November 2007

Technology is great….at least when it works. I tend to use that phrase a lot when referring to personal computers. But in reality, technology has a big impact on our lives. How many of you would be able to give up your cell phone? Your PDA? Your digital camera? How about television, radio, or CD player? Technology has become indispensable in a lot of ways. We use technology for entertainment, for news, to stay connected with other people, as tools to make our work easier or more efficient, and in some cases to keep us alive.

Our own chapter uses technology for many purposes, and will continue to take advantage of new advances. Institute offers webinars via the internet. The chapter might not be to that point yet, but we have a website kept current and fresh by Diana Nyguyen which provides us a variety of information on the activities and resources of the chapter. And under the energetic and capable leadership of Bill Enright and the Communications Committee, Diana also publishes Specifics, our chapter newsletter, and the membership Roster. For some of us longer term members, we have seen an evolution in the delivery of our newsletter that is just a small example of what’s happening around us. Originally it was printed on paper and mailed out. Then it was emailed out as a pdf file. Today it is “published” in HTML format.

In other areas of our chapter, Jaime Nolan and Luann Bartley of IntrinXec, our chapter administrator, send out email notices for monthly programs and seminars. The Education, Program and Certification committees bring us seminars and other events introducing us to technologies that will help us in our work.

Some of these technologies have already changed the way we work. I remember when FAX machines first came out. And, with even greater impact: when bids were first allowed to be submitted by FAX. I had contractors asking the architectural firm I worked at then to provide additional FAX lines because they couldn’t submit their bid if their competitor was utilizing the phone line. Today, email doesn’t have to wait for the line to clear. The Chapter Board of Directors has even taken part in web-based meetings instead of meeting in person on occasion.

Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) has almost completely erased from current memory hand drafting. Does anybody remember pin bars and xerograph details? The next evolution is BIM – Building Information Modeling. I believe it was last year that the chapter had a keynote presentation on this topic at the Construction Showcase. Incorporating BIM into an office’s method of work can be an expensive and time-consuming proposition, as we are still in the developing stages of this technology. However, I challenge the A/E firms to take on a leadership role in this area. BIM is growing in use – but usually what I hear, is that contractors are embracing this technology for large scale projects, and are asking drafters to input the A/E’s construction documents so as to look for conflicts before they actually get to that point in construction. Our clients expect us to create construction documents that are coordinated. Dunwoody College of Technology has incorporated BIM into their curriculum for the Architectural Estimating and Drafting program. The evolution in drawing production will continue and we should be prepared for it.

Technology is also the main topic for the November Chapter meeting. We will hear how Target Corporation utilizes innovative technologies to not only make their stores and headquarters buildings safe and secure, but how they have helped local, state and federal law enforcement agencies solve several felony crimes through Target’s Forensic Services Team. Through my work as an architect at Target, I have had the pleasure with working with the Assets Protection Team quite a bit. And I have to say, they have some pretty amazing toys…. I mean tools. They are exploring technologies that are just being developed and are leaders in implementing these tools into the design of buildings. This month’s meeting will introduce the CSI of television fame to the CSI we all know and love. This will be a very fun and interesting presentation that you shouldn’t miss.