Once basic conceptual land planning has been completed, and initial environmental factors taken into account, the next step is to begin the advanced design of the project, starting with the Preliminary Plan phase of the project, on through to Final Plans.

    Assuming the proposed project is both feasible and funded), detailed engineering design is next performed to develop engineering drawings and specifications necessary for construction.  This work involves:

The above design process covers all major areas of the project:

    Specific projects completed in these major areas are described in the sections which follow:

Earthwork and Grading

    The following is a listing of major projects completed and the amount of excavation involved in their actual construction.  In addition to these major jobs,  a large number of small jobs have been performed with excavation quantities of less than 50,000 cu. yds. each.

    In addition to the above projects which were actually completed, master planning was accomplished for the following projects which required extensive earthwork.

    Francis Smith Engineering, Inc. has been actively involved in providing engineering design and construction engineering services for large scale grading projects.  Pioneering work has been performed in developing earthwork computation theory and instrumentation.

    The computation of earthwork by contour method is described in the American Society of Civil Engineers Journal of the Construction Division, March, 1976 ‑ see article “Earthwork Volumes by Contour Method” by Francis E. Smith.

    Proprietary earthwork computation instruments and systems have also been developed and are utilized for the computation of earthwork by cross section and contour methods.

    Earthwork computer programs have also been written for use on various computer systems.

Streets and Highways

    Streets and highways are an integral part of every major project undertaken by this firm and the majority of streets designed have been constructed in steep hillside terrain which could only be considered mountainous.  Due to the extreme nature of the terrain, these roadways involved extensive earthwork and drainage considerations in addition to the usual criterion of:

    A highway  in California of particular note which was worked on is the Calabasas Parkway involving several miles of roadway construction and 360,000 cu. yds. of excavation.  Also entrance roadways for the Oakmont View project were constructed in very steep mountains and involved a major bridge crossing of a significant flood control channel (see project summaries for Calabasas Park and Oakmont View).

    A highway in Utah of particular note which was worked on with other consultants is Wasatch County Route A involving 7.8 miles of roadway and approximately 1,230,000 cu. yds. of excavation, total cost $11,000,000.

Structures

    Normal structures associated with typical projects include bridges and retaining walls, drainage inlet and outlet devices, utility vaults and manholes, highway appurtenances etc. The services of outside structural engineering consultants are used for this firm=s structural engineering needs.

Hydrology/Hydraulics/Flood Hazard/Drainage

    The control of surface drainage has been a significant design element of all projects designed by this firm. In addition, numerous projects completed have involved the crossing of, or channelization of major drainage courses.  The following are principal design aspects involved in this drainage work:

    Major drainage and flood control facilities have been designed by this firm for hillside grading projects in the Verdugo Mountains and the Santa Monica Mountains.  These areas are subject to extremely large and rapid amounts of storm water runoff and debris due the climatic conditions and the orientation of these mountains in Southern California.  The Shel Homes and Oakmont View projects in particular, described in the Appendix of this report, contained major drainage and flood control features for which design and construction engineering was provided.

Water Quality

    Incorporated in many forward thinking agency subdivision requirements are elements of Water Quality design based on Best Management Practices established by the Environmental Protection Agency, State of Utah, and local area jurisdictions.  Wasatch County, Utah imposes strict water quality design restrictions for all development applications, and these design parameters have been incorporated in Wasatch County plans designed by this firm.

Recorded Subdivision Maps

    The following is a listing of projects requiring the recording of Tract Maps, Parcel Maps, or Metes and Bounds Descriptions necessary for the conveyance of property; (  ) indicates condominium units.  The projects are listed sequentially by date of recordation.  Recorded subdivision and condominium plats have been prepared from 1962 to present for projects in California and Utah.

SUMMARIES:

Projects containing individual lots:

Projects containing condominium units:

Total:

    In addition to the above projects which were completed and recorded, work was performed on a  number of projects which never reached the recordation stage.  Many projects are abandoned in the design phase due to marketing and financing problems encountered by the developer.

Culinary Water Systems

Pressurized Irrigation Systems

Sewer Systems

Utility Systems

Also involved in the design of every major project are integrating elements of the following utility systems: