COVANTA Fairfax online site and facility tour. The United States landfills about 250 million tons of municipal solid waste a year. Global leaders in Europe are recycling far more than we do in the United States and often turn to waste-to-energy for managing waste remaining after recycling to drastically reduce waste sent to landfills. This talk will introduce participants to waste to energy and explain how it fits in a more sustainable approach to waste and materials management.

This presentation will be given by Michael Van Brunt P.E., Sr. Director of Sustainability at Covanta.  Michael’s primary focus is on sustainability strategy, planning, and reporting.

Thursday, January 28, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

By the end of this class, participants will be able to: Identify the differences and similarities between marketing and business development. Learn how and where to identify leads and create a pipeline of upcoming projects. Understand the different CRM (client retention management) platforms. Learn to create authentic Business Development (BD) Strategies to build relationships. Develop a strong association and peer group strategy. 

Thursday, February 4, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Participants in this class will look at the trials & tribulations of a Title II agency in the application and administration of standards and guidelines with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, they will review some common before and after project examples; how to avoid common mistakes; best practices in design and construction including some ADA basics (parking, curb cuts, ramps, routes, restrooms, etc.), and finally solid resources for problem solving.

Thursday, February 11, 2021 - - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This course introduces hydraulic models for water distribution systems and covers how modeling can be applied to optimize a robust and redundant infrastructure, plan for outages, and determining firefighting capabilities. Upon completion, participants will be able to successfully: Layout the components of a hydraulic model. Define Hydraulic Grade Line (HGL) and head loss.  Assign demands to a model. Interpret the impacts to HGL in the distribution system and pressure pipe models based on demands and head loss. Recognize how to ensure robust and redundant infrastructure. Determine available fire flow for fire-fighting capabilities. Perform outage analysis and better plan for outages. Assess water quality within the distribution system.

Thursday, February 18, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM


Participants in this class will learn about and engage in the following key items: Let’s first define Project Management. Leadership skills needed to successfully lead your project and your team. Effective negotiating skills with your client and your team members. Scheduling tips to meet deadlines and budgets. Soft skills – do I really need those???

Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Topics will include the elements of traffic impact analysis, policy, and procedure.  The following details will be discussed specifically: The four-step travel demand forecasting model and ITE methodology. Intersection design elements including traffic control device warrants, signal timing, delay, and capacity.  Capacity and level-of-service analysis for interrupted and uninterrupted flow facilities for stand-alone or coordinated signal systems. Traffic engineering studies including volume studies, travel time studies, accident studies, spot speed studies.

Thursday, March 4, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Participants will become familiar with compensatory mitigation requirements of the Clean Water Act and the implementation of the 2008 mitigation rule.  Further discussion will include the parameters needed to create a successful wetland or stream mitigation bank, the current state of the market, including a discussion on why there is a shortage of credits, and alternative compensatory mitigation options in lieu of purchasing wetland and/or stream credits. The presentation will include an exercise for students to calculate stream and/or wetland impacts using a development plan, determining the amount of compensatory mitigation required, and finding appropriate stream/wetland mitigation banks using the COE/DEQ’s RIBITs website. 

Thursday, March 11, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Participants will gain an understanding of: Trends in the deployment of automated vehicle systems across modes, inclusive of related technologies including connected and electric vehicles with the objective of understanding how these technologies can influence land use. Land use planning and urban design in relation to deployment of automated, connected, electric, and shared vehicles. Specific topics will include: parking, building codes, and curbside management. Best practices in future-proofing infrastructure investment in ways that facilitate safe and sustainable deployment of AVs. Specific topics will include: planning tools, roadway design questions, connected infrastructure, and mobility hubs.

Thursday, March 18, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This class will provide an overview of some popular sustainability accreditation programs.  It will look at the respective philosophies, benefits, and drawbacks. Additionally, it will address the relationship between sustainability and resiliency.

Thursday, April 1, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This class will provide an overview in understanding how land development impacts existing landscapes, ecosystems, and communities. Topics planned for discussion include: Various local and state codes that govern how and what will be preserved. A glimpse into common problems faced by all shareholders in the development process. The tools and processes available to find a viable solution.  Classwork will include a development exercise to create a feasible tree preservation plan.

Thursday, April 8, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This course will review professional responsibilities expected of licensed land surveyors and licensed engineers toward their employers, customers, and the public.  Using vignettes and case studies, participants will explore various situations that test professional and ethical responsibilities typical of today's work environment. It will also review guidance provided by various professional organizations on these topics as well as a review of regulations promulgated by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

Thursday, April 15, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Participants in this class will gain a deeper understanding of the following topics planned for inclusion: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRC)S methods, The Rational method, and The Anderson method.

Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Topics planned for inclusion: American Land Title Association (ALTA) requirements and regulations.  Drone/Unmanned Ariel Systems (UAS) – rules, regulations, and 3D scanning.

Thursday, April 29, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

IN PERSON CLASS

Topics planned for inclusion: Discussion on general geology, general distribution of geologic units in the region, recent deposits, brief engineering case studies, geologic hazards within the four geologic areas of the state, as well and Karst and seismicity.

Thursday, September 30, 2021 3:30 - 6:30 PM

By the end of the class, the participants will be able to: Explain the importance of providing an E&S control plan design from a stormwater management perspective to comply with DEQ Minimum Standard (MS)19. Implement the “adequate outfall” approach as one of the most critical elements in the design of an effective E&S control plan. Anticipate the need to provide innovative designs to implement control measures to meet MS-19.

Thursday, May 13, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

By the end of this class, participants will have seen how the proximity of a transit system impacts land development opportunities; understand the elements that comprise a 21st Century Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and identify the various TOD typologies; review how TOD's have evolved from previous suburban development patterns in Fairfax County; reviewed two case studies (Metro West and The Boro).   Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to design their own TOD's and complete various hands-on exercises.

Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

This critical four-hour workshop helps develop ESI’s Professional Development curriculum for the next academic year.  Under the direction of the Chair of the Education Committee, participants will consider classes suggested by ESI’s membership and consolidate them into a prioritized list of courses, identifying class titles, topics to be covered, and subject matter experts. Participants are subject to approval of Director of Education, Education Committee, and/or Executive Director to ensure sufficient knowledge base of ESI curriculum and adequate representation from both the public and private sectors.

Thursday, May 27, 2021 - Time: TBD

This course will review storm water management facility implementation, from design through construction.  Topics planned for inclusion: Low impact development (LID) practices, such as bioretention, permeable pavement, green roof, and rainwater harvesting will be the focus of this class.  This material will be beneficial to civil engineers, landscape architects, and planners of all experience levels.

Thursday, June 3, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Topics planed for inclusion:  Importance of balancing a project site. Project phasing and geotechnical considerations and how they impact the overall earthwork balance. Implications of handling earthwork multiple times.

Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 3:30 - 6:30 PM

Members may perform study research and coordination regarding a topic identified by the Executive Director. The study shall include a study plan that identifies a statement of objectives, a desired result product, and a work schedule. The study shall have a final report identifying the work process and study results. The member shall provide the format outline for the proposed study to the Executive Director no later than 30 days after enrolling in this class.

Members participating in support efforts for jurisdictions, as identified by the Executive Director, may enroll in this class. Credit is contingent on meeting product and attendance requirements identified by the Executive Director.

Members of the Executive Committee may enroll in this class. Credit is contingent on meeting product and attendance requirements identified by the Executive Director.


Members of the Technical Issues Study -- Leesburg Committee may enroll in this class. Credit is contingent on meeting product and attendance requirements identified by the Executive Director.

Members of the Education Review Committee may enroll in this class. Credit is contingent on meeting product and attendance requirements identified by the Director of Education. 


Members of the Advisory Plans Examiner Board may enroll in this class. Credit is contingent on meeting product and attendance requirements identified by the Executive Director.


Members of the Engineering Standards Review Committee may enroll in this class. Credit is contingent on meeting product and attendance requirements identified by the Executive Director.


If a member seeks approval to use participation in an alternate class as credit for one of the three annually required electives to maintain DPE status, the member shall provide the following to the Director of Education, who may refer it to the Education Committee for review:

1.     Evidence that the class is from an accredited academic institution or an institution that is state or federally certified as a continuing education credit provider/sponsor.

2.     The course description and learning objectives of the alternative class, which shall address a topic comparable to one addressed by ESI classes.

3.     If the course is tentatively approved as an acceptable alternate class, the member will also provide evidence of successful completion of the course to the Director of Education before final approval to receive credit is granted.


An ESI instructor who teaches a block of instruction in any of the ESI Education Programs in the current year may enroll in this class. Instructors may enroll in P910 only once per year.  Approval by the Director of Education is required.


An ESI instructor who develops a new block of instruction, or substantially updates one, in any of the ESI Education Programs in the current year may enroll in this class.  Instructors may enroll in P920 only once per year. Approval by the Director of Education is required.