Presentation by Mary Ann Dickinson, Alliance for Water Efficiency, at the 2018 Central Texas Water Conservation Symposium: Future-Focused Water Conservation.
Presentation by Mary Ann Dickinson, Alliance for Water Efficiency, at the 2018 Central Texas Water Conservation Symposium: Future-Focused Water Conservation.
nvesting in Rural Prosperity: A Vision for the Future of Rural Developmentnado-web
Recent and projected demographic and economic transitions present both challenges and opportunities for rural communities. Whether rural communities and the people who call them home will thrive in the future depends in part on the approach that community leaders take to supporting workers, businesses, and families. An increasing body of evidence indicates that creating a strong sense of place, good quality of life, and inclusive access to opportunity may be deciding factors in whether a community will flourish or struggle over the long-term. Come to this session to hear from national thought leaders and on-the-ground practitioners about what this means for the work of Regional Development Organizations, their stakeholders, and the policies that support their work.
Lessons from Case Studies in Water Footprint for South African CompaniesKate Laing
Presentation at a Water Research Council (WRC) Water Currents Series sharing insights gained from water footprint analysis on selected case studies among South African corporates.
27GW of new hydropower capacity was added last year. Record levels of hydropower deployment are observed in several countries, yet others fall short of their planned targets substantially. What are the drivers and barriers for implementation, and who are the investors? Public and private-sector players will share their views on the discrepancy of progress and explore ways to mitigate risks – actual or perceived.
Presentation by Sarah Richards, The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation, at the 2018 Central Texas Water Conservation Symposium: Future-Focused Water Conservation.
Waterkeeper's submission to the NR Standing Committee on the current state an...LOWaterkeeper
On May 29, 2018, Pippa Feinstein presented Waterkeeper’s submission on the current and future of National Energy data to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources.
nvesting in Rural Prosperity: A Vision for the Future of Rural Developmentnado-web
Recent and projected demographic and economic transitions present both challenges and opportunities for rural communities. Whether rural communities and the people who call them home will thrive in the future depends in part on the approach that community leaders take to supporting workers, businesses, and families. An increasing body of evidence indicates that creating a strong sense of place, good quality of life, and inclusive access to opportunity may be deciding factors in whether a community will flourish or struggle over the long-term. Come to this session to hear from national thought leaders and on-the-ground practitioners about what this means for the work of Regional Development Organizations, their stakeholders, and the policies that support their work.
Lessons from Case Studies in Water Footprint for South African CompaniesKate Laing
Presentation at a Water Research Council (WRC) Water Currents Series sharing insights gained from water footprint analysis on selected case studies among South African corporates.
27GW of new hydropower capacity was added last year. Record levels of hydropower deployment are observed in several countries, yet others fall short of their planned targets substantially. What are the drivers and barriers for implementation, and who are the investors? Public and private-sector players will share their views on the discrepancy of progress and explore ways to mitigate risks – actual or perceived.
Presentation by Sarah Richards, The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation, at the 2018 Central Texas Water Conservation Symposium: Future-Focused Water Conservation.
Waterkeeper's submission to the NR Standing Committee on the current state an...LOWaterkeeper
On May 29, 2018, Pippa Feinstein presented Waterkeeper’s submission on the current and future of National Energy data to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources.
about how to establish a program to make that a reality. Learn about tools like the Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard, how to set a measurable goal and implement your project, and address challenges in financing.
Learn about tools like the Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard, how to set a measurable goal and implement your project, and address challenges in financing.
Yaz Emrani, M.S., P.E., Vice President of Carollo Engineers, Inc., and Co-chair of the OC Infrastructure Report Card Executive Committee, discussed the results of the Report Card and the ‘C+’ average grade awarded based on the 12 categories: Aviation (A-); Electric Power (C-); Flood Control and Levees (C-); Ground Transportation (C); Natural Gas (B-); Oil (B-); Parks, Recreation, and Environment (C+); School Facilities (C); Solid Waste (B); Surface Water Quality (D+); Wastewater (B); and Water Supply (B).
