Articles
The evolution of machine control
June 20, 2017 Nate HendleyA lot has changed in 20 years – operators are faster and more accurate than ever
On-Site announces Top 5 Under 50 Employees
June 20, 2017 by Corinne LyndsOn-Site ranks Top 5 commercial contractors with 50 or under employees by revenue. See infographic for stats on this year’s Top 5.
Rosati Construction Group is a repeat winner of On-Site’s Top 5 Under 50
June 20, 2017 by Corinne LyndsFor 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.…
Top construction firms embrace technology, finally
June 20, 2017 Jacob StollerThe construction industry has
a reputation for being slow to
adopt innovative technology. Many
contractors believe this is about
to change.
On-Site’s Top 40 Contractors have been announced
June 20, 2017 by Corinne Lynds2016 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…
Future disruption and the race to collective intelligence
April 20, 2017 David BowcottIf 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…
Tech and innovation front and centre at CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE
April 20, 2017 by Corinne LyndsA 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…
Drones provide new perspective on job sites
April 19, 2017 Jacob StollerWhen 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)…
PCL’s upper terminal renovation elevates Banff’s top attraction
April 19, 2017 by Corinne LyndsIt’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’s CO2-infused process strengthens concrete
April 19, 2017 Nate HendleyCarbonCure 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…
Law column: Concurrent delay remains a thorny issue
April 19, 2017 Robin DavisDespite 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.…
From the editor: More than common sense
April 19, 2017 by Corinne LyndsLean 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.…
Phase 2: Checking in on the 407 Highway extension
March 16, 2017 Nate HendleyThe 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…
Producing quality HMA incorporating RAP
March 16, 2017 Lisa FattoriSince 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…
Case Study: Derry Road and CN Rail grade separation
March 16, 2017 Vireak Hinh & Jennifer TrimbleBack 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…
Material risk events in P3s: Causes and potential solutions
March 16, 2017 David BowcottIn 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…
Garbage in, garbage out – Making sense of your data
March 16, 2017 Jacob StollerOne 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…
Editorial: Take care of your tools, big and small
March 16, 2017 by Corinne LyndsIt’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…
Construction firms need to cultivate young leaders now
March 1, 2017 by Corinne LyndsIt’s no secret that Canada’s construction sector is facing a skills shortage. The baby boomers are retiring, and there are fewer people entering the industry. Old news, right? Well, don’t click to the next page yet. There’s another pressing matter that…
Contractors & the Law: An estimate is never “just an estimate”
February 28, 2017 Krista JohansonRisk allocation under cost-plus contracts is not always well understood by the parties who enter into them. Contractors sometimes believe they are entitled to payment for all costs incurred to perform the work, and owners sometimes believe a contractor is…