Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation, highlighting the people and initiatives making waves in standardization.
SES Announces Webinar on EPA's Use of OMB Circular A-119
ANSI member and accredited standards developer SES - The Society for Standards Professionals will hold a webinar examining the federal government's use of voluntary consensus standards on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. This webinar will look the issue through the prism of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s utilization of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119, which provides government entities with guidance on how to make use of standards, as well as how to participate in the private standards development process. It will also provide an overview of Circular A-119 and examine issues threatening the government's continued use of voluntary consensus standards.
The webinar will be led by Mary C. McKiel, Ph.D., EPA standards executive and chair of the board of directors of ASTM International. Dr. McKiel oversees the EPA's implementation of both Circular A-119 and the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA), along with other standards-related activities.
The webinar is offered free of charge to all current SES members and costs $50 for non-members. Under a reciprocal agreement between the two organizations, ANSI full member technical contacts are considered SES members and can take part in the webinar at no cost. To register for the webinar, click here.
ASHRAE Announces Expanded Job Site
ANSI member and audited designator ASHRAE recently announced the redesign and expansion of its www.ASHRAEjobs.com career opportunity board. First launched in 2009, the site is a part of the organization's continuing effort to bolster job-seekers and employers in the built environment technology sector. The newly expanded service is expected to make it easier for ASHRAE members to gain access to job listings in relevant fields and to reduce issues filling positions for employers.
To access ASHRAEjobs, click here.
AIIM Council Publishes Free Report on Big Data Solutions
ANSI member and accredited standards developer the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM)'s Executive Leadership Council (ELC) has released a new report on current trends and issues related to big data, titled "The Big Data Balancing Act: Too Much Yin and Not Enough Yang." The report, drawn from ELC workshops held in September and November 2012, looks at financial considerations related to the future development of an effective framework for big data solutions in organizations large and small.
The number of organizations in the U.S. and abroad dealing with big data - a term referring to collections of data so large and complicated that special organizational tools and approaches are required for their effective management - has grown in recent years, creating increased need for practical strategies for big data management. The report looks at current attitudes about big data, as well as the technological and financial issues surrounding its management. Its recommendations include pairing information professionals with data scientists and rethinking traditional ways of working with data.
To access the full report, click here.
AHIMA Releases Best Practices Guide for Health-Related Apps
ANSI member the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has published a new guide to health-related digital apps, titled Just Think App! Mobile Health Apps 101: A Primer for Consumers. The guide, posted on AHIMA's www.myPhr.com website, includes recommendations intended to help consumers make smart choices regarding their selection and use of these health apps.
The guide covers both general medical apps and apps used to monitor specific conditions. It includes advice intended to help safeguard the privacy of users' confidential medical data and to weed out health-related apps that fail to provide sufficient privacy protections.
To access this free guide, click here.
ACI Foundation Establishes Scholarship Honoring W. Gene Corley
ANSI member and accredited standards developer the American Concrete Institute (ACI)'s ACI Foundation recently announced the creation of a new scholarship fund to honor the memory of structural engineering expert Dr. W. Gene Corley, senior vice president at Construction Technology Laboratories Inc. and an ACI fellow, who died in March. The "Friends of W. Gene Corley Scholarship" will provide financial support for college students pursuing studies involving structural engineering and concrete.
Dr. Corley, the author of more than 170 technical papers and books, was an ACI honorary member and the recipient of the ACI's Henry C. Turner Medal, Alfred E. Lindau Award, and Wason Medal for Materials Research. He notably led an investigation into the structural performance of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, as well as a later examination of structural issues related to the collapse of New York City's World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
For more information about the scholarship, click here.