Infrastructure Policy Watch: cost of climate change to UK finances, public views on New Zealand infrastructure

Chris Richards | July 13, 2021 | 113 views

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in its latest Fiscal Risks Report has forecast the cost to the UK public finances from climate change (physical risks) and the transition to net-zero (transition risks) across a range of different scenarios.

Describing the challenge, the OBR states:

There are many other policy challenges to overcome, so the path to net zero can be expected to involve many policy levers on top of carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes, including bans and other regulations, and public subsidies and investment. These will all have economic and fiscal implications of one sort or another – either directly (via taxes and spending) or indirectly (via wider economic outcomes).
Taking early action to achieve net zero would add 21% of GDP to public sector net debt by 2050, a smaller amount than that added by the Covid-19 pandemic. This amount comes from increased spending on net-zero investment, the loss of tax revenues (such as fuel duty), revenues from tax on carbon and other costs such as increased debt interest payments.

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The Constantine Group

The Constantine Group provides diversified engineering, technology, construction, and management services to utility systems throughout the Southeast US and beyond, through a network of subsidiary firms.

OTHER ARTICLES
ENGINEERING TECH

EDM set to lead skills development in new £10 million digital engineering centre

Article | July 20, 2022

UWE Bristol will play a central role in a new £10 million digital engineering centre for the region. The Centre for Digital Engineering Technology & Innovation is a research, innovation and skills initiative created to develop and accelerate digital engineering across multiple industry sectors, to ultimately benefit future generations of engineers and engineering products, and to help tackle global challenges.

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MARKET, ENGINEERING TECH

Service Tech Mobile Unveiled at AHR

Article | July 11, 2022

The recent AHR Expo 2020 was a showcase of the very latest - and coolest - technologies for service contractors. From cutting-edge air and water purification systems to virtual reality headsets to advanced sensors and alert systems to enhance safety, one thing is clear: service contractors today have a lot more tools at their disposal than they have in years past.

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ENGINEERING TECH

The Future of Construction from a Leader in SLAM-Based Laser Scanning

Article | August 4, 2021

Since the early days of the personal computer the construction industry has been slow to adopt digital technology. As a result, increases in construction productivity have lagged virtually every other major industry, such as automotive and aircraft manufacturing. It’s true that every construction project is different, unlike automobiles and planes, but we can do more to improve the future of construction.

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Financial Engineering: How To Make SAP Shareholders Happy

Article | February 10, 2020

SAP is tweaking and twisting everything it can to make everybody happy. The efforts of Mucic, Morgan and Klein are remarkable. The three musketeers strike again: SAP co-CEOs Jennifer Morgan and Christian Klein as well as CFO Luka Mucic want to make everyone in the SAP community happy, and they want to make everyone happy all at once. To make that happen, they are moving large sums of money around – only through legal, albeit a little questionable, methods, primarily financial engineering.

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Spotlight

The Constantine Group

The Constantine Group provides diversified engineering, technology, construction, and management services to utility systems throughout the Southeast US and beyond, through a network of subsidiary firms.

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CONSTRUCTION

STACK Construction Technologies Leads the Industry in Security

STACK Construction Technologies | March 20, 2023

STACK Construction Technologies is leading the pack when it comes to implementing robust security protocols. As measured by SecurityScorecard, STACK's ranking of 97/100 delivers an A grade to its state-of-the-art network security, DNS health, IP reputation, social engineering, and more. In comparison to competitors and other Construction Tech leaders, like Autodesk (81/100) and Procore (94/100), respectively, STACK is proud to be raising the bar and setting a new standard. "At STACK, we strive to nurture a culture of security awareness, ensuring that every employee understands their role and the importance of safeguarding our systems and customer data," said Robert Vazquez, STACK's Chief Information and Security Officer. "We believe that independent and transparent evaluation is crucial to maintaining the highest standards of security and building trust with our customers. That's why we regularly engage independent third parties to conduct thorough evaluations of our security practices and provide valuable insights to help us continuously improve our security posture." This remarkable dedication to data security comes at a time when the average cost of a data breach for small business is estimated at $2.98 million, and 65,000 vulnerabilities were discovered in small businesses in 2022, up 21% from the previous year. As an industry that's been slow to adopt newer technologies, construction can be a prime target. That's why STACK is leading the way and has established a comprehensive system of robust data security protocols to mitigate risk. The company has expanded its SOC 2 compliance from construction to preconstruction solutions, ensuring security through a rigorous auditing process. STACK also implements Auth0 single sign-on (SSO), user management, and identity analytics, further protecting user data. Its best-in-class engineering teams, HR, workforce enablement, and leadership are the backbone to its data security success. STACK also provides ongoing training and education to its employees to ensure they are aware of the latest threats and best practices for data security. About STACK Construction Technologies From project evaluation to completion, contractors use STACK's cloud-based software to help run their business and maximize their profits. Our preconstruction solutions enable fast and accurate takeoff and estimating, as well as providing a centralized hub where plans, specs, and other construction documents can be stored, evaluated, measured, and shared. Our construction solutions power real-time field and project collaboration by allowing teams to quickly and easily review, annotate, compare, and share plans, anywhere, from any device. STACK's superior collaboration tools ultimately improve project outcomes and profitability for contractors.

