Every project needs money to move forward. Those funds are made up of equity and debt. The equity is contributed by the owner (or the concessionaire of the project) as a first layer of defense against project failure. The remainder…
Propane has been a fixture on construction sites for years, most often used for power generation and materials handling. Recently, however, site managers are using propane to power a growing number of applications. More construction firms are beginning to recognize…
A lot has changed in 20 years – operators are faster and more accurate than ever
On-Site ranks Top 5 commercial contractors with 50 or under employees by revenue. See infographic for stats on this year’s Top 5.
For the second time in three years, the Rosati Group has earned On-Site’s Top Contractor in the 50 employees or less category. The company’s first win came in 2014, and it should be noted that they didn’t participate last year.…
The construction industry has
a reputation for being slow to
adopt innovative technology. Many
contractors believe this is about
to change.
2016 was not an easy year for the construction industry. Infrastructure spending lagged, there were several high-profile job delays, and a slow down in the oil sands impacted many of the top players. Despite these challenges, I’m happy to report…
If ever there were an industry ripe for disruption, it is construction. Mega-trends like globalization, asset management, and new technology are beginning to turn this long unchanged industry inside out. So, how do industry players stay on the winning side…
A forward-looking vision for construction and infrastructure took centre stage at CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2017, from the unveiling of the world’s first 3D-printed excavator and the new Tech Experience to the largest show floor in history and a stellar education…
When PCL Construction needed to assess the condition of an Edmonton rooftop in mid-winter, they chose an alternative approach. “Instead of sending somebody up there to walk on the roof in icy conditions, we flew a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)…
It’s not everyday you get to enjoy a breath-taking view of the Rocky Mountains on your commute to work, let alone ride a gondola high above the treetops of Banff National Park. But, that’s exactly what PCL project manager Cole…
CarbonCure Technologies of Dartmouth, N.S. is looking to make concrete stronger and greener by infusing it with recycled carbon dioxide (CO2). The concept isn’t new, but CarbonCure’s process is. The company’s patented technology has been used in several recent construction…
Despite the best intentions of all parties involved on a construction project, it should come as no surprise that delays occur. Where a delay can be clearly attributed to a single party, the appropriate remedy is relatively easy to determine.…
Lean is far from the novel concept it was back in the ‘50s when Toyota first popularized it. Yet, here we are in 2017, and a new lean event, whitepaper, seminar, book, association, or video seems to pop up everyday.…
The second half of the ambitious Highway 407 extension, known officially as the Highway 407 East Project, is well underway in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Phase 2 of the project will see Highway 407 extended eastward from Harmony Road…
Since the 1970s, Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) has been a proven high quality product used in the design and production of asphalt mixes. According to a 2011 report by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the performance of pavements containing up…
Back in 2006, the Derry Road/CN Rail Grade Separation was identified as part of the 2006 Environmental Study Report (ESR) completed for the Derry Road corridor. The report recommended that Derry Road be reconstructed from 2 lanes to 4, including…
In the February issue we talked about material risk events that manifested in the Canadian P3 space up to 2011 and up to 2016. In this issue, I will focus on what is causing these risk events and how we…
One of the most important IT trends happening in construction right now is that of data analytics. The practice of analyzing stored company data to help make business decisions, is gaining ground in companies of all sizes. Even a contractor…
It’s difficult to put an exact number on the total cost of theft to construction companies in Canada, but according to a report from Zurich Canada, it’s safe to say the amount exceeds $46 million per year in insurance claims…
