VICKSBURG, Miss.— Researchers from five U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Districts have been selected for the 2022 session of the Engineer Research and Development Center University (ERDC-U).
Building Information Modeling (BIM) Manager Brandon Meinert with the Kansas City District was chosen as a participant for this detail program, which is now in its seventh year.
ERDC-U Program Lead Antisa Webb, Chief of the Office of Research and Technology Transfer (ORTT), Technology, Knowledge and Outreach (TKO) Division and the program’s co-sponsor, announced the six 2022 selectees.
“ERDC-U offers partnerships between USACE Division and District participants and relevant laboratory mentors for six-month research projects, resulting in technical solutions benefitting their workplace, the Corps and the Nation,” Webb said.
Working with these subject-matter experts from ERDC’s seven state-of-the art laboratories, participants will focus on real-world solutions, as they also develop leadership skills for their home organization
A USACE team member for 14 years, Meinert’s areas of expertise focus on BIM design, construction technology, architectural design, visualization, project construction and quality management.
Meinert said his goal is to “work with ERDC’s CAD/BIM Technology Center on various research efforts related to design & construction technology (i.e., BIM, Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality, GIS, Dashboards & Data Analytics, Facility Data Exchange/COBie, Reality Capture, Digital Twins, and BUILDER SMS to support the project lifecycle.”
He is scheduled to join fellow selectees to meet their mentors and plan projects during their orientation session March 1-2 at the ERDC headquarters in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Meinert’s mentor is Architect Andrew Ross of ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), one of the four laboratories on the Vicksburg campus, which will be featured in orientation tours.
The program is co-sponsored by ERDC’s Directorate of Human Capital through an application and selection process. The session will run from March through August session. Program funding is split between the selectee’s Division or District for choice of labor costs or travel with the other funded by ERDC.
Supervisor’s Recommendation
“Brandon Meinert has displayed conscientiousness, discernment, flexibility and an aptitude to take on greater responsibilities in the organization,” said Shane Kobialka, Meinert’s supervisor. “He is a subject-matter expert in the areas of Advanced Modeling (i.e. BIM, CIM, CAD, and GIS), but more importantly, he has demonstrated his problem-solving skills in those areas, a necessary trait in a candidate performing research for ERDC. His years of experience with USACE, working in an essential capacity on complex projects such as the Next NGA West (N2W) mega program, a large-scale construction project that will build a new western headquarters facility for National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, demonstrate his commitment to the organization’s goals. Through ERDC’s Research and Development opportunity, Brandon would benefit immensely by enhancing and building on his research skills and be able to implement what he learns to his current and future projects with USACE.”
“ERDC-U experiences build a collaborative and continuing partnership with ERDC team members as an investment in the future of the Corps, along with career-long problem-solving contacts,” Webb added about the benefit of the program.
The ERDC University Program specifically seeks individuals with interest and experience in general scientific and engineering fields encompassing one of the following business areas:
- Civil Works and Water Resources
- Environmental Quality and Installations
- Geospatial Research and Engineering
- Information Technology
- Military Engineering
Participants serve as members of the interdisciplinary research and development (R&D) teams, reporting to lead project managers and/or R&D direct program managers. The incumbent supports and possibly leads any number of activities to develop R&D.
“Selectees will have the opportunity to make great relationships that can help you the rest of your career, and we can learn about District needs from you,” ERDC Director Dr. David Pittman said about the program.
For program information, contact Antisa.C.Webb@usace.army.mil. Applications for the 2023 program will open October 1, 2022, for GS-7-13 team members through the “Opportunities” icon at:
https://wiki.erdc.dren.mil/index.php?title=ERDC_University.