Environmentally Friendly Home Construction Ideas

SHELLEY KILPATRICK | June 4, 2019 | 216 views

During the recession, green home construction increased while traditional construction tanked. Since then, the market for green homes has only continued to grow. It’s a trend that builders expect to continue-a 2017 study found that 31% expect to be dedicated green home builders by 2022.

Spotlight

Advanced Drainage Systems

Headquartered in Hilliard Ohio, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc is the leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe, providing a comprehensive suite of water management products and drainage solutions. Our innovative products and superior drainage solutions are used across a broad range of end markets and applications, including residential, non-residential, agriculture and infrastructure applications.

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Engineering Tech

COVID-19: Construction Companies and Others Help with PPE

Article | August 24, 2021

As nations the world over continue working through the uncertainty of COVID-19, personal protective equipment is more important than ever. Under these circumstances, however, PPE doesn’t relate to the hard hats, eye protection and steel toe boots our concrete blog typically covers. It’s the protective items healthcare professionals need to perform their work safely. Medical PPE has been in short supply, with consumers looking to protect themselves against the COVID-19 coronavirus snapping up face masks, gloves and the like. As medical facilities’ need for these important tools grows, however, many have turned to unlikely sources: Construction companies.

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Engineering Tech

Industrial Robots Popular for Engineering

Article | July 20, 2022

The report "Global Industrial Robot Market: Analysis by Industry, by Type, by Region, Size and Trends with Impact of COVID-19 and Forecast Up to 2026" valued the global industrial robot market at $33.90 billion in 2021 and projected it to $61.09 billion by 2026. Because of increased productivity and efficiency, lower manufacturing costs, and lower overall product purchase prices. Industry 4.0 has accelerated the development of collaborative robots and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled robots, allowing industries to streamline processes, increase productivity, and reduce errors. Sectors are investing in robotic systems as the next generation of industrial robots becomes cheaper, autonomous, more mobile, cooperative, and adaptable. During the forecast period of 2022 to 2026, the industrial robot market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.50%. The Dynamics of the global industrial robot market Growth Drivers: Automation boosts productivity, raises quality, and decreases errors. Rising automation demand has increased the adoption of robots in various industries, and rising automation demand is a major market driver. The growing electronics industry, rapid installation of industrial robots, high wages, and the growing role of AI in robotics are all expected to drive growth in the industrial robot market. Challenges: The purchase and installation of robots requires significant capital investment, and the benefits provided may take many years to outweigh the initial cost. The high initial investment required for industrial robot-assisted production automation may act as a barrier to the market's growth. Other market challenges include safety concerns and privacy concerns. Trends: The development of collaborative robots, or co-bots, is a growing trend in robotics. Cobots are designed to collaborate with humans and are increasingly being used in industrial applications. Cobots use safety-rated sensors, which allow laborers to work in the same area without being harmed. Other trends that are expected to drive the growth of the engineering industry with the help of robot market during the forecasted period include the use of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), the rise of the cloud robotics market, next-generation tech accessories, and job opportunities in industrial robotic advancements.

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Robotics and Automation

Why a Digital Twin Is the Best Way to Start a Building Project

Article | July 13, 2022

A digital twin is much more than just a 3D model of a building. It contains detailed information of all equipment and components, including their physical properties and cost. The model can also reflect the exact state of building elements, showing issues like mechanical wear. Digital twins can also be used as simulation tools, to analyze how a building would behave under different conditions.

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Construction

Creating a custom Thermal Asset for a Revit Material - early energy modeling with Insight

Article | May 20, 2021

When using the Autodesk Revit + Insight workflow for early architectural energy modeling, and using the Detailed Items option which uses the Thermal Assets associated with each Revit material, it is often necessary to create a custom asset for a specific product.

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Spotlight

Advanced Drainage Systems

Headquartered in Hilliard Ohio, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc is the leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe, providing a comprehensive suite of water management products and drainage solutions. Our innovative products and superior drainage solutions are used across a broad range of end markets and applications, including residential, non-residential, agriculture and infrastructure applications.

