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.

Study: Cement Absorbs Percentage of Greenhouse Gases It Creates

December 8, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Cement factory in China.  Photo by Jonathan Kos-Read, CC BY-ND 2.0 — Cement factory in China. Photo by Jonathan Kos-Read, CC BY-ND 2.0

Concrete is one of the world’s favorite building materials; it’s strong, simple to mix, and generally widely available. Its dirty little secret has always been centered around one of its main ingredients: cement. To make cement, crushed rock and other ingredients are fed into a kiln that heats the components at temperatures reaching 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. Those extreme temperatures cause large amounts of carbon dioxide to be released into the air and, combined with the carbon dioxide that’s produced just to burn the fossil fuels to heat the kiln, it makes cement one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases in the world, 5% in total.

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.

Game Company Raised $100K to Dig a Hole for No Reason

December 6, 2016 Shane Hedmond

Holes are dug every day on construction sites throughout the world, but they have a purpose, whether they’re for foundations, utility lines, or ponds. The hole is typically not the end game, it’s usually the beginning. That’s not true for game company The Cards Against Humanity, though, as they recently dug a hole for 2 days for absolutely no reason and got paid a bunch of money to do it.

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.

[VIDEO] Construction Workers Rescue a Giant Bear Stuck Underground

November 29, 2016 Shane Hedmond

If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters, obviously. But, If there’s a large animal stuck in the ground, who ya gonna call? Construction workers. Earlier this year, construction workers were able to rescue a small deer that had gotten stuck in some pretty deep mud with an excavator, but just recently construction crews were called in to rescue a much more terrifying animal: a gigantic bear.

New Overtime Pay Rule Halted by Courts, Effective Date Delayed

November 28, 2016 Shane Hedmond

It’s been a tumultuous year between several governmental agencies and businesses alike and, because of that, both sides have been repeatedly put into a state of limbo. Three new major rule changes have made headlines, especially in the construction industry, this year, including an injury and illness record keeping and reporting rule, a “blacklisting” rule, and an overtime pay rule.

Congratulations to our 2020 Best Construction Podcast Award Winner, Bridging the Gap!