Erik Backus

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 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.

Education Background

Engineering Science (Dissertation: The Facilities Decision Making Process) Ph.D - 2023 Clarkson University
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

Experience

Lieutenant Colonel US Army Reserve, 2012 (Retired 2018)
Professional Engineer Missouri, 2005

Courses Taught

• CE212 - Introduction to Engineering Design (Fall Semesters)
• CE406 - Infrastructure Engineering (Fall Semesters)
• CE409 - Fundamentals of Building Systems (Spring Semesters)
• CE410/CE510 - Sustainable Infrastructure and Building (Fall Semesters)
• CE441 - Reinforced Concrete Design (Spring Semesters)
• CE448 - Introduction to Architectural Engineering (Fall Semesters)
• CE490 - Senior Design (Structures/Transportation/Geotech) /(Building, Arch) (Spring Semesters)
• CE555 - Structural Damage, Assessment, and Repair
• CE591/ES581 - Special Topics in Construction Engineering Management (Spring Semesters)

Research Interests

• Sustainable Construction
• Facilities Decision Making
• 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, Vermeer, Kimberly (2023), “From Homes to Infrastructure, Building Community Resilience”, USGBC/SAME Resiliency Series, 8 March 2023
• Backus, Erik C., Bailey, Caeden, Vaccaro, Jacob, Leggett, Nicholas (2023), “Complete Streets + Green Buildings = Complete Communities”, NYS Green Building Conference, 3 March 2023
• Doulton, Martin, Seggos, Basil, Pratt, Michael, Backus, Erik C. (2023), “Designing for the Future of International Sporting Events, Competitions and Fans”, Lake Placid 2023 FISU World Conference: Save Winter, 13 January 2023
• Backus, Erik C., Gengler, Edward, Schoeman, Laurie (2022), “Resources to support resilience efforts”, SAME + USGBC Resiliency Summit 2022, 12 October 2022
• Backus, Erik C., Colker, Ryan M., Richards, Antoine B., Azaroff, Illya, Burgess, Katharine, Schoeman, Laurie (2022), “Community Vitality”, Online, USGBC/SAME Resiliency Series, 4 May 2022
• Backus, Erik C. (2022), “The FDMP: Better Decisions, Better Facilities”, Online, NYS Green Building Conference, 13 April 2022
• Backus, Erik C., Rajkovich, Nicholas, Ekblad, Dazzle, Stevens, Amanda, Cavallo, Corrina, Boyland, Tim (2021), “Resilience Rating Systems: Better Buildings and Better Communities”, Online, USGBC/SAME Resiliency Series, 14 April 2021
• 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