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The 2010 National Engineering Survey |
The roles of engineers are changing; but some things never change.
Amara Rozgus, Editor in Chief, and Rhonda McGee, Affinity Research Solutions
In April 2010, Consulting-Specifying Engineer (CSE) conducted a comprehensive survey on a large sample of its total circulation of more than 40,000 engineers. The National Engineering Survey (NES) addressed the status, needs, and opinions of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineers on a range of issues.
The NES was conducted via e-mail to a random sample of subscribers to CSE. Results were automatically tabulated and a number of verbatim (write-in) responses were tallied for quantitative insights, such as how many engineers responded with the same or similar answers to unaided questions. The sidebar, Survey Sample and Respondents, summarizes the sample sizes and return rates for the studies.
This article summarizes key findings from the NES. In particular, it describes the issues and challenges faced by engineers on the job, and their opinions about emerging tools and products.
Challenges to the profession
In the survey, the research team asked engineers to rank the most important challenges they face in engineering design on a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being extremely important. Table 1 shows the top four issues (ranked by mean), topping out with energy efficiency.
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FM:Systems Launches New BIM Integration and Sustainability Module |
FM:Interact Version 8.0 Helps Customers Drive Sustainability Efforts and Share Building Information Modeling (BIM) Data Throughout the Building Lifecycle
RALEIGH, N.C., Aug 10, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- FM:Systems, a leading provider of integrated workplace management systems (IWMS) and computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software, today announced the release of Version 8.0 of its Web-based FM:Interact Workplace Management Suite. The new release offers a groundbreaking BIM Integration Component, a new Sustainability Module and major enhancements in efficiency, scalability and security.
Connecting BIM and FM -- Autodesk(R) Revit(R) Architecture Integration
A key feature of FM:Interact 8.0 is the direct integration with Autodesk(R) Revit(R) Architecture software. Every building has a complex lifecycle with a wide range of people managing information. The FM:Interact BIM Integration Component leverages building information modeling data to improve communication and collaboration between stakeholders as a building evolves. This provides an opportunity for architects, engineers, contractors and facility managers to share building information during initial design and construction, building operations, and renovation or retrofit projects. The BIM Integration Component lets customers:
- Create a bi-directional link between Revit models and FM:Interact Web sites via Web services
- Connect BIM data from design, construction and renovation to facility management and operations
- Manage FM:Interact Space Management inventory, allocations and occupancy in Revit Architecture
- Synchronize families in Revit models with building systems data in the FM:Interact Facility Maintenance Module
- Publish floor plans from Revit models to FM:Interact
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CADsoft Consulting to offer Autodesk® Ecotect™ Analysis as a Hands On Virtual Training Class
Patrick Villella, LEED AP, has over 10 years of industry design experience and taught 2 sold out classes of Autodesk Ecotect Analysis at Autodesk University in December 2009. Learn how to design sustainably from the start with Autodesk® Ecotect™ Analysis software. It is a concept-to-detail sustainable design analysis solution with architect-designed desktop tools that measure the impact of environmental factors on a building’s performance and web-based technology for whole building analysis.
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Empowering Designers to Make Good Building Performance Decisions |
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 With
the current trend towards more energy efficient, environmentally friendly,
occupant aware building designs, many architecture firms are looking for ways to
quantify the effects of design decisions and choose options that will provide a
win-win.
Unfortunately, the current workflow typically involves the design firm
passing off the building performance calculations to an outside engineering
firm, which doesn’t always allow for timely data or collaboration in the early
stages of design. Many firms find this type of analysis to be cost prohibitive,
and often, the results come back so late that the design has already progressed
to the point that the suggestions of the engineer are often circumvented,
watered down, or ignored altogether.
It doesn’t have to be this way. With design
tools such as Ecotect Analysis and Green Building Studio, the power to make these
decisions is firmly in the designer’s hand. These tools work with files from
nearly any 3d or BIM software, including Revit, AutoCAD, Archicad, even
SketchUp. The tools are designed to simplify the analysis process and quickly
visualize the effects of design decisions on overall building performance.
If you would like a demonstration in your office to see how easily Ecotect Analysis can be used to help you make better building performance decisions, give us a call. In the mean time, you can check out this  Ecotect Analysis Presentation to AIA VDC (9.37 MB) that Patrick Villella gave to the Phoenix AIA VDC event August 20, 2009.
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