Articles
Acadian Construction looks to corner the market in Atlantic Canada
June 11, 2018 by David KennedyAcadian Construction is riding high. The New Brunswick contractor more than doubled its revenue in 2017, booking $85 million in sales over the course of the year, compared to $40 million during the previous 12-month period. The strong growth catapulted…
Machine control advances: New technology prompts evolution of decades-old sensing systems
June 11, 2018 Nate HendleyThere have been significant developments in machine control, driven by technological advancements and industry trends. Used on earthworks equipment since the mid-1990s, machine control systems utilize satellite network data and sensors to determine geographic coordinates and assess grade. Such systems…
Fundamentals of materials liens: Payment for materials in construction contracts
June 11, 2018 Alexander J. SpraggsIn a typical subcontract, a subcontractor will periodically, throughout the duration of their work on or supply for the project, apply for payments at a value proportionate to the amount of the subcontract work performed and/or the materials delivered to…
From the editor: And now for the good news…
May 4, 2018 Rob BlackstienWe’ve been overwhelmed with a lot of bad news lately. If it’s not yet another mass shooting, it’s soaring gas prices in Vancouver, or Ontario politicians dropping like flies in the wake of inappropriate behaviour. Hell, even the weather in…
Can concrete roads be king in Atlantic Canada?
May 4, 2018 Jillian MorganA stretch of Nova Scotia’s Highway 101 connects the town of Mount Uniacke – about 40 kilometres North of Halifax – to the community of Ellershouse. The 11-kilometre highway is one of three concrete roads in the province, tendered in…
Teaching an old dog new tricks
May 4, 2018 Nate HendleyRecent innovation to wheel loaders has brought a fresh look to the construction site workhorse
Augmented Reality Brings BIM to the Jobsite
May 4, 2018 Jacob StollerBy marrying the virtual world of Building Information Modeling (BIM) with the real world of the job site, augmented reality (AR) is already having an impact on how construction work gets done. The question is, how far will the trend go?
Critical Coverage – Impact Covers in Project Specific Insurances
May 4, 2018 Peter Smith and Barrie NgehAmong the most often overlooked and misunderstood coverages when insuring a construction project are soft cost and delay in start up coverages, both of which are optional but prevalent exposures for both the owner and contractor alike. We need to…
Valard Construction Ltd. v. Bird Construction Co.
May 4, 2018 Dirk Laudan and Lindsey von BloedauThe Limited Duty to Advise Potential Claimants of the Existence of an L&M Bond
From the editor: Hurray for the red, white… and green
March 13, 2018 Rob BlackstienAs a I dragged my butt out of bed at 2:40 in the morning last month to watch an Olympic hockey game taking place on the other side of the planet, my mind drifted… as it is wont to do…
Don’t forget to bring this important tool to your next job
March 12, 2018 Alexander SpraggsWhat are the most important tools for a contractor to bring to a jobsite? Hammers? Wrenches? A sturdy pickup truck? … What about builders liens? Builders liens give contractors the leverage they need to turn a job done into a…
When global construction catches a cold
March 12, 2018 David BowcottThere is no doubt about it, the construction industry has globalized quite significantly over the past 20 years and there are both advantages and disadvantages to the world’s biggest players creating a global service footprint. Not to be a downer,…
Location, location
March 12, 2018 Jacob StollerOne of the most palpable signs of the digital area is the growing frequency of requests to “rate your experience” at venues you happened to pass. The availability of information indicating where you are, or, to be precise, where your…
Roadside construction safety: understand the hazards
March 12, 2018 Anita DeiterThis article provides information on traffic and vehicle hazards in roadside work zones. You will also need to consider hazards associated with your specific work activities. Working close to traffic is dangerous. Each roadside work site has its own unique…
Innovation vs. Mother Nature
March 12, 2018 Nate HendleyThere have been many innovations in asphalt pavement and road surface technology over the past few years. While some of these innovations have been embraced by municipalities and private companies, others have fared poorly when faced with the reality of…
AHES 2018 preview
March 12, 2018 by On-Site MagazineFor 32 years running, the Atlantic Heavy Equipment Show has been a true pillar of the heavy equipment industry. On April 5 and 6, 2018, the latest products, services and – of course – big iron will once again take…
Crowchild Bridge keeps traffic flowing in Calgary
March 12, 2018 Saul ChernosKey Cowtown bridge, originally built in the mid-’60s, is getting a much-needed makeover to help handle growing population, but environmental concerns necessitated a unique approach to the work. Commuter chaos might seem unavoidable when rebuilding a series of overpasses on…
From the editor: do what you know needs doing
February 20, 2018 Corinne LyndsNine years, one month, six days, and I think roughly two hours, is how long I have been the editor of On-Site. And, this, my 63rd editorial, is proving to be the trickiest one I have had to write so…
Don’t make these 5 mistakes about performance bonds
February 20, 2018 Lindsey von Bloedau and Krista JohansonPerformance bonds are common on construction projects, and so are misconceptions about them. Don’t make the five mistakes listed below. 1. “A bond is an insurance policy” While a bond has some similarities to an insurance policy, they are two…
Take a step back for strategy
February 20, 2018 David BowcottLate last year I was asked to speak at a Cities conference that was put on by Builtworlds, a network and community that links key stakeholders of the construction and asset management industry, with those in the tech sector. Matt…