At BAI Group, our Applied AI Division — bAI Labs — helps engineers, municipalities, and environmental professionals adopt artificial intelligence responsibly. We don’t build technology; we guide teams in using it safely, effectively, and ethically. Our services include:
- AI Training & Readiness – Practical education for engineers and technical staff on how to integrate trustworthy AI tools into daily workflows.
- Custom GPT Development – Creation of secure, private AI assistants built around client data to support documentation, permitting, and compliance tasks.
- Municipal Pilot Programs – Hands-on projects that help local governments test and evaluate AI for permitting, communication, and reporting.
- AI Governance & Policy Development – Frameworks that ensure transparency, data protection, and human oversight in all AI-assisted processes.
- Responsible AI Guidance – Advisory support to align innovation with professional ethics and sustainability standards.
- AI Mixers – Quarterly professional forums showcasing cutting-edge technologies and real-world engineering applications, where participants share ideas, test workflows, and receive expert feedback. Sponsorship opportunities are available for organizations that want to demonstrate leadership in responsible innovation.
- AI Fellowship Program – A professional training pathway for engineers and environmental specialists to gain applied experience in AI governance, data ethics, and sustainable computing.
bAI Labs is built on BAI’s Five-Part AI Governance Framework, ensuring every project upholds transparency, privacy, and accountability.
Our philosophy remains consistent across all disciplines:
Engineers lead. AI assists. The planet benefits.
bAI Labs Leadership
John Oliver Smith, P.E., BCEE
Director of Operations, The BAI Group | Co-Lead, bAI Labs
John Smith is Director of Operations at The BAI Group and Co-Lead of bAI Labs, advancing the responsible integration of AI in civil and environmental engineering. A Board-Certified Environmental Engineer with more than 30 years of experience, John has directed major infrastructure programs for DC Water, Anne Arundel County, and the City of Baltimore, leading projects in corrosion control, wastewater, and asset management. He previously managed multimillion-dollar contracts for the U.S. Department of Defense and has worked internationally in Hong Kong, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. At BAI, he focuses on human-centered AI adoption that enhances reliability, transparency, and environmental resilience across public works and utility systems.
Davar Ardalan
Director of AI Integration, The BAI Group | Co-Lead, bAI Labs
Davar Ardalan leads efforts to develop ethical, transparent, and human-in-the-loop AI for engineering and environmental science. With over two decades of experience spanning media, technology, and government innovation, she has served as Deputy Director of the White House Presidential Innovation Fellows Program and as a Senior AI Strategist at Booz Allen Hamilton. A multiple award-winning leader recognized by NASA and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Davar brings deep expertise in AI governance, digital transformation, and interdisciplinary collaboration to advance sustainable, data-driven innovation within BAI. She is the co-author of AI for Community (Taylor & Francis), launched in June 2025 at the London AI Summit.
James B. Echard, P.E.
President, The BAI Group | Executive Advisor, bAI Labs
Jim Echard is President of the BAI Group and Executive Advisor to bAI Labs, guiding the integration of applied AI across BAI’s core engineering, waste management, and renewable energy practices. With more than 30 years of experience in solid waste management and environmental permitting, Jim has served as engineer of record for numerous landfill, solid waste beneficial reuse, and industrial projects across Pennsylvania and Maryland. He is a long-standing member of the PWIA/PADEP Technical Advisory Committee for Solid Waste and a leading voice in advancing safe, compliant, and sustainable infrastructure design. His oversight ensures that bAI Labs’ innovation initiatives remain grounded in BAI’s professional integrity and environmental mission.
Applied AI Advisory Board
Awalin Sopan
Principal AI Engineer, Workday
Awalin Sopan is a Principal AI Engineer at Workday and a former White House Presidential Innovation Fellow — the first Bangladeshi to serve in that role. She has over a decade of experience in applied data science, visual analytics, and AI ethics. At the White House, she developed an analytics platform to improve services for underserved small businesses. Awalin holds a master’s in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has published in IEEE VIS, SocialComp, KDD, and SIGCHI. She is a member of Women in Cyber Security and the community lead for Bangladeshi Women in Computing under the AnitaB Institute.
Craig Daly
Deputy Chief of Engineering & Asset Management, Howard County Government
Craig Daly is an engineering and analytics leader with over two decades of experience in water infrastructure, asset management, and applied data science. As Deputy Chief of Engineering and Asset Management for Howard County Government, he leads strategic planning and capital optimization to strengthen operational resilience. He is also the Founder of BreakPulse, a geospatial AI platform that transforms utility data into predictive insights for infrastructure reliability. Previously, Craig served as Director of Analytics at Xylem Inc., developing the company’s first machine-learning water main break prediction model. He holds graduate degrees in Environmental Engineering and Applied Spatial Analysis from Johns Hopkins University, and a Certificate in Applied Generative AI.
Soroush Etemad
Systems Engineer, Booz Allen Hamilton
Soroush Etemad is an AI and robotics engineer specializing in robot learning, computer vision, and generative AI. At Booz Allen Hamilton, he develops self-hosted AI assistants that enhance situational awareness and decision-making for engineers in the space domain. His research at the University of Maryland focuses on tactile sensing and embodied AI for dexterous robotic manipulation. Etemad brings a collaborative, innovation-driven approach that connects academic research, field testing, and real-world engineering applications.