1. MS4 & TMDL Permit Software Analysis and Design for Norfolk, Virginia
Pam Cowher, GISP
Advisor: Barry M. Evans, PH.D.
GEOG 596A – Summer 2013

2. Agenda Background Why is an MS4 Software Needed Project Goals
Methodology
Timeline
Expected Outcomes

3. Introduction What is an MS4?
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Water conveyance system:
Owned by public entity
Collects and discharges stormwater
Not a combined sewer
Not part of sewage treatment system
Limit pollution from suburban / urban stormwater

4. Introduction (cont.) MS4 Types Phase 1 (Large MS4) Phase 2 (Small MS4)
Urban area
Population greater than 100,000
Approximately 100 in nation (11 in Virginia)
Permits are customized to each jurisdiction
Phase 2 (Small MS4)
Urban area as defined by U.S. Census
Less than 100,000 residents
General permit for all
Over 2000 small MS4s in nation. Makes this more profitable subset. Will talk more about this later.

5. Introduction (cont.) Chesapeake Bay TMDL
Established in 2010 to clean- up the Bay
Largest TMDL
“Pollution Diet”
Sets allocation goals for VA that must be met by 2025
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sediment

6. Bay TMDL Progress Reporting
Progress towards TMDL Goals tracked by BMP implementation
Urban
Agricultural
How?
Number of BMPs
Drainage Area to BMP combined with land use to determine loading
Why?
If MS4 cannot show progress towards goals may have financial consequences

7. Why do MS4s need management software?
New permits issued in Virginia
Require large amount of data tracking and reporting
TMDL requirements for Chesapeake Bay Watershed
MS4s required to inspect facilities and BMPs that discharge into their system
Annual reporting requirements

8. Existing COTS MS4 Software
Many available
MS4 specific
MS4 Permit Manager / MS4 Web
PermiTrackMS4
Operation MS4
Full City Asset Management Software
Azteca Cityworks – Stormwater Module
Cartegraph
Accela

9. Why are commercial software not being used?
Asked 2 local cities this question.
Similar responses:
Not customizable enough for individual needs
Inputs are required from too many departments
Duplicated entry into many systems
High cost of implementation

10. Study Area Norfolk, VA Phase I MS4 Approx. 33,000 ac
MS4 Area = 23,000 ac (70% of land area)
42% of land area is impervious
Drains directly to Bay

11. Project Goals
Design a relational database to store data related to Bay TMDL and MS4 Permit
Design front-end system for data entry and attribute reporting and querying
Front-end system must:
Have an interactive map
Be web based
Be customizable

12. Methodology Conduct user group interviews Norfolk Storm Water managers
Field inspectors
Customer service agents
GIS Staff

13. Methodology (cont.) Design Database Schema
Over 25 sections in MS4 permit that must be tracked – Data are both spatial and non-spatial
Tables will include:
Land Cover (spatial)
BMPs (spatial)
E & S Inspection (non-spatial)
BMP Inspections (non-spatial)
Nutrient management areas (spatial/non-spatial)
Dry and Wet weather monitoring data (spatial/non)
And many others….
Reiterate here that there are over 25 tables that must be related. Many tables have both spatial and non-spatial components such as BMPs.

14. Methodology (cont.)
Data schema result will be UML diagram or similar documenting tables and relationships.

15. Methodology (cont.) Prototype application Design web forms
Input
Reports
Forms will not be linked to “back-end” data at this point
City of Norfolk staff will review and comment

16. Methodology (cont.)
Create "Tie-ins" from the Prototype application to the database
Database to GIS Services
Database to Web applications
Link data to forms and reports
Start to create ArcGIS for Flex Application
Finalize Application with input from Norfolk staff

17. Methodology (cont.) Design System Architecture Web Application Server
Web forms, editing, report creation.
MS4 & TMDL Permitting App – Desktop Internet
SQL Server Express Database
GIS Server
(ArcGIS for Server)
MS4 & TMDL Permitting App – Mobile Application
Mapping Services
Geoprocessing
Other data hosting

18. Timeline Prior to August 14: Conduct user interviews
August : Develop data schema that will be the basis of the project
August : Provide schema to City of Norfolk staff to review
September 1 - 8: Develop sketch of application design (non-working prototype)
September : Create tie-ins between data and application
September 17: Present prototype at the Virginia GIS conference (Williamsburg, VA)
September 18 - October 4: Continue development (working prototype)
October 4 - October 11: Working prototype to City of Norfolk staff for review and comments
October : Finalize application to acceptable research grade quality, write final report, and provide research grade application to the City of Norfolk.

19. Expected Outcomes Working web application to:
Manage the MS4 / TMDL portion of Stormwater program
Allow multiple tabular edits
Allow map inputs and spatial edits
Report on progress towards TMDL goals
Report on MS4 Annual Report requirements
Application will be considered research grade and not production ready

20. Acknowledgements Barry M. Evans, PH.D.
City of Norfolk Storm Water Department
Penn State University MGIS Program

21. References
Accela, Inc. (2013). Accela, Inc. Better Government through Civic Engagement. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from Accela, Inc.:
ASSIST. (2006). ASSIST - Comprehensive Asset Management. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from ASSIST:
Azteca Systems, Inc. (2012). Home. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from Cityworks:
Butler, Fairman, and Seufert. (2013). Home. Retrieved 6 28, 2016, from Operation MS4:
Cartegraph. (2013). Cartegraph. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from The Operations Management System:
CBI Systems. (2013). Home. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from MS4 Web MS4 Permit Manager:
Committee on the Evaluation of Chesapeake Bay Program Implementation for Nutrient Reduction to Improve Water Quality. (2010). Achieving Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Goals in the Chesapeake Bay: An Evaluation of Program Strategies and Implementation. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.
Houston Engineering, Inc. (2012). MS4Front.com. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from MS4Front:
SEH Technology Solutions. (2013). PermiTrack. Retrieved 6 28, 2013, from PermiTrack:

22. Questions?
Contact:
Pam Cowher, GISP