Industry News Briefs

April 17, 2008 Headlines

U.S. Water Infrastructure in Dire Need
North American Project Spending Jumps 21 Percent in March
Integrated Project Delivery Builds a Brave, New BIM World
After 100 Years of Engineering Licensure, What's Next?
University-Led Community Development Surging

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U.S. Water Infrastructure in Dire Need
Associated Press (04/08/08) Long, Colleen

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than $277 billion will have to be invested over the next 20 years to repair and improve U.S. water infrastructure, but water industry engineers peg the figure at more like $480 billion. Utilities meanwhile are spending about $10.4 billion a year on large-scale repairs and improvements on potable water infrastructure, a number that has remained pretty much static for the past 20 years. "Our generation hasn't experienced anything like this. We weren't around when the infrastructure was being built," says Greg Kail, spokesman for American Water Works Association. "We didn't pay for the pipes to be put in the ground, but we sure benefited from the improvements to public health that came from it." Experts say that this generation will have to step up and pay for the crumbling water infrastructure, especially in older cities like New York, where some pipes and tunnels were built in the 1800s and are nearing the end of their life expectancies. About two hours north of New York City, a mile-long stream and a marsh have formed along a country road due to a leak in a cracked 70-year-old tunnel located hundreds of feet underground that is carrying water from the Delaware Aqueduct to New York City. Local residents report constant flooding in their yards and basements as a result. About 36 million gallons of water a day are leaking from the tunnel, enough to meet the daily demands of a city the size of Raleigh, N.C., though only a drop in a bucket when compared to New York City's water consumption. But repairing, even monitoring, the tunnel is no easy matter. If water is cut to the 13.5-foot-diameter tunnel, it could crumble from the weight of the land above it without the water inside to support it. New York has spent decades digging a new $6 billion tunnel to create an alternative delivery source and allow inspection and repair of other tunnels. The new tunnel is expected to be completed by 2020. Around the country, repairs will be long and costly, considering many water systems were built nearly100 years ago and lay deep underground in areas that are now developed with buildings and major roads above.
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North American Project Spending Jumps 21 Percent in March
Industrial Info Resources (04/11/08)

Industrial project spending through March this year is experiencing 21 percent growth when compared to 2007, though growth of planned industrial project spending continues to decline. There is nearly $374 billion in industrial projects that have begun or are scheduled to begin in 2008, $35 billion of which have already started construction this year. Most industries are experiencing growth, especially oil and gas production, which has experienced 147.2 percent growth thus far in 2008. Industries experiencing a slowdown include chemical processing; pulp, paper, and wood; and industrial manufacturing.

Integrated Project Delivery Builds a Brave, New BIM World
Building Design & Construction (04/08) Yoders, Jeff

Building Information Modeling (BIM) and other 3D tools can help the entire building team understand a designer's intention and create the foundation for integrated project delivery. The construction management companies DPR Construction, Skanska, and Turner Construction are using BIM and other innovative practices alongside the A/E firms HNTB and HOK and structural engineers Thornton Tomasetti to create complete integrated project delivery. "Our thinking is that if we can sit at the table with the other great minds in the project - the architects, MEP and structural engineers, and our key subcontractors - as early as possible, then we can all deliver the most efficient building," says Chris Rippingham, BIM engineer at San Francisco-based DPR Construction. "We definitely try to collaborate as much as possible even in situations where the contract doesn't obligate us to do that, but with our experience in integrated delivery that's our normal way of working." Other innovative practices they are using alongside BIM are RFID tagging, model translation, and early design visualization.
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After 100 Years of Engineering Licensure, What's Next?
Fire Protection Engineering (03/01/08) No. 37, P. 42; Jelenewicz, Chris

