AEC Resources

AECbytes
AECbytes is an online publication launched by Lachmi Khemlani in November 2003. It is focused on researching, analyzing, and reviewing technology products and services for the building industry.

AECCafe.com
Your portal for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry Technology.

AEC Daily
AEC Daily provides you with access to building products information, industry news & resources, educational resources, discussion forums moderated by professionals and much more.

American Hardwood Information Center
A source for facts, tips and useful advice about U.S. hardwoods and hardwood products.

AIA - American Institute of Architects
Since 1857, the AIA has represented the professional interests of America's architects. As AIA members, over 74,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners express their commitment to excellence in design and livability in our nation's buildings and communities. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public, and colleagues of an AIA-member architect's dedication to the highest standards in professional practice.

AIAS - American Institute of Architecture Students
Since 1956, the American Institute of Architecture Students has been the official voice of students to the educational system and the profession of architecture and design.

AIBD - American Institute of Building Design
Since 1950, AIBD has provided its members with educational resources and developed nationwide design standards and a code of ethics for the building design profession.

ANSI - American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization (501(c)3) that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system.

ASAI - American Society of Architectural Illustrators
The American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI), is a non-profit international professional organization of architectural illustrators, whose goals are to foster communication among architectural illustrators, to raise the standards of architectural illustration and to acquaint the public with the importance of such drawing as integral to the practice of architecture.

ASID - American Society of Interior Designers
ASID is a community of people—designers, industry representatives, educators and students—committed to interior design.

ASLA - American Society of Landscape Architects
Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association representing landscape architects. Beginning with 11 original members, ASLA has grown to more than 15,000 members and 48 chapters, representing all 50 states, US territories, and 42 countries around the world. ASLA promotes the landscape architecture profession and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship.

AGC - The Associated General Contractors of America
AGC is the nation's largest and oldest construction trade association, established in 1918 after a request by President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson recognized the construction industry's national importance and desired a partner with which the government could discuss and plan for the advancement of the nation. AGC has been fulfilling that mission for the last 85 years.

ACADIA - Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture
ACADIA was formed in the early 1980's for the purpose of facilitating communication and critical thinking regarding the use of computers in architecture, planning and building science. A particular focus is education and the software, hardware and pedagogy involved in education.

ACSA - Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture is a nonprofit, membership association founded in 1912 to advance the quality of architectural education.

BSA - Boston Society of Architects
The Boston Society of Architects is the largest and one of the most active chapters of the American Institute of Architects.

The Brick Industry Association
BIA members manufacture clay brick, distribute clay brick or provide a product or service to the industry. Whether you are looking for a business partner or you are a home owner looking for a place to purchase clay bricks, this is the resource you need.

buildingSMART alliance
Created to spearhead technical, political, and financial support for advanced digital technology in the real property industry—from concept, design and construction through operations and management—the buildingSMART alliance operates within the independent nonprofit National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). This public/private initiative expands on goals of the North American Chapter of the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI-NA), whose Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs) have initiated open standards for national and international links among industry players. It provides developers and users of Building Information Models (BIMs), the digital tools that are increasingly helping to share highly accurate information throughout a facility's life cycle.

The CADwire: Your CAD Information Source
Designed, implemented and maintained by practicing CAD industry professionals, the CADwire serves as a comprehensive gateway to all things CAD on the internet. The CADwire indexes are updated daily with links to the latest industry news, wherever it may be.

Cheap Tricks
Cheap Tricks is the monthly newsletter and resource for DataCAD users that shows you how to make the most out of your use of computers and DataCAD. Cheap Tricks concentrates on the bottom line, giving you straight tips and tricks, describing methods of working productively, answering your questions, and suggesting creative ways of using your computer and DataCAD.

CIE - Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage
As its name implies, the International Commission on Illumination - abbreviated as CIE from its French title Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage - is an organization devoted to international cooperation and exchange of information among its member countries on all matters relating to the science and art of lighting.

DBUG (DataCAD Boston Users' Group)
DBUG was formed in December of 1987. It consists of an enthusiastic group of users with a broad range of expertise and experience. Its purpose is to provide a forum of user support, education and a vehicle for shared resources. Though it has adopted Boston in its title for the benefit of this particular acronym, it welcomes to its ranks members from all of the New England states.

e-interiors.net
The professional web tool for interior design.

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

forum.datacad.com
Inspired in-part by the online forum DBUG (DataCAD Boston Users' Group), and created in response to DataCAD users requests, forum.datacad.com is the place to get answers, share ideas, and interact with other DataCAD users around the world.

HFHI - Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

HVI - Home Ventilating Institute
The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) is the premier nonprofit association of the manufacturers of home ventilating products.

IAI - Tech International
To develop a standard universal framework to enable and encourage information sharing and interoperability throughout all phases of the whole building life cycle.

ICC - International Color Consortium
The International Color Consortium was established in 1993 by eight industry vendors for the purpose of creating, promoting and encouraging the standardization and evolution of an open, vendor-neutral, cross-platform color management system architecture and components. The outcome of this co-operation was the development of the ICC profile specification.

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.

Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with more than 130 million items on approximately 530 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 29 million books and other printed materials, 2.7 million recordings, 12 million photographs, 4.8 million maps, and 58 million manuscripts.

NAHB - National Association of Home Builders
NAHB is a trade association that helps promote the policies that make housing a national priority. Since 1942, NAHB has been serving its members, the housing industry, and the public at large.

NCS - National CAD Standard
The U.S. National CAD Standard (NCS) consists of The American Institute of Architect’s CAD Layer Guidelines, the Construction Specification Institute’s Uniform Drawing System (Modules 1-8), and the Tri-Service Plotting Guidelines, as promulgated by the U.S. Department of Defense CAD/GIS Technology Center.

NCARB - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
In May 1919, during an American Institute of Architects convention in Nashville, Tennessee, 15 architects from 13 states came together to form the organization that would soon become the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

NIBS - National Institute of Building Sciences
The building communities' connection to the authoritative national source of knowledge and advice on matters of building regulation, science, and technology.

NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST, an agency of the Commerce Department's Technology Administration, was founded in 1901 as the nation's first federal physical science research laboratory.

NSPE - National Society of Professional Engineers
The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) is the recognized voice and advocate of licensed Professional Engineers. Founded in 1934, NSPE strengthens the engineering profession by promoting engineering licensure and ethics, enhancing the engineer image, advocating and protecting PEs' legal rights at the national and state levels, publishing news of the profession, providing continuing education opportunities, and much more. NSPE serves some 50,000 members and the public through 53 state and territorial societies and more than 500 chapters.

National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to protect the irreplaceable places that tell America’s story.

New Buildings Institute
New Buildings Institute, Inc. is a not-for-profit public benefits corporation, helping to make buildings better for people and the environment.

OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Administration
OSHA's mission is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.

Open Design Alliance
The Open Design Alliance is an association of software developers and users committed to promoting open, industry-standard formats for the exchange of CAD data.

RAIC - Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, established in 1907, is a voluntary national association representing more than 3,200 architects, and faculty and graduates of accredited Canadian Schools of Architecture from every region of the country. RAIC is the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada. It provides the national framework for the development and recognition of architectural excellence.

SARA - Society of American Registered Architects
The Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) was founded in 1956 as a professional society that includes the participation of all architects, regardless of their roles in the architectural community. SARA follows the Golden Rule and supports the concept of profitable professionalism for its members.

TenLinks.com
The Web organized for technical professionals.

upFront.eZine
"Talking about CAD"

USGBC - U.S. Green Building Council
The nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.