ENGtechnica

Category: AEC

  • Woolpert Appoints Neil Churman as Chief Executive Officer

    Woolpert Appoints Neil Churman as Chief Executive Officer

    DAYTON, OH, Jan 24, 2025 – Woolpert has promoted Neil Churman to chief executive officer. Churman has served as Woolpert’s president since early 2024, leading Woolpert’s business operations and mergers and acquisitions program. He succeeds Scott Cattran, who has led the company since 2015. Cattran will take on a new role in Woolpert as executive chairman, supporting Churman with company strategy and continuing to lead its board of directors.

    Churman’s background is in driving strategic growth and operational excellence in the architecture, engineering, geospatial, and technology services industries. Churman was recruited by Cattran in 2022 and brought on as the company’s first chief corporate development officer. Churman has since led the company through five strategic acquisitions, adding over 800 employees and expanding the company’s capabilities across the U.S., Europe, and Australia. In 2024, under his operational leadership as president, the company delivered the strongest financial performance of its 114-year history.

    Prior to Woolpert, Churman held roles at TRC Companies, 7 Mile Advisors, Morrissey Goodale, and Michael Baker International. Churman is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, where he earned a Master of Business Administration, and the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in civil and environmental engineering. Churman will continue to work out of the firm’s Pittsburgh office.

    “I am honored to take on this role and am humbled by the responsibility to carry forward our legacy of over 100 years of supporting critical programs for our clients. I’m also committed to strengthening our culture and ensuring we create a great place to work for all our global employees,” Churman said. “Woolpert has built a culture anchored by support, innovation, and a commitment to high performance, and we will remain on that continued path to success. I am proud to be a part of our fantastic global team, to continue the path forged by such an outstanding leader like Scott Cattran, and to lead us into the next chapter of this great company.”

    “When I stepped into the CEO role about a decade ago, we developed a vision to not only be the leading architecture, engineering, and geospatial company in our industry, but one of the best companies in the world. Due to the hard work of all Woolpert employees, we are on an unprecedented trajectory in our 100-year+ history to achieve that very vision,” Cattran said. “Neil’s background of effectively integrating industry-leading acquisitions, leading operations and organic growth, and his commitment to building a world-class culture make him the absolute right leader to continue championing this vision. As I take on my new role as executive chairman, I look forward to supporting Neil and the entire global Woolpack to continue forward with this ambitious pursuit.”

    About Woolpert

    Founded in 1911 and headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert is a global architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG), and strategic consulting firm. The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including architectural design, civil engineering, geospatial data acquisition, and strategic advisory services, catering to sectors such as aviation, education, federal government, and utilities. As of 2024, Woolpert employs over 2,500 professionals across more than 60 offices worldwide. The firm has experienced significant growth, with annual revenue increasing from $97 million in 2016 to over $650 million in 2024. Recent strategic acquisitions, such as Murphy Geospatial in 2024, have expanded Woolpert’s capabilities and global reach. The company continues to leverage cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to address complex challenges for its diverse clientele.

    Source: Woolpert

  • Bluebeam Expands in France, Charles Parissier Appointed Country Manager

    Bluebeam Expands in France, Charles Parissier Appointed Country Manager

    PARIS, France, Jan 23, 2025—Bluebeam, part of the Nemetschek Group, announces its plan to invest in and accelerate its expansion into France in 2025.

    “France’s overall economic strength and stability make it one of the top economies in the world,” said Amit Sangal, chief growth officer of Bluebeam and the Nemetschek Group Build & Construct Division. “Construction and design professionals face challenges such as labor shortages, regulatory complexities, and barriers to technology adoption. Bluebeam, with its focus on improving collaboration, streamlining workflows, and digitizing processes, is well-positioned to help address these challenges and drive efficiency in France and beyond.”

    Charles Parissier
    Source: LinkedIn

    As part of this expansion strategy, Bluebeam announces the appointment of Charles Parissier to lead operations in France as Bluebeam country manager. With over 15 years of industry experience, including at ALLPLAN France, Charles Parissier will oversee sales and business development to drive growth and deliver value to customers. Bluebeam also plans to expand its headcount to support and enhance the quality of service offered to users in the region.

