In episode 103 of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I am bringing you with me to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Conference where I will be talking with several guests to get their view on the state of Infrastructure, but also tools and strategies you can use on your projects.   From smart landscaping features that serves as safe barriers to things you should know about disaster recovery when designing your projects, and even a software that will help you ensure that all parties on your projects are looking at the latest version of the project plans.  The conference was presented by Engineering News-Record (ENR). Here are some of the question I asked our guests at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Conference: What should engineers be aware of in terms of new landscaping products for infrastructure projects? Tell us what disaster recovery means for designers in the A/E/C industry? What are some of the things you can do to alleviate the challenges behind project document coordination? How can civil engineers and project managers work on their people skills? What is your opinion of the importance people-management in project management? Here are some key points discussed in this episode at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Conference: It’s becoming easier to make infrastructure projects safe, without sacrificing the aesthetic side of it. As a civil engineer it is nice to know that we can work with design professionals to create products that work for them and their design, as well as for the end user. When you are working on a designing project, it is advisable to separate disaster related damages from other damages that a designer might need in order to complete the project. For a company owner to get reimbursed from the Federal Government they should only submit for the damages that are directly related or caused by the disaster event itself. As designers, disaster recovery has to be at the forefront of your mind. The more you are aware of the process associated with funding post-disaster, the better it will be for your clients. One of the biggest challenges of documentation is version control of the documents. PlanGrid has designed a system that allows a simple upload of the revisions which then pushes the documents out to the entire project team. The pace of everyday things in life is making it more stressful for civil engineers in their day-to-day jobs. They need to do what they do, but they need to do it quicker than they used to do it without sacrificing quality. If you want to be a well-rounded engineer, you should not just strive to understand the calculations and materials that are out there. You should also understand how the projects unfold and how they will be delivered. The best engineers are the ones who understand what is important to the client as well as the contractor, what information they need, and when they need it. It’s important to create a culture where people are engaged with each other as well as the project and have the determination to see it through. Treat people as individuals, respect them and make sure they feel good about what they are doing. More details in this episode… About our Guests Jonathan Berry, Director, Marshalls Landscape Products Jonathan Berry is an experienced Executive VP/Director with a long and demonstrated history of working in the landscaping industry; the built environment & building materials industry.  He is also skilled in landscape design, water management, traffic calming, street furniture and natural stone. For over a century, Marshalls has been manufacturing and supplying superior hard landscaping products for roads, buildings and open spaces. Founded by Solomon Marshall in the late 1890’s,