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ENGINEERING TECH, CONSTRUCTION

WSB and Bentley Systems Launch Digital Construction Management Service

WSB | March 14, 2023

On March 13, 2023, Bentley Systems, a prominent provider of software for infrastructure engineering, disclosed a collaborative effort with WSB to boost the use of digital twins in the civil infrastructure industry. To enable the civil infrastructure sector to adopt digital workflows and leverage the potential of construction digital twins, WSB has launched a novel digital advisory service and construction management solution powered by Bentley's SYNCHRO. The company has also become the inaugural member of the Bentley Digital Integrator Program for construction, available to engineering and project delivery firms that meet the eligibility criteria. Bentley and WSB's initiative of digital construction management is changing the way infrastructure projects are carried out by combining cutting-edge technology with expert knowledge and creative solutions. Their initiative of digital construction management is changing the way infrastructure projects are carried out by combining cutting-edge technology with expert knowledge and creative solutions. The capacity to produce constructible models from existing 2D plan sets and connect project, document management, and contract to the future of design—a 3D/4D/5D constructible model—are some of the critical services. Through this program, they hope to provide constructors access to the most advanced model-based construction management solution. Carsten Gerke, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships with Bentley Systems, remarked, "Owners and construction firms realize that new digital workflows are needed to meet infrastructure demands. Applying these digital workflows successfully requires a deep understanding of technology, processes, and data." (Source – Business Wire) Jon Chiglo, Chief Operating Officer of WSB, added, "WSB is committed to delivering innovative, reliable, and secure solutions through the use of advanced technology. We believe the successful deployment of an operational 3D model drives transparency, maximizes return on investment, makes possible true lifecycle planning, and drives collaboration to connect and align all stakeholders." (Source – Business Wire) About WSB WSB is a design and consultancy firm that provides services in more than 25 complementary areas, specializing in engineering, environmental protection, urban planning, and building construction. Established in 1995 and based in Minneapolis (MN), WSB serves customers from across the country, operating through 15 offices. Its dedicated professionals monitor and improve people's interactions with communities, transportation, infrastructure, energy, and the environment.

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ENGINEERING TECH, CONSTRUCTION

Hilti and Construction Robotics Company Canvas Announce Strategic Partnership

Canvas | March 17, 2023

Hilti announces a strategic partnership with Canvas, a construction robotics company that has developed a robotic drywalling solution aiming to empower people to build in bold new ways. The partnership marks the beginning of a significant new step in robotics innovation after Hilti had launched the Jaibot, the world’s first semi-autonomous ceiling drilling robot in 2020. This collaboration brings together leaders in intelligent jobsite robotics who share a common vision: that robotic tools will unlock vastly untapped potential and drive a new era of productivity and safety for skilled trade workers. Canvas, headquartered in San Francisco and founded in 2017 by veterans of Boston Dynamics, MIT and Stanford, leverages advances in collaborative robotics and machine learning to build a new class of tools for skilled tradespeople that harness the power of AI and machine learning. To date, Canvas has focused on drywall finishing which, studies have shown, has among the highest prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorder cases, with as many as one in four workers experiencing such effects. Canvas’ robot can apply both level 5 and level 4 drywall finishes in a fraction of the time, and at a higher level of safety and reliability, compared to similar traditional methods. In contrast to manual application, the robot applies a single consistent layer of joint compound over wet tape and telescopes to 15.5 feet to do the vast majority of the work at height. It reduces repetitive motion injuries and captures 99.9% of the dust produced by sanding. As part of the partnership, Hilti will assume the manufacturing responsibilities for future Canvas systems based on the proven Jaibot platform, giving Canvas a reliable and scalable global supply to meet the huge demand for its finishing robots. “At Hilti, our purpose is making construction better. We do this by focusing our resources on innovative hardware, software and services that help to increase contractor productivity, worker health & safety, and sustainability,” said Thomas Hillbrand, Member of Hilti’s Executive Board. “Our shared values bring Hilti and Canvas together—and we’re excited to support Canvas in reimagining better ways of working through the power of robotics and AI.” “It’s extremely validating that the demand for our drywall finishing robot quickly outstretched our capacity to produce this year,” says Canvas’ CEO, Kevin Albert. “Contractors continue to struggle with rising costs and labor shortages. The demand we see is testament to the critical need for new tools in the industry to address these challenges and empower our skilled workforce. We’re excited to announce this partnership which continues to push the boundary of what is possible and positions Canvas to meet current and future demand for our machines globally.” The Canvas-Hilti partnership positions the construction robotics company to scale globally in an industry that is ripe for change. The partnership will enable Canvas to help the drywall industry solve its chronic and growing labor problem, while also making the job site cleaner, safer and less strenuous for the people doing the work. About Canvas Canvas is a construction robotics company whose mission is to enable people to build in bold new ways. The Canvas system provides a flexible approach to drywall finishing, combining the skills and expertise of trained workers with technology that, together, enable drywall finishing work to be done better, faster, safer, and more consistently. Canvas has been recognized by Forbes and Fortune on their top AI and start-up lists, respectively, and recently won the Pro Tools Innovation Award for Technology/Robotics. About Hilti Group The Hilti Group supplies the worldwide construction and energy industries with technologically leading products, systems, software and services. With about 32,000 team members in over 120 countries, the company stands for direct customer relationships, quality and innovation. Hilti generated annual sales of more than CHF 6.3 billion in 2022. The headquarters of the Hilti Group have been located in Schaan, Liechtenstein, since its founding in 1941. The company is privately owned by the Martin Hilti Family Trust, which ensures its long-term continuity. The Hilti Group’s strategic orientation is based on a caring and performance-oriented culture and the goals of creating enthusiastic customers and building a better future.

