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The article discusses the cooperation between local, state, and federal government and the construction industry to aid in the recovery from Hurricane Sandy, particularly noting the use of the construction industry in restoring infrastructure and moving sand. It addresses efforts to restore power to communities in New York and New Jersey, as well as explores the work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The article features several people within the U.S. construction industry who are said to have made significant contributions to the sector. It notes that Textura chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Patrick Allin was able to establish the company into the bill-pay Web site of the sector. It mentions that Kenneth E. Atkins was able to get seven road construction projects rolling following his appointment as public works administrator at Osceola County Public Works Department in Florida. Another notable person is Mike Betz of Caterpillar Inc.

The article deals with the use of intelligent compaction (IC) in the U.S. construction industry. It traces the origins of IC has grown out of automated machine guidance (AMG). It relates that Minnesota is the only U.S. state which allow contracts enabling IC, but its specification is still under regular revision. It explains the impact of IC on roller operators.

The article discusses the popularity of construction machinery auctions across the U.S. It offers an overview of an auction held by Ritchie Bros. in Davenport, Florida. It cites the impact of auctions on the construction industry. It talks about the financial performance of auction companies in 2008. It states that rental companies used the Ritchie Bros. auction to decrease their inventory and get cash back on their suffering balance sheets.

The article focuses on the call for tighter crane oversight amid the increasing number of fatal crane accidents in the U.S. and around the world. Studies reveal that a very small percentage of tower cranes are involved in deadly U.S. accidents, only about 5 percent. But a crane accident in New York City in 2008 made people in the construction industry realize the hazards being faced by hundreds of thousands of workers on the jobsite.

In this article, the author looks at the prevalence of crane failures in the U.S. construction industry. The author cites cases of crane accidents and their implications for safety in the industry. He notes the actions taken by contractors to enhance safety for their workers. He suggests that employers may put little emphasis on educating workers about the dangers.

The article examines the impact of the recession on inflation in the U.S. construction industry. Construction inflation fell from double-digits in the summer of 2008 to between 2% and 6% in the first quarter of 2009 while ten of the 14 major industry cost indexes posted declines during the quarter, ranging from 0.5% to 8.4%. According to John Anton, steel analyst for IHS Global Insight, the prices of structural steel and rebar are about half of their peaks in 2008.

The article discusses Indianapolis's annual exhibit for Canstruction, U.S. charity that invites several construction firms to design and build food-can sculptures and mentions that the cans are donated to the pantries. Topics discussed include views of Megan Scott, marketing manager for architect firm Schmidt Associates, on teams representing the event, winning teams of construction firms including Kroger Co., and Indianapolis Canstruction competition of several sculptures.

The article focuses on the increased contributions by donors and increased efforts by teachers to attract new talent into the construction and engineering careers. Topics discussed include insights of Bob Bowen, chairman of infrastructure contractor Bowen Engineering Corp., and his contributions to the industry, the importance of well informed teachers to increase learning potential, and The Beavers Charitable Trust, which offers funds for professorships at universities.

The article features Joseph S. Collins, a crane and heavy-lift consultant and acting as a crane manager for contractor Zachary Corp. Chosen as one of the Top 25 Newsmakers by "ENR," Collins cast a pivotal vote for construction safety. He was the one responsible for saving a provision in the 2010 cranes-and-derricks rule that requires crane operators to pass a standardized test before grabbing the controls in the U.S.

The article reports on the expansion of the construction industry's annual "Canstruction" competition from a North American hunger charity into an international nonprofit. Topics discussed include the Buddha head sculpture winning the 2015 Founder's Award and Canstruction Inc. executive director Carrie Kirk's comment on what prompted the transformation of the organization.

The article profiles J. Keith Anderson, chief rigging engineer of Bechtel, who is one among the "top 25 newsmakers" selected by the journal for their contribution to the construction industry. It is stated that he develop the industry's first accredited online curriculum on life training called "Fundamentals of Rigging Engineering." and wrote the book "Rigging Engineering Basics." Anderson was also named a Bechtel Distinguished Engineer and Scientist for passing on his knowledge of rigging.

The article focuses on intelligent compaction (IC), a cost-effective method that can be used in the U.S. construction industry. IC refers to an onboard measuring device which shows roller operators whether they are overcompacting, undercompacting or right on target in soil, aggregate and asphalt. It presents remarks of Dave Dennison of Bomag Americas on IC. The dilemma posed by using IC on civil earthworks to contracting authorities are discussed.

The article focuses on the funding offered by the U.S. economic stimulus package to sustainable infrastructure materials. The package promises greener construction where many new materials naturally fit in. The $2.5-billion lease of Midway International Airport includes a financial review of the firms involved and a promising alternative is in construction materials that are built to last. The challenge posed by persuading engineers to try out new materials is detailed.

