The Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning (LAUP) at Texas A&M University recognized three former students with its inaugural Renowned Alumni Award at this year’s Scholarship and Awards Banquet.

The 2026 inaugural recipients are Elizabeth Gilbert ’04, Kent Anderson ’93 and Louis Le Blanc ’78. The new department-level honor recognizes one former student from each of LAUP’s three disciplines: landscape architecture, planning, and land and property development.

Dr. Galen Newman, department head, said this is the highest department-level award any former student can win.

“These renowned former students, in their respective careers, have done exceptional work and performed meritorious service to the department over an extended period of time,” Newman said. “They exemplify what it means to be a former student of LAUP and are more than worthy of the honor.”

Elizabeth Gilbert ’04

Elizabeth Gilbert ’04 has worked in landscape architecture since graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M. She began her career at Clark Condon Associates, Inc. in Houston, where she has developed a diverse portfolio of projects across the public and private sectors.

Her work has focused on the design of public spaces, including streetscapes, parks, plazas and master-planned communities. In 2022, she and her two business partners assumed ownership of the firm, and she now serves as managing principal.

Gilbert has also remained involved with Texas A&M through service on the Landscape Architecture Professional Advisory Board. She supports LAUP through guest lectures, desk critiques and student mentorship. In 2024, she helped establish two scholarships on behalf of Clark Condon.

“Receiving this award is one of the highlights of my career, a symbol that my dedication to landscape architecture is felt and has an impact on the future of the field,” Gilbert said. “I was surprised and very grateful to be acknowledged in this way. Our LAUP community is full of exceptional alumni doing great work. I’m excited to see the remarkable contributions of my peers recognized in the years ahead.”

Kent Anderson ’93

Dr. Kent Anderson ’93 earned his Ph.D. in urban and regional science from Texas A&M and has worked in residential land development and graduate education. Since retiring in 2019, he has remained active in the field as a consultant to the development of master-planned communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Anderson also served as an executive professor in the Master of Land and Property Development (MLPD) program from 2008 to 2019. Previously serving as MLPD program coordinator, Anderson continues to support the program as a member of its Development Industry Advisory Council. 

During his time at Texas A&M, Anderson was recognized for his teaching and service to students. His honors include a departmental teaching award and the Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching from the Association of Former Students. Before his retirement, his students presented him with a letter of gratitude recognizing his dedication to their personal and professional development.

“This Renowned Alumni Award has special meaning to me because it comes from my colleagues,” Anderson said. “To be recognized by the ones who understand and appreciate my commitment to not only the students, but to the Aggie tradition is most gratifying.”

Louis Le Blanc ’78

Dr. Louis Le Blanc ’78 earned his Ph.D. in urban and regional science from Texas A&M and spent 36 years in higher education, primarily teaching in business schools. His work bridged planning research and teaching, focusing on transportation systems, decision sciences and analytical methods in urban and regional planning.

His dissertation research at Texas A&M helped launch his long-standing work in ports and waterways planning, which he later expanded to include vessel safety on inland waterways. Over the course of his career, Le Blanc also contributed to teaching and mentorship and received multiple teaching and research awards. 

Now retired for 12 years, Le Blanc said his time at Texas A&M helped shape the research path that defined much of his professional life.

“This Renowned Alumni Award gives some noteworthy publicity to my career research in ports and waterways planning that was initially supported by my dissertation research at the College of Architecture at A&M,” Le Blanc said.

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Deciding between construction management and civil engineering can be a critical choice that fundamentally shapes both your daily and your long-term career trajectory. While both disciplines are indispensable and contribute to delivering complex infrastructure projects, each possess distinct technical competencies and different educational pathways.  

While leadership, strategic problem-solving, and project planning are necessary within both disciplines, understanding their unique differences is important to properly aligning your education with your long-term goals. When comparing civil engineering and construction management, a good starting point for determining the right academic path is to explore the distinctions between these two fields. Analyzing the elements that comprise each academic major to determine which path best aligns with your personal interests and supports your overall career goals. Additionally, it can help you decide whether pursuing an Online Master of Science in Construction Management at Texas A&M University is the right choice for you.  

What Is Construction Management? 

Construction management is the professional practice of planning, coordinating and overseeing construction projects from project inception through project closeout. Construction managers serve as the central point of coordination for all project elements and are responsible for managing project costs, allocating resources, and coordinating subcontractors, while upholding the highest levels of safety standards. Construction Managers ensure that work progresses efficiently and successfully to meet client expectations. 

Core construction management responsibilities include: 

• Cost estimating – Developing and managing project estimates, budgets and forecasts in addition to implementing cost controls 

• Scheduling – Creating timelines and coordinating labor, materials and project milestones 

• Procurement – Sourcing materials, equipment and subcontractor services needed for construction 

• Contract administration – Managing agreements, compliance requirements and project documentation 

• Risk management – Identifying and mitigating potential safety, financial or operational risks 

• Quality control – Ensuring work meets the project specifications and industry standards 

Academic construction management programs focus heavily on the business and operational side of construction projects. Texas A&M University’s Online Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) is designed to prepare students for senior leadership roles across commercial, industrial, civil, and the residential construction sectors.  

What Is Civil Engineering? 

Civil engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. It involves designing, analyzing, and overseeing infrastructure systems that support modern society. Civil engineers are responsible for infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, dams, airports, and water distribution systems. Their work involves applying mathematics, science, and engineering principles to create safe and sustainable infrastructure.  

Unlike construction management, which focuses on coordinating and executing projects during construction, civil engineering is primarily concerned with the technical design and planning process. Civil engineers develop the specifications, calculations, and structural plans that inform and guide how projects are built. 

A key characteristic of civil engineering is the Professional Engineer (PE) licensure requirement. Most states require engineers who offer services directly to the public to earn and maintain a PE license, which typically involves completing an accredited degree with specific coursework, gaining supervised work experience and passing a state licensing exam.  

The academic path for civil engineering is rigorous, usually requiring a four-year degree that covers topics such as structural engineering, soil mechanics, hydraulics, transportation systems, environmental engineering, and materials.  

Key Differences: Construction Management vs. Civil Engineering 

Although civil engineering and construction management often intersect on the same projects, the two professions approach the process from very different perspectives. Understanding how construction management and civil engineering differ can help prospective students identify which career path better aligns with their ambitions.  

Focus of Work 

The most significant distinction between construction management and civil engineering lies in the primary focus of the work itself. Construction managers concentrate on project delivery and execution. Their responsibilities include scheduling, budgeting, logistical planning, staffing, and communication between project stakeholders.  

