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Articles by Jeffrey Rubenstone
China Firm Plans To Erect World's Tallest Building in Seven Months
On July 20, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in Changsha, China, for Sky City, an 838-meter-tall, 202-floor mixed-use tower that, if completed, would be the tallest building in the world. The $1.47-billion project is the brainchild of Changsha-based Broad Group, which plans to use its own modular fabrication and construction techniques to erect the supertall building in only seven months.
New York Ponders Plan For Next Storm
Groundwork for reducing future storm-surge damage in New York City began years ago. Academics and engineers have long offered scientific assessments of the risks and proposed a variety of solutions using both hard and soft infrastructure. While questions remain, many experts agree on two things: Severe flooding risk will continue to increase and dedicated, multidisciplinary professionals must work together with the public to plan a response to those risks.
Entrepreneurs Taking Tool Ideas to Kickstarter
The initial idea for the Ergonomic Shovel came from personal experience, says inventor Stephen Bosse. "Shoveling is tough," he says. "You get tired and sore. So I came up with this pen-and-paper design for a more comfortable shovel." Bosse was studying entrepreneurship and finance at Loyola Marymount University when he decided to make the shovel his thesis. "That was two years ago when I first pitched it, and I ended up winning the business-model competition."
Record-Size Swimming Pools Come to the U.S. for the First Time
The manufacturer of the world's largest artificial swimming pools, Santiago, Chile-based Crystal Lagoons, has announced plans to build its massive recreational lagoons in the United States. In a deal announced on June 25, Tampa, Fla.-based Metro Development Group will oversee construction of four artificial lagoons in Florida using Crystal Lagoons' technology.
Construction Tech's Startup Scramble
With a flood of new interest in construction technology from traditional venture capitalists and technology startups, many in the industry can feel burnt out from the relentless boosterism and showmanship of Silicon Valley elevator pitches. But beneath this cacophony is a general wave of adoption of new technologies, and many in the construction industry are dead set on not missing out. The headlines for investment in complete solution tech companies have soured recently.
Tricky Takedown of Tower Cranes Readied Collapsed New Orleans Hotel for Demolition
When the under-construction Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans partially collapsed on Oct. 12, the initial response was one of search and rescue, as well as a dramatic effort to secure the site that led to the controlled demolition of two tower cranes. Now more than a month out from the disaster, the City of New Orleans has said that the entire building will be demolished. The mayor’s office announced on Nov.
Collapsed New Orleans Hotel Set to Be Fully Demolished
When the under-construction Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans partially collapsed on Oct. 12, the initial response was one of search and rescue, as well as a dramatic effort to secure the site that led to the controlled demolition of two tower cranes. Now more than a month out from the disaster, the City of New Orleans has said that the entire building will be demolished. The mayor’s office announced on Nov.
Virtual Assistant Offers Plain-Language Project Advice
When making financial decisions, many contractors are wary of loading up yet another analytics dashboard to throw numbers at them. Data overload can be a problem, and software developer Prophix sees a future in AI-based assistants that offer advice in more direct language. “Project managers and owners are used to getting information in reports,” explains Eric Newton, director of construction at Prophix. “Now they’re moving into these dashboards that can overload you with information.
United Rentals Pushes Big Data Benefits at User Meet-Up
Looking to capitalize on the vast stores of equipment performance data it has captured from its massive rental fleet, United Rentals announced a broad expansion of its Total Control fleet-management system and is hinting at major advances yet to come with Big Data and fully connected jobsites. “What we’re seeing is the evolution of Total Control,” says Paul McDonnell, United Rentals executive vice president and chief commercial officer.
Milwaukee Brings Batteries to Gas, Air-Powered Tool Classes
Getting the most power out of lithium-ion has been an ongoing arms race in the world of power tools in the past few years, and Milwaukee Tool just launched another major offensive in the battery wars. The MX FUEL line of tools—which includes a breaker and a 14-in. cutoff saw—are designed to tackle jobs that normally require tools running off gasoline engines or air compressors. “With MX FUEL, Milwaukee Tool is now a light equipment provider,” says Brian Alves, Milwaukee group product manager.
