HOARE There’s a certain stereotype associated with engineers. We’ve all heard about the pocket-protector-sporting, calculator-wielding, introverted and boring type–lacking that certain joie de vivre commonly associated with more "creative" professionals, such as writers, graphic designers and marketers. Heeding that stereotype, most would conclude that we Cyborg-like engineers wouldn’t dream of taking a lesser-paying job just because it seemed like a great opportunity and personal fit. A robot doesn’t have feelings, right? What is the top priority for an engineer searching for a new job? Well, according to one of our recent surveys, it’s what the job entails. Of 736 respondents,
JOACHIM The U.S. is the only major developed nation in the world that does not have a single coordinated family of construction codes and standards. While efforts were initiated in the 1990s to rectify that situation, the breakup earlier this decade of negotiations between the International Code Council (ICC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is negatively impacting the cost of construction in our nation. The ongoing acrimonious competition between these two organizations to gain the adoption of their respective building codes by state and local governments comes at a cost to our nation, the construction community and state and
STENQVIST Forget about fast track. Construction schedules today have accelerated so quickly that the old distinction between traditional and fast-track scheduling has all but disappeared. Today, fast track is the norm, and what is some- times called "hypertrack" is growing. And our industry is suffering. Without speed limits, the road grows perilous. Having worked on some hypertrack jobs, we can see the perils pretty clearly. We can suggest some ways of fending off danger but some of these solutions carry drawbacks of their own. JENNEY Usually there is a compelling reason for putting a job on hypertrack: A business is
FLYVBJERG Recently, as I was concluding a study on megaprojects, I thought of Nobel Prize winner F.A. Hayek’s controversial article about the selection of political leaders, Why the Worst Get on Top. Like Hayek’s political leaders, we found that it is not necessarily the best megaprojects that succeed. Our survey looked at several hundred projects in more than 20 countries and we discovered that there seemed to be a formula at work in deciding which projects get built: Project approval equals underestimated cost, plus overestimated revenue, plus undervalued environmental impact, plus overvalued economic development effect. But during project implementation, when
GORMLEY With over 60 health-care projects under way nationwide, we are always working to finish on time and on budget with good quality design and construction. However, we continue to face challenges ensuring that our new buildings and renovations actually operate effectively and efficiently. Recently, our in-house engineers were checking a new boiler. While it produced hot water, the controls were improperly set so it cycled on to full heat and then quickly shut down as the temperature met the set point. This is something like driving your car by pressing the gas pedal to the floor when the light
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
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