Author: Constructech Editors
The news has been filled with exciting tales of AI (artificial intelligence) “chatbots.” ChatGPT and other programs, while seemingly appearing spontaneously on the scene, were born of years of effort by teams of programmers and experts. The GPT (generative pretrained transformer) applications like ChatGPT have become a part of the search engine world with Google and Bing adopting competing forms. According to ABI Research, this has ignited massive interest in Gen AI (generative AI) since late last year. So far, the opportunities for Gen AI have been limited to the B2B (business-to-consumer) space, with the B2B (business-to-business) largely undefined. In…
President Eisenhower’s administration developed a proposal for an interstate highway system in 1953, eventually resulting in the enactment of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. The result was the Interstate Highway System. And while some older freeways were adopted into the system, most of the routes were completely new construction, greatly expanding the freeway network in the United States. Construction of the original Interstate Highway System was judged complete in 1992, regardless of deviations from the original 1956 plan, and despite several stretches that did not fully conform with federal standards. The total construction cost approximately $114 billion in 1956…
We all want to work safely and have those around us safe as well. Construction is known for being a dangerous occupation with many trades among those with the highest injury record. For example, according to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Admin.), in 2021 roofers were in the third most dangerous occupation (59 deaths per 100,000 workers) with iron and steel workers in fifth place (36.1/100,000). Take iron workers as an example. One of the most common reasons for fatalities in this field is because of accidental falls, slips, and trips. Because these workers are tasked with constructing large structures…
Taking the lead in changing the way age-old processes are done can be a daunting and dangerous experience. It can also be financially rewarding and satisfying. What the news business might call “leading or bleeding.” Whether new technology—looking at you, AI—or new processes, finding answers to questions that seem to already be answered is the way science is supposed to work. Take the basic components of construction, both buildings and infrastructure. Concrete production is going through various stages of experimentation to reduce the greater part of its CO2 emissions. Competing processes all show some advantages so narrowing them down to…
The science known as Systems Theory is the transdisciplinary study of “cohesive groups of interrelated, interdependent components that can be natural or human-made.” Every system has boundaries, is influenced by its context, defined by its structure, function, and role, and expressed through its relations with other systems. A system is “more than the sum of its parts” by expressing synergy or emergent behavior. Changing one component of a system may affect other components or the whole system. Some systems support other systems, maintaining the other system to prevent failure. Obviously, buildings are systems. From the foundation to the roof, each…
In the 1960s, mushroom use became associated with psychedelia and youth counterculture, the so-called hippies. Today, researchers are studying other fungi for much different purposes. Mycelium, for example, is a web of fungal fibers that can flourish in organic refuse and dimness. It might serve as a foundation for eco-friendly flame-resistance. At the RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) in Australia, scientists are manipulating mycelium’s structure chemically to enhance its fire-inhibiting characteristics. Typically, fungi are discovered in a composite form blended with residual feed material. However, RMIT discovered a method to cultivate pure mycelium sheets that can be layered and…
With the trend to all electric homes and commercial buildings, suppliers are rapidly moving their product lines to provide the required controls and apps. A leader in this is Schneider Electric, a specialist in the digital transformation of energy management and automation. The company has been fleshing out its connected devices and controls under the Connected Room Solution and other lines. Occupant comfort in any space is best optimized when the temperature, lighting, occupancy, and humidity are accounted for in the room. Knowing the number of occupants in a room enables proactive conditioning for the space. It is no longer a…
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed by President Biden on Nov. 15, 2021, and authorized $1.2 trillion of investment through existing and new programs. Among other provisions, this bill provides new funding for infrastructure projects, including: roads, bridges, and major projects; passenger and freight rail; highway and pedestrian safety; public transit; broadband; ports and waterways; airports; water infrastructure; power and grid reliability and resiliency; resiliency, including funding for coastal resiliency, ecosystem restoration, and weatherization; clean school buses and ferries; electric vehicle charging; addressing legacy pollution by cleaning up Brownfield and Superfund sites and reclaiming abandoned mines; and Western…
When you hear the words virtual visualization and digital design you might think of Apple’s newest VR headset or maybe even your kid’s video game console. However, virtual technology is increasingly working its way into a space that, until relatively recently, operated exclusively in the material world. The construction industry is in the midst of a significant transformation spurred on by the adoption of digital technologies. At a time when labor shortages are commonplace, material costs can change by the hour, and memories of a not-too-distant global pandemic still linger, owners have been more willing to give new technology a…
The construction industry, often associated with labor-intensive tasks and time-consuming processes, is experiencing a remarkable transformation with the advent of AI (artificial intelligence). AI technologies have the potential to revolutionize the construction sector by improving efficiency, enhancing safety measures, reducing costs, and enabling intelligent decision-making. From project planning and design to on-site operations and maintenance, AI’s integration promises to unlock unprecedented possibilities. AI plays a crucial role in project planning and design by providing sophisticated tools to streamline processes. Through machine learning algorithms, AI can analyze vast amounts of data from previous projects, identify patterns, and generate accurate cost and…