Two Tower Cranes Brought Down in Controlled Demolition at Site of New Orleans Hotel Collapse
Update: the content of this article has been updated on 10/20/19 More than a week after a partial collapse of a hotel under construction killed three construction workers and sent debris tumbling into a New Orleans street, a controlled demolition brought down two tower cranes damaged during the initial collapse. Despite the implosions the upper section of one of the cranes remained lodged on the damaging building as of Oct. 20.
US Elevator Industry Group Calls for Tighter Cybersecurity
Seeing the potential for malicious actors to attack vulnerable elevator control systems linked to the internet, an industry group of elevator manufacturers has proposed a set of cybersecurity guidelines. The National Elevator Industry Inc. (NEII)’s white paper outlines several possible pathways for hackers to compromise the software overseeing modern elevators.
Mechanical Exoskeleton Eases Strain of Overhead Work
Repetitive overhead tasks are rough on the back and shoulders and can result in stress injuries over time. Finding more ergonomic ways to do these tasks is not always an option, and jobs such as fire-suppression system installations and other MEP operations require extensive overhead work. While some companies have exoskeletons designed to improve lifting, Levitate’s Airframe exoskeleton is designed for overhead work.
Wash. State Regulator Issues Citations in Fatal Seattle Crane Collapse
Following a nearly six-month investigation, the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries has issues its findings in the collapse of a crane in Seattle on April 27 that killed three people, including two ironworkers dismantling the crane at the time. L&I issued citations for three companies involved totaling more than $100,000, focusing on the premature removal of pins securing sections of the tower together in anticipation of dismantling the crane.
Controlled Demolition of Tower Cranes Planned at Site of New Orleans Hotel Collapse
Nearly a week after a partial collapse of a hotel under construction killed three construction workers and sent debris tumbling into a New Orleans street, crews are now scrambling to secure and dismantle two tower cranes that were badly damaged during the accident. A controlled demolition of the two cranes is slated for Oct. 19. Portions of the upper floors of the under construction Hard Rock Hotel New Orleans collapsed on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 12.
Unstable Cranes, Crumbling Building Pose Hazard at New Orleans Hotel Collapse Site
Update 10/15/19: Latest information on the response to the collapse can be found further down the page An upper section of an 18-story hotel under construction in New Orleans partially collapsed on Saturday, Oct. 12, killing at least two and injuring eighteen. One other person at the site remained unaccounted for as of Oct 15, according to officials.
Two Dead, One Missing Following Partial Collapse of New Orleans Hotel
DRONE VIDEO captures the damage from the Hard Rock Hotel collapse on New Orleans' Canal Street Saturday morning. Courtesy of Brandon Knox Photography LLC. #Beon4 pic.twitter.com/AMO52D5xZ5 — WWL-TV (@WWLTV) October 12, 2019 An upper section of an 18-story hotel under construction in New Orleans partially collapsed on Saturday, October 12, killing at least two and injuring eighteen. One other person at the site remained unaccounted for as of Sunday evening, according to officials.
Two Dead, One Missing Following Partial Collapse at Hotel Site New Orleans
An upper section of an 18-story hotel under construction in New Orleans partially collapsed on Saturday, Oct. 12, killing at least two and injuring eighteen. One other person at the site remained unaccounted for as of Sunday evening, according to officials. The accident occurred Saturday morning, when the unfinished upper floors of the New Orleans Hard Rock Hotel partially collapsed, appearing to pancake along the perimeter of the structure.
Two Dead, One Missing Following Partial Collapse of New Orleans Hotel
An upper section of an 18-story hotel under construction in New Orleans partially collapsed on Saturday, Oct. 12, killing at least two and injuring eighteen. One other person at the site remained unaccounted for as of Sunday evening, according to officials. The accident occurred Saturday morning, when the unfinished upper floors of the New Orleans Hard Rock Hotel partially collapsed, appearing to pancake along the perimeter of the structure.
Dodge Report Finds Owners, Contractors Still at Odds Over Project Management Software
The problem of dual entry and having to maintain parallel project management platforms remains a persistent problem in construction, according to a new SmartMarket Report from Dodge Data & Analytics. Working from an online survey of construction owners and contractors, the report found that 42% of contractors reported that they had worked on a project where they had to use the owner’s preferred PM software alongside their own.