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CONSTRUCTION

STACK Construction Technologies Leads the Industry in Security

STACK Construction Technologies | March 20, 2023

STACK Construction Technologies is leading the pack when it comes to implementing robust security protocols. As measured by SecurityScorecard, STACK's ranking of 97/100 delivers an A grade to its state-of-the-art network security, DNS health, IP reputation, social engineering, and more. In comparison to competitors and other Construction Tech leaders, like Autodesk (81/100) and Procore (94/100), respectively, STACK is proud to be raising the bar and setting a new standard. "At STACK, we strive to nurture a culture of security awareness, ensuring that every employee understands their role and the importance of safeguarding our systems and customer data," said Robert Vazquez, STACK's Chief Information and Security Officer. "We believe that independent and transparent evaluation is crucial to maintaining the highest standards of security and building trust with our customers. That's why we regularly engage independent third parties to conduct thorough evaluations of our security practices and provide valuable insights to help us continuously improve our security posture." This remarkable dedication to data security comes at a time when the average cost of a data breach for small business is estimated at $2.98 million, and 65,000 vulnerabilities were discovered in small businesses in 2022, up 21% from the previous year. As an industry that's been slow to adopt newer technologies, construction can be a prime target. That's why STACK is leading the way and has established a comprehensive system of robust data security protocols to mitigate risk. The company has expanded its SOC 2 compliance from construction to preconstruction solutions, ensuring security through a rigorous auditing process. STACK also implements Auth0 single sign-on (SSO), user management, and identity analytics, further protecting user data. Its best-in-class engineering teams, HR, workforce enablement, and leadership are the backbone to its data security success. STACK also provides ongoing training and education to its employees to ensure they are aware of the latest threats and best practices for data security. About STACK Construction Technologies From project evaluation to completion, contractors use STACK's cloud-based software to help run their business and maximize their profits. Our preconstruction solutions enable fast and accurate takeoff and estimating, as well as providing a centralized hub where plans, specs, and other construction documents can be stored, evaluated, measured, and shared. Our construction solutions power real-time field and project collaboration by allowing teams to quickly and easily review, annotate, compare, and share plans, anywhere, from any device. STACK's superior collaboration tools ultimately improve project outcomes and profitability for contractors.

