The Summer Intern Program sponsored by SIPOA has just commenced for this summer. Steve Hirsh, Director of Engineering, explained that the Program addresses the infrastructure needs of the Island. Former interns worked on a Lake Management Program and another year on a Storm Water Master Plan. This year the focus is on developing a storm water pipe rehabilitation plan.
Interns are recruited from programs from The Citadel, Clemson, and South Carolina. Steve explained that, although they get no course credit, they gain invaluable experience and that it is a good resume builder. He commented that he wished that he had this opportunity when he was in school.
The interns this summer are Grace Wachowski and Adam Ereth. Grace is a rising Senior at Clemson studying Biosystems Engineering and sustainability with sights set on attending graduate school and becoming a Professional Engineer. Adam Ereth is a PhD candidate in Geography at South Carolina, and has spent his formative years as a Master’s student and as a current PhD candidate researching the emerging field of sea level rise adaptation and relocation planning in the Solomon Islands. He hopes to finish his degree in the next couple of years and become a college Professor abroad.
Additionally, Adam and Grace are enjoying the opportunity of developing a storm water plan for Seabrook. For this they use GIS (Geographic Information Systems) as an analytical computerized mapping tool to import necessary data that pertains to the project at hand. At times, the two will go out into the field to collect their own data, and at other times will be in the office analyzing existing repositories of information, such as: maps, engineering drawings, and planning documents. Adam and Grace hope to reveal areas of the storm water infrastructure in need of correction through priority setting. They will also examine the storm water pipes installation and inspection dates, condition assessments, and summarize these results through a series of informed recommendations. Overall, these data are compiled and put in written form to help guide SIPOA in planning for storm drain system rehabilitation and/or construction needs in terms of time and cost for the next 5 to 10 years. The Plan will be completed this summer.
Grace and Adam said they like spending half the time outside collecting data and half their time analyzing data, doing research, and creating figures in the office. Although they have only been on Seabrook just over a week, they say they are enjoying the experience and that the people of Seabrook have been extremely welcoming and friendly.
Submitted by Sally Kimball, Tidelines Writer
Great article! We hope to see Adam and Grace around on the island this summer!