Engineering Influence from ACEC acecnational

In a concerning discovery, cities across the US are steadily sinking due to practices such as groundwater extraction, oil extraction, and fracking, exacerbating the impacts of sea-level rise. This article, which originally ran in Engineering, Inc., delves into the severity of the situation, highlighting how a considerable number of American and global cities, housing 10s of millions of people, are dropping at an alarming rate every year. Land subsidence – the sinking of ground level – is largely irreversible and carries serious repercussions, including increased flood risk and potential relocation of affected communities.
As experts emphasize, the primary culprit is the over-extraction of groundwater, which is responsible for more than 80% of U.S. land subsidence occurrences. Despite elemental damages like floods, earthquakes, or landslides being resolvable over time, loss of elevation due to land subsidence is permanent and difficult to notice until it's too late. Therefore, it's vital to comprehend that land subsidence amplifies all other environmental impacts, including relative sea level rise, essentially characterizing the intersections of sinking land and rising seas.
Though land subsidence can't be reversed, stabilization is possible through processes like managed aquifer recharge. Some cities are already testing such solutions with the hope to slow down and stabilize ground subsidence. Nonetheless, considering the increased storm surges and rainfall, the real challenge is to rethink how cities use stormwater to naturally replenish groundwater resources, which currently is not the case in most urban areas. Plans to effectively manage stormwater and allow it to seep back into the ground to recharge groundwater reserves are discussed.
However, the graveness of the issue also extends to climate gentrification. With the rising sea levels and decreasing land, neighborhoods sitting above sea levels are becoming prime real estate, forcing locals out. Experts advocate for infrastructure with multiple functional benefits and a balanced approach that takes into account all members of the community. As cities sink and sea levels rise, engineers are called to action to ensure sustainable futures and reevaluate the relationship between the built environment and nature.

Contact Diana Alexander at dalexander@acec.org to join the BDM community.
Registration for the BDM Forum will open on 3-20-24:  https://www.acec.org/member-center/get-involved/forums/business-development-marketing-forum/
Register for the 5/1 Market Briefing:  https://education.acec.org/diweb/catalog/item?id=14439812
Register for the 2024 Annual Convention and Legislative Summit:  https://netforum.acec.org/eWeb/DynamicPage.aspx?WebCode=DVLXRegProcEvent&evtKey=B3616C5E-FB9A-411D-ACC0-1B5C791E5573
Join Diana Alexander, the Director of Private Market Resources for the American Council of Engineering Companies, in this episode of the 'Engineering Influence' podcast, as she provides an anticipatory glance at the upcoming third annual Business Development and Marketing Forum. Learn why the forum serves as the perfect platform for networking and understanding the latest trends that are shaking up the business and marketing industries.
Listen about what's new for this year, including the shift of the annual meeting to fall, an increase in available seats to up to 100, and a three-day format that includes a series of insightful sessions featuring industry experts. Gain knowledge about the exciting array of attendees and the invaluable experience they bring to the forum, from CEOs and Vice Presidents to Marketing Directors and Client Service Managers.
Delve into a detailed schedule of the daily event, including keynote talks about the current state of AI in the AEC, proposal creation, go-no-go processes and more. Get a sneak peek into the ‘Thought Leadership’ panel and meet the eminent personalities that will share their esteemed perspectives on key topics such as AI integration, digital marketing, and talent retention. The forum promises a packed agenda with enlightening speaker sessions and interactive panels, all with a view to helping you and your firm grow.
This podcast episode also highlights two upcoming events, capturing the themes of Adaptive Reuse in the office sector and a local D.C. Developer panel at Land Development Coalition Roundtable. As listeners eagerly anticipate these occasions, this podcast provides both the practical information and exciting teaser of what's in store.
Press play and get all the details you need about ACEC Business Development and Marketing Forum in this comprehensive preview. To always stay updated, be sure to like and subscribe. Prepare to be inspired and empowered!
 

The latest episode of the Engineering Influence Podcast, produced by the American Council of Engineering Companies, highlights the Q1 2024 Engineering Business Sentiment Study from the ACEC Research Institute. Download the new report here: https://programs.acec.org/impact-report-21/.
The report indicates an upbeat start to 2024 with a significant positive US economic sentiment. Recession fears have eased, and robust macroeconomic indicators, such as high GDP and low unemployment rates, reinforce the optimistic industry outlook. However, political uncertainty around election year remains a significant worry for future expectations.
The episode delves into the appetite for infrastructure work and the recovery signs in the Commercial Real Estate sector. It also highlights hiring challenges currently dampening industry expansion but indicates increased hiring anticipation amongst firms. A lack of sufficient workers, however, is driving firms to reject business offers and calls for immediate solutions.
The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a potential solution to labor shortage also gets spotlighted in this episode. With a significant number of firms using or developing AI strategies, the overall sentiment is positive about the impact of AI in the year ahead.
Lastly, the episode discusses the importance of effective forecasting and modeling, using a decade’s worth of data. Despite workforce concerns, other indicators suggest a shift towards positivity in the economy, providing a promising glimpse into what lies ahead in the engineering industry.

We sat down with Adam Jones, ACEC SC Executive Director, and incoming NAECE President on what he expects to accomplish during his tenure in the position.

The Engineering Influence Podcast from ACEC National is thrilled to announce a new series called "Market Briefings for Engineers." Scheduled to be launched online on February 21st, this series was crafted after thoughtful feedback from our engaged member community. We designed it to provide relevant market intelligence, focusing on significant trends, legislation, and opportunities impacting today's markets.
Register for our first event here: https://www.acec.org/event/market-briefings-the-growing-energy-market/ 
The Market Briefings Engineers will delve into crucial areas like vertical infrastructure, construction spending, AE revenues, and more, all the while offering expert interviews, insight into our industry, and comprehensive five-year forecasts. Our series aims to deliver valuable insider intel, zeroing in on growth markets using data derived from extensive ACEC research.
We will explore major growth areas anticipated for the next five years, including energy, office, healthcare and life sciences, data centers, and telecommunications. Our inaugural session on February 21st will discuss trending topics in the energy market, including renewable alternatives, power plant development, and more. Future sessions will cover topics such as adaptive reuse, trends in healthcare and life sciences, and the growth of data centers and telecommunications.
Each session is expertly curated to deliver information about robust market sectors by presenting panels of clients, developers, and industry experts. We aim to benefit our members by highlighting opportunities, trends, and areas set for growth. To further the cause, we also plan to offer recordings of each session so that you can catch up whenever you want.
We encourage you to join us on this enlightening journey and look forward to your participation this year. If you need more information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.

We sat down with our Board Chair Jay Wolverton to catch up on a busy year of activity at ACEC.  We discussed the results of the recent Executive Committee meeting, the work of the new workforce committee and more.