By contrast, civil engineers focus on design, analysis, and development of the necessary documents for the design and procurement of the project. They perform calculations in order to successfully develop the technical specifications and engineering plans that ensure infrastructure systems function safely and efficiently. While both professions contribute to project success, one emphasizes leadership and operational management, and the other emphasizes technical problem-solving and design precision.  

Day-to-Day Environment 

Construction managers typically divide their time between job sites and project offices, working closely with owners, subcontractors, suppliers, and skilled trade workers. On a day-to-day basis, construction managers must communicate frequently and make quick decisions that will result in real impacts to the construction project  

Civil engineers generally spend more time in office-based settings, where they focus on design development, calculations, modeling, and technical documentation. They might also conduct periodic site visits to verify that construction aligns with engineering plans and regulatory requirements throughout the project lifecycle.  

Licensing Requirements 

Licensing requirements also differ significantly between the two career paths. Construction managers are not usually required to obtain state licensure. However, many pursue certifications to demonstrate expertise and leadership ability. One of the most widely recognized credentials is the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) designation offered by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA). 

Civil engineers commonly pursue PE licensure, a credential required in most states for engineers who provide services directly to the public or approve engineering designs. Achieving PE status involves meeting education requirements, passing examinations, and gaining supervised professional experience.  

Academic Path 

The academic preparation for each field reflects its professional focus. Construction management programs emphasize: 

• Construction science 

• Project delivery methods 

• Business operations 

• Leadership 

• Contracts 

• Estimating 

• Scheduling 

• Construction technology 

Coursework prepares students for managing teams, schedules, costs, and complex project workflows.  

Civil engineering programs, meanwhile, follow a more traditional engineering curriculum grounded in physics, advanced mathematics, and applied science. Students study subjects such as: 

• Structural analysis 

• Fluid mechanics 

• Geotechnical engineering 

• Transportation systems 

Civil engineering education tends to be more technically intensive, while construction management education emphasizes planning, operational, and managerial expertise.  

Where the Two Fields Overlap 

When comparing civil engineering vs. construction management, you may see that, despite their differences, the two fields share common ground. To ensure projects are completed safely and effectively, both fields require a strong understanding of: 

• Construction materials 

• Building methods 

• Safety regulations 

• Industry codes 

On large-scale projects, construction managers and civil engineers often work side by side throughout planning and execution, making collaboration essential to project success. Communication between the two professionals helps align technical design with real-world construction management.  

In some cases, professionals develop experience in both areas. Civil engineers who transition to construction management are often highly competitive job candidates, especially with respect to positions in complex infrastructure and public works projects. 

Civil Engineer vs. Construction Manager: Salary and Job Outlook 

Both construction management and civil engineering command salaries well above the national median, positioning them as highly attractive career options for professionals interested in building, design and construction.  

According to May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction managers earned a median salary of $106,980, with employment projected to grow 9% (much faster than average) and approximately 48,100 new jobs annually through 2034. Civil engineers earned a median salary of $99,590, with employment projected to grow 5% (faster than average) and approximately 18,500 new jobs annually through 2034. 

Construction management’s high projected growth rate is largely driven by increasing infrastructure investment, complex project delivery demands, and ongoing construction workforce needs.  

Which Path Is Right for You? 

Choosing between construction management and civil engineering is less about which field is “better” and more about aligning your career with your unique strengths and interests. 

Construction management often appeals to professionals who are drawn to management, coordination, business, visible project outcomes, and fast-paced environments. Civil engineering is typically a stronger fit for those who enjoy technical analysis, mathematics, physics, and solving structural or environmental challenges in a measured work environment.  

For working professionals who are already in the industry, Texas A&M University’s Online MSCM offers a direct path toward becoming a senior construction management leader. The program also holds ACCE accreditation, a distinction shared by only five graduate construction programs in the United States.  

Advancing Your Career in Construction Management 

Construction management and civil engineering both offer rewarding opportunities, but the right path depends on your professional interests, strengths, and long-term goals. For professionals seeking advancement into senior positions in the construction industry, Texas A&M University’s Online Master of Science in Construction Management provides industry-focused preparation for today’s evolving construction landscape. We invite you to learn more and start designing your future in construction today.  

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Researchers at Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo have released a new tool that helps local governments find and fix contradictions in their planning documents that can inadvertently increase wildfire risk.

Developed over a two-year collaboration, the guidebook adapts Texas A&M’s Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard (PIRS) for wildfire resilience. The scorecard originally began as a tool for flood resilience. It helped communities on coasts and rivers check whether zoning, transportation and economic development policies were working for all purposes. The Texas A&M and Cal Poly team used the same approach for wildfire, where risk also changes from one location to another. It also provides planners and fire officials with a step-by-step approach to compare policies across key local plans and identify conflicts in fire-prone areas. 

Dr. Matthew Malecha, an assistant professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning and a researcher with the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, led the effort.

“Previously, the work was focused on flooding,” Malecha said. “We have been moving it into the realm of wildfire because wildfires are also sufficiently spatial to enable a PIRS evaluation. Some places are more and less prone to wildfire.”

Pilot Testing in California Communities

Backed by nearly $300,000 from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the researchers piloted the scorecard in California with partners in Temecula, Atascadero, Santa Barbara County, Napa County and Placer County.

Many communities want new housing, new roads and economic growth. Malecha explained that the scorecard helps them determine whether those goals align with wildfire safety.

For example, a land-use plan may encourage denser housing in a high-risk wildland-urban interface area, where homes are close to flammable vegetation. The scorecard helps communities flag mismatches and revise policies so development avoids the most hazardous areas or includes stronger mitigation requirements.

“If a policy applies in a wildfire-prone area, you can get a sense of whether a policy is helping things or is actually hurting the cause of resilience,” Malecha said. “Increasing development intensity in an area that is in the wildland-urban interface? Maybe not a great idea.”

In Placer County, which stretches from the Sierra Nevada to the Sacramento suburbs, local officials used the pilot version of the scorecard to adjust policy language so new growth does not inadvertently increase the county’s risk profile.

“Wildfire is a unique hazard, needing natural and built environment fuels plus wind, a climate component, to spread after ignition,” said Dr. William Siembieda, professor of city and regional planning, California Polytechnic State University.

“[Lowering] wildfire risk requires interdisciplinary knowledge about fuel behavior, ignition and land-use planning. The PIRS for Wildfire approach introduces an innovative method of addressing wildfire mitigation,” Siembieda added.

A Model for Local Governments

The project represents a joint effort between the PIRS Lab within Texas A&M’s HRRC and the new Wildland Urban Interface Fire Institute at Cal Poly. Researchers worked with city planning staff, emergency managers and fire marshals during testing to ensure the tool fits local government workflows.

Malecha said communities need both planners and fire safety officials to collaborate for long-term resilience. While planners shape where growth happens, fire officials understand how roads, vegetation, topography and wind can affect evacuation and response in emergencies.

