There has been a lot of talk about the benefits of 3-D modeling for the infrastructure industry, and anecdotal evidence of such benefits is ubiquitous. However, it’s always refreshing and encouraging to hear firsthand from professionals actually putting…
How To Design Building Structures That Can Survive Earthquakes
Earthquakes are natural disasters where most of damage is caused due to collapse of buildings and other such man-made structures. Earthquakes do not kill…
Managing the Model: Pay Once, Learn Forever
A few years ago, a city not far from our office built a beautiful new high school. No expense was spared to ensure it was a state of the art facility,…
Executive Corner: Beware Unintended Consequences of Poor Financial Reporting
A client called me to inquire about updating her firm’s valuation and began our conversation by saying, “Not only are you going to be happy with our recent financial performance, you’re going to enjoy this engagement more than you have in the past.”…
Infrastructure Outlook: Stormwater Chambers Provide Storage and Infiltration While Aiding Recharge
Effective stormwater management and discharge continues to become more important as an increasing amount of land is covered by impervious surfaces due to residential and commercial development. Such conversion of land use, along with increasing regulatory…
Infrastructure Innovation: Developing Creative AEC Solutions with Drones
Drones are one of the technologies most likely to really “take off” and have a significant impact on our industry. Whether referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), remotely piloted aircraft, robots or drones, they’re…
Sustainability – An essential Facet of Architectural Design
Green building design, energy efficiency, power usage efficiency, sustainability etc, are the buzzwords that are making waves across the architectural design industry. This is a two-way tunnel, where architecture is guiding social impact, and this very social…
Executive Corner: A/E Industry Consolidation, Let the Good Times Roll
It seems like almost every day, another merger or acquisition is announced between two architecture, engineering (A/E) or environmental-consulting firms. And although the global mega combinations such as URS-AECOM and Parsons Brinckerhoff-WSP draw the most…
Infrastructure Outlook: The Age of the Engineer
Several years ago, I was talking to a friend who said, “Bill, if mankind is going to be around in 250 years, it will be because engineers make it so.” It was an intriguing concept. Certainly, our planet is being asked to support an ever-growing human population…
Managing the Model: “We Can Do It Faster the Old Way”
I've been hearing the title of this column, in one form or another, from engineering and architectural design firms for more than 20 years. I hear it from drafters, designers, engineers, architects, principals and owners, and it's usually in response to why…
