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An army of robots fighting corrosion
Alan Kelsky EngineeringRobots are not new in the never-ending battle against corrosion. Perhaps, the news blitz about C2D2 is because the corrosion-fighting robot design was from a camera bot used by the Disney Company. Here is a look at a few places other robots dare to go.
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Construction technology: Getting down to business
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsBuilding engineering, design and rendering software continue to get more sophisticated, but on the operational side the construction industry is not keeping pace with other sectors. Recent industry studies reveal where the industry is lagging, where it is at risk and the challenges it faces moving forward.
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Technology, innovation required to improve accounts receivable performance
Scott Wolfe Jr. Construction & Building MaterialsThe economic recession is disappearing and making way for a promising recovery period that challenges financial managers to be creative and strategic in managing their company's working capital. To meet the challenge, business owners and financial managers have access to technology improvements that are finally materializing after decades of promise and interesting data and analytics to help guide decision-making.
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Growing need for green renovation experts
Bambi Majumdar Construction & Building MaterialsEven though 78 percent of homeowners have said that improving the look and feel of their homes is a key criterion for renovation, they want eco-friendly means to get there. This demand has in turn led renovation experts to upgrade their own skills and offer more innovation and efficiency in their projects.
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How building commissioning relates to total cost of ownership
David E. Patnaude Facilities & GroundsAs facilities professionals, we are often asked to work on projects and tasks that go beyond the day-to-day operation of our facilities. The types of projects and tasks I'm talking about include capital planning, construction project management and long-term master and capital planning.
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Uniting smart home technologies: Who will rule the roost?
Michael J. Berens Science & TechnologyThe race is on in the smart home industry to develop a unified "Internet of everything," a system that will allow smart products of all kinds — from home heating and security systems to Crock-Pots and baby monitors — to communicate with one another and a central control panel.
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P3 projects: What if you have payment problems?
Scott Wolfe Jr. Construction & Building MaterialsPublic-private partnership construction projects — commonly referred to as P3 projects — are becoming popular in the construction industry quickly. In fact, President Barack Obama recently took steps to expand the market for P3 transportation projects. This, along with the ordinary national trends, means that you're likely to encounter a P3 project soon.
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Affordable housing is drawing people away from the coasts
Bambi Majumdar Construction & Building MaterialsA recent article in The New York Times has been an eye-opener for the U.S. housing industry. An analysis of Red Fin data shows how in inland cities — like Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Oklahoma City; Austin, Texas; and Provo, Utah — luring in young American families with their housing affordability, low cost of living and economic growth.
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Kitchen and bath remodels top homeowners’ makeover list
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWhether they are planning to sell or stay where they are, homeowners have remodeling on their minds. More than two-thirds of consumers across the U.S. have immediate plans to undertake one or more home improvement projects in the next six months, according to a recent survey conducted by Realtor.com
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Remodeling industry gains momentum, trending upward
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsAfter a disappointing first quarter, the remodeling industry bounced back in the second quarter of 2014, with notable month-over-month gains. Current projections indicate that trend will continue into the second half of the year, with the industry as a whole experiencing a substantial year-over-year increase.
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