“You want a champion, and you also want the kind of people who are going to be able to manage the project from the city side,” Malecha said.

The team wrote, refined and tested the guidebook so local staff can use it without starting from scratch each time they update a plan.

Access the Guidebook

The scorecard offers a way to catch policy conflicts early as more communities expand into fire-prone landscapes.

Researchers are encouraging wider use by communities that want to align development decisions with wildfire mitigation.

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The “soil” blanketing the moon’s surface isn’t actually soil.

It’s a fine, lethal, abrasive powder of shattered rock and jagged glass that shreds gaskets, chews through seals and hangs in an airless environment blasted by unfiltered radiation and temperature swings that can warp steel.

Scientists call it lunar regolith.

To engineers and the space community, lunar regolith is one of the most hostile construction materials in the human story.

To researchers at Texas A&M University, it’s the raw material for humanity’s next frontier of a permanent lunar settlement.

With NASA’s unveiling of its new Lunar Innovation Park — a base designed to support human presence and operations in the lunar environment — Texas A&M is emerging as a key player in the agency’s most urgent challenge: how to do construction on the moon.

“We are moving past the era of ‘flags and footprints,’” said Dr. Patrick Suermann, professor of construction science at the College of Architecture and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel. “We have to stop thinking like explorers and start thinking like settlers. That means building with what’s underneath our boots.”

Suermann recently presented his vision and work at the 2026 Earth & Space conference, hosted at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center.

The million-dollar problem

To build a civilization, humans can’t be space tourists carrying their own luggage; future settlers will have to use the resources already on the moon.

“It costs roughly $1 million to $1.3 million per kilogram to ship materials to the moon,” Suermann said.

The economics become even more staggering when scaled. A 2018 report on lunar architecture estimated that transporting rocket propellant from Earth to the moon costs roughly $10,000 per kilogram. But, if that same fuel was produced on the moon, the estimated cost plummets to just $500, almost 20 times cheaper.

The high cost of shipping to the moon is the million-dollar problem. Every time you can cut the mass of a payload, you save a fortune. That’s why the future depends on building infrastructure from resources already on the moon.

The command center for the space race

The idea of building on the moon using its own resources sits at the center of a growing collaboration between Texas A&M, private industry and government agency partners.

Helping spearhead this effort is the Texas A&M Space Institute led by Dr. Robert Ambrose, professor of mechanical engineering at the College of Engineering.

Backed by a historic $200 million investment from the Texas Legislature and situated next door to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the institute is designed to be the nation’s premier hub for off-world research, robotics and testing.

“One of the most exciting features of the 240-acre facility is it’s two-and-a-half acre testing areas: one replicating the surface of the moon, the other Mars,” Suermann said.

The institute simulates the brutal realities of extraterrestrial construction, while ushering in a new generation of robotics, autonomous systems and space rovers through a direct pipeline from the Robotics and Automation Design (RAD) Lab.

But the Texas A&M Space Institute is more than a research campus, it’s a hub of innovation.

“It isn’t just a facility,” Suermann said. “It’s a place to get young investigators and the next generation of researchers excited and prepared to tackle the biggest challenges in space exploration.”

The lunar foreman

While the institute provides the landscape, the Construction Automation, Safety and Education (CASE) Lab led by Dr. Gilles Albeaino, assistant professor of construction science at the College of Architecture, focuses on the industrial “brain” of future lunar construction.

Here, researchers are pioneering the use of mixed reality, or how humans and machines will work together as partners, rather than simple remote-controlled tools.

Future lunar construction sites may look like scenes from a science fiction movie: rovers hauling regolith across the moon’s surface, robotic arms printing walls layer by layer, and engineers on Earth overseeing operations through VR headsets.

“On the moon, construction operations will depend on semi-autonomous robotic systems,” Suermann said. “The CASE lab is leading research into how humans and machines can work together in environments where humans can’t safely do everything themselves.”

That challenge is magnified on the moon. There is no natural shielding from radiation, temperatures swing violently between lunar night and day, dust can permeate equipment, and even simple repairs become high-risk operations.

“Every tool matters. Every ounce of material you ship matters,” Suermann said. “So, the question becomes: how do you use the environment itself as your supply chain, and how can you augment machines to become your partner in austere environments?”

From the Arctic to Afghanistan

For Suermann, the lessons shaping lunar construction don’t just stem from his academic endeavors in modeling and designing informatics and building sciences. They also come from two decades spent serving in some of Earth’s harshest environments.

Before joining Texas A&M in 2017, Suermann served in the U.S. Air Force, deploying to isolated regions like Guam and Greenland.

His mission? Build sustainable infrastructure and bases that support military operations.

“My experiences in serving the U.S. Air Force were formative, and transformative,” Suermann said. “It taught me a great deal about construction, and that what can go wrong will go wrong.”

One deployment in Afghanistan left a particularly lasting impression. He led a joint military operation for the building of a runway and base in the middle of a desert no-man’s-land.

Scenes during Dr. Patrick Suermann’s deployment to Afghanistan with the U.S. Air Force, where he led the building of infrastructure and bases to support military operations. The construction logistics were a nightmare. To Suermann, though, it was an exciting engineering expedition — a strangely familiar feeling to the challenges researchers now face in planning for lunar expeditions.
Media Credit: Dr. Patrick Suermann/Texas A&M University College of Architecture

“The sand was this fine, talcum-like, powdered mesh,” Suermann said. “Hidden under it were these massive boulders.”

The construction logistics were a nightmare. To Suermann, though, it was an exciting engineering expedition — a strangely familiar feeling to the challenges researchers now face in planning for lunar expeditions.

“It shows, to me, that lunar regolith isn’t too dissimilar from the terrain we have here on Earth,” Suermann said. “At the end of the day, construction is construction.”

Today, Suermann is passing that expeditionary spirit to mission partners, academic collaborators and a new generation of Aggies.

In the halls of the College of Architecture, his expertise plays an interdisciplinary symphony across engineering, management and technology — conducting a scientific tune where theories meet impactful discoveries and applications.

“The beauty of construction folks is that we take the ideas that live in computer simulations and make them come to life,” Suermann said. “It’s not an assembly line; it’s ideas that we turn into universal applications. To lead the future, you have to know how things are done now.”

As NASA moves toward its 2040 goal for a permanent lunar base, the Aggie mission remains clear: not just to visit the moon, but to stay there. And they’re building that future one layer of lunar regolith at a time.  

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Living at home can bring daily uncertainty for family and caregivers of people with dementia. About 80% of people living with dementia in the United States live in their own homes, and 89% rely on informal caregivers such as spouses, adult children, other family members and friends. Safety risks often push families toward stricter supervision or major care decisions that can limit a person’s independence. 

