上个月，他们在印度新德里举行的一群国际工程师会议的纪录人群努力提高该行业的形象并解决地球日益严重的问题，这是全球管理创新以及随之而来的风险的全球挑战。
“In order for us to be innovative, it is time for our profession to be accorded higher standards so we’re not looked at as a commodity to be bought at the lowest price,” Gregs Thomopulos, president of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), told 750 attendees on Sept. 19 at the group’s annual conference. Thompulos also is chairman of Stanley Consultants, Muscatine, Iowa.
Virbhadra Singh, India’s steel minister, endorsed the concept of innovation as key to the country’s push to complete its ambitious infrastructure program. India plans to increase its five-year investment to $1 trillion from 2012 through 2017, up from $514 billion in the previous period, he said, calling for “innovative design and processes.” Noting the widespread use of FIDIC contract documents in India, he urged the group to help the government improve the country’s engineering and construction capabilities and advance best practices such as sustainable development.
代表们指出，在应对气候变化影响方面的创新工程解决方案的关键需求，例如使用较少能量的强度材料和流程。荷兰工程师阿卡迪斯（Arcadis）首席执行官哈里·诺伊（Harry Noy）说：“随着气候变化威胁存在和经济，我们需要动力做一些不同的事情。”
Thomopulos
Even as China adapts its approach to environmental stewardship, one delegate noted the challenge. “In our rural areas, local governments’ goals for economic development often clash with the needs of the environment,” he said. Sustainable development is viewed differently in developed and developing countries. “To be honest, local regulations limit us from following certain practices,” said an engineer from Jordan. “Green is still a new concept.”
Even so, speakers noted the plan by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to unveil the first iteration of a “sustainable-infrastructure rating system” next month at its annual convention in Las Vegas. “We are on a tight schedule,” said William Wallace, president of Wallace Futures Group, Steamboat Springs, Colo., among those creating the approach.
即便如此，发言人还是由三个美国工程团体，美国土木工程师协会（ASCE），美国工程委员会（ACEC）（ACEC）和美国公共工程协会（APWA）在明年春季发布的计划，并注意到了该计划。“可持续基础结构评级系统”的首次迭代。该方法的一些细节将在下个月在拉斯维加斯举行的ASCE大会上介绍。
“We are on a tight schedule,” said William Wallace, president of Wallace Futures Group, Steamboat Springs, Colo., among those creating the approach. Surrounded by numerous ratings, the groups are determined not to make the system a “me too” product, said Wallace, noting the challenge in crafting the rating components. “There are two levels of performance: Did you do the project right, and did you do the right project?” he said. “There are 75 objectives listed in our first draft. Ours has to be educational and lead down a path [in which] people learn as they go.”
Even with a weak commitment from some international clients to a corruption-free environment coupled with a fear of being put at competitive disadvantage, engineers are embracing business transparency. “Integrity … helps us identify risks—it’s a preventive system and can improve revenue,” said Jorge Diaz Padilla, president of Mexican engineering firm Systec.
FIDIC会议吸引了750多名代表，其中最大的代表团来自中国。
