Technologies and STEM-trends in education

March 3, 2020 | 211 views

In education, the term STEM is often used – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. This is a modern teaching methodology using programs that prepares students for successful employment and contributes to the acquisition of skills in technology, mathematics, and science. This approach combines the natural science component and innovative technology. So, technologies are used even in the study of creative, artistic disciplines. For example, the study of musicians takes place using computer programs to create musical works.

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Webb Yates Engineers

Webb Yates Engineers is a multidisciplinary engineering practice comprising structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and public health engineers. With offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Dubai, our project portfolio ranges from arts to aviation, prototyping to housing, and inflatables to loadbearing stone.

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Engineering Tech

Why Construction Companies Need Software Optimization

Article | August 25, 2021

The construction industry is a broad one and it includes different types of companies which supply construction materials or perform various types of building industrial, residential, commercial and institutional, etc. In such companies employees usually have to create and manage numerous documents, they also deal with an influx of orders, perform accounting, manage projects of all sizes, control materials flow and delivery. It may seem impossible to perform such amount of work without any automation tools. And yet many companies are still unaware of digital optimization and all benefits it offers.

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Engineering Tech

The Semiconductor Chip Shortage

Article | August 24, 2021

640K Ought To Be Enough for Anybody That infamous statement—whether Bill Gates said it or not, goes to show the change in computing and the demands on the semiconductor industry over the last 40 years. At the beginning of the ‘70s, there was no expectation that the personal computer could become an affordable item for the man in the street. By 1979, however, Atari had released the 400 and 800 series of home computers. Three years later, the Commodore 64 made its debut, featuring 64KB of RAM and using an 8-bit CPU. In 1977 Steve Wozniak designed the Apple II, an 8-bit home computer. Launched at the 1977 West Coast Computer Faire, it was aimed at the home consumer market rather than the business market. August 12 1981: The IBM PC It could be argued that the first non-Apple PC, as we've come to know it, was the IBM 5150 personal computer. Its success spurred the production of IBM clones, or IBM PC compatible computers, with Columbia Data Products (CDP) producing the first in June 1982. A Case of History Repeating Itself? In the early ‘80s, anticipating the demand for PC’s to continue, memory chip manufacturers ramped up the production of RAM. But by September 1985, the market had stagnated, and a DRAM chip could be bought for $2.95. Demand for computers had slumped, and this low price reflected industry slowdown and extreme overproduction. Roll On To 1988 and the Price of Computer Chips Rocketed With a glut of existing RAM chips in the marketplace, manufacturers were cautious of the overproduction of 256-kilobit DRAM chips and converted their factories for 1-megabit chips. This shows that chip producers drastically misread the market. 1-megabit chips took significantly longer to manufacture, and so before too long, there was a shortage of RAM, causing prices to increase. The situation began to improve by the next year. Since then, although there have been years when supply was affected, it has been nowhere as catastrophic as now. The Current Semiconductor Chip Crisis We are facing an unprecedented shortage of semiconductor chips which is affecting worldwide markets. COVID-19 undoubtedly had a massive influence on this, but the demand for microchips was already soaring. 2019 COVID-19 Appears Although in November of 2019, a person displayed the first detectable case of COVID-19 in China, there was little else to warn of what was about to come. In the following months, as cases increased, so did hospital admissions. With the horror of widespread deaths, we saw countries bringing in protective measures and restrictions. These became increasingly severe and ranged from social distancing to working from home. This had a direct effect on the industry, seeing output slowed or temporarily ceased. 