Author: Peggy Smedley
Small communities are making big leaps, all in the name of connectivity. We know infrastructure is key for all areas of life and business—and perhaps one area this is present is better data communication for data centers. This helps powers our connected, energy-efficient homes and cities. Time to take a closer look at what’s happening in one community where construction has already begun on new fiber duct—and similar efforts are being made elsewhere to connect our towns and homes. Harbor Link Holdings has begun construction on a new fiber-optic infrastructure build connecting Alexandria to Ashburn, Va. The license agreement issued…
The digital twin continues to enable interoperability of infrastructure data for engineering firms and owner operators to use in design, construction, and operations workflows. Add to this the metaverse, and the future is data-driven for construction. This was evident last week, which featured a bevy of announcements at Bentley Systems 2022 Year in Infrastructure Conference. “I will go so far as to say the metaverse will be essential for visualizing construction processes. It is just very natural to use the most immersive environment and to use it in an interoperable way,” says Greg Bentley, CEO, Bentley Systems. This is where…
Part of our sustainability journey is implementing ESG (environmental, social, and governance) best practices into our businesses and leveraging technology to reach new heights. Another part of our sustainability journey is leveraging clean energy and innovation in a variety of industrial applications. We are seeing the rise of hydrogen use, as an option for a clean source of energy in a variety of industrial applications—but now we are also seeing opportunities in residential markets as well, as utilities are exploring delivery solutions to enable their customers to use hydrogen for emission reduction. Consider the example of Southern California Gas, which…
One of the age-old challenges with mentorship is it can be hard to quantify a ROI (return on investment). While it may not be completely necessary to quantify such investments, an interesting study crossed my desk recently that shows apprenticeships do in fact lead to a positive ROI. And here’s a case in point. The six-year study—by Abt Associates—of the U.S. DOL’s (Dept. of Labor’s) American Apprenticeship Initiative found apprentices’ wages increased and employers experienced a positive return on investment. The $175 million, five-year grants program, which the DOL launched in 2015, promoted equity by expanding apprenticeships to populations underrepresented…
What is a sustainable home? Everyone has a different definition. The Living Lab in South Carolina has been striving to be a model for sustainable living. I also like to see what others are doing to create more sustainable and eco-friendly developments. Consider a new development on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Hunters Point luxury homes are certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum, and are net-positive, meaning they each generate more energy than they consume, and provide a “grid free” experience while annually saving 8 tons of CO2 that would otherwise be emitted. Currently under development, Hunters Point has…
The future of manufacturing could be self-healing. For several years, I have been talking about circularity, and why it is so important that we move to a more sustainable world. In the years ahead, the materials themselves will change. Let’s consider what the future might look like—but first, let’s journey back. For centuries, durable paper and ruffled lace collars were used for packaging products, but the folding cardboard boxes as we know them today were created by accident by an American printer named Robert Gair roughly 150 years ago. Most of us never knew the history, nor did we really…
The construction industry has a two-fold challenge when it comes to the workforce challenge that exists today: attracting new employees and retaining existing ones. The hurdles are mounting, but the solutions are myriad, as we move ahead into a new era of work. The Problem The ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) suggests the construction industry will need to attract nearly 650,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2022. Looking to the future, in 2023, the industry will need to bring in nearly 590,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand. The…
I have been talking about sustainability, climate change, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) for several years now—and now it is all coming to a point where individuals and businesses alike are also beginning to talk about it as well. In fact, many people around the world recognize climate change is a top concern in all geographies. But not surprising, these terms mean different things to different people and different companies and so is adoption levels. A research report reinforces this messaging and so much more. AXA’s ninth edition of its Future Risks Report studies the evolution of perceptions of…
Distracted Driving Awareness Month is every April, but we constantly need to be talking about how to keep our roads a little bit safer. The total number of deaths caused by road traffic accidents in 2020 was 38,824—which is far too many. I believe the solution to this problem is three-fold—and that everyone in industry, academia, and government need to work together to solve this together. My interest was especially piqued when a report crossed my desk about the most dangerous state to drive in and my new home state—South Carolina—was near the top of the list. The research conducted…
State by state, we are seeing more rollout out plans for EV (electric vehicle) infrastructure. Here in my home state of South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster recently signed an executive order, which formalizes the governor’s efforts to coordinate the future rollout of the state’s electric vehicle infrastructure. The Governor announced Executive Order 2022-31 that: Designates an EV Coordinator to serve as a “one stop” resource for the public, business community, and industry stakeholders on EV related issues.Coordinates implementation of strategic initiatives designed to prioritize/enhance ongoing economic development and recruitment efforts by identifying, encouraging, and incentivizing EV and automotive manufactures to…