October 2021

Tech
Adoption
Week

#TechAdoptionWeek

Welcome to Tech Adoption Week 2021

Welcome to the first annual Tech Adoption Week! Over the next few days, we’ll be exploring fresh ways to help you navigate change and ease tech adoption at your organization.

Check back here every day for new stories and follow Bluebeam on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube for the latest updates.

Why Construction’s Supply Chains Still Run Like It’s 1999 — and How AI Might Finally Fix It

Project Management & Efficiency, Technology & Innovation
Jessica Brown

The Hidden Plastic Problem in Construction—and How to Fix It

Health, Safety, and Compliance, Sustainability
Diana Kightlinger

Top 3 Construction Software Workflows Recommended by Patterson Building Group

Technology & Innovation
Caitlin Davidson

With a focus on efficiency and precision, Patterson Building Group has found Bluebeam to be essential in its pursuit of cost-effective and timely project delivery.

Smart Cities: Revolutionising Urban Living with Advanced Technology and Data Integration

Technology & Innovation
Caitlin Davidson

Smart cities are transforming urban living with advanced technology and data integration, enhancing the quality of life for citizens. Continue reading to discover the fundamental opportunities for the construction industry to integrate smart technologies and offer sustainable solutions for future urban growth.

Construction Needs to Market Itself Better to Fill the Skills Gap

People & Project Spotlights
Elisa Silverman

With skepticism prominent around the value of traditional, four-year college degrees, construction trades have a unique opportunity to market to future generations of workers amid a persistent industry skills gap

Construction Industry Incorporates Bi-polar Ionization Technology into Building Plans

Technology & Innovation
Erin Flynn Jay

Technologies like BPI allow buildings to reduce outside air requirements by 50% or more, resulting in a 20%-40% reduction in HVAC energy spending

Are Sustainable Drainage Systems the Solution to Our Growing Flooding Problem?

Sustainability
Hamish Champ

Climate change is increasing the threat of flooding across many parts of the world, so engineers and others in the built environment are turning to alternative methods to tackle water flow and drainage issues than the traditional pipework and sewer networks.

Built celebrates NAIDOC Week 2023

People & Project Spotlights
Tracie Sanim

NAIDOC Week is a time to reflect on and appreciate the contributions of First Nations people in Australia. Discover the significance of NAIDOC Week, the role of elders, and the importance of engaging with Indigenous voices. Learn about Danielle Leedie Gray, a First Nations graphic artist and designer, and how businesses can support and collaborate with First Nations artists. Explore ways to create a more inclusive and respectful environment in the design, engineering, and construction industries.

Empowering First Nations: How Wamarra is Revolutionising Careers in Construction

People & Project Spotlights
Tracie Sanim

Discover how Wamarra, an Aboriginal-owned civil contractor in Australia, is revolutionising the construction industry by providing full-time employment, career pathways, and training opportunities for First Nations people. Learn about their approach to building sustainable Indigenous employment, creating economic independence, and empowering Aboriginal communities.

Reconciliation in Action: Downer’s Industry Leading Approach

People & Project Spotlights
Tracie Sanim

Discover the success story of Downer Group's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and its impact on the construction industry. Explore how their commitment to Indigenous employment, cultural respect, and community engagement has transformed their business. Learn about the power of RAPs in driving economic equity, fostering positive relationships, and creating a more inclusive future.

California’s High-Speed Rail Project Sets Sights on Ambitious Future

Technology & Innovation
Emily Beyda

Proponents hope that a completed rail system will revolutionize the state’s approach to transportation and pave the way for similar projects across the nation

Navigating the Markups List in Bluebeam

Bluebeam Tips and Tricks
Chris Graham

Cluttered markups can proliferate construction plan documents in today’s digital world. Thankfully, Bluebeam’s Markups List is a powerful tool to quickly organize things in a meaningful way

Columbia’s Bruce Gordon: Promoting Sustainability in Construction

Sustainability
Pat Olsen

The third-generation family business executive talks about why he chose to enter the field, as well as some of the ways the construction firm has been proactive in working toward a better future

Stacey, the ‘Bluebeam Guru’ Revolutionising Drafting at Inertia 

Bluebeam Tips and Tricks
Caitlin Davidson

In construction, Stacey has emerged as a trailblazer, making a remarkable impact on the implementation of Bluebeam at Inertia Engineering  

This L.A. Lumber Yard Sources Only from Fallen Neighborhood Trees

Sustainability
Emily Beyda

Angel City Lumber has built a business on locally sourced wood, a trend founder Jeff Perry hopes will catch on elsewhere as the industry works to be more sustainable

Say Goodbye to the Construction Hard Hat

Health, Safety, and Compliance
Erin Flynn Jay

With the construction industry increasingly focused on worker safety, more firms are embracing new-age helmets that provide better protection vs. the traditional hard hat.

