DMD Capabilities

DMD & Associates provides a diverse range of consulting and design services to public and private sector clients. We have extensive experience in design-bid-build projects (traditional delivery) as well as design-build projects (value-based delivery).

New Ideas

We are very experienced in successfully applying new ideas, products and technologies to projects to save owners money and provide enhanced facility performance. Our staff members regularly attend training sessions, conferences, trade shows and supplier product shows to stay current with emerging trends and technologies.

Appropriate Level of Design

We provide an appropriate level of detail in our designs to ensure competitive bidding and avoid change orders. We do not "over-design," or under design, leaving the "contractor on the windy corner." By reducing uncertainties through an appropriate level of design, contractors are able to provide owners with their best price, and costly construction-period change orders are avoided.

Specialized Capability sheets

A summary of some of our specialized capabilities are listed below. Click on the PDF link to open Capability sheets.

Electrical Engineering and Communications Systems

for buildings, industrial facilities, and infrastructure including power distribution and controls and lighting. We also provide services for the design of cable plant, data and voice networks, fire and security alarms, fiber optic networks, connections to central control, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and web cameras.

Lighting

DMD staff undertake over one hundred projects a year which involve roadway lighting and as such understand the key elements required to produce an optimized lighting design which maximizes night-time visibility while at the same time conserving power. A typical lighting project will involve a through understanding of lighting principals and design standards, electrical code(s), lighting controls and use of computer lighting design software.

DMD roadway lighting projects range from basic highway applications to decorative streetscape projects requiring interface with project architects and City Planners. Other lighting roadway related applications DMD have undertaken include: parking lots, freeway interchanges, roundabouts, intersections, weigh scales, toll booths, walkways and bikeways, tunnels, bridges, parkades, signs, architectural features such as feature walls, statues, towers, water features, etc.

DMD staff recently produced Transportation Association of Canada Roadway Lighting Design Guide (2006) and the International Municipal Signal Association Roadway Lighting Level 2 Certification Manual (2007). In preparing these documents, design standards and maintenance practices from North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe were researched thus adding to our knowledge. DMD staff are active in such international organization such as the of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and the Commission Internationale De l'Eclairage (CIE).

In recent years improved computer lighting software has allowed anyone who can operate a computer to undertake roadway lighting calculations and lighting designs with little or no experience or background. In many cases lighting suppliers provide computer lighting calculations at no cost. This has led to “cookie cutter” designs with good lighting design taking a back seat. It is critical lighting design be undertaken by a qualified electrical engineer who understands requirements, codes and standards, design software and product photometry.

It is critical such elements as contrast, glare, adaptation are all considered in lighting design. New research shows vertical illumination over 20 Lux can dramatically reduce pedestrian fatalities at pedestrian crossings. We apply such proven research to our designs. As members of such organizations as the IES, CIE, International Dark-Sky and Canadian Standards Association of DMD staff are actively involved in new standards and research which we apply to our designs.

Literally thousands of lighting products exist so one must understand components and features to properly select the right product for the application. New lighting products such a LED's are often falsely promoted leaving an owner wondering "does it really do what they say it will". DMD understand new products and wade through false claims saving a client a painful trail and error process. DMD staff are committed to development and research of new technologies and design practices aimed at giving our clients the best value.

Transportation-Related Engineering

including power distribution, street and roadway lighting, traffic signals, intelligent transportation systems, signing and wayfinding and red light cameras.

Traffic Signals

DMD staff undertake over one hundred traffic signal project a year. A traffic signal project typically involves both electrical and traffic engineering elements thus often leaving gaps between these often separately undertaken elements. Typically the electrical engineers often were lacking traffic engineering knowledge and the traffic engineers were not knowledgeable on traffic controllers and electrical aspects. DMD has bridged that gap by combining extensive traffic engineering knowledge with electrical engineering and controller knowledge.

Typical services include condition assessments and troubleshooting, preparation of plans, specifications and estimates, undertaking of capacity analysis with Synchro software to determine signal phasing and timings, preparing signal timing and coordination plans, test and commissioning of traffic controller, specifying controllers and signal hardware, etc. DMD have the ability to test signal timing plans in controllers prior to installation. DMD staff led by Daryl Mathews also fully understand features and capabilities of traffic controllers allowing DMD to optimize their operation.

Sports Lighting

DMD staff typically undertake 30 plus sports lighting project throughout North America. Our expertise allows us to assist owners in making sure that considerations that might otherwise be missed are at least part of the project discussion. Without proper design and product specifications sports lighting can be very impacting on local residents typically leading to ongoing complaints. We have the knowledge and understanding to provide specifications and performance standards required to reduce impacts on local residents while at the same time providing the required lighting for players. In addition, we verify the performance of the installed system, by working with the contractor and supplier to make any necessary adjustments to the system so that the specified performance criteria are achieved.

A typical sports lighting project will involve a through understanding of lighting principals and design standards, electrical code(s), lighting controls and use of computer lighting design software. Where required DMD staff typically meets with local residents in an open house format to review the project and respond to issues. From past projects we understand issues and concerns and how to effectively satisfy public concerns. We have developed effective presentation materials in the form of display boards which have proven effective in explaining issues and mitigation. This material allows us to educate the public as to lighting issues and methods of mitigation and respond to their issues and concerns. We find most issues are typically related to spill light, glare, and the turn off time of the lights. As with all sports lighting the key challenge will designing a lighting system which provides on field lighting to meet the needs of the user groups while at the same time reducing the obtrusive light (also known as light trespass) on the adjacent roadway, residences and properties.

Development of Standards and Specifications

for local and regional governments, transportation agencies and private owners. These documents are used to standardize and simplify design and construction and save owners time and money.

Contact DMD

DMD & Associates Ltd

• #12-17358 104A Ave.
• Surrey BC  V4N 5M3
• Canada
• Tel: +1 604-589-9010
• Toll Free: +1 877-249-8080
• Fax: +1 604-589-9012
• Email: info@dmdeng.com
• Map

Pacific Northwest PO Box

• 1770 Front St., PMB #267
• Lynden WA  98264
• USA