Analytics, Cloud Services Are Big Draw at Viewpoint Event
As the amount of digital data collected during construction continues to grow, stakeholders are asking for better intelligence on how projects are performing. Starting from the cost and financial data handled in the back office, Viewpoint Construction Software has announced a new cloud-based analytics platform that it hopes will eventually find hidden connections in profit fade and even in overall workforce performance.
Building a Better BIM Viewer, With Focus on Responsiveness
Getting BIM models to the field has been an ongoing struggle in the industry, with many ambitious stabs at cramming a whole BIM model onto a smartphone. But that focus has been all wrong, says Jukka Muhonen, head of production at Tridify, whose firm’s BIM viewer is targeting ease-of-use. “The difference is that we use the BIM not to just show you everything, but we can show you just the part you want,” he explains. “We can show you the entire building or a single apartment.
Equipment Maker CNH Industrial Outlines Spinoff of Business Unit, Future of Alternative Fuels
Citing a shift in the marketplace, heavy equipment manufacturer CNH Industrial announced on Sept. 3 that is is planning to spin-off of its on-road commercial truck business unit from its agricultural and construction equipment brands. The owner of the popular Case Construction Equipment and New Holland brands, CNH Industrial is a leading global manufacturer of equipment. The company reported $14 billion in revenue for the first half of 2018, a roughly 5.4% decline from the same period in 2018.
Box-Jacking Operation Moves Rail Underpass in a Weekend
When the Long Island Rail Road considered its options for moving multiple rail crossings below grade, it was anticipating weeks-long service disruptions. But an innovative method developed by an Italian engineer, never before used in the U.S., allowed it to put each new underpass in place with only a weekend shutdown.
Construction VC Firm Brick & Mortar Ventures Announces $97M Fund
There has been a rush of venture capital money into the construction technology sector in recent years, and some players already in the space are building out their positions as well. San Francisco-based Brick & Mortar Ventures has been expanding its funding for several construction technology startups in recent years, boosting software and hardware companies such as ManufactOn, Fieldwire, Serious Labs and Illumagear.
Crane Firm Pulled Off NYC Projects Following Multiple Incidents
Following a partial crane collapse at a site on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and a fatality in April on a jobsite in lower Manhattan, the New York City Dept. of Buildings announced on Aug. 12 that it is suspending United Crane & Rental’s work on 21 construction sites across the city. In a letter to United Crane & Rental dated Aug.
Mobile BIM Viewer Aims to Bring the Model to Trades on Site
Getting BIM models to the field on mobile platforms has hit some speed bumps in the past, but a new BIM viewer from Procore is the latest attempt to put full 3D building models in the hands of site workers. Working with complex BIM files, architects, engineers and architects develop a coherent, information-dense digital version of the structures they intend to build. But getting the information in that model to the workers on the site is a challenge.
Construction Jobs Picture Largely Unchanged in July, Unemployment Dips Slightly
With the summer construction season well underway, the employment situation for the industry hasn’t changed much in July. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that construction employment in July was relatively flat compared to June, with small gains in some sectors. Construction employment rose an unadjusted 0.1% adding some 4,000 jobs, off from larger gains in June. Year-over-year construction employment for July is up by roughly 2.8% in seasonally adjusted measurements.
Caterpillar Sees Drag From Energy Markets, Absorbs Tariff Costs in Second Quarter
Reporting strong sales in construction equipment but seeing ongoing expenses related to tariffs and reduced demand in the North American energy sector, Caterpillar offered tempered expectations for the equipment manufacturer’s performance for the rest of the year. Construction was a highlight for Cat in the second quarter of 2019, with a record $6.5 billion in sales, an increase of $295 million over Q2 2018.
In Need of Computing Muscle for BIM Detailing, a Specialty Contractor Goes to the Cloud
Most of the work that Southland Industries roughly 4,000 employees do tends to be hands-on, performing MEP installations on projects across the U.S. But that work can’t happen without the labor of its team of designers, building out and detailing the BIM models that make it possible for the company to integrate its work within larger projects. But the company was hitting the upper limits of what fully upgraded desktop PCs can perform, and it was cutting into the bottom line.