In Texas, about 400,000 people are living with dementia, according to Dr. Marcia Ory, regents and distinguished professor in Texas A&M University’s School of Public Health. 

“Most people want to live at home as long as they can, and those with dementia are no different,” Ory said.

Texas A&M University researchers are developing a smart home system to help people living with dementia stay safer at home and alert caregivers to problems such as falls, wandering and kitchen hazards. The system could gather information from home sensors, smartwatches and other connected devices, then bring data together in one place — the Smart Home Care Digital Twin app — so caregivers can monitor safety and respond when something seems wrong.

“Interestingly, about 20% of people with dementia live at home by themselves, making smart home apps a critical technology for supporting independent living,” said Ory, a co-investigator on the project

The project, funded by the Texas A&M Health Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI), brings together faculty from architecture, engineering and public health to address a growing challenge in dementia care.

Ory serves as one of DARI’s three co-leads and said the project stood out from over a hundred submissions because of its practical impact. “It’s with real people, and it’s making a difference now, not 20 years from now,” Ory said.

Smart Home Technology for Caregivers

Many homes already have cameras, smart appliances or wearables that can collect information useful for caregivers. Researchers say the problem is that caregivers may not be familiar or comfortable with these technologies, and if they try, they have to sort through multiple apps and alerts when they may already be overwhelmed.

Dr. Xuemei Zhu, endowed professor in the College of Architecture and co-principal investigator, said the team wants to close the gap between what technology can do and what families actually need and can adopt easily in everyday dementia care.

Zhu said a garage door repair taught her an unexpected lesson. She initially resisted downloading the app for her new garage door because it felt like just one more app to manage. However, unlike some underused technologies, this app provided exactly what she had been needing — the ability to check on her phone if the door was closed after leaving home or when getting ready for the night.

The experience shaped how she thinks about this project. Zhu said that the right fit and ease of use are key to the success of smart technology. Researchers can build sophisticated technology, Zhu said, but it will not help if families do not find it practical and easy to use.

A Digital Twin Built for Home Safety

The project will develop and test a phone app based on a “digital twin” of the home. 

The app can combine data from home sensors, including radar sensors for presence and falls, door and window sensors, vibration sensors, indoor environmental quality sensors, smoke alarms, smart meters and appliance monitors. It can also integrate data from smartwatches and video cameras. 

Working together, the system will monitor a person’s location, behavior and health, detect safety risks such as falls or a stove left on and alert caregivers when needed. 

If a sensor detects a fall, the system could alert the caregiver and combine that information with data from other sensors or cameras to give caregivers more context about what happened. If the entrance door opens at an unusual time — like at 3 a.m. — or a stove stays on longer than usual, the system could flag it as a potential hazard and alert a caregiver.

Researchers also plan to compare smartwatches with millimeter-wave radar sensors to determine which works best for fall detection in home-based dementia care.

Co-principal investigator Dr. Zheng O’Neill, endowed professor in the College of Engineering, said the team will use Home Assistant, a widely used open-source smart-home platform, as the core system in this pilot study because it allows flexible, local control of many different devices. This choice keeps the system affordable while supporting privacy‑preserving automations and customizations. 

The team also plans to ensure the plug-and-play capacity of this smart home platform so that families can customize it for different caregiving needs.
“The innovation feature of this project is not just adding sensors,” said co-investigator Dr. Junhyoung (Paul) Kim, associate professor in the School of Public Health. “It is integrating disconnected smart technology into a unified digital twin that mirrors real-time home environments for dementia care.”

Shaping the App With Caregiver Feedback

The 15-month effort began in January and is still in its early stages. Zhu said the team is working on the initial field tests of sensors, devices and the Home Assistant platform in the Texas A&M Smart and Connected Homes Testbed at the RELLIS campus. The testbed site includes two 1,200-square-foot lab homes with removable walls that let the team simulate different home conditions by changing layouts and moving sensors.

The team is also interviewing caregivers and people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia to identify the most desirable features from the users’ perspective. 

Researchers said these conversations will be central to the system’s design, helping them understand what technologies caregivers already rely on and what features would make the system easier to adopt. 

Kim said the larger goal is to use technology in ways that reduce the burden on both people living with dementia and their caregivers. 

Student participants will simulate daily activities while wearing aging simulation suits that mimic sensory and physical limitations associated with aging. Researchers will also recruit judo and wrestling athletes, who are experienced in controlled falls, to simulate fall scenarios safely. 

The setup allows researchers to test high-risk situations, such as falls when getting out of bed or using the bathroom, without putting older adults in danger. 

Researchers will evaluate how well the system performs and how usable caregivers find the final app. If the pilot is successful, the team plans to seek outside funding to test the system in the homes of people living with dementia. 

About DARI

The Texas A&M Health Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI) represents a bold and strategic commitment to advancing research, education and innovation aimed at preventing, detecting and treating neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect millions of individuals and families, placing a growing burden on health care systems and communities. As a leading health research institution, Texas A&M Health is uniquely positioned to address this urgent public health challenge by leveraging strengths across disciplines and engaging collaborators across the university and beyond. For more information, visit the Texas A&M Health Dementia & Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI) webpage.

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Two Texas A&M Department of Architecture students have passed all six divisions of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) before graduation, achieving a milestone through the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program. 

While they are not yet licensed architects, passing the ARE means they have met the licensure examination requirement. Both are now under 400 hours from finishing the professional experience required before they can apply for licensure in Texas. 

Four additional students have passed one or more ARE divisions or have completed NCARB practice exams to prepare for their remaining divisions. 

All six are qualified to complete their educational experience at Texas A&M as IPAL graduates. The achievements build on the momentum from 2025, when Texas A&M former student Emma Johnson ’23 ’25 became the first person in Texas to complete NCARB’s IPAL program while earning a degree.

Developed by NCARB, IPAL is an accelerated licensure track that allows students to complete education, professional experience, and examination requirements concurrently. The IPAL pathway provides an integrated framework for students to meet the same rigorous professional standards required for architectural licensure. Texas A&M began offering the program in 2021 and remains the only institution in Texas to offer it.

Preparing for Licensure While in School

In Texas, candidates for architectural licensure must complete education, examination, and professional experience requirements before the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE) can approve them for licensure. Passing all six ARE divisions before graduation is one of the most significant steps in that process.

“We are preparing future architects for a rapidly changing profession — one that may look very different from what it was when students first entered architectural education,” said Dr. Wei Yan, interim head of the Department of Architecture. 

Through IPAL, Yan explained that the department deliberately bridges undergraduate study, graduate education, internships, professional experience and licensure preparation, forming a pathway from academics to practice. 