Resilient Design and Construction

Building, Design & Architecture
Caitlin Davidson

Discover the importance of resilient design and construction in the Asia-Pacific region, which is highly susceptible to natural disasters. Learn how resilient materials, innovative construction methods and green infrastructure can increase the strength and durability of buildings and infrastructure.

Why Converting Vacant Office Space to Housing Isn’t So Simple

Technology & Innovation
Stacey Freed

Societal shifts following the COVID-19 pandemic—namely the rise of remote work—have left millions of square feet of office space vacant. But converting those buildings to housing and other potential uses comes with several building complications

Protecting Construction Workers in a Challenging World

Health, Safety, and Compliance
Hamish Champ

The safety of workers on building sites is paramount. Protective clothing has moved on from basic boots, hard hats and gloves to garments featuring high-spec technology.

The Delicate Balance Between Classic, Modern in Indian Architecture

Building, Design & Architecture
Emily Beyda

Built spoke with Madhu Manoj, founding principal architect of Monsoon Collective, about building with place in mind and the ways the aesthetics of classical Indian architecture impacts his practice

This Nonprofit Is Rebuilding Communities with Reclaimed Construction Materials

Sustainability
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

The ReBuilding Center in Portland, Oregon, aims to preserve construction materials for re-use, with the goal of keeping the discarded matter out of landfills as the industry works to be more environmentally sustainable

Amsterdam Moves to Mandate Wood Building. Here’s Why.

Sustainability
Emily Beyda

Inspired by the environmental advantages of wood construction, the European city recently passed groundbreaking legislation mandating that all new buildings constructed after 2025 consist of at least 20% wood or other biobased material (from 2022)

The Holy Trinity – Central Roles for your Construction Business Success

Project Management & Efficiency
Tracie Sanim

Australia-wide, skills shortages are emerging as wicked problems for a range of sectors and their workforces, leading to businesses taking on employees who are not the best fit for key jobs. Learn the pivotal jobs in construction delivery where how and who you recruit can make or break your business.

These Romanian Hobbit Villages Showcase Ancient Building Methods

Building, Design & Architecture
Emily Beyda

Transforming a scenic pocket of rural Romania into a truly immersive fairytale- inspired experience required old-world construction techniques even modern-day contractors will appreciate

What Is Everyday Disruption? Insights from the Future of Construction Summit

Technology & Innovation
Caitlin Davidson

The APAC team recently had the pleasure of hosting a roundtable that explored ‘everyday disruption’. Read below to learn our key takeaways.

How This Civil Engineer Used Early Leadership Experience to Launch a Thriving Construction Career

People & Project Spotlights
Larry Bernstein

Mashal Ali was thrust into leading her family’s engineering firm at a young age, an experience that provided myriad lessons that have since translated into a successful career

How Computational Design Is Taking Construction to New Heights

Technology & Innovation
Hamish Champ

The advent of the computer saw construction’s potential take a leap forward with CAD and BIM. Now advances in computational design are helping the industry—from architects to on-site contractors—deliver better buildings more efficiently.

Land Development Quantities in Bluebeam

Technology & Innovation
Troy DeGroot

Here’s how to quickly create accurate estimates that are easy to read and understand

Construction Worker Shortage Highlights Need for Enhanced Benefits

Project Management & Efficiency
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

More construction firms are finding that offering new worker benefits—or simply communicating existing ones better—is a competitive differentiator in today’s tight labor force

This New Building Tech Aims to Cut Costs, Increase Energy Efficiency

Sustainability
Emily Beyda

Aeroseal retrofits buildings with an aerosolized duct sealing technology that injects a fog of sealant particles into pressurized spaces and uses physics to pull the particles to the leaks in the ductwork

With Construction Worker Productivity Down, Firms Are Turning to These Improvement Strategies

Project Management & Efficiency
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Labor shortages aren’t the only problem plaguing construction. Recent studies show productivity is down considerably since the 1970s, leaving contractors searching for new ways to motivate employees

Built Celebrates Construction’s Sustainability Push

Sustainability
Frank Kalman

Making construction more environmentally sustainable is a vital focus for the industry. Here, we look back on Built’s most recent top stories about the industry’s sustainability push

What Causes Urban Blight – And What Can Be Done About It

Sustainability
Hamish Champ

Cities across the globe have experienced urban blight, where districts that have seen a significant downturn in fortunes are abandoned and residential and business properties left vacant. Responding to this change in fortunes is becoming an industry in itself.