Deanna’s Input for Question 2As the legislative assistant to t.docxedwardmarivel
Deanna’s Input for Question 2
As the legislative assistant to the Chief Administrator for Riverside County some of the key functions include monitoring pending legislation, conducting research, drafting legislation, giving advice and counsel, and making recommendations.
Identify the policy issues;
Riverside County has experienced negative propaganda on our water quality. However, Riverside County provides an annual drinking water quality report to ensure full transparency, clear communication, and information on how the county’s water met or surpassed all state and federal drinking water quality standards each year. Although Riverside County meets the quality standards each year, California’s booming population growth is impacting Riverside County drinking water quality sustainability. The following is a brief for a new water management policy to help sustain water quality in the County, which includes the development of a new drinking water treatment plant. The proposed drinking water treatment plant will also reduce the region’s dependence on imported water and eliminate as many contaminants in drinking water for public health. In addition, the county could potentially sell water to neighboring counties and the agricultural sector to help increase local revenue to the county.
Identify the stakeholders (public and private) and concerns
· Government agencies and agents – Local and state elected officials (e.g., mayors, county supervisors, etc.); local municipal water board; Western Municipal Water District; the State Water Resources Control Board, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Water Resources, Water Management Group, Public Health Officials, Water Utility Company in Riverside County, State water quality control board, and local land management and recreation agencies. Potential concerns may include the following: jurisdiction disputes; competing and conflicting existing public policies and regulations; differing political opinions regarding solutions to water crises; access to needed capital to develop and run proposed drinking water treatment plants; and unanticipated future operating expenses.
· Private sector – water study groups; local business and landowners; energy companies; and agricultural land groups; and legal counsel and experts. Potential concerns may include the following: land-right disputes; competing energy industries (traditional vs solar) and loss of revenue; operational constraints due to potential new regulations; and fear of increased operating costs due to added taxes to help offset costs of new drinking water treatment plant.
· Non-profit sector – environmental organizations, preservation and advocacy groups. Potential concerns may include the following: safety and water quality, and the capacity to support a three percent growth every year through 2045. Management of hazardous waste and environmental pollutants and impact on climate change due to large amounts of electrica.
This session focused on the key roles cities can play in support their own energy procurements, as well as key roles of local government can play to catalyze clean energy adoption community-wide.
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP): The Regional Role in Project Selec...RPO America
Presentation by Katie Caskey, Minnesota Department of Transportation; and Josh Pearson, Region 9 Development Commission, at the 2014 National Rural Transportation Conference.
Presentation slides from the April 9, 2020 webinar featuring state and private sector leaders discuss shovel-ready infrastructure opportunities that can create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the short-term in the U.S.
Learn more: https://www.wri.org/events/2020/04/webinar-build-back-better-shaping-us-stimulus-package
This webinar is a primer on how to get involved in key Houston-area flood-mitigation efforts. It provides an overview of the funding involved, methods of public commenting, and an introduction to current concerns in area communities most vulnerable to flooding.
Watch the webinar at: https://texaslivingwaters.org/deeper-dive/a-seat-at-the-table-how-to-engage-in-houston-area-flood-mitigation/
Speakers include:
Dr. Earthea Nance, Associate Professor, Texas Southern University
Danielle Goshen, Water Policy & Outreach Specialist, Galveston Bay Foundation
Amy Reed, Staff Attorney, Environmental Law Institute
Stephanie Oehler, Public Interest Law Fellow, Environmental Law Institute
Jordan Macha, Executive Director, Bayou City Waterkeeper
Amanda Fuller, Director, Texas Coast & Water Program, National Wildlife Federation
The workshop is the first of an intended series of conversations on how area residents can better participate in key processes that will shape their neighborhoods' futures. If you'd like more information on future events contact us at info@texaslivingwaters.org.
This event was hosted online on Aug 5, 2020 by the National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club (Lone Star Chapter), Bayou City Waterkeeper, and Galveston Bay Foundation.
