Consulting-Specifying Engineer - January 2009 - (Page 7) Editor’s Viewpoint Michael Ivanovich, Editor-in-Chief Meeting the challenges of 2009 On behalf of n behalf of the editorial team of Consulting-Specifying Engineer, welcome to 2009. the editorial team of Consulting-Specifying Engineer, welcome to 2009. It’s shaping up to be a tough year for national and global economies. Even though the forecasts don’t look It’s shaping up to be a tough year for national and global economies. Even though the so bad in termsforecasts don’t lookit seems in terms theoverallsources are seems as if all the news sources are of overall volume, so bad as if all of news volume, it competing to deliver the grimmest message. As I wrote in December, I remaingrimmest message.year won’t be December,engineering, especially if competing to deliver the optimistic that the As I wrote in as bad for I remain optimistic that there is a focus on infrastructure inas bad for engineering,packages being planned at the federal level. Judging the year won’t be the economic stimulus especially if there is a focus on infrastructure in the from the rhetoric, the package would targetat the federal level. Judging from the and sustainability initiativeseconomic stimulus packages being planned schools, energy-efficiency programs, rhetoric, the package would -all of which are strong markets for consulting-specifying engineers. target schools, energy-efficiency programs, and sustainability initiatives, all of which are strong markets for consulting-specifying engineers. (that we could assemble by press time), please turn to the article by Reed For the latest construction news Construction Data economist Jim Haugheywe could XX. My spin on Haughey’s article is that although growth For the latest construction news (that on page assemble by press time for January), please turn to the will suffer Reed Construction Data economist Jim Haughey on pagethe renovation and retrofit market,is that article by a steep decline, overall volume will remain fairly solid, and 44. My spin on Haughey’s article which isn’t represented in Haughey’s steep will substantiallyvolume will remain high pretty high, and the renovation although growth will suffer a data, decline, overall increase. Altogether, the nonresidential market could be pretty strong for the which isn’t represented in his data, will substantially increase. Altogether, the nonresiand retrofit market, year. dentialdirectionshould bewas discernible early enough to inform Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s fiscal year The market for 2009 pretty strong for the year. planning in fall 2008, as we laid out a road map for whatinform our fiscal year planning in fall 2008, asthemes: The direction for 2009 was discernible early enough to to cover this year. Our research yielded four we laid energy efficiencyfor what we wouldrenovations and Our research yielded four themes: energy efficiency face out a road map and sustainability, cover this year. retrofits, resiliency, and integration. Basically, in the and of a tough economy, owners are going toresiliency, and to save money because they need to, a tough economy, sustainability, renovations and retrofits, look for ways integration. Basically, in the face of and they will plan to combat natural to look for ways to save money, as I mentioned earlier, because they need to, and they will owners are going catastrophes because they must. plan for natural integration has been playing for a decade, but its cadence has picked up recently as the moveThe theme of catastrophes because they must. ment hit electrical systems. Now been playing for a decade, but its cadence has picked up recently as the moveThe theme of integration has we have intelligent switchgear and generators being networked with meters, sun control devices, lighting systems, HVAC, security,switchgear and generators being networked with meters, ment hit electrical systems. Now we have intelligent and fire systems. With green buildings, uptime, and commissioning as drivers, integration has not only breached the walls between engineering disciplines, butand walls sun control devices, lighting systems, HVAC, security, and fire systems. With green buildings, uptime, the combetween all professions involvedhas not only breached the walls between engineering disciplines, but the walls missioning as drivers, integration with buildings and all phases of a building lifecycle. So, in June, we have an entire issue devoted to integration, as buildings and all phases of a building the year. So, in June, we have an between all professions involved with well as articles here and there during lifecycle. entire issuetheme weto integration, as well as articles here andplanning. The the year. Another devoted have in the works this year is catastrophe there during floods, hurricanes, seismic events, and tornadoes that have planning in 2009 is catastrophe planning. The floods, hurricanes, seismic events, and Another theme we are been hitting the United States in the past few years have increased the interest in owners (and insurance companies) for making buildings more resilient to natural catastrophes. Their interest tornadoes that have been hitting the Unite States over the past few years have increased the interest in owners means new requirements and expectations for engineers—and newnaturalWe’ll have spotTheir interest means (and insurance companies) for making buildings more resilient to work. catastrophes. coverage during the year requirements and expectations for engineers—and new work. We’ll have spot coverage during the year new and an in-depth supplement in July. The supplement will cover electrical, power, HVAC, and life-safety systemsin-depth supplement in centers, campus systems, office buildings, power, HVAC, and life-safety systems and an in case studies on data July. The supplement will cover electrical, and schools. in Heading into the new year, it’s obvious there will be buildings, and schools. case studies on data centers, campus systems, office a lot of changes and challenges to contend with. We’re here to help you through this it’s obvious as wellwillour a lot of changes and challenges toand website. We’re Heading into the new year, magazine, there as be electronic newsletters, webcasts, contend with. here to help you through this magazine, as well as our electronic newsletters, webcasts, and website. Good luck and take care. Good luck and take care. O Send your questions and comments to: Michael.Ivanovich@reedbusiness.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer • JANUARY 2009 7
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.