The rail versus highway debate is getting heated as a six-year, multi-billion-dollar transportation reauthorization bill stalls in Congress. The debate is strikingly similar to the highway debate at the turn of the last century when inter-jurisdictional squabbling over issues such as taxation and spending, suburban versus urban and environmental justice were the same ones facing highway builders. Ironically, the answer to our rail problems lies in the history of our highway system. Once upon a time, counties controlled highways and the rich ones had good roads while the poor or indifferent counties had mud paths. It took the U.S. Army’s
CHRISTENSEN Everyone likes things in writing. It’s a tangible guarantee that work will be done or rules will be followed. This is particularly true when it comes to developing and utilizing a consistent company safety program. Putting together a written safety program is a critical first step towards documenting company policies and procedures for accident-free construction, yet many contractors do not have one. It is much more than just a list of rigid work rules. Written safety programs are important because they delineate responsibilities and expectations for everyone. They also provide guidance for field supervisors so they can handle unexpected
TUCKER We continue to hear concerns about the shortage of skilled craft workers. The problem is not new nor is it unique to the U.S. To me, the causes and obvious solutions are illustrated in the following diagram. Individual companies, national organizations and many labor unions have tried various recruiting efforts. Even with increased recruiting, retention remains a problem. Demographic studies show a major exodus of skilled craft workers after they reach their mid-30s. Companies and organizations have introduced numerous innovations, such as onsite day care centers, major training and craft progression programs, multi-skilling/multi-crafting and guaranteed 2000 hours of work
The rain found me yesterday. I was sitting in my kitchen enjoying my morning coffee when the streaming drips reminded me that I had ignored those curling shingles and cracking tar patches on the roof for far too long. So I drove to the local golf shop and bought one of those really nice 64-in.-dia double-shell wind-vented umbrellas. It was expensive, but the salesman told me it was worth the cost because it was the best way to stay dry. Thanks to my fancy new umbrella, I can now stay completely dry as I sit in my kitchen. Okay, I’m
Value engineering frequently endangers American education. This claim may seem far-fetched, but a strong argument can be made that many common value engineering decisions have harmful effects on school building quality that also adversely impact our children’s learning experience. These days, the term "value engineering" often seems a misnomer when applied to school construction projects. Value engineering is supposed to identify a decision making process where the owner and the design/construction team controls costs while maintaining the building’s long-term value. Unfortunately, construction managers frequently present value engineering choices that shorten school buildings’ life spans, lead to a higher incidence of
Justin D. Bolduc isn't "A-list" material at most ENR Top 400 construction firms. Why? Because most of their recruiters won't hire from two-year schools. But they really should take a look at him and my other students. A panel of constructors watched last month as Bolduc, a 22-year-old construction management major at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, played the role of president of a fictitious company. Pretending to respond to a request for proposals for CM services on a mixed-use project, he seemed as comfortable as a seasoned veteran. And as he and fellow student team members flawlessly handled
No, I am not talking about cooking the books. I am talking about planning, strategizing and putting resources where needed to achieve desired results. Does it sound like too much for an engineering firm? Well, it’s not. Engineers do it, although not at the same scale as big businesses do it. We also don’t take the process as seriously as we should and that, I believe, will have long-term business consequences. To think in terms of this seemingly radical idea—engineering the bottom line—I thought getting an MBA might be an answer. It was like getting a different pair of glasses,
Building codes in the U.S. are at a crossroads. Until recently, we took the safety of our buildings for granted, confident that designs meeting code requirements would perform well. However, the collapse of 60% of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 and destruction of the World Trade Center towers in 2001 shook that confidence, not only with the general public, but with engineers as well. I propose a new path for building codes–performance design within a unified U.S. code. Instead of a ‘one-size-fits-all' code mandate, performance design requirements can vary, based on the hazards being considered, the
After a four-day halt of air travel a year ago, this country's need for an efficient high-speed ground transportation system became even more obvious in the wake of Sept. 11. Now, Congress is seriously considering funding the development of true high-speed rail, or HSR. As Congress mulls a reauthorization of highway and transit funding for 2003-2009, the multi-billion-dollar measure seems likely to call for an innovative version of high-speed rail called magnetic levitation. Maglev uses electromagnetic forces for vertical and horizontal support as well as for propulsion. Unlike traditional HSR with steel wheels on steel rails, maglev eliminates any contact
I didn't get into this business to be a social worker," a developer complained to me recently. After 30 years of helping builders bring projects to completion, I'm hearing more and more of them complain that public officials aren't satisfied anymore when private developers bring projects in on time and budget. Increasingly, the public sector expects private developments to include recreation facilities, affordable housing and such. Real estate developers have always had their share of problems. I've helped many of them solve the challenges of unseasonable weather, unscheduled union demands, fluctuating financing, last-minute client revisions, uncertain entitlements, inexplicable zoning, conflicting
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