“By accelerating the path to licensure, the IPAL program equips students to graduate with greater confidence, technical expertise, fluency and collaborative skills, enabling them to contribute significant value to firms earlier in their careers and to become effective professionals and future leaders in the field,” Yan added.

Learning Through IPAL

The IPAL program has grown steadily since its launch in 2021. Today, 97 students are participating in IPAL, representing more than 20% of eligible architecture students at Texas A&M.

Among them were Riley Gourley ’24 ’26 and Evan McRae ’24 ’26, the two who completed all six divisions of the ARE before graduation.

Gourley said she first learned about IPAL during her freshman year, when the Department of Architecture first began offering the program. After researching the opportunity and attending information sessions, she joined the program.

“I was really excited that Texas A&M had this program opening up that would allow us to greatly decrease the time it took us to become licensed architects,” Gourley recalled.

She said the program encourages students to enter the profession early, which helped her build a long-term relationship with a firm in her hometown where she began working full-time after graduation. Gourley gained a clearer understanding of architectural practice, from building codes and local regulations to detailing and construction. 

“[IPAL] helped me get a little bit out of my comfort zone, make connections within the industry, and get very acquainted on how the profession runs and operates,” Gourley added.

Gourley said she expects to complete her remaining AXP hours and become a registered architect later this year.

McRae said he also recognized the program’s value, seeing it as an opportunity to begin the licensure process before graduation. By his sophomore year, he was gaining experience through internships and remote work with PBK Architects and Heights Venture Architects.

“IPAL provided me with a significant head start toward licensure and helped prepare me for the responsibilities and opportunities that come with entering the profession,” he said. 

He said the program also opened doors to professional and academic opportunities, including conferences around the country and the two-week Texas 8 Interdisciplinary Collaborative Charrette (T8ICC) in Siena, Italy. His time in Italy experience influenced his master’s capstone project, a Pompeii Visitor Center, and allowed him to conduct field research in Pompeii.

McRae is now stepping into a full-time role with PGAL as a mid-level designer.

Building on a Historic First

Last spring, Emma Johnson ’23 ’25 set a statewide milestone by completing the education, experience and examination requirements for licensure before graduation, ready to become a licensed architect.

Her accomplishment helped demonstrate how the IPAL model can shorten the traditional timeline to licensure. According to NCARB, the traditional path to becoming a licensed architect takes more than 13 years on average. Through IPAL, Johnson completed licensure requirements in six years. 

Laura Tiglao, NCARB programs manager for education services, said Texas A&M’s students continue to stand out for their commitment to the process. 

“These accomplishments are a testament to not only the caliber of students in the Texas A&M program, but also the structure and support that both Dr. Valerian Miranda and Dr. Gregory Luhan provide to guide them toward achieving this monumental goal,” Tiglao said.

To learn more about the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program at Texas A&M, visit the Department of Architecture’s IPAL program page.

Dr. Gregory Luhan, FAIA, is a professor of architecture and the director of the CRS Center in the Department of Architecture. 

The post Architecture Students Achieve IPAL Milestones Before Graduation appeared first on Texas A&M University College of Architecture.

Preservation teams now use artificial intelligence to record disaster damage, monitor archaeological sites and inspect building exteriors on a scale that was not possible 10 years ago. AI helps teams move faster, but people still decide how to move forward.

The shift inspired the 27th annual Historic Preservation Symposium, titled “Preserv[AI]tion,” hosted by Texas A&M University’s Center for Heritage Conservation (CHC) Feb. 13-14 in Geren Auditorium. Architects, engineers and researchers shared case studies from the field and discussed where AI fits in daily practice.

Speakers agreed that AI works best when teams use it for specific tasks. It can help teams collect and analyze large amounts of information, but the interpretive and ethical judgments at the heart of preservation work remain distinctly human.

Key Takeaways From the 2026 Historic Preservation Symposium

The 2026 Historic Preservation Symposium was curated by the CHC Director, Dr. Fabrizio Aimar. The day-and-a-half symposium included five presentations, a roundtable discussion and a student poster session. Speakers shared examples that showed how teams can respond faster after disasters, track changes over time and focus limited time and funding where they matter most.

Here are six key takeaways from this year’s symposium:

1. Education and Ethics Will Shape How the Preservation Uses AI

Engineer Stephen Lucy moderated a roundtable with Philip Chen of Annum Architects, Andrew Adkinson of GFF Design and Tom Whitmore of The Christman Company. Texas A&M architecture professors Andrew Hawkins and Benjamin Ennemoser also joined the discussion.

Speakers said AI could reduce some early-career tasks that teach young professionals to spot mistakes, judge risk and build good judgment through repetition and time in the field.

Panelists said preservation teams will get the most value from tools trained for a specific job, not general-purpose models. Ennemoser explained that general AI tools often know little about preservation because they were trained on limited preservation material.

Whitmore added that field experience still matters because many preservation decisions happen at the building surface, where skilled observation guides what comes next.

“I want people who work for me to be exposed to the actual work and the nuances of that craftsmanship,” Whitmore said. “How those decisions are being made right there at the face of the wall.”

Panelists also discussed using a tool that can search the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties using only that text as its source. Adkinson said teams could use AI to review draft National Register nominations and flag missing information or contradictions, instead of writing the documents from scratch.

“The technology inherently is a yes-sayer,” Ennemoser said. “I like the ‘brutally critique’ approach way better.”

2. AI Can Speed Up Disaster Documentation When Time is Tight

Several speakers shared examples of times when communities needed fast information to prevent avoidable loss.

Dr. Joe Kallas, a UNESCO cultural heritage specialist and architect, described emergency documentation efforts after the 2020 Beirut port explosion. 

His team documented 240 heritage buildings damaged by the earthquake using photogrammetry, a technique that uses overlapping photos to create a 3D model. Those models helped teams decide how to stabilize 60 high-risk buildings within one month.

“Too often, historic buildings are lost — not because they are beyond repair, but because we didn’t have the time or the right information at the right time,” Kallas said.

Kallas also presented a machine learning framework trained on post-disaster imagery that identifies multiple damage types on unreinforced masonry and maps what it finds in photos onto 3D building models. The system reached 88% accuracy when tested on photos it had not seen before.

3. Large Sites Use AI to Track Change and Prioritize Inspections

At complex sites, AI tools can help teams track conditions over time and decide where to send staff first.

Alessandra Zambrano, responsible for the Research & Innovation office and the engineering official at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, shared a layered monitoring system designed for scale. 

Pompeii has 1,221 buildings across 44 hectares and can receive up to 20,000 visitors per day. The site faces seismic risk, water infiltration and weathering.