2020 Onwards In February of 2020, the indirect effects of the pandemic began to bite. Companies closed offices or limited the number of onsite staff. Employees were also encouraged to work offsite where possible. Other employers were forced to furlough employees. For some, the concept of working from the home kitchen table became a daily reality. This was seen as essential to ensure that services were maintained, albeit at a reduced capacity. For factory-based and hospitality industries, the impact was more dramatic. Company Employees Working From Home The decision by many companies to encourage staff to work from home was a direct result of COVID-19 and the resulting Government restrictions, but this, in turn, caused an indirect effect on the semiconductor shortage. In some cases, employees might have had existing company laptops issued to them for use in the workplace. In other cases, the use of their personally-owned device might have been sanctioned for company work. But in other circumstances, the company would either pay the employee to upgrade their laptop or provide a new company laptop with the necessary application and security software installed. This added to the general increased demand for computers that had computer manufacturers struggling to procure chips. Furloughed Employees Many furloughed employees suddenly finding themselves trapped at home with limited opportunities (if any) for socializing turned to or spent more time on gaming. This fuelled an interest in the latest products on the market and a keen appetite for products about to be launched. In turn, manufacturers clamored for more chips. Home Schooling Schools and colleges rose to the challenge of providing continuing education for their pupils and turned to online teaching when the school buildings were closed. Children were being home-schooled by parents and following online lessons. But it was essential that the children had the necessary resources. The basic requirements were a laptop with a webcam and a reliable internet connection. Subsequently, laptop sales increased dramatically. Who Is Taking The Hit? A simple answer is— any industry whose products depend on a high level of semiconductor chips, but in particular, the main players feeling the pain are the automotive and consumer electronics markets. The Auto Industry Automotive Companies Fall To the Back of the Semiconductor Chip Queue As COVID-19 began to take a grip, and with falling demand for vehicles, auto manufacturers either closed sites temporarily or reduced operations. Subsequently, they scaled down backorders from semiconductor suppliers. Meanwhile, the consumer electronics market was thriving and crying out to suppliers for more semiconductor chips. Later, when manufacturing was resumed, auto manufactures found themselves at the back of the queue. What Chips Are Used In Motor Vehicles? There are various types of chips used by auto manufacturers in their vehicles, ranging from commodity chips to microprocessors. According to Statista, “Infineon, NXP, and Renesas were the leading automotive semiconductor manufacturers worldwide in 2020. Infineon's market share was estimated at around 13.2 percent. The total market in 2020 was sized at around 35 billion U.S. dollars.” The Domestic Market (Consumer Electronics) Broadly speaking, this sector covers anything that falls into the entertainment, communications, and recreation categories. Although visits to high street stores to make purchases proved difficult, if not impossible during lockdown periods, online sales soared. But this boom has caused manufacturers a headache, as launches of new products have had to be delayed and fulfilment of the demand for existing models could not be met due to the chip shortage. Other Contributory Factors to the Crisis Although COVID-19 disrupted chip manufacture by causing foundry shutdowns and the halting of production, it wasn’t the only factor. An already beleaguered market was battered by other factors compounding the chip shortage crisis. Drought in Taiwan Water, a major necessity for semiconductors production, has been in short supply due to the worst drought in 56 years. Suez Canal Blockage In March 2021, the 400-metre-long (1,300ft) container ship ‘Ever Given’ ran aground in the Suez Canal and blocked the channel for six days, further impacting distribution and supply. Factory Fire Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics Corp. the world's third-largest supplier of automotive chips suffered a fire at its factory. Severe Weather Conditions in Texas In February Samsung, NXP, and Infineon chip fabs shut down in Texas amid record storm. Why Not