Week of September 19, 2022 |
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The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Navigating the New Arctic program recently awarded researchers from Penn State and the University of New Hampshire a $3 million grant to examine earthquake impacts on community well-being and perception and preparedness toward potential earthquakes. “More Arctic research is needed to inform the society and provide security and resilience of the larger region and the globe,” according to the Principal Investigator at Penn State, Guangqing Chi, professor of rural sociology, demography, and public health sciences in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education and Social Science Research Institute (SSRI). Chi, who is leading the social sciences aspects of the project, will focus on the societal changes and community preparedness because of the earthquakes, while Majid Ghayoomi, associate professor and the lead principal investigator at the University of New Hampshire, will look at infrastructure impacts. |
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EPA Awards $1.3B for Water Infrastructure Projects in 18 States |
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- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded over $1.3 billion for water infrastructure improvements to 18 states using funds provided in the federal IIJA.
- EPA announced that the money was issued through State Revolving Funds (SRFs) for drinking water and clean water projects focusing on benefiting underserved communities.
- The funds are the first installment of nearly $44 billion the agency will distribute to states, territories, and tribes for water infrastructure projects over five years, following its previously announced allocations of the first $7.4 billion in infrastructure act money for the SRFs.
- According to White House officials, almost half of that SRF funding will come in the form of grants or forgivable loans.
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Tech Companies Vie to Monetize the Curb and Reinvent Street Parking |
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- A new breed of curb-savvy startups is disrupting the estimated $20 billion US parking industry by wooing city officials with something they haven’t had before: real-time data on how their curb space is being used.
- Many emerging curb management companies argue that real-time data will mean less traffic and more revenue for cities, though acknowledge that political barriers rank high on the list of obstacles in the way of cities adopting and implementing the technology and systems needed to fully collect the data.
- Beyond easing traffic and generating revenues for cities, supporters also argue that the automation software will help to reduce overall carbon emissions by analyzing how transportation decisions and infrastructure impact communities more broadly.
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Whiteoak, an Australia-based private equity firm, has acquired stakes in MIEngineers Pty Ltd (MIEngineers), an Australia-based engineering consulting firm providing cost estimating and design services to large public infrastructure and engineering projects in Australia and the UK, and its sister software company Benchmark Estimating Software (Benchmark), which developed a SaaS product now used by more than 220 government and private clients globally. With its investments in MIEngineers and Benchmark, Whiteoak will look to add more people to both businesses and will seek to turn MIEngineers from a niche player in Australia and UK into a broader group servicing a wider range of infrastructure projects and geographies. The two businesses, both part of the privately owned MacDonald Group, will be run separately with their own management teams, strategic plans, funding, and ultimately exit pathways. |
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Ardurra Group, Inc. (Ardurra), a Florida-based provider of consulting and engineering services and portfolio company of RTC Partners, has acquired and merged with Shephard – Wesnitzer, Inc. (SWI), an Arizona-based civil engineering and surveying services firm. The acquisition of SWI will help to expand Ardurra’s operating footprint in Northern Arizona. Ashley Chang, a Vice President at RTC Partners noted, “This is Ardurra’s third acquisition of an Arizona-based firm within the last twelve months – we’re pleased with the company’s targeted expansion within this fast-growing market and are bullish on the future success that the combined teams can achieve together in the Southwest.” |
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Anser Advisory (Anser), a California-based program management and consulting services firm and portfolio company of Sterling Investment Partners, has acquired RLH Engineering, Inc. (RLH), a Colorado-based owner’s representative, project management, and environmental consulting firm. The acquisition of RLH expands Anser Advisory’s ability to serve clients in the Northern Colorado area and positions the firm for additional growth across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region in the areas of K-12, healthcare, and municipal markets, including police and fire protection facilities. RLH also brings subject matter expertise in environmental consulting that Anser will leverage to enhance client support nationwide. |
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TranSystems Corporation (TranSystems), a Missouri-based transportation engineering and architectural planning, design, and construction firm and portfolio company of Sentinel Capital Partners, has acquired SEPI, Inc. (SEPI), a North Carolina-based multi-disciplinary engineering firm providing land development and infrastructure planning, design and construction solutions. The acquisition of SEPI will help to expand TranSystems’ operating footprint in North Carolina and enhance its current service offerings to customers. |
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