This article is brought to you by ALICE Technologies

The Biden administration has recently requested assignment of $2T in funds, intended for use in rebuilding America’s infrastructure. And while Republicans and Democrats have been locked into hot debate regarding the specific amount and allocation of funds, it’s notable that no one has protested the need. Years of accumulated neglect have left transportation, utility, and other other public service systems in dire need of repair and update—and a large allocation of funds poses a great opportunity to strengthen current infrastructure, while bolstering construction and development itself.

The INVEST in America Act (which has already received House approval) is just one piece of the proverbial pie. The five-year, $715B transportation and water initiative is focused on rebuilding the nation's roads, rail, public transit and water systems—a strong signal that Congress recognizes the need for considerable investment in the development and repair of infrastructure, and may be moving towards approval of the total amount requested.

Still, the specific amount of allocated funds is less important than the proper management of those resources which are made available. No matter how generous or well-meaning the budget, little impact is made if projects are poorly planned or managed—and historically, large-scale infrastructure projects are not well-known for their timely and efficient completion. In order to “build back better,” a fundamental shift in our approach to large-scale infrastructure repair and development is necessary. The best-case scenario?  One in which the best tools and technology available are used to the best of our ability.

We owe it to taxpayers to spend responsibly—and that means leveraging today’s technological resources to make the most of every dollar. Recent advances in infrastructure planning and construction optimization—particularly those driven by AI—offer new opportunities to significantly increase project efficiency and maximize ROI.

In the wider construction industry, tools developed using AI are already producing impressive results. From streamlining project scheduling and planning, to improving resource and labor allocations, AI-based tools offer a strong advantage over traditional methods.

On government projects where on-time delivery is critical to serving public needs, delays in project completion can cost millions per day in damages. When AI-based tools are applied to the development and repair of infrastructure or other large-scale government-funded projects, they offer valuable insight which can keep projects on target. This significantly reduces costs—minimizing the tax burden on citizens, while greatly improving their quality of life.

One such solution is ALICE Technologies—the world’s first AI-powered construction simulation and optimization platform. On average, use of ALICE results in a 17% reduction in project duration and an 11% decrease in construction costs. When considering a potential budgetary allocation in the trillions, those percentages can quickly add up to momentous savings in taxpayer dollars.

To date, ALICE is the only tool which allows users to simultaneously explore thousands of options, proposing multiple scenarios which optimize key project resources. By analyzing labor, equipment, and material needs, ALICE presents potential pathways for building faster and more efficiently, reducing cost and time to completion. Even better, the pathways presented by ALICE are flexible, and dynamic—allowing updates to flow immediately throughout your plan and schedule. This makes it easy to address issues and analyze changes within your quickly-shifting environment—and keep even the largest and most complex projects on track.

courtesy of ALICE Technologies

courtesy of ALICE Technologies

Just like our nation’s approach to infrastructure improvements, the construction industry has often failed to make the technological investments necessary to keep pace in a quickly evolving world. The efforts of the current administration represented in the INVEST in America Act indicate that times are, indeed, changing—and those who are truly dedicated to building a better country may do well to take heed.

By leveraging cutting-edge tools and technology such as ALICE, developers can help ensure the highest possible return on our collective investment. Using modern technology to support us in doing what we do best will more quickly and efficiently bring our nation’s infrastructure into the 21st century—building a stronger economy and brighter future for generations to come.

René Morkos is CEO of ALICE Technologies and an adjunct professor at Stanford University. ALICE works with construction leaders in the infrastructure and commercial construction segments, such as Parsons, HDCC, and Kajima Corporation.

Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.

The Hilti EXO-01 Overhead Exoskeleton is designed to reduce the stress of overhead work on the wearer’s arm, back, and shoulder muscles. The 4.4-pound system straps around user’s waist, shoulders, and arms to distribute the weight while providing lift support. The passive device does not require any external power source to operate, either, so it will work for as long as you wear it.

Hilti will offer the EXO-01 to its customers in one of two ways: a one-time fixed cost or a monthly fee. The fixed cost price is $1,599 which is on the lower end of some exoskeletons on the market, but more in-line with the lighter weight category it falls in.  

For those interested in a maintenance free solution for their fleet, each EXO-01 will cost $60 per month with repairs included in the cost.

Hilti’s core clients are in the commercial construction industry and I expect this exoskeleton to be largely purchased by employers on larger construction projects, rather than individuals. The $1,600 price tag may sound expensive for a tradesperson, but can be viewed as PPE by the employer, with the potential to reduce long term muscle injuries, as well as fatigue.

Is this something you’d like your company to try? Let me know in the comments.

For more information and to see the EXO-01 in action, check out the video below:

Cat Phones is known to make some pretty rugged smartphones, the kind of phone you don’t have to worry about on the jobsite – even without a case. Licensed by the construction equipment giant, Caterpillar, the phones are made by the UK-based Bullitt Group. The company recently announced the release of their new flagship smartphone model, the CAT S62 Pro.

The CAT S62 Pro Overview

Being their flagship model, the CAT S62 Pro is not only their most expensive phone, but also their most feature packed. Retailing for roughly $649 on Amazon(or $599 for government employees, hospital employees, medical providers, military, nurses, and first responders with a valid ID through the Cat Phones website), the highlight of the S62 Pro is the onboard FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera.

The S62 Pro replaces the previous flagship, the S61, which, in addition to a FLIR thermal imaging camera, also included a laser measure, Humidity sensor, and a VOC sensor. All useful features for the construction industry, but features that also increased cost and limited the functionality of the thermal imager. At release, the S61 carried a price tag of $999, significantly higher than that of the S62 Pro and the S62’s thermal imaging camera is much more advanced.

The phone is able to be used on either the AT&T or T-Mobile networks.

Ruggedness

As mentioned above, Cat phones are known for their ruggedness and this model is no exception. The S62 Pro is impervious to dust, waterproof in up to 5 feet of water for 35 minutes, and drop proof from all angles up to 6 feet. It carries with it an IP68 and IP69 rating and has also achieved a MIL SPEC 810H military spec rating, which mean it’s tough enough to handle extreme shifts in temperature, salt mist conditions, and thermal shock.  

The screen is comprised of scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, which is recessed slightly beneath the outer edge of the device. Being that the phone is already waterproof, it can be scrubbed in a sink with soap and water to disinfect it – or to wash that mud off it from the long day at the jobsite.

Thermal Imaging Camera

The ruggedness is nice, but let’s be honest, the real reason that you would consider buying this model is for the thermal imaging camera. Thermal imaging in the construction and facility maintenance sectors is extremely valuable for both quality control and repair investigation alike. The thermal imagine camera that’s integrated with the S62 Pro packs a nice punch, too, as it’s powered by one of the market leaders in the technology: FLIR.

The phone’s integrated thermal camera is powered by a Lepton 3.5 professional-grade sensor, features a measurable temperature range of -4F to 752F, and allows the user a variety of different ways to customize their view. The device can use both the integrated photo camera and the thermal camera to enhance the visibility of the actual object, making it easier to determine exactly what you’re looking at.

One of my favorite features is the MSX overlay option (pictured), which allows you to actually read text while viewing temperature data. The phone also allows screenshots to be taken of your view and for the temperature data to be manipulated after the fact – meaning changing colors, pinpointing specific spots to get a temperature reading on, or changing the view mode.

In my testing, I’ve found the thermal camera to be intuitive, responsive, and valuable on the jobsite.

Performance

Both the ruggedness of the phone and the performance of the thermal imaging camera are as advertised, I’ve found them to be reliable and very capable.

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As for normal phone functionality, there are some high and low points. The phone’s internal storage is sizable at 128GB and, even though about 24GB is used for the system itself and pre-installed apps, the remaining 104GB should be more than plenty to handle all of the other apps you’d like to install. For additional memory, you can also install an external SD card.

I was also much happier with several features on this model versus the CAT S42 model that I recently reviewed. Although the S42 is a much more affordable device, the S62’s sound quality, responsiveness, and overall feel were a huge improvement. The S62 also features a USB-C charging port without the rubberized flap that always gets in the way, but does not offer wireless charging.

The photo and video camera are both solid performers, although won’t match the capabilities of the latest and greatest Android or Apple product. It does have 4K video recording capabilities and both a front and rear camera, which is to be expected these days.

The back of the phone also features a fingerprint sensor for security.

Surprisingly, however, the battery on the S62 is a bit smaller than the S42, even with the additional features and processing power, offering a 4,000mAh battery versus the S42’s 4,200mAh battery. Even so, the company states that the phone can last up to 2 full days with real world use, which would depend on the amount of time spent using that fantastic thermal camera.

Value

At nearly $650 retail, the CAT S62 Pro is certainly not an inexpensive device, especially for a company looking to roll this out to their workforce. The purchase price does not tell the entire story, however. If the alternative is to purchase a different work phone, but also equip it with an external thermal imaging camera, the value becomes much clearer.

The FLIR ONE Pro, an external thermal camera smartphone attachment that shares many of the same features as that of the S62 Pro, retails for around $400 by itself (Amazon link). FLIR does offer less expensive options, but do not offer nearly the functionality. Add to that the lack of need to purchase a protective case and screen protector and the value gets greater.

But, that all hinges on the fact that you actually need your workforce to have a thermal imaging camera. If upfront cost is the main driver, there are many less expensive rugged or non-rugged enterprise ready phones available on the market for much less.

The construction technology world has been no stranger to acquisitions and mergers in recent years, as many larger players are gobbling up startups and other specialty software to quickly grow their offerings and expand their value to their customers. The latest acquisition comes from a somewhat surprising source, however, as Stanley Black & Decker, the power tool and storage company, has acquired Buildup, a task management, punch list, and inspection software company.

Buildup is a mobile friendly punch list tool that embeds the tasks, details, and pictures of each item directly onto your project’s floor plan. The items can then be assigned to specific companies or employees to complete and full reports can be created to keep everyone on the team aligned.

For more information about Buildup, you can check out my interview with Stephen Haskin, the CEO or Buildup by clicking or tapping here.

While Stanley Black & Decker is ultimately the company to acquire Buildup, the company was more specifically acquired under the Stanley X umbrella.  Stanley X is the innovation center for the parent company, leading the company’s charge in in-house construction software development, partnerships, and acquisitions.

In the past, Stanley X announced a partnership with DeepHow, an AI powered video training solution. Buildup marks the groups first acquisition.

“We are excited to welcome Buildup to STANLEY X as we expand and grow our construction technology capabilities”, said Michael Keogh, VP & President of STANLEY X. “Collaboration is central to construction, and Buildup’s collaborative platform aligns well with our existing vision and strategy. We are certain that a partnership between our collective teams will create growth opportunities and deliver extraordinary experiences to our customers.”

Stanley plans to retain the branding for Buildup while offering additional resources for the software to continue to grow. It will also be used to augment and enhance one of Stanley X’s in-house developed software, OneConstruct, which is yet to be officially released.   

OneConstruct is designed to connect field staff to their management team to synchronize schedules and workplans. The company plans to target trade contractors, self-performing GCs, and commercial fabricators with the solution.

“Buildup extends our current OneConstruct offering into a collaborative trade solution, and it will certainly accelerate our efforts in improving construction productivity on job sites”, adds Justin Saeheng, Head of Construction Technology at STANLEY X.

As a whole, Stanley Black & Decker is not new to technology, their DeWalt brand has been developing software and hardware for years, including a full lineup of Bluetooth connected tools and accessories and a construction site WiFi solution, among others. It’s noteworthy, still, that Stanley is acquiring construction technology brands outside of tools, which signals that they have optimism surrounding continued adoption of project management technology in the construction industry.

Father’s Day 2021 is June 20, so you better get started on gift ideas if you want to impress dad this year. Whether your father is contractor, handyman, or DIYer, we’ve got a lot of great ideas for him this year.

For more more gift ideas, be sure to check out our past Father's Day Gift Guides from 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 or our Ultimate Construction Holiday Gift Guides from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020

We’ve been lucky enough to be able to use many of the tools on this list throughout the year and there are others on the list that we’d love to try because they have been highly regarded in reviews.  It should be assumed that the tool manufacturers have given us these tools for free to test out, but none of them have paid to be a part of this gift guide. All tools on this list have been chosen by us, because we think they would be great gifts.

This post contains affiliate links, which earn us a small commission for the things that you buy.  The prices in the links are exactly the same as they would be normally!

Ultimate Construction Father’s Day Gift Guide 2021

Under $50

Trim Puller Multi-Tool

If you’ve ever had to pull baseboard, crown molding, or other trim work, you know it’s pretty easy to either damage the trim or the wall behind it in the process. I picked up a Trim Puller recently and it makes saving trim extremely easy and greatly reduces damage to the wall.  Just line it up with the joint of the trim against the wall, hit the back of it with a hammer and the trim pops loose.

Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder

If you’re house is like mine, the labeling system inside your circuit breaker box is an absolute mess, which makes it extremely difficult to find the correct breaker to turn off when needed. The Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker finder is a 2-in-1 tool that not only can confirm that your outlets have been properly wired, but it can also help you easily locate the correct breaker an outlet is wired to. Simply plug the outlet tester into an outlet, bring the receiver wand to your breaker panel, and run the receiver down each breaker until the light indicates that the correct breaker has been found. Of course, you should ALWAYS double check that power has been turned off to whatever electrical system you need to work on before beginning.

Truewerk T.5 Werkhoody

It might seem counterintuitive to buy a long sleeve, hooded shirt in the middle of summer, but Truewerk’s Werkhoody is designed to keep tradesmen cooler and protected from the sun during the hottest months of the year. The hoody offers 4 way stretch fabric, abrasion resistance, breathability, moisture wicking, tear resistance, industry leading UV protection, and is antimicrobial. Available in both hi-viz green and orange, as well as more standard colors, like gray and light blue.

Wera Multi-Color Ball End Hex Keys

Give dad a break from those awful allen wrenches that come in the unassembled furniture and hardware boxes and check out these Ball End Hex Keys from Wera. This 9 piece set comes with a plastic carrying case and individually colored keys for easy storage and identification. The keys are also cut to minimize damage to the screw head.

Klein Tradesman Pro Tough Box 17-Quart Cooler

Your dad works hard, so it's important that his lunch and drinks stay cool and protected on the jobsite.  The new Klein Tools Pro Tough 17-Quart Cooler can fit 18 cans inside, keeps items cool for up to 30 hours, and has a reasonable price. There usually aren't picnic tables on the job, either, so Klein designed the box to be used as a seat and holds up to 300 pounds.

If you need a bigger capacity than 17-quarts, Kelin also offers a 48-quart cooler with the same benefits.

Over $50

Milwaukee Top-Off Power Supply

For those in the industry that need to change their electronic devices, like laptops or tablets, this is a fantastic mobile option.  It provides 175W of power off of a Milwaukee M18 battery pack and, other than charging electronics, it can also power box fans and TVs, making it an option for tailgating purposes. The Top-Off features (3) different charging ports: (1) AC 120V outlet, (1) USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port, and (1) USB-A port, and all 3 can be used at the same time.

The Top-Off was just recently announced at Milwaukee’s online product showcase, PIPELINE, and is currently available for pre-order with the hope they’ll be shipped before Christmas. 

Isotunes Xtra Headphones

ISOtunes features a variety of different sound dampening headphones, but these ISOtunes Xtra headphones have been my go-to recently. This version allows the headphones to drape comfortably around your neck, while also snapping together with the use of magnets to avoid either losing them or dropping them.

These headphones not only reduce the noise levels around the wearer, but also protect from long term hearing loss due to high volume inside the headphones themselves.

DeWalt 20-Volt MAX XR Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Router

A few different cordless trim routers have hit the market in recent months and I picked up the DeWalt version a few weeks ago and have been extremely pleased with it. It’s powerful, quiet, and smooth, making it easy to control while adding those finishing touches to your trimwork.  It also has plenty of power to cut out windows and doors in plywood for framers.

Milwaukee PACKOUT Drawers

Since Milwaukee unveiled their modular storage system, PACKOUT, several years ago, customers have been begging for drawer units. That time has finally arrived, as Milwaukee released both a 2-drawer and a 3-drawer unit earlier this year. They boast a ton of storage space and appear to be built with durability in mind. If your dad is already on the PACKOUT storage system, this addition is a no brainer.

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DeWalt DCC020IB 20V Max Inflator

Everyone needs an inflator at some point, whether it’s an emergency roadside tire fill-up, bike tire top offs, camping mattresses, or those pesky pool floats. The DeWalt 20V MAX Inflator is the most versatile of them all, as it’s able to inflate high pressure or high volume and can be powered by battery, 12V DC (car plug-in), or a 110V wall outlet.

Besides its versatility, one of its greatest features is the ability to set the PSI you’d like to fill it to and it will automatically shut off when it reaches that level. You can read our full review of it by clicking here.

Procore, the construction management software company, has been rumored to be interested in filing for an IPO since at least 2019.  In the Spring of 2020, Procore ended up delaying its plans to go public after it received $150 million in funding and a valuation of around $5 billion, citing interest in raising more money amidst an uncertain economy during the heart of the coronavirus pandemic.

That turned out to be a pretty good move for the company, as Procore officially went public on May 20, raising $634.5 million on a $8.5 billion evaluation. As of the close of the NYSE on May 25, Procore’s (NYSE: PCOR) stood around $82 per share.

“Procore’s IPO is a significant moment in our journey. Even though I founded Procore nearly twenty years ago, it feels like we're just getting started. The construction industry is in the early stages of massive digital transformation. We are proud to be at the forefront of this shift, partnering with the industry that builds the world around us,” Procore Founder & CEO Tooey Courtemanche said in a statement following the announcement.

Despite some continued uncertainty surrounding recent IPOs, Procore’s has been regarded as successful one. Reuters stated that strong debuts from both Procore and Oatly Group AB helped to “ease investor concerns.”

The Motley Fool broke down the numbers behind Procore’s current business standing. The software company currently has over 1.6 million users globally spread across 10,000 business customers. Over the past 3 years, Procore has seen a 256% increase in revenue, amassing $400 million in 2020 alone.

Even at a revenue of that size and an 82% gross margin, Motley says, Procore is still unprofitable as it spent 78% of it’s revenue last year to help grow its customer base through sales, marketing, research, and development.

To check out highlights of Procore at its NYSE debut, check out the video below:

The following is a guest article by SentrifForce. SentriForce is a leading provider of managed video surveillance. With intelligent, scalable, and effective security services, you can minimize risk and keep your assets secure.

It’s a morbid statistic, but the construction industry experiences more workplace deaths than any other. With so many potential hazards, heavy-duty machinery, and power tools, it’s perhaps not surprising that serious accidents are relatively commonplace.

However, safety risks are far from the only threat that construction sites are exposed to. Security is another major risk for many construction sites, with theft and vandalism commonplace and the exposed nature of many sites making them notoriously difficult to protect.

In this article, we’re going to discuss the best practice steps and technological innovations you can implement to minimize the safety and security risks on your construction site.

1. Be aware of the risks

The first step to creating a safer job site is to understand what risks are present. You need to conduct a thorough risk assessment before your workers step foot on the site. This should involve a comprehensive survey of the site to identify potential causes of harm. If any problem is identified, it should be written down and made known to every worker.

Construction sites are also a highly profitable magnet for criminals. For example, the theft of fuel, materials, and even the personal possessions of construction workers is extremely common. That’s because items such as vehicles, generators, materials, and tools are high value and easy to sell. So, it’s vital that you’re aware of the threats and put appropriate security measures in place.

In many cases, construction sites are the victim of carefully planned thefts, but opportunistic thieves who realize that a site is not adequately protected also pose a threat. There are also other security risks that construction firms need to be aware of. For example, vandalism and arson are also relatively common. This can be carried out at random or by people opposed to the site for personal or commercial reasons. 

Although you’ll never be able to remove all of the risks entirely, putting a comprehensive plan in place will play a big part in safeguarding your workers and your site. 

2. Use the latest technology

These days, there are many innovative tools and solutions that can help manage construction risks and improve site safety and security levels. One example is job site surveillance cameras, which are increasingly being installed on construction sites around the world.

One of the key benefits of this type of technology is the number of risks it can help construction sites to mitigate. For example, construction site video surveillance can help to ensure that all workers adhere to the correct safety standards and wear personal protection equipment (PPE) when required. In the unfortunate event that an accident does occur, the cameras can identify the root cause of the problem and determine whether safety protocols have been followed.

As well as improving safety compliance on site, surveillance cameras can also help protect assets such as heavy machinery from theft. Job site cameras can be monitored live to provide around-the-clock peace of mind, while audible alarms and remote voice broadcasts can act as a strong deterrent. If there is a security breach, the video footage can form a significant part of the investigation and prosecution. 

3. Make site meetings a meaningful event

Site meetings should become much more than just a box-ticking exercise. They should be held regularly, even daily if you’re working on a high-risk site, and employees should be encouraged to speak up about any safety hazards or security issues they’ve encountered.

Simply encouraging workers to talk about safety and security in an open and honest way will make them more aware of their surroundings and the risks they face. Staying alert to the dangers of a construction site is one of the most effective ways to reduce the likelihood of an incident.

4. Provide regular training

It’s one thing to understand the risks, but it can be challenging to implement measures to minimize them without adequate training. Ensuring everyone on site is trained to a reasonable level and understands what to do in the event of an accident is critical to maintaining a good workplace safety record. Training can include everything from how to use machinery or ladders safely to the steps workers must take to keep the site clean, tidy, and hazard-free.

In terms of the site’s security, there are several issues that training can help reduce. Vehicle vulnerability is something that every construction worker needs to be aware of. Regular training can ensure that workers understand the protocols, such as where keys should be kept and how vehicles must be left. Site access points are another high-risk area on job sites. The constantly changing arrangements and access points can lead to vulnerabilities that regular on-site meetings and training can help to address. 

5. Jobsite security essentials

We’ve already discussed the role that job site surveillance can play in keeping construction sites secure, but that’s just one small element of the physical security measures that can be put in place. Other job site security essentials include:

• Alarm systems and signage - Highly visible alarm systems and signage can act both as a strong deterrent and a quick alert system if security is breached.

• Access control - As well as keeping access points to a minimum, controlling those access points through security gating and manned entrances will enhance site security.

• Lighting - Lighting provides a visible deterrent and additional visibility around access points. It should be fitted to areas that are inaccessible so it cannot be easily disabled by intruders. 

• Locks -  Lockable storage such as steel tool vaults is essential on any construction site. They keep expensive tools, equipment, and materials secure and away from the gaze of opportunistic thieves.

• Fencing and barriers - It’s recommended that construction sites install perimeter fencing that’s at least 2.4 meters high. Barriers within the site can also create separately secure areas, while curbs and bollards can prevent access to uninvited vehicles.

Reduce the risk on your construction site

Security and safety risks are inherent on construction sites, but regardless of the challenges a particular site presents, minimizing those risks should always be a priority. By combining the practical points we've discussed above with the latest technology, like managed video surveillance, it is possible to safeguard against losses, accidents, and interruptions and create a productive job site that people want to work on.

It’s that time again to begin Construction Junkie’s annual search for the best construction podcast!  Now in our 7th year of the competition, we’re noticing a considerable increase in construction-related podcasts from every sector.

Last year continued our trend of breaking the previous years record number of votes, with the most nominees and the most total votes. In the end, Bridging the Gap secured the crown, wrestling it away from the 2-time defending champion CONEXPO/CON-AGG Radio.

Please see below for contest details and use the nomination form at the bottom of this page to submit your own podcast or your favorite construction related podcast for this year’s competition! I’m looking forward to discovering new podcasts, as well as seeing how the veteran podcasts can defend their territory.

How the Contest Works

• Round of nominations - to ensure that every podcast has a fair chance to be entered into the contest, time will be allowed for nominations from our readers and podcasters alike. Only one nomination is needed to be entered into the contest

• Round of voting - once all nominations are received, a round of voting will take place (start date TBD). Winners are determined solely based on number of votes. Only one vote per person will be counted.

• Nominee articles - each nominee will be highlighted in an article with a description and details about their show during the voting round

• Champion named - after voting is complete (date TBD),a winner will be named and all other nominees will be ranked by vote count.

The Grand Prize

For the past 2 years, we have offered a prize to the contest's winner. That will continue this year and the overall winner will once again receive FREE sidebar ad on ConstructionJunkie.com for one full year! That will help your favorite podcast gain hundreds of thousands of impressions every year. If we are able to have multiple categories, the grand prize winner will be the podcast who receives the most overall votes out of all of the categories.

Contest Rules

Nominations can be submitted from now until Midnight PST on Friday, June 4, 2021. At that time, no more nominations will be accepted. Podcasters are more than welcome to nominate their own podcast and self-promotion is encouraged. Nominations will be researched and any deemed to not be related to the construction industry by our staff, will be removed. Shows must be available in audio only podcast form and YouTube-only shows will not be eligible.

After nominations close, voting will begin.  Voting will be open for 4 weeks from the day the polls open, date to be determined.  Winner, by popular vote, will be announced shortly after poll is closed.

As always, the contest is 100% free to enter. It’s all about promoting podcasting!

Questions?

If you have questions, feel free to post a comment below or email us at info@constructionjunkie.com

Submit Your Nomination for the Best Construction Podcast of 2021!

Nominations are now closed. Please check back soon for the round of voting for all nominees.

Each year, Procore – the maker of the construction management software of the same name – hosts their annual construction technology conference, Groundbreak. As part of the festivities, the company is looking to celebrate the most groundbreaking companies, people, and projects in the construction industry and they need your help.

The 2021 Groundbreaker Awards will pick winners for 8 different categories:

1. Excellence in Sustainability – the company or project the most efficiently uses environmentally responsible processes throughout the project.

2. Excellence in Innovation – the company that pushes the boundaries of technology in construction the most

3. Excellence in Safety – the company or project that represents the best in safety

4. Excellence in Community – the company or project that made the biggest impact to its surrounding area

5. Groundbreaker of the Year (Individual Award) – the person that achieves the highest standards of the industry

6. General Contractor / Main Contractor / Head Contractor Project Excellence – the GC that exhibits the best overall project excellence.

7. Specialty Contractor / Subcontractor Project Excellence – the specialty/trade contractor that exhibits the best overall project excellence

8. Owner Project Excellence – the project owner that exhibits the best overall project excellence

Finalists for each award will receive a complimentary guest pass to Groundbreak, a Groundbreaker Award Plaque and Groundbreaker hoodie, have their story announced on Procore’s various outlets, and a social media package for their company.

In addition to the awards above, winners will receive a much fancier trophy, instead of the plaque, and additional exposure and promotion through Procore’s Customer Story Package.

The Groundbreaker of the Year will receive the awards mentioned above, as well as a complimentary VIP pass to Groundbreak 2022, round trip airfare, and hotel accommodations.

If you know a company, person, or project that deserves to be honored in any of these categories, you can submit them on the Groundbreaker Awards website. Submissions will be accepted now through June 18, followed by evaluations from June 28 through July 30, the announcement of the finalists on September 13, and finally declaring the winners at Groundbreak 2021 on October 4.

For more details, visit: https://www.procore.com/groundbreaker-awards

Lithium battery technology is being pushed to new heights in the tool world seemingly every month, as more power hungry tools continue to drop the cord and join the battery revolution. DeWalt is the latest in the game to up the ante with the release of the first 15 am hour 18V battery on the market.

The DeWalt FLEXVOLT 20V/60V Max 15.0ah battery (DCB615) will power both the yellow tool brand’s 20V and 60V tool platforms, just like all of the other FLEXVOLT batteries, but this one offers even more runtime for those high demand applications, such as concrete cutting, drilling, chipping applications.

The behemoth battery will weigh in at a solid 4.5 pounds and carries a $349 price tag, so you’re probably not going to want to strap this thing to your impact driver (unless you have some Popeye arms and a wallet of the same size), but it will pair well with the FLEXVOLT table saw, concrete saw, and DeWalt’s recently announced pair of FLEXVOLT SDS Max rotary hammers.

In the same press release as the 15ah battery, DeWalt announced the impending release of a new 60V MAX Brushless SDS MAX Combination Rotary Hammers in 1-7/8-In. (DCH735) and 2-in. (DCH775).

Both tools will offer the E-CLUTCH System, which will shut down the tool if it senses a bind up situation.  Each will also be equipped with vibration control, Wireless Tool Control to link to a dust extractor, and have a designated area to attach a Tool Connect tag for tracking purposes.

The 1-7/8-inch hammer will deliver 13.3 joules of impact energy, giving it enough juice to drill for #6 and #9 rebar, dry core up to 5 inches, and concrete chipping applications. Kitted with (2) 15ah batteries, the 1-7/8” hammer will retail for $999, not bad considering the $350 price tag for just one battery.

The 2-inch hammer will boast 19.4 joules of impact energy, allowing it to handle drilling for #9 and #14 rebar and dry coring up to 6 inches. Kitted with (2) 15ah batteries, the 2” version will retail for $1,099.

Both of the new rotary hammers, as well as the new 15ah battery will be available in September of 2021.

For some more information about the rotary hammers and 15ah battery, I invite you to check out the video below from my buddy Rob, from Belts and Boxes.

While still new in the construction industries, robots are typically designed to perform a specific task in a highly precise and efficient way, like the rebar tying robot, Tybot or the brick-laying robot Hadrian X. More recently, though, robots are being imagined as platforms for 3rd party companies to develop hardware and accessories to attach to the base robot, like the Boston Dynamics robotic dog, Spot. I recently came across a new robot, called Baubot, which hopes to one day perform tasks using every tool on a typical jobsite.

Baubot, an Austrian-based robot - not to be confused with another Austian-based robot, Terminator – developed by Printstones with the goal of learning every trade on the jobsite. Its current functional capabilities include:

• 3D Concrete Printing

• Material Handling by gripping or suction

• Welding

• Drilling and Routing

• Driving Fasteners

• Sanding

• Painting

• Layout

• Plasma Cutting

• Formwork Milling

• Bricklaying

The Baubot is equipped with all-terrain tracks, which even allow it to climb stairs.  The flexible robotic arm gives the machine the ability to attach different accessories for the variety of applications listed above.

It has the capacity to haul over 100 pounds (500kg) on it’s back and sports a battery life of 8 hours on a full battery charge.

It appears that the Baubot is still in the testing stage, but those interested can reach out to the company on their website for more information. You can also watch the video below, which highlights many of the robot’s capabilities.

One of the toughest things to deal with on any project can be the relationships between owner and general contractor or the general contractor and subcontractor. In the worst case scenarios, tensions between those relationships can sometimes lead to one of those parties packing up their tools and walking off the job before it’s complete. But that action may make the situation a little hairier than you might expect, if you don’t do it the right way.

In a recent post from The Lien Zone, a great source for construction law related advice, Patrick Barthet offers some steps to take before calling it quits. You might think it’s as easy as making the GC or Owner just find a replacement to finish your work, but the contract you signed may get you into some legal or financial trouble if you’re not careful.

The article, titled “Think Twice Before Walking Off a Job,” offers four steps to take before taking drastic steps. First and foremost, you need to read and understand what the termination requirements are in your contract and provide the necessary notice. Second, you need to make sure that you have been paid the correct amount, whether itss too little or too much.

I don’t want to spoil the whole article for you, so I’ll encourage you to visit The Lien Zone and check out the rest of the post here: https://www.thelienzone.com/think-twice-before-walking-off-a-job/

Even though we’re over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is still threatening the health of construction’s workers and taking a toll on project timelines.  It’s likely that your company has already determined the best course of action to help mitigate the risk of spreading the virus on your jobsites, but it’s never too late to learn from another contractor.

Balfour Beatty, one of the world’s largest construction companies, has recently uploaded their COVID-19 Safety Orientation Video on YouTube in both English and Spanish. The 7 minute video explains the company’s policies and practices to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

First, each employee much undergo a daily symptom check, have their temperature taken, and disclose whether or not they have come into contact with anyone that has or believes they have COVID-19. The company also posts visual reminders throughout the jobsite as reminders for the guidelines.

The video also covers social distancing, facial covering requirements, and break room requirements. To help aide in the social distancing requirement, Balfour Beatty expects small teams of 5 or less to be formed, which helps to reduce a widespread exposure if one team member happens to contract the virus.

Hand washing and sanitization stations are set up around their jobsites and the company suggests for their employees to wash or disinfect their hands several time throughout the day. Additionally, Balfour also suggests sanitizing equipment and tools on a regular basis.

You can watch both the English and Spanish version of Balfour Beatty’s COVID-19 Safety Orientation below:

Each year, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) puts out their annual Bridge Report, which highlights the general state of America’s bridges. Their recently released 2021 report shows a slight decrease in the amount of structurally deficient bridges versus their report in 2020.

There are currently 618,000 bridges in the US, according to the ARTBA report, and roughly 45,000 of them have been rated as “structurally deficient,” which is a 1,140 bridge decrease versus last year’s report. The term signifies that there are “one or more structural defects that require attention.”

At the current rate, the ARTBA says that repairing every structurally deficient bridge in the US would take 40 years. On a positive note, this is the 5th straight year that the percentage of structurally deficient bridges has dropped.

Including the 45+ bridges listed as structurally deficient, there are over 220,000 bridges that have been identified as needing repaired, amounting to roughly 36% of the total fleet, a 1% reduction versus last year.

The states with the most bridges in poor condition are:

1.       Iowa – 4,571 (ranked #1 last year)

2.       Pennsylvania – 3,353 (ranked #2 last year)

3.       Illinois – 2,374 (ranked #3 last year)

4.       Oklahoma – 2,326 (ranked #4 last year)

5.       Missouri – 2,190 (ranked #5 last year)

The states with the highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges are:

1.       West Virginia – 21% (ranked #2 last year)

2.       Iowa – 19.1% (ranked #3 last year)

3.       Rhode Island – 19% (ranked #1 last year)

4.       South Dakota – 17.7% (ranked #4 last year)

5.       Pennsylvania – 14.6% (ranked #5 last year)

ARTBA has also released an interactive state map (screenshot of the map is above), if you’d like more information on the problematic bridges in your area.  You can access that map on ARTBA's website by clicking or tapping here

Those that follow tool news may have heard about a new Makita tool platform that launched in several other countries a few months ago and have been waiting for the news of it finally being released in the United States. Well, the wait is over, as the teal tool brand has finally announced the release of their 40V and 80V XGT system in the US.

The initial 50+ tools on the XGT system will be available for purchase this month and more releases will become available in future quarters. Much like the 18V, 36V LXT lineup for Makita, the XGT system will pair two 40V batteries together to achieve 80V.

Makita believes that this new system is unique because it allows them to achieve higher performance with their tools, while also creating a battery platform that is compact enough to use on smaller power tools, like impacts and drills.

“For the highest-demand applications and a truly cordless job site, Makita has taken cordless performance beyond limits with the creation of XGT,” explains Mario Lopez, director of product management, Makita U.S.A.  “We’re providing more power without forcing users to buy big, heavy, slow-charging batteries for use on a limited number of tools. XGT is launching with fifty products – an unheard-of amount at launch, and more will be coming soon.”

It's important to note that the XGT system is not negating the LXT system, as Makita will continue to development the LXT lineup, which currently offers over 275 products. The XGT system is also not backwards compatible with the LXT lineup, so you won’t be able to use the 40V batteries on any of your existing 18V tools.

The XGT Batteries

Makita states that their new 40V XGT batteries were designed to absorb impact and resist water and dust, although they have not published any sort of IP rating. The batteries also contain microchips to “speak” to the tools and prevent overheating, overloading, and over discharging.

In April, a 2.5ahand a 4.0ah battery will be made available, followed by a 5.0ah battery in the near future. It will be interesting to see how far Makita takes this battery platform, because one of the knocks on its existing LXT platform is that they never released a battery larger than 6.0ah, whereas other brands like Milwaukee and DeWalt offer 12.0ah for longer runtime. Makita’s position has long been that those batteries are too bulky and heavy.

The XGT Tools

As mentioned above, Makita’s goal with XGT is to provide one battery that is optimized for both small, handheld power tools, and provide enough power for larger tools.

Rotary and Demolition Hammers

This category will hold the first two 80V max tools in the lineup, but both will be released after the initial launch. The two 80V options include a Brushless 2" AVT® Rotary Hammer Kit, SDS-MAX and a Brushless 29 lb. AVT® Demolition Hammer Kit, SDS-MAX.

The initial release includes a Brushless 1-1/8" AVT® Rotary Hammer Kit, SDS-PLUS, Brushless 1-1/8" AVT® Rotary Hammer Kit, with Interchangeable Chuck SDS-PLUS, a Brushless 1-9/16" AVT® Rotary Hammer Kit SDS-MAX, and a Brushless 15 lb. AVT® Demolition Hammer Kit SDS-MAX, all 40V max.

Saws

The saw category is highlighted by a 10-1/4” 40V Max Rear Handle Saw, which has a maximum cut depth of 3-3/4” at 90 degrees. The initial lineup will also include a 40V max 7-1/4” rear handle saw, a 40V max 7-1/4” top handle circular saw, and a 40V max reciprocating saw. In the near future, Makita will also release a 40V max 8-1/2” sliding compound miter saw.

Grinders

Makita will also be releasing a slew of 40V max grinders, including four different 4-1/2” /5” angle grinders, with offerings in both AWS and non-AWS and a paddle switch option on each set. AWS is Makita’s Bluetooth technology, which communicates between the tool and connected dust extractor to automatically turn the vacuum on and off based on the use of the tool.

There will also be a 7”/9” paddle switch angle grinder with AWS available in the initial launch, followed by two 6” angle grinders in the near future.

Drills and Impacts

What would Makita news be without another dozen impact releases? In addition to several impact wrench offerings, there will also be a new 40Vmax 4-Speed Impact Driver on the new lineup.

The impact wrench options include a ¾” Sq. Drive Impact Wrench Kit w/ Friction Ring Anvil, a 1/2" Sq. Drive Impact Wrench Kit w/ Friction Ring Anvil, and a 1/2" Sq. Drive Impact Wrench Kit w/ Detent Anvil. Two mid-torque half inch impact wrenches will also be released in the near future.

Four drills will be included in the first release, including a ½” Drill-Driver, a ½” Hammer Drill-Driver, a ½” Compact Brushless Drill-Driver, and a ½” Compact Brushless Hammer Drill-Driver.

Miscellaneous Tools

The 40V XGT lineup also features a Brushless 9-1/4" Fan, an LED Lantern/Flashlight, a pivoting head LED flashlight, and two different radios: one with Bluetooth, and one without. I don’t have any information on it yet, but it also appears that there will be several OPE options on the XGT lineup, as well, including a string trimmer and blower.

Tell Us Your Thoughts!

What do you think of this new Makita platform? What tools do you hope they release on the XGT lineup in the future?

There have been many attempts to use different materials for the structural support systems of buildings over the years, but stainless steel is not one that I have come across before. The BROAD Group, based in China, recently highlights a multi-story, cantilevered building made entirely of stainless steel.

The company says that the building method is similar in cost to a more traditional concrete building and that the factory made panels allowed this particular building to be constructed at a rate of 3 floors per day. The secret sauce to them building with stainless steel is their BCore slab, which is a series of thin stainless steel tubes sandwiched between stainless steel plates to create the floor slabs.

According to the video description that BROAD posted on their YouTube video of the building, these stainless steel tubes are attached through a brazing process peaking at over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. They also claim that the stainless steel structures they create are 5 times stronger and 10 times lighter than structural steel and can withstand a 9.0 earthquake.

The cantilevers on the F Tower, which sits on BROAD’s headquarters campus in China, extend out as much as 55 feet.

For more details about the building’s design and construction, you can check out the video below:

It’s been a little over a year since the coronavirus pandemic sent the entire world into a period of uncertainty, heartache, and panic. The construction industry itself has undertaken many different challenges, above and beyond keeping their people safe on the jobsite, many of which no one could have expected.

Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) recently completed a comprehensive survey of nearly 1500 contractor members to see how the ongoing pandemic is still affecting their business. Among the challenges still facing many are supply chain constraints, rising material costs, and project delays and cancellations.

“The survey results make it clear that the construction industry faces a variety of challenges that threaten to leave many firms and workers behind, even as some parts of the economy are recovering or even thriving,” said Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist. “The pandemic has left the supply chain for a range of key construction components in tatters and undermined demand for a host of private-sector projects.”

