Austin City Council to Hold First Reading of the City’s Land Code Revisions
12.03.19The City of Austin released the first draft of revisions for its land development code and zoning maps. The revisions come more than a year after city council nixed CodeNEXT – Austin’s previous attempt at revising the code. The extensive code is more than a thousand pages… Read More
Why Local Governments are Increasingly Vulnerable to Cyberattacks
10.25.19The advent of the Internet has done wonders for the world. However, it’s spurred an ugly side effect; cyberattacks. These attacks come in the form of data breaches, ransomware, password attacks and SQL injections. Statistics show a cyberattack happens every 39 seconds in the United States and cause trillions… Read More
Engineering and Land Surveying Board Merge Following Recommendations from the Sunset Advisory Commission
10.24.19In 2018, the Sunset Advisory Commission – which evaluates state agencies and makes recommendations to the legislature – received a Staff Report expressing concerns regarding the effectiveness of the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying (TBPLS) regulating land surveyors. The Commission subsequently recommended consolidation with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE)… Read More
New Bill Requires Public Servants to Complete Cybersecurity Training
10.10.19Over the past few years, local governments and their acting agencies have become prey for cybercriminals. In fact, a report from 2018 showed a 39 percent increase in the number of attacks against state and local governments. Most recently, 22 municipalities in Texas were hacked, seized and held… Read More
Atlas 14 Brings Changes to Harris County
09.23.19Harris County and the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) recently updated the rainfall rates used in their regulations following the release of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14 study. This study is the first comprehensive rainfall rate study released by NOAA for the… Read More
Fast Facts About Flash Flooding
09.17.19They Are Powerful and Dangerous Flash floods can bring walls of water up to 20’ high. Only six inches of rapidly moving water can sweep a full grown person off their feet and two feet of water can sweep away a car, uproot trees, and level some buildings. According to… Read More
What is House Bill 3167 and How Will it Impact Your Development?
09.03.19Every construction project endures its fair share of red tape. Local laws and regulations can dictate whether a project gets off the ground or crosses the finish line. More than 4,000 bills became law this legislative session, with a handful of them aimed at construction and development. Read More
Pier and Beam: An Alternative to Slab Foundation
08.29.19Houston residents have been dealing with flooding issues since the city’s founding 180 years ago. According to the Weather Channel, the Bayou City experiences an average of five days of flooding every year, making the greater Houston area the flood capital of the nation. So naturally, developers… Read More
Risks Facing Houston This Hurricane Season
07.30.19Hurricanes and tropical storms are often the most destructive and costly natural disasters in Texas. Since the National Weather Service began keeping track, more than 120 tropical cyclones have struck the Lone Star State, amassing billions in damage. Historically, storm surge is the leading cause of destruction… Read More
What is a TIRZ and How Can it Benefit Your Community?
07.22.19TIRZs A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) is a type of special district that is created to attract new investment to areas that need revitalization through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). TIF is a type of financing local governments can use to pay for improvements to help bring investment into… Read More
Things To Do This 4th Of July
07.02.19Jones|Carter would like to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! If you haven’t already made plans to stick around the grill and the pool, check out some of our team member’s favorite ways to spend the 4th! Austin Austin Symphony/Facebook After burgers and hotdogs, fireworks are a staple… Read More
3 Economic Tools to Improve Infrastructure & Public Services
06.24.19Special districts are a tool that can be used to provide public services to designated geographical areas. These districts are independent, special purpose governmental units that have administrative and fiscal independence from general-purpose local governments. Special Districts are flexible and can rapidly address community challenges, like roadways, drainage, utilities, water,… Read More
Things to do in Dallas This Father’s Day Weekend
06.13.19Jones|Carter has been in North Texas, opening our Dallas office in 1996. In 2018, we had the privilege of opening an office in Fort Worth. As our footprint expands, so does our staff. We asked several team members to fill us in on their favorite things to do during the… Read More
Are You Performing This Crucial Step in Your Cybersecurity Program?
04.05.19The cybersecurity risk management lifecycle is broken into three phases: assess, design and implement, and maintain. For the purpose of this article, we will discuss the assess phase, what is included in it, and what the end product should be. The goal of this phase is to evaluate an industrial… Read More
What are Regional Mobility Authorities (RMA) and What do They do for Texas?
