Author: Constructech Editors
With all the emphasis on the bipartisan infrastructure bill that (finally) passed and was signed, heavy construction companies are gearing up, literally and figuratively, for an increased amount of work. Literally in the sense of equipment and figuratively in regard to staffing that equipment. Workers returning after pandemic layoffs and reduced work levels are potential safety risks. Indeed, heavy construction ranks in the top three industries worldwide for serious injuries and fatalities. Whether operating heavy equipment or working around the machinery, keeping everyone alert on the jobsite helps to eliminate accidents. Addressing these risks and helping prevent incidents on construction sites, constituted…
The wind that filled sails for explorers can be harnessed to aid the energy revolution. Offshore wind farms are a growing opportunity for energy companies worldwide. But there is more than wind to think about when placing the tall structures in the sea. The sea itself can cause trouble with waves and freezing condition in some climes. Below the surface lies even more concerns as the seabed can range from rock to sand and silt accumulated for eons. Rock would seem to be a positive seabed for wind turbine installation as it can support the structure better than other environments.…
The 2021 Infrastructure Bill has passed and been signed into law. Now we wait to see where the money goes and what infrastructure projects will get the green light first. Construction companies that deal with heavy work are getting ready and the suppliers to those companies are doing their part. Technology providers, especially, are gearing up new products to help heavy construction “move the metal”—and dirt, concrete, gravel, and everything else. Trimble, for example, just introduced the R750 GNSS Modular Receiver, a connected base station for use in civil construction and geospatial applications. The R750 provides improved base station performance, giving contractors…
‘Tis the season for winter storms, power outages, and higher costs for energy. Driven by the climbing costs of electricity and increasing grid outages, consumers and businesses are searching for affordable, reliable energy solutions. One approach, popular in remote locations, is propane gas as an energy source. The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) created a new resource for residential and commercial construction professionals that outlines the benefits and capabilities of propane-powered combined heat and power (CHP) units. A propane-powered CHP unit uses a propane engine to power a generator that produces electricity. It then uses the heat that’s generated…
Ford Motor Co., is well known for its impressive line of work (and leisure) trucks—the F-150 has been the best-selling truck in the U.S. for 45 years. Businesses large and small and all those in between depend on Ford trucks—and Ford parts and service to keep their Ford fleets running. Ford has moved into the hybrid and electric vehicle market, including trucks. The Ford Maverick is a compact truck and the first pickup in America with a standard full-hybrid powertrain. Its 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder hybrid powertrain delivers 191 horsepower when combined with the electric motor, and 155-lb.-ft. of torque mated…
Technical high schools are often thought of as “trade schools,” focused on manual trades such as auto mechanics and wood working. That’s mostly 1950s thinking. Today’s technical schools are staffed with experienced teachers and up-to-date technologies like CAD (computer-aided design) and robotics. In Mexico, the CETIS (Center for Industrial Technological Studies) and Services a chain of high schools offer students the opportunity to attain a full technical-professional level degree. For example, in Mexico City, CETIS No. 33 “Carlos María de Bustamante” teaches human resource administration, architecture, construction, and office automation, among other topics. Martha Velia Mendez Soriano, project coordinator at…
Throughout the time President Trump was in office, one of the places with people most solidly for him was the master planned retirement community of The Villages in central Florida. News coverage of residents sailing boats with Trump signs, parades of golf carts with Trump banners, and other attention drawing events at The Villages made the retirement community nationally known. Apparently, that renown paid off in sales. According to real estate consulting firm RCLCO, the top-selling Active Adult (over 55) community in the country, and the top selling master planned community in the U.S., is Central Florida’s The Villages, with…
The drive for sustainable and green buildings across Europe has encountered a number of barriers—high upfront construction costs, access to capital, social attitudes, lack of information, experience and incentives—and to respond to these challenges, the PROBONO project was defined. It is a people-focused European construction industry working in harmony with the broader community of stakeholders. Public authorities and citizens are involved with the purpose to deliver scalable, sustainable, and viable energy positive and zero-carbon green buildings and neighborhoods. PROBONO’s aim is to provide validated solutions for the design, construction, and operation of new and/or retrofitted zero-pollution and positive energy buildings…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Black Editor-At-Large 803-560-6200 Columbia, S.C.— Jan. 10, 2022 — This New Year brings with it a confluence of new technologies that are set to help construction surge in a new age of building and digital transformation. To help identify the best technology on the market, Constructech recognizes the most innovative solutions in the construction industry with a 2022 Constructech Top Products award. Amid a worker shortage and what seems to be constant disruption, construction companies are more prone than ever before to turn to technology—digital twins, AI (artificial intelligence), the IoT (Internet of Things),…