In the News The Civil Quarterly (TCQ) features original research collected quarterly from civil contractors, engineers and owners. The research provides a snapshot of the current business health of contractors operating in the dynamic civil sector, and each issue also offers insights into some of the many trends that are transforming the sector through research, interviews and feature… Read More »The Civil Quarterly 2022 Issue 4
Infrastructure is a new editorial destination that explores the systems at the core of our lives.
In the News It should come as no surprise that the nation’s infrastructure is in poor shape. The American Society of Civil Engineers has long been sounding the alarm with its recurring infrastructure report card, awarding the U.S. an alarmingly C- for 2021. (And that’s a marked improvement over the D+ overall score from the previous round, in 2017.) The questionable condition of our roads and bridges only foregrounds the necessity for safe and reliable inspections, a concern that Ron Stupi, Senior Vice… Read More »Robotics Are Revolutionizing Infrastructure Inspection
Article Following six months of consecutive gains, the Dodge Momentum Index fell to 165.8 (2000=100) in June, down 5% from the revised May reading of 175.1. The Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. The decline in June was the result of losses in both institutional planning, which fell 7%,… Read More »Dodge Momentum Index Loses Steam In June (July 8, 2021)
Editorial Column Zweig Group‘s weekly mergers and acquisitions report for the AEC industry encompasses both U.S. and global markets. Here are some of the top deals for the week of June 28 to July 4: ArchitectureCORE Design Group of York, Pennsylvania, with Richard F. Mula Architects of Lancaster, Pennsylvania ArchitecturePerkins Eastman of New York with MEIS Architects of New York Construction ServicesSam Companies of Austin, Texas, with Marbach, Brady & Weaver and Marbach-Palm (together known as Marbach) of Elkhart, Indiana EngineeringAssystem of Sourbevoie, France, with STUP of Mumbai, India EngineeringProgressive Engineering… Read More »Zweig M&A Report, June 28, 2021 to July 4, 2021
Research Report The Commercial Construction Index (CCI) is a quarterly economic indicator designed to gauge what drives the commercial construction industry and its leaders, based on research conducted with contractors. Topics covered include the three factors from which the Index is derived—backlog levels, new business opportunities and revenue forecasts—and additional market drivers such as workforce, financing, and materials and equipment trends. The Index also features a quarterly spotlight on revolving construction industry topics The Q1 CCI is 62, continuing its slow recovery… Read More »Q1 2021 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index
Webinar Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the potential of remote inspections to help automate parts of the inspection process was gaining attention as a means to improve the inspection process, free up inspectors’ time to focus on more high-value tasks and help project owners deal with shrinking budgets. Now the pandemic has put a spotlight on the value of remote inspection to help reduce the number of people on dynamic jobsites to improve safety and health. However, the industry is still… Read More »The Emerging Value of Remote Inspection in Civil Construction – On Demand Webinar
Research Report Use of BIM across the project team is critical to improve project outcomes. This SmartMarket Report takes a deep dive into the use of BIM by mechanical and HVAC contractors, and the findings reveal that their engagement is not only widespread, but it is encouraging growth in related activities such as prefabrication and modular construction. The study provides a detailed portrait of how these sheet metal/ducting, mechanical piping, plumbing and multi-trade contractors are using BIM. It also reveals the multiple… Read More »The Business Value of BIM for Mechanical and HVAC Construction
Whitepaper As soon as the Archer-United Joint Venture (Archer Western and United Infrastructure) was awarded the $421 million Midlands Connection Project by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, Doug Browning, senior survey manager, says he started thinking about how they were going to manage their data on the project. The vast size of the project—widening 16 miles of an existing highway corridor and replacing 10 bridges—makes it critical that everyone is using the most up-to-date plans. Bringing survey data into the documentation adds… Read More »Managing Survey Data Key to Success of Major Highway Project
Research Report This new study is the first in a two-part series that benchmarks digital capabilities in civil construction. This report takes a deep dive into the use and benefits of two foundational tools—model-based technologies and field and project management tools. It looks at the critical drivers to increase their use to improve project outcomes and provide business benefits for contractors using them.
In the News The streets of new developments may be narrower in future, to make the most of limited land, but that’s not an efficient option for most existing streets. Fortunately, a team from architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and the City Tech Collaborative consortium are thinking of more viable street improvements for existing urban areas, reports American City & County. Using Chicago as object lesson, a team of 30-odd experts in design, engineering, transportation, urban planning, and other fields tackled… Read More »A Pathway to Smarter City Streets
In the News That the United States faces an acute housing shortage should come as no surprise. Eviction moratoria, increased unemployment benefits, and other measures spared many owners and renters from losing their homes at the height of the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fully one third of renters used some kind of government assistance to pay the landlord, according to a recent article in The New York Times. Unfortunately, lower-income families are still vulnerable, particularly with benefits coming to… Read More »A Narrow, Novel Solution for the Nation’s Housing Shortage