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ON THE MOVE BOWMAN WELCOMES DAVID STICKLES, RPLS, PSM, PLS, TO EXPAND COMPANY’S PUBLIC SECTOR GEOSPATIAL PORTFOLIO Bowman Consulting Group Ltd., a national engineering services firm delivering infrastructure solutions to customers who own, develop and maintain the built environment, proudly announces the appointment of David Stickles, RPLS, PSM, PLS, as director of business development, geospatial survey. Stickles brings to Bowman over three decades of experience working with transportation departments and highway administrations, including the Florida Department of Transportation, the Maryland State Highway Administration and the Maryland Port Administration. Based out of Bowman’s Plano, Texas office, he will focus on securing

government and public sector contracts across Bowman’s 90+ locations throughout the United States. “My goal is to build upon Bowman’s reputation to secure its position as a leading service provider in the public sector,” said Stickles. “This team has the resources, the skills, the technologies and the dedication to address client challenges. The recent Surdex acquisition adds a service that makes Bowman unique in its ability to provide comprehensive end-to-end solutions at all altitudes and resolutions. I couldn’t be more excited to help contribute to this phase of Bowman’s expansion.” Stickles’ surveying career began in 1993, marked by a succession of leadership roles, including vice president, director of survey and SUE, regional practice leader and office manager. He is also a

Registered Professional Land Surveyor in 12 states. “David’s appointment holds strategic significance in enhancing Bowman’s reputation as a top-tier geospatial services provider,” said Aaron McMillan, vice president of geospatial at Bowman. “His leadership and project experience will be key to driving growth and elevating Bowman’s position in the market.” In addition to his leadership and professional licensure, Stickles has a strong portfolio of project experience that spans land development, ports and harbors and stormwater infrastructure. He has worked on several notable projects throughout his career, including M&T Bank Stadium, Dundalk Marine Terminal, and the I-95 Express Toll Lanes project in Baltimore, Maryland.

While most cities and municipalities have existing processes through which zoning can be modified to suit a project’s needs, they can be prohibitively expensive and time consuming, requiring a full suite of consultants, and therefore are typically only considered for larger projects. AI tools for minor zoning modifications could make discretionary actions more accessible to smaller projects. For larger projects, they could support the evaluation of more substantial variances, such as increased floor area or change of permitted uses. While it is important for policymakers and elected officials to have approval authority for these projects, AI can streamline the environmental review process required for zoning modifications, leading to more informed decisions. These tools can also be used in stakeholder outreach and participatory design, allowing constituents to adjust and visualize the impacts of various zoning criteria at reviews. While current AI tools offer valuable assistance in navigating existing zoning regulations, the promise of AI in zoning and city planning lies in its ability to dynamically adapt to evolving urban needs. By shifting the target users of zoning AI tools from architects and developers to cities and municipalities, AI can empower decision-makers to create more flexible and responsive regulatory frameworks, streamline the permitting process, and ensure equitable code enforcement. Ultimately, these tools can allow buildings to meet the needs of the cities they are built within. Ben Abelman, AICP, LEED GA is senior associate and director of zoning and predevelopment at FXCollaborative. Connect with him on LinkedIn .

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With AI tools, cities could evaluate proposed buildings based on how they meet specific performance standards, expediting the variance approval process and creating a more adaptable system. Take, for example, New York City’s 15-foot setback regulation. This zoning ordinance creates a universal, city-wide rule that buildings of a certain height must be set back 15 feet from the street to preserve daylight access. Frequently, buildings function better when designed with smaller setbacks. AI tools could assess and approve or deny variance requests based on performance-based criteria, such as maintaining adequate daylight penetration to the street. Existing tools, like the Daylight Evaluation in New York City’s Midtown Manhattan zoning resolution, could provide a foundational framework for these new AI tools. As codes in cities and municipalities nationwide expand and begin to overlap, we have created a complicated regulatory environment that produces inconsistent outcomes. Despite efforts from building departments across the country that strive to interpret and enforce regulations consistently, there nevertheless remains a small, but significant level of discretion. By creating an AI powered plan examiner to evaluate code compliance for buildings, we can ensure that all rules are applied equally. This would also allow designers to iterate and check their work, expediting the design process and establishing a more predictable permitting process. Plan examiners could then spend less time reviewing drawings and more time refining the AI model or confirming that projects are built as designed.

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THE ZWEIG LETTER JUNE 3, 2024, ISSUE 1540

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