Jesse Berger recognized as Lane County adopts innovative drone monitoring project

Presenter Lane County recognizes another innovation at Short Mountain. Before commissioners Jan. 13, representing county administration, Greg Rikhoff:

Greg Rikhoff Jesse Berger is an engineer working in the Waste Management Division. 

While he performs many regular duties critical to the division, including stormwater monitoring, overseeing the landfill emissions monitoring and ensuring permit compliance with the Department of Environmental Quality and the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, he is being recognized today for his work in two areas over the last year. 

The first is his oversight and management of our Cell V Landfill closure project. This multimillion-dollar project requires coordinating between multiple parties, including several on-site contractors, our consulting landfill engineer, Emerald People’s Utility District and their engineering consultant, and DEQ.

Jesse ensured the project stayed on track and on budget while also performing his normal job duties. The critical project had little room for error or delay, as it had to be completed before the rainy season. Jesse was able to manage the multiple partners and the timeline with great skill and tact. 

As if that wasn’t enough, he was also working with DEQ and LRAPA to get a permit modification approved to be able to use drone technology to perform the required landfill emissions monitoring. This new way of monitoring would allow for virtually 100% of the landfill to be mapped for emissions, which would be higher than any other landfill in the state.

Current monitoring technique is to have people walk the steep slopes of the landfill with sensors that detect gas emissions. The type of monitoring allows for large areas of the landfill to go unmonitored, due to areas of hazardous terrain. 

While Short Mountain was already leading the state in monitoring area with the old method, Jesse knew we could do better. Through determination and diligence, he was able to successfully get drone monitoring approved by the DEQ and LRAPA. We look forward to using this emissions monitoring technology in the next year.

Presenter Commissioner Ryan Ceniga:

Commissioner Ryan Ceniga To have 100% of the landfill mapped, anytime you get 100% in emissions, that’s absolutely incredible. So thank you. Your ability to adapt, and look at technology tells me that you’ll probably be back in front of us again at some point.

Presenter Commissioner Heather Buch:

Commissioner Heather Buch Well, congratulations. Well deserved and very impressive. Do you actually go up there with the drone and, and go over the top—how do you do that?

Presenter Jesse Berger:

Jesse Berger No. So I used to be one of the ones that walked the surface of the landfill, which takes quite a long time. Many miles traveled. We use a third party for the drone. It’s called Sniffer Robotics. And then they fly, and they also have boots on the ground for us.

Commissioner Heather Buch Wow. And then they can scan and see the emissions from whatever they see from the drone level.

Jesse Berger Yep. It really helps you kind of pinpoint where the problem areas are, because when you’re just a single person walking the landfill surface, it takes two days. It’s almost like 35 miles, 40 miles.

It’s not a trail. There’s blackberries. There’s all kinds of things that get in your way. So you’re less probably concerned about finding things, more concerned about staying out of the blackberries, not getting sprayed by a skunk. And, you know, other reasons.

But it appears to be a much better method. They’re able to find the problem areas and we’re able to address those areas better.

Commissioner Heather Buch Excellent big-picture vision of how to be more efficient at the landfill. Way to go and thank you for working for Lane County. Great job.

Presenter  Waste Management Division Manager, Jeff Orlandini:

Jeff Orlandini I can’t be more proud of the way that we operate our landfill. And in striving to continuously improve. And both of these projects demonstrate that, the way we operate, that that’s true both in the daily operations that Keith Hendrix and his team do, but also in the ways that we monitor that landfill to ensure compliance.

Closing Cell V of the landfill decreases landfill emissions, improves landfill gas capture, and decreases leachate production in that area, which we all know is a huge deal for us.

As you’ve already heard, Jesse knocked it out of the park. This is the second large-scale project that he’s done, and it’s amazing how quickly he learns and adapts and his ability to manage that project all on his own. He had this under control all on his own. It’s hugely impressive, a project of this scale.

He also pushed to be able to use that drone monitoring technology that you heard about. Not because it makes those activities easier or certainly his job any easier, but because it’s the right thing to do, because being able to monitor more areas of the landfill is better for our county and our environment.

This type of drive and determination is what makes Jesse special, and makes me so proud to have him on the Waste Management team. Thank you so much.

Presenter Commissioner Pat Farr:

Commissioner Pat Farr This is particularly welcome, hearing about the efficiency of the landfill. And what really stands out is that we’re already the best, but you’re seeking ways to make us better at all times.

It’s a public asset. Lane County Short Mountain Landfill is owned by the public. The work we do there is of benefit not just of this generation, but for generations to come.

And always finding ways to do it better, which you have demonstrated you’ve accomplished, is the ways that we can do it with really with public ownership. It gives us greater interest in improving for the future. And I’m really excited to hear about it.

I’d love to come and visit you. I’d like to, maybe, could I run one of the drones for a few minutes? (laughter) But, Jesse, thanks very much for this work and for the ongoing work that we do at Short Mountain. It is really instrumental, not just for this generation.

Presenter Commissioner David Loveall:

Commissioner David Loveall  The people that get into engineering, as my experience is, they’re creative problem-solvers. They see an issue, they see a way of what it’s been done and how it can be done differently. And they try to create new ways of doing things more efficiently and more with an exact detail. 

And when Mr. Orlandini said (Jesse) quickly learns and adapts, that’s one of the key pillars to engineering-type brain sets and workers that do that. Because there’s nothing that is more frustrating than chasing something that you can’t change or you can’t adapt to. 

So I’m really I want to congratulate you, just not only for what you’ve been done for, cited for this particular award, but that you quickly learn and adapt. And that’s an ongoing process, not only with you, but the team and the people that see what you do and that you lead. 

And I think that’s our greatest quality as those people that we have that work for the county, that they can quickly learn and adapt and do things the best way they can every day they wake up. So I just want to appreciate you for that and for that mindset and the way you lead, sir. So thank you very much.

Presenter Commissioner Laurie Trieger:

Commissioner Laurie Trieger Echo what’s been said, and appreciate, I think as Commissioner Farr pointed out, particularly, ‘It’s an imperative from the state that we do waste management, but how we do it is up to us.’ 

And so doing it in such an innovative, forward-thinking way, protecting and preserving public asset, the environment, for public good. Providing a public service for public good is what we do. 

And I just really want to appreciate you, Jesse, for being part of that innovation and that public protection mindset when we operate our landfill. So thank you so much. I appreciate you.

Presenter Jesse Berger is recognized for a focus on solutions as Lane County’s innovative drone monitoring program at Short Mountain sets the new standard.