Deanna’s Input for Question 3As Chief Financial Management Of.docxedwardmarivel
Deanna’s Input for Question 3:
As Chief Financial Management Officer of Riverside County, water resources are a top priority to ensure public needs are adequately being met for all county communities. The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, springs, and wells. It is extremely important to eliminate as many contaminants in drinking water for the public health. As such high demands in the county for clean drinking water, there is a need to create a new water management policy, which includes the development of a new drinking water treatment plant to respond to this critical need. The proposed drinking water treatment plant could produce close to 3 million gallons of drinking water per day diminishing the water crises. In addition, the county could potentially sell water to neighboring counties and the agricultural sector to help increase local revenue to the county. The policy requires an initial outlay of $20M and subsequent annual outlays of $5M for the foreseeable future.
How would I approach this task?
The first step would be to convene an interdepartmental capital allocation committee to examine the proposed policy in combining existing capital improvement projects and the overall county master plan for land use. If committee members agree to the feasibility of moving forward the next step would be to update the existing capital improvement plan (CIP), which spans multiple years to ensure adequate resources are available for the proposed water management policy and new facility. Edits to the existing CIP would include the follow:
1. Capital budget manual – contains a calendar or flowchart of the process, instructions, and forms for departments to use when completing requests
2. Cost projections – determining exact costs of each project
3. Revenue estimations – detailed estimate and availability of revenue, both reoccurring and from bond sales
4. Debt planning – outlining debt needs; scheduling voter referendum to authorize debt funding; obtaining voter approval on bond sales
5. Public hearing – schedule public hearing, prior to capital budget approval
6. Prepare final executive budget request
Information, I would need to know:
· Goals, timeliness and identification of various funding sources
· Financial analysis to include: 1) Cost-Benefit analysis – cost v. overall net benefit;
· Financial Condition Analysis
I. Existing long-term debt commitments/obligations
II. Population Growth Trends (e.g., housing, business)
· History of existing and recent user and property taxes – provides insight into existing taxes currently being levied on the community; property sales and tax info would be instrumental in helping to determine trends in sales and ability to generate revenue through levies (impose, “a tax, fee, or fine) and regional commerce activity.
· Fiscal S.
Leveraging Resources for Local Brownfields Revitalization nado-web
Brownfields (vacant, underutilized, or contaminated properties) depress local economies and reduce local tax revenues and threaten human and environmental health. Localities across the country have employed a broad array of funding strategies and tools to make their communities more resilient and sustainable. This session will focus on funding opportunities for public/private projects that the “brownfields” designation makes possible. It will include funding strategies as well as specific public and private sources, and suggestions for identifying who, where, and how to competitively seek funding.
Eugene Goldfarb, Technical Assistance Provider, Center for Hazardous Substance Research, Manhattan, KS
Margaret Renas, Lead, Community and Brownfield Redevelopment, Delta Institute, Chicago, IL
Matt Ward, CEO, Sustainable Strategies DC, Washington, DC
Jim Proce - 2018 Capital Improvement Planning Process CPM ClassJim Proce
Jim Proce, adjunct instructor, for the Certified Public Manager Program at Texas State University (NCTCOG-Arlington TX) brings this real-life module to the classroom workshop setting. With a little help from Jim Nichols, PE, ICMA-CM, the content covers CIP back-hoes to budgets and everything in between. This has been presented in several venues, agencies, and professional associations and serves as a primer and checklist for all things CIP. For more information contact jimproce@gmail.com
Enhancing the ability of governments and other organizations to provide environmental programs in fair, effective, and financially sustainable ways through:
•Applied Research
•Education and Outreach
•Program Design and Evaluation
zkStudyClub - Reef: Fast Succinct Non-Interactive Zero-Knowledge Regex ProofsAlex Pruden
This paper presents Reef, a system for generating publicly verifiable succinct non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs that a committed document matches or does not match a regular expression. We describe applications such as proving the strength of passwords, the provenance of email despite redactions, the validity of oblivious DNS queries, and the existence of mutations in DNA. Reef supports the Perl Compatible Regular Expression syntax, including wildcards, alternation, ranges, capture groups, Kleene star, negations, and lookarounds. Reef introduces a new type of automata, Skipping Alternating Finite Automata (SAFA), that skips irrelevant parts of a document when producing proofs without undermining soundness, and instantiates SAFA with a lookup argument. Our experimental evaluation confirms that Reef can generate proofs for documents with 32M characters; the proofs are small and cheap to verify (under a second).
