Articles
Top 10 construction trends to focus on in 2020
December 18, 2019 On-Site StaffCanadian contractors enter 2020 with most experts optimistic about their prospects. Still, changes in technology, political divisions and the sheer scale of many new building projects will present both opportunities and challenges. These are the top trends the Canadian…
2020 Construction Forecast: Positive momentum to continue, but industry needs to embrace change
December 18, 2019 David KennedyA steady stream of building projects in most regions of Canada, and particularly within its big urban centres, have kept the construction industry busy through the second half of 2019. Though concerns about how long growth can continue persist, much…
Is tech forcing the built world to evolve its procurement models?
December 17, 2019 David BowcottUnlike the manufacturing industry, where environments can be tightly controlled and products are often carbon copies of one another, construction projects will likely always face a degree of uncertainty. Advancing technology and enhanced computing power, however, are helping to usher…
Supreme Court of Canada set to revisit the duty of honest performance of contracts
December 16, 2019 Sonny IngramIn 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Bhasin v. Hrynew, which recognized a new duty that applies to all contracts: a duty of honest performance, requiring parties to be honest with each other in relation to…
From the editor… Megaprojects test industry’s capacity to deliver
December 14, 2019 by David KennedyFew and far between just a few years ago, multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects have become the norm in Ontario. With planning now underway for four new or extended transit lines in the Toronto area, Canada’s most populous province will be measuring…
The enterprise dashboard challenge in the era of Industry 4.0
December 13, 2019 Jacob StollerThe frequent portrayal of contractors as technological laggards is in some respects unfair. While it’s true that construction has fallen behind other industries in using technology to manage the enterprise, it’s also more difficult to integrate data in construction than…
Diesel demand: On-Site’s 2020 work truck report
December 12, 2019 Mario CywinskiOnce exclusive to heavy-duty pick-ups, truck brands are now adding diesel engines to their light-duty trucks. While FCA added one to its Ram 1500 a few years ago, it’s now introducing a new version on its 2020 truck. General Motors…
Concrete Awards showcase diverse building projects across the province
December 10, 2019 by Megan HoeglerThe Concrete Awards celebrate the efforts of suppliers, designers, contractors and owners in Ontario. Held during the Buildings Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this year’s winners were diverse, representing building projects from transit stations to modern condo complexes.…
Staying out of the shop: Big data, vocational trucks and the drive toward predictive maintenance
October 10, 2019 David KennedyUptime matters, particularly when it comes to work trucks. Whether it’s a five-person crew waiting on an aggregate delivery, or an entire job site paralyzed by a concrete mixer stalled in an inopportune spot, delays are always costly. Until now,…
Could blockchain be the new glue of contracting?
October 9, 2019 Jacob StollerBased on what one reads and hears about blockchain, it’s not hard to conclude that it’s just another word for Bitcoin. However, while blockchain is the technology underpinning Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, digital money is only one of its…
Rising waters: Canadian communities counter worsening storms with fresh infrastructure work
October 9, 2019 Saul ChernosWhen it rains in Canada these days, it pours. Just six years ago, torrential rains dumped multiple summers worth of rain on parts of southern Alberta in just 48 hours. Mudslides closed sections of the Trans-Canada Highway and damage to…
From the editor… Sprucing up a piece of construction history
October 8, 2019 by David KennedyIt’s old, plenty rusty and somewhat less refined than the far newer suspension bridge that stands beside it. But even after a century of wear and tear, the Quebec Bridge is something to behold. It’s worth hanging onto and it’s worth…
First in, last out: What’s new in the versatile world of heavy-duty telehandlers
October 8, 2019 Nate Hendley“We always say the telehandler is the Swiss Army knife of the job site [because] of its ability to do so many different jobs,” says John Boehme, senior product manager at JLG Industries Inc. “It’s the first machine on the…
The level playing field assumption: A ‘go or no-go’ cautionary tale
October 7, 2019 David BowcottYour construction company is about to bid what you believe to be a very attractive new project. Your firm has been prequalified along with three others, the RFP document has been issued and you are set to compile your best…
The ‘prevention principle’ in contracts – schedule extensions and liquidated damages
October 7, 2019 Dirk Laudan and Siobhan SmallThe owner of an infrastructure project agreed to provide engines for the contractor to install, and their installation was on the contractor’s critical path. Because of supplier problems, the engines failed to arrive on time. The owner knew this would…
From the editor… SNC-Lavalin retreats from construction, but don’t expect a bonanza
August 22, 2019 David KennedyThe writing’s been on the wall for months, and a few weeks back, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. finally confirmed the speculation. Facing a laundry list of problems, the company said it plans to turn away from construction, stop taking on lump-sum…
Getting on track: Urban transit projects roar to life, creating opportunity for Canada’s construction sector
August 21, 2019 Jillian MorganWorking in tandem along a stretch of highway in Montreal, a pair of launching gantry cranes hoist 50-ton concrete segments into the air off flatbeds below. The gantries slide the prefabricated segments into place, steadily forming a single 30-metre span…
Doing things differently: Getting ready for prompt payment and adjudication
August 20, 2019 Arif GhaffurThe Striking the Balance Report, delivered back in 2016, was the catalyst for Ontario to modernize its Construction Lien Act, which had been last reviewed in the early 1980s. As part of a wide-ranging review, this report also addressed the…
Adding to the mix: Using admixtures to get your concrete to do what you want it to
August 19, 2019 David KennedyLooking up at the coffered dome of the Roman Pantheon, several thousand tonnes of ancient concrete overhead, the majesty of the nearly 2,000-year-old temple is lost on few. The building’s dome, still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world,…
Small excavators go big: Compact job sites force contractors to do more with less
August 16, 2019 Nate HendleySmall-sized excavators have hit the big time. And surging growth in the segment isn’t finished yet. According to a research report released this March, the global market for mini-excavators accounted for US$7.2 billion in 2017, with construction making up the…