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Engineering Tech

YOUNG & Associates Acquires IN-Line Consulting, LLC

YOUNG & ASSOCIATES | September 26, 2023

Property and claims consultants YOUNG & Associates (YA), has acquired the claims and engineering company IN-Line Consulting, LLC. Founded by Matt Watson and Mark Lively more than 16 years ago, IN-Line was formed to manage the consulting work offered by a full-service restoration company operating primarily in the Southeast United States. The move strengthens YA's footprint in that part of the country, solidifying the company's role as a national and international leader. IN-Line will operate as a subsidiary of YA and its day-to-day operations will continue to be directed by the existing IN-Line leadership team. The company's management and support teams also will remain in place. "This partnership with IN-Line is a significant step forward in growing our professional service offerings," said Wade Bushman, YA's CEO. "We appreciate IN-Line's diverse base of technical experts, exceptional customer service track record, shared cultural values, and employee-first workplace model. They are a natural addition to the YA team." IN-Line President Matt Watson explained joining forces with YA allows the company to better serve clients by broadening its resource base and expanding its capabilities nationally and internationally. The move also offers new avenues for personal and professional growth for IN-Line's employees. "Since our inception, we have focused on building a great team and culture that can best serve the wide-ranging needs of our clients," Watson said. "Now, with YA's resources and platform, we are well positioned to carry that commitment into the future." ABOUT YOUNG & ASSOCIATES YOUNG & Associates (www.youngonline.com) is a property consulting firm providing building damage assessments, forensic and investigative consulting services to the insurance industry, public and private sector clients. YA was founded in 1997 by Ray and Linda Young on the core values of knowledge, integrity, and professionalism. Through its 26 years, YA's range of property damage services has expanded, developing a broader client base, and growing the team to almost 600 staff strategically located across the U.S. and internationally. ABOUT IN-LINE CONSULTING, LLC IN-Line Consulting, LLC (www.inline.us) is a national construction consulting firm specializing in property damage restoration and reconstruction recommendations for all phases of construction. Historically, IN-Line has been engaged on large, complex losses which require the technical diversity, expertise, and experience unique to our team of professionals. IN-Line's principal services include the preparation of comprehensive and market-specific construction estimates, as well as detailed and practical scopes of reconstruction. IN-Line's other competencies include but are not limited to: cost of repair audits; on-site clerking; code reviews; construction schedule analysis; production efficiency and economy analysis; forensic engineering; and construction defect analysis.

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Engineering Tech

Michael Baker International Acquires Tidal Basin

PR Newswire | August 28, 2023

Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that the firm has acquired Tidal Basin, a leading comprehensive emergency and disaster management consulting firm. Tidal Basin will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity and will complement Michael Baker's efforts to support the nation's recovery efforts and rebuild infrastructure to be safer and more resilient. "We are excited to welcome Tidal Basin as a sister company to Michael Baker. This relationship is a tremendous opportunity for the two firms to work closely together to drive more value for a shared client base that encompasses more than 90 locations across the country," said Thomas J. Campbell, Chairman of Michael Baker International and Founder and Managing Partner of DC Capital Partners. "Both firms bring added strength to the market with complementary resources and capabilities to take on larger resiliency projects while delivering the exceptional client service for which they are known." This new relationship pairs the depth and breadth of Michael Baker's engineering and consulting expertise with Tidal Basin's extensive experience and comprehensive suite of services relative to preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery and program management - which are increasingly important as public and private entities contend with volatile climate activity and man-made emergencies. Tidal Basin has served as a vital resource during times of crisis, including public health emergencies and other unforeseen events. Working more closely together will allow both firms to provide even stronger program and technical management expertise and resources to clients, including governments, businesses and communities. Michael Baker and Tidal Basin have a history of working together on projects throughout the country, including planning projects targeting wildfires in California and infrastructure projects in Colorado and New York. The new relationship between the firms creates many avenues to leverage synergies and growth opportunities across Michael Baker's five distinct verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). Growth opportunities exist through the strong relationship both organizations have with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while pursuing additional business across all Federal agencies. This includes expanding relationships with federal civilian agencies, state and local entities, departments of transportation nationwide as well as projects in the broadband services, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and geographic information systems (GIS) sectors, among others. Tidal Basin is led by founder and CEO Daniel A. Craig, a leader with extensive experience with FEMA and the disaster consulting and post-disaster recovery industries. He has advised the White House and more than a dozen governors and state administrations on recovery, housing, and long-term economic recovery strategies. Mr. Craig also served as a presidentially appointed Associate Administrator for FEMA's Recovery Division where he was responsible for overseeing the federal government's recovery efforts on all presidentially declared events including the Space Shuttle Columbia crash, the wildfires of 2003, and the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. Mr. Craig is supported by a deep team of industry experts and experienced professionals including Amy K. Baker, Executive Vice President, Government Consulting; Melissa J. Gordon, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Solutions and Stephen T. Surace, President and Chief Financial Officer. Currently, the Tidal Basin team is leveraging its technology enabled solutions to expedite recovery efforts related to the tragic Maui wildfires. The McLean Group acted as financial advisor and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP acted as legal advisor to Tidal Basin in connection with the transaction. Arnold & Porter, LLP acted as transaction counsel and White & Case, LLP acted as debt counsel to DC Capital. About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services spanning five distinct Verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design and civil engineering for diverse bridge, highway, water, rail and transit and aviation projects, as well as planning, architecture, environmental and construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner to clients, providing comprehensive services and solutions, delivering expertise and quality, and embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations – like intelligent transportation, engineered models and public safety software as a service (SaaS).