Engineers and licensing boards are engaged in heavy debate about engineer licensure, such as whether engineers need more than a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering before becoming licensed professional engineers (PEs); whether continuing professional competency (CPC) should be a requirement for all licensed engineers; whether college engineering professors should also be licensed engineers; and whether graduating engineering students should be allowed to take the PE exam without practical engineering experience. Though the BS degree has been the standard educational requirement for engineers for over a century, in 2015 an amendment to the Model Engineering Law will be enacted calling for 30 credit hours of acceptable upper-level undergraduate or graduate-level coursework, in addition to a BS degree, before a candidate can sit for the PE exam. Many U.S. jurisdictions currently lack CPC requirements for licensed engineers, and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying began the Registered Continuing Education Providers Program (RCEPP) to streamline the CPC process by promoting quality and consistency in engineering continuing education, recognizing and watching providers against established criteria, and offering one source for licensee education record keeping. As more jurisdictions become RCEPP participants, engineers licensed in multiple jurisdictions should have less trouble negotiating the CPC process. Meanwhile, licensed engineering faculty members are considered very important in encouraging students to pursue licensure, so many state engineering boards are considering forgoing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam if a person boasts a Ph.D. from an accredited engineering program.
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University-Led Community Development Surging
Urban Land Magazine (03/08) Vol. 67, No. 3, P. 16; Levitt, Rachelle

Universities are increasingly playing a role in community redevelopment, realizing that surrounding urban blight can impact admissions. "The future of Penn depends on the future of Philadelphia," said University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann in a recent Wall Street Journal article. Universities and the hospital systems attached to them play a strong economic role in the communities they are based in, often being the top employer in the area, but existing neighborhoods might feel threatened if redevelopment plans are seen as threatening. Two redevelopment projects were short-listed as potential finalists for the 2008 Urban Land Institute's Awards for Excellence Americas: the Church Street Plaza adjoining Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and the South Campus Gateway neighborhood near Ohio State University. Other institutions who are planning, undergoing, or recently completed major redevelopment projects include the University of Maryland, Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., Case Western Reserve University, Harvard University, and Columbia University. These redevelopment projects offer opportunities for participation by the private sector.
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Campus Construction Continues Despite Economy's Woes
Chronicle of Higher Education (04/09/08) Biemiller, Lawrence

The economic slump has not greatly impacted colleges' construction plans so far, according to campus planners and architects. Examples of such efforts include the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's continuation of a $50 million recreation center, Colby College of Maine's museum expansion and science building initiative, and Butler County Community College of Pennsylvania's $6.2 million construction of a student-services center. Arizona's three public universities--Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona--have promoted an "economic stimulus" plan whereby the institutions would commit more than $1 billion to construction and renovation efforts over three years, establishing tens of thousands of jobs and helping the state get through the downturn. Architects and planners note that it is increasingly common for colleges to collaborate with partners on construction projects, with Tony Aeck of Lord, Aeck & Sargent reporting that "there's a burgeoning amount of privatized college and university construction." Rising construction costs, however, are an area of concern, even for institutions with prosperous endowments, and the greatest influence on general costs has been wielded by rising concrete and steel prices.

Rapid Replacement
POB (04/08) Vol. 33, No. 7, P. 18; Doll, Jeffrey J.

Technology for rapid replacement projects is drawing attention in the United States, where the need to fix or replace tens of thousands of bridges--while maintaining traffic flow--is of mounting concern. The construction of Canada's first accelerated bridge--an eight-lane span on Ottawa's Route 417--happened so quickly that it brought on hundreds of onlookers to get a look at the mere 17-hour construction time, achieved using self-propelled modular transports (SPMTs) that move bridge systems weighing up to several thousand tons with fraction-of-an-inch precision. The overnight construction of the bridge incorporated accelerated construction technology, reflectorless robotic total station, and digital level instrumentation technology. Rapid replacement technology involves building a new structure in an enclosed area adjacent to the highway--in this case, a park about 165 yards from the bridge site. The design and consulting firm Stantec found its surveyors' skills put to the test as they worked to meet the very tight vertical and horizontal tolerances along with the diamond-shaped connection to the existing abutments and a compounded north/south and west/east elevation slope across the decks. "The key question on lift night was, 'Will it fit?'" says Stantec survey crew chef Bill Lawton, adding, "Yes, we had provided numbers to the engineers and the construction team, but everyone was looking at me." Installation activity began at 8 p.m. with the process to be completed in 15 hours according to contract terms--in fact, the government reserved the right to cancel the operation and put the old bridge back into place if the bridge was not open for traffic by 5 p.m. the next day. An important part of the project's success was the use of a machined template similar to an oversized tuning fork that enabled crews to precisely place anchor bolts configured to the new alignment. Many U.S. states are also using accelerated construction technology, including SPMTs, with Florida's Graves Avenue Bridge project being the first SPMT used on a U.S. interstate highway.
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RFID Tags at the Base of NYC's Freedom Tower
Computerworld (03/25/08) Gaudin, Sharon

