Author: Constructech Editors
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…
The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) has caused a renewed interest in modernizing transportation modes across the nation. Most people, when asked what constitutes “infrastructure,” will respond with highways, bridges, airports, and perhaps marine ports. An answer might also include rail and ship lines that are a major part of the equation, domestically (both) and internationally (shipping). The impact on the supply chain of ships idling off major ports during the pandemic illustrates the value of both ports and multimodal transportation to bring the supplies off the ships and across the…
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,…
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…
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…