Thoughts From Engineers: Leadership Resolutions for 2018
So ... how are you doing on your New Year (professional) resolutions? This is only relevant, of course, if you actually set some. Perhaps you’re not necessarily making a resolution as much as you’re committed to business initiatives outlined in your strategic plan. Maybe you just have new goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) you’ll be measured against in this first quarter. Essentially, these are all the same engagement in change that will benefit you and the organization. At one time...
Executive Corner: Five Takeaways on 2017 A/E M&A Activity
With the country in transition, settling into the dynamics and drama of a new administration, the underlying positive momentum of the U.S. economy and A/E industry has certainly been significant. At a macro level, we’ve seen this unfold with a soaring stock market, back-to-back quarters of 3-percent-plus GDP growth and a plunging unemployment rate. And although unleashing a major U.S. infrastructure package wasn’t in the political cards this year, A/E executives seemed not to notice. Backlogs...
Buildings: What Does “Sustainable Buildings” Really Mean?
Building professionals and the general public are talking about how we need “sustainable” and “healthy” buildings, but what does that really mean? And how do we verify that a building is really sustainable and healthy? There are available rating systems, but do they really give us the big picture of sustainability? Is there a method to measure sustainable and healthy buildings to a single result or a carbon emission number? Many states and cities now are taking the lead on ways to lower carbo...
Smart Cities: Putting a ‘Smart Communities’ Strategy to Work
The term “smart cities” has been around for a while now. You can’t go to an event or pick up a magazine without some discussion on smart cities, and a lot of organizations have jumped onboard and created “smart” projects and initiatives. But in the end, they’re a random set of workflows that aren’t connected. What’s lacking is a comprehensive plan that outlines overall objectives, sets milestones to get there and digitally transforms an organization. This idea has exposed what I believe to be...
Infrastructure Outlook: Infrastructure: How Do We Pay for It?
There is widespread consensus that America’s infrastructure needs help. It ranks 11th in the world, and the American Society of Civil Engineers has repeatedly graded it a D+. As noted in the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) “Building to Win” infrastructure plan, “Without immediate action on the infrastructure crisis, the United States will lose more than 2.5 million jobs by 2025 and more than 5.8 million by 2040.” We have a big job ahead of us; the estimated funding needs exceed $1...
Change Leader: Vectorworks CEO Discusses BIM, New Releases
These profiles are based on interviews, and the opinions and statements are those of the subject and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by this publication. Dr. Biplab Sarkar is the CEO of Vectorworks, a Nemetschek company, with 25-plus years of experience developing CAD software. As CEO, he provides strategic leadership to the company by establishing and meeting company sales, growth and market-share objectives. Sarkar earned a Ph.D. in CAD and an M.S. in mechanical engineering a...
Future Forward: Using Climate Models to Better Engineer Future Pavement Surfaces
This page profiles innovative and impactful applied research in civil and structural engineering to spur continuing thought and dialog to create a better industry. These profiles are based on interviews, and the opinions and statements are those of the subject and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by this publication. Shane Underwood is an associate professor of Civil Engineering in the North Carolina State University Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department...
Executive Corner: When Those Aging Baby Boomers Just Won’t Retire
Alan co-founded a successful consulting engineering firm when he was in his thirties. Through the years, the practice grew steadily, adding new staff, offices and owners along the way. When Alan turned 60, he announced his intent to retire at age 65. That was 10 years ago. Now, at age 70, he still enjoys his work, and while he’s cut back on hours, business travel and administrative duties, he still manages a significant portfolio of business. The last time someone asked when he planned to retire...
From the Editor: Small Firms, Big Productivity Gains
In the last 20 years, global productivity in the construction industry has grown by a measly 1 percent. By comparison, manufacturing productivity has increased by about 4 times that amount. In financial terms, productivity is the measure of output for a production process compared to the input required for that production. In construction, the output typically is expressed in some physical measurement of what’s built (e.g., length of a road, volume of earthwork movement, square-footage of a b...
Final Thoughts: Thankful to Be an Engineer and All That Comes with It
We’re in the season when many of us stop and think about the things for which we’re thankful. For some, it’s our family, our health, our jobs, our home. For others, it’s nature, the ability to travel, the freedom to speak. For some, it’s difficult to be thankful for anything more than just having something to eat today. The range is staggering. In this column, and at the risk of sounding trite, I invite you to think about some of the things you’re thankful for … as an engineer. I will share s...
Video: Crashes Drop Measurably After Rural Road Safety Improvement Project on US 521 in Lancaster County
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June Issue 2026
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