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Erik C Backus

Erik Backus photo

Erik Backus

Professor of Practice / Director of the Construction Engineering Management Program
Civil & Environmental Eng

Email: ebackus@clarkson.edu
Phone: 315/268-6522
Office: 132 Rowley Lab
Mailbox: CU Box 5710 -8 Clarkson Avenue

Department(s): Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
School(s): Coulter School of Engineering, Institute for a Sustainable Environment

Zoom Link

https://clarkson.zoom.us/my/ebackus
  • Biography
  • Research Interests
  • Awards
  • Publications
Education
Civil Engineering (Concentration: Construction Engineering and Management) M.S. - 2004
University of Missouri – Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology)
Civil Engineering (Concentration: Infrastructure Technologies) B.S. - 1997
Clarkson University
Courses Taught
CE 212 - Introduction to Engineering Design (Fall Semesters)
CE 406 – Infrastructure Engineering (Fall Semesters)
CE 409 – Fundamentals of Building Systems (Spring Semesters)
CE 410/CE 510 – Sustainable Infrastructure and Building (Fall Semesters)
CE 441 - Reinforced Concrete Design (Spring Semesters)
CE448 – Introduction to Architectural Engineering (Fall Semesters)
CE 490 – Senior Design (Structures/Transportation/Geotech) /(Building, Arch) (Spring Semesters)
CE 591/ES 581 – Special Topics in Construction Engineering Management (Spring Semesters)
Experience
Lieutenant Colonel US Army Reserve, 2012
Professional Engineer 2005
Biography

I am the Howard E. Lechler Endowed Director of the Construction Engineering Management program at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. I teach courses and execute research/work in an array of topics related to the built environment including: sustainability, resilience, and life-cycle thinking of infrastructure and buildings. I serve on the Univ. Sustainability Committee and am an affiliate faculty in the Institute for a Sustainable Environment (and play hockey now and again). In my faith life, I am a member of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Canton/Potsdam, NY, a member of Lutherans Restoring Creation (LRC) and am also a Synod Trainer for LRC. Beyond these efforts, I am a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel, having served in various capacities including the Battalion commander of the 479th Engineer Battalion at Fort Drum. I also continue to serve as past volunteer Chair for the Market Leadership Advisory Board for the Upstate NY Community of US Green Building Council (USGBC). Not too far from campus, in Russell, NY, I proudly manage my family property (5th generation) near Backus Hill and Backus Road where you might catch me when I'm not doing all of the above or at home with my amazing wife Jackie, wonderful daughter Emily, and our pet cat watching a (2018 Stanley Cup winning Washington Capitals) hockey game.

Research Interests

• Sustainable Construction
• Force Protection Engineering/Infrastructure Resiliency
• Integrated Project Delivery/Project Leadership
• Energy/Alternative Energy Metrics/Management & Informatics
• Active/Alternate Transportation Impacts/Planning

Awards

Named “Professor to know in Civil Engineering (and related fields)” by Online Engineering Programs.com, 2020
LEED for Communities Gold Certification, New York Olympic Region, September 2019
Best Paper Award, ICEIS 2013, Area: Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Systems
George Mason University: Facilities Employee of the Month, August 2013; Sustainability Hero Award, 2012
Military: Bronze Star Medal; Combat Action Badge, Bronze Order de Fluery Medal
Leadership: Clarkson Phalanx Commendable Leadership/Inductee; Eagle Scout, BSA

Publications

Recent Presentations

• Backus, Erik C., Bhatt, Vatsal, Randall, Craig, Pratt, Michael and Jiagen, Liu (2020), “Sustainability and Pandemic Response in Olympic communities certifying to LEED standards”, USGBC LEED for Cities and Communities Series, Online, 30 June 2020 (https://www.usgbc.org/education/sessions/sustainability-and-pandemic-response-olympic-communities-certifying-leed)
• Backus, Erik C., “Total Cost of Ownership - How to Really Know Your Life Cycle Cost” (2020), NYS Green Building Conference, Online, 23 October 2020 (https://www.esf.edu/greenbuilding/2020/documents/Total%20Cost%20of%20Ownership%20-%202020NYSGBC.pdf)
• Backus, Erik C., Randall, Craig (2019), “Driving Sustainability, Resilience and Performance with LEED for Cities/Communities in the NY Olympic Region”, NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities Webinar, Online, 13 March 2019
• Backus, Erik C., Randall, Craig, Dietrich, Dean, Pratt, Michael, Flory, M., Barber, P. (2019), “Go for Gold: LEED for Communities and Your Local College”, Adirondack Research Council Annual Meeting, Lake Placid, NY, 21 May 2019
• Backus, Erik C., Bhatt, Vatsal (2019), “LEED for Cities and Communities”, USGBC Build it Better, Jersey City, NJ, 12 September 2019
• Backus, Erik C., Olsen, William B. (2019), “Complete Streets in the North Country”, Associated Colleges, Sustainability Day, SUNY Potsdam, 5 April 2019
• Backus, Erik C., Flory, M., Barber, P., Buck, B., Ulrich-Verderber, L. (2019),“Go for Gold: LEED for Communities and Your Local College” NY State Green Building Conference, 18 April 2019
• Backus, Erik C., Hogue, Markus (2019), “Facilities Informatics Revisited – Your Data Dictionary and More”, APPA International Conference, Denver, CO, 16 July 2019
• Flory, M., Backus, Erik C. (2019), “Engaging Students in Community Development: LEED for Communities”, The New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education (NYCSHE), conference, 7 November 2019
• Martinez, M., Crimi, M., Backus, E. (2018), “House u Build:  HuB Disaster Relief Housing”, ASEE Regional Conference, Cornell University, 20 April 2018
• Backus, E., Weidner, T. (2018), “APPA FPI 2.0”, APPA National Conference, Washington, DC, 30 July 2018
• Backus, E. (2018), “Choosing the Right Green Tools” Hudson Valley Green Expo, SUNY New Paltz , 18 October 2018
• Backus, E. (2018), “LEED for Cities and Communities” Hudson Valley Green Expo, SUNY New Paltz , 18 October 2018


