Ohio Water Resources Center and WMAO Luncheon

Although sustainable solutions have advanced dramatically over the years, the way we disseminate the information to stakeholders about our projects has not changed. Most public meetings have visualization material limited to 2-D renderings. ms consultants has developed a way to merge existing techniques with new technologies to better communicate to various stakeholders during the different stages of a project. ms consultants is a leader in the use of Augmented Reality. Through the use of interactive web-based AR presentations, pertinent project information can be demonstrated at public meetings or viewed on home computers and mobile devices. We are currently leveraging this technology to help with interagency coordination and stakeholder involvement in various places across the US. This cost effective tool has already helped to communicate on the expectations of numerous projects and these case studies will be presented as part of this presentation. 

Public outreach is usually a required after-thought when it comes to managing wet weather and stormwater programs.  Sometimes we over think what the best strategies for acceptance or consensus should be as it relates to our public outreach efforts.  Timely, effective and enhanced communication with the public is necessary for successful green infrastructure projects and programs. Outreach goals should include gaining and preserving public trust and helping to educate ratepayers on the benefits of green infrastructure.  Broad outreach goals should include: 

• Gaining support and trust from the community for the proposed improvements; 
• Providing transparency for the planning and design of the project;
• Educating the public about what green infrastructure is and the different types that can be leveraged; 
• Listening to the community leaders and members on their preferences relates to different green infrastructure techniques; and  
• Demonstrating an integrated approach to planning and designing through a collaborative effort with other agencies.  

This presentation will cover several community case studies on how public outreach efforts evolved over the course of months and years and demonstrates some of the best and most cost effective strategies that can be implemented in your community. 

For more imformation on how to register: click here