Improving Public Works Construction Inspection Skills

Become one of the more than 6,800 inspectors and construction engineers from the U.S. and Canada who have tuned up their skills at this practical course. You will gain a comprehensive overview of inspection fundamentals, practical methods, and techniques for the most common types of public works construction and increase your confidence in dealing with contractors and the public.

Upcoming dates coming soon!

Take course number RA00383 when it’s offered next.

What You Will Learn:

This is an opportunity to improve your effectiveness by learning about basic engineering principles, construction materials and methods, and inspection techniques. If you are new to inspection, this course will shorten your learning curve and boost your confidence. This training, coupled with common sense, keen powers of observation, and good communication and organizational skills, will add to your success as an inspector.

Who Should Attend:

  • Inspectors who have limited formal training in the field 
  • Engineering technicians who are new or newly assigned to inspection 
  • Maintenance supervisors who inspect the work of contractors 
  • Testing lab personnel who provide testing and inspection services 
  • Engineers who are new to inspection or want a comprehensive review 
  • Engineers who design and write specifications for work that requires inspection 
  • Managers of construction who want to improve their inspection operation

Keep Up With This Course

Course Details: RA00383

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Course Outline

Online Course Schedule 2025

Live Session 1 Contracts, Plans, and Specifications: Framework for a Quality Project

Live Session 2 Inspecting Sewer and Water Construction

Live Session 3 Inspecting Sewer and Water Construction (Continued) and Storm Sewer Grading, and Storm Water BMP Inspection

Live Session 4  Concrete Pavement and Simple Public Works Concrete Structures - Key Inspection Points for Quality Concrete Pavements

Live Session 5  Solving Asphalt Pavement Construction Problems through Observation and Inspection and Inspection Documentation and Work Zone Traffic Control Inspection

In-person:

Contracts, Plans, and Specifications: Framework for a Quality Project

  • The inspector’s role in quality
  • Interpreting contract documents
  • Knowing your authority
  • Keeping good records

Asphalt Pavement Construction: Using the Inspection Checklist

  • Characteristics of asphaltic concrete
  • Pre-construction activities
  • Paving equipment and methods
  • Laying and compacting
  • Test methods and results

Inspecting Sewer and Water Construction

  • Pipe characteristics: stress, strength, failure
  • Trenching, bedding, installation, backfill
  • Manholes, connections, laterals
  • Hydrants, valves, services
  • Acceptance testing
  • Documentation

Storm Sewer, Grading, and Storm Water BMP Inspection

Concrete Pavement Key Inspection Points for Quality Concrete Pavements and Simple Public Works Structures

  • Desirable characteristics of concrete
  • Pre-construction activities
  • Paving and mixing equipment
  • Test methods and interpretation of results
  • Inspection during placing, finishing, and curing
  • Post-placement inspection activities 

Erosion Control Inspection: Installation, Inspection, and Maintenance

  • Soil erosion basics
  • Erosion and sediment control methods and materials
  • Inspection and maintenance procedures and checklists

Work Zone Traffic Control Inspection

 

Program Director & Instructors

  • Benjamin Jordan

    Program Director

    Benjamin J. Jordan, PE, is a program director with Interdisciplinary Professional Programs in the transportation sector. He has over 35 years of experience in civil engineering and public works. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Master of Public Affairs degree with a Certificate in Public Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois.

  • Eric (RICK) Eilertson

    Municipal Project Engineer/Manager

    Rick Eilertson, PE is a Municipal Project Engineer/Manager at AECOM. He has experience in municipal engineering and environmental engineering 

  • Todd Nelson

    Associate Principal

    Todd D. Nelson, PE, is an Associate Principal at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois. He has over 25 years of experience specializing in troubleshooting, investigation, repairing of concrete distress and deterioration; specifying, proportioning, and testing of concrete. He serves on ASTM Committee C09 -Concrete and Concrete Aggregates, ACI Committee 360 - Design of Slabs on Ground and ACI Committee 302 - Construction of Concrete Floors. Mr. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois. 

  • Program Director

    Benjamin Jordan

Total Credits:
CEU 1.5
LU 15
PDH 15

Course Administration

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Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

  • Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
  • Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
  • You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

  • Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
  • Provide the registrations representative with:
    • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
    • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
  • You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

  • Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
  • Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
  • Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
  • You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

"Course covered all aspects of public works construction projects. Great for someone new like me to learn new things about construction inspection."
—Ryan Gundstrom, Public Works Engineering Technicians, City of Superior, Wisconsin

"Learned a lot and heard a variety of viewpoints on issues in construction inspection."
—James Buskohl,  Public Works Construction Inspector, City of Johnston, Iowa

"Gret content covered and thoroughly explained. Answered questions very well."
—Michael Lee, City of West Allis, Wisconsin

"All the instructors were very responsive to technical and layman's questions. They were also very good at explaining topics in plain English."  
—Chad Rehahn, Lockheed Martin, Washington

"Definitely worth the price of the course and the time because you obtain knowledge that you will use for the rest of your life."
—Jacob Last, Engineering Technician, City of Appleton, Wisconsin

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.