The park uses satellite analysis to track ground movement and drone surveys to document roofs and drainage. Teams use tablet-based inspections to record damage type and severity in real time. Zambrano said a full-site survey completed in 2025 produced more than 70,000 inspection records.

Zambrano also described research partnerships that test robotics and automation, including a four-legged robot that repeats inspection routes and a project that uses AI and robotics to reconstruct shattered frescoes from stored fragments.

4. AI Can Help Find Heritage That Was Never Documented

Experts said that some of the highest-stakes preservation work begins before anyone knows what exists.

Dr. Bilge Kose is a landmarks preservationist with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University. Kose addressed how teams often work in places where no one has formally documented heritage.

Her project, Preserve AI, began after the February 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes in Turkey. 

The project uses GIS mapping tools and machine learning to flag buildings that appear consistently across decades of aerial photographs. It helps teams identify potentially historic structures when on-site access is limited.

“AI is not a replacement for preservationists,” Kose said. “It is a scout that scales our eyes. It processes the haystack to find the needles, the heritage sites waiting for our professional attention.”

5. Photo Tools Help, but Fieldwork Still Finds Problems AI Cannot See

Presenters cautioned that AI can help teams triage large image sets, but it cannot replace hands-on investigation or explain why a building failed.

Robert Kornfeld, a historic preservation specialist at Thornton Tomasetti, said AI can help teams sort photos and flag areas that need a closer look. His firm developed the T2D2 damage detection platform, which uses convolutional neural networks to flag damage conditions across large image inventories.

Kornfeld said the tool can identify what warrants a closer look, but it cannot diagnose causes, understand building type or recommend repairs.

He illustrated the limits with a project at the New York Central Building, where physical probing revealed severely corroded internal steel concealed behind terracotta columns. A professional identified the risk through hands-on investigation and interpretation of crack patterns.

Kornfeld also said drone-based facade mapping has already changed practice by creating accurate, zoomable records for buildings where teams once relied on street-level observation.

6. Preservation Still Depends on People, Meaning and Future Use

Philip Chen, principal of Boston-based Annum Architects, argued that preservation often succeeds when buildings stay in use. He shared projects that updated historic spaces while meeting new program needs, including a warehouse conversion at Springfield Technical Community College and work at Harvard Divinity School.

Chen said some limits have nothing to do with technology. He said tools can generate language that appears correct but misses cultural context and meaning.

“Human intelligence, at least now, is still important when it comes to processing meaning, processing values, processing morality,” Chen said.

Learn more about the Center for Heritage Conservationat Texas A&M University’s Department of Architecture.

The post Experts Explain How AI Helps Preserve Historic Heritage, and Why People Still Lead appeared first on Texas A&M University College of Architecture.

Construction managers operate in a challenging environment, balancing rigorous scheduling and budget constraints with stringent compliance and quality control measures. As the industry changes and grows, traditional tools and techniques are no longer keeping up to meet these changes. Construction management software can help bridge this gap, keeping teams organized while drawing on data-driven insights to prevent inaccuracies and optimize workflows. 

As advanced software solutions and even artificial intelligence impact core construction efficiencies, there is a growing need for technical expertise and adaptability. These competencies are best cultivated through specialized and tech-focused graduate programs.

At Texas A&M’s online Master of Science in Construction Management. technological integration is a priority. In the following sections, we explore diverse platforms, construction practices, and technological integrations currently redefining the possibilities within the construction industry. 

What Is Construction Management Software?

Construction management software uses digital solutions to help construction teams plan and coordinate projects. It replaces paper-based documentation or traditional spreadsheets. The software offers a centralized, digitally accessible solution that promotes transparency and real-time collaboration among all team members. 

Software solutions serve as centralized platforms where project information data is stored and managed systematically. Their primary capabilities include core functions such as scheduling, financial management, resource allocation, and project documentation.

Why Construction Management Software Matters

Construction management software empowers construction professionals to evaluate real-time project information to maximize effective project management decision making. Through this digital framework, they can provide a platform to plan and coordinate complex projects while highlighting significant constraints. Providing a structured digital environment, software makes it easier for construction managers to manage many moving parts. 

As the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) points out, today’s advanced software supports “constant communication, documentation and collaboration” while also enabling “accurate and informed project review[s]” that keep teams informed and accountable. 

Key Features to Look For

Construction management software features are closely tied to the core functions and capabilities of a construction manager. These features provide a platform for how decisions are made, how teams communicate, and how information is distributed on the  project. While features can differ somewhat between software solutions, most systems address the following categories:

Scheduling and Timeline Management

Scheduling features help construction managers create coordinated and precisely timed plans according to strict dependencies and deadlines. This helps construction managers map out and visualize which tasks need to be completed, along with the timeline and construction sequencing.

Systems often include visualization tools such as Gantt charts, which illustrate project activities and timelines. Through these solutions, professionals can leverage the Critical Path Method (CPM), with features supporting the calculations and logic, providing the most efficient completion time. 

Budgeting and Cost Control

Modern software solutions have evolved beyond simple record-keeping. They now integrate forecasting tools that use data analytics and provide insights into anticipated cost trends or labor requirements. These features draw on historical data and real-time progress updates to help construction managers identify cost overruns or other financial risks before they escalate.

Key capabilities include real-time expense tracking and advanced budget forecasting, with contract management tools making it easier to monitor committed costs.

Document Management

To manage the complexities of construction projects, construction managers must organize and reference a variety of construction documentation. Software solutions provide a centralized repository in which construction managers can readily locate and access necessary documents at a moment’s notice. 

Version control helps team members work from the most relevant documents while maintaining a record of changes. As a result, professionals can reduce confusion while supporting the use of the most recent document version and adherence to regulatory and contractual requirements.

Reporting and Analytics

As construction management becomes more of a data-driven field, there is a stronger need for analytics-focused solutions that use data from sensors and market research to produce predictive insights that support sound decision-making.

A centralized dashboard simplifies the display of multiple data sources and provides a single source for information access. Dashboards also offer a unified view of construction progress, along with budget status and resource utilization. Advanced analytics support can offer predictive insights while highlighting construction risks and optimizing workflows.

Integration Capabilities

Construction management software integrates with a variety of other solutions, pulling together accounting systems or other innovative applications to help construction managers perform their work in the most effective manner. 

Building Information Modeling (BIM), in particular, is important because it produces detailed representations that support informed decision-making. When BIM models are fully integrated into broader systems, they enable precise forecasting and real-time coordination.

Some teams or projects also prioritize Geographic Information System (GIS) integration, which uses location-based intelligence to improve site analysis. QuickBooks and other bookkeeping integrations are common, enabling seamless synchronization for payroll or job costing data. 

The Top Construction Management Software Tools  

Today’s construction firms and teams have access to a wide variety of sophisticated software systems and features. Below, we have highlighted several of the most noteworthy construction management software solutions, detailing helpful tools and top use cases. 

