AECdirect, Internet Venture to Address Needs of AEC Professionals, Introduced to Thousands in Philadelphia.Business Editors PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2000 Industry Leaders Join Forces to Develop Services to Meet Collaboration, Education, Technology Needs of Entire Building Industry AECdirect, an Internet company backed by a half-dozen of the AEC AEC US Atomic Energy Commission Noun 1. AEC - a former executive agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States Atomic Energy Commission industry's most respected names, was formally announced today at the AIA AIA - Application Integration Architecture 2000 National Convention in Philadelphia. AECdirect and its strategic partners will develop and deliver online services to serve the varied and changing needs of design and building professionals. The first initiative of the new company is the development of AECdirect.com, launching June 2000 and previewed here to AIA Convention attendees. Industry leaders working together to meet the needs of AEC professionals AECdirect is majority-owned by The American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Organized in 1857, the Institute conducts various activities and programs to support the profession and enhance its public image, including periodically awarding the AIA (AIA), who is licensing the use of MASTERSPEC(R), its widely used AEC specification tool, and the Web-based version of AIA's Contract Documents. AECdirect is backed by leading companies in the design and building industry who will be providing existing technology to AECdirect and developing original online services. The Founding Partners are: -- Bentley Systems Bentley Systems, Incorporated, provides software for the "Design, construction and operation of the world's infrastructure". The company’s software serves the building, plant, civil, and geospatial vertical markets in the areas of architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) , Incorporated. Technology solutions provider utilizing its ProjectBank component server technology to develop next-generation online services for AECdirect, including a project collaboration service which will be offered free to qualified AECdirect users; a secure repository for project data; and e-commerce solutions for AEC professionals. -- CMD CMD cerebromacular degeneration. Group. Provider of construction market data licensing Architects' First Source, product selection and specification information as part of AECdirect's proprietary application, DirectLink. -- Hanley-Wood. Business-to-business information provider for the residential and commercial construction industry providing information and content to the AECdirect site. -- iPIX. A leader in global visual content and infrastructure for the Internet that allows architecture, engineering and construction professionals to collaborate through online images and virtual tours Virtual Tours The phrases panoramic tour and virtual tour are often used to describe a variety of video and photographic based media. The word panorama indicates an unbroken view, so essentially, a panorama in that respect could be either a series of photographs or panning video . -- McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group. AEC publishing and data information company licensing Sweet's, detailed construction product data for architects, engineers, designers and builders, as part of AECdirect's DirectLink application. "The AIA is thrilled to be a leader of this exciting and important initiative," stated Norman Koonce, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the AIA and Chairman of the Board of AECdirect. "The philosophy of education and the spirit of collaboration at the heart of this company will help professionals across the building industry channel the tremendous benefits of technology into work solutions." "AECdirect is distinct in this space for three primary reasons," said Fred DeLuca, AECdirect Chief Executive Officer. "First, our industry partners, whose extensive experience within the industry and commitment to service will translate into overwhelmingly positive benefits for professionals. Secondly, our dedication to providing comprehensive guidance and education for professionals who want to better utilize the Internet in their businesses. And third, our core offerings, easy-to-use Web versions of the tools and resources professionals use every day, which are available only at AECdirect.com. AECdirect users will benefit greatly from these advantages." AECdirect Web Services (1) Loosely, any online service delivered over the Web. Such usage appears in articles from non-technical sources, but not in IT-oriented publications, because definition #2 below describes the correct use of the term. and Offerings AECdirect's partnerships enable the company to offer and integrate some of the most widely used industry tools and resources in an online environment, helping users do business more efficiently and effectively. Key services available at the launch of the AECdirect Web site include: -- DirectLink: a free service that streamlines the traditionally laborious process of matching specifications to building product information. DirectLink connects the widely used resources MASTERSPEC(R), McGraw-Hill's Sweet's and CMD Group's Architects' First Source for the first time in an easy-to-use Web-based service. Through DirectLink, users can either directly look up a product or link from a MASTERSPEC(R) CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). to product information on Sweet's and Architects' First Source with the click of a mouse. -- AEC Seminars: dynamic online continuing education continuing education: see adult education. continuing education or adult education Any form of learning provided for adults. In the U.S. the University of Wisconsin was the first academic institution to offer such programs (1904). courses that meet the growing needs of the industry. AECdirect is building AEC Seminars into the most comprehensive library of quality online courses for design and building professionals. AEC Seminars users can fulfill continuing education requirements for professional state boards state boards Examinations administered by a US state board of medical examiners to license a physician in a particular state; these examinations play an ever-decreasing role in state medical licensure, as these bodies now rely on standardized national examinations and association membership. -- DirectNews: a free and customizable information delivery system that pioneers how AEC professionals get news, features, product information and project leads. -- Web-based AIA Contract Documents: AECdirect is working with the AIA to offer a Web version of its widely used AIA Contract Documents, to be available only at AECdirect.com. The Web version will also be integrated into an online project collaboration service developed by Bentley. The AECdirect site will offer a combination of free content and services that users may access through registration or nominal charge. Other offerings at