LOS ANGELES ─ In a move to do for infrastructure what the LEED rating system has done for buildings, the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the American Public Works Association (APWA), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) have joined forces to form the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). The organization’s goal is developing an infrastructure sustainability rating system.

At the initial ISI board meeting held Feb. 8, 2011, Tim Psomas, former chairman of the board of Psomas and former chairman of ACEC, was named ISI chairman.

“Public owners are looking for guidelines and support to respond to the growing community demand for sustainability in infrastructure,” he said. “The new ISI rating system is designed to meet the need for a common language defining sustainable infrastructure.”

The new rating system also will provide designers, contractors, and suppliers with a single comprehensive system to help bring innovative sustainable solutions to market.

With a focus on civil infrastructure, ISI’s vision is threefold:

• To create incentives and balancing of project features to improve sustainable performance
• To foster a methodology for infrastructure owners, operators, designers, builders, and suppliers to rate the sustainability of a project at any point in its lifecycle
• To provide sustainability products and services that will transform the way public works and infrastructure are conceived, designed, built, operated, and maintained

According to Psomas, members will benefit from recognition as a cutting-edge organization that is responding more effectively to infrastructure needs with approaches that benefit from community, regulatory, and stakeholder support.

Charter members of the group include public and private owner organizations, engineering and construction firms, equipment manufacturers, and materials suppliers.

For more information, visit www.psomas.com.