    “We’re thrilled to introduce Bluebeam’s innovative solutions to construction professionals in France, a market full of growth potential,” said Charles Parissier, Bluebeam country manager for France. “The strength of Bluebeam’s digital productivity and collaboration capabilities combined with the support of the Nemetschek Group, uniquely positions us to drive adoption and foster innovation that will help transform the French architecture, engineering and construction industries.”

    Source: Bluebeam

  • Peter Gross Chooses Planon’s IoT Solutions for Facility Management

    Peter Gross Chooses Planon’s IoT Solutions for Facility Management

    BRIGHTON, UK, Jan 22, 2025 – Planon, the  leader in smart sustainable building management software, has announced that Peter Gross Bau Holding GmbH and its subsidiary company Peter Gross Facility Management GmbH & Co. KG, has selected Planon’s innovative Facility Services Business Solution (FSBS), part of the open and IoT-enabled Planon Platform, to optimize and enhance its facility management services across its nationwide operations.

    Image Source: Planon

    Peter Gross Bau is renowned for its expertise in managing the full life cycle of properties, from initial planning to operational optimization. The company provides facility management services that span technical, infrastructure, and commercial areas, ensuring long-term relationship with clients.

    “We are pleased that Peter Gross Facility Management has selected Planon Field Services’ advanced and scalable SaaS solutions, to meet the evolving demands of its clients,” said Peter Ankerstjerne, CEO of Planon. “The company’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and excellence resonates with our values, and together we aim to set a new benchmark for facility management services within the construction industry.”

    Rainer Vollmer, managing director of Peter Gross Facility Management GmbH & Co. KG and vice president of the gefma board (German facility management association), emphasized the significance of the collaboration. “At Peter Gross Facility Management, our goal is to provide best-in-class facility management services that prioritize efficiency, sustainability, and long-term value creation. Partnering with Planon allows us to leverage cutting-edge digital solutions, enabling us to optimize operations and offer even greater transparency and service quality to our clients. This strategic partnership represents a pivotal step in our digitalization journey, further strengthening our position as a leader in integrated facility management.”

    Planon FSBS will help Peter Gross Facility Management give clients easy access to property data, promote sustainable building practices, and meet changing regulations and market needs. Together, Peter Gross Facility Management and Planon aim to make facility management a key part of sustainable and advanced property management.

    Source: Planon

  • Acumatica Teams with JobPlanner, STACK for Construction Project Lifecycle Support

    Acumatica Teams with JobPlanner, STACK for Construction Project Lifecycle Support

    BELLEVUE, WA, Jan 22, 2025 – Acumatica  has announced strategic partnerships and product integration with JobPlanner, , and STACK Construction Technologies, , that will address market needs through continued productivity gains and enhanced end-to-end project lifecycle support. The enhancements these integrations bring to Acumatica Construction Edition will further bolster construction companies’ efforts to execute projects on time and within budget.

    Acumatica Construction Edition, recognized as one of the Top Construction Technology Firms by Construction Executive, Acumatica has engineered its construction solution for scalability and usability, building trust with construction companies seeking customized solutions.

    “Our construction customers rely on Acumatica to provide a comprehensive, cloud-native solution that spans the entire project lifecycle,” said Joel Hoffman, director of product management at Acumatica. “Our new strategic partnerships with JobPlanner and STACK exemplify our commitment to delivering powerful, integrated solutions that enhance collaboration, automate workflows and drive better outcomes for construction businesses.”

    JobPlanner is a project management tool built for collaboration among contractors, subcontractors, and vendors. It includes features for tracking job costs and managing bids, helping construction teams manage budgets, monitor expenses, and handle bidding workflows. Its design and mobile app work alongside Acumatica’s construction tools, connecting office staff with field teams to improve productivity.

    “Integrating JobPlanner into Acumatica Construction Edition brings unparalleled value to construction professionals,” said DeWayne Adamson, CEO of JobPlanner. “Acumatica’s robust platform, combined with JobPlanner’s collaborative project management capabilities, will help contractors streamline their workflows, enhance communication and achieve project goals more effectively.”