launch include free e-mail See Internet e-mail service. , a job board and early planning leads. "Bentley has invested significant resources in the development of component-based information technologies that can enable straight-through processing straight-through processing The direct exchange of cash and securities. Straight-through processing is a major objective for cross-border transactions that are generally much more costly to settle compared to domestic transactions. of information from specification through procurement and construction," said Keith Bentley, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. "We are excited that AECdirect will be the first network to exploit the potential of this technology in what we hope will be the preeminent B2B (Business to Business) Refers to one business communicating with or selling to another. See B2B e-commerce, B2C and B2G. B2B - business to business network for the building industry." "CMD Group is proud to participate in this unique industry initiative because of the direct benefits to the user community," said Arol Wolford, president and CEO, CMD Group. "Our goal is to partner with leading online communities to provide quality content that helps all the members of the AEC industry." ABOUT AECdirect AECdirect is a for-profit Internet company headquartered in Washington, DC that enhances and delivers proven offline design and building industry tools and resources in an online environment. The AECdirect Web site will launch in June 2000 at www.aecdirect.com. ABOUT THE PARTNERS The American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) was founded in 1857. Through education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach activities, the AIA and its 66,500 members work to achieve a more humane built environment and a higher standard of professionalism for architects. Bentley Systems With approximately $190 million in 1999 revenues, Bentley is the largest software company dedicated to engineering and operation of constructed assets, the category traditionally known as A/E/C A/E/C Architect/Engineer/Contractor (for architecture, engineering and construction) and is one of the largest privately-held software companies in the world. The company serves more than 300,000 professionals in engineering, constructing and operating the world's built assets. The Bentley SELECT(SM) subscription program now reaches more than 200,000 users. With its ProjectBank component-server technology, ProjectWise information management products, and industry-standard aecXML language for application interaction, Bentley technology forms the platform for creation, collaboration and commerce at organizations responsible for much of the world's built environment. Bentley and MicroStation are registered trademarks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated. CMD Group CMD Group is North America's premiere provider of construction market data and a leading worldwide provider of proprietary construction information. NORTH AMERICA North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. : Architects' First Source, product selection and specification information in print and on the Internet; Clark Reports, industrial and commercial project information, sales leads A sales lead is the identity of a person or entity potentially interested in purchasing a product or service, and represents the first stage of a sales process. The lead may have a corporation or business associated with the person(s). ; Construction Market Data (CMD), construction project information, sales leads; Associated Construction Publications The Associated Construction Publications are 14 trade publications and a combined web site owned by Reed Business Information that serve the information needs of contractors, materials producers, equipment users and allies to the field of construction. , 14 regional magazines covering U.S. highway and heavy construction; Manufacturers' Survey Associates (MSA (Metropolitan Service Area) An urban area with at least 50,000 people plus surrounding counties. There are 306 MSAs and 428 RSAs (rural service areas) in the U.S. MSAs and RSAs are used to allocate cellular licenses. ), estimating and quantity survey data.; R.S. Means, construction cost data; CMD Canada, project and product information and BIMSA/Mexico, the projects and cost information for Mexico. EUROPE: Byggfakta Scandinavia, construction market data for Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden. AUSTRALIA: Cordell Building Information Services See Information Systems. , construction activity and cost information in Australia. Hanley-Wood Hanley-Wood is the leading business-to-business information provider in the residential and commercial construction industry. Founded in 1976, Hanley-Wood grew to $101 million in 1999. Hanley-Wood, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control is owned by VS&A Communications Partners III, the private equity affiliate of media industry merchant bank Veronis, Suhler & Associates. In addition to magazines, Hanley-Wood produces six trade shows from the Exhibitions Division in Dallas, is a world-leader in house plans through its Tucson-based Home Planners Division and provides custom publishing services from its Minneapolis office. Hanley-Wood's Internet Division has a major Internet presence through its supersite cbuild.com and eplans.com. iPIX iPIX provides global visual content and infrastructure for leading e-commerce and new media Web sites. The iPIX end-to-end solutions (jargon) end-to-end solution - (E2ES) A term that suggests that the supplier of an application program or system will provide all the hardware and/or software components and resouces to meet the customer's requirement and no other supplier need be involved. Compare: turn-key solution. enable the creation, hosting and distribution of rich visual content to thousands of Internet sites. A broad array of industries, including real estate, e-retail, automotive, travel, publishing and entertainment, are capitalizing on iPIX visual content to give viewers more information, more interaction and a richer online experience. The company is headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee Oak Ridge is an incorporated city in Anderson and Roane Counties in East Tennessee, about 25 miles northwest of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 people at the 2000 census. with co-headquarters in Palo Alto, California “Palo Alto” redirects here. For other uses, see Palo Alto (disambiguation). Palo Alto (IPA: /ˌpæloʊˈʔæltoʊ/, from Spanish: palo: "stick" and alto: "high", i.e. . The McGraw-Hill Companies Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information services provider serving the financial services The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. , education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, Business Wekk and the McGraw-Hill educational imprint. The corporation has more than 400 offices in 32 countries. Sales in 1999 were $4.0 billion. |
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