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Infrastructure still needs help, but can the US afford it?
Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building MaterialsCities are not defined by a collection of buildings but rather by a deep web of movements, people, products or ideas. And it is infrastructure that knits together the different components of a city — where we live, work and play. It is also what links cities to each other globally.
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Tesla testing its solar capabilities in Puerto Rico rebuild
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalAmid reports coming out of Puerto Rico's devastation, there is news of an effort to bring solar power to the island for short-term relief. Around 75 percent of the island still lacks power after Hurricane Maria. In the longer term, solar power is also being considered as a way to build a new energy grid featuring a strong renewable energy element.
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Disasters not deterring home buyers, builders
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsHurricanes, floods and wildfires did not sideline homebuyers last month. Consumers are feeling more positive about the economy in general and the housing market in particular. With prices stabilizing somewhat and an increase in homes for sale in some areas, those with means are snapping up properties as they come available. The biggest gain was in new home sales, which are benefiting from the continued tight inventories of existing homes on the market.
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How surveyors can help in hurricane recovery
Wendy Lathrop Construction & Building MaterialsAfter a stressful week of trying to locate an old friend in Houston after Hurricane Harvey left town, her brief email reassured me she was safe and had not lost everything. She was among the fortunate. Hundreds of thousands of others across the Caribbean and southeastern parts of the U.S. are going to be out of their homes (if they still have homes left) and jolted into a struggle to regain some sense normalcy for quite a while.
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Common generator problems in industrial settings
Clayton Costello EngineeringGenerators need to run smoothly and efficiently to effectively power necessary equipment in industrial settings. However, there are a few common problems industrial generators encounter that factory managers, OEMs and owners should be aware of in order to prevent downtime. The single most common generator problem is neglected maintenance, but improper sizing and inadequate fuel supply are also problems that occur often.
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Remodelers optimistic growth trend will continue
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesRemodeling activity is strong and is likely to continue that way for the rest of the year. Although somewhat uneven across sectors, the industry on the whole experienced positive growth in the third quarter, and demand for services remains high.
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Millennial homebuyers can’t get a break
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsAt last, the large influx of millennials into the housing market has arrived. Unfortunately, the housing market at present isn't ready for them. As with the cost of education and post-recession job prospects, the nation's largest age cohort find themselves yet again thwarted by ill timing.
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Skilled labor shortage impacting rebuilding efforts
Michelle R. Matisons Construction & Building MaterialsIn the last two months, we've witnessed historic Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria severely damage Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Puerto Rico. There are many statistics that have emerged from these disastrous events, and one of the most chilling is the number of homes damaged or destroyed. Tens of thousands of homes were flooded, while other homes were permanently damaged beyond repair.
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The business of laser scanning: Surveyors and ‘wedding photographers’
Ken Smerz Science & TechnologyOur story begins many years ago when surveyors ruled the world. The highly trained professionals who are an absolute necessity in a world of land ownership, wealth and political control. After all, they're the ones responsible for accurately documenting the earth — right?
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Housing can’t shake summer slump
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsHousing indicators declined for the second month in a row in August. Although activity to date still exceeds that of last year, sales and construction have been losing momentum in recent months, eroding earlier growth projections.
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