Dodge Study Points to Further Hurdles of Digitizing Project Data
Despite advances in recent years in the state of digital data management in construction, a new report from Dodge Data & Analytics with Viewpoint Construction Software shows there is still a great deal of work to be done. The report, “Improving Performance With Project Data,” offers some insights into the state of digital project data, based on a survey of contractors, construction managers and subcontractors in the construction industry.
Worker-Safety Tracking Clip Adds Access Control Features
When it was first introduced in 2016, Triax Technologies’ Spot-R clip was intended to detect when workers experienced a sudden fall, and pinpointing their location within a jobsite for safety responders. But the little clip has gotten a few new features over the years, and now include integration with access control checkpoints on jobsites. “Right now we log when people come and go when they come into range of our network,” explains Pete Schermerhorn, CEO of Triax Technologies.
Industry Seeks the Best in Tech at Annual ENR Conference
Industry technology professionals gathered in San Francisco June 3-5 to study the future of construction technology. ENR FutureTech attracted more than 700 attendees who came to shop for new technologies, gain insights to help make strategic decisions and learn how other firms are innovating and solving problems. Interest and investment in construction technology has grown steadily in recent years, and professionals came to find out what innovations are worth their time.
Mortenson Reaches Agreement To Deploy Fully Autonomous Equipment
In a bid to speed work on projects in remote sites and cope with labor shortages, Mortenson has announced an agreement with tech start-up Built Robotics to expand the contractor's deployments of fully autonomous construction projects on renewable energy projects. The deal was announced at the ENR FutureTech conference in San Francisco on June 4. The agreement will see more of Built Robotics’ equipment, which includes autonomous retrofits for dozers, excavators and skid steer loaders.
A Look at the Future of Lithium Ion Batteries
Leaps in lithium-ion battery technology during the last two decades sparked the smartphone revolution and drove the rise of electric vehicles. But these advances came after a long incubation period of research and development, and one expert tells ENR that while gradual improvements will continue for lithium ion, there aren’t any other major breakthroughs in batteries on the near horizon.
Construction Equipment Goes Electric, But Hurdles Remain
Electric-powered equipment has been adjacent to construction for some time. Electric machines are a common sight in mining, while indoor loading and material-handling equipment have long relied on battery power. But construction sites haven’t seen much electric equipment aside from the odd forklift or scissor lift. On-site power can be spotty, and recharging batteries can be a pain.
Mortenson Enters Agreement with Autonomous Equipment Provider
In a bid to speed work on projects in remote sites and cope with labor shortages, Mortenson has announced an agreement with tech start-up Built Robotics to expand the contractor's deployments of fully autonomous construction projects on renewable energy projects. The deal was announced at the ENR FutureTech conference in San Francisco on June 4. The agreement will see more of Built Robotics’ equipment, which includes autonomous retrofits for dozers, excavators and skid steer loaders.
Fully Autonomous Excavators and Dozers Deploy to Site
There’s been a lot of talk about getting autonomous construction equipment into the field, but few have been willing to use operatorless heavy iron on real sites. That’s where start-up Built Robotics sees opportunity, and now a deal with Sunstate Equipment promises to bring its autonomous earthmovers into the rental equipment stream. “The customers who can make the biggest use of our technology are those using heavy equipment for earthmoving,” says Noah Ready-Campbell, CEO of Built Robotics.
Study Finds Cranes Vulnerable to Hacking
When securing a jobsite against malicious hackers, most go to protect computer files, and few look up and worry about the tower cranes. But many cranes—whether tower, mobile or industrial—can be remotely run via radio wireless controllers, a useful feature for when operators need a clearer view of the load from the ground. Unfortunately, these wireless signals are vulnerable to hijacking, according to a study released earlier this year by security research firm Trend Micro.
Construction Cybercrime Is On the Rise
At the end of April, just as St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Brunswick, Ohio, neared the close of a five-month-long, $5.5-million renovation, Father Bob Stec, the parish pastor, was surprised to hear that the contractor, Marous Brothers Construction, Willoughby, Ohio, had not received a $1.7- million payment. “We were paying our bills.
