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Leading Expert in Pavement Sustainability Joins NCE

NCE is happy to announce a new addition to our team. Thomas Van Dam, PE, PhD, FACI, LEED AP has joined NCE as a Principal in the Transportation Research Group where his expertise will expand NCE’s research capabilities and refine our pavement-related expertise. Dr. Van Dam has been actively involved in pavement-related issues at the national, regional, and state levels. His areas of expertise include sustainable civil engineering infrastructure, airport and highway pavement performance, durability, and training.
With 29 years of experience in pavement design and evaluation, concrete, materials assessment and sustainability, he has managed large projects for the FHWA, multiple state Departments of Transportation and the Innovative Pavement Research Foundation to analyze the effects of concrete properties and durability on pavement performance and has published numerous articles and papers.
Dr. Van Dam graduated from the University of Illinois-Urbana with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering, and Doctorate in Philosophy. He’s a member of several national associations, including the American Concrete Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers, Transportation Research Board, and International Society of Concrete Pavements.
“As we are winning new pavement sustainability projects, Tom’s experience and technical skills are great assets to the growing NCE transportation research practice and to the firm,” said Claude Corvino, NCE President.
Civil Engineering

NCE provides a broad spectrum of engineering services associated with public infrastructure and private development projects. The firm’s civil engineering disciplines have proven invaluable to clients on transportation, water resource, municipal infrastructure, land development and site design projects.NCE’s civil engineers have extensive experience with the design and preparation of plans, specifications and estimates for city, county, state and federal infrastructure projects. Our civil engineering services include planning, feasibility studies, assessment, design and construction for a broad range of projects.
Site Civil Engineering
- Grading and Drainage Design
- ADA Compliance
- Utility Design and Coordination
- Utility ABC Letters
- Geotechnical Investigations
- Low Impact Development (LID)
- Permeable Pavements
- Parking Design and Layout
- On-site Sewage Disposal Design
- Grading and Site Improvement Permits
- Encroachment Permits
- Plans, Specifications and Estimates
- Feasibility Studies and Master Plans
Municipal Utilities
Water Systems
- Hydraulic Modeling
- Municipal Production Wells
- Transmission and Distribution
- Storage Tanks and Reservoirs
- Pumping Stations
- Large Meter Retrofit
Wastewater Systems
- Hydraulic Modeling
- Condition Assessments
- Collection Systems
- Interceptors
- Storage Reservoirs
- Effluent Transmission
- Effluent Management Plans
Transportation
- Planning Studies
- Roadway Rehabilitation Design
- Curb, Gutter and Sidewalks
- ADA Compliance and Retrofit
- Pavement Design
- Striping and Signage Plans
- Traffic Control Plans
- Utility Coordination
- Coring and Falling Weight Deflectometer Investigations
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Path Planning and Design
- Safe Routes to School Planning and Engineering
- Plans, Specifications and Estimates
Stormwater Management
- Stormwater Collection Systems
- Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis
- Storm Drainage Infrastructure
- Stormwater Treatment Systems
- Erosion Control Treatments
- Low Impact Development
- Plans, Specifications and Estimates
- Water Quality Best Management Practices Selection and Design
Construction Management
- Bidding Support Services
- Resident Engineer/Construction Inspection
- Construction Administration
Environmental Engineering

Effective regulatory negotiations and compliance requires more than just knowing the details of the various federal, state, and local regulations and agencies. It requires understanding how to interpret and apply the relevant regulations and how to effectively interact with the regulatory agencies. NCE staff brings that understanding to each project, allowing us to untangle the red tape, obtain favorable decisions, maintain schedules, and develop cost effective solutions. Because regulators have come to know and trust the NCE staff, we can often negotiate practical solutions and implementation schedules that save our clients time and money.NCE understands the systems and procedures required to successfully deliver environmental engineering services to a variety of municipal, county, state, and private clients.
Property Acquisition Support and Due Diligence
- Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) (I) ASTM (II) AAI Rule
- Strategic Planning andImplementation
- Grant Application andDevelopment
- Soil and Surface Water Sampling and Analysis
- Asbestos and Lead-based Paint Studies
- Sampling andAnalysis Plans
- Groundwater Monitoring Well Installationand Sampling
- Vapor Intrusion Assessment and Management
- Database Development
- Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank Investigations
Site Assessment and Remedial Services
- Project Management andAdministration
- Critical Path Scheduling
- Technical Advisory Committee Facilitation & Coordination
- Goals & Objectives Development
- Schedule andBudget Management
- Aquifer Performance Testing
- Fate andTransport Modeling
- Report of Waste Discharge (RoWD)
- Feasibility and Pilot Scale Studies
- Regulatory Agency Liaison andNegotiations
- Business Outreach and Education
- Program Success Tracking
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- County Environmental Health Departments
- Brownfields Grant Application Support
- Remedial Action Plans (RAP) and Permitting
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control
- California Regional Water Quality Control Board
- Plans, Specifications and Estimates for Remedial Systems
- Operations, Maintenance Monitoring of Treatment Systems
- Construction Oversight, Documentation and Monitoring of Corrective Actions
- Interpreting Regulations for Clients Who are Under Compliance Orders to Clean Up Sites
- Preparation of USEPA Required Brownfields Planning Documents and Investigation Implementation
- Reviewing Applicable Regulations to Respond Properly to Hazardous Materials and Environmental Laws
- Obtaining Permits as Needed to Build Facilities or Characterize and Treat Compromised Properties
- Management and navigation through California DTSC Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) and Preliminary
Endangerment Assessment (PEA) processes.
Environmental Compliance
- Facility Audits and Assessments
- UST Systems Compliance
- Spill Reporting, Documentation and Regulatory Closure
- Storm Water Management Plans
- Training and Industry Specific Workshops
- Hazardous and Solid Waste Management
- Auditing Facilities and Systems for Regulatory Compliance
- Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plans (SPCC Plans)
Litigation Support Services
- Third Party Review of Technical Documents
- Litigation Support Services
- Split Sampling, Analysis and Data Evaluation
- Expert Witness Testimony
Transportation Research