Selected/Recent Publications

•Backus, Erik C. and Bird, Stephen (2021), “Assessing and Implementing a Sustainable Holistic Planning System:  LEED for Communities and the New York Olympic Region”, Case Studies in the Environment, March 2021
Smith, Dana K., Thiemer, Ana, Backus, Erik C., et. al. (2020), ANSI/APPA 1000-2 Total Cost of Ownership for Facilities Asset Management (TCO) – Part 2:  Implementation and Data Elements, January 2020
• Hogue, Markus and Backus, Erik C. (2020), “Informatics Next Steps: A Journey to Better Knowledge”, Facilities Manager, APPA (Sep/Oct 2020)
• Backus, Erik C., Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) and Park, Kevin, Captain (2019), “Getting the Right ACS for USACE Utilization”, Engineer Bulletin May-August 2019; Volume 49  PB 5-19-2, pp. 21-23
•Backus, Erik C. (2017), “Technology, Trends, and How to Not be Swept Away”, CONEXPO/CONAGG News, September 26, 2017, http://www.conexpoconagg.com/news/september-2017/technology-trends-and-how-to-not-be-swept-away/
• Backus, Erik. C. and Weidner, Ted, (2017) “Getting the Most out of APPA’s FPI Survey and Report Tool—And a Preview of What’s to Come”, Facilities Manager, APPA (Sep/Oct 2017), pp 49-51

• Hogue, Markus, Backus, Erik C., Smeds, Christopher, and Webb, Mark (2016), Code Talkers: Informatics Moving Forward (Nov/Dec 2016)
• Backus, Erik C.; Schay, Alan; Theimier, Ana (2016), APPA Facilities Informatics Maturity Matrix Technical Report, July 2016, APPA http://www.appa.org/bookstore/product_browse.cfm?itemnumber=1306
• Backus, Erik (2014), “Lighting Your Worship Space Primer: Bringing in the Light, Sustainably”, http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=bHV0aGVyYW5zcmVzdG9yaW5nY3JlYXRpb24ub3JnfHd3d3xneDo0N2UxMTAyYTIwYTBhOGMy
• Backus, Erik and Lo Margaret (2013), “George Mason University Environmental Design Standards”, http://facilities.gmu.edu/ProjMgmtConst/DesignStandardsManual/upload/3-4-ENVIRONMENTAL-STANDARDS.pdf, June 28, 2013
• Ngan, Chun-Kit, Brodsky, Alexander, Egge, Nathan, and Backus, Erik (2013), “A Decision-Guided Energy Framework for Optimal Power, Heating, and Cooling Capacity Investment”, ICEIS 1, page 357-369. SciTePress, http://adweb.clarkson.edu/~ebackus/EnergyPaper.pdf; Best Paper Award
• Backus, Erik (2011), “True Sustainability: A Rubric for Evaluating Infrastructure Rating Systems and Resiliency”, The Infrastructure Security Partnership, http://adweb.clarkson.edu/~ebackus/TISP.pdf, November 20, 2011
• Showalter, William Eric and Backus, Erik Carl (2010). “Recruiting Construction Leaders and Managers for the Future.” The 10th International Conference "Modern Building Materials, Structures and Techniques", Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Publishing House "Technika" May 19, 2010, Lithuania, pp. 524–531, http://adweb.clarkson.edu/~ebackus/Construction.pdf
• Backus, Erik C., Major (2008). “A Time for Hope: Iraq Founds a New Kind of Village.” Castle Chronicle, February-July 2008; Volume 2, pp. 6-9
• Backus, Erik C., Major (2008). “Field Force and Facility Engineer Training.” Engineer Bulletin, April-June 2008; Volume 38 PB 5-08-2, pp. 40-42, http://www.wood.army.mil/engrmag/PDFs%20for%20Apr-Jun%2008/Backus.pdf.
• Backus, Erik C., Major (2008). “Warrior Focused Construction: Tips for Success.” Castle Chronicle, August 2007-January 2008; Volume 1, pp. 22-24

Schools at Clarkson

  • Graduate School
  • School of Arts & Sciences
  • David D. Reh School of Business
  • Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering
  • Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences
  • Institute for a Sustainable Environment
  • Early College Program: The Clarkson School
  • Institute for STEM Education
  • Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries

Highlights of Excellence

  • Career Center
  • Honors Program
  • ROTC
  • Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design (SPEED)
  • Student Success Center
  • Writing Center

Research & Innovation

  • Clarkson Center for Complex Systems Science (C3S2)
  • The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP)
  • Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering & Science (CAARES)
  • Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR)
  • The Center for Rehabilitation Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST)
  • NYS Center of Excellence in Healthy Water Solutions
  • The Shipley Center for Innovation
  • Clarkson Ignite
  • University Libraries

Clarkson University

8 Clarkson Ave., Potsdam, New York 13699 315-268-6400
80 Nott Terrace, Schenectady, NY 12308 518-631-9831
199 Dennings Ave., Beacon, New York 12508 845-838-1600
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