Just Produce More Chips? While attempting to address the global chip shortage as expeditiously as possible, semiconductor manufacturers cannot afford to make a knee-jerk reaction. If fabrication plants are at maximum capacity or are only structured to make one type of chip, why not build more fabs? Semiconductor wafer fabs are hugely expensive to build. It takes considerable time to construct a new fab, with some as large as small cities. These fabrication plants, also known as foundries, require highly controlled environments where temperature, humidity and static electricity are controlled, and dust-free environments are guaranteed. As an immediate response, building new fabs is not a practical solution to the problem. Long term strategies will have to be put in place as the whole situation is addressed. When Will The Global Chip Shortage End? There are differing views being expressed on this tricky question. Some are optimistic, considering that the worst of the situation is over. Others provide a gloomier outlook, warning that we could be experiencing shortages well into another two years. Crisis management expert Edward Segal writing in Forbes: “The semiconductor chip crisis that hit companies around the world shows no signs of ending any time soon and will continue to impact the supply chains for many industries. Indeed, some organizations have yet to fully recover from the impact of the blockage of the Suez Canal last March on their ability to send and receive essential materials, parts and supplies.” Are There Any Lessons To Be Learned? A cynical reply might be—expect the unexpected. Of course, it is impossible to predict and plan for every possible eventuality. Changing market trends should be anticipated, whereas something as unforeseen as a global pandemic cannot. Manufacturers, however, should seriously take a look at their contingency plans. It seems that far and above the other problems of the chip crisis, the biggest headache within the semiconductor industry is the supply chains. Distribution Networks Writing in an article for ZDNet, Daphne Leprince-Ringuet: “The semiconductor supply chain is flawed, and it's going to take a long time until things get better, despite the combined efforts of industry and regulators.” Supply chains are the highways of trade upon which product delivery depends. But the semiconductor supply chain is hugely complex and is spread across several countries. Admittedly, it is essential to create more fabs over the following years. Still, it is critical to maintain a watchful eye on supply chain policies to ensure future semiconductor chip demand fulfilment. Just-In-Time (JIT) Model Considered as an effective approach by some automotive manufacturers as an efficient method of business management in times of plenty. It becomes counterproductive in times of shortage when they will face long chip manufacture lead times. Chip manufacturers are advocating a greater knowledge of their customers’ production maps, stating that even a two quarter indication is insufficient for planning. Think Outside The Box Be open to some lateral thinking. Recycling could be an interim response to chip shortage. All Of A Sudden Vintage Equipment Is A Hot Commodity Steven Zhou writing in Forbes, reports that old (obsolete) fabs could be suitable for the production of some current 'smart' devices. While the creation of extra fabs can take over two years and the building of the manufacturing equipment up to eighteen months, repurposing old equipment could be a source of additional capacity. Reliance On Asia The current crisis has brought about an awareness of the inadvisability of an ongoing reliance on Asian fabs for the supply of semiconductor chips for U.S. and European markets. The Future According to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in a publication Strengthening The Global Semiconductor Supply Chain In An Uncertain Era “Over the next ten years, the industry will need to invest about $3 trillion in R&D and capital expenditure globally across the value chain in order to meet the increasing demand for semiconductors.” Moore’s Law Is Not Dead Moore's law is the premise first expressed in 1965 by Gordon E. Moore, the co-founder of Intel, that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, though the cost of computers is halved. Or put another way—that we can expect to see larger-scale integration with more circuitry packed into chips for the same form factor. If this proves true, manufacturers will take advantage of these cheaper and more advanced chips to develop a new generation of products that consumers will be only too eager to buy.