Procore

• Best for: Enterprise-level, all-in-one project management. 
• Procore is one of the construction industry’s most widely used platforms, offering end-to-end project management capabilities.
• Key features:
  • Budget tracking and cost forecasting
  • Document and drawing management
  • Field collaboration tools
  • Mobile accessibility
  • Cloud based backups

Autodesk Forma

• Best for: Firms that require design coordination and already rely on computer-aided design applications such as AutoCAD.
• Autodesk Forma (previously known as Autodesk Construction Cloud) appeals to design-focused teams that require seamless collaboration between design and construction processes.
• Key features:
  • Design-to-construction workflows
  • Integration with Autodesk solutions such as AutoCAD
  • Cloud-based collaboration

Primavera P6 (Oracle)

• Best for: Construction scheduling that requires advanced project planning and resource loading and allocation. 
• Primavera P6 is favored for large-scale projects that demand data-driven forecasting and precise scheduling.
• Key features:
  • Straightforward scheduling via the Critical Path Method (CPM)
  • Multi-project management solutions
  • Highly customizable Gantt charts 
  • Advanced charting and planning histograms

Buildertrend

• Best for: Builders and contractors specializing in residential construction.
• Buildertrend provides an accessible residential solution for small and mid-sized firms.
• Key features:
  • QuickBooks integrations featuring two-way sync
  • Mobile options for purchase orders and change orders
  • Online banking services via Buildertrend Wallet

CoConstruct

• Best for: Custom projects involving a high degree of client personalization. 
• CoConstruct supports custom home builders working with demanding clients who favor CoConstruct for its change management features and other collaborative tools. 
• Key features:
  • Time clock for tracking and reporting team member time
  • Punch list feature for tracking finishing tasks
  • QuickBooks accounting integrations

PlanGrid (Autodesk Build)

• Best for: Field teams that need real-time access to drawings and project documents.
• PlanGrid, now part of Autodesk Build within Autodesk Construction Cloud, is designed to improve field productivity by giving teams instant access to up-to-date plans and documents.
• Key features:
  • Real-time access to drawings and blueprints
  • Version control with automatic updates
  • Field reporting and issue tracking

Smartsheet

• Best for: Flexible project management drawing on the familiarity of spreadsheet-driven processes. 
• Smartsheet offers spreadsheet-style management capabilities that can easily be adapted to support different workflows or reporting requirements.
• Key features:
  • AI-driven tools automate formulas for complex calculations
  • Diverse integrations such as Tableau, Jira and DocuSign
  • Gantt view to break projects into manageable tasks

Fieldwire by Hilti

• Best for: Field teams or supervisors responsible for keeping construction sites organized and efficient. 
• Fieldwire supports contractors and other onsite teams to coordinate daily tasks and track progress. 
• Key features:
  • Punch list features to support close-outs and walkthroughs
  • Real-time messaging solutions and task notifications
  • Offline functionality 

Microsoft Project

• Best for: A scheduling solution that allows for scheduling and planning of construction projects. 
• Microsoft Project is an accessible solution that appeals to construction managers or project managers with a preference for Microsoft tools or workflows.
• Key features:
  • Robust integrations within the Microsoft ecosystem, including Teams and Office 365
  • Gantt chart views for timeline visualizations
  • Resource management and workload planning tools

Jonas Construction Software

• Best for: Integrated accounting and financial tracking.
• Jonas Construction Software makes it possible to unify back-office and jobsite solutions with an all-in-one system that offers comprehensive oversight.
• Key features:
  • Work order management and billing
  • RFI and submittal management
  • Unique integrations with mJobTime, AutoConnect and SensLynx

Construction Management Software Comparison Table

How Much Does Construction Management Software Cost?

Construction management software demands an upfront investment but can deliver an impressive ROI via improved efficiency and risk reduction. Enterprise tools tend to be more expensive but are based on firm-specific needs.

At the enterprise level, firms can expect to spend thousands per year on software solutions. Smaller-scale solutions offer monthly per-member pricing as a more manageable option.

AI and Automation in Construction Management Software

Artificial intelligence amplifies the potential efficiency gains of construction management software, offering the chance to automate manual tasks while supporting informed decision-making via predictive analytics.

CMAA highlights several areas in which AI can improve outcomes: quality control (identifying defects), estimating (automating elements of the take-off process), and scheduling (creating multiple scenarios based on different resource limitations or project needs). Many industry leaders already incorporate AI. Procore, for instance, offers agentic AI solutions via Datagrid.

Benefits of Construction Management Software

Construction management software can successfully streamline core construction planning and coordination processes to improve collaboration and accuracy. Once strategically implemented, the software can support the core goals of construction management: to complete projects on time, under budget, and safely, all while helping manage the required quality control standards. Core advantages include:

• Efficiency. Construction management software streamlines repetitive or time-consuming tasks, freeing up valuable time that can be dedicated to strategic planning or stakeholder communication.
• Cost control. Real-time expense tracking allows construction managers to maintain tight control over project costs, avoiding overruns or idle time, and enabling the efficient use of labor and resources. 
• Communication. Centralized, cloud-based systems allow team members to access critical information and share updates in real time, avoiding fragmented communication and related misunderstandings. This also supports risk management by helping inform team members and stakeholders of concerns such as delays. 

How to Choose the Right Software

There is no universally preferred software solution in the construction industry. The decision ultimately comes down to the size and complexity of the projects. Ultimately, firms will invest in the software solutions they believe will best support their team members and their specific area of construction expertise. 

To find the best possible solution based on company-specific needs, consider operational priorities (such as cost control or field coordination). Then, determine which solutions can support those core needs at an affordable price point. The above chart can help you find the best tools for your circumstances.  

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the best construction management scheduling software?

The best construction management scheduling software can vary based on project scale and complexity, as well as existing tools and workflows.  Primavera P6 (Oracle) and Microsoft Project are widely considered industry standards used by construction professionals worldwide.

Is cloud-based construction software better than on-premises?

Cloud-based software offers a flexible and cost-effective alternative to on-premises systems. The cloud enables remote access and real-time collaboration, which is especially useful for distributed project teams. Businesses with strict compliance requirements may still favor hybrid or on-premises solutions when tighter control over data is desired or required. 

Can construction software integrate with BIM tools?

Construction software offers a variety of integrations and is often purposefully designed to work hand-in-hand with Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools. 

Build the Skills to Lead With Construction Technology

Embrace the possibilities of construction software and build the skills needed to fully leverage these solutions. Learn to apply tools strategically with Texas A&M’s Master of Science in Construction Management.