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Engineering Tech, Construction

Day & Zimmermann Integrates Multidiscipline Engineering into Service Portfolio, Expanding Capabilities to Full EPC

PR Newswire | August 24, 2023

Day & Zimmermann (D&Z) announced integration of its engineering capabilities within its Maintenance and Construction division, positioning the company to service customers' greater project needs under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) execution model across all markets and the clients we serve. The move allows D&Z to offer full-service, multidiscipline engineering and completes its suite of EPC capabilities to support large-scale design-build projects. Day & Zimmermann, the century-old, family-owned provider of construction and maintenance, engineering, staffing, and defense solutions for leading corporations and governments around the world, also continues its expansion into the solar, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor markets. The company's Maintenance and Construction division was recently awarded a contract with The State Group to support construction of Ford's Blue Oval City Electric Vehicle Center in Stanton, Tennessee. "This is an exciting time for D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division. Our business is growing, we have become ISO 9001 certified, added to our team of industry experts through strategic investments and acquisitions, and now we've integrated engineering services to further expand our project capabilities and better meet our customers' needs," said John McCormick, President of D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division. Recent acquisitions bolstering D&Z's service capabilities include the Ohio-based companies of Davis-Pickering Co. Contractors, a union labor construction company, and River Town Electric, a solar system design, installation, and maintenance service provider for in-ground and roof-mounted photovoltaic solar systems as well as grid-tied, off-grid, and solar thermal systems. Acquisitions within the last five years include Minnotte Contracting Corporation, a Pittsburgh-based union mechanical contractor and construction company, and EMC Canada, a construction company based in Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. Both companies now operate fully as part of D&Z. D&Z engineering services cover many areas including process/chemical; mechanical; electrical; piping design/engineering; instrumentation and controls; civil, structural, and architectural; BIM management; and 3D laser scanning and modeling. This multidisciplinary expertise is leveraged to provide EPC services. With D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division recently receiving its ISO 9001:2015 certification through DEKRA, work begins to include engineering services under the certification with expected completion in early 2024. ISO 9001 certification is a necessary step to work under standards recognized worldwide, pursue bigger projects, and ensure the highest quality engineering work is delivered to customers. "We are building on 120 years of brand equity and reputation for high standards of safety, first-time quality, and cost efficiencies," said McCormick. "We are accelerating momentum for our people, our customers, and our future. We're positioning our business for full EPC capabilities to ensure a place for our children's children to work and to be an asset for the customers and communities we serve." D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division helps plant and facilities owners in the nuclear, fossil, solar, government sector, chemical, advanced automotive, semiconductor, and other industrial markets lower their total cost of ownership by delivering innovative maintenance, construction, and specialty services and solutions. The announcement of integrated engineering services adds to its offerings and makes turnkey construction contracts a reality for D&Z customers. ABOUT DAY & ZIMMERMANN When you've been around for more than a century, you know a thing or two. At Day & Zimmermann, we take our lifetime of experience and make things better. Our 51,000+ employees help bring big ideas to life every day. We're pushing the boundaries of innovation in construction & engineering, operations & maintenance, staffing, and security & defense. And that's not all. Did we mention that we have 150+ worldwide locations with $2.7 billion USD in annual revenue? We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world.