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Robotics and Automation

What is Environmental Engineering?

Article | July 13, 2022

Environmental regulations are tightening, resource extraction sites are nearing the end of their useful lives and must be cleaned up, and the list goes on. Environmental engineers are needed to take advantage of these career opportunities in order to ensure that human impact on the environment is sustainable. But exactly what is environmental engineering? What is Environmental Engineering? Environmental engineering entails both the protection of people from the environment and the protection of the environment from people. Environmental engineers, for example, help to protect people's health from the effects of pollution by designing pollution mitigation systems. When an environmental engineer, on the other hand, designs a system that treats waste to ensure that any spills into groundwater are less toxic, they are protecting the environment from the negative effects of humans. Environmental engineers rely on knowledge from a variety of disciplines, including chemistry, geology, physics, biology, soil science, and others, to complete their work; it is a highly interdisciplinary field. In which industries can environmental engineers work? Environmental engineers work in a wide range of industries and for a wide range of companies due to the wide range of tasks they perform. In this section, we will look at some of the most common areas in which they work. Oil, mining, and forestry are all resource industries that have a significant environmental impact. Companies in these industries frequently hire environmental engineers to minimize the impact these industries have on the environment in order to comply with government environmental regulations. For example, in the mining industry, an environmental engineer may be hired to treat mine waste to make it less toxic. Many environmental engineers go on to work for government agencies, assisting in the verification of companies' compliance with environmental regulations and, in some cases, developing environmental regulations themselves. Public infrastructure projects, such as dams and bridges, are another area where environmental engineers are needed. They are required to ensure that the environmental impact of these projects is kept to a minimum. Environmental engineers are responsible for safeguarding the environment against human impact as well as safeguarding humans against any serious negative effects caused by the environment. They can work in the resource industry, government, education, research, environmental clean-up companies, and engineering consulting firms. Environmental engineers are more needed than ever as stricter environmental regulations take effect around the world and there is a greater need to clean up anything that has a significant impact on the environment.

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Engineering Tech

Where Are You in Your Additive Manufacturing Automation Journey?

Article | May 12, 2021

Somewhat ironically, many processes in additive manufacturing – which is often defined as a digital manufacturing technology – remain manual and siloed. Automation is still not widely deployed in additive manufacturing. The vast majority of companies adopting 3D printing remain dependent on human labour and access to physical inventories. Below we’ll be exploring the stages of maturity in additive manufacturing IT automation; areas companies should consider automating and software solutions available to help you digitise and streamline your additive manufacturing operations.

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Spotlight

Webb Yates Engineers

Webb Yates Engineers is a multidisciplinary engineering practice comprising structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and public health engineers. With offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Dubai, our project portfolio ranges from arts to aviation, prototyping to housing, and inflatables to loadbearing stone.

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Engineering Tech

YOUNG & Associates Acquires IN-Line Consulting, LLC

YOUNG & ASSOCIATES | September 26, 2023

Property and claims consultants YOUNG & Associates (YA), has acquired the claims and engineering company IN-Line Consulting, LLC. Founded by Matt Watson and Mark Lively more than 16 years ago, IN-Line was formed to manage the consulting work offered by a full-service restoration company operating primarily in the Southeast United States. The move strengthens YA's footprint in that part of the country, solidifying the company's role as a national and international leader. IN-Line will operate as a subsidiary of YA and its day-to-day operations will continue to be directed by the existing IN-Line leadership team. The company's management and support teams also will remain in place. "This partnership with IN-Line is a significant step forward in growing our professional service offerings," said Wade Bushman, YA's CEO. "We appreciate IN-Line's diverse base of technical experts, exceptional customer service track record, shared cultural values, and employee-first workplace model. They are a natural addition to the YA team." IN-Line President Matt Watson explained joining forces with YA allows the company to better serve clients by broadening its resource base and expanding its capabilities nationally and internationally. The move also offers new avenues for personal and professional growth for IN-Line's employees. "Since our inception, we have focused on building a great team and culture that can best serve the wide-ranging needs of our clients," Watson said. "Now, with YA's resources and platform, we are well positioned to carry that commitment into the future." ABOUT YOUNG & ASSOCIATES YOUNG & Associates (www.youngonline.com) is a property consulting firm providing building damage assessments, forensic and investigative consulting services to the insurance industry, public and private sector clients. YA was founded in 1997 by Ray and Linda Young on the core values of knowledge, integrity, and professionalism. Through its 26 years, YA's range of property damage services has expanded, developing a broader client base, and growing the team to almost 600 staff strategically located across the U.S. and internationally. ABOUT IN-LINE CONSULTING, LLC IN-Line Consulting, LLC (www.inline.us) is a national construction consulting firm specializing in property damage restoration and reconstruction recommendations for all phases of construction. Historically, IN-Line has been engaged on large, complex losses which require the technical diversity, expertise, and experience unique to our team of professionals. IN-Line's principal services include the preparation of comprehensive and market-specific construction estimates, as well as detailed and practical scopes of reconstruction. IN-Line's other competencies include but are not limited to: cost of repair audits; on-site clerking; code reviews; construction schedule analysis; production efficiency and economy analysis; forensic engineering; and construction defect analysis.

