Lead is present in municipal water pipes throughout New York and the entire country, but technology is making safe water possible faster.

Imagine a tool that tracks any feature in your community—whether that’s a lead waterline, a tree, a fire hydrant, or a building. What might that mean for your community? How much better could you plan for development or budget for improvements? What if, with the click of a button, that tool could help you communicate better with residents, secure funding, or share knowledge with a successor? What if that tool already exists and it’s affordable?

In the fall of 2023, a senior at Clarkson University saw an opportunity to bridge his studies, career, and alma mater, and he took it. Patrick Hayes, now a Clarkson graduate, became C2AE’s GIS intern. Patrick’s responsibility was to assess room after room of Clarkson’s

“Public works” is a broad term that can be difficult to define. In general, C2AE believes public works is about fostering vibrant, healthy communities.