Author: Constructech Editors
Humans have been searching for the Fountain of Youth, perpetual motion, and a universal language for thousands of years. It hasn’t been that long a time, but technologists have been searching for the UFF (universal file format) for a while, too. The key word in the 1980s tech world was “interoperability.” Operating systems were fighting for market share in the desktop computer segment, minicomputers, and even mainframes. The client/server network boom generated research into a best common networking protocol—remember MAP*? Then came Wi-Fi, and technology started all over again. The ideal of a platform independent file protocol preceded the formation…
We’ve adjusted, compromised, negotiated, mandated, and gotten frustrated in the years since COVID-19 hit the scene in 2019. New phrases came into our lexicon besides COVID itself: “The new normal,” “Quiet quitting,” “WFH,” “6-foot separation,” and, of course, “mask up!” But words aren’t the only thing that the pandemic changed. The thinking about our buildings, both residential and commercial, has changed, as well. The impact and lasting effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic are placing new pressure on commercial building management systems. This can be seen in the growing demand and potential applications for sensor technologies. New sensing technologies and…
As the COVID-19 pandemic slowly receded into the background during 2021-2022, returning workers had a common concern: how can we protect our health at work? Having seen the effects of a contagious disease running rampant through many companies, workers could be excused for worrying about their own offices as potential breeding grounds for infections. In the effort to facilitate a move back to the office, an array of competing approaches, technologies, and devices are vying to bring new levels of monitoring and control to building environments in a market where building owners, operators, and tenants are incentivized to make buildings more…
Artificial intelligence, otherwise known as AI, and IT (information technology) go together like a horse and buggy, apparently. Old fashion, comfortable fit, and still moving along. But the CIO isn’t the only resident of the C-Suite that can benefit from AI. Gartner has identified five of the top AI (artificial intelligence) use cases for FP&A (financial planning and analysis) leaders to consider implementing in their functions. According to Gartner research, organizations ignoring these use cases should have a good reason for doing so because they offer the best combination of feasibility and business benefit. Looking to apply AI to other use cases before getting…
The classic approach to training specialty skills to new construction workers starts with a period of on-the-job training called apprenticeship. A six-year study led by Abt Associates of the AAI (American Apprenticeship Initiative), a project of the Dept. of Labor that covers all industries not just construction, found that almost 70% of the 29,553 apprentices were from underrepresented populations. Only 8% were in construction-related industries, the traditional apprenticeship sector. Most AAI apprentices completed their programs, which generally lasted less than two years, and reported that they had positive experiences and that the programs prepared them well for their occupations. Equally…
Canada is known for many things: Beavers, Poutine, Maple syrup, Ice Hockey, Environmental Technology. Wait, technology? Canada is, indeed, on the leading edge of technology for mitigating climate change. They are working hard to be the leaders in carbon pricing along with clean electricity, transportation, and buildings. Canadians have realized that actions that reduce the negative impacts of climate change, like building seawalls and strengthening bridges and hydro lines, pays off big. Every dollar spent on adaptation measures saves $13-$15, including both direct and indirect economy-wide benefits. In fact, taking proactive adaptation measures cuts climate costs in half. That means…
The COVID-19 pandemic has receded in the rearview mirror of daily life for many people. Masks are trophies now, there to remind us, not to be used in all situations. Vaccines are considered a normal part of healthcare for millions, right up there with flu shots and the kid’s back-to-school inoculations. If you still can, working from home has many advantages; if you can’t, work in the office is back to normal, something we can all appreciate. The changes the pandemic imposed, whether they are sticking around or not, made health a genuine issue for everyone. Technology, of course, became…
In the 1970s, building-related diseases, where the symptoms of the illness are identified and attributed directly to airborne building contaminants, were in the news. Called the sick (or tight) building syndrome, the symptoms were headache, dizziness, nausea, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry cough, dry or itching skin, difficulty in concentration, fatigue, sensitivity to odors, hoarseness of voice, allergies, cold, flu-like symptoms, increased incidence of asthma attacks, and even personality changes. The cause was not known. Most of those complaining reported relief soon after leaving the building, although lingering effects of neurotoxins can occur. While no longer making news, the…
Election season comes every year, it seems. Federal elections return every two years, state and local elections happen then and in the between years, as well. Some candidates are on television, radio, your favorite social media platform, even in your computer’s email or cellphone’s text inbox every month. And these days, many have the same pitch: the economy is (fill in the blank). In 1992, campaign strategist James Carville coined the phrase “It’s the economy, stupid.” At that time, Carville was attempting to emphasize the importance of the struggling economy in then-candidate Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. Although originally intended…
With the expansion of email came the sending of various documents between offices, suppliers, subcontractors, owners and developers, and government agencies. The preferred method today is by PDF or photo images. Since we are still in a somewhat incompatible environment, not every program can read every format. One answer has been OCR (optical character recognition) software that can read documents and convert them from one format to another. Corecon Technologies, a provider of cloud-based estimating, project management, and job-cost construction software, now offers OCR functionality as part of its Procurement Module. For use by Corecon subscribers, as well as outside…