success.

Visit the gallery of bridges on display!: All submitted photographs from NACE member counties will be displayed in a dedicated exhibit in booth 646 (center of the exhibit hall), with the appropriate attribution to the county, offering a panoramic view of America’s engineering marvels as seen through the lenses of those who maintain and cherish them.  

Special thanks to NACE Titanium Member, Dynamic Infrastructure for hosting this special event during Exhibit Hall hours!

John Deere is introducing a new precision mapping technology, John Deere Path, to help snow removal operators stay on the road during low visibility conditions. This technology is driving increased productivity as well as reduced equipment and property damage. Come visit booth 644 (next to the NACE Member Hub)  to learn more about how John Deere Path can benefit your snow removal operations.

Topics may include blading policy, new aggregate application programs, road shaping, shoulder retrieval, dust control programs, etc.

Road traffic safety research using Motor Vehicle Data Linkage.

In today’s evolving workplace, culture plays a critical role in driving long-term team success. As leaders, fostering engagement requires more than just task management—it’s about creating a workplace where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to contribute. This session, led by Cameron Curtis, CMM, CAE, will explore the essential drivers of engagement—purpose, strengths, development, and people care—that empower individuals to connect more deeply with their organizations and their work. Participants will walk away with actionable strategies to cultivate an inclusive and collaborative culture that prioritizes equity, trust, and communication. Through interactive exercises, attendees will assess their current engagement practices, identify unique organizational values, and develop tailored action plans to sustain long-term team commitment and success.
Key Takeaways:
1. Discover the four core drivers of engagement and their impact on team retention, productivity, and loyalty.
2. Learn how to align individual strengths with organizational goals to maximize team performance.
3. Understand the importance of equity and inclusion in fostering trust and accountability.
4. Develop strategies to create a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated.
5. Leave with a practical Engagement Action Plan to implement meaningful improvements in team engagement.

Everyone wants Smooth pavements. Come hear about why is more benefit to a smooth pavement than just ride quality.

Metrics used to effectively and efficiently manage unpaved roads.

Webster County, IA (RURAL) – 2023 SS4A Implementation Project – roadway departures – widening and paving shoulders, adding edge and center line rumble strips, pavement markings; Hillsborough County, FL (URBAN) – 2022 SS4A Implementation Project – peds, bikes, transit users at 22 locations – low cost countermeasures – sidewalks, leading ped intervals, curb bulb-outs, crosswalk improvements, bike lanes, speed management 

Susan Ebert, Planning Manager for Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, will provide an overview on CCRPC's SS4A grant to develop Urban and Rural Safety Plans for Champaign County. Cindy Loos, P.E., Vice President of Hanson Professional Services, will present the other facet of the SS4A grant, the road diet demonstration project on North Lincoln Avenue in Urbana. They will both share insights and lessons learned since receiving the grant in 2024.

This presentation will highlight results from asphalt overlay test sections constructed at the Minnesota Road Research Facility (MnROAD). Ten test sections were constructed on I-94 to evaluate performance of asphalt overlays built with different PG binders and additives. The additives include recycled rubber, recycled plastic and aramid fibers. Early performance of the test sections has already yielded valuable insights into asphalt binder selection and low temperature cracking.

IDOT’s run off the road tool to look at treatments that would be appropriate. It was used to apply for safety funds; IDOT’s run off the road tool to look at treatments that would be appropriate. It was used to apply for safety funds.

Restore cross-sections of unpaved roads. What are the triggers? Improvements vs re-establishment. Specifications? 3R standards. Training documents, literature, etc. Machine slope control - crown. Blading policy AASHTO rural design guide.

The Minnesota focus of the session will share how the state has unique funding sources that local agencies can leverage to cash flow upfront payments that are subsequently reimbursed by federal sources and that are used to match federal disaster funds.

This presentation covers performance-based design of gravel roads, with a focus on understanding basic wearing course material properties from two very simple tests and using the results to predict how a road will perform. The presentation includes demonstrations of two web-based tools, one for selecting wearing course materials, blending two materials, or converting paved to unpaved, and the second for selecting appropriate chemical treatments for a given set of conditions.