The construction of New York City's Freedom Tower will utilize radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to make the setting of the foundation less of a headache, according to Identec Solutions CEO Peter Linke, whose company is supplying temperature-tracking RFID devices for the project. "When you pour concrete, it takes a sufficient amount of time for the concrete to cure properly to put a load on it," Linke notes. "It needs a specific amount of time to harden [and] it's difficult to know what that time is." By placing a temperature sensor-equipped RFID tag into concrete that is being poured, construction workers can read temperature data from the sensor through as much as 20 feet of concrete, while the battery-powered tags can be read from as far away as approximately 1,500 feet. "You can determine how concrete hardens depending on the temperature profile that the concrete goes through as it hardens," says Linke. "With one of our tags in it, it's really very convenient. You just go up with a reader and you can wirelessly tell the temperature at any given time, and you can download the temperature changes over time." Some 20,000 tags will be employed during the erection of the Freedom Tower and its surrounding structures.
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Capturing Knowledge in Construction Projects: Knowledge Platform for Contractors
Journal of Management in Engineering (04/08) Vol. 24, No. 2, P. 87; Kivrak, Serkan; Arslan, Gokhan; Dikmen, Irem

In order for a company to survive and grow, it is important that it properly manages knowledge. But it may not be easy to capture knowledge in project-based industries, such as construction, where knowledge is typically based on experience and difficult to convey to others. A recent study found that most companies lack a knowledge management strategy as well as a method for gathering and storing inferred knowledge. However, a Web-based system, known as Knowledge Platform for Contractors (KPfC), can help firms manage tacit and explicit knowledge in construction projects. Tacit knowledge can be captured from a project's engineers and experts through face-to-face meetings, coaching and mentoring, brainstorming, e-mail, and training. Explicit knowledge can be passed on through documents, reports, standards, and specifications. As knowledge is gathered, it can be entered into KPfC and, after approved by a knowledge manager, stored into the knowledge bank. Technical staff can access KPfC and look up knowledge by searching for a knowledge type, author, or project. Because knowledge can be updated or become outdated, the knowledge manager will be able to revise the system as changes are made. The system works best, by cutting down on time and costs, when all project employees are encouraged to share what they know with others.

Bill Would Give States Power Over LNG Sites
TheDay.com (04/09/08)

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is sponsoring legislation that would let states regain authority over the licensing and siting of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. The lawmaker wants to reverse a portion of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that gave the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the right to license LNG terminals rather than states. Three LNG terminals are now in planning stages in Oregon, and FERC has approved another for Long Island Sound between New York and Connecticut. FERC is also mulling an application for a proposed high-capacity pipeline that would deliver gas from Wyoming's basins to southern Oregon. Supporters of the LNG initiatives say the imported, super-cooled fuel would help curb price hikes when domestic and Canadian supplies start to diminish. Meanwhile, state agencies in Oregon have criticized how FERC conducted its draft environmental assessment of the Bradwood Landing terming on the Columbia River. Oregon Gov. In addition, Ted Kulongoski has requested Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers to investigate the state's legal options in blocking state permits for clean air, water, and coastal management if FERC fails to safeguard states' rights.

