Robotic termites are making news. The phrase may not be familiar to many, but Harvard researchers and others entrenched in the future of building and urban landscapes are turning to a practice dubbed “swarm construction systems.” It’s an exercise that has robots working together to build structures. The practice was highlighted on a CNBC…(Read More)
Graphene and a self-healing concrete are among the six construction materials that will likely transform the future of building. Dina Spector, a reporter at Business Insider takes a look at the brighter, lighter, and more energy efficient materials that have the attention of engineers and researchers. http://www.businessinsider.com/futuristic-construction-materials…(Read More)
Is your organization up to speed on behavioral interviews? Construction companies and other employers don’t want rehearsed examples from candidates about their past work successes and challenges. Instead, decision makers want talent to explain how they might behave in a specific situation. As Steve Squier, strategic director at Seven Step RPO writes, behavioral interviews…(Read More)
The construction and building trades were once the kings of apprenticeships, but those days are long gone. Manufacturing and other sectors are working to create innovative programs, especially for those who don’t plan to attend college full-time. These new initiatives are attractive to young adults who get paid on-the-job training, and…(Read More)
Industry execs say building is most active in the energy, automotive, and higher education sectors. Matt Verst, director of cost planning and estimating for Messer Construction, contends companies are once again pursuing capital projects. Messer Construction, which builds in five states, is keeping busy. “Over the last year, their confidence has picked up, and they…(Read More)
Some 288,000 jobs, including many in construction, were created last month. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the latest figures have brought optimism to the business community. The jobless rate in April slipped to 6.3 percent, signaling the largest decrease in unemployment since September, 2008. A much anticipated break in the…(Read More)
A survey from CareerBuilder finds that 57 percent of businesses, including construction companies, will be hiring recent college grads in 2014. That’s up from 53 percent last year and 44 percent in 2010. According to a post on USAToday.com, the uptick is positive news, despite the fact that beginning salaries are unchanged from…(Read More)
The U.S. News/Raytheon STEM Index, a comprehensive measurement tool that analyzes key factors relating to science, technology, engineering and math jobs and education, has released its findings. A post on USNews.com states: “After a long period of flat to down indicators, there has been some upward movement, particularly in the actual number…(Read More)
The evolvement of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one of the industry’s major technology disruptors. So says Amy Bunszel, vice president of the AutoCAD Product Line Group of Autodesk. “These technology disrupters are enabling products to be built today that could not have even been envisioned or executed 15 to 20 years ago,” says…(Read More)
Technology that began as a military reconnaissance project for soldiers navigating the layout of a room will soon be field tested in the construction industry. The Rapid Building Energy Modeler (RAPMOD) is a high tech backpack that’s outfitted with a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanner, an inertial measurement unit and a visible light…(Read More)
