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CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 21, 2012

China Dams, The World Slams
Filed under: Industry outlook — Tags: — nedpelger

In a remote corner of Cambodia, Chinese engineers and dam contractors are building a 100 meter high dam in one of  Southeast Asia’s last great wilderness areas. Local villagers and activists protest, but the project plods forward. The AP photo below shows the locals laboring on the project.

China has become the world’s top dam builder. Chinese companies currently have 300 dam projects in various stages of design and construction. They often take on 3rd world projects that Western companies and the World Bank won’t touch because of environmental, social, political or financing concerns.

“China is the one financier able to provide money for projects that don’t meet international standards,” said Ian Baird, an assistant professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin who has worked in Southeast Asia for decades. “You go to China if you want to have them financed.”

While Westerner experts and locals fret over lost natural habitats and cultures (real and valid concerns), the dams tend to deliver cheap, reliable electricity and improved irrigation opportunities. It’s not surprising to see so many poor countries jumping at the chance to utilize Chinese hydro-power expertise. The Chinese tend to adapt to the standards and  morality of the host country.

“My sense is that when the Chinese build a dam overseas, they give you the standards (the local officials) insist on,” said Kenneth Pomeranz, an expert on water issues at the University of Chicago. “When governments say, `We want it done right,’ they know how to do that too.”

Whether the dam boom is right or wrong, I don’t know. But it’s real, it’s happening and it’s going to get stronger. Better power in these countries will often propel many other increased business opportunities. Perhaps you see something in this trend that can help you.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 19, 2012

You’ve been Tagged in a Photo
Filed under: Ned Weirdness — Tags: — nedpelger

If you do Facebook, Google+ or other social media, you’ve probably gotten emails saying, “You’ve been tagged in a photo.” I think our natural response is “Let’s have a quick look.”

So I got one of those “You’ve been tagged in a photo” emails yesterday from my friend Kneal and immediately followed the link to check it out. Here’s what I saw.

I laughed hard because that photo describes the way I sometimes feel on the jobsite. At least when someone asks, “Who’s the jackass in charge here?” everyone knows the answer.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 18, 2012

Man’s Man Stocking Stuffers
Filed under: Ned Weirdness — Tags: — nedpelger

I always try to watch Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life each Christmas. One of the many quotes I like is from the bartender, talking to the odd angel who orders an odd drink.

Nick: Hey look, mister – we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don’t need any characters around to give the joint “atmosphere”. Is that clear, or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?

Construction sites are full of real men, though hopefully not all of whom want to get drunk fast. But what does the real construction man want for Christmas? The fun site The Art of Manliness has a suggestion of 50 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Men.

Some of my favorites, along with their descriptions, include:

Duncan Yo-Yo

Even as a grown man, I enjoy getting a kid’s toy in my stocking. It’s fun to have something to play with on Christmas morning and it just makes me feel like a boy again. You can’t go wrong with stuffing a stocking with an Imperial yo-yo from Duncan Yo-Yos. Besides giving a dad or uncle a chance to show off some cool tricks to the kiddos on Christmas morning, throwing the yo-yo is a surprisingly great activity for quieting the mind when you’re sorting through a problem. You can find yo-yo’s at most toy stores for about $4.

Everyday Carry Items

According to the Every-Day Carry website, “Everyday Carry, or EDC, generally refers to small items or gadgets worn, carried, or made available in pockets, holsters, or bags on a daily basis to manage common tasks or for use in unexpected situations or emergencies. In a broader sense, it is a lifestyle, discipline, or philosophy of preparedness.” If you know a guy who ascribes to the EDC philosophy, nothing will delight him more than seeing some cool new pocket-sized things in his