5 Fundamental Principles of ‘Slow Architecture’

Sustainability
Diana Kightlinger

The design approach that grew from the slow food movement emphasizes functional and beautiful spaces that prioritize sustainability and an appreciation for nature

Managing Chaos: The Vital Skills Brittany Martin Used to Break into Construction

People & Project Spotlights
Larry Bernstein

The senior project manager exudes resiliency, a skill she learned growing up in a single-parent household—and one she says is paramount for women in construction

How the Internet of Things Can Help Construction

Technology & Innovation
Hamish Champ

The construction sector’s productivity challenges are well known. The advent of the Internet of Things – part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution – could see the industry’s processes and resulting buildings become more efficient.

This 3D-Printed House Is Made Entirely of Bio-Based Materials

Sustainability
Diana Kightlinger

The fully recyclable structure could provide an eco-friendly solution to the affordable housing crisis, skilled labor shortage and supply chain disruptions

Construction Backlogs – Managing Expectations

Project Management & Efficiency
Hamish Champ

The word ‘backlog’ summons up images of work being held up, delays and pressure. But in construction a backlog can be a good thing because it can show a potential client that a contractor is in demand. However, it’s not always simple.

Building—And Tearing Down—Fast: Inside the World of Temporary Construction

Sustainability
Emily Beyda

In an industry where most projects take years—even decades—to complete, some contractors are in the business of erecting buildings in a matter of weeks

How This Would-Be Artist Discovered a Fulfilling Construction Career

People & Project Spotlights
Larry Bernstein

Sheri Best wanted to be a painter and writer—until the artistry of the construction industry swept her into a blossoming career

Up Your Bluebeam Game with Custom Linetypes and Hatches

Bluebeam Tips and Tricks
Chris Graham

Custom linetypes and hatches allow users to expand their Bluebeam repertoire in exquisite detail

This Former Mortgage Exec Is on a Mission to Make Modular Homebuilding Viable

Technology & Innovation
Larry Bernstein

Joanna Schwartz, CEO and co-founder of modular building company Quartz, sees tremendous potential in the burgeoning construction method

Lean and Agile – How to do more with less staff

Project Management & Efficiency
Tracie Sanim

The fine balance between adequate staffing levels, meeting business demands and optimising your resources across Australia’s construction industry has never been more challenging. Learn how to be lean and agile, doing more with less.

How to Scale Digital Construction Tech: Part 4

Technology & Innovation
James Chambers

Once the hard work of evaluating, implementing and measuring the impact of a digital solution is complete, the last step is to invigorate your team to make the most of the new, powerful tool

The Power of Digitizing Quantity Takeoffs

Technology & Innovation
Frank Kalman

When quantity takeoff workflows are simple and accurate, entire construction projects go more smoothly—here’s how technology can help

We Are the Robots – Construction, AI and Machine Learning

Technology & Innovation
Hamish Champ

The construction industry is constantly looking for new ways to improve, whether that’s in terms of productivity, efficiency, safety or profitability. Would increased use of artificial intelligence and machine learning be the way to deliver these enhanced efficiencies?

How Technology Can Make Construction More Sustainable

Sustainability
James Chambers

Construction companies are using technology to reduce their impact on the environment.

Clark Construction’s Brian Ahern: Embracing Mentorship

People & Project Spotlights
Pat Olsen

The heavy civil division vice president comes from a family of construction workers, and he credits that upbringing, as well as several influential mentors, for his career success

How Archeologists Keep Builders Building

Health, Safety, and Compliance
Stacey Freed

Companies like Alpine Archaeological Consultants are part of a $1 billion industry devoted to cultural resource or heritage management in the construction industry

From Flight Attendant to Crane Operator in Under a Year

Bluebeam Tips and Tricks
Justin Hearn

Here’s how Mina Farmen went from serving customers as a flight attendant on flights throughout Europe to operating a crane on major construction jobsites in the same year

How to Scale Digital Construction Tech: Part 3

Technology & Innovation
James Chambers

Now that you’ve found and implemented a technology solution, here’s how to determine if you’ve achieved a return on investment

City of Henderson Transforms Its Review Processes With Bluebeam

Project Management & Efficiency
Hamish Champ

While the private sector has been using Bluebeam for several years, the public sector is now getting in on the act. Here’s how the city of Henderson, Nevada, is using the technology.

October 2021

Tech Adoption Week