Sat.Mar 09, 2013 - Fri.Mar 15, 2013

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Strategic Construction Marketing Tools

Construction Marketing

As mentioned in a previous blog post on market research , there are several options for gathering information about customers and their buying preferences and purchase intentions. But what are some of the strategic tools that can be employed to assist in marketing decision-making? Below we will share several popular strategic marketing tools including internet-based competitive intelligence, market segmentation, perceptual maps, the growth-share matrix, and product life cycle analysis.

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POINTS TO REMEMBER FOR CIVIL SITE ENGINEERS

The Constructor

Following are few general points to remember for civil site engineers to make the construction work easier while maintaining quality of construction.

Site 267
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Why Commercial Facility Maintenance Is Your Best Insurance Policy

HardHatChat

Being a national commercial construction general contractor can be an immensely rewarding profession. There is always a sense of pride and accomplishment after completing a retail construction, restaurant construction and commercial construction project for a client. Yet sometimes completing a successful commercial construction project and then detaching yourself from the client can be hard.

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Construction Materials Prices Increase in February and for the Year

Construction Business Owner

(March 14, 2013) - Prices for construction materials jumped in February, driven by extreme increases in items used in new housing and nonresidential building renovations, according to an analysis of new federal figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the increased materials prices are hitting contractors struggling to recover from a years-long downturn in construction demand.

Materials 156
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Optimize Operational Processes With an Industry-Specific ERP

As the use of Enterprise Resource Planning systems in the construction industry is critical to optimizing operations, it's critical that decision makers conduct a thorough software evaluation to find the one that best aligns to their needs.

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Road Trips, Restaurants, and Customer Service

Viewpoint Construction Technology

On a recent road trip to visit a client, I noticed all of the fast food restaurants along the interstate. I’m not much of a fast food eater, but over the years, I have learned that the restaurants along the interstate aren’t quite as nice as the city ones in terms of overall cleanliness and customer service. I suppose one reason for this is that the ones along the interstate know their customers are primarily going to be people just passing through – they probably won’t ever see them again.

Roads 156

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Mobility in Construction

Carol Hagen

While Construction Specialty Contractors have an 87% mobility usage at the jobsite, General Contractors are embracing mobile access in the field operations at an astounding rate according to Erin Joyce at ENR’s FutureTech Conference: 97% of GCs use mobile devices on jobsite… Here's what app they're using bit.ly/YevMWz #construction — Carol Hagen (@carolhagen) March 15, 2013.

Mobility 120
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Topcon Partners with UK-based COYO to Develop Global Educational Initiative

Construction Business Owner

LIVERMORE, Calif. – (March 13, 2013) Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) has entered into a strategic partnership with Class of Your Own organization (COYO), a major educational initiative for high school students based in the United Kingdom.

Education 149
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Walgreens to build first net-zero energy retail store

BD+C

Walgreens announced plans last week to build one of the nation's first net-zero retail stores. The Evanston, Ill., location will utilize solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal technology, LED lighting and ultra-high-efficiency refrigeration to produce energy equal to or greater than the building consumes. read more.

Retail 111
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LOAD TESTS ON PILES

The Constructor

Load tests on piles are conducted on completion of 28 days after casting of piles. Two types of tests namely initial and routine tests, for each type.

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The Ultimate Procurement Software Buyer’s Guide

Choosing the right procurement software is a crucial step in ensuring third-party risk management, process governance, and bidding efficiency. With so many procurement solutions to choose from, it can be overwhelming without a frame of reference and a solid starting point. This free buyer’s guide will cover: Benefits of Procurement Software –– Why do you need it?

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JCB plans big Ecomax push at Bauma

Digger Blog

Above: JCB 's new 427 wheeled loader. JCB claims to be the only leading equipment manufacturer to meet the regulations without relying on diesel particulate filters (DPF), after-treatment or additives such as Ad-Blue. Instead it uses in-cylinder technologies that somehow produce “a more efficient combustion process”, the tech guys say.

Plans 105
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Hendrick Construction Wins National Safety Award

Construction Business Owner

Charlotte, N.C., (March 12, 2013) - The Association of Builders and Contractors (ABC) announced that Hendrick Construction, Inc. received a 2012 National Safety Excellence Award. The ABC National Safety Excellence Awards recognize companies who exhibit a continued commitment to jobsite safety and whose safety performance and programs are judged to be exemplary by the ABC National Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Committee.

Safety 120
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Why The Technical Staff Doesn’t Respond To Your Requests

Help Everybody Everyday

We’ve all been there in one time or another. We ask for something important and either we don’t get it or we get it way too late. Why do they do that? Is it because they are inconsiderate jerks who just don’t get it? Maybe. But maybe there are other, more plausible, reasons. Let’s look at one possible scenario. They’d Rather Swim in Razorblades Than Do What You Asked Them To Do.

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SPECIFICATIONS FOR JOINTS IN CONCRETE

The Constructor

Joints in concrete structures such as contraction joints and expansion joints are required to be provided to prevent cracks in concrete at hardened.

Concrete 240
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Stop Making These Mistakes and Start Scaling Your Specialty Contractor Business

Anything that is built on a poor foundation will soon crumble from the ground up. This is literally the case in the construction stage of projects and it applies just the same during the pre-construction stage. This free eBook is your ultimate guide to scaling your business with customizable software as early as during the bidding stage.