03.23.19Benefits of an RMA Serves as a tool to help solve transportation problems by bringing new funding sources and new approaches for developing projects Provides local governments more control in transportation planning Helps build transportation projects sooner, which brings traffic congestion relief faster Improves mobility and increases safety for motorists… Read More
Will Atlas 14 Affect Stormwater and Infrastructure Design in North Texas?
03.22.19In North Texas, the Houston Metro, and Central Texas, much of the drainage infrastructure design is driven by the 100-year, 24-hour design parameters. In September of last year, the results of the Atlas 14 study were released to the public. Since that time, regulating entities in Southeast and Central… Read More
7 Things to Do With the Family in San Antonio This Week
03.11.19There are many reasons why San Antonio is the perfect place to spend Spring Break: it’s close to home, family friendly, and packed with Texas history. Below is a list of things to do, events to attend, and food to eat while you visit San Antonio during Spring Break. … Read More
Eight Family-Friendly Things to do in Austin Over Spring Break That You Will Not Need a Second Break From
03.08.19Austin is great place to visit any time of year, but over the next few weeks your favorite Texas city will be abuzz with SXSW and spring breakers in addition to the normal local activities. Below is a list of activities to check out that will help keep both brains… Read More
How Vital is an Intelligent SCADA System?
02.25.19Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is a system of hardware and software elements used to control processes both locally and remotely. SCADA networks contain computers and applications that are key to providing essential services, such as electricity, water, wastewater treatment, and transportation. These systems are crucial for organizations as… Read More
Atlas 14 Study Shows Changes for the Austin Area
01.30.19Atlas 14, a study of historical rainfall data and events performed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and was released in late 2018. The study shows that Austin is one of the more significantly impacted locations in Texas – so, what could that mean for Austinites? City… Read More
Small MS4 Update: How Will the TPDES Changes Impact You?
01.24.19On January 16, 2019, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) renewed the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) General Permit No. TXR040000, commonly known as the Small MS4 (Phase II) General Permit. The permit regulates both stormwater and certain non-stormwater discharges from publicly owned or operated small Municipal Separate… Read More
Top Things to do in Austin this Holiday Season
12.19.18Looking for things to do in Austin this holiday season? It’s the most wonderful time of the year to be a tourist in your hometown! Here is a short list of things to do over the coming weeks, either with your family or as an escape. Happy Holidays! Take a… Read More
Top 5 Things to Do in San Antonio this Holiday Season
12.18.18Explore our list of top 5 things to do in San Antonio over the coming weeks, either with your family or as an escape. Happy Holidays! Float by Lights on the River Walk San Antonio’s famous River Walk is lit up throughout the holiday season. Walk, float, or find… Read More
Top Things to do in Dallas This Holiday Season
12.18.18Searching for fun things to do in Dallas this holiday season? It’s the most wonderful time of the year to be a tourist in your own hometown! Enjoy the holiday season lights, sights, and activities throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We have compiled a short list of things to do… Read More
Top 6 Things to do in Houston this Holiday Season
12.18.18Looking for fun things to do in Houston this holiday season? It’s the most wonderful time of the year to be a tourist in your hometown! Enjoy the holiday season lights, sights, and activities throughout the Houston area. We have compiled a short list of things to do over the… Read More
Empowering SCADA Systems to Bring the Intelligence and Unlock Hidden Insights for Your Organization
12.11.18The need for the water industry to evolve has never been greater. Organizations now have the capability to shift from their current state of only monitoring historic performance into a more proactive approach. New sensors, technologies, and applications are available to help with proactive monitoring, managing, and eventually automating many… Read More
According to Study 100-Year Rain Events Have Been Underestimated – How Often do They Actually Happen?
10.03.18It’s been 57 years since Texas has updated rainfall precipitation estimates According to the estimates, a 100-year rain event in Harris County is now thought to be closer to a 25-year rain event FEMA National Flood Insurance Program will update accordingly Atlas 14 Developed by the National… Read More
Three Ways Drones Have Changed the Surveying Industry
09.27.18Drones are changing the way the world works, which includes the development of infrastructure and housing through surveying and engineering projects. The Jones|Carter Survey team frequently uses drones for aerial photogrammetry to take shots for boundary surveys, topographic surveys, and as-built survey. There are numerous ways drones have changed the… Read More
Building a Culture of Service
09.07.18Jones|Carter Culture: Mary Barton– Ronald McDonald House We are proud to have team members that understand the importance of giving back to the communities where we live and work. Many Jones|Carter team members are active in their communities not… Read More
Floodplain Regulations in Effect
09.05.18The City of Houston’s floodplain regulations went into effect on September 1st, 2018. Below is a high-level overview of the effective changes. Regulated Area Previously, Houston’s code applied to property in the 100-year floodplain. The new revisions include the 500-year floodplain. Elevation The existing Chapter 19 regulations required… Read More
Avoiding the Illusion of Communication
08.31.18George Bernard Shaw is credited with the quote, “the single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” Too often in our personal and professional lives, miscommunication happens. Miscommunications often lead to frustration. It is easy for individuals to have the illusion that they have communicated… Read More
Hydraulics 101: If A 100-Year Rainfall Doesn’t Always Cause a 100-Year Flood – Then What Does?