The article focuses on findings of a survey related to the requirements of certification for U.S. crane operators conducted by the training company Industrial Training International, as of December 2015. It states that according to the report a part of the U.S. construction industry is unaware about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration certification. Comments from Graham Brent of National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators on the same are presented.

The article presents information on the World of Concrete Show held in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 22, 2008. Across the 900,000-square-feet show floor, buyers said they were holding off from making major purchases. Don Ahern, owner of Ahern Rentals and Xtreme Manufacturing, says he is not buying anything until the second quarter. Show managers likewise had diminished expectations after booking a record attendance in 2007 of 91,628. Partly due to the cooling economy and the upcoming CONEXPO-CON/AGG megashow in March 2008.

This article assesses the state of the construction industry in China in 2007. According to the author, the industry faces challenges despite their efforts to acquire engineering talent and financial resources, firms and suppliers. He cites the rising costs of steel, fuel and service as among the challenges. In addition, the author indicates the factors that will contribute to the growth of the industry. He also reports on the plans of Chinese design and construction firms to expand internationally.

The article reports on the increasing popularity of rigging engineering courses caused by the activity's high-risk reputation that needs more knowledge to prevent accidents. Topics discussed include lessons taught at online courses, as well as its prospective students and the reason behind the need to teach rigging engineering to mechanical, civil and structural engineers.

The article features the Curundu Urban Renovation project in Panama City, Panama, the 2014 recipient of the ENR Global Best Project Awards residential category presented at the ENR+Dodge Global Construction Summit on May 13 and 14 in New York City.

Highlights of the ENR+Dodge Global Construction Summit on May 13-14, 2014 are presented. Keynote address was delivered by Roger Flanagan, a professor at the University of Reading, England, emphasizing the competition in the construction industry. It cites the participation of panelists including Lia Belilos, from consultancy firm ARCADIS; Renata Neeser, from law firm Littler Mendelson PC; and Gregory Sauter, executive vice president and chief corporate officer at energy company AECOM.

The article reports on the revision of the guidebook "Exxon Crane Guide: Lifting System Management System," initially published by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) in 1998. It acknowledges the need for the guidebook to comply with 2014 industry standards and safety codes. Topics explored also include the significant publication of the guidebook since its launch, its use by contractors in the construction sector, and the inclusion of less prescriptive rules in the revision.

The article presents trends to watch in the 2014 U.S. construction sector. It previews the CONEXPO-CON/AGG exhibition of heavy equipment with booms competing for attention. The American Rental Association reports that North American rental revenue is projected to reach 41.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2014 with housing to lead infrastructure. It also talks about the recovery of the crane segment, tackling the Tier 4 Final engines, and machine controls and telematics as potential profit boosters.

The article presents construction machine sales forecasts for 2014. Analysts predicts a decline in sales of construction machines due to the slow recovery of the construction industry. Factors that are expected to contribute to sales include the growth in rental companies and dealers that operate rental lots. Statements from Doug Oberhelman, chief executive officer (CEO) of construction equipment maker Caterpillar, on rentals on the job site are presented.

The article reports on a slowdown in construction equipment manufacturers' U.S. sales in the third quarter of 2013. Topics discussed include concerns that the U.S. economy is undergoing a craneless recovery, indicators that non-residential construction may improve, and the financial performance of companies such as Caterpillar Inc. and Manitowoc Inc. Also mentioned are forecasts for construction starts in 2014, residential construction in 2013, and rental firms' reluctance to buy new cranes.

The article reports that contractors operating in the electric utilities sector are replacing their worn-out machines as of October 14, 2013. It highlights the increase in workload in the transmission and substation segments of the market. Comments by industry executives during the 2013 International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) held in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 1-3, 2013, are presented.

The article focuses on efforts to create telematics standards for equipment used in the construction industry as of October 14, 2013. It highlights the situation involving Hertz Equipment Rental Co., which operates more than 60,000 pieces of equipment. The company's difficulty in monitoring a vehicle's location, use and maintenance status due to differences in manufacturers' data protocol and web portal is highlighted.

The article reports that contractors in the U.S. are acquiring pickup trucks in much greater numbers in 2013 than they have since the 1980s. It references a report from CNW Research which show that contractors purchased 51.2 percent of all new pickup trucks sold in the first half of the year. The recovery of the construction industry is cited as a key driver of the growing demand for pickup trucks.

The article reports on a survey released by the Associated General Contractors of America, which revealed a shortage in skilled workers and engineers in the construction industry. The survey shows that 74 percent of the construction firms surveyed report a shortage in skilled trades, while 53 percent cannot find enough project supervisors, estimators and engineers. Statements from Brian Turmail, spokesman for the trades group, about the problem are presented.

The article highlights how the services offered by heavy-lifting specialist firms has become increasingly sought after by contractors undertaking complex infrastructure projects throughout the U.S. in the 21st century. It also observes that the work being done by these firms has attracted increased public attention with the rise of social media, but adds that the negative publicity that may result from the occurrence of on-site accidents could have dire repercussions for these businesses.