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Engineering Tech

YOUNG & Associates Acquires IN-Line Consulting, LLC

YOUNG & ASSOCIATES | September 26, 2023

Property and claims consultants YOUNG & Associates (YA), has acquired the claims and engineering company IN-Line Consulting, LLC. Founded by Matt Watson and Mark Lively more than 16 years ago, IN-Line was formed to manage the consulting work offered by a full-service restoration company operating primarily in the Southeast United States. The move strengthens YA's footprint in that part of the country, solidifying the company's role as a national and international leader. IN-Line will operate as a subsidiary of YA and its day-to-day operations will continue to be directed by the existing IN-Line leadership team. The company's management and support teams also will remain in place. "This partnership with IN-Line is a significant step forward in growing our professional service offerings," said Wade Bushman, YA's CEO. "We appreciate IN-Line's diverse base of technical experts, exceptional customer service track record, shared cultural values, and employee-first workplace model. They are a natural addition to the YA team." IN-Line President Matt Watson explained joining forces with YA allows the company to better serve clients by broadening its resource base and expanding its capabilities nationally and internationally. The move also offers new avenues for personal and professional growth for IN-Line's employees. "Since our inception, we have focused on building a great team and culture that can best serve the wide-ranging needs of our clients," Watson said. "Now, with YA's resources and platform, we are well positioned to carry that commitment into the future." ABOUT YOUNG & ASSOCIATES YOUNG & Associates (www.youngonline.com) is a property consulting firm providing building damage assessments, forensic and investigative consulting services to the insurance industry, public and private sector clients. YA was founded in 1997 by Ray and Linda Young on the core values of knowledge, integrity, and professionalism. Through its 26 years, YA's range of property damage services has expanded, developing a broader client base, and growing the team to almost 600 staff strategically located across the U.S. and internationally. ABOUT IN-LINE CONSULTING, LLC IN-Line Consulting, LLC (www.inline.us) is a national construction consulting firm specializing in property damage restoration and reconstruction recommendations for all phases of construction. Historically, IN-Line has been engaged on large, complex losses which require the technical diversity, expertise, and experience unique to our team of professionals. IN-Line's principal services include the preparation of comprehensive and market-specific construction estimates, as well as detailed and practical scopes of reconstruction. IN-Line's other competencies include but are not limited to: cost of repair audits; on-site clerking; code reviews; construction schedule analysis; production efficiency and economy analysis; forensic engineering; and construction defect analysis.

Read More

Engineering Tech

Michael Baker International Acquires Tidal Basin

PR Newswire | August 28, 2023

Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that the firm has acquired Tidal Basin, a leading comprehensive emergency and disaster management consulting firm. Tidal Basin will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity and will complement Michael Baker's efforts to support the nation's recovery efforts and rebuild infrastructure to be safer and more resilient. "We are excited to welcome Tidal Basin as a sister company to Michael Baker. This relationship is a tremendous opportunity for the two firms to work closely together to drive more value for a shared client base that encompasses more than 90 locations across the country," said Thomas J. Campbell, Chairman of Michael Baker International and Founder and Managing Partner of DC Capital Partners. "Both firms bring added strength to the market with complementary resources and capabilities to take on larger resiliency projects while delivering the exceptional client service for which they are known." This new relationship pairs the depth and breadth of Michael Baker's engineering and consulting expertise with Tidal Basin's extensive experience and comprehensive suite of services relative to preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery and program management - which are increasingly important as public and private entities contend with volatile climate activity and man-made emergencies. Tidal Basin has served as a vital resource during times of crisis, including public health emergencies and other unforeseen events. Working more closely together will allow both firms to provide even stronger program and technical management expertise and resources to clients, including governments, businesses and communities. Michael Baker and Tidal Basin have a history of working together on projects throughout the country, including planning projects targeting wildfires in California and infrastructure projects in Colorado and New York. The new relationship between the firms creates many avenues to leverage synergies and growth opportunities across Michael Baker's five distinct verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). Growth opportunities exist through the strong relationship both organizations have with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while pursuing additional business across all Federal agencies. This includes expanding relationships with federal civilian agencies, state and local entities, departments of transportation nationwide as well as projects in the broadband services, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and geographic information systems (GIS) sectors, among others. Tidal Basin is led by founder and CEO Daniel A. Craig, a leader with extensive experience with FEMA and the disaster consulting and post-disaster recovery industries. He has advised the White House and more than a dozen governors and state administrations on recovery, housing, and long-term economic recovery strategies. Mr. Craig also served as a presidentially appointed Associate Administrator for FEMA's Recovery Division where he was responsible for overseeing the federal government's recovery efforts on all presidentially declared events including the Space Shuttle Columbia crash, the wildfires of 2003, and the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. Mr. Craig is supported by a deep team of industry experts and experienced professionals including Amy K. Baker, Executive Vice President, Government Consulting; Melissa J. Gordon, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Solutions and Stephen T. Surace, President and Chief Financial Officer. Currently, the Tidal Basin team is leveraging its technology enabled solutions to expedite recovery efforts related to the tragic Maui wildfires. The McLean Group acted as financial advisor and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP acted as legal advisor to Tidal Basin in connection with the transaction. Arnold & Porter, LLP acted as transaction counsel and White & Case, LLP acted as debt counsel to DC Capital. About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services spanning five distinct Verticals: Infrastructure, Design-Build Services, Federal Programs and Services, Consulting and Technology Solutions (CTS) and Sustainable and Resilient Solutions (SRS). The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design and civil engineering for diverse bridge, highway, water, rail and transit and aviation projects, as well as planning, architecture, environmental and construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner to clients, providing comprehensive services and solutions, delivering expertise and quality, and embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations – like intelligent transportation, engineered models and public safety software as a service (SaaS).

Read More

Engineering Tech, Construction

Day & Zimmermann Integrates Multidiscipline Engineering into Service Portfolio, Expanding Capabilities to Full EPC

PR Newswire | August 24, 2023

Day & Zimmermann (D&Z) announced integration of its engineering capabilities within its Maintenance and Construction division, positioning the company to service customers' greater project needs under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) execution model across all markets and the clients we serve. The move allows D&Z to offer full-service, multidiscipline engineering and completes its suite of EPC capabilities to support large-scale design-build projects. Day & Zimmermann, the century-old, family-owned provider of construction and maintenance, engineering, staffing, and defense solutions for leading corporations and governments around the world, also continues its expansion into the solar, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor markets. The company's Maintenance and Construction division was recently awarded a contract with The State Group to support construction of Ford's Blue Oval City Electric Vehicle Center in Stanton, Tennessee. "This is an exciting time for D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division. Our business is growing, we have become ISO 9001 certified, added to our team of industry experts through strategic investments and acquisitions, and now we've integrated engineering services to further expand our project capabilities and better meet our customers' needs," said John McCormick, President of D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division. Recent acquisitions bolstering D&Z's service capabilities include the Ohio-based companies of Davis-Pickering Co. Contractors, a union labor construction company, and River Town Electric, a solar system design, installation, and maintenance service provider for in-ground and roof-mounted photovoltaic solar systems as well as grid-tied, off-grid, and solar thermal systems. Acquisitions within the last five years include Minnotte Contracting Corporation, a Pittsburgh-based union mechanical contractor and construction company, and EMC Canada, a construction company based in Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. Both companies now operate fully as part of D&Z. D&Z engineering services cover many areas including process/chemical; mechanical; electrical; piping design/engineering; instrumentation and controls; civil, structural, and architectural; BIM management; and 3D laser scanning and modeling. This multidisciplinary expertise is leveraged to provide EPC services. With D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division recently receiving its ISO 9001:2015 certification through DEKRA, work begins to include engineering services under the certification with expected completion in early 2024. ISO 9001 certification is a necessary step to work under standards recognized worldwide, pursue bigger projects, and ensure the highest quality engineering work is delivered to customers. "We are building on 120 years of brand equity and reputation for high standards of safety, first-time quality, and cost efficiencies," said McCormick. "We are accelerating momentum for our people, our customers, and our future. We're positioning our business for full EPC capabilities to ensure a place for our children's children to work and to be an asset for the customers and communities we serve." D&Z's Maintenance and Construction division helps plant and facilities owners in the nuclear, fossil, solar, government sector, chemical, advanced automotive, semiconductor, and other industrial markets lower their total cost of ownership by delivering innovative maintenance, construction, and specialty services and solutions. The announcement of integrated engineering services adds to its offerings and makes turnkey construction contracts a reality for D&Z customers. ABOUT DAY & ZIMMERMANN When you've been around for more than a century, you know a thing or two. At Day & Zimmermann, we take our lifetime of experience and make things better. Our 51,000+ employees help bring big ideas to life every day. We're pushing the boundaries of innovation in construction & engineering, operations & maintenance, staffing, and security & defense. And that's not all. Did we mention that we have 150+ worldwide locations with $2.7 billion USD in annual revenue? We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world.

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