CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
23 May 2007
Company News
Latest Issue of BE Magazine Explores Shortfall in Engineering Talent Pipeline and Ways to Fill It
In the latest issue of BE Magazine ( http://www.be.org/ ), published by Bentley Systems, Incorporated, Jim Parsons, Maureen Conley, and Alan D. Crockett of the American Council of Engineering Companies explore a potentially critical problem facing firms specializing in the built environment: a growing shortage of engineering talent. The authors of "Engineer Shortfall" explain that this international challenge has been largely "hidden beneath the euphoria of a burgeoning clientele" - as engineering firms continue to meet their deadlines and deliver quality projects. However, they add that the engineering shortage, which is evidenced by "the reality of empty desks, overburdened staff, and hastily implemented personnel decisions," is becoming more and more of a hindrance to daily operations and the success of firms.
In two of the articles that follow, readers learn about important and exciting programs already under way to replenish the engineering talent pipeline at the source - students around the world. Both are must-reads for anyone interested in the future of the engineering professions.
The first article, "Students Tap Imagination to Model Megacities of the Future," provides an inspiring account of the inaugural Future Cities India 2020 design competition in India. The program, which was launched last year by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, and Bentley, encourages university students to use their design skills - along with Bentley's software for the world's infrastructure - to help prepare India's cities for the year 2020.
This pilot program was so successful that the Ministry has given the go-ahead to move forward on a plan to turn Future Cities India 2020 into a national competition. Said Dr. R. Siva Kumar, head of the Natural Resources Data Management Systems, a division of India's Department of Science & Technology, "In this competition, young students were provided with the appropriate tools and the freedom to experiment. The results are beyond our expectations."
Future Cities India 2020 was inspired by the U.S.-based National Engineers Week Future City Competition, which is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary and is the subject of the second article. "Exploring the Facets of Brilliant Young Minds" tells the story of middle school students from St. Thomas More School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who design and model a self-sustainable city powered by renewable resources to win the 2007 Future City Competition. The city, named Mwinda, uses fuel cells powered by hydrogen from phyto-hydrogen generators, genetically enhanced algal cultures, and solar collector hydrogen generators.
The St. Thomas More team faced off against teams from 35 middle schools across the United States in a contest that poses challenges that intrigue young minds and demand their best. The competition, said CEO Greg Bentley, "captures the attention of students when their choice of courses could have otherwise foreclosed engineering as a pursuit. The combination of engineer-mentors, hands-on learning, and teamwork engages students' imaginations and interest in engineering."
The article "Structural Surgery," by Edward Zinski, Scott Holsinger, and Angela Fante, structural engineers with Ballinger in Philadelphia, walks readers through a challenging project involving the oldest hospital in the United States. Philadelphia Hospital needed an additional 24,000 square feet of critical patient care space immediately and wanted the capacity for 48,000 square feet of future space. But the hospital is bounded on all sides by existing city streets and buildings, and half of the campus area is comprised of landmark buildings and gardens that are required to remain as-is for historical preservation. The project teams were able to accomplish these goals while keeping key departments in the building under construction fully operational throughout the project.
In his column "The Last Word," CEO Greg Bentley reflects on two events he recently attended that have renewed his optimism about the future, about the important role the infrastructure profession will play in sustaining the world, and about inspiring and motivating the next generation to succeed those currently "working the problem" of limited resources and maintaining and improving our quality of life indefinitely. The two events were the National Engineers Week Future City Competition and the 2007 SmartGeometry Winter Conference. The latter featured inspiring presentations spanning what Mr. Bentley calls "computational design," including interdisciplinary design, digital prototyping, and digital fabrication.
Said Mr. Bentley, "In the future cities that the middle school competitors designed, the common thread was their optimism about surmounting the challenges we face, such as sustainability. That optimism was just as palpable at the SmartGeometry conference with some of our best young professionals, despite their clear realization of real-world limits, working actual problems with evocative software-enabled innovation, one project at a time."
To experience BE Magazine's latest digital issue and become a subscriber, go to http://www.be.org/ . To contribute to the editorial content of future issues, please submit success stories, feature articles, news items, commentary, or letters to BEmagazine@be.org .
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