Welcome to our collection of white papers on select risk management topics. The purpose of these papers is to provide an in-depth analysis of complicated issues affecting the design and construction industry.
Potential Indicators of Risk: Continuing Education, Business Practices, and Professional Licensure
Underwriters and actuaries look at a number of factors in assessing a firm's potential risk, including a firm's size, billings, location, clients, services provided, and project types. This paper details the findings of a study we conducted intended to determine what other factors underwriters can look to when assessing a firm's potential risk: continuing education within a firm, business practices, and professional licensure.
Seismic Design: Prescriptive Codes, Performance-based Design, and the Responsibilities of Structural Engineers
Building codes are an attempt to standardize and monitor the safety practices of designers and constructors alike. This paper weighs the advantages and disadvantages of prescriptive codes vs. performance-based design codes as they relate to seismic design. It also discusses the role of the structural engineer in designing buildings to withstand the effects of an earthquake.
Integrated Project Delivery: Possible Roles, Risks, and Incentives for Structural Engineers
Conceptually, IPD merely means optimal collaboration among all project participants, which leads to project success. From a legal or insurance perspective, IPD means the contractual obligation to collaborate, which involves sharing both risk and reward. Such a concept offers structural engineers a great opportunity for success, but also poses new risks.
Restoring Neglected Assets: Brownfields Reuse and Related Risks for Landscape Architects 
Our Brownfields white paper analyzes federal legislation related to brownfields sites and how these project types reflect a unique set of risks, particularly for landscape architects.
Managing the Risks of Your International Practice
Our international practice white paper, part of our white paper series, is an informative discussion of some of the risks firms will face when broadening their practices internationally. From licensing laws, to tax regulations, to contracts, firms need to thoroughly prepare their business plans before beginning work in foreign countries.