Healthcare & Hurricanes
Medical Construction & Design (04/08) Vol. 4, No. 2, P. 48; Hart, Michael

Many coastal regions of the eastern United States are extremely vulnerable to hurricane damage. For this reason, it is essential that healthcare facilities are constructed with the ability to withstand hurricane-force winds and flood damage. In Florida, state law mandates that all healthcare facilities are "hurricane hardened," though not necessarily hurricane-proof. However, facilities must have external, structural components that allow them to continue operating sufficiently after hurricanes pass. Only about 25 percent of Florida's healthcare facilities are considered hurricane hardened, though lawmakers expect 100 percent compliance in the next decade. Facilities will have to make a number of changes, including the addition of anchoring systems and reinforced frames to all exterior windows, skylights and doors. All roof appendages including ducts, tanks, fans, pipes, ventilators and HVAC units must be secured directly to the underlying roof supports. External landscaping also must be situated to avoid impeding any on-site access route if the landscape sustains damages. The facility must have a backup generator, extra water and sanitary accommodations to sustain its needs during a power outage. Finally, the facility should take into account storage space for emergency materials such as cots, food, medications, supplies and other necessary equipment. Florida's hardening requirements have helped several facilities survive through hurricanes, and experts believe the requirements could serve as models for other healthcare facilities in other states.

EPA Forbids Work Practices That Create Lead Hazards
Environment News Service (03/31/08)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued new rules governing the renovation or repair of homes, schools, and daycare facilities with lead paint to protect pregnant women and children. Effective in April 2010, the "Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program" rule applies to interior projects involving more than six square feet of lead paint, exterior projects involving 20 square feet of lead paint, and all homes with pregnant women and children under age six. The rule mandates that contractors receive training with regard to lead-safe work practices and that they hang signs that warn of the lead paint; keep residents out of the work zone; seal work areas so that dust and debris cannot escape; fully clean the work area; and provide proof of effective cleanup. U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is expected to introduce a bill that would strengthen the rules by mandating that children and pregnant women be tested for lead exposure following remediation projects.
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Weigh-In Motion System Added to Damaged Twin Span
Construction News (04/07/08)

A new weigh-in-motion system has been credited with reducing maintenance needs on the Interstate 10 Twin Span Bridge that crosses Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. The system detects overweight trucks, which can damage the prefabricated deck panels that were used to replace portions of the hurricane-damaged westbound span, before they cross the bridge, allowing for their rerouting. Currently, the bridge is inspected daily, with the westbound span shut down four times a week for repairs. Since going live, the system has been credited with a 20 percent decrease in the number of broken bolts that hold the deck panels to the bridge supports, allowing lane closures on the westbound span to be reduced to three times per week.
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Safety in Numbers
Constructor (04/08) Buckley, Bruce

The construction industry is facing heavy demand for safety professionals due to a combination of increasing construction activity and growing demand for safety personnel on job sites. In response, construction companies have developed various strategies to hire and retain safety personnel and please their clients. "The safety position is without a doubt the hardest position to fill because of all the demanding skill levels required," says D.A. Collins Construction owner David Collins, who recently spent months flying in candidates for safety director. "We can develop superintendents by taking field people and making them foremen, then superintendents. But we're not looking to create safety people from within. We want people with safety degrees who work well in the field and the office. It's tough to hire that person off the bat." Salaries are going up alongside this demand, according to Jeffrey M. Robinson of Personnel Administration Services, who says salaries rose 17 percent between 2004 and 2007 for experienced safety personnel and bonuses rose 42 percent. Because safety programs at colleges and universities prepare students for many different industries, the construction industry finds itself competing with other industries for safety talent, such as the manufacturing industry. This is often a daunting task for the construction industry because it has a reputation for difficult working conditions, according to David Fender, associate professor in the occupational safety and health program at Murray State University, who says most students interested in construction safety have a personal or family background in the construction industry. Even after hiring young safety professionals and training them about the construction industry, companies also have to build up their communications skills so that they can earn workers' respect, and years of mentoring may be necessary before they are comfortable working in the field. Still, working to young staffers has benefits for companies, such as the ability to instill the company culture in them.
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