    STACK provides a collaborative preconstruction tool designed to aid contractors grow their business with precise takeoffs and flexible estimates. By combining STACK’s advanced takeoff and estimating features, Acumatica’s Construction Edition improves preconstruction processes. It allows contractors to accurately calculate labor and material requirements while accurately forecasting project costs.

    “STACK and Acumatica share a commitment to empowering construction leaders with innovative solutions that drive operational excellence and profitability,” said Ray DeZenzo, president of STACK. “By integrating STACK’s advanced capabilities with Acumatica Construction Edition, we’re enabling contractors to secure more projects, optimize performance and achieve sustained growth in a competitive market.”

  • Hexagon Acquires CAD Service to Enhance EAM Solutions

    Hexagon Acquires CAD Service to Enhance EAM Solutions

    STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan 21, 2025 – Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) division has announced the acquisition of CAD Service. CAD Service is a developer of advanced visualization tools used to integrate CAD drawings, BIM models, and reality capture data into HxGN EAM, Hexagon’s asset management solution designed to extend asset lifecycles.

    Image Source: Hexagon

    CAD Service has maintained a longstanding relationship with Hexagon, having signed a partnership agreement in 2013. The flagship solution, OpenCAD, is already an essential tool for around half of Hexagon’s EAM Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) customers. The acquisition allows Hexagon to integrate CAD Service’s visualization tools and speed up its development plans. By leveraging CAD Service’s expertise in-house, the ALI division will be able to offer comprehensive EAM solutions, addressing the needs of industries like manufacturing, energy, and transportation as they visualize and manage their assets in 3D environment.

    “Acquiring CAD Service marks an important stepping stone for Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division,” said Hexagon interim president and CEO Norbert Hanke. “Its expertise and advanced visualization tools will allow us to further enhance our EAM offerings, directly providing customers with more integrated and efficient tools for managing their assets. Becoming part of Hexagon is a natural progression for CAD Service since its tools have been an integral part of Hexagon’s EAM solutions for years.”

    CAD Service, headquartered in Parma, will be fully consolidated and operate within Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division.

    Source: Hexagon

  • Tech Startup Veteran Carl Lucas Joins Woolpert as Chief Information Officer

    Tech Startup Veteran Carl Lucas Joins Woolpert as Chief Information Officer

    DAYTON, OH, Jan 17, 2025 – Woolpert has hired chief information officer Carl Lucas to oversee IT development, integration, and security for the firm’s expanding global architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) operations and artificial intelligence technologies. Working with Woolpert’s leadership team, Lucas will help bolster the firm’s cybersecurity and IT bench strength, improve the IT integration processes for acquired firms, and drive a holistic AI program to support its corporate services, internal IT, generative AI, and operational needs.

    Carl Lucas

    Lucas has provided IT strategy and leadership for a variety of tech startups, Fortune 500 companies, and private equity-backed firms. He comes to Woolpert with over 30 years of global IT experience, including 10 years within the geospatial industry.

    “I’m honored to join Woolpert at this incredibly exciting time in the company’s history,” Lucas said. “I’m looking forward to leading transformative global IT initiatives and AI innovations that will support Woolpert’s strategic vision and add value for customers and employees.”

    Before joining Woolpert, Lucas served as vice president of information technology at NV5. He focused on technology advancement and scalability for the firm’s geospatial solutions unit, overseeing its global technology systems, operations, cloud services, and IT security.

    “Carl’s experience leading technology organizations for innovative, rapidly growing organizations is an ideal match for Woolpert’s growing global business,” Woolpert president Neil Churman said. “Carl has the industry insight, business acumen, and innovative mindset to help us connect, protect, and scale our expanding operations. We are very pleased and fortunate to welcome him to our team.”

    Lucas earned his bachelor’s degree in astrophysics from the University of Rochester. He holds a professional certificate in Management and Leadership from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a professional certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford University. He will be based out of Woolpert’s office in the St. Pete Innovation District in St. Petersburg, FL.

