Author: Constructech Editors
ERP—enterprise resource planning, not to be confused with Wyatt Earp from Tombstone fame—has come a long way since the 1980s. First migrated from mainframe and minicomputers to the desktop PC and now into the cloud, ERP has proven to be a vital part of the digitalization of companies. But each generation of ERP confronts the complaint, “What about….?” Something always seems to be missing. Major players in the market quickly respond to these cries for more. They may create their own or partner with a company already in the market with an answer. Sometimes they acquire the necessary software by…
The World War II walkie talkie was a backpack-sized radio transceiver that became familiar to many civilians through its use in films about the war. A later, smaller unit, known as a handie walkie talkie, was a handheld two-way radio with a range of about mile, if you were on a flat desert location. It operated on a radio frequency determined by a replaceable crystal, allowed one user at a time to talk (multiple people could listen in, including the enemy)—a function known as a half-duplex arrangement—and had a battery life of about 12 hours on a charge. And it…
The artist Andy Warhol is generally cited as the author of the quote, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” The City of Vancouver in Canada isn’t the author of the quote, “The 15-minute city is within reach” but it might become famous for actually proving it. The 15-minute city proposes a city where all residents can meet their daily needs within a short walking or cycling trip from their home. This concept builds on long established planning and development principles which encourage walkability, a diversity of destinations, and density. Many European cities that actively pursue the…
Americans have had a long relationship with trains. Since the earliest days of the nation, railroads have fascinated kids and adults, provided them with a mode of travel and a neat toy format. Although the passenger train has been overshadowed by airplanes and cars, freight still rides the rails from sea to shining sea—and border to border. Rail is part of the nation’s infrastructure and deserves technology focused on improving the value it provides. The American railroad mania began with the founding of the first passenger and freight line, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, in 1827. The transcontinental railway system was completed…
City after city is moving to adopt technology to remake themselves as smart cities. The infrastructure that is in place, often legacy systems that go back decades, can be modernized if the plan is sound and carefully implemented. The first step is to conduct a feasibility study and determine what needs to be done. Taking that step are several cities and states across the country by employing the services of a mobility consultant. As an example, Iteris will conduct a centralized traffic management system study, providing services in the areas of master plan development, procurement of central software and detailed…
“Approaching Net-Zero” may sound like a pilot’s callout from Star Wars but it’s a reality in construction and design today. Builders across the nation are striving for a net-zero home as demand for sustainability in housing grows. Whether fully on-site built or off-site manufactured and on-site assembled, houses are the focus of much environmental concern. Major companies, including holding companies with a diverse portfolio, are seeking entry into the net-zero game. In Nebraska, home of the “Oracle of Omaha,” Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway—a holding company with more than 60 companies under its umbrella—a member company has introduced new…
They were once toys for aviation enthusiasts, model helicopters to play with on weekends. Then someone got the idea to mount a digital camera on them and—boom!—the drone eye-in-the-sky market took off. According to ResearchAndMarkets.com, the future of the commercial drone market looks promising with opportunities in precision agriculture, aerial photography, surveillance, survey mapping, and energy applications. The Global Commercial Drone Market size was estimated at $14.95 billion in 2021, $18.92 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow to reach $61.95 billion by 2027. UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are widely used at dangerous and inaccessible places for mapping out…
Artificial intelligence, otherwise known and AI, is being employed in a variety of applications. Within the architecture, engineering, and construction fields, AI has been limited in use but that is changing almost daily. By combining AI and high-level computer analysis and simulation, many formerly time-consuming tasks can be done quickly with higher accuracy. Altair, a company in computational sciences and AI, has released its latest simulation solutions focused on AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction). The release also includes updates to Altair’s traditional solutions. Altair Simulation 2022 includes support for several new construction standards. Now, users can choose the right AEC…
“I don’t want you using both building elevators for this project.” The project owner put his virtual foot down and made the decision. The statement was as clear as day, unyielding, and yet without knowledge or understanding. And so, it was. The elevator access on the residential project was reduced from two to one. The project’s deadlines laid in the balance as crews struggled to operate because in order to get from point A to the very high point B, they had to waste time (which turned out to be several hours a day) to take the one allowable elevator…
Out of necessity, today’s construction companies are looking to technology-based processes to drive efficiency, which, in turn, keeps costs low and productivity high. In an industry that has historically been viewed as averse to change, this push toward tech investment is making project design, planning, and management more proficient than ever before. Cost has traditionally been the main driver when it comes to construction and infrastructure opportunities. In fact, according to JLL’s 2022 H1 Construction Outlook, total construction costs increased by nearly 12% between Q4 2020 and Q4 2021. These same costs are expected to increase by another 8-12% during…