Author: Constructech Editors
In the effort to find easy ways consumers can have an impact on the environment, the carpenter’s motto, “Measure twice, cut once,” has taken hold. Measuring the benefits of individual changes can point up their value with solid numbers. Naturally, companies are eager to help. And that doesn’t just mean hardware companies; technology companies focused on the soft side of the industry are showing interest in collaboration with the firms that are demonstrating ways to avoid the elements that contribute to climate change, mainly carbon emissions. For example, Acuity Brands has a goal to avoid 100 million metric tons of carbon emissions as a result of…
With buildings, the concept of “recycling” usually means “tear it down and put something new on the lot.” However, demolition creates more than 90% of the waste generated by new building construction, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The debris might be recycled but there are other choices. For example, some see a future in turning dormant office buildings and similar structures into apartments through “adaptive reuse.” One such company is LA-based architecture firm Omgivning, which specializes in adaptive reuse. Omgivning has been working on adaptive reuse projects in LA and is currently involved in plans to turn the shuttered Boyle Heights Sears Building…
As attention gets paid to the climate crisis looming over our future, construction is among the industries often pointed to as having severe problems. Within the construction field, concrete is a major target for limiting or eliminating CO2 emissions. From research facilities to field operations, work is being done, partnerships are being developed, and new methods and products are resulting. For example, CarbonBuilt and Master Builders Solutions are collaborating on the development of admixtures for use with CarbonBuilt’s low-cost, low carbon technology platform. Master Builders Solutions comprehensive portfolio encompasses concrete admixtures, cement additives, chemical solutions for underground construction, waterproofing systems, concrete repair,…
We sometimes lose sight of the fact that not all plans are reviewed and used in digital form on jobsites. Yes, blueprints still exist and are found on jobsites across the country. In fact, approximately 95% of contractors use drawings or blueprints for daily work. But plans aren’t the only paper still found on the job, and forms, requests, prints, and change orders are critical whether paper or bytes. Until now, there has been no mobile construction-grade tabletop available on the market that can ease the use of blueprints and other paper on the job and could provide a way…
Soil compactors can be run by operators with varying degrees of experience and training. Journeymen and apprentices alike get in the seat and the results are often quite different. Trimble Construction sees this as an opportunity to showcase its technology. Trimble has introduced Horizontal Steering Control functionality on the Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform for Soil Compactors, the industry’s first automatic steering control solution for soil compactors and the next step towards Trimble’s autonomous vehicle vision. Trimble Earthwork’s Horizontal Steering Control automatically steers a soil compactor using a 3D model or compaction pass line. This helps to improve compaction productivity…
The concept of the smart home has been around since the 1950s, at least. Automate everything, control everything, make everything responsive to the owner’s whim. Tell the controller what you want, and it will do your bidding. In fact, the smart speaker is the latest device to shape the future of the intelligent home. Smart speakers offer users easy access to a variety of information and entertainment, as well as home control features, through voice interaction. Artificial intelligence and cloud computing typically lie at the heart of their capabilities. Following the launch of Amazon’s Echo, many other vendors entered the…
With the mantra “Go Paperless” ringing loud in the new year, companies are still finding new ways to get rid of unnecessary printed paper. And having more and more applications based in the cloud, those developers need to find ways to help you get rid of the paper. Corecon Technologies, Inc., a provider of estimating and project management software solutions for general contractors, subcontractors, homebuilders, developers, and engineering firms, is answering the call. They recently announced a new integration with DocuSign eSignature for use within Corecon’s cloud-based construction estimating, project management and job cost software suite. This new feature allows…
The headlines have been focused on the 5G telecommunications rollout—and its problems around airports. What has taken a backseat is the transition from 3G to 4G in February, a move that will leave thousands of older devices inoperable. According to Cradlepoint, a company focused on 4G and 5G wireless networking using the cloud and edge computing, all major U.S. cellular carriers are “sunsetting” support for 2G and 3G cellular networks by the end of 2022. Here are some general target dates for each network operator: AT&T (3G HSPA+ network) — Feb. 22, 2022Sprint (3G WCDMA network) — Mar. 31, 2022 T-Mobile (3G UMTS network) — July 1, 2022 Verizon (3G EVDO network) — Dec. 31, 2022 In other words, organizations that use 3G for enterprise networking will need to replace and upgrade their wireless edge routers to…
Not every infrastructure company has been waiting for governments to fund new programs. One, AECOM, has been starting projects, winning bids, and preparing for the future increase in business the carious infrastructure bills will provide. The company is leading the effort to obtain the consents and permits for the Humber Zero project, which will contribute to the decarbonization of critical industry in the Humber region of Northern England, United Kingdom. The Humber Zero project will integrate CCS (carbon capture and storage) technology into units at the Phillips 66 Humber Refinery and VPI Immingham combined heat and power plant. By 2030,…
No, not the old pirate’s saying, a modern adaptation of wood construction, a timber building in Canada (hence the shivering). On Vancouver Island, Structurlam Mass Timber Corp., in partnership with Design Build Services and Aspect Structural Engineers, has completed a five-story mass timber post-and-beam building contains the first buckling-restrained braces housed within a timber frame. The building, Terminus at District 56, is in one of the highest seismic regions of North America, requiring its lateral system to be highly ductile while allowing the wood to be exposed. The construction is one of two projects from the same partnership in Langford,…