Related Links: Forrester Research Report Forrester Research Inc. has released a report and an associated analysis tool that offers a methodology for comparing the cost of in-house file storage to the cost of storing files in a public cloud. The report illuminates many variables beyond simple dollars-per-gigabyte base-cost comparisons.The report runs a sample set of data using mid-range values for numerous variables involved in storing 100 terabytes of data for four years. In that example, compared to local hosting, the cloud reduces the cost by 74%. However, if the cost includes a cloud storage gateway service—comprising a client-side server and

Asta shows multiple tasks on one row and can split a task into two, based on its attributes. Related Links: Asta Powerproject: Price Competition RevelPoint: Cloud Competition Vendors of offshore and homegrown construction scheduling and coordination software are popping up in North America, trying to snag market share from Oracle Primavera's P6 software. The insurgents claim that factors such as cloud computing and contractor dissatisfaction have created an opportunity.One newcomer is Asta Powerproject from U.K.-based Asta Development. The software is positioned as a relatively inexpensive, user-friendly tool that caters solely to construction.Fred Plotnick, a construction industry consultant and the operator

Image by ENR An Aconex Field demo screenshot shows how issues are logged. When networked, the app then integrates with back-office databases. Related Links: Survey Shows That Mobile Tools Boost Jobsite Productivity ENR Readers Speak Up About Info Tech in Construction Acquisition of Vela Systems Puts Mobile BIM On Autodesk's Fast Track Field management apps for tablet use on jobsites are all the rage in the construction industry these days—with good reason.Tablets are rapidly replacing clipboards to become the device of choice for project managers who value their efficiency in documenting project issues, new research shows.Now Aconex, a provider of

Image Courtesy of Yue Fan and Bilge Yildiz Research studies impact point's potential energy. Related Links: Probing the Mysteries of Cracks and Stresses Physical Review Letters Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology studying a phenomenon called a flow-stress upturn—in which material strength can abruptly soar as the applied strain rate increases—have hit upon an atomic-level explanation that may lead to a set of general principles.Those principles should apply to many kinds of materials and ultimately could help explain phenomena including the breakdown of concrete or metal structures under sudden stress.The research, by associate professor Bilge Yildiz, professor emeritus Sidney

Related Links: Vizit's Free 30-day Trial Newsgator Document-management software maker Vizit's latest release extends search and collaboration capabilities for users of Microsoft's SharePoint. Giving more visualization to search results, the 5.0 release allows users to search for, jump to and highlight specific words or passages in documents, then share them as a link with other SharePoint users.The software by Seattle-based Vizit displays previews of a select amount of text next to search results, then immediately generates a URL that points to the portion of text and enables it to be shared via SharePoint's news aggregator, Newsgator, and its enterprise social

Related Links: ENR: Nullifying Water Damage to Mobile Devices ENR: Surge in New Mobile Apps for the Industry Mobile technology and tools are becoming an increasingly ubiquitous part of society, extending beyond personal convenience to important business uses. Construction is no exception, with mobile tools serving as a critical link between jobsites and the main office.The important research reviewed below demonstrates a prolific application of mobile tools today, with 93% of a representative sample of general contractors and subcontractors using some sort of mobile device on their construction sites. The industry is already reporting productivity benefits from these tools, including

Related Links: FCC Narrowband Mandate Architectural Record Push-to-talk communication has been around since two-way radio came into use more than 70 years ago. Now, AT&T is putting a new spin on the sub-second communication feature with an enhanced push-to-talk service that can instantly reach up to 250 people simultaneously. It uses Internet Protocol as the conduit instead of radio frequencies.Steve Colkitt, IT director at CourierNet, which beta-tested the service, compares it to Motorola's pioneering iDEN (integrated digital enhanced network) service, which combined two-way radio capabilities with other features, such as pagers and fax/modem. "It's damn near iDEN quality, which no

Related Links: More Information About Autodesk 360 YouTube Video of Huntair's Use of Simulator Tools Autodesk is quickening the pace of its cloud-computing strategy shift with what it calls the industry's first "pay as you go" simulation service. Called Simulation 360, the cloud-based subscription offering promises to slash the costs of simulation testing for mechanical engineering projects, the results of which can make or break a successful job."We're packing it up in three different tiers," says Grant Rochelle, senior director of industry marketing for San Rafael, Calif.-based Autodesk. Simulation 360 is the latest offering sincethe company launched last spring its

Related Links: MIT Research on Integrated Circuits Based on Bilayer MoS2 Transistors An Explanation of the Bandgap In lab tests late last month, researchers for the first time successfully used a 2D lubricant material called molybdenum disulfide as a semiconductor, a new application that opens up a range of possibilities for electronic devices.Scientist Madan Dubey at the Army Research Lab says, "[Two-dimensional] material has only length and width. The [molybdenum disulfide's] height is just one molecule." Dubey collaborated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the research. His expert team has the tools to test the quality of the molybdenum

First Read Viewpoint: This summer, millions went without power in India’s largest outage in history, and currently, hurricane season still threatens the Gulf coast. Now more than ever, concerns about power delivery in extreme weather are real and increasing.We’ve all heard the cliché “time is money,” but it is especially true for providers of electricity. Every minute that power is out equals lost revenue. For large investor owned utilities (IOUs), the potential impact of storms can reach tens of millions of dollars annually. Quite often, smaller utilities do not have funds to set aside for these types of extreme events