Quality data is the foundation of a successful project. Collecting quality data requires meticulous attention to detail by trained professionals with the proper equipment and experience. NCE’s engineers and technicians are trained to collect research quality data meeting the highest national standards. Whether the data is collected by our personnel or provided by others, NCE’s engineers are experts in performing the appropriate analysis activities to meet our client’s needs. Our continued work with the Federal Highway Administration and Departments of Transportation across the west reinforces the collection of quality data, and this translates to outstanding service in the data collection performed for our numerous clients.
Roadway Condition Surveys
- Detailed Distress Measurements
- Non-Destructive Data Collection
- Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
- Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD)
- Pavement Noise Analysis
- Profile Data Collection
- Forensic Studies
- Coring and Sampling
- Expert Witness
Safe Routes to School
- Grant and Planning Assistance
- School Zone Audits and Preparation of Route Maps
- GIS Layers in ArcView Route Map Preparation
- Outreach and Community Workshops
- Development of Conceptual Engineering, Education and Encouragement Tools
Database Development and Management
- Pavement Management Systems
- MEPDG Implementation
Data Analysis and Pavement Studies
- Performance Prediction
- Sustainability
- Traffic Studies
Training and Resources
- Development and Delivery of Training Materials / Outreach
Pavement Engineering

NCE’s pavement engineering services emphasize realistic economic solutions to our client’s needs. NCE’s engineers utilize pavement design procedures tailored to our client’s needs and our engineers have access to in-house state-of-the-art technology and apply it to real world applications. Our Pavement Design staff focuses on infrastructure projects which include resurfacing of existing roadway and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. NCE staff is well versed in pavement design, using the latest AutoCAD and Civil 3D software. They also stay updated with the newest design alternatives thus are able to advise our clients with the most cost-effective treatments as well as the “tried and true” methods upon which infrastructures have been built.
Pavement Design Services
- Green Book Design
- Departments of Transportation
- AASHTO
- Sustainability
- Plans, Specifications, and Estimates
- Technical Specifications
- Special Provisions
- General Provisions
- Utility Coordination
- Basemap Preparation
- Survey Project Area
- Utility Covers
- Striping
- Basemap Confirmation
Pavement Design Tools
- Falling Weight Deflectometer
- Soils Testing
- Coring
- Pavement Condition
Watershed Science and Planning

NCE’s Watershed Science and Planning (WS&P) Group offers a variety of professional services to solve the most complex regulatory and resource issues facing our clients. The successful completion of any project requires navigating through the federal, state, and local regulations and permitting processes. NCE’s technically diverse and highly skilled WS&P staff includes scientists, planners, engineers, project managers, and resource experts who bring an integrated approach to every project. WS&P staff prides themselves on the ability to provide comprehensive planning, sound science, practical engineering and outcome-based solutions to our clients and their projects.
Stormwater Management
- NPDES Permit Compliance and Assistance
- Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans
- Water Quality Assessments and Monitoring Plans
- Data Collection, Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting
- Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation and Reporting
- Stormwater Infrastructure Assessments and Mapping
- Storm Water Management Plans and Program Implementation
- Design andImplementation of Stormwater Best Management Practices and Infrastructure
Regulatory Compliance and Permitting
- NEPA/CEQA Documents and Compliance
- USACOE 404 Permitting
- 401 Water Quality Certification
- State Agency Stream and Waterway Permits
- State and Local Encroachment Permits
- Other Federal, State, and Local Permitting
- Agency Coordination and Negotiations
Planning Services
- Land Use Planning
- Geographic Information Systems Mapping and Analysis
- Open Space, Trail and Recreation Planning
- Stakeholder and Community Relations
- Collaborative Process Implementation
- Stakeholder Facilitation
- Community Assessments
- Public Outreach and Media Relations
- General Plan, Master Plan, and Zoning Applications and Amendments
Watershed Science and Design
- Riparian and Stream Assessments
- Geomorphic Assessments
- Floodplain and Wetland Restoration
- Stream Restoration, Bank Stabilization and Channel
Enhancement Design
Sustainable Design and Green Building
- Sustainable Design and Planning
- Green Building and Infrastructure
- Whole Systems Approach
- LEED Consulting Services
- Low Impact Development
- Green Parks and Streets
- FHWA Green Highways
- Climate Change Services
Biological and Botanical Services
- Special Studies
- Botanical Surveys and Vegetation Mapping
- Waters of the U.S. and Wetland Delineations
- Wildlife Surveys, Mapping, and Habitat Analysis
- Habitat Conservation Plans
- Special Status Species Assessments
- Natural Resources Inventories and Assessments
- Tree Assessments and Surveys
- Noxious Weed and Invasive Species Surveys and
Management Plans
Program Management
- Strategic Planning and Implementation
- Project Management and Administration
- Critical Path Scheduling
- Goals and Objectives Development
- Schedule and Budget Management
- Annual and Progress Reporting
- Database Design and Management
- MOU/MOA Development
- Public-Private Partnerships and Collaboration
- Funding and Finance Planning
- Grant Application Development and Management
- Presentation Development and Delivery
- Technical Advisory Committee Facilitation and
Coordination
NCE Headquarters

NCE hires Pavement Sustainability Expert