Author: Constructech Editors
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…
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…
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…
Cities can be more diversified and complex than any company. They have organizational structure and departmentalization issues like companies but operate at a level few private firms can match. Even so, they have one thing in common with large firms: they depend on modern technology. Integrated technologies, to be specific. While the “tech silo” approach was all too common in companies and cities for decades, most concluded that connectivity and integration is the way to go. As an example, the City of High Point, N.C., transitioned its plan reviews to an electronic portal, but the implementation lacked a way to…
It sounds like a sci-fi movie from the 1960s, but it’s a sci-fi reality in the 21st century. Swarms of robots creating an underground “hive” using 3D printing technology, resulting in a tunnel without first using a boring machine, blasting, or digging. While Elon Musk’s Boring Co., is drilling massive holes underground and then lining them to create a tunnel, hyperTunnel first builds the tunnel, then digs the hole. A significant break from tradition, the hyperTunnel method does not create the hole by pushing through the ground with a boring machine or drill and blast. Instead, it 3D-prints the tunnel…
In October 1973, OPEC introduced Americans to the term “oil embargo.” The first major energy crisis was upon us and gas stations took the brunt of the anger as long lines, rationing, alternate day schemes, and other attempts to mitigate the sudden loss of imported oil came into effect. But while transportation problems were the most visible result, many other changes were more quietly taking place. The energy crises impacted the way architects designed spaces, especially commercial interiors. Prior to the oil embargo, these areas were typically illuminated with bright ceilings and fluorescent lamps. But as the cost of fuel…
Buildings are going up faster, closeouts happening sooner, and paperwork for payment getting processed faster. If everything goes according to plan/design, that is. But how often does a project finish exactly like it was supposed to? Between start and finish there is usually a pile of change orders going from owner to general to subcontractors and trades and back up the chain. Technology trends such as BIM (building information management), digital twin, and 3D design are reshaping construction. With a shift towards faster, more iterative project delivery, the industry is frustrated with many of the current tools available including paper,…
Construction work is truck intensive and hard-working trucks can develop problems. Sometimes, they don’t even have to work hard, just long. Toyota is conducting a safety recall involving certain 2022 model year Tundra (including HEV) vehicles in the U. S. Approximately 46,000 vehicles are involved in this recall. Vehicles in this recall have certain nuts on the rear axle assembly that can loosen over time, and, in some cases, fall off, potentially causing an axle shaft sub-assembly to separate from the axle. If complete separation occurs, this can affect vehicle stability and brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.…
Take a group of experienced contractors and a new technology, combine their expertise with the technology’s capabilities and the result can be impressive. When seven leading construction and drywall companies—Webcor, DPR Construction, Swinerton, Nevell Group, KHS&S, Daley’s Drywall & Taping, and California Drywall—participated in the construction field’s version of a clinical trial of a robotic finishing machine, their feedback resulted in a Level 4 Targeted Spray system from Canvas. Canvas created its Innovation Partner Program, which now has the seven companies involved, in December 2021. Like nearly every company in the industry, since the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted projects, they have…
Inventory management can be a cost center or a profit center for a contractor. Missing tools that show up in inventory mean that tools won’t be available when and where needed. Tools that are ready to work but aren’t in the inventory list are too often replaced, at additional cost, by panicking supervisors heading to the jobsite. If these scenarios sound familiar, think about how a similar problem can challenge a major tool rental service. Among the major national contractor suppliers, Home Depot and Lowe’s battle it out for customers. Each strives for efficiency matched to customer service and the…