What does a Biosystems Engineer do?
J.P. Johns BS(BE'96), MS(BE'98) Natural Resources Woolpert LLP, Water Resource Service Line, Charlotte, NC

My undergraduate Biosystems Engineering (Natural Resources emphasis) degree offered me a wide range of disciplines related to preserving our environment. One discipline that really caught my attention was hydrology and sedimentology. I was so intrigued with this topic that I decided to obtain a Masters of Science degree in Biosystems Engineering. In graduate school, my curriculum revolved around hydrology, soil physics, and sediment transport.

My graduate research thesis was entitled Eroded Particle Size Distributions Using Rainfall Simulation of South Carolina Soils. This research determined what the actual eroded particle sizes were from various soils found throughout South Carolina during simulated rainfall events. The importance of these eroded particle sizes is that they are the most significant factor affecting the design of sediment control structures such as sediment ponds, silt traps, ditch checks and silt fencing.

With this educational background, Woolpert LLP hired me in September of 1998 as a Water Resource Engineer. The primary focus of the Water Resource service line is to manage stormwater runoff in the most environmentally and economically efficient manner possible. For more info about Woolpert please visit our website at http://www.woolpert.com.

Some of my job experiences have included: Storm water structure inventory in Greensboro, NC, and Winston-Salem, NC. This job consisted of locating all of the storm sewer inlet and outlet points for several designated watersheds within the city limits of Greensboro and Winston-Salem. The purpose of locating these structures is to provide accurate input data for computer models such as HEC1, HECRAS and XPSWMM designed to analyze storm drainage systems. Examples of storm water structures are curb inlets, grate-inlets, yard inlets, pipe inlets and pipe outlets. When each structure was located, the dimensions and elevations were recorded in a database loaded on a pentop computer carried in the field. GPS (Global Positioning System) surveying equipment was used to accurately locate each structure, and this data was then plotted on maps using GIS (Geographic Information System) technology with the use of ARCVIEW.
	Using GPS Surveying Equipment and a Pentop Computer to Locate a Storm Sewer Inlet Point.
	ARCVIEW Map Showing a Storm Sewer System (Click here to see full size page of map, 40K.)

This job consisted of writing a computer program using Visual Basic code to score data previously recorded on pentop computers used during the auditing of construction sites. The Visual Basic code read data stored in a Microsoft Access database, assigned values to particular data sets, and eventually scored each project site audited by the field auditors. The scoring system considered each BMP found on the construction site. The overall average of the each individual BMP determined the BMP Score. The Site Score for each project evaluated the overall Erosion Protection and Sediment Control Plan effectiveness of each construction site.
	Screen Shot of the Visual Basic Program Devised to Score Each Project.
	Click here to see full size page of Evaluation Form, 28K.

Common Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control BMP Observations:

Silt fencing is the most commonly used EPSC BMP, yet rarely is installed according to MSD specifications. It is very often sized inadequately, improperly installed, in the wrong location, and not maintained.

Correct Application: Properly Installed and Not the Only BMP On-Site	Incorrect Application: Fallen Fence With no Maintenance

The purpose of a Sediment Basin is to detain water long enough for the desired eroded particles carried by the runoff to settle before the runoff reaches off-site water bodies. These basins are designed to protect downstream habitats from the sediment-laden runoff created from construction activities. The outflow from these structures is usually controlled through a designed barrel and riser system that has perforated holes placed in the riser to control the outflow rates from the basin.

Water Quality Retention basins are designed to retain runoff from impervious areas such as parking lots and buildings. These basins hold the initial first flush from a storm event usually for 24 hours. These basins are designed to provide enough storage volume to allow the contaminants that rest on impervious areas to settle out of the runoff before it enters a local water body. The outflow structures from these basins are usually straight pipes that release the detained water over a 24-hour period.

The purpose of a Stormwater Detention Basin is to detain water long enough so that the outflow rate from the basin is at or below a given flow rate. The purpose of these basins is to control downstream flow increases that would take place due to the clearing of land and construction activities. The outlet of these structures can be riser and barrel systems, or a weir designed to control flow rates based on the water elevation in the basin.