The article highlights how platform trailers have become an indispensable tool in modular construction projects, noting that the most recent versions of these machines available as of 2013 come with wider axle spacings in order to allow riggers to transport oversized objects by road more easily. It also notes that riggers and heavy-lifting contractors increasingly employ cantilevered beams and strand jacks to move heavy loads onto structures that are hard to access using conventional cranes.

The article looks at the increasing use of statistical risk analysis software by contractors and project owners in order to save costs and time in construction scheduling. A 2012 Construction Industry Institute survey looked at return on investment of statistical risk management spending, types of statistical analysis such as identification, deterministic, and probabilistic, and availability of Monte Carlo simulator software.

The article discusses supply chains and the impact of globalization on the construction industry as of June 2013, focusing on various issues that construction firms face in regards to currency, expatriate costs, and corruption risks. The Global Construction Summit, which was held on June 6-7, 2013 in New York, New York, is addressed in relation to the global expansion of the construction industry. Construction firm CH2M Hill Cos. and its chairman Lee A. McIntire are also mentioned.

The article discusses several winners at the construction industry's Innovation Awards show which was held on April 14, 2013 in Munich, Germany prior to the Bauma 2013 Trade Show, including foundation machine maker Bauer, wind-farm crane designer Max Bögl, and excavator manufacturer Kaiser AG.

The article provides news briefs on U.S. construction planning and contracts as of April 1, 2013. Furniture company La-Z-Boy Inc. is planning to construct a new headquarters in Monroe, Michigan. Bodell Construction has started construction on a biomass-to-energy powerplant on the Hawaiian island of Kauai for Green Energy Hawaii. The San Bernardino Association of Governments in California is accepting bids for the Lenwood Road Grade Separation project in Barstow, California.

The article focuses on the World of Concrete concrete industry conference and trade show held in February 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Increased attendance at the event compared to 2012 is discussed as a positive economic indicator for the construction industry. An economic forecast by the Portland Cement Association that U.S. cement construction will increase by 8.1 percent is discussed.

The article discusses the use of small backhoe-loaders in the construction industry in India, focusing on the brand JCB India. It is noted that contractors were reluctant to mechanize construction work due to the availability of cheap labor, but found that the backhoe-loaders improved productivity and profitability. Other topics include the slowing of the Indian economy and infrastructure project investment, competition from John Deere and Mahindra, and JCB's expansion into crawler excavators.

The article discusses the role of the availability of cheap skilled and unskilled workers in the economy of India, particularly with respect to the construction industry. It is noted that materials are often fabricated, installed, and recycled at construction sites in India. Daily pay rates for workers are expected to increase due to quality of life initiatives such as standard wages for farm workers which would decrease labor migration to Indian cities.

The article offers news briefs for the U.S. construction industry as of February 27, 2012. According to McGraw-Hill Construction, total construction starts in 2011 were down slightly. San Francisco, California-based engineer-contractor URS Corp. acquired Calgary, Alberta-based Flint Energy Services Ltd. Construction equipment company Caterpillar Inc. is building a plant in Athens, Georgia.

The article presents construction industry news briefs for the week of December 19, 2011. Topics include a tender offer by Martin-Marietta Materials for the purchase of Vulcan Materials Co., a settlement making the Washington Gas Light Co. responsible for the cleanup of pollution in the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., and the prison sentence given to Thomas Aram Manok of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for conspiracy to accept bribes for construction contracts in Iraq.

The article discusses the weak prospects for the U.S. construction equipment market in 2012. It notes the slowing down of the rate of equipment purchases due to a lack of confidence in construction starts, which are likely to remain flat in 2012. The U.S. new-equipment sales growth is expanding but at a depressed rate with new-equipment sales growth expected at an annual rate of 32.6 % in 2011, to 114,000 units, then dip to 9.1 % in 2012, to nearly 125,000 units.

The author comments on a letter by Jim Heath, vice president of TIC Energy & Chemical Inc., criticizing the publication about its decision to run a photograph of a worker handling a slab without gloves on. The author argued that journalists have the responsibility of depicting the construction industry as it is and not portraying an idealized version of it. The author invites readers to upload photographs showing questionable safety practices on their Web site and comment on them.

This article reports that crane accidents in 2008 have prompted the construction sector to tighten up their hoisting policies. Key strategies include mandatory, independent inspections, worker certification and new communication technology. Starting in January 2009, New York City-based Turner Construction Co. plans to require all tower-crane operators on its projects to hold a nationally accredited certification. In November, Bovis Lend Lease U.K. started installing wireless communication devices on tower cranes in London, England.

The article highlights the usefulness to the construction industry of the National Equipment Register (NER), a database of owners, machines, serial numbers, photographs and reported thefts built by David J. Shillingford. The database is recognized by many insurers as a key strategy to manage risk. NER was purchased by Insurance Services Office Inc. in 2007. Shillingford used to help insurers recover stolen art.