An Ottawa consultancy has unveiled a new online resource that’s designed to help organizations factor the impact of climate change into decisions relating to, among other things, infrastructure. Read more.
The building site of the future is going to look very different to the one we are all used to today. Instead of men in high-visibility jackets and hard hats, there are going to be drones buzzing overhead, robotic bulldozers and 3D printers churning out new structures. That at least is the hope of those making technological solution. Read more.
While productivity in other business sectors has surged ahead in the last half century, advances in construction have been “meager”, according to the World Economic Forum. In a new report, the Geneva-based business organization sets out a recipe of improvements the industry must follow to meet burgeoning global demand. Read more.
Sheikh Mohammed described the 3-D agenda, launched only this month, as an “integrated and comprehensive strategy to exploit 3-D technology to serve humanity.” Within the construction portion of the plan, lighting manufacturing, humanitarian buildings, retail space, art galleries and homes will all be 3-D printed. Officials said 3-D printing takes 10% of the time that standard construction methods take. Read more.
A new $25 million wastewater treatment facility located in the District of Sechelt, a small community on B.C.’s mainland coast, is leading Canada in innovative technology borrowed from Europe that utilizes the root bacteria from plants, located in a greenhouse over treatment tanks, to cleanse effluent. Read more. Maple Reinders Group of Companies also received the 2015 CCA Environmental Achievement Award for this project. Watch the video.
Pipe bursting can cut the cost of water and sewer pipe installation by one quarter over open cut methods— yet the technology isn’t always getting a fair shake, says David O’Sullivan, president of PW Trenchless Construction of Surrey, B.C.. Read more.
CDBI’s Risk Management Committee has published a new bulletin titled “Avoiding Pay When Paid Pain”. To deal with the uncertainties caused by cash flow issues, some parties have begun to insert “pay when paid” clauses into their contracts. Essentially, if the payor on a contract gets paid by its client (i.e. someone further up the contract pyramid), the payor will then, and only then, pay money owed to its payee. These clauses are not new, and given current economic uncertainties, these clauses have enjoyed a resurgence. Read more.
In 2015 the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) embarked on a series of “Quality of Documents” workshops across Canada to explore and discuss the issue of poor quality documentation, its potential causes, and, perhaps most importantly, potential solutions to address the issue. CCA is pleased to publish a summary report of both the workshops and the surveys conducted. Read more.
Why Not BIM! Come join AECO industry leaders and practitioners in an open discussion about BIM. We will host a series of presentations and panel discussions aimed at addressing this central question: Why Not BIM? A lot has been said about BIM; its purpose, its value, but now it’s time to discuss the direction of BIM in Canada’s Eastern Provinces and how this technology will affect your business.
• What are the key issues surrounding BIM for the various stakeholders?
• What does the next two to five years look like?
• What are your options when adopting BIM?
• What risks do we face from lagging behind other regions and countries?
• What impact does a lagging BIM adoption have on our workforce in Atlantic Canada?
This event will be the best opportunity to participate alongside industry leaders, stakeholders and decision makers in one room. You will not want to miss the opportunity to participate and perhaps ask the questions that affect you most. Register now!
April 28 is the Day of Mourning – a day to remember those who lost their lives or were injured because of their work. The website DayOfMourning.ns.ca features a powerful new video about a young Nova Scotia man named Kyle Hickey. His tragic story, told by his family and friends, is an emotional reminder of the importance of workplace safety.
There are several ways to commemorate the Day of Mourning in your workplace:
• Visit dayofmourning.ns.ca to view a powerful new video about Kyle Hickey, a young Nova Scotian who died in a workplace tragedy in 2008, and share the video with your employees.
• Make an online tribute and encourage your employees to do the same.
• Observe a moment of silence and attend a remembrance service.
• Lower flags to half-mast.
• Follow our Day of Mourning Facebook page.
• Use the Employer Toolkit page for more ideas to commemorate this special day.
We encourage you to take a few minutes this April 28 to share Kyle’s story with your employees, and make them more aware and more focused on the importance of working safely.