معلومــة

By Nathan Patton The old adage that necessity is the mother of invention is never more applicable than in the construction space…particularly this past year. The challenges engineers and contractors face are many and complex. The persistent labor shortage is just one high profile example. About  94 percent of firms with openings  for hourly craft workers reported difficulty filling those positions, according to a recent AGC and Arcoro workforce survey. That is an increase from the 85 percent of firms that reported difficulty in the association’s 2023 survey.  At the same time, the global population is expanding rapidly, creating a growing demand for new buildings, roads and other infrastructure. While investment is there for many sectors, particularly infrastructure, the cost of materials continues to rise.  These hurdles, along with economic ups and downs and the ever-growing importance of sustainability, has necessitated that industry professionals rethink conve...

By Kristin Kautz, CPSM From The Zweig Letter AI adoption empowers firms to unleash their human potential to solve problems that matter. AI is no longer a concept on the horizon (have you seen my six-year AI timeline?!) – it’s a reality reshaping how we work, live, and build. Over the past several years, I have curated a solid AI network, and what excites me most is our shared commitment to using AI not just as a tool, but as a powerful solution to our long-existing challenges and problems. We all start with why we need AI. What problem do we want to tackle? We can use AI to address these larger issues. AI, in and of itself, is not a strategy. It is a means to success. It is an opportunity to create significant, positive impact. What matters most is how AI can be harnessed to address our most pressing challenges and drive positive outcomes. At Zweig Group,  our AI consulting  is centered around the importance of AI adoption within the architecture, engineering, and constru...

By Adam Radel GISP, manager of spatial strategy, and Laura Lloyd, senior planner & geospatial developer at HNTB In urban design and construction, innovative technologies like 3D Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as pivotal resources for advancing climate resilience and sustainable development strategies. This technological approach enhances project execution and transforms community stakeholders’ interactions with their environment, facilitating a new era of intuitive and integrated urban development. There is immense potential for digital transformation to redefine the landscape of infrastructure planning and implementation. Integrating 3D GIS tools into every project development phase—especially during the critical planning stages—has set a new standard for how projects should be envisioned and executed. HNTB’s upcoming work for the City and County of Denver’s Waterway Resiliency Program underscores this point. The program will restore a 6.5-mile stretch of the...

PROTECTING unique architectural elements, one of London’s Grade II listed buildings has undergone a condition and sustainability survey to preserve its 140-year-old heritage. Situated at the heart of the Knightsbridge conservation area adjacent to the Royal Albert Hall, Queen Alexandra’s House operates as a women-only accommodation for students at the Royal Colleges of Music, Art and Science. Built in 1884, the building required an in-depth assessment to evaluate its current condition and identify opportunities to improve its sustainability. Specialist heritage surveyors at multi-disciplinary consultancy,  Pick Everard , were appointed to deliver a detailed condition report, ongoing maintenance and capital works plan, a costed schedule of works, and proposals for enhancing the property’s environmental sustainability and energy performance.  Matthew Appleton, strategic account director at Pick Everard, said: “From our detailed examination of the building structure, ...

Providence, RI – Global sustainable development consultancy Arup announced today its selection by the City of Providence to lead the design and engineering for the City’s Riverwalk Resilience project. The Arup team including Stimson and Inform Studio will help to realize the vision for this public investment in climate resilience, accessibility, economic growth, and sustainable placemaking for the Riverwalk and the center of downtown Providence.  The City of Providence and Arup will work to enhance the infrastructure that connects the urban trail network, improve safety, expand placemaking and programming opportunities, improve river water quality through green infrastructure, and protect the riverwalks and downtown core against flooding events. A robust public engagement process will be an integral part of the development and implementation of the project through regular consultations with all stakeholders and community members. The revitalization of the Riverwalk is the initia...

The countdown has begun! Voting is now open for the 2024 Yearbook of Engineering Achievement (YEA) competition, and the deadline is fast approaching. This prestigious annual event celebrates innovation, ingenuity, and groundbreaking achievements in the engineering world, showcasing the very best projects from across the industry. This year, the excitement is greater than ever as the engineering community rallies to select its favorite projects. The stakes are high—the project with the most votes will earn the distinguished title of 2024 Summit Project , receiving a spotlight on the cover of the Winter 2024 issue of Civil+Structural Engineer Magazine . Cast Your Vote Every Day Until November 22 Voting is simple, impactful, and open to everyone. Each day until November 22, 2024 , you can cast your vote for the projects you believe exemplify innovation, excellence, and the spirit of engineering achievement. With four unique categories this year— Water/Stormwater/Wastewater , Environ...

Hawthorne, N.J. : Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) President Gianfranco Di Cicco recognized three DFI members with President’s Awards at the DFI 49th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations in Aurora, Colorado, this past October. The awards were presented on behalf of Di Cicco by incoming DFI President James Johnson. Established in 2016, the DFI President’s Awards are given at the discretion of the DFI president to recognize the outstanding contributions and service of DFI members who advance the work of DFI. This year’s awards were presented to: Maurice Bottiau, Franki Foundations, was recognized for his prolific service as member of the DFI Board of Trustees from 2002-2013, founder of DFI Europe and officer of all DFI Europe board positions including his current role as president, and chair of the upcoming 2025 DFI-EFFC International Conference on Deep Foundations and Ground Improvement “Geotechnics Reimagined.” He was also the program chair for the DFI-EFFC Conference in Rome in 20...