Issue 34
January 2019
DFW Airport Selected for $5 million Transportation Study
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $5 million to invest in a DFW Airport transportation study. The study will be conducted in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and other national leaders in transportation, aviation and aerospace to maximize energy productivity and identify improvements in convenience,…
METRO Sets New Standard with Tech Innovation: Personalized Navigation Tool Introduced
METRO riders now have the luxury of a personal guide thanks to a new tool. Today the agency launched an updated METRO TRIP App with enhanced My Stop Technology. The first-of-its-kind application relies on Bluetooth technology to provide riders very specific directions. The app displays exactly where to catch the bus and vibrates when the user reaches…
Ensuring Operational Safety When Utilizing Boom Lifts
Boom lifts have been a popular type of equipment on construction sites for years. The lift’s versatility makes it a perfect choice for tasks that need to be completed at a significant height. However, operators need specialized training to use this type of aerial lift. To keep a work site safe, boom lift operators must…
Mitigate risk with construction site monitoring
Construction jobsite theft costs the industry up to $1 billion each year and US businesses spend more than $170 billion dollars annually on work-related injuries. Adding cloud-managed construction cameras to remotely view and record jobsite activity could be the key to reducing theft and ensuring safety compliance. Onsite cameras are a two-birds-one-stone solution. In addition…
Missed Pulling a Permit or CO? Here are Five Tips That Can Help Get You Out of a Jam
There is always constant change in this industry that makes it fun to work in. Challenges with labor, juggling ways to incorporate new technology and how to push through a permit with umpteen revisions. One concern we hear about often from Project Owners is that their contractor did not pull a permit before starting construction…
Navigating the Ins and Outs of Texas Contingent Payment Clauses
Great! You landed a contract for a new build and your team is ready to get to work. All that’s left is to sign your John Hancock to the dotted line to make sure you and your crew get paid for the work that’s done. But wait, what’s this? “Progress payments to Subcontractor shall be…
How industry drone leaders scaled their programs
Just a few years ago, enterprise adoption of drones was out of reach for even the largest contractors, due to tight Federal Aviation Administration regulations and limited options in the drone hardware and software marketplace. But with the development of the Small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Part 107 regulations in 2016 — eliminating the requirement that commercial drone…
The iPad is the New Hammer
There are three main factors that drive the demand for mobile technology in the construction industry: leadership request, an increasingly mobile workforce and the growing need for real-time information. According to a recent study, more than 80 percent of construction professionals surveyed said that mobile capabilities are “very important” in improving their workflows. While the…
Six Ways Robotics Can Make ECs Safer
Electrical contractors (ECs) have dangerous jobs by nature since they work around electricity. However, robotics and other kinds of autonomous equipment could help ECs enjoy more safety every day. Here are six ways to implement robotics into the work ECs do. Remotely disconnect power sources ECs know how to work around electricity responsibly, but it’s…
Renewable Share of U.S. Energy Generation on a Slow and Steady Ascent
While optimism over the role of renewable energy in the United States is high, the challenge of overtaking fossil fuels en route to a larger share of the mix remains large. Despite the enormity of the task, renewable energy generation continues to expand at steady, although incremental, pace. Recent data from the U.S. Energy Information…
Houston leads construction job growth for the year ending October 2018
The Houston metropolitan area, according to an analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America, created 25,600 construction jobs — the largest number recorded out of 358 U.S. metros and a 12% increase — from October 2017 through October 2018. The construction industries in the Phoenix (16,700 jobs; 14%), Dallas (13,200; 9%) and…
Austin Gets Its First Composite Cross-Laminated Timber Structure
The site on East 6th Street just one block east of Interstate 35 is one of many patches of dirt undergoing rapid development in Austin today. Once occupied by an unpaved auto lot and an automotive garage, nearly half a city block is in the midst of a transformation that will bring five stories and…
Texas Bullet Train Moves Forward, Triggering New Round of Station Proposals
In August 2017, TCP announced that Fluor Enterprises and The Lane Construction Corporation had been added to the project, pooling their expertise in civil infrastructure to refine and update the rail line’s construction and sequencing; provide scheduling, cost estimates and procurement; and engage in other design and engineering activities. In December 2017, after nearly four…
Issue 33
December 2018
Turner and U of H’s Successful Collaborative Construction Class
Turner Construction Company and the University of Houston’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) department hosted their first collaborative Turner Advanced School of Construction Management program on October 23-25. The three-day course was based on the foundation of the Project Management Professionals Certification tailored specifically to construction. The course was hosted by James A. Brownrigg from Turner…
Texas Central Railroad A “Game Changer”; Tops List of Most Important North American Infrastructure Projects
The Texas Central high-speed railroad project was identified as a top infrastructure project in North America last week by the infrastructure advocacy group CG/LA in its annual “Strategic North American Infrastructure Report,” which identifies the “most imaginative and transformative” American infrastructure projects. The annual industry report is a product of a rigorous, six-month research and analysis effort by…
METRO Drives 10 million miles on CNG
Since 2016, Houston METRO has traveled 10 million miles with their fleet of compressed natural gas buses. The CNG fleet currently has 50 buses and will have 20 more by the end of 2018. Natural gas buses are leading the alternative fuels charge against outdated diesel and gasoline fuels. Houston is ranked 11th on the American Lung Association’s list of worst polluted…
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Crane Operator Certification Requirements
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a final rule today that clarifies certification requirements for crane operators, and maintains the employer’s duty to ensure that crane operators can safely operate the equipment. The final rule will maintain safety and health protections for workers while reducing compliance burdens. Under the final…
How to Create an OSHA-Compliant Safety Program
Regardless of the type of construction you perform, OSHA essentially requires that a safety program be developed and taught to any employee or crew member. Having a safety program written for and taught to employees should be standard practice for commercial contractors. Unfortunately, not having a safety program that is compliant with OSHA standards in…