Caterpillar had to raise prices in light of tariffs last quarter

The steel and aluminum tariffs imposed in 2018 cost the construction equipment manufacturer an extra $70 million in the second quarter, making it hard to maintain margins.

By Shefali Kapadia • July 26, 2019

Construction wearables' futuristic features are more feasible than you think

The technology can help prevent accidents, improve efficiencies and enhance quality of life for construction workers, says an insurance official working with contractors on pilot programs.

By David P. Galbraith • June 26, 2019

Tech Toys: 3D concrete printing, VR ladder training and more

Also, Unity Reflect will allow for Autodesk Revit changes to be seen instantly in Unity VR/AR systems and a Japanese firm will use U.S.-based drone platforms to inspect and repair concrete infrastructure.

By Joe Beeton • June 5, 2019

How to increase productivity without increasing headcount

Manage more work and protect your bottom line — all with the same staff you have today.

By Jim Campbell, Vice President of Construction Sales at AvidXchange, Inc. • May 20, 2019

Hard hats to helmets: How Skanska, Clark are improving workers' last line of defense

Traditional hard hats account for falling objects, not falling workers. Some general contractors are providing a more effective layer of protection.

By Kathleen Brown • May 20, 2019

Autodesk BIM 360 adds cost management

The new module allows users to visualize cost-related risks and track budget impacts in real time.

By Kathleen Brown • May 15, 2019

By predicting risk, AI tool shapes top firms' safety conversations

Contractors like Suffolk, Shawmut and AECOM are using Smartvid.io to understand and proactively target the most pressing risks on their projects.

By Kathleen Brown • May 15, 2019

Video game-like tech draws younger, more skeptical workforce to construction

The modern jobsite's move to simulators, controllers, VR headsets and more is bucking the perspective that careers in the industry are all grunt work.

By Jennifer Goodman • May 15, 2019

InsiteVR integrates with Autodesk BIM 360 for immersive modeling

The virtual reality tool, which allows users from any location to collaborate on a design, is the latest to pair with Autodesk's construction management hub.

By Kathleen Brown • May 8, 2019

Built Robotics, Sunstate deal brings more self-driving vehicles to the jobsite

Part of Sunstate Equipment Co.'s fleet will be outfitted with Built's kit to expand contractors' access to autonomous technology, the companies say.

By Kathleen Brown • May 1, 2019

Steel Dynamics CEO: Quotas 'likely' to replace tariffs

A handful of quota supporters see them as a necessary evil that would stabilize the market after an initial period of shock, but opponents seem to be more vocal so far.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 29, 2019

PCL, CopperTree partner to build smart from the ground up

The contractor will embed energy analytics services during construction to meet owners' demand for less costly, simplified building management.

By Kathleen Brown • April 24, 2019

PlanGrid BIM brings 3D Revit data to field management

PlanGrid users across approximately 1.5 million projects globally will be able to access Autodesk's BIM data on their mobile devices.

By Kim Slowey • April 24, 2019

Autonomous construction equipment key to improving site safety, efficiency

While jobsites are tougher to navigate than the average roadway, two emerging sensor types used in combination could offer the industry the robust detection it needs, writes an expert in the technology.

By Andrew Boushie • April 17, 2019

Dodge: Almost three-quarters of contractors turn to IoT for risk management

Wearables and artificial intelligence auditing of jobsite images were named as the top emerging technologies curbing construction defects, safety hazards and more in a Dodge Data & Analytics study.

By Kathleen Brown • April 17, 2019

Tech Toys: Autodesk, John Deere, DPR, NASA flex new tools

AutoCAD and Revit 2020 editions are live, and a John Deere simulator kit swaps controls between six machine types. DPR rolls out Skycatch across its projects while NASA offers its tech to the jobsite.

By Joe Beeton • April 17, 2019

Why contractors should nix 'casual use' of jobsite drones

As use of the technology expands, contractors, subs and other stakeholders should heed the safety and liability risks involved, an aviation attorney writes.

By By Mark A. Dombroff • April 10, 2019

3D-printed precast concrete molds for redeveloped NYC landmark a first

The innovative approach to the 42-story tower in Brooklyn created a variety of exterior panels reminiscent of sugar crystals, a nod to the site's historic past as the Domino Sugar Factory.

By Amy Howell Hirt • April 3, 2019

Shadow Ventures graduates first AEC tech startups from accelerator program

A BIM planning tool and cloud-based project management platform were among the promising products shaped through industry partners' advice.

By Kim Slowey • April 3, 2019

3 technologies behind Skiles Group's lean transformation

The COO touted the rewards of experimenting with ways to build better and more efficiently, sharing tools that help his firm save time and track KPIs.

By Kathleen Brown • April 3, 2019

Cloud app creates drone deliverables in hours instead of days

Using a Microsoft Azure app, drone services provider Dudek is speeding up the process of stitching together aerial imagery for projects on the scale of the California bullet train.

By Kim Slowey • March 13, 2019

Matterport raises $48M to expand entry-level 3D imagery tool

As the reality capture firm hones its products to a lower price point, contractors like Mortenson are able to generate immersive virtual environments to overlay with BIM, among other uses.

By Kathleen Brown • March 13, 2019

Top contractors partner with AI firm to prevent jobsite accidents before they happen

By sharing images and project data, Suffolk, JE Dunn, Clayco and more will boost the Smartvid.io AI engine's ability to spot risks, which can cost contractors as much as $36,000 per incident.

By Kathleen Brown • March 13, 2019

Productivity gets a boost in exoskeleton pilot program

A U.K.-based utility contractor said that lift assistance from the spring-loaded EksoVest reduced fatigue and strain to let workers accomplish more on the jobsite.

By Kathleen Brown • March 6, 2019

Will economic uncertainty leave construction tech in limbo?

Now's the time to tidy up outdated processes, experts say, so that nothing stands in the way of technology's value when the downturn rears its ugly head. 

By Kathleen Brown • March 6, 2019