Top Trends to Watch in 2015

Engineering the Relaunch of NASA's Historic VAB — Worker Shortage? Construction of a new Atlanta Braves ballpark will likely add to contractors' labor challenges.

Photo courtesy of Atlanta Braves

All Aboard Florida

Developers of a $2.3-billion passenger rail system have lofty aspirations

The planned, privately funded passenger-rail line connecting Miami with Orlando certainly made news in 2014, with citizens along the Space Coast rallying to fight the $2.3-billion project. At the same time, All Aboard Florida (AAF) kicked off construction of new transit stations in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, and hired Suffolk Construction to build its 3-million-sq-ft Miami station.

In announcing the West Palm Beach project's start, Michael Reininger, AAF president, stated: "All Aboard Florida will be transformative for West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County and the state of Florida." Such hyperbolic statements have been common throughout the state's history of railroad-based boondoggles. However, if All Aboard of Florida can pull off private development of high-speed passenger rail in the Sunshine State, it would stand as a monumental feat.

Technology

Contractors are putting greater emphasis on technology tools to boost efficiency.

One apparent hallmark of construction's recovery from the Great Recession is a new push to use technology to boost efficiency. "Maximizing the use of technology will help firms find increasing opportunities in the coming years, pushing out those who are unwilling to change," says Mark Wylie, president and CEO of the Central Florida ABC chapter.

Scott Judy is Deputy Editor for Regions, and editor of ENR Southeast, one of Engineering News-Record's 10 Regional publications. His roughly 27 years as a construction journalist began with an 11-year stint covering Midwest construction projects. In 2000, Judy helped launch the publication now known as ENR Southeast. He often delves into controversial aspects of the construction industry such as bankruptcies and fatal accidents, and wishes he would never have to cover another accident but suspects that he might.