Infrastructure projects

Leadership Is Not a Title — It Is a Perspective

October 19, 2020 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Mike Burns, PE, PgMP, DBIA

Previously, we discussed the importance of your voice as an industry and community integrator: Who Knows What You Know? — Your Voice Matters! Taking this guidance an important step further, I encourage you to move from managing people to empowering leadership from every vantage point, as our ability to deliver complex solutions in a timely manner necessitates an artful migration of diverse perspectives into inclusive solutions.

Infrastructure projects are inherently local and therefore unique, necessitating a patient combination of political savvy and technical expertise to move from policy expectations to project implementation. At each step, we must acknowledge, explore, and address ever-changing stakeholder wants and needs. Our ability to artfully migrate these evolving demands into sustainable, resilient, and equitable community solutions requires dispersed leadership. This is a concept that is at the heart of Progressive Design-Build , which seeks to empower robust communications as leadership ebbs and flows across an evolving set of teams.

How AEC Industry Professionals Can Approach Their Roles as Integrators

June 16, 2020 By EMI

This is a guest blog by Mike Burns, PE, PgMP, DBIA

Last month we discussed the collective value of our voices: Speak Up, Take a Chance, Your Voice Matters! Today, as we see unrest in our streets, it is more apparent than ever that we actively seek platforms where holistic, inclusive discussions can be leveraged to solve our challenges. Discussions that start with a sense of belonging for everyone in our communities. Discussions that accept that there is not one single path for the next phase of our solutions. Discussions that lead to policies and programs whose governance and investments sustain a shared vision. This month’s blog is far from an answer to this existential crisis. It is simply a personal reflection on how we, as members of our communities and AEC industry professionals, can approach our roles as integrators.

Who Knows What You Know? – Your Voice Matters!

May 19, 2020 By EMI

Your Voice Matters is a guest blog by Mike Burns

Last month we discussed Continuous Learning, growing together as teachers and students, deepening our commitment to sustained personal and professional growth. As our COVID-19 response continues to mature, the AEC industry is rapidly advancing new ways of communicating, learning, and delivering projects. As we Zoom from meeting to meeting (cheesy pun intended), it is easy to feel connected without truly connecting. Yet this moment — this critical period of recovery — necessitates sustained empathetic listening in order to empower a diverse and inclusive chorus of critical voices. Infrastructure improvements will be a vital component of our pending economic recovery. We must concurrently fast track “shovel-ready” projects and restructure our capital improvement plans, setting the stage for a wave of critical infrastructure projects. Your voice matters, and is particularly critical today as we make difficult choices, pivoting to and accelerating new solutions. I hope that this embarrassing, yet rewarding story from my career inspires you to assert yourself in this moment for your community and our world.

TCEP 103: A Field Trip to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Conference

October 29, 2018 By EMI

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In episode 103 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am bringing you with me to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Conference where I will be talking with several guests to get their view on the state of Infrastructure, but also tools and strategies you can use on your projects. From smart landscaping features that serves as safe barriers to things you should know about disaster recovery when designing your projects, and even a software that will help you ensure that all parties on your projects are looking at the latest version of the project plans. The conference was presented by Engineering News-Record (ENR).

Here are some of the question I asked our guests at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Conference:

What should engineers be aware of in terms of new landscaping products for infrastructure projects?
Tell us what disaster recovery means for designers in the A/E/C industry?
What are some of the things you can do to alleviate the challenges behind project document coordination?
How can civil engineers and project managers work on their people skills?
What is your opinion of the importance people-management in project management?

Here are some key points discussed in this episode at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Conference:

TCEP 091: Assessing Risk on Infrastructure Projects with Michael Burns from AECOM

July 23, 2018 By EMI

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In episode 91 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, which is the third episode of our 5-episode infrastructure series, I talk with Michael Burns, PE, PgMP from AECOM. We talk about many things related to infrastructure. One of the main topics we discuss is assessing the risk associated with infrastructure projects in deciding whether or not to move projects forward.

Here are some of the questions I ask Michael Burns, PE, PgMP from AECOM:

What is infrastructure and what does a D- report card mean?
How do infrastructure projects impact people?
What books can you recommend that touch on the complexities of global infrastructure?
What are some of the risks involved with infrastructure projects and how can stakeholders assess them?

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode about assessing risk on infrastructure projects:

TCEP 084: The Importance of Sustainable Infrastructure Featuring Kristina Swallow

May 21, 2018 By EMI

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In episode 084 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, which is the first episode of a 5 episode Infrastructure Series, I talk with Kristina Swallow, PE., ENV SP, F. ASCE, who is the current President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), about the importance of sustainable infrastructure.

Here are some of the questions I ask Kristina on sustainable infrastructure:

Why should we be concerned about our infrastructure in the US?
How can we as civil engineering professionals help to improve infrastructure?
How can we advocate for infrastructure funding?
Could you describe one of your typical days as ASCE President?
What parts of your job as ASCE President do you find most challenging?
What do find most enjoyable in your job as ASCE President ?

Infrastructure projects

This is a guest blog by Mike Burns, PE, PgMP, DBIA

This is a guest blog by Mike Burns, PE, PgMP, DBIA

Your Voice Matters is a guest blog by Mike Burns

Here are some of the question I asked our guests at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Conference:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Conference:

Here are some of the questions I ask Michael Burns, PE, PgMP from AECOM:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed in this episode about assessing risk on infrastructure projects:

Here are some of the questions I ask Kristina on sustainable infrastructure:

Engineering Quotes:

Here are some key points discussed on sustainable infrastructure: