By: Helen Callier Over the past few weeks, we attended the Build Expo in Austin, Texas. We had the opportunity to visit many of the exhibitors, go to workshops and meet with possible new vendors. While at the Expo, we also had the opportunity to speak with City of Austin folks. While speaking with them…
AUSTIN – Upstream* oil and natural gas employment rebounded with a 3,200 job gain in December, offsetting the 300 job drop in November, according to data from the Texas Workforce Commission. Texas has recovered 50% of jobs lost between the high point in employment in December 2014 and the low point in September 2016. Since the…
Talk about being blindsided! Your week was going great until you received notice that you have missed a court date, and now a default judgment has been filed against you. Maybe you never received the initial notice, or maybe you just plain forgot what day it was because of your hectic schedule. Doh! It’s okay….
What do you need to innovate in the Transformative Age? You need diversity. You need men. And you need women. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but it is also linked to a country’s overall economic performance. Organizations where women hold 30% of leadership positions could add up to 6% to their net margins,…
Construction has been slow compared to other industries to adopt technology, but it’s starting to catch up as technology gets more sophisticated to accommodate the industry’s unique needs. Michael C. Brown, a Skanska executive vice president and general manager in Florida, attributes construction’s tech dawdling to the idea that no two construction projects are the…
Businesses must remain alert for both future growth opportunities and potential threats. The dawn of advanced technology has enabled, and in many cases forced, quick mobilization into different growth areas, rapid industrialization and wide ranging global expansion. It has also brought profound change, such as improved healthcare, better access to finance and educational opportunities. And…
The science behind converting farming or plant leftovers into next-generation, lower-emission biodiesel could one day transform how heavy-duty drivers fill their tanks. Clariant, an expert in extracting sugars from agriculture residue – inedible plant fiber, like wheat straw and cornstalks that farmers have only limited use for – is partnering with ExxonMobil and Renewable Energy Group…
Shop class is making a comeback in Texas, where immigration enforcement has left the construction industry with a lack of skilled workers, Dallas News reported. The Dallas-Fort Worth area alone is short about 20,000 to 30,000 construction workers. Once cut from the curriculum in many high schools and community colleges, shop is back, with a focus on skills…
To design for optimal energy efficiency, architects must embrace early collaboration with engineers and energy modelers. As architects, we can design our buildings in a way that celebrates sustainability and energy efficiency and best leverages the skills of mechanical engineers and energy modelers. We can find opportunity for strong aesthetics and sensitivity to users while also celebrating…
Many prospective homeowners remain uncertain as to how an architect can influence and benefit a residential design project. The following are six distinct and valuable services your architect will typically provide. Programming The initial phase in which the architect and homeowner discuss the goals, needs, and function of the project; design expectations and available budget;…
Look out California, Texas is now the top state to do business in, and for Minority, Women and Veteran-Owned Businesses, that means it is time to expand! Why are companies leaving California? A recent study by Joseph Vranich from Spectrum Location Solutions showed that from 2008 to 2016 more than 13,000 businesses left California and…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