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Engineering Tech

Michael Baker International Acquires Tidal Basin

PR Newswire | August 28, 2023

Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that the firm has acquired Tidal Basin, a leading comprehensive emergency and disaster management consulting firm. Tidal Basin will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity and will complement Michael Baker's efforts to support the nation's recovery efforts and rebuild infrastructure to be safer and more resilient. "We are excited to welcome Tidal Basin as a sister company to Michael Baker. This relationship is a tremendous opportunity for the two firms to work closely together to drive more value for a shared client base that encompasses more than 90 locations across the country," said Thomas J. Campbell, Chairman of Michael Baker International and Founder and Managing Partner of DC Capital Partners. "Both firms bring added strength to the market with complementary resources and capabilities to take on larger resiliency projects while delivering the exceptional client service for which they are known." This new relationship pairs the depth and breadth of Michael Baker's engineering and consulting expertise with Tidal Basin's extensive experience and comprehensive suite of services relative to preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery and program management - which are increasingly important as public and private entities contend with volatile climate activity and man-made emergencies. Tidal Basin has served as a vital resource during times of crisis, including public health emergencies and other unforeseen events. Working more closely together will allow both firms to provide even stronger program and technical management expertise and resources to clients, including governments, businesses and communities. Michael Baker and Tidal Basin have a history of working together on projects throughout the country, including planning projects targeting wildfires in California and infrastructure projects in Colorado and New York. The new relationship between the firms creates many avenues to leverage synergies and growth opportunities across Michael Baker's five distinct verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). Growth opportunities exist through the strong relationship both organizations have with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while pursuing additional business across all Federal agencies. This includes expanding relationships with federal civilian agencies, state and local entities, departments of transportation nationwide as well as projects in the broadband services, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and geographic information systems (GIS) sectors, among others. Tidal Basin is led by founder and CEO Daniel A. Craig, a leader with extensive experience with FEMA and the disaster consulting and post-disaster recovery industries. He has advised the White House and more than a dozen governors and state administrations on recovery, housing, and long-term economic recovery strategies. Mr. Craig also served as a presidentially appointed Associate Administrator for FEMA's Recovery Division where he was responsible for overseeing the federal government's recovery efforts on all presidentially declared events including the Space Shuttle Columbia crash, the wildfires of 2003, and the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. Mr. Craig is supported by a deep team of industry experts and experienced professionals including Amy K. Baker, Executive Vice President, Government Consulting; Melissa J. Gordon, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Solutions and Stephen T. Surace, President and Chief Financial Officer. Currently, the Tidal Basin team is leveraging its technology enabled solutions to expedite recovery efforts related to the tragic Maui wildfires. The McLean Group acted as financial advisor and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP acted as legal advisor to Tidal Basin in connection with the transaction. Arnold & Porter, LLP acted as transaction counsel and White & Case, LLP acted as debt counsel to DC Capital. About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services spanning five distinct Verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design and civil engineering for diverse bridge, highway, water, rail and transit and aviation projects, as well as planning, architecture, environmental and construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner to clients, providing comprehensive services and solutions, delivering expertise and quality, and embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations – like intelligent transportation, engineered models and public safety software as a service (SaaS).