08.24.18100 -Year Flood Explained: Over the last several years there have been numerous 100-year or greater floods in Texas. This includes Austin’s Onion Creek on Halloween of 2013, the Blanco River in Wimberley over the 2015 Memorial Day weekend, Houston’s Tax Day flood in April of 2016, and Hurricane Harvey… Read More
Railport Business Park – Midlothian, Texas
08.09.18RailPort Business Park is a 1,700-acre industrial development in Midlothian, Texas, located 25 miles southwest of Dallas. The business park provides an optimum geographical position and amenities suited to large-scale distribution and manufacturing operations. Listen to Bryan Kennedy from our Land Development team and Mark Holliday from our Municipal and… Read More
USACE Funds May Go To The Ike Dike – But What Is It?
08.06.18In early July, 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced they would fund nearly $5 billion for disaster recovery projects throughout Texas, focused mainly on the southeast where Hurricane Harvey did the most damage. The bulk of the funds, almost $4 billion, will go toward improving existing levees… Read More
FM 70 TxDOT Project – Interview With Project Manager Tim Newton, PE
07.19.18Jones|Carter Project Manager, Tim Newton, PE, sat down to discuss the recent FM 70 project win, how he will lead the J|C team, and how he will incorporate the input from the public to make sure those who live in the area will stay informed. Congratulations on… Read More
Hydrology 101: The 100-Year Rainfall Explained
07.13.18Contrary to how it may sound, a 100-year rainfall event is not something that happens every 100 years. Rather, it means that there is a one percent chance that a certain amount of rain will fall in a particular location over a set amount of time in a given year. Read More
Harris County Flood Control Bond Election
06.21.18Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) $2.5 Billion Bond Election for Flood Risk Reduction The Harris County Commissioners Court has proposed a $2.5 billion bond election to take place on August 25, 2018, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey. Registered voters will be asked to vote on the bonds, which… Read More
Chapter 9 & 13 Recommended Updates
06.18.18The City of Houston’s Redevelopment and Drainage Task Force has recommended updates to the current City of Houston Infrastructure Design Manual Chapter 9 and Chapter 13 Design Standards. These Design Standards impact detention, sheet flow, fill, and encroachments in the City right-of-way. The City is considering accepting the recommended… Read More
Potential FEMA Flood Map Changes
06.14.18Click Image for Full Size PDF Show full text... Potential FEMA Flood Map Changes Harris County, as well as other local jurisdictions, are weighing the possibility of updating FEMA flood maps in their area. Below is an overview… Read More
Driving Texas Roadway Projects with TxDOT
06.07.18Jones|Carter has been awarded three noteworthy TxDOT projects over the last several months. We are honored to lead these projects as the prime firm. Our goal is to not only strengthen our relationship with TxDOT but also to utilize our local knowledge to provide the communities where we live and… Read More
Preliminary Chapter 19 Floodplain Guidelines Released
06.05.18In early April, the City of Houston adopted amendments to the Chapter 19 Floodplain Ordinance. On May 29, 2018, The City of Houston Floodplain Management Office (FMO) released Chapter 19 Floodplain Guidelines. The purpose of the Guidelines is to establish effective procedures for implementing the Ordinance. May 29th began… Read More
Flood Awareness Week 2018
05.24.18Texas Governor Greg Abbott proclaimed May 21-25, 2018 Flood Awareness Week. Most Texans have experienced flooding, often in major ways. Events like the Memorial Day and Halloween floods in 2015, Hurricanes Ike and Harvey in 2008 and 2017 respectively, and Tropical storm Allison in 2001 have made a major impact. Read More
Atlas 14 – What Is It and How Could It Affect You or Your Project?
