BIM Course Targets Owner Perspective, Adding IT Value, Improved Results June 21-22, Orlando, FL Realizing BIM Potential for A/E Firms: Leveraging the Building Information Modeling Process for Increased ROI is ACEC’s new 2010 next-level exploration of this challenging and increasingly owner-specified process. Presented June 21-22, Orlando, FL, the course focuses on fine-tuning the BIM process by adding technology value without breaking budgets; improving interoperability and streamlining workflows; reducing RFIs for fee savings; ensuring M/E/P inclusion; optimizing integration of BIM into firm culture and services; legal lessons learned; and managing risk. Faculty represent key perspectives involved in the overall process: design engineer, firm IT management, software developer, owner, M/E/P integration technology expert, and legal and risk management. They are innovators who have successfully transformed BIM projects into marketplace advantage. A/E company principals, project managers, COOs, IT managers and business development professionals of firms already using or familiar with BIM will get a cutting-edge, first-hand look into diverse opportunities for maximizing their bottom-line benefits and moving forward with BIM. For course brochure featuring agenda highlights, faculty bios and registration information, click here.

Learn Courtroom Skills, Offer Expert Witness Services—Still Time to Register June 10-11, Denver, CO Applying Expertise as an Engineering Expert Witness, ACEC’s unique 1½-day course, will be presented June 10-11 in Denver to prepare participants for legal service with recognition and a certificate of course completion. The course is designed for professional engineers, architects and surveyors interested in earning credentials for legal service engagements professionally or as an added client service. Discussion will include deposition behavior, permissible out-of-court statements, ethics, pre-courtroom testimony preparation, courtroom demeanor, how to maintain credibility, the differences between a fact witness and an expert witness, plus the agreement and compensation for taking on an assignment. Attendees completing this course who wish to further enhance their professional credentials will have taken important first steps towards applying for the professional designation of Engineer Expert Witness (EXWSM). For a course brochure featuring agenda highlights, faculty bios and registration information, click here.

Protect Your Business: '09-'10 A/E/C Court Cases Reviewed June 8, 1:30-3 p.m. Attorneys Kent Holland, ConstructionRisk.com LLC, and Lauren McLaughlin, BrigliaMcLaughlin PLLC, will provide insights on how to protect your business, using recent court cases involving contractors and project owners against design professionals. In this informative online seminar, 2009-2010 A/E/C Court Cases Review: Lessons Learned, June 8, 1:30-3 p.m., the presenters will provide a valuable and precautionary recap of the changing A/E/C legal landscape. Cases will address limitation of liability, indemnification, licensing, procedural issues such as certificates of merit and time limitations on filing suits, electronic discovery, and the economic loss doctrine. For details and to register, click here.

BIM-Based Asset Management: Opportunities With Existing Buildings June 9, 1:30-3 p.m. “Ninety-five percent of all buildings and facilities contained in an owner’s portfolio over the next decade already exist, so implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM) solutions for maintaining existing facilities makes obvious sense,” says Jim Watson, director of Federal Programs, Facilities Lifecycle Group, MACTEC Engineering & Consulting, Inc. Watson presents Why Owners Want Your BIM Model for Asset Management, an online seminar on June 9, to make the case for why the BIM model is increasingly in demand by owners, describing it as “the dashboard that integrated the stovepipes that exist in most entities regardless of size.” Seminar participants will view a pilot of the BIM-based Asset Management Solution to the challenge of integrated facilities management, and the reduction in total ownership costs generated by its implementation. For details and to register, click here.

Get an Inside Look at High-Speed Rail Projects, Potential and Opportunities June 15, 1:30-3 p.m. Federal and state governments have recently made serious commitments to a state-of-the-art national high-speed rail network. President Obama has identified it as a “legacy” initiative for his Administration, budgeting billions in coming years to follow the $8 billion in initial Recovery Act stimulus spending. While new in the U.S., high-speed rail has long been in operation in Japan and France and is rapidly expanding worldwide, with major new systems under construction in Spain, China and many other countries. Andy Kunz, president and CEO, U.S. High Speed Rail Association presents America’s Coming High-Speed Rail Markets, an in-depth look into high-speed rail market potential in a timely and informative interactive online seminar on June 15. Participants will get information and updates on several facets, including: Existing high-speed rail systems worldwide Extensive benefits of a national high-speed rail system Status of high-speed U.S. rail projects including Florida and California How the engineering profession can lead the national high-speed rail project Procedures under consideration for procurement and construction Upcoming events for engineers to get involved in high-speed rail development High-speed rail has the potential for becoming an increasingly important form of transportation for America’s future, with the capacity to move millions of people quickly, safely, and efficiently, while at the same time creating jobs across many professions, including planning and engineering. For details and to register, click here.

Get Ready for 'New Normal': September SEI Class Has Limited Openings In the course of five separate five-day sessions over an 18-month timeframe, ACEC’s Senior Executives Institute (SEI) participants acquire new tools and high-level skills and insights to prosper in our changed—and challenging—A/E/C business environment. The opening session, Your Vision & The World, offers a thoughtful and illuminating five days in Washington, D.C., with leading authorities and visionaries on the changing environment, economic trends, public policy, global practice, and leading a living company. Since its inception, SEI has attracted public and private sector engineers and architects from firms of all sizes, locations, and practice specialties, who are drawn to a highly interactive, energetic, exploratory and challenging learning opportunity. Class 16 begins in September 2010. Course size is limited, and registrations for Class 16 are being accepted. Executives with at least five years’ experience managing professional design programs or businesses are invited to register for this highly regarded leadership building opportunity. For an overview of the full SEI program and to register, visit the ACEC SEI website. To inquire, contact Deirdre McKenna at dmckenna@acec.org.

 
 

The American Council of Engineering Companies 1015 15th St., NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005-2605 Phone: 202-347-7474 - Fax: 202-898-0068 www.acec.org - E-mail:acec@acec.org Alan D. Crockett, Director, PR Gerry Donohue, Editor/Designer