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Engineering Tech, Construction

Day & Zimmermann Integrates Multidiscipline Engineering into Service Portfolio, Expanding Capabilities to Full EPC

PR Newswire | August 24, 2023

Day & Zimmermann (D&Z) announced integration of its engineering capabilities within its Maintenance and Construction division, positioning the company to service customers' greater project needs under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) execution model across all markets and the clients we serve. The move allows D&Z to offer full-service, multidiscipline engineering and completes its suite of EPC capabilities to support large-scale design-build projects. Day & Zimmermann, the century-old, family-owned provider of construction and maintenance, engineering, staffing, and defense solutions for leading corporations and governments around the world, also continues its expansion into the solar, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor markets. The company's Maintenance and Construction division was recently awarded a contract with The State Group to support construction of Ford's Blue Oval City Electric Vehicle Center in Stanton, Tennessee. "This is an exciting time for D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division. Our business is growing, we have become ISO 9001 certified, added to our team of industry experts through strategic investments and acquisitions, and now we've integrated engineering services to further expand our project capabilities and better meet our customers' needs," said John McCormick, President of D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division. Recent acquisitions bolstering D&Z's service capabilities include the Ohio-based companies of Davis-Pickering Co. Contractors, a union labor construction company, and River Town Electric, a solar system design, installation, and maintenance service provider for in-ground and roof-mounted photovoltaic solar systems as well as grid-tied, off-grid, and solar thermal systems. Acquisitions within the last five years include Minnotte Contracting Corporation, a Pittsburgh-based union mechanical contractor and construction company, and EMC Canada, a construction company based in Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. Both companies now operate fully as part of D&Z. D&Z engineering services cover many areas including process/chemical; mechanical; electrical; piping design/engineering; instrumentation and controls; civil, structural, and architectural; BIM management; and 3D laser scanning and modeling. This multidisciplinary expertise is leveraged to provide EPC services. With D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division recently receiving its ISO 9001:2015 certification through DEKRA, work begins to include engineering services under the certification with expected completion in early 2024. ISO 9001 certification is a necessary step to work under standards recognized worldwide, pursue bigger projects, and ensure the highest quality engineering work is delivered to customers. "We are building on 120 years of brand equity and reputation for high standards of safety, first-time quality, and cost efficiencies," said McCormick. "We are accelerating momentum for our people, our customers, and our future. We're positioning our business for full EPC capabilities to ensure a place for our children's children to work and to be an asset for the customers and communities we serve." D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division helps plant and facilities owners in the nuclear, fossil, solar, government sector, chemical, advanced automotive, semiconductor, and other industrial markets lower their total cost of ownership by delivering innovative maintenance, construction, and specialty services and solutions. The announcement of integrated engineering services adds to its offerings and makes turnkey construction contracts a reality for D&Z customers. ABOUT DAY & ZIMMERMANN When you've been around for more than a century, you know a thing or two. At Day & Zimmermann, we take our lifetime of experience and make things better. Our 51,000+ employees help bring big ideas to life every day. We're pushing the boundaries of innovation in construction & engineering, operations & maintenance, staffing, and security & defense. And that's not all. Did we mention that we have 150+ worldwide locations with $2.7 billion USD in annual revenue? We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world.

