Author: Constructech Editors

A few years ago, a pure EV (electric vehicle) on the street would probably be a classic from the turn of the century—the 20th century. The world has gone full circle with electric cars, trucks, and every other wheeled vehicle becoming commonplace. And all those Volt, Tesla, and Rivian vehicles need a place to plug in and charge up. Matching the availability of gasoline and diesel with electric charging stations is a challenge; without them, electric sales will platform and the trend will stagnate. Cities of all sizes are finding this out. Advanced urban areas, especially, know they need to…

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Finding funding for a development or commercial project has had some serious ups and downs recently. Stock markets look like roller coasters and banks are cautious about lending to projects that had been quickly approved a few years ago. Making the best pitch can include offering the best construction management and view into the job for those lenders. A construction management and project monitoring application would seem like a good fit in this case. Built Technologies agrees. Built is a construction finance platform used by lenders that want to be proactive with their construction portfolio. Built’s Project Pro enters the…

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Determining the ROI (return-on-investment) for new equipment can be a straightforward calculation while doing the same for add-ons to existing gear can be a pain. Equipment bought five-ten years ago might have been made obsolete in the market by newer versions but if it still works and still provides productivity a “simple” retrofit might be just what it needs to compete with the latest iteration. Such calculations are especially important now when interest rates and costs are going up and skilled labor is harder to find since the COVID-19 pandemic. Improving the ability of an operator to do the job…

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Often, a new technology employs other new technologies or depends upon them. The right combination leads to a much better product, greater benefits, and easier or more productive use. Unfortunately, the technologies don’t always come together at the same time. If the EV (electric vehicle) population is to grow at the expected rate, the infrastructure to charge those vehicles must grow even more rapidly, for example. Another case in point, similar to the EV charging requirements, is for a complete infrastructure of hydrogen fueling stations to be in place in order for hydrogen vehicles to complete with EVs. A study,…

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The internet has opened up a whole world of information to everyone with a connection. Unfortunately, some of those connections are completely open to others with dishonorable intentions, to use an old cliché. From the earliest days of ARPAnet to the IoT (Internet of Things) revolution, data has been as valuable as currency and just as enticing to those with opportunities to transfer that data from you to them, illegally. The bigger the data pool, the more attractive it is to hackers and others with a technology bent. Gartner predicts that executive performance evaluations will be increasingly linked to ability…

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Healthy homes have healthy air. More than 55 million households, according to Parks Associates, are interested in a product that removes dust/allergens and purifies the air. About 47% of households with Internet access report that one or more residents has a health condition that makes them sensitive to indoor air quality. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted health risks in air quality for many consumers, increasing interest in smart products that can measure and deliver a healthy, clean environment. Parks Associates points out that their research shows family caregivers increasingly turn towards technology, especially monitoring services, in providing care for loved ones.…

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In drought conditions, as they are experiencing in the U.S. Southwest, water tables drop, lakes and reservoirs dry up, and industry and people suffer. Water is both the most valuable and least appreciated raw material in the world. Until it isn’t available. Water is necessary for all life forms on earth. It is also a necessity for almost all construction and industrial activities, both for use as a raw material and for cooling and hydrating the workers and equipment involved. Second to water in importance, the number two material in quantity used, is sand. Obviously, sand and water go together…

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The planned switch from the internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric power for the millions of vehicles needed for every day use in the U.S. has several growing pains evident. At present, the cost per electric vehicle is much higher than for an ICE car or truck. The costs are coming down, as auto companies realize the manufacturing scale necessary to produce EVs at the lower costs the public demands. The biggest step, which can’t wait for the changeover, is to implement the infrastructure of electric charging stations to compete with the vast gasoline and diesel network that has been…

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If civil and geotechnical engineers want to design more resilient roadways, they should have the best available technology at their disposal. As the industry gets smarter about creating resilient infrastructure, it is getting a boost from technology that has long benefited others. For example, project delivery software and asset management software leverages the cloud to make staff mobile and empower them with sophisticated tools that align with how they work. Now those who design and build roads can take advantage of similar digital tools to create high-performance pavement in a way that not only saves time and money but also…

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Construction has always been dangerous. Ancient builders met the challenge of jobsite injury by adding more men to the workforce, replacing the dead and injured. In modern times, the use of what is considered basic safety gear—such as hardhats and safety shoes—has only been accepted by the labor force in the recent past. In many ways, construction workers have had an image of being “cowboys” or “daredevils” at work. Not so much anymore. Much of the difference can be related to changes in government policy, or more accurately, to the evolution of government policy. That evolution started in 1922 with…

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