    Source: Woolpert

  • Nemetschek Unveils AI Assistant in ALLPLAN and Archicad at BAU 2025

    Nemetschek Unveils AI Assistant in ALLPLAN and Archicad at BAU 2025

    MUNICH, Germany, Jan 16, 2025 – The Nemetschek Group has introduced its latest AI advancements to drive innovation, creativity and productivity. Key highlights include the integration of the AI Assistant, the Group’s first AI-agent-based technology, into ALLPLAN and Archicad by Graphisoft.

    At BAU 2025 the Nemetschek Group introduced the AI Assistant starting with two of its brands – ALLPLAN and Graphisoft. It simplifies workflows and fosters collaboration by unifying the ecosystem under a cohesive, intelligent interface.

    “Our AI Assistant represents a foundational shift in how we approach innovation and collaboration. By unifying our ecosystem with a seamless, intelligent AI Assistant and by combining cutting-edge AI capabilities with decades of expertise in the AEC/O industry, we are enabling our users to push boundaries and reimagine workflows, while offering trust and reliability,” said Charles Sheridan, chief AI and data officer at the Nemetschek Group.

    “The AI Assistant is our first AI agent-based technology, and it builds on the AI layer announced in October 2024,” explained Julian Geiger, VP, head of AI product and transformation at the Nemetschek Group. “The AI Assistant delivers a consistent and cohesive user experience across our brands, empowering users to enhance creativity and productivity with smarter tools while seamlessly transitioning between brands through a familiar interface.”

    Within Archicad by Graphisoft, the AI Assistant is embedded directly into the software as an integrated AI chatbot. It provides features such as product knowledge, industry insights, BIM model queries, and AI Visualizer integration, enabling users to design and refine projects through a streamlined chat interface. In ALLPLAN, the AI Assistant showcases multi-touchpoint functionality by extending its capabilities to the internet. It provides access to product knowledge, AECO industry insights, and advanced tools to tackle complex project requirements.

    With its unified design principles, the Nemetschek Group aims to expand the AI Assistant to other brands within the company in 2025 and onwards, showing its dedication to empowering architect, engineers, contractors, and other professionals with innovation in the AEC/O industry.

    Source: Nemetschek

  • Trimble Introduces Tiered Core, Pro, Premium Plans

    Trimble Introduces Tiered Core, Pro, Premium Plans

    WESTMINSTER, CO, Jan 15, 2025 – Trimble has announced the availability of three new Trimble Works Subscription plans – Trimble Works Core, Pro and Premium.

    A Trimble Works Subscription offers contractors a simple, low risk way to scale operations, providing flexibility in selecting and utilizing the right civil construction technology, hardware coverage and price point for their business needs.

    For contractors already using Trimble technology, the new subscription plans provide a method for keeping all machines on the same software version, enabling connected workflows for jobsite operations.

    How Trimble Works Delivers

    With each Trimble Works Subscription plan, contractors can purchase select civil construction software solutions, such as Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform and Trimble Siteworks Software. Device licensing, along with software and firmware maintenance are included for the entire subscription term. Each plan also includes Trimble WorksManager field-to-office software to ensure the seamless integration between field operations and office management.

    Trimble Works Core

    The Trimble Works Core plan allows customers to bring newly purchased or existing Trimble and supported non-Trimble on- and off-machine hardware components into their subscription. This allows easy management and updates to construction technology while reducing upfront costs for software licenses.

    Trimble Works Pro

    The Trimble Works Pro plan helps contractors reduce downtime and avoid unexpected repair costs, keeping projects on schedule and within budget.

    Trimble Works Premium

    For contractors who require a greater level of technology protection and service, the Trimble Works Premium plan includes all the benefits of Works Pro, as well as hardware upgrades at no additional cost. This plan keeps users equipped with the latest technology, helps maximize uptime and limits disruptions at worksites.

    “Since its introduction three years ago, our Works subscription offerings have delivered greater operational flexibility to civil contractors worldwide,” said Elwyn McLachlan, vice president of civil solutions at Trimble. “This new subscription program meets the varying needs of customers of all types and sizes — from large fleet operators to local excavation companies. These new tiers are a direct result of customer feedback and reflect our ongoing commitment to help them improve their productivity and profitability.”