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Engineering Tech

YOUNG & Associates Acquires IN-Line Consulting, LLC

YOUNG & ASSOCIATES | September 26, 2023

Property and claims consultants YOUNG & Associates (YA), has acquired the claims and engineering company IN-Line Consulting, LLC. Founded by Matt Watson and Mark Lively more than 16 years ago, IN-Line was formed to manage the consulting work offered by a full-service restoration company operating primarily in the Southeast United States. The move strengthens YA's footprint in that part of the country, solidifying the company's role as a national and international leader. IN-Line will operate as a subsidiary of YA and its day-to-day operations will continue to be directed by the existing IN-Line leadership team. The company's management and support teams also will remain in place. "This partnership with IN-Line is a significant step forward in growing our professional service offerings," said Wade Bushman, YA's CEO. "We appreciate IN-Line's diverse base of technical experts, exceptional customer service track record, shared cultural values, and employee-first workplace model. They are a natural addition to the YA team." IN-Line President Matt Watson explained joining forces with YA allows the company to better serve clients by broadening its resource base and expanding its capabilities nationally and internationally. The move also offers new avenues for personal and professional growth for IN-Line's employees. "Since our inception, we have focused on building a great team and culture that can best serve the wide-ranging needs of our clients," Watson said. "Now, with YA's resources and platform, we are well positioned to carry that commitment into the future." ABOUT YOUNG & ASSOCIATES YOUNG & Associates (www.youngonline.com) is a property consulting firm providing building damage assessments, forensic and investigative consulting services to the insurance industry, public and private sector clients. YA was founded in 1997 by Ray and Linda Young on the core values of knowledge, integrity, and professionalism. Through its 26 years, YA's range of property damage services has expanded, developing a broader client base, and growing the team to almost 600 staff strategically located across the U.S. and internationally. ABOUT IN-LINE CONSULTING, LLC IN-Line Consulting, LLC (www.inline.us) is a national construction consulting firm specializing in property damage restoration and reconstruction recommendations for all phases of construction. Historically, IN-Line has been engaged on large, complex losses which require the technical diversity, expertise, and experience unique to our team of professionals. IN-Line's principal services include the preparation of comprehensive and market-specific construction estimates, as well as detailed and practical scopes of reconstruction. IN-Line's other competencies include but are not limited to: cost of repair audits; on-site clerking; code reviews; construction schedule analysis; production efficiency and economy analysis; forensic engineering; and construction defect analysis.

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Engineering Tech

Michael Baker International Acquires Tidal Basin

PR Newswire | August 28, 2023

Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that the firm has acquired Tidal Basin, a leading comprehensive emergency and disaster management consulting firm. Tidal Basin will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity and will complement Michael Baker's efforts to support the nation's recovery efforts and rebuild infrastructure to be safer and more resilient. "We are excited to welcome Tidal Basin as a sister company to Michael Baker. This relationship is a tremendous opportunity for the two firms to work closely together to drive more value for a shared client base that encompasses more than 90 locations across the country," said Thomas J. Campbell, Chairman of Michael Baker International and Founder and Managing Partner of DC Capital Partners. "Both firms bring added strength to the market with complementary resources and capabilities to take on larger resiliency projects while delivering the exceptional client service for which they are known." This new relationship pairs the depth and breadth of Michael Baker's engineering and consulting expertise with Tidal Basin's extensive experience and comprehensive suite of services relative to preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery and program management - which are increasingly important as public and private entities contend with volatile climate activity and man-made emergencies. Tidal Basin has served as a vital resource during times of crisis, including public health emergencies and other unforeseen events. Working more closely together will allow both firms to provide even stronger program and technical management expertise and resources to clients, including governments, businesses and communities. Michael Baker and Tidal Basin have a history of working together on projects throughout the country, including planning projects targeting wildfires in California and infrastructure projects in Colorado and New York. The new relationship between the firms creates many avenues to leverage synergies and growth opportunities across Michael Baker's five distinct verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). Growth opportunities exist through the strong relationship both organizations have with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while pursuing additional business across all Federal agencies. This includes expanding relationships with federal civilian agencies, state and local entities, departments of transportation nationwide as well as projects in the broadband services, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and geographic information systems (GIS) sectors, among others. Tidal Basin is led by founder and CEO Daniel A. Craig, a leader with extensive experience with FEMA and the disaster consulting and post-disaster recovery industries. He has advised the White House and more than a dozen governors and state administrations on recovery, housing, and long-term economic recovery strategies. Mr. Craig also served as a presidentially appointed Associate Administrator for FEMA's Recovery Division where he was responsible for overseeing the federal government's recovery efforts on all presidentially declared events including the Space Shuttle Columbia crash, the wildfires of 2003, and the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. Mr. Craig is supported by a deep team of industry experts and experienced professionals including Amy K. Baker, Executive Vice President, Government Consulting; Melissa J. Gordon, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Solutions and Stephen T. Surace, President and Chief Financial Officer. Currently, the Tidal Basin team is leveraging its technology enabled solutions to expedite recovery efforts related to the tragic Maui wildfires. The McLean Group acted as financial advisor and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP acted as legal advisor to Tidal Basin in connection with the transaction. Arnold & Porter, LLP acted as transaction counsel and White & Case, LLP acted as debt counsel to DC Capital. About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services spanning five distinct Verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design and civil engineering for diverse bridge, highway, water, rail and transit and aviation projects, as well as planning, architecture, environmental and construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner to clients, providing comprehensive services and solutions, delivering expertise and quality, and embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations – like intelligent transportation, engineered models and public safety software as a service (SaaS).

