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 After nearly a century in Illinois, construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar has announced its relocation to Irving, Texas, near Dallas. “We believe it’s in the best strategic interest of the company to make this move, which supports Caterpillar’s strategy for profitable growth as we help our customers build a better, more sustainable world,” chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby explained in a statement. According to The Wall Street Journal, Caterpillar is not receiving any incentives from the state to make the… Read More »Caterpillar Announces Move to Texas
In the News Construction input prices have increased dramatically since this time last year, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the trade group Associated Builders and Contractors. More specifically, construction input prices are up 21.4%, while nonresidential construction input prices are up 21.9%. Input prices are the costs directly incurred by the creation of a good or service, such as direct materials and labor. The increases occurred in 10 of 11 subcategories in May. The largest were in natural gas… Read More »Construction Index Prices Show 21% Increase Over Last Year
Video The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) jumped 7% in May to 176.2 (2000=100), up from the revised April reading of 165.2. The Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. In May, the institutional component of the Momentum Index rose 9%, and the commercial component increased 6%. May’s increase in the Dodge Momentum Index pushed the level of… Read More »Dodge Momentum Index Shows Gains in May, Recession Fears Notwithstanding
Video The Washington Post hosts a conversation with Michael Berube, deputy assistant secretary for sustainable transportation at the Department of Energy, and Wes Edens, founder and co-CEO of Fortress Investment Group, about the transition to more affordable, environmentally friendly modes of transportation. Watch the video here, and read a few highlights below: BERUBE: Well, last year’s infrastructure bill truly was game changing in so many ways. On the electrification front, probably the biggest single item is $7.5 billion towards the EV… Read More »On the Future of Transportation
Video Water is not an abundant resource in Austin, Texas, and the climate crisis will only make matters worse. The city adopted a progressive water strategy in 2018. A new pilot project at the City’s Permitting and Development Center will demonstrate a different way of handling a building’s water. An underground collection and reuse system, or OSCAR, will collect 40,000 gallons of rainwater and air-conditioning condensate on site. The system filters the water and then stores it for reuse in landscaping. The process… Read More »The City of Austin, Texas, Is Piloting an On-Site Water Collection and Reuse System
In the News A big downside of renewable energy is its periodicity: There are times when the sun doesn’t shine and wind doesn’t blow. The solution is storing surplus energy for use during lean times. Unfortunately, conventional lithium-ion batteries are too expensive to play a major role. The Biden administration believes there may be a viable alternative in hydrogen energy. The U.S. Department of Energy is making a $504.4 million loan to the the Advanced Clean Energy Storage Project, The Hill reports. The… Read More »The Biden Administration Is Making a Big Investment in Hydrogen Energy
Research Report Total construction starts rose 3% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $945.8 billion, according to DodgeConstruction Network. Nonresidential building starts rose 6% and residential starts increased by 4%, while nonbuildingstarts fell 4%. Year-to-date, total construction was 6% higher in the first four months of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021.Nonresidential building starts rose 19%, residential starts gained 3%, while nonbuilding starts were 2% lower. For the12 months ending April 2022, total construction starts were 12%… Read More »Total Construction Starts Inched Higher in April
Research Report In the latest Dodge Momentum Index report, chief economist Richard Branch highlights April’s construction drivers and industry trends. This month, he discusses: A 9% rise in the Commercial Sector The DMI approaches an all-time high Educational building leads Institutional Sector Optimism for solid construction activity The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) is an economic leading indicator for nonresidential building projects, tracking the dollar value of these projects in their earliest stages of planning.
In the News A proposed change to the Department of Labor’s formula for surveying earnings could lead to major wage gains for construction labor. The department uses surveys to determine the prevailing wages in different areas of the country through the 90-year-old Davis-Bacon Act. The act sets wage standards for workers on construction projects backed with federal dollars. The last major change to the rules occurred during the Reagan administration. The department has received some 37,000 comments on the potential update, and Law360… Read More »Proposed Regulatory Overhaul Could Transform Construction Labor Market
Article Cyber threats to all transportation agencies are increasing at an exponential rate because of the reliance on new technology to support operational needs, process massive amounts of data, and handle complex network connections to more diverse organizations. These attacks can be very costly, due to threat of lost data, impeded operations, and necessity of redirecting resources. The question becomes, “What should a transportation leader do to create a cyber-aware organization and reduce the many risks from a cyber-attack?” Find out… Read More »5 Ways to Lead a Cyber-Aware Transportation Organization in 2022