The survey asked 15 questions to contractors and the results were tallied as a total and then broken down by region of the US, State, size of company, and project type. All of the segmented data can be found on the AGC’s website, but I’ll cover the highlights of the overall results here.

Project Delays

Survey respondents were asked what kinds of delays they were experiencing on their projects and the shortage of construction materials, equipment, and parts was the overall leader at 52%. 29% reported that they are not experiencing any shortages or delays currently. Other respondents said that their delays are caused by labor shortages, potentially infected people visiting the jobsite, shortage of PPE, and difficulty obtaining financing to cover cash flow.

90% of respondents cited backlogs or shutdowns at domestic factories, mills, and fabricators as the reason for delays. Another 51% cited backlogs or shutdowns at foreign producers as the reason.

Project Costs

93% of respondents said that they have experienced additional costs due to the pandemic. 81% said that these cost increases were due to PPE and sanitation requirements, 58% said that projects are taking longer, and 27% said that fewer workers are allowed on jobsites.

Some companies (31%) have achieved some cost savings due to the pandemic, including through jobsite technologies, reduced travel, and reduced office expenses.

Employment

46% said that there has been no change in headcount at their company over the past year, while 20% have added employees, and 34% have lost employees. 65% of those that lost employees said that the reduction was due to postponed or canceled projects, 45% blamed fewer projects to bid on, 37% cited that some employees have quit or refused to work because of illness, exposure concerns, or family responsibilities, and 12% said that fewer workers are allowed on jobsites.

There is a confidence among 62% of the respondents that they expect their headcount to grow over the next 12 months. Only 12% expect their headcount to drop.

Additional Topics

Additional questions in the survey covered future project projections, total overall volume of business, political action, and demographics information. You can see the full survey results here: https://www.agc.org/sites/default/files/AGC%20Coronavirus%20Survey%20National%20Results_F_0.pdf

Autodesk announced the impending release of 3 new products, combining the best of all of their existing products and adding new features, at last year’s virtual Autodesk University.  Those products (Build, Takeoff, and BIM Collaborate) are now fully available on a global scale, with Takeoff being the most recent release.

Autodesk Takeoff allows estimators to perform 2D and 3D takeoffs within Autodesk Construction Cloud, ensuring teams are using the most up-to-date set of drawings and allowing collaboration between team members.

Straight from 2D or 3D models, Takeoff users can point and click on an object to count or click and drag to collect linear or square footage. With the data stored on the cloud, other team members know what has already been counted, which could help reduce redundancies.

3D Takeoffs are carried out in a similar fashion, but can also assist in helping you find objects that are alike to one another, such as a identically sized doors or windows.

"The takeoff process has historically been disjointed, cumbersome and time consuming, which creates a lack of transparency, missed deadlines and an increase in errors,” said Sameer Merchant, vice president of construction technology at Autodesk. “With an integrated 2D and 3D quantification solution that leverages Autodesk Construction Cloud’s centralized document management, Autodesk Takeoff enables teams to update quantities in real-time and ensure they’re working from the latest design files. Autodesk Takeoff allows estimators to easily collaborate to reduce errors, speed up their takeoff process, produce more compelling bids and ultimately win more work.” 

Historical Project Databases can also be built within Takeoff to track and manage items that can help benchmark your companies performance and tighten bid accuracy.

“If done right, historical project data such as actual quantities, production time, and material costs can be used to bid more accurately on the next project,” says Andy Leek, Vice President – Technology & Innovation at PARIC Corporation, in an Autodesk blog post. “Competitive bids are often impacted by fluctuating material costs, weather impacts, productivity, and the availability of labor resources. As the market evolves, data helps our teams bring more value, insight, and reliability to the table to remain competitive.”

Last year’s World of Concrete, the large concrete and masonry focused convention hosted in Las Vegas every year, was one of the very last normal events that our industry has been able to take part in since the pandemic started.  While it is typically held in January every year, this year’s event will be pushed back a few months…but it’s actually happening.

On June 8-10, the 2021 World of Concrete will be the first large show to return to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in over a year. This announcement comes on the heels of Nevada’s Governor Steve Sisolak increasing large gatherings capacity to 50%.

“Las Vegas has been the top convention and meetings destination for many years. We pride ourselves on providing the best facilities, the best service and now, the safest,” said Gov. Sisolak, in a press release. “We’ve been cautious, but very focused on reopening Las Vegas in the safest way possible for you, our treasured customers, our valued employees and our entire community. With great confidence in the efforts made by our resorts, convention centers and meeting hosts, I say... welcome back! The greatest place to do business in the world is even better.”

Other than that desert heat we’ll now have to contend with now that the show will be in June, the Las Vegas Convention Center and the hosts of the event, Informa, intend to follow strict health and safety guidelines to keep attendees as safe as possible.  According to their press release, they will be prioritizing the use of masks, temperature checks, providing hand sanitization stations, and widening aisles.

Helping with the social distancing aspect will be the new West Hall Expansion at the LVCC, which was a whopping 1.4 million square foot, $989 million addition. To help navigate the already massive space, the convention center’s visitors authority will be providing free rides in a Tesla in their underground tunnel system.

“As we return to the in-person experiences our customers crave, it’s critical for us to collaborate with industry partners to ensure that our communities can re-connect in meaningful and secure ways. We have a clear and vetted industry-wide set of health and safety measures known as the All Secure Guidelines to guide us as we return those experiences to Las Vegas, ensuring the same rigorous approach to health and safety at all our events,” said Kevin Thornton, VP, Operations at Informa Markets. “The LVCC is a state-of-the-art facility that prioritizes safety and success with the same enthusiasm we do. Through our collective efforts, live events will be able to run safely, signaling a real economic restart for the many communities we serve, as well as the Las Vegas economy.”

Do you plan to attend the 2021 World of Concrete? Let me know in the comments.