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Engineering Tech, Construction

Day & Zimmermann Integrates Multidiscipline Engineering into Service Portfolio, Expanding Capabilities to Full EPC

PR Newswire | August 24, 2023

Day & Zimmermann (D&Z) announced integration of its engineering capabilities within its Maintenance and Construction division, positioning the company to service customers' greater project needs under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) execution model across all markets and the clients we serve. The move allows D&Z to offer full-service, multidiscipline engineering and completes its suite of EPC capabilities to support large-scale design-build projects. Day & Zimmermann, the century-old, family-owned provider of construction and maintenance, engineering, staffing, and defense solutions for leading corporations and governments around the world, also continues its expansion into the solar, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor markets. The company's Maintenance and Construction division was recently awarded a contract with The State Group to support construction of Ford's Blue Oval City Electric Vehicle Center in Stanton, Tennessee. "This is an exciting time for D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division. Our business is growing, we have become ISO 9001 certified, added to our team of industry experts through strategic investments and acquisitions, and now we've integrated engineering services to further expand our project capabilities and better meet our customers' needs," said John McCormick, President of D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division. Recent acquisitions bolstering D&Z's service capabilities include the Ohio-based companies of Davis-Pickering Co. Contractors, a union labor construction company, and River Town Electric, a solar system design, installation, and maintenance service provider for in-ground and roof-mounted photovoltaic solar systems as well as grid-tied, off-grid, and solar thermal systems. Acquisitions within the last five years include Minnotte Contracting Corporation, a Pittsburgh-based union mechanical contractor and construction company, and EMC Canada, a construction company based in Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. Both companies now operate fully as part of D&Z. D&Z engineering services cover many areas including process/chemical; mechanical; electrical; piping design/engineering; instrumentation and controls; civil, structural, and architectural; BIM management; and 3D laser scanning and modeling. This multidisciplinary expertise is leveraged to provide EPC services. With D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division recently receiving its ISO 9001:2015 certification through DEKRA, work begins to include engineering services under the certification with expected completion in early 2024. ISO 9001 certification is a necessary step to work under standards recognized worldwide, pursue bigger projects, and ensure the highest quality engineering work is delivered to customers. "We are building on 120 years of brand equity and reputation for high standards of safety, first-time quality, and cost efficiencies," said McCormick. "We are accelerating momentum for our people, our customers, and our future. We're positioning our business for full EPC capabilities to ensure a place for our children's children to work and to be an asset for the customers and communities we serve." D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division helps plant and facilities owners in the nuclear, fossil, solar, government sector, chemical, advanced automotive, semiconductor, and other industrial markets lower their total cost of ownership by delivering innovative maintenance, construction, and specialty services and solutions. The announcement of integrated engineering services adds to its offerings and makes turnkey construction contracts a reality for D&Z customers. ABOUT DAY & ZIMMERMANN When you've been around for more than a century, you know a thing or two. At Day & Zimmermann, we take our lifetime of experience and make things better. Our 51,000+ employees help bring big ideas to life every day. We're pushing the boundaries of innovation in construction & engineering, operations & maintenance, staffing, and security & defense. And that's not all. Did we mention that we have 150+ worldwide locations with $2.7 billion USD in annual revenue? We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world.

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