Author: Constructech Editors

Industry segments are often admonished to “go green” and become more sustainable. In the construction field, there are many areas where sustainability is both possible and needed to mitigate the impact of the emissions construction and buildings in general produce. Companies across the vinyl value chain, for example, are making individual contributions to improving their sustainable footprints. The vinyl industry recognizes that contractors and vendors can do more, together, than any of us can do alone. So the VSC (Vinyl Sustainability Council) established the +Vantage Vinyl Guiding Principles to set the direction and parameters for what companies strive to achieve over time. Since then,…

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Smart houses and commercial buildings require careful management of utilities, mostly electricity, to both supply smart appliances and to regulate electrical distribution properly. A significant new system for energy management in residential construction is coming online. Schneider Electric, a leader in digital energy management and automation, has introduced its Square D Energy Center smart panel for purchase in California, with nationwide availability expected in 2023. A first-to-market innovation, the Square D Energy Center is designed for installation in new residential construction projects. This comes as California’s real estate market remains strong with more than 64,000 units of single-family residential construction projected to start…

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Ah, spring. When the ice melts and the mud flourishes in many parts of the country. Jobsites get even dirtier, and equipment gets unwanted mud baths. Whether on the job or once the equipment comes home, it can be cleaned faster and easier with the right tools. Pressure or power washers are popular gear for this activity and cordless washers are handy when power isn’t close at hand. WORX has you covered with a comprehensive lineup of efficient and user-friendly power cleaning options to get the jobs done. The WORX 40V Hydroshot MAX Portable Power Cleaner (450 rated psi) is…

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Autonomous vehicles, like electric ones, are in the news lately. But while new, ground-up designs are the favorite topic, retrofitting a standard vehicle for autonomy is a growing segment of the market. To accelerate development of autonomous transit shuttles, last-mile delivery, and other R&D programs, Hexagon division AutonomouStuff’s new by-wire platform easily integrates autonomy software with by-wire and sensors to fast-track safe navigation on Ford Transit vehicles. The ability to quickly implement autonomous and automated capabilities has never been closer for Ford Transit platforms than by using positioning and perception sensors and a by-wire system to control the vehicle. Designed…

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Extreme weather conditions seem to increase annually. Climate experts predict more extreme temperatures, heavier precipitation in the winter, and drier conditions in the summer will become more prevalent. Intense storms, with strong winds and flooding rain, are expected to become more common as well. Welcome to the world of climate change. These changes put more pressure on designers, contractors and, most importantly, the building envelope. To prevent failures and premature aging, materials must be carefully selected to withstand the specific extreme weather conditions of the region where the building is located. Material science is working to develop more sustainable construction materials while…

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There is no question that AI (artificial intelligence) pops up in the news at regular intervals, usually with breathless claims for its value in a business or personal application. People worry AI will take over their lives; people worry AI won’t live up to the claims made for it. Users want more AI, critics want less. But what is AI in the real world? Research companies try to define the terms they research to be sure they are asking the right questions and their data are valid. One of the largest firms tracking AI is IDC, (Intl. Data Corp.) Seeing…

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With the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and a significant portion of our infrastructure reaching the end of its expected life, the demand for infrastructure renewal and asset management is higher than ever. As funds are allocated to begin the work on U.S. infrastructure, companies around the country are preparing to enter the bidding wars to get a part of the action. Those that are already on the leading edge of digitalization will, no doubt, have a leg up. And developers and vendors of the products to make a difference in digitalization are ready, too. Trimble and Infotech, a…

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In 1971, John Denver sang, “Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.” In 2022, energy companies are singing, quietly, “Sunshine on our panels makes us happy.” The environmental movement is also happy with the sun shining on solar panels as that is one step closer to lowering emissions to battle climate change. As Research and Markets reports show, climate change has spurred a flurry of investments in renewable sources and decarbonization efforts. More than 100 countries pledged to cut methane emissions by 30.0% from 2020 levels at the recent COP26 and this is likely to have a direct impact on…

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Napoleon had serious trouble at Waterloo in 1815 when he met the British-led army arrayed against him. Unfortunately, Bonaparte’s Retreat (the real one, not the folk song) was so long ago, there was no Internet to stream the action to computers and TV set everywhere. A newer action at Waterloo, this time in Iowa, will result in many more opportunities for streaming—and better quality streaming at that. Metronet will bring gigabit-speed, 100% fiber optic Internet service directly to homes and businesses of the City of Waterloo. The fully funded multimillion-dollar investment will provide residents and businesses with access to a…

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“If you can’t define it, you can’t manage it.” Increasingly, terms are created without adequate definition and people use them without knowing how others will see what they say. Nowhere is this truer than in high tech. Often common, everyday words are appropriated by technology companies to be used in totally different ways than originally used. In construction and architecture, the technology of CAD—computer aided design/drafting—and BIM—building information modeling—have become commonplace. Each depends on a commonly accepted database of terms, so interoperability and data value are maintained. With the growing demands for connected devices, the IoT (Internet of Things) is…

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