The tools of the engineering and architectural professions have evolved over the years. We’re still designing the bridges, buildings, parks, and so much more, but we should now be leading with technology. See why leading engineering firm Pennoni relies on software, unique hires, and partnerships to provide innovative and “smart” solutions for clients. Technology can come in the form of established and developing AEC software such as Bentley’s Opensite, to the use of design visualization to create videos and graphics for stakeholders. Designers can’t do this all on our own, so Pennoni formed partnerships with companies and higher education institutions to leverage research creating technology streamlining projects from design to implementation. During this session, you'll learn how to create a “tech first” approach that drives more successful projects, greater client value, and better talent recruiting.

• Embrace the RIGHT Technology reshaping how A/E/C projects are executed
• Attract the tech talent you'll need to leverage emerging opportunities
• Tackle tech adoption and implementation challenges at your firm
• Look outside A/E/C for compatible tech talent
• Apply new tech solutions to deliver operational savings to your clients

Given the complexity of building projects today, project teams and the information they produce are siloed. What if there was a way to break down these data silos? What are the advantages to giving every team member access to the most up-to-date and accurate information? In this presentation, architect Zach Soflin, AIA, will answer these questions. He will discuss the advantages to using a Common Data Environment (CDE) for BIM and how it can eliminate data silos between teams. He will dive deep into how a CDE works hand in hand with BIM throughout each phase of the design and construction process. He will also review the key features of a CDE and why they augment transparency and productivity. In addition, attendees will learn how to integrate a CDE into their current tech stack and explore how these efficiencies can grow client relationships and stimulate more work.

In this session, you learn how a CDE for BIM:

• Augments your BIM workflows
• Creates trustable data and how that data can be leveraged for better efficiency throughout the building lifecycle
• Connects all project team members, regardless of their knowledge of BIM
• Helps your AEC firm procure future work
• Integrates with your firm’s existing tech stack

Is your ERP tech giving you the REAL picture of your A/E/C firm’s financial health? If you’re only using spreadsheets or parts of your platform to make mission-critical decisions, you might be missing some great opportunities to increase profitability. In this session you’ll learn new ways to develop more helpful financial reports, identify inefficiencies and leverageable strengths, and rethink how you’re applying key elements to review in your monthly financial package, such as Work In Progress, Collection Processes, Client Relationship Tracking, and more! Unlock your ERP’s ability to help you grow your firm by revealing eye-opening data you didn’t know was there. Leading A/E/C business management consultant Pat Chase takes us on a fast-paced deep dive into:

• Turning your ERP into a more powerful reporting machine
• KPIs most firms aren’t pulling from their ERP (but should be)
• Maximizing your ERPs ability to track collections
• Strengths and weaknesses of CRM programs and ERP software for measuring client and prospect relationships

Technology stands at the center of massive change disrupting A/E/C practices, and yet many firms have no formal strategies in place to keep pace with opportunities it presents, and ensure that new systems, applications, and hardware is fully used to improve both project execution and business performance. Leading A/E/C tech visionary Brian Burnett outlines 3 steps successful firms follow to leverage tech application: Benchmarking location on the Technology Innovation Adoption Lifecycle, creating a “Technology Team” charged with spotting, assessing, and integrating new platforms, and taking an inventory of the firm’s technology tools and strategies using the “Technology 100 Checklist.

• How A/E/C firm leaders can better communicate about technology adaptation
• How to execute a technology audit that advances your firm's profitability
• How project execution will fundamentally change in the next 5 years
• How to create your tech task force and drive stronger tech investment decisions
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Think a ransomware attack or only happens to large institutions, governments, and corporations? A/E/C companies have been hit as well, but it's not always easy to prove the importance of cybersecurity to key stakeholders. Learn how Business Strategy, InfoSec Strategy and KPIs align to create the foundation of a successful InfoSec Program. This session will address the rising concern of cybersecurity related expenses as they trend to subscription models as opposed to capital expenses. You learn how to quantify the value of security expenses to risk mitigation and how to measure security maturity and control efficiency using your company’s current tools and innovations. Plus, the best ways IT professionals in the A/E/C can share security metrics and reports with boards to demonstrate risk mitigation and cybersecurity and IT ROI. Finally we will discuss the challenges of trust in our industry, and how understanding cybersecurity needs, and demonstrating skills, expertise, and knowledge can help build partnerships with our industry peers and lasting relationships with the communities we serve.

• Create and manage an A/E/C InfoSec Program that aligns with Business Strategy and KPIs
• Measure and achieve appropriate security maturity level for your business
• Quantifying cost of downtime
• Risk/budget ratios that drive better decisions
• Measure effectiveness of current processes and tools, and potential of new tools (business impact analysis)

Ready for a new way to extract and apply decision making data to your A/E/C firm and project management? Google Data Studio Dashboards may be the answer. Learn how you can leverage free and user-friendly Google Data Studio Dashboards to transform data into firm-specific business, project management and team-based insights. We will demonstrate a range of custom Dashboards encompassing company performance and utilization, business development, project management and a staff resource “Lookbook.” You'll learn how to use Data Studio Dashboards to unite data from different sources, including Deltek Vision, SQL and spreadsheets, into one interface. Using real-world examples of several different types of customized interactive charts, graphs, tables and maps to monitor progress, measure trends and inform decision making, we’ll provide examples of how we share these Dashboards with our teams to boost productivity and accountability by giving them the tools they need to find answers, track progress and collaborate across business units. We’ll highlight our lessons learned, the advantages and limitations of using Data Studios, and discuss how we expanded the use of Data Studio to client applications.

• Advantages and limitations of Google Data Studios in A/E/C firm and project management
• Proven Data Studio Dashboard applications for custom business performance metrics
• Empowering staff and boosting productivity through access to performance and project information
• How Data Studio applications can be expanded to client applications
• How to easily create and populate a Data Studio Dashboard

Architects and engineers face challenges when tasked with improving infrastructure resilience, increasing productivity, and maintaining site safety. With a whole host of responsibilities paramount throughout each project, it can be difficult to keep track of these priorities and dedicate time to each. By using drones equipped with A/E/C-focused software, engineers and designers are significantly reducing the time spent on each task and save money and human capital. In this eye-opening session, you'll see how breakthrough drone technology is slashing costs, assisting in structure and landscape design, master planning, and marketing, in addition to developing building life-cycle cost models more clients are demanding.

Think cybercrime only threatens large infrastructure providers and companies with billions in cash? Those events make the headlines, but the scary fact is that for cyber criminals, ransomware and data breach attacks on A/E/C firms have moved from crimes of opportunity to targeted campaigns of choice, with most victims quietly paying to regain access to their systems. Learn the risk management solutions and best practices your firm can implement to reduce the risk and impact of a cyber event. These strategies reduce vulnerabilities, thereby decreasing the chance that your firm will suffer from devastating claims, resulting in both loss of time and revenue - not to mention exposure of sensitive customer data and resulting damage to your relationships and reputation. Using actual case studies and insider intelligence, this session explains how to harden your systems and make critical decisions on ransomware and data breach liability protection, before it's too late. You'll learn:

• What impact a cyber event could have on a firm of your size.
• 3+ best practices to consider to improve your security posture
• What to evaluate when creating a proactive response plan when an event occurs