Paper: https://eprint.iacr.org/2023/1886
Epistemic Interaction - tuning interfaces to provide information for AI supportAlan Dix
Paper presented at SYNERGY workshop at AVI 2024, Genoa, Italy. 3rd June 2024
https://alandix.com/academic/papers/synergy2024-epistemic/
As machine learning integrates deeper into human-computer interactions, the concept of epistemic interaction emerges, aiming to refine these interactions to enhance system adaptability. This approach encourages minor, intentional adjustments in user behaviour to enrich the data available for system learning. This paper introduces epistemic interaction within the context of human-system communication, illustrating how deliberate interaction design can improve system understanding and adaptation. Through concrete examples, we demonstrate the potential of epistemic interaction to significantly advance human-computer interaction by leveraging intuitive human communication strategies to inform system design and functionality, offering a novel pathway for enriching user-system engagements.
Building RAG with self-deployed Milvus vector database and Snowpark Container...Zilliz
This talk will give hands-on advice on building RAG applications with an open-source Milvus database deployed as a docker container. We will also introduce the integration of Milvus with Snowpark Container Services.
Full-RAG: A modern architecture for hyper-personalizationZilliz
Mike Del Balso, CEO & Co-Founder at Tecton, presents "Full RAG," a novel approach to AI recommendation systems, aiming to push beyond the limitations of traditional models through a deep integration of contextual insights and real-time data, leveraging the Retrieval-Augmented Generation architecture. This talk will outline Full RAG's potential to significantly enhance personalization, address engineering challenges such as data management and model training, and introduce data enrichment with reranking as a key solution. Attendees will gain crucial insights into the importance of hyperpersonalization in AI, the capabilities of Full RAG for advanced personalization, and strategies for managing complex data integrations for deploying cutting-edge AI solutions.
GraphSummit Singapore | The Future of Agility: Supercharging Digital Transfor...Neo4j
Leonard Jayamohan, Partner & Generative AI Lead, Deloitte
This keynote will reveal how Deloitte leverages Neo4j’s graph power for groundbreaking digital twin solutions, achieving a staggering 100x performance boost. Discover the essential role knowledge graphs play in successful generative AI implementations. Plus, get an exclusive look at an innovative Neo4j + Generative AI solution Deloitte is developing in-house.
Climate Impact of Software Testing at Nordic Testing DaysKari Kakkonen
My slides at Nordic Testing Days 6.6.2024
Climate impact / sustainability of software testing discussed on the talk. ICT and testing must carry their part of global responsibility to help with the climat warming. We can minimize the carbon footprint but we can also have a carbon handprint, a positive impact on the climate. Quality characteristics can be added with sustainability, and then measured continuously. Test environments can be used less, and in smaller scale and on demand. Test techniques can be used in optimizing or minimizing number of tests. Test automation can be used to speed up testing.
Communications Mining Series - Zero to Hero - Session 1DianaGray10
This session provides introduction to UiPath Communication Mining, importance and platform overview. You will acquire a good understand of the phases in Communication Mining as we go over the platform with you. Topics covered:
• Communication Mining Overview
• Why is it important?
• How can it help today’s business and the benefits
• Phases in Communication Mining
• Demo on Platform overview
• Q/A
Generative AI Deep Dive: Advancing from Proof of Concept to ProductionAggregage
Join Maher Hanafi, VP of Engineering at Betterworks, in this new session where he'll share a practical framework to transform Gen AI prototypes into impactful products! He'll delve into the complexities of data collection and management, model selection and optimization, and ensuring security, scalability, and responsible use.
