Author: Laura Black
On Aug. 1, 2007, just after 6pm, the Interstate 35W over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minn., collapsed. It took 111 vehicles and 13 lives. The collapse also injured 145 people. The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) ultimately determined the probable cause of the collapse was the inadequate load capacity, due to a design error. But what if technology could tell us about an error and inadequate load capacity before a collapse occurred? It can. Let’s look at one recent example from Rhode Island. Consider this: The Rhode Island DOT (Dept. of Transportation) is using measurement technology from Kistler to…
Here at Constructech we have been writing about the construction software market for more than two decades, following the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the big transitions that have happened in the space. From new funding to M&As (mergers and acquisitions), to partnerships, the industry has changed a lot in the past several years. Where are we now? Let’s take a closer look at new trends in the market today. The construction management software market size is estimated at $9.73 billion in 2024, according to Mordor Intelligence. This is anticipated to be up 9.33% by 2029, reaching…
Let’s face it. Construction can be a dangerous industry to work in and the statistics tell a terrifying story. But there are opportunities—opportunities to do things differently with new processes, partnerships, and technologies. The Challenge Earlier this year, Claris Design-Build compiled some interesting statistics that paint a picture of injury in the construction industry. Let’s consider some of these numbers. Every year, 1 in 100 construction workers gets injured severely enough to need time off work. What’s more, construction has the second most workplace deaths, behind only truck driving. Perhaps the most frightening statistics is one in every five workers…
We have all heard the stats: women make up roughly 11% of construction workers and only 4% of skilled trades. We have been citing these numbers here at Constructech for far longer than any of us would like to admit, but the truth is the numbers have stayed stagnant for years. Of course, the 2020 pandemic caused a shakeup for women in the workforce, and it seems we might be headed in the wrong direction. The general labor force numbers from the U.S. BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) tell perhaps the most revealing tale of the tape. And what they…
Generative AI (artificial intelligence) is supposed to heighten productivity, right? Not according to one recent survey. Before we start this blog, let’s preface it with the fact that there is real and true value that generative AI can offer to multiple industries—but we are in the very early stages of it, which means we are still sorting out what it means for businesses. Let’s wade through some of the research to determine how AI is really being used today. Or if gen AI is actually being used? There are many reports out there citing the wide swaths of people who…
What does a career in construction look like? What are the benefits? What are the challenges? Can construction professionals find job satisfaction, growth, and good compensation in this career? Naturally, the answers to these questions vary, depending on which segment of construction and which position, but there are some interesting general takeaways worth considering. First, let’s look at the data from a recent survey. TollFreeForwarding.com researched online review data for 200 companies across industries and ranked them based on the following criteria: culture and values, diversity and inclusion, work-life balance, compensation, career opportunities, and senior management satisfaction. Using these rankings,…
Today, we wrap up our blog series on people, process, and technology. Last week, we spent a lot of time looking at the importance of technology in today’s construction market. Now, let’s look to the future and examine what is truly coming in the coming years, as it relates to technology in the construction industry. When it comes to new, emerging technologies, there is perhaps no bigger elephant in the room than generative AI (artificial intelligence). But truth be told, there is both optimism and trepidation when it comes to generative AI in business. AI in Small Businesses Generally speaking,…
If you have been following along here this summer, then you know we are in the middle of a blog series, focusing on people, process, and technology. Today, we are going to begin our exploration of technology in construction, but first let’s review the other pillars briefly. People: We have already explored the people leg of the stool: the value of people, the worker of tomorrow, and why and how to put people to work. Process: Last week, we unpacked the process leg of the stool, identifying why we need good processes and how to implement good processes. Naturally, while…
This summer, we are embarking on a blog series, where we are looking at the importance of people, process, and technology. We can’t have one without the other. If one of the legs of the three-legged stool crashes, the whole thing will come tumbling down. We have already explored the people leg of the stool: the value of people, the worker of tomorrow, and why and how to put people to work. For today’s blog, let’s turn our attention to the process. Why Do We Need Good Processes? Process is the glue that holds everything together. As we are implementing…
People are the key to any successful construction project. We must ensure we train and retain them, in order to maximize efficiency on projects. But we also must continually reevaluate their roles on the projects as well. Sometimes work changes and the job demands different skillsets. For today’s blog, let’s wrap up the “people” portion of our people, process, and technology series by looking at the importance of reskilling, upskilling, and new skilling. All about Reskilling Reskilling is simply learning a new skill or set of skills so that a worker can do a new or different job. Or it…