Author: Peggy Smedley
Innovation is key to achieving a more sustainable world and to reach the decarbonization goals that many have set as a target for the years ahead. To limit warming to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels—as outlined in the Paris Agreement—global greenhouse gas emissions will need to peak before 2025. Then they must decline by 43% by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, according to the United Nations. We continue to see many organizations come together to come up with unique ideas that will lead to more sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. Consider the example of Holcim, which has a purpose…
As we move forward into a new era of work, with technology in the office, at the jobsite, and everywhere in between, we must continue to determine how to best train workers on the task at hand and the systems, tools, and equipment being used. This is vital for everyone’s safety and for the overall success of the project. Across the world, we continue to see new programs and initiatives aimed at training construction workers. Africa Case Study Let’s start in Gabon, in West Central Africa, where XCMG Machinery is partnering with AVIC Intl. Holdings Corp., to support local technical…
With the rise of generative AI (artificial intelligence), many businesses are looking to generate a better understanding of how this specific technology could fit within a business context. Case studies are always a great way to better understand how a technology may fit within a certain industry or business. We know roughly 90% of CIOs have already integrated generative AI into their processes and 99% are planning to ramp up investment in the next 3-6 months. Today, let’s explore one specific case study for generative AI that is already underway. Lumen Technologies works in the telecommunications industry, providing metro connectivity…
In the past year, there has been a lot of discussion about the benefits ChatGPT offers many consumers. But now the question remains is it a good option for businesses? Now OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Enterprise. Let’s unpack the details of the announcement and how it might impact the construction enterprise in general. ChatGPT is a term that is used widely these days, but to sum it up a bit more briefly it is an AI (artificial intelligence) model trained by OpenAI, which is a startup funded by Microsoft. OpenAI says it can “generate, edit, and iterate with users on…
Is the EV (electric vehicle) market growing or stalling? What about the electric bus market? There have been some big shakeups in the market in the past month. And with all the discussion surrounding this market, I thought it might be worth a look, especially if this could put the future of EV buses on hold here in South Carolina. At the beginning of August, Proterra announced its intent to voluntarily file for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the District of Delaware in an effort to strengthen its financial position through recapitalization. For those who…
Sustainability is becoming a big trend to watch with data centers. The reality is there is currently a lot of space that isn’t being used. Instead of building new buildings, it is more efficient and there are a lot of ways to use what is already here. I recently had an opportunity to have a conversation about this very topic with Emilia Coverdale, marketing project manager, Asperitas. She says, “With immersion, you can save up to one-fifth of the floor space. That is only aspect one. But linked to that, with air cooling, you have to have a specific type…
EVs (electric vehicles) offer big promise to communities around the world—but is it equitable? That seems to be the query everyone is asking these days and it is certainly a good one that many companies, nonprofits, and government are questioning. Here in South Carolina, we see the rise of electric vehicles, both in terms of an increase in manufacturing and consumer adoption. Now, we are seeing one company offered rides in EVs and requested feedback on if this is a realistic future transportation option for the community. In August, Dash EV offered rides in the Nicholtown community. In partnership with…
Safe driving is critical for everyone—drivers, pedestrians, bikers, you name it. As construction workers, we also know safe driving is critical for the lives of those who work in construction work zones. For today’s blog, let’s look at how technology is advancing in effort to make the driving experience a little bit safer for all. ABI Research recently released a report titled Integrating Driver Monitoring Systems, which looks at how automotive safety has evolved in the past 10 years. Journey back with me for a minute. The Past In the last decade, we have seen the rise of active safety…
Developers are critical to bringing the next great innovation to all walks of life—but they often don’t want to be locked into vendor-specific tools and they need open-source communities and third-party applications to create the next great technology. They also need someone to come alongside them on the journey to certification and approval. If we want to spark great ideas and enable developers to follow through with those inevitable creations, then we need to make the processes as easy for them as possible. It’s all about collaboration. Silicon Labs recognizes the importance announcing the Series 3 platform. The goal here…
Energy efficiency is a top priority for many homeowners today, as we are seeing the rise of such trends as net zero and passive housing. Now, more organizations are spurring passive housing, which is a set of building standards that creates comfortable and healthy structures yet consume very little energy. There are many ways to achieve passive housing, including airtightness, above-code thermal insulation, mechanical ventilation heat recovery, high performance windows, and thermal bridge-free construction, as just a few examples. For this column, let’s explore one specific instance of passive housing in the Chicagoland area. Preservation of Affordable Housing has closed…