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More evidence that drones could and should play major role in infrastructure inspections

Researchers at a Swedish university further solidified the idea that UAVs can inspect dams, wind turbines and other types of infrastructure faster and more safely than humans.

Technology

Indictments cast shadow on Philadelphia construction industry

The charges against Local 98 IBEW union leader John Dougherty and others range from bribery to fraud, forcing some to consider how much undue influence the city's unions have over the local industry.

Legal/Regulation

Wynn settles charges that Resorts World Las Vegas is trying to pirate its iconic design

Genting and Wynn Resorts have reached an agreement that will allow the former's $4 billion Resorts World Las Vegas project to move forward with an altered exterior design.

UPDATED: Feb. 7, 2019 at 8:53 a.m.

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Column

Tech Toys: AR-based crane training, a booming social platform for tradespeople

Plus, Autodesk's first Revit update rollout of the year is optimized for the cloud and DroneDeploy tools to leverage drone data now integrate with Multivista.

Technology

FAA spec update includes precast concrete for first time

With the Federal Aviation Administration's new specifications, precast suppliers and contractors are poised to get a bigger piece of construction and renovation projects at the more than 19,000 airports in the U.S. 

Legal/Regulation

Minnesota groups push for state to allow teens to work on construction sites

Some in the state's construction industry want regulation to echo federal law that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work on jobsites.

Legal/Regulation

First steel truss set for $375M Caesars conference center in Las Vegas

General contractor Penta Building Group is building the 550,000-square-foot event space with 1,000 local construction workers for completion by 2020.

Commercial Building

Details emerge of prevailing wage deal between union, NYC on housing projects

This revelation echoes a proposal currently on the table that would require prevailing wages on many city construction projects receiving financial assistance from a local agency.

Legal/Regulation

Trump light on trade, infrastructure details in State of the Union address

Though the White House spent much of 2018 attempting to steer the national conversation toward infrastructure, the topic received just two sentences with no specific appropriations mentioned.

Economy

Bridge replacement top priority in Maryland's $9B Beltway expansion

Lanes will also be added to the Capital Beltway within its existing footprint, even if that means "stacking" them or putting them underground.

Infrastructure

Construction fatalities up in New York state, down in NYC

While the rate of jobsite deaths across the state increased 39% between 2013 and 2017, the city saw a 23% decrease, according to a report on the most recent Department of Labor data.

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Trump executive order extends Buy American policy

The directive asks federal agencies to encourage contractors on infrastructure projects to buy iron, aluminum, steel, cement and other goods domestically.

Economy

ISO publishes first international BIM standards

The guidance will provide the necessary framework to help designers and contractors from different countries collaborate more efficiently on all phases of construction projects and will encourage BIM's wider use.

Technology

Subs on $1.5B Philadelphia Comcast Technology Center file millions in liens

Multiple mechanic's liens were filed on the downtown high-rise project, alleging general contractor L.F. Driscoll, affiliates of developer Liberty Property Trust and others withheld payment.

Commercial Building

Port of Alaska construction costs soar to nearly $2B

The cost is nearly twice earlier estimates, which the port's home city, Anchorage, cannot afford — but one official says the necessary funds could be raised by increasing tariffs on incoming cargo.

Infrastructure

Miami-Dade approves zoning change to encourage TODs

The county's new zoning allows for higher density residential construction along six transit corridors.

Residential Building

$6B Lincoln Yards wins approval from Chicago Plan Commission

Sterling Bay’s mixed-use Lincoln Yards development won unanimous approval from the commission, even earning a thumbs up from former critic 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins.

UPDATED: Jan. 22, 2019 at 10:10 a.m.

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Q&A

How connected devices are driving a new wave of data center construction

While demand for massive data centers is subsiding, smaller facilities with better geographic spread will need to come online to support video streaming, smart devices, 5G and more, says DPR Construction's Tom Maples.

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Houston suburb looking for private partner to develop new hotel, convention center

Cities all over the U.S. are expanding and upgrading their convention center facilities to draw more trade shows and conferences.

Commercial Building

$1.7B of construction underway in Charlotte's central hub

With the fifth-busiest business district for U.S. office construction, the North Carolina city is also seeing a boom in hotel, retail and residential.

Commercial Building

Super Bowl LIII will showcase next-generation stadium

The Mercedes-Benz stadium's lens-like retractable roof and world's first halo video board are a sampling of high-tech venue features that will increasingly become the norm.

Commercial Building

Prefab Logic's $102M automated factory to produce 1,600 modular units a year

The 400,000-square-foot facility is being developed in association with an unnamed robotics company to hopefully shave off construction costs and target the West Coast's expensive housing market.

Technology

Industry Pulse: The latest construction data and statistics

The year is off to a strong start with 52,000 net construction jobs created last month, and cranes are on the rise in New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix and other cities, according to two new reports.

Commercial Building

Foxconn's $10B Wisconsin plant up in the air

Some reports yesterday indicated officials might scale back or abandon manufacturing plans in exchange for a knowledge hub, while others claimed the company is sticking to the original plan.

UPDATED: Jan. 31, 2019 at 10:02 a.m.

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