Explore innovative solutions for subsurface drainage and erosion control that reduce costs, enhance longevity, and adapt to modern climate challenges.
Effective drainage is critical to the longevity of infrastructure, landscapes, and buildings. In the course A Drainage Technology Update, participants will explore the evolution of drainage solutions, moving from ancient Roman methods and traditional French drains to cutting-edge geosynthetics and sustainable stormwater management practices. This session provides a deep dive into the materials and methodologies that are reshaping how engineers and contractors approach water management.
The curriculum addresses the pressing challenges posed by climate change, urbanization, and shifting rainfall patterns. Through a series of compelling case studies ranging from highway failures and slope collapses to golf course construction, the instructor demonstrates how modern materials can solve complex hydraulic problems while often reducing installation costs. The discussion shifts the focus from the old industrial model of catch-and-convey to modern strategies that prioritize infiltration, filtration, and storage.
This comprehensive update covers both subsurface and surface drainage strategies. Participants will learn about the benefits of drainage composites over conventional pipe and stone, the application of Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRMs) for high-velocity channels, and the implementation of green infrastructure such as bioswales, rain gardens, and porous paving. The course also examines the regulatory landscape following the Clean Water Act and the crucial role of wetlands in flood mitigation.
Key learning outcomes include:
Online Courses for Engineers
HalfMoon Education is a nonprofit continuing education provider offering live webinars and on-demand courses for engineers, architects, landscape architects, land surveyors, attorneys, paralegals, accountants and others. Since 1996, we’ve helped thousands of professionals nationwide stay current with industry standards and codes, earn CE hours, and advance their expertise through practical, expert-led learning experiences. Learn more about us at: www.halfmoonseminars.org
President of Hanrahan Environmental, LLC
Mr. Hanrahan has more than 43 years of industry experience. In addition to presentations in Canada, Taiwan, and the Dominican Republic, he has also presented at the national level for many organizations, including the International Erosion Control Association, Land Improvement Contractors of America, the Geotechnical Fabrics Institute, the National Working Waterfront Network, and the American Water Works Association. His articles have been published in many magazines, including Erosion Control, Land & Water, Geosynthetics, and Landscape Architect & Specifier News. He has produced webinars for the International Erosion Control Association, the International Association of Hydroseeding Professionals, the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, and Forester University. He has also served as a guest lecturer at the University of Mississippi, Ohio Northern University, University of New England, and Vermont Technical College. Mr. Hanrahan has also been active in industry organizations. He was National President of the International Management Council in 1991‐92, and also served four terms as President of the Northeast Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association. He is also a member of the Senior Advisory Committee of Envirocert. Mr. Hanrahan has developed and delivered training events throughout his career. From 2008 to the present, he has organized coastal erosion control training events up and down the New England Coast, with multiple seminars in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Event co‐sponsors for these events have included the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Sea Grant, the Rhode Island Coastal Management Council, the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, Connecticut College, and Connecticut Sea Grant. He has also assisted with the development of erosion control standards with the Illinois Tollway Authority, and the State Departments of Transportation in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois.
