Connecting Around the Globe

11/1/2009

Perhaps you’ve received a call, an e-mail, or a text message from a colleague across the globe needing access to a concrete-related document. With mere clicks of a mouse button, you may have attached an actual document or a link to the document online, thus providing your colleague almost instantaneous access to information.

Innovations in communication technology are breaking down the barriers of distance and time zone. The opportunities for connecting to others who are far away continue to grow at ACI through Web-based social and professional networks, conferences and meetings, and internationally circulated publications like CI. As we share information and common goals, we bridge gaps of culture and language. ACI is very proud to be considered a truly international community of people with concrete-related interests.

This past March, at the ACI Spring Conference, I saw first-hand the international links that are being successfully implemented in the concrete industry during the meeting of the International Partnerships and Publications Committee. Representatives from many of ACI’s 20 International Partners were in attendance. I was thrilled to witness ACI’s role as a forum for these international organizations to interact with one another. While ACI may initially be viewed as an influential force in connecting concrete-related organizations, we value that all of us are equal partners with a common goal to share knowledge.

Our newest International Partners are the Vietnam Concrete Association (VCA), the Hong Kong Concrete Institute, the Asian Concrete Federation, and RILEM. As the network of partners expands, ACI can offer ever-increasing access to concrete-related information and expertise. ACI members will be able to purchase the publications of our International Partners at discounted rates and register for Partner conventions and meetings at the member rate of that organization.

To further increase the exchange of knowledge, ACI has established a Web portal where abstracts from International Partners are posted. Those documents that are offered for free are available for immediate download. This International Concrete Research Portal (ICRP) provides access to documents from around the world and allows us to share ideas from near and far. The portal is currently active, with documents available from the Korea Concrete Institute (KCI) and the Instituto Brasileiro do Concreto (IBRACON). Additionally, the Concrete Society (UK) and RILEM are entering into an agreement with ACI to make their technical papers available. International Partners interested in participating in the ICRP should contact John Glumb, ACI Managing Director, Technology, Publishing, and Events (e-mail: John.Glumb@concrete.org).

For many within the international concrete community, travel is an indispensable part of keeping in touch with our peers. I myself just returned from a trip through several European countries. During my travels, I was able to reinforce relationships—both new and established—with other industry organizations. I greatly appreciated their hospitality.

Our International Partners host conferences throughout the year, which can be posted to the ACI Web site calendar of events so that ACI members have the opportunity to attend. KCI, which is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary, will host the Asia-Pacific Conference on FRP in Structures next month. The Japan Concrete Institute (JCI) will be host of the second JCI/KCI/Taiwan Concrete Institute joint conference in 2010. The VCA will be a cosponsor of a conference with the New Zealand Concrete Society planned for 2011.

Some International Partners are focused on certification programs and related training. Based on the certification activities of the Chilean Cement and Concrete Institute, the Instituto Mexicano del Cemento y del Concreto, and IBRACON, it is clear that the market for skilled, well-informed concrete professionals is only growing.

I thank our International Partners for working with ACI to increase access to information. A list of these organizations is featured below. They, as we, are committed to disseminating reliable, accurate knowledge about concrete to all parts of the world. As equal partners working together, even though we are citizens of different nations, we become members of the same community.

ACI’s International Partner Associations

An International Partner is a concrete-related association committed to cooperation, coordination, and collaboration with other concrete-related societies in an effort to develop a unified, worldwide concrete community of equal partners. ACI is proud to be a partner with the following international organizations:
Asian Concrete Federation
Chilean Cement and Concrete Institute (ICH)—www.ich.cl
Colombian Association for Earthquake Engineering (AIS)
Concrete Institute of Australia (CIA)—www.concreteinstitute.com.au
The Concrete Society (UK)—www.concrete.org.uk
Concrete Society of Southern Africa (CSSA)—www.concretesociety.co.za
Hong Kong Concrete Institute (HKCI)—www.hongkongci.org
Instituto Brasileiro do Concreto (IBRACON)—www.ibracon.org.br
Instituto Mexicano del Cemento y del Concreto (IMCYC)—www.imcyc.com
Japan Concrete Institute (JCI)—www.jci-net.or.jp
Korea Concrete Institute (KCI)—www.kci.or.kr
New Zealand Concrete Society (NZCS)—www.concretesociety.org.nz
Norwegian Concrete Association (NCA)—www.betong.net
Polish Academy of Sciences (KILW)—www.pan.pl
RILEM—www.rilem.net
Shanghai Concrete Industry Association (SCIA)
Shanghai Research Institute of Building Sciences (SRIBS)
Swedish Concrete Association (SCA)—www.betong.se
Taiwan Concrete Institute (TCI)
Vietnam Concrete Association (VCA)—www.ibst.vn
(As of October 1, 2009)

Florian G. Barth
American Concrete Institute
fb@florian.com