    Availability

    Trimble Works subscriptions are available worldwide through the Trimble SITECH distribution channel and select authorized resellers. For more information, visit https://heavyindustry.trimble.com/en/products/trimble-works-subscription.

    Source: Trimble

  • NV5 Expands with Acquisition of Group Delta

    NV5 Expands with Acquisition of Group Delta

    Group Delta, to be acquired by NV5, had formed a division to research, investigate and remediate for PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely used for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. Dubbed “forever chemicals,” they persist in the environment and accumulate in humans, posing health risks like cancer, hormonal disruption, and developmental issues. Their widespread presence in water and food sources is a fast growing concern.

    HOLLYWOOD, FL, Jan 13, 2025 – NV5 has announced that it has agreed to acquire Group Delta, a provider of infrastructure engineering, testing, and environmental PFAS services. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, Group Delta specializes in large-scale water, electrical utility, and transportation infrastructure throughout Southern California.

    Group Delta’s 100 employees operate out of five consulting and testing laboratories in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties, delivering geotechnical engineering, materials testing, special inspections, forensics engineering, and environmental PFAS and compliance consulting. The acquisition strengthens NV5’s infrastructure engineering, conformity assessment, and utility fire hardening capabilities in the region.

    “The combined capabilities of NV5 and Group Delta provide a strong competitive advantage when pursuing large scale electrical, water, and transportation infrastructure improvement projects, and we look forward to contributing to the success of these infrastructure projects across the region,” said Ben Heraud, CEO of NV5.

    “California recently committed to investing $180 billion to improve the state’s infrastructure, including once in a generation energy, water, and transportation improvements. Recent events in Southern California have demonstrated the need to improve the state’s critical infrastructure, and we are pleased to strengthen NV5’s capabilities to support our city, county, state, and utility clients throughout Southern California,” said Dickerson Wright, PE, executive chairman of NV5.

    “All of us at Group Delta are excited about the career opportunities that NV5 presents for our employees and the new services we can now offer to our clients,” said Shah Ghanbari, PE, president of Group Delta. “We are excited to join NV5 and look forward to expanding our long-standing client relationships with NV5’s complete portfolio of conformity assessment, engineering design, and tech-enabled services,” said Mike Reader, PE, CEO of Group Delta.

    Source: NV5

  • Solibri Checkpoint Released to Enhance BIM Designs

    Solibri Checkpoint Released to Enhance BIM Designs

    HELSINKI, Japan, Jan 15, 2025 – Solibri, a brand of the Nemetschek Group, has introduced a new approach to guarantee model quality and success in digital design and construction workflow.

    Solibri CheckPoint is a new model checker tool for those primarily using Autodesk Revit and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) or Procore construction platform as their BIM design and workflow management tool of choice. Through these existing integrations, Solibri CheckPoint can improve BIM quality with a few simple clicks. BIM projects, consisting of native Revit and IFC files, meet industry standards surpassing market alternatives.

    To deliver this new solution, Solibri, with over 25 years’ experience in digital construction, recently acquired Xinaps BV with their Verifi3D product to bring cloud-based technologies into its core BIM QA offering.

    Ville Kyytsönen, Solibri CEO stated: “I am happy to see Solibri once again driving innovation in digital construction. Solibri CheckPoint offers an evolution in how companies can establish high model quality with quick learning and low effort. For some time, we have seen building information modelling (BIM) standards with quick learning and mandated and demanded in complex construction projects. To apply our advanced checking knowledge with the latest SaaS technologies means a win-win for new and existing customers. Combine that with an intuitive offering for those using ACC and Procore and we have a solution that seamlessly fits within existing workflows to offer design validation to major projects in a way that wasn’t possible before today.”

    Solibri CheckPoint will first be available in Jan 2025 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. After that, Solibri plans to expand its global footprint to all existing markets and customers. Solibri believes that the new solution will not only address the 40 percent waste in global construction projects, but will add more value in similar projects globally.

    Source: Solibri