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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
On December 3, 2018, I attended the first annual Asian | Turkish | Indo-American Chambers of Commerce Real Estate and Construction Summit in Houston, Texas. There were three industry panels that provided a treasure trove of industry insights and data along with two powerful keynote speakers including State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Glenn…
The mechanic’s and materialmen’s lien, more commonly known as the M&M lien, protects contractors and subcontractors in the event of a dispute regarding labor or services performed. An M&M lien is a way to recoup loss of payment by attaching a lien to a property, making it more difficult to sell or forcing a foreclosure…
Construction jobsites will one day be bustling with “terminator-type,” humanoid robots, according to Scott Peters, president and co-founder of Construction Robotics, but that future may be a long ways off for the industry. For now, the Victor, New York-based company recognizes that human workers have unique expertise and problem-solving skills to offer, and that to increase…
When McKinsey released a report in February 2017 about construction’s productivity gap, much attention was given to the industry’s abysmal 1% annual productivity growth rate, which is less than half of the 2.8% global construction growth rate. However, McKinsey’s report said U.S. contractors could increase productivity in part by “infusing digital technology, new materials and…