The design of retention/detention facilities requires on-site data obtained from surveys and site visits. Typical parameters used for these designs are:

• Area of the project site, including boundaries and nearest water bodies.
• Pre-disturbance land conditions (wooded, grassland, developed, residential, etc.)
• Post-construction conditions (completely impervious, residential, etc.)
• Soil Types (soil name, hydrologic soil group)
• Local Rainfall Data

Once these parameters are known, the design process involves the use of computer models created to do stormwater flow routing and sedimentation calculations. The software programs used to do these calculations are: SEDIMOTII SECDCAD4 HEC1 and HECRAS Projects I have designed these systems for include: Sediment Ponds and Water Quality Detention Ponds for the construction of a Judicial Complex in Conway, SC. The relocation of a Sediment/Retention pond for the construction of a new strip mall shopping area adjacent to the Greenville Mall in Greenville, SC. An Underground Water Quality Retention Basin for the construction of an elementary school in Columbia, SC. Sediment Control Structures, Underground Water Detention and Underground Water Quality systems for construction of a Target shopping center in Spartanburg, SC.
	Two-Tiered Concrete Box Outlet Structure for a Retention Pond
	Concrete Riser Outlet Structure for a Retention Pond

Cost estimates for the installation of new culverts to be constructed in Raleigh, NC. When submitting the final plans to the city of Raleigh, a cost estimate for the entire project was required. The purpose of the cost estimate is to give the city an idea of the total cost required to complete the project. The major costs involved with installing new culverts are: Removal of the old culverts Channel excavation for the new culverts Concrete for the new culverts Concrete for headwalls and wingwalls
	Culvert to be Removed and Replaced.

Completed permit applications for the installation of new culverts in Raleigh, NC.

When designing structures that will directly affect a flowing water body, certain Permits must be obtained before construction can begin. In many cases, a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, an EPA Section 404 permit, and a local governing body permit must be obtained.

The primary items included in a permit application are:

Vicinity Map (shows the location of the activity site along with latitude and longitude, names of nearest water bodies, names of all applicable political jurisdictions, name and distance to nearest town, north arrow, and a scale)

Plan View (shows the proposed activity as if viewed from above along with the name of the affected water body, existing shorelines, names of adjacent property owners who may be affected, legal property descriptions such as block and lot numbers from deed or tax assessments, high and low water lines, the location of any structures to be added or changed, north arrow, and scale)

Elevation and/or Cross Section View (a scale drawing that shows the side, front, or rear of a proposed activity representing the proposed structure as it would appear if cut internally for display)

Owners name and address

Purpose of the work to be done

Description of the work to be done

Flow monitoring of sanitary sewers in Salisbury, NC, to check for groundwater infiltration and stormwater infiltration. This project consisted of installing flow-monitoring devices into various strategically determined sanitary sewer manholes throughout the city of Salisbury. The monitors were checked on a regular basis and immediately following each significant rainfall event. The objective was to determine if the flow rates or water levels within the sanitary sewers fluctuated during or immediately after rainfall events. Many manholes along the sewer line were monitored to locate possible infiltration points within the system.		Actual Flow Monitor at Bottom of Manhole
Opening Manhole and Preparing Computer to Download Flow Data	Attaching Computer Cable to the Data Collector Located in the Manhole

The objective of this project was to revise and change the current standards used by the Louisville MSD. The direct benefit of these changes will be the implementation of better and more efficient erosion prevention and sediment control best management practices. The project involved reviewing the current standards and comparing them with other standards found throughout the southeastern United States. Flowcharts were created and added to aid designers and contractors in selecting the best practices to implement for the unique situations they are faced with. Design Aids (created by Dr. J.C. Hayes, Department Chair, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC) were added to help engineers design Sediment Ponds, Silt Traps, Silt Fencing, and Ditch Checks that will successfully trap sediment and prevent adverse off-site effects.

Typical Designed Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control BMP's Include Sediment Ponds and:

Ditch Checks	Silt Traps
Rip Rap Outlet Protection	Gabions for Structural Stream Bank Stabilization

I hope this gives a small insight into
the types of environmental work done
by Biosystems Engineers!

Agricultural Biological Engineering Department `
Box 340357, Clemson University
Clemson, S.C. 29634-0357
Phone: (864) 656-3250 -- Fax: (864) 656-0338

Website Designed by: Christina Malayil, Clemson University
This page is maintained by the Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department.