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“Buy it now” Walking dragline fetches 3 million USD

Digger Blog

A buyer from North Carolina has "won" a Marion 7820 walking dragline, with the highest bid ever placed on IronPlant, of 3million USD. Weighing over 2,000 tons and consisting of a bucket attachment large enough to accommodate parking for three full-size pickup trucks, The item was listed by a seller from Pennsylvania… Talking to Greg Owens, CEO of IronPlanet he said “This successful sale between two of the largest aggregate producers in the United States is a prime example of

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Subcontractor Delay Claims Sometimes Succeed Despite a No-Damage-for-Delay Clause, New ASA Podcast Explains

Construction Business Owner

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (March 11, 2013) — Contracts often prohibit construction subcontractors from collecting damages for project delays caused by others, but a new audio podcast from the American Subcontractors Association explains that “no-damage-for-delay” contract provisions don’t always prevent subcontractors from successfully pursuing delay claims.

Claims 120
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Three Reasons People Love Their Yards

Green Industry Professionals

Research study says consumers most enjoy the following about their yards and landscapes: relaxing, planting, and spending time with family. So how can contractors leverage this information when marketing their services?

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FIELD TESTS ON CEMENT

The Constructor

Field tests on cements are carried to know the quality of cement supplied at site. It gives some idea about cement quality based on colour, touch and.

IDEA 235
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The Specialty Contractor's Guide to Job Cost Accounting

Supply chain challenges and rising material costs are forcing specialty contractors to pay more for what they need to complete each job. Following a simple set of principles, this easy-to-follow guide can help you manage job costs, ease the pains of accounting, and run a more profitable businesses. If you are a Specialty Contractor or Self-performing GC, you do not want to miss out on this essential guide!

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Nonresidential Growth Predicted

Construction Equipment

Nonresidential construction will improve this year say contractors and equipment dealers polled by Wells Fargo Equipment Finance. The firm’s Construction Optimism Quotient sentiment rating is 106 for the year, with 100 considered optimistic toward year-over-year improvement. The rating is part of the company’s 2013 Construction Industry Forecast. Nonresidential construction will improve this year say contractors and equipment dealers polled by Wells Fargo Equipment Finance.

Finance 82
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Even experienced operators can learn something…

Digger Blog

As an ex-operator himself, Richard recognises that all excavators vary slightly and although drivers are generally well trained and have CPCS cards, they may not be familiar with the detail of the specific machine that arrives on site, particularly the more specialist stuff like long reach excavators. Operator handbooks are always provided with machines (and any additions they may have) but somehow, behind the operator’s seat, they don’t always get read.

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Singapore R&D campus takes top honor in Lab of Year competition

BD+C

The Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, has been named Laboratory of the Year by R&D Magazine. Now in its 47th year, the competition recognizes excellence in research and science laboratory design, planning, and construction. Body Image: read more.

Plans 83
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION FOR PURPOSE OF MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

The Constructor

Soil Classification for Purpose of Measurement and Payment All materials to be excavated is classified into one of the following classes and is paid.

Materials 234
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Report: Optimism for Construction Growth in the Next Year Remains High

Research reveals 96% of respondents are very or fairly optimistic about their organization’s growth prospects for the next year. The InEight Global Capital Projects Outlook also finds over half see digital technology as the greatest growth opportunity. But these are only some of the findings. Don't be kept in the dark when it comes to the future. Read the report today!

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January Highway Construction Up Over 2012

Construction Equipment

Mild January weather contributed to a 4.3-percent increase in highway construction compared to January 2012, said the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Even with the jump, ARTBA chief economist Alison Premo Black warned that the trend may not continue. She said that although the recent uptick is positive news and that states have recently been obligating federal dollars at a good pace, contract awards for highway projects have been down, and nearly half the states

Roads 75
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7 Career Links That Will Help You Find Happiness and 1 With Free Books

Help Everybody Everyday

Before this week’s list, I have to mention Quoteroller’s Proposal Book Contest. They’ve decided to give out one of the five best proposal books each week to the person that posts the best comment on their website. And look what made the list… Proposal Development Secrets. If you want a chance to win a free copy of that classic or one of four slightly lesser texts, head on over and make a comment.

US 69
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7 most endangered buildings in Chicago

BD+C

The Chicago Preservation Society (CPS) released its annual list of the buildings at high risk for demolition. The 2013 list includes the AllState Building (1949), a rare example of immediate postwar modern high-rise construction, and the Lathrop Homes (1938), considered by many to be the best public housing development the city has ever built, according to CPS.

Chicago 81
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MICROPILES FOUNDATION METHOD

The Constructor

Micropiles are used especially when very limited space or headroom is available for execution with conventional pile rigs. Micropiles are small.

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Discover 7 Ways to Cut Construction Inefficiencies

Construction sites are often just-barely-controlled chaos. Without clear coordination, you risk everything from clashes to delays, cancellations, and missed deadlines. Get the free eBook & learn how to solve the biggest challenges in construction!

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SANY SCC8300 Gains New York City Approval

Construction Equipment

The SANY SCC8300 crawler crane has been certified for operation by the New York City Department of Buildings. “This achievement opens the New York City market to the SANY SCC8300,” said Kyle Nape, senior vice president of the Lifting Group. “New York has the most rigorous standards for crane operation.”. Known as “prototype approval,” the certification shows the SCC8300 meets the operational standards of the New York City Building Code.

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Secret Spider

Digger Blog

On display at Unic Cranes Europe stand will be nine mini crane models, ranging from 0.995 tonnes to 10 tonnes in capacity, the world’s most compact crane, the 600mm wide UNIC URW-094 and the latest model in the Unic range, the 10 tonne UNIC URW-1006 which was launched at last years Intermat show in Paris. (Image coming soon.). Unic Cranes Europe’s CEO Graeme Riley comments, “The Bauma show is the perfect opportunity for us to launch something special like this brand new mini cr

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25 cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings

BD+C

With 528 buildings totaling 112.5 million sf, Los Angeles topped the EPA's ranking of the U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings in 2012. Rounding out the top five are Washington, D.C. (462 buildings); Chicago (353); New York (325); and Atlanta (304). read more.