Fatal Crane Collapse in Seattle Prompts Questions About Disassembly Procedures
A tower crane being dismantled collapsed Saturday, April 27 in Seattle, killing four people, including two ironworkers on the crane and two bystanders on the street below. The jobsite, located in a Google office development in Seattle's bustling South Lake Union neighborhood, is adjacent to a busy intersection where traffic had not been blocked off during the crane’s disassembly.
Compact Quadcopter Offers Thermal Imaging Capabilities
As consumer drones have gained sophistication and professional drones have come down in price, features previously limited to high-end devices are finding their way onto ever more affordable unmanned aerial vehicles. The latest example is Parrot’s ANAFI Thermal, a professional version of the consumer-grade ANAFI drone introduced in mid-2018.
Electric Equipment Steals the Show at Triennial Bauma Trade Fair
As the world’s largest equipment manufacturers convened in Munich for the Bauma equipment show April 4-14, the overriding question was what has changed in the industry since the last show three years ago. Well over half a million attendees came out to Bauma to see what the next big thing in construction equipment will be, and the proliferation of battery-driven equipment—encroaching on diesel-power’s dominance—was what turned heads.
Herrenknecht's Small-Diameter TBM Snags Innovation Award at Bauma 2019
Home » Herrenknecht's Small-Diameter TBM Snags Innovation Award at Bauma 2019 EquipmentProducts Cable-tunneling system boasts travel distances of over one kilometer The team at Herrenknecht took home a Bauma Innovation award in the "Machine" category for their E-Power Pipe system. Company founder Martin Herrenknecht seen here, second from left.
Gas Turbine Test Facility Brings A.I. to the Power Plant
Getting the most out of a gas turbine is key to managing power grids around the world, where shaving seconds off start-up and shut-down times keeps utilities afloat. So gas turbine manufacturer Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems is now looking to machine-learning algorithms to keep their turbines optimized at a new test facility in Japan.
Best Sports/Entertainment: Vivint SmartHome Arena Renovation
Owner ICON Venue Group Lead Design Firm SCI Architects PC General Contractor Okland Construction Inc. Structural Engineer Wilson & Co. Civil Engineer CRS Engineers MEP Engineer ME Engineers Electrical Engineer BNA Consulting When the project team for the renovation of the home arena of the Utah Jazz was given their deadline, they suspected this wouldn’t be an ordinary project. With an eye on completing the $80-million renovation during the brief NBA offseason, they knew it would be tight.
Firms Form Data Sharing Council to Advance Predictive Analytics
A case study by Suffolk Construction and image-analysis firm Smartvid.io into how machine-learning algorithms can improve safety and reduce risk has spurred the creation of the Predictive Analytics Strategic Council, an initiative by 10 major construction companies to share project data for A.I.-driven analysis.
Updated HoloLens Targets Construction Industry Users
When Microsoft first unveiled the HoloLens mixed-reality headset nearly four years ago, skeptics wondered whether the floating holograms of the bulky headset could serve the design and construction industry as more than a display tool. But after working closely with industry partners Bentley Systems and Trimble, Microsoft has announced HoloLens 2, bringing a more powerful and lighter headset with versions for construction users.
Autodesk Opens Up Machine-Learning Advisory Tool to BIM 360 User Base
While it has made great strides in getting contractors and other members of project teams to load information into its BIM 360 program, Autodesk has acknowledged that its sometimes hard to get actionable information out of these systems. Dense documentation can provide some insights when pored over at a later date, but knowing what problems need addressing at the morning meeting based on yesterday’s open issues list can be a daunting task.
Volvo CE To Go Fully Electric on Smaller Machines in 2020
Signaling a major shift in its offerings, Volvo Construction Equipment is moving forward on a plan to convert to full electric power on its compact machines by 2020. The move is a part of a larger initiative in the Volvo Group, which encompasses Volvo CE, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Buses and engine-maker Volvo Penta. All are making huge strides toward electrification, with a hard 2020 deadline.
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