HMMMMMMM, What IF........

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Author Message Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 1285 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, January 04, 2012 - 09:52 am:    120104 HMMMMM!, WHAT IF CSI……………. by Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT, Cincinnati, OH If the International Code Council [ICC] can do this……. ICC Adopts Model Building Code Training for High School Students The Code Council is supporting the nationwide expansion of a pilot program to prepare high school students for careers in code enforcement and the construction industry. See-- http://www.iccsafe.org/newsroom/News%20Releases/NR-11302011-HighSchoolProgram.pdf ….what should, can, or will CSI do within their broad range of expertise in construction information, education, standards and communications, in a similar direction; at say, the post-secondary/college level? Any obvious suggestions [please think this through first and “go outside the box”]--- on what can, should, will be done? No more grousing—what action is obviously required? Friends, it’s a matter of foresight, and creative thinking, as well as starting to solve problems and creating a better profession tomorrow. WOW! All that in one simple effort and new direction! What think ye? The World Series and Super Bowl really are seated in pee-wee football, and 8-year olds who look lost in their helmets and outfits. Planting seeds and teaching fundamentals at any early [but meaningful] age is the best way-- by far!-- to create a lasting flow of new participants. These folks are further teachable as the current situations evolve and change. It is rather short-sighted to sit in one place and not really be pro-active in reaching out [and down?] to those who may be able to do some good if approached and weaned in the pertinent environment. Are there more code officials than spec writers? In some 19,000 jurisdictions there are code “people” from clerks, to plans examiners, to field inspection personnel. The number in each office varies, of course, in proportion to the size of the jurisdiction’s size-- much as the number of specifiers varies in the professional offices. So it is obvious that there is a direct parallel and hence credence to what the ICC is doing, TO HELP ITSELF IN THE FUTURE! See the CSI Blog where discussions continue on L&Ls and technical education. Good information for all members, etc., but again, not addressing voids in professional education that CSI has the expertise for and could well address its benefits to a large groups of personnel in, or coming to, the design and construction professions-- i.e., new “choirs” that needs to be sung to! The “need” to do something and the various benefits show up there, but what about the will-- the initial effort to DO something more to enhance the influence and “reach” of the organization. It is obvious the organization sees things that are really opportunities, and things that will yield and accrue new status and prestige, but…………..reluctance? disinterest?, futility? What? There is no doubt that higher quality construction documents will be required in the future. BIM may be the answer [until something else comes along, shortly!] for working drawings, and graphic design models, but specifications [as many note] will not be an immediate part of the BIM scenario. More time [10 years???? or more] may be needed to properly incorporate specs into the BIM related production. But in the meantime we can make better specifiers by expanding into more education; better fundamental education; initiation of earlier programs so the relative speed and quality of specs production will be more attuned to that of drawing production. There is no time like now to start’; and in fact we are well behind in education-- proper education – of design professionals by truncated education, disjointed course offerings, and misalignment and lack of coordination of education in facilities one from another. Help and direct action has lain fallow far too long! Anybody care? Earlier delivery of specifications fundamentals is so basic to future success of professionals and their projects it is difficult to believe that so little if anything is done in the early stages of professional education-- won’t hurt anyone to have this specs resource!