05.15.18What is Atlas 14? Atlas 14 is an ongoing study used to analyze historical rainfall data in order to update statistical hypothetical rainfall events in Texas. In certain circumstances the statistical events are used to analyze waterways and help design stormwater infrastructure. Based on historical data, Atlas 14 will assign… Read More
Lower Brazos River Floodplain Protection Planning Study is Complete, What You Need to Know
05.01.18A study commissioned by the Brazos River Authority (BRA) to better understand the effects of large rain events and provide comprehensive regional drainage criteria for the lower Brazos River watershed was recently completed. The study began in 2015 and was funded by a Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Flood Protection… Read More
Municipal Cybersecurity – The Mistakes Atlanta Made and How You Can Avoid Them
04.23.18We sat down with Jones|Carter’s Sean McMillan, Electrical Division Manager, who is also a certified Cybersecurity Expert, to talk about the recent cyberattack on Atlanta and what other cities need to be aware of about the attack. What exactly happened to the City of Atlanta? The City of Atlanta was the… Read More
City of Houston Floodplain Regulations Revisions Explained
04.19.18Houston City Council has passed revisions to the Chapter 19 Floodplain Ordinance that will go into effect September 1st, 2018. The updated regulations require a minimum elevation at the 500-year floodplain level plus two feet. This short video explains the recent floodplain regulations revisions passed by the City of Houston,… Read More
UPDATE: Floodplain Regulations Revisions Passed 4/4
03.22.18UPDATE: 04/04/18 The Chapter 19 Floodplain revisions proposed by the City of Houston have been passed and will go in the effect as of September 1st, 2018. We will be sharing more details about the revisions and the amendments UPDATE: 03/28/18 The Floodplain revisions have been postponed again until Wednesday,… Read More
Post-Harvey Regulatory Changes
03.14.18Harris County has issued revisions to their Floodplain Regulations, which will impact future developments in the unincorporated areas of Harris County, Texas. Included below is a copy of the current Harris County Floodplain Regulations as well as a Harris County Floodplain Regulation Quick Reference Guide that summarizes the new… Read More
Scanning – LiDAR
03.06.18LiDAR, also known as Terrestrial Scanning, is a technique our survey teams use on a variety of projects including industrial developments, municipal, and TxDOT projects as well as any other situation where the technology fits the requirements of the job. The two scanners we use are the SX –… Read More
The Park Row Completion Project
02.27.18A straightforward roadway project quickly becomes more complicated when Houston flooding interferes. Hear from the engineers in our Municipal and District Services department about how they were able to continue and complete the project, which now serves as an additional hurricane evacuation route. Read More
The FM 1560 Project
02.20.18This project incorporated and combined aerial mapping and photogrammetry with aerial LiDAR, conventional surveying, and GPS surveying. The team also used GIS data, taking the tax map info along with deed research and deed plotting, and used that for planning where they would take cross sections to verify all… Read More
The Hardy Toll Road Expansion
02.13.18Fighting traffic in Houston can be tough, and paying a toll to sit in traffic is not fun. Before this project began, there was a consistent 2 to 3 mile slow-down northbound on the Hardy Toll Road near FM 1960 because of a lane drop, causing the lanes to… Read More
The La Grange River Bridge Project
02.06.18This project took the Jones|Carter survey team to a 1400 linear foot bridge stretching across the Colorado River in La Grange. Conventional surveying methods were used to obtain the top-of-bank and channel measurements of the river on both sides, as well as the embankments and the exact bride location. Read More
The Balmoral Development
01.16.18Our Land Development team is proud to have helped construct Texas’ first Crystal Clear Lagoon with white sand beaches located in Northeast Houston. The lagoon covers of over 1.5 acres and is home to 3,000 lots in a master planned community. One of the biggest challenges that the project… Read More
Drones – SUAS
01.09.18This technology goes by several different names. Drones, SUAS, and UAVs are all essentially the same thing. They are simply a vehicle that houses equipment which, in this case, is either a camera or a LiDAR scanner. Drones allow us to use photogrammetry which uses photos from a high… Read More
Chaining, Precision and Boundary Analysis
06.12.17Probably some of the young surveyors are thinking what is this guy talking about! How are these three words related! I am in the last or close to the last generation of surveyors that spent any significant amount of time using a surveyor’s chain (No, not the Gunter’s chain –… Read More
Drainage Solutions are Not One-Size-Fits-All
02.14.17In a recent article published by Michael Bloom and Steve Stagner, “Boomtown, Flood Town Reconsidered: An Engineer’s View”, got me thinking about flood planning and drainage solutions in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. My thanks to Michael… Read More