Our program provides a comprehensive overview of construction technology with real-world field applications including case studies. We achieve this through courses that have been developed and delivered by construction industry subject matter experts, who share their industry experiences and relevant knowledge with our students. We invite you to contact us today for a program consultation. 

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The Texas A&M College of Architecture is celebrating 551 degree candidates this spring as part of the university’s largest graduating class in history and during Texas A&M’s 150th anniversary year.

The college’s spring 2026 degree candidates include 416 undergraduate students, 129 master’s students and six doctoral students. They are among the approximately 13,775 degrees Texas A&M will award across 10 commencement ceremonies at Reed Arena May 6–9.

College of Architecture undergraduates will be recognized at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, with master’s and doctoral students honored during the 2 p.m. master’s and doctoral hooding ceremony later that day.

As they become the college’s newest former students, these graduates join the Aggie Network, which includes more than 570,000 living former students.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

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When floodwaters tore through Central Texas over the July 4, 2025, weekend, the devastation was immediate. But even months later, some of the disaster’s economic impacts remain harder to see, especially in the data that leaders rely on to plan recovery.

To understand what recovery would require, Kerr Together partnered with Texas A&M University’s Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center.

Working with Kerr Together’s Long-Term Recovery Group, faculty from the College of Architecture used economic analysis and disaster recovery expertise to uncover impacts that were not always obvious in topline indicators, including reduced work hours, weaker customer traffic and long-term business strain.

A new report from the HRRC estimates that flood-related disruptions to summer camps and tourism could put dozens to hundreds of jobs at risk in Kerr and Kendall Counties in 2026. The findings give community leaders evidence to support funding requests and plan for the next stage of recovery.

Prepared by Dr. Laura Schmahmann, assistant professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, and Dr. Michelle Meyer, associate professor in the department and director of the HRRC, the report reflects the center’s role in helping communities make sense of complex recovery challenges.

“The HRRC exists to bridge the gap between faculty expertise and the real-world needs of disaster-stricken communities,” Meyer said. “Because recovery planning and aid applications require precise data, Dr. Schmahmann and I combined our strengths in economic planning and disaster recovery to provide Kerr Together with immediate, usable results.”

Schmahmann said Kerr Together sought support because recovery funding depends on evidence-based analysis. “In order to apply for funding, they need to have some sort of evidence base of what the flood impacts are,” she said. 

Underemployment and the Hidden Strain

One of the report’s key findings is that common economic indicators can be misleading in the months following a disaster.

Some of the numbers the team reviewed — including sales tax activity, tourism data and unemployment figures — did not show a clear negative impact on their own. “That data doesn’t tell the whole story,” Schmahmann explained.

In the months after the flood, sales tax allocations and hotel occupancy tax collections in Kerr County appeared broadly in line with previous years, but those figures may have been temporarily boosted by recovery-related spending, displaced residents using lodging and volunteers assisting with recovery efforts.

At the same time, conversations with business owners revealed a more fragile reality. Some employers have kept workers on payroll while drastically reducing their hours. 

“There might be people still employed, but they’re working five to 10 hours instead of 20 to 40,” Schmahmann said.

The effects of underemployment can ripple through a local economy. When workers in the area bring home less income, they spend less at other local businesses. When summer camps and tourism slow down, the effects can spread to restaurants, retailers and service providers across the area.

Helping Leaders Plan for Continued Impacts

The analysis focuses on two major drivers of the economies of Kerr and Kendall Counties: summer camps and tourism.

“The area is heavily oriented around the river,” Schmahmann said. “It is a seasonal economy, and summer is the prominent time. A lot of businesses survive based on the income they receive in three months of the year.” 

The report notes that Kerr County had just over 15,000 jobs in 2024, with large shares concentrated in industries such as retail trade, accommodation and food service, and construction, which are highly sensitive to changes in visitor spending and local consumer activity.

Because the full effects of the flood are expected to become clearer in the summer, the HRRC team modeled a range of possible outcomes to help local leaders prepare. Due to available data, those detailed scenario estimates apply to Kerr County, though the broader recovery effort serves both Kerr and Kendall counties.

In the report’s 2026 scenarios, reduced summer camp operations could put an estimated 98 to 199 jobs at risk. A decline in overnight visitation could put another 36 to 144 jobs at risk, depending on the severity of the drop. 

Schmahmann emphasized that these are not predictions, but planning tools designed to help leaders understand possible outcomes and communicate the scale of need.

Recovery is About More Than Reopening

The business survey data described in the report show why planning matters. Kerr Together conducted a six-month follow-up survey that collected data from 202 local businesses, and 66% reported ongoing effects from the disaster. 

Even among businesses that described themselves as fully open, 55% reported ongoing flood-related issues.

For many of those businesses, the challenge is no longer simply reopening. It is bringing customers back. Among businesses still facing ongoing issues, the most common concerns were lower sales, reduced revenue and weaker customer traffic.

Limited insurance coverage is also another major barrier to recovery. “The thing that we found the most surprising was the number of businesses that didn’t have insurance,” Schmahmann said.

According to a Texas Division of Emergency Management damage assessment cited in the report, only about 27% of surveyed businesses in the area reported having insurance. 

Without insurance, many owners are relying on savings, grants, loans or other short-term strategies to keep going. The report shared anecdotal evidence that some businesses are retaining employees while cutting work hours to reduce costs. 

Schmahmann said those strategies may help businesses survive in the short term, but they are not a lasting solution. “Even if the numbers don’t look that bad now, we think in the long term, without support, it’s going to get worse,” she added.

Faculty Expertise in Service to Texas Communities

Kerr Together reached out to Texas A&M through the HRRC as community leaders began developing a recovery plan and pursuing funding to rebuild. Schmahmann and Meyer then volunteered to help lead the report.

The report itself received no direct funding support, but was made possible through faculty time from the HRRC and Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning.

“At the heart of the HRRC’s work is the Aggie core value of selfless service,” Meyer said. “When a Texas community affected by disaster asked for support, there was no question — we were going to find a way to help.”

Schmahmann said this type of analysis can fill an important gap for communities that need technical evidence but may not have the capacity to produce it themselves. “A lot of these communities don’t have the capacity to take on this analysis,” she said.

The report is already being used to strengthen grant and funding applications for Kerr and Kendall Counties’ long-term recovery and to help share the economic impacts that are still unfolding.

It may also serve as a baseline for future research, especially after the summer season, when the full impacts of changes to summer camp operations and tourism visitation on the local economy become clearer. 

“Good data is essential for understanding the true scope of disaster impacts and making the right moves to put lives and businesses back together,” said Chris Hughes, Business Recovery Working Group co-chair for Kerr Together. “This analysis provides the evidence our community needs to target recovery resources effectively and advocate for the support we need for a complete recovery.”

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