Using AIA Billing Index and Dodge Data to Validate Engineering Demand

The AIA Architecture Billings Index: Your 9-Month Leading Indicator

The AIA Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is published monthly by the American Institute of Architects and surveys architectural firms on their billings trends. A score above 50 indicates expansion; below 50 indicates contraction. Because engineering consulting (especially structural and MEP) follows architectural design by 6–12 months, the ABI is a reliable leading indicator for engineering workload.

Access the ABI monthly report free at aia.org. The report breaks down by firm specialization (commercial/industrial, institutional, multifamily residential, mixed practice) and by region. If the ABI for your region and building type has been above 50 for 6+ months, you can expect strong engineering demand within a year.

Dodge Construction Network: Project-Level Pipeline Data

Dodge Construction Network tracks construction starts, planned projects, and bidding activity across the US. A subscription (typically $1,500–$5,000/year depending on tier) gives you project-level data: project name, location, owner, architect of record, estimated value, and project stage.

For a new engineering firm, use Dodge to: identify which architects in your market are most active (and therefore most likely to need engineering subconsultants), spot large projects entering design that will need your discipline, and track which contractors are winning work in your sector. Before subscribing, request a demo — Dodge sales reps will typically show you sample data for your market.

Public Sector Pipeline: Free and Granular

For civil and environmental engineers targeting public sector work, the best demand data is free. Review these sources:

State DOT STIP: Every state publishes a Statewide Transportation Improvement Program listing federally funded transportation projects for the next 4 years. These projects require civil and environmental engineering.

County and Municipal CIPs: Capital Improvement Plans are typically approved annually by city and county councils. They list projects, budgets, and timelines for roads, water/wastewater infrastructure, parks, and facilities.

SAM.gov: Federal procurement portal listing upcoming federal engineering contracts, including solicitations from Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, NASA, and GSA.

State procurement portals: Most states post RFQs and RFPs for engineering services publicly. Subscribe to email alerts for your state's portal.

Talking to Potential Referral Sources

Data tools confirm macro trends, but conversations reveal the ground truth. Before launching, have 10–15 conversations with people who could refer engineering work to you: general contractors, architects, developers, land surveyors, and environmental attorneys.

Ask: 'When you need [your discipline] engineering, how do you find firms?' and 'What frustrates you about the engineering firms you work with?' If you consistently hear 'we struggle to find responsive structural engineers for mid-size commercial projects' or 'our civil engineer is always overloaded,' you have found a real gap.

Building Your Demand Map Before Launch

Synthesize your research into a demand map: a simple document or spreadsheet with (1) your target geography, (2) the project types you will target, (3) the top 10 potential client organizations (firms or owners you want to win work from), (4) the data sources confirming their activity level, and (5) a realistic estimate of annual project volume available to a new firm of your size.

This demand map is also the foundation of your business plan and your early business development targeting. When you attend your first ACEC or ASCE chapter event, you will arrive knowing specifically who you want to meet.

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