Unlock the Future of Search with MongoDB Atlas_ Vector Search Unleashed.pdfMalak Abu Hammad
Discover how MongoDB Atlas and vector search technology can revolutionize your application's search capabilities. This comprehensive presentation covers:
* What is Vector Search?
* Importance and benefits of vector search
* Practical use cases across various industries
* Step-by-step implementation guide
* Live demos with code snippets
* Enhancing LLM capabilities with vector search
* Best practices and optimization strategies
Perfect for developers, AI enthusiasts, and tech leaders. Learn how to leverage MongoDB Atlas to deliver highly relevant, context-aware search results, transforming your data retrieval process. Stay ahead in tech innovation and maximize the potential of your applications.
#MongoDB #VectorSearch #AI #SemanticSearch #TechInnovation #DataScience #LLM #MachineLearning #SearchTechnology
Securing your Kubernetes cluster_ a step-by-step guide to success !KatiaHIMEUR1
Today, after several years of existence, an extremely active community and an ultra-dynamic ecosystem, Kubernetes has established itself as the de facto standard in container orchestration. Thanks to a wide range of managed services, it has never been so easy to set up a ready-to-use Kubernetes cluster.
However, this ease of use means that the subject of security in Kubernetes is often left for later, or even neglected. This exposes companies to significant risks.
In this talk, I'll show you step-by-step how to secure your Kubernetes cluster for greater peace of mind and reliability.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 6DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 6. In this session, we will cover Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI webinar offers an in-depth exploration of leveraging cutting-edge technologies for test automation within the UiPath platform. Attendees will delve into the integration of generative AI, a test automation solution, with Open AI advanced natural language processing capabilities.
Throughout the session, participants will discover how this synergy empowers testers to automate repetitive tasks, enhance testing accuracy, and expedite the software testing life cycle. Topics covered include the seamless integration process, practical use cases, and the benefits of harnessing AI-driven automation for UiPath testing initiatives. By attending this webinar, testers, and automation professionals can gain valuable insights into harnessing the power of AI to optimize their test automation workflows within the UiPath ecosystem, ultimately driving efficiency and quality in software development processes.
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into integrating generative AI.
2. Understanding how this integration enhances test automation within the UiPath platform
3. Practical demonstrations
4. Exploration of real-world use cases illustrating the benefits of AI-driven test automation for UiPath
Topics covered:
What is generative AI
Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath integration with generative AI
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Public Infrastructure in Massachusetts, Costs, Strategies, and Funding
1. Peter A. Richardson, P.E., LEED AP, CFM
Vice President, Green International Affiliates, Inc.
President-Elect, Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE
Public Infrastructure in Massachusetts
Costs, Strategies, and Funding
2. Presentation Outline
• Infrastructure Funding Challenges at the National,
State, and Local Levels.
• What are the Consequences if we “Fail to Act” and
don’t invest properly in infrastructure?
• Strategies that can be employed to improve our
infrastructure.
• Questions and Discussion.
4. At the National Level
In 2009, ASCE gave the nation’s
infrastructure a cumulative grade
of D, citing a total need of $2.2
Trillion over the next 5 years.
http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/
9. {
At the State Level
Updated in 2012, Raising the
Grade in Massachusetts
focuses attention on the state
of our infrastructure. Its main
purpose is to educate the
general public and our
legislators as to the
importance of designing,
maintaining, and funding
our infrastructure in a
sustainable manner.