Read More

ENGINEERING TECH, CONSTRUCTION

WSB and Bentley Systems Launch Digital Construction Management Service

WSB | March 14, 2023

On March 13, 2023, Bentley Systems, a prominent provider of software for infrastructure engineering, disclosed a collaborative effort with WSB to boost the use of digital twins in the civil infrastructure industry. To enable the civil infrastructure sector to adopt digital workflows and leverage the potential of construction digital twins, WSB has launched a novel digital advisory service and construction management solution powered by Bentley's SYNCHRO. The company has also become the inaugural member of the Bentley Digital Integrator Program for construction, available to engineering and project delivery firms that meet the eligibility criteria. Bentley and WSB's initiative of digital construction management is changing the way infrastructure projects are carried out by combining cutting-edge technology with expert knowledge and creative solutions. Their initiative of digital construction management is changing the way infrastructure projects are carried out by combining cutting-edge technology with expert knowledge and creative solutions. The capacity to produce constructible models from existing 2D plan sets and connect project, document management, and contract to the future of design—a 3D/4D/5D constructible model—are some of the critical services. Through this program, they hope to provide constructors access to the most advanced model-based construction management solution. Carsten Gerke, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships with Bentley Systems, remarked, "Owners and construction firms realize that new digital workflows are needed to meet infrastructure demands. Applying these digital workflows successfully requires a deep understanding of technology, processes, and data." (Source – Business Wire) Jon Chiglo, Chief Operating Officer of WSB, added, "WSB is committed to delivering innovative, reliable, and secure solutions through the use of advanced technology. We believe the successful deployment of an operational 3D model drives transparency, maximizes return on investment, makes possible true lifecycle planning, and drives collaboration to connect and align all stakeholders." (Source – Business Wire) About WSB WSB is a design and consultancy firm that provides services in more than 25 complementary areas, specializing in engineering, environmental protection, urban planning, and building construction. Established in 1995 and based in Minneapolis (MN), WSB serves customers from across the country, operating through 15 offices. Its dedicated professionals monitor and improve people's interactions with communities, transportation, infrastructure, energy, and the environment.

Read More

ENGINEERING TECH, CONSTRUCTION

Hilti and Construction Robotics Company Canvas Announce Strategic Partnership

Canvas | March 17, 2023

Hilti announces a strategic partnership with Canvas, a construction robotics company that has developed a robotic drywalling solution aiming to empower people to build in bold new ways. The partnership marks the beginning of a significant new step in robotics innovation after Hilti had launched the Jaibot, the world’s first semi-autonomous ceiling drilling robot in 2020. This collaboration brings together leaders in intelligent jobsite robotics who share a common vision: that robotic tools will unlock vastly untapped potential and drive a new era of productivity and safety for skilled trade workers. Canvas, headquartered in San Francisco and founded in 2017 by veterans of Boston Dynamics, MIT and Stanford, leverages advances in collaborative robotics and machine learning to build a new class of tools for skilled tradespeople that harness the power of AI and machine learning. To date, Canvas has focused on drywall finishing which, studies have shown, has among the highest prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorder cases, with as many as one in four workers experiencing such effects. Canvas’ robot can apply both level 5 and level 4 drywall finishes in a fraction of the time, and at a higher level of safety and reliability, compared to similar traditional methods. In contrast to manual application, the robot applies a single consistent layer of joint compound over wet tape and telescopes to 15.5 feet to do the vast majority of the work at height. It reduces repetitive motion injuries and captures 99.9% of the dust produced by sanding. As part of the partnership, Hilti will assume the manufacturing responsibilities for future Canvas systems based on the proven Jaibot platform, giving Canvas a reliable and scalable global supply to meet the huge demand for its finishing robots. “At Hilti, our purpose is making construction better. We do this by focusing our resources on innovative hardware, software and services that help to increase contractor productivity, worker health & safety, and sustainability,” said Thomas Hillbrand, Member of Hilti’s Executive Board. “Our shared values bring Hilti and Canvas together—and we’re excited to support Canvas in reimagining better ways of working through the power of robotics and AI.” “It’s extremely validating that the demand for our drywall finishing robot quickly outstretched our capacity to produce this year,” says Canvas’ CEO, Kevin Albert. “Contractors continue to struggle with rising costs and labor shortages. The demand we see is testament to the critical need for new tools in the industry to address these challenges and empower our skilled workforce. We’re excited to announce this partnership which continues to push the boundary of what is possible and positions Canvas to meet current and future demand for our machines globally.” The Canvas-Hilti partnership positions the construction robotics company to scale globally in an industry that is ripe for change. The partnership will enable Canvas to help the drywall industry solve its chronic and growing labor problem, while also making the job site cleaner, safer and less strenuous for the people doing the work. About Canvas Canvas is a construction robotics company whose mission is to enable people to build in bold new ways. The Canvas system provides a flexible approach to drywall finishing, combining the skills and expertise of trained workers with technology that, together, enable drywall finishing work to be done better, faster, safer, and more consistently. Canvas has been recognized by Forbes and Fortune on their top AI and start-up lists, respectively, and recently won the Pro Tools Innovation Award for Technology/Robotics. About Hilti Group The Hilti Group supplies the worldwide construction and energy industries with technologically leading products, systems, software and services. With about 32,000 team members in over 120 countries, the company stands for direct customer relationships, quality and innovation. Hilti generated annual sales of more than CHF 6.3 billion in 2022. The headquarters of the Hilti Group have been located in Schaan, Liechtenstein, since its founding in 1941. The company is privately owned by the Martin Hilti Family Trust, which ensures its long-term continuity. The Hilti Group’s strategic orientation is based on a caring and performance-oriented culture and the goals of creating enthusiastic customers and building a better future.

Read More

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