Building and development in Manhattan is busier than ever, so why are companies losing millions of dollars? Some architects are blaming the Department of Buildings, which has 500 inspectors and too many requests for their expertise. The New York Post says few applicants have the required background as a construction supervisor. Currently, inspectors have to…(Read More)
How can 4D CAD building modelling improve various phases of projects? It can help construction pros, engineers, and architects visualize scheduling and improve coordination between various departments and entities. It can also advance documentation and communication. A review of 4D modelling on Archinect.com addresses some potential limitations to 4D. One is the necessity of…(Read More)
Nearly 40 percent of women with engineering degrees either leave the field after five years or never work in it at all. The research was presented at the American Psychological Association’s annual conference. “Among women who left less than five years ago, two-thirds said they pursued better opportunities in other fields while a…(Read More)
The head of the New York Building Congress predicts construction spending in New York City will jump 10 percent in 2014 to $31.5 billion. It would be the first time construction spending has exceeded $30 billion since 2010. Richard Anderson, president of the New York Building Congress, says there is a lot of confidence…(Read More)
Employers will want to keep an eye on this story. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is mulling over new rules that to prohibit companies from discouraging or penalizing employees from reporting injuries and illnesses. That includes threatening to fire or discipline them. TheHill.com reports that the public has 60 days to comment on…(Read More)
The 3rd Annual Construction Technology Report has been released. Some 1,000 builders were asked about IT staffing, outsourcing, R&D, and cloud solutions used during the building process. James Benham, president of JB Knowledge, a technology consulting company for the construction industry, said most companies still lack the infrastructure to integrate mobile with…(Read More)
The remainder of 2014 looks promising for the construction industry. Leaders from the Associated Builders and Contractors and the American Institute of Architects are among those predicting economic improvements will last into 2015. Low interest rates and surging energy production are two of the factors driving the uptick. http://www.constructionmagnet.com/rural-builder…(Read More)
Construction companies are digging deeper into their pockets when purchasing materials and supplies. There have been fractional increases these past few months, which has gotten the attention of Chief Economist Anirban Basu of the Associated Builders and Contractors. Prices may continue to rise—albeit modestly—through the rest of 2014. Materials including softwood lumber, crude…(Read More)
Managing mega construction projects can bring mega complexities and mega headaches. The secret to keeping problems to a minimal is early planning and superior project management. This post on AreaDevelopment.com offers several recommendations when managing huge infrastructure initiatives or complex plant development projects. PMs must assign project tasks early, choose the right project delivery…(Read More)
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have punted and decided to send the transportation bill back to the Senate…and recess for the next five weeks. The move has led to uncertainty about how road projects across the country will be funded. There’s also significant concern about the future of the fund…(Read More)
