2016 Construction Technology Survey Reveals Top Trends and Apps

December 9, 2016 Shane Hedmond

via JBKnowledge's 2016 COnstruction Technology Report

As far as technology goes, the construction industry is behind. We’ve done our best throughout the past couple of decades to resist all incoming technological advancements, because who needs some fancy, new-fangled computer machine when you’ve got hands made of steel and a work ethic that could shame an Alaskan sled dog? Well, these times, they are a changin’, and construction companies throughout the world are starting to realize the benefits of using better technology in both the office and in the field.

JBKnowledge, a construction technology company responsible for software such as SmartBid, SmartReality, and SmartCompliance, has recently released their 5th Annual Construction Technology Report, after successfully receiving over 2,600 participant entries.

China is Building a Full-Scale Replica of the Titanic

December 7, 2016 Shane Hedmond

One of the most famous ships in history, the Titanic, is getting re-born in the form of a full size replica, which will serve as a tourist attraction for residents and visitors of China. The original ship, which hit an iceberg in 1912, causing it to sink, was the subject of the record breaking film, also named the Titanic, in 1997. According to NPR, a replica about 90% of the size of the original was built for the movie, but later sunk after filming was completed.

OSHA Releases Free Construction Safety Guide for Small, Medium Sized Contractors

December 5, 2016 Shane Hedmond

A large focus of the construction industry, especially in recent years, is jobsite safety. Many large companies have significant resources set aside specifically for safety, but, unfortunately, that may be impossible for many small and medium sized construction companies to handle. As of the first quarter of 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there are over 768,000 construction companies currently operating in the private industry and over 6.7 million construction workers between them. That’s a lot of companies and workers to keep safe throughout the year.

Google Releases Timelapse Videos of 32 Years of Satellite Images of 193 Major Cities

December 2, 2016 Shane Hedmond

In 1984, Ronald Reagan was president, the Detroit Tigers won the World Series, The Los Angeles Raiders won the Super Bowl, and Beverly Hills Cop was the biggest box office hit. Needless to say, a lot has changed since 1984, especially how many of our cities look. Google has recently released timelapse videos of 193 major cities across the world to show how much they have changed in the past 32 years.

Images From Space Show San Fran Tower Sinking Faster Than Expected

December 1, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Photo: ESA SEOM INSARAP study / PPO.labs / Norut / NGU.  Red dots show areas that are sinking, green indicates no movement.  The Millennium Tower is pictured in the center. — Photo: ESA SEOM INSARAP study / PPO.labs / Norut / NGU. Red dots show areas that are sinking, green indicates no movement. The Millennium Tower is pictured in the center.

San Francisco’s luxury high-rise condo tower has received plenty of bad news recently and the building and its developers are entwined in plenty of lawsuits. Since the Millennium Tower’s grand opening in 2009, the building has sunk around 16 inches and is even tilting several inches to the northwest. This news has residents worried that their home is valueless and has fingers being pointed every which way. Recently released satellite images show that the situation may not be getting better, either.

Japan’s Repaired Sinkhole Causes Road Closure After Sinking Again

November 30, 2016 Shane Hedmond

photo via Takashima Soichiro's Facebook Page

Last week, Japanese construction workers earned plenty of praise after they were able to repair a gigantic 90 foot by 88 foot by 50 foot sinkhole that formed in Fukuoka, Japan in the middle of a 5 lane road in under a week. A timelapse video of the repair can be watched by clicking here. This week, CNN reported that the road had to be closed again after it began to sink again.

OSHA: Trench Collapse Deaths Have More Than Doubled in 2016

November 18, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Trench collapse deaths are easily preventable. I’ll say it again: trench collapse deaths are easily preventable. So if they’re preventable, how do they continue to happen every year? Ignorance to safety rules, lack of supervision, pressures of time and money, and sometimes, outright laziness are all factors in trench related deaths and injuries. I’ve been on too many jobsites in my relatively young construction career that have extremely poor procedures for working in trenches and I’ve gotten every excuse in the book. The vast majority don’t even understand the basic requirements. At 4 feet deep, you need to provide a means of egress, at 5 feet deep you need proper protective systems, and keep soil and other materials 2 feet away from the edge of the trench. Those are the basics, everyone should know them.

[VIDEO] Watch a Giant Sinkhole Swallow a 5 Lane Road in Japan

November 17, 2016 Shane Hedmond

One of the challenges with construction is determining how your work can and will affect the existing conditions surrounding your job site. That’s why it’s increasingly important to not only perform proper due diligence procedures, but also react to the findings. That, unfortunately, doesn’t always happen and could potentially be what caused a massive sinkhole in Fukuoka, Japan, last week.

Tests Have Begun on “Living Wall” to Cover Scaffolding with Grasses, Plants

November 15, 2016 Shane Hedmond

One of the toughest aspects of construction in heavily populated or close-quarters areas is the control of noise and other pollutants. The public’s worries about these items can stall or kill projects before they begin. If and when they project actually begins, complaints can roll into the governing agencies causing project delays and/or fines.

Arup, a design, engineering, and consulting team in the United Kingdom, has been developing a living wall system, which they think can reduce the noise and improve the air quality surrounding ongoing construction projects.

[VIDEO] Watch 58 Cranes Fill the Construction Site of the World’s Largest Airport

November 14, 2016 Shane Hedmond

There’s no doubt that Liebherr, the popular manufacturer of cranes used throughout the world, works on some of the coolest projects. Last year, the company shared a video of one of their cranes working 10,000 in the air on top of the Wetterstein Mountains, which also happens to be the highest point in Germany. They also created one of our favorite construction videos ever when they displayed one of their gigantic cranes lifting three other cranes at the same time. This time, Liebherr is showing off their swarm of 58 tower cranes gracing the skies of the new largest airport in the world in Istanbul.

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