The dawn of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has brought a range of positive changes to the utility industry. An integrated, fixed-network system that gathers, stores and analyzes energy data allows utility companies and their customers to communicate in real time. Hanson recently finished installing AMI devices as part of a statewide project for Ameren Illinois and is nearing completion of a similar project for Ameren Missouri.

Matt Heyen, P.E., an assistant vice president and Hanson’s power operations lead, serves clients from his home office. With a family that includes a wife who is an essential worker as a principal of a middle school, two boys in school sports and a full complement of design and construction projects to manage, my daily …

As engineers, we pay close attention to the design of the infrastructure we develop, but we may overlook what it takes for contractors and material to access the project during construction. In many instances, the construction access for a designated project location can have a great effect on overall project costs. When developing construction access, …

Whether information for a project is gathered in the field or from previously conducted studies, the input is incredibly valued by our clients and is the backbone of our business, especially when it comes to the geotechnical and groundwater aspects of our services. But what good is data if it is not used to its …

The land acquisition specialists at Hanson work closely with landowners, government agencies and community organizations to gain support for projects. These projects can be initiated by electric and gas utilities, departments of transportation, municipalities and other entities that need land rights. Building relationships, communication, decision-making and negotiation are key to the success of the land …

Rhonald Hasenyager, P.G., R.G., a senior geologist at Hanson who joined the company in 2006 and has and has 30 years of groundwater monitoring experience, does not have a conventional workday. He might be at his desk in the Springfield, Illinois, headquarters, poring over groundwater data, or he could be collecting that data on a …

One of the major challenges faced by power companies that produce electricity with coal is how to handle the ash and other byproduct materials left over after the coal has been burned. This material is commonly referred to as coal combustion residuals (CCR). Recent events around the United States involving coal ash storage impoundments put …

Vehicle-based geospatial technology boosts the speed and safety of gathering survey data for a variety of projects, such as building a transmission line. Instead of putting surveyors and engineers on the ground to collect information about local roads along a project’s construction routes, a vehicle equipped with data-collecting technology traverses the roadways on the construction …

Hanson is providing siting, land acquisition and construction management services for an energy client’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system in several communities. AMI combines smart meters, networks and data management systems for two-way communication between the meters and utility providers. Hanson is using its geographic information and land management systems — which have been successfully …

A wind farm developer has hired Hanson to map existing subsurface drainage areas for a proposed wind farm project site. Using multiple drones, Hanson has collected aerial and thermal imagery to identify the subsurface drainage features, or field tiles, that are present within the proposed wind farm footprint, covering more than 6,500 acres. The identified …