On-Road Structures (ORS) offer a promising alternative to traditional culvert/bridge design, with the potential to better mitigate flood impacts.  ORS use roadway embankments as dams to control flow into culverts, providing flood storage during peak flow events.  Several Iowa counties have implemented ORS in HUC12 watersheds, with anecdotal evidence indicating reduced flood impacts from recent extreme rainfall events.  This presentation will provide an overview of the project, and demonstrate the web-based information platform that was developed to guide and enhance ORS adoption in Iowa.

Discussion of Iowa Highway Research Project TR-792. Creation of a tool to help engineers locate and build on-road structures that create temporary storage of water through a watershed thus helping to mitigate damage due to flood events.

Safe and sustainable mobility is important to all Americans.  County Engineers struggle to maintain their networks with limited resources.  Pavement preservation is an essential tool in protecting constituents' infrastructure investments. This talk is on some of the options and when to use them.

For paid registrations only. 

Registration will be located in Schaumburg North Foyer (Hotel) Monday 2:00pm- 6:00pm | Tuesday 7:00am- 5:00pm |Wednesday 7:30am- 4:00pm Thursday 8:00am- 10:30am

Part 1: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Safety Action Plans: Working with your State Highway Safety Office

Part 2: Introduction and Survey of Findings of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Data Linkage Project: Analyses on Statewide Road Traffic Safety

Thornton Quarry/Gallagher Asphalt Tour

When: Thursday, April 17th at Depart North hotel lobby foyer at 10:00am (10:00am- 2:00pm)

Location: Schaumburg North Foyer (hallway between hotel and convention center)

PDH Credit: 2 Hours

Thornton Quarry and Gallagher Asphalt Lab Tour

Experience one of the largest aggregate quarries in the world. The Thornton Quarry is 1.5 miles long, 0.5 miles wide, and 450 feet deep at its deepest point. The Quarry is so vast that the entire village of Thornton could sit comfortably on its floor. In addition, learn about the Metropolitan Water Reclamation Deep tunnel project that utilizes this quarry to store up to 4.8 billion gallons of stormwater runoff. To cap it all off, enjoy a walking tour highlighting the modern technology at the Gallagher Asphalt plant not found in many plants throughout the nation, and of course, time for lunch.

Getting to the Thornton Quarry:

1. Bring your ticket with you to the bus staging area at the front of the Renaissance Lobby.

2. There will be 2 buses leaving the hotel. Be sure to assemble in the lobby 15 minutes prior to the departure time on your ticket.

3. When you get to the bus, the bus captain will ask for your ticket prior to boarding.

What to bring:

1. Bring your ticket

2. Safety vest

3. Safety goggles

4. Hard hat

5. Closed toe shoes

Thornton Quarry/Gallagher Asphalt Tour

When: Thursday, April 17th at  Departs hotel 10:00 am (10:00am- 2:00pm)

Location: Schaumburg North Foyer (hallway between hotel and convention center)

PDH Credit: 2 Hours

Thornton Quarry and Gallagher Asphalt Lab Tour

Experience one of the largest aggregate quarries in the world. The Thornton Quarry is 1.5 miles long, 0.5 miles wide, and 450 feet deep at its deepest point. The Quarry is so vast that the entire village of Thornton could sit comfortably on its floor. In addition, learn about the Metropolitan Water Reclamation Deep tunnel project that utilizes this quarry to store up to 4.8 billion gallons of stormwater runoff. To cap it all off, enjoy a walking tour highlighting the modern technology at the Gallagher Asphalt plant not found in many plants throughout the nation, and of course, time for lunch.

Getting to the Thornton Quarry:

1. Bring your ticket with you to the bus staging area at the front of the Renaissance Lobby.

2. There will be 2 buses leaving the hotel. Be sure to assemble in the lobby 15 minutes prior to the departure time on your ticket.

3. When you get to the bus, the bus captain will ask for your ticket prior to boarding.

What to bring:

1. Bring your ticket

2. Safety vest

3. Safety goggles

4. Hard hat

5. Closed toe shoes

Please be at the North Foyer by 11:15am for departure shortly after.

This not a shuttle. The return time and pickup location will be announced once on board. If you choose to leave the winery before the bus returns, please let April (bus captain) know.