Creating social value when delivering a construction project can lead to new jobs, training and education opportunities. But essential to successfully harnessing a scheme’s social value is establishing its aims and goals from the beginning of a project’s development.
Construction activity is complex, requiring huge amounts of coordination and cooperation. Pre-construction site inspections are part of this process, ensuring that the groundwork—literally—for success is being done properly.
Traditional building products such as steel and concrete are construction’s ‘tried and tested’ materials, yet they come with a significant environmental cost. Can ‘hempcrete,’ a concrete-like product made from the hemp plant, help the industry elevate its sustainability efforts?
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.
It’s expected that by 2050 cities will be home to 68% of the world’s population, up from 54% in 2016. As our towns and cities expand at a phenomenal rate, what can the built environment do to cater for such rapid urbanisation and its challenges, making these good places to live and work, where people can live healthy, fulfilled lives?
As the construction industry seeks to lower carbon emissions and join the fight against climate change, it is trying to use locally sourced building materials as much as it can.
Experts argue that relationships across the construction industry are more vital than ever in today’s challenging markets. Contractors who establish a good relationship with their suppliers can hope to rise to meet and surpass these challenges.
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.
The advent of drones has given the construction industry the opportunity to get a unique view of a building project as it rises from the ground. But as well as checking that a structure has been built properly and collecting and imparting data, a drone-mounted camera can monitor a site’s safety and security, while it can also be used in a maintenance program, assessing wear and tear on a long-finished building or infrastructure asset.
Companies across the construction industry approach their activities differently, depending on the products and services they offer. Business models vary, from general construction offerings to specialisms. What is important is the ability to adapt and change as economic circumstances dictate.
The construction sector uses a lot of water, not least in the manufacture of essential materials like concrete and mortar. As the world confronts a looming climate crisis, what does the industry need to do to manage its water usage more effectively when delivering the homes and other buildings society needs?
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.
The UK is facing a near-perfect storm of economic headwinds, fuelled by inflation, rising interest rates and slumping demand. Construction firms, which face higher energy costs and rising prices for essential materials, can weather this, but it’s going to be tough.
Newly built homes are increasingly energy efficient, but there is still a long way to go, especially when it comes to retrofitting the country’s existing housing stock.
More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and they’re only going to get bigger. As pressure on infrastructure grows, planners are considering a more sustainable model.