10. At the State Level
• In 2007, MA Transportation Finance Commission Study estimated a
funding gap of $15 to $20 Billion over the next 20 years
http://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/tfc/TFC_Findings.pdf
• In 2011, the Sate Auditor reported that $60 million is needed to address
100 publically owned dams in unsafe/poor condition. MA has
approximately 2,900 private and publically owned dams
http://www.engineers.org/tec/file/DLM%20Dam%20Safety%20Report%20(3).pdf
• In 2012, the Massachusetts Water Infrastructure Finance Commission
identified a total 20 year funding gap of $39.4 Billion for water
infrastructure as follows: Drinking water $10.2 Billion; Clean water
$11.2 Billion; and Stormwater $18 Billion
http://www.senatoreldridge.com/legislation/wifc/wifc-committee-resources
11. At the Local Level
• Decreases in State Aid
• Unfunded Federal Mandates (i.e. NPDES)
• Lack of Capital Improvement Plans and Asset Management
Strategies
• Lack of State and/or Regional Infrastructure Plans
• Deferred Maintenance
• No political will to raise taxes, fees and/or rates
• True cost to deliver services not completely understood
• Misguided priorities; residents “don’t like” when their
cable bill goes up, but they are “outraged” when
water/sewer rates go up
12. How Much Investment is Enough?
• The US invests approximately 2.4% of its GDP on
infrastructure, while Europe invests approximately 5% and
China invests nearly 10%.
• Can we really expect to remain competitive in a world
economy if don’t invest more in our infrastructure?
• The need to fund our infrastructure in a sustainable manner
is an issue that all political parties should support.
14. Facilities in poor condition cause:
Damage to vehicles
Detours and wasted time
Increased maintenance costs
Decreased reliability causes:
Longer travel time for on-time arrivals and deliveries
Environmental and safety costs from:
Wasted energy
Higher emissions
Exposure to public health risks
The Costs
19. ASCE’s Five Key Solutions
at the National Level
1. Increase federal leadership
2. Promote sustainability & resilience to
protect the natural environment
3. Develop national, regional and state
infrastructure plans
4. Address life-cycle costs and ongoing
maintenance
5. Increase & improve investment from all
stakeholders
21. Action Steps at the Local Level
• Get Sustainable (using the triple bottom line)
• Investigate New Technologies
• Look at alternative procurement methods
• Form Public Private Partnerships (P3)
• Use Qualification Based Selection
• Create dedicated maintenance accounts
• Develop Capital Improvement Plans (CIP’s)
• Develop Asset Management Programs
• Create Stormwater Utilities
• Use the Pareto Principle and Prioritize!
22. Action Steps at the Association Level
• Educate our members and the public
• Work with other groups and form coalitions
• Support Lawmakers who support infrastructure
• Engage the media
When we started this study, we sought to document the effect that surface transportation deficiencies have, and will continue to have, on U.S. economic performance. For example, in 2010, there was a gap of 48% between what was needed to avoid deficiencies in highways, and what was being invested. As a result, 18% of the miles driven by American motorists were spent in congested traffic, and 31% of those miles were on deficient pavement.We found that at current levels of investment, surface transportation conditions will continue to deteriorate over time, in some cases, dramatically. There is some better news. An investment between now and 2020 can prevent these consequences.
We found that deteriorating transportation infrastructure imposes costs on American households and businesses in a number of ways.First, facilities in poor condition lead to increases in operating costs for trucks, cars, and rail vehicles. These costs include: damage to vehicles from deteriorated roadway surfaces, additional miles traveled and time wasted to avoid unusable or heavily congested roadways or due because of the breakdown of transit vehicles, and the added cost of repairing poorly maintained facilities as opposed to preserving them in good condition. Secondly, increased congestion decreases the reliability of transportation facilities. That means that travelers are forced to allot more time for commuting, to assure on-time arrivals for other trips, and for freight vehicles, on-time delivery. Finally, deficient transportation infrastructure imposes environmental and safety costs.
America will also lose jobs in high-value sectors as business income goes down. Almost 877,000 jobs would be lost by 2020, primarily in the high-value, professional, business and medical sectors which are vital to America’s knowledge-based service economy. Those job losses will be partially offset by new jobs in the few sectors that benefit from deficient transportation – auto repair, deliveries and the like. Ultimately, Americans will get paid less. While the economy will lose jobs overall, those who are able to find work will find their paychecks cut because of the ripple effects that will occur through the economy. Our findings show that a failing infrastructure will drive the cost of doing business up by adding 430 billion dollars to transportation costs in the next decade. It will cost firms more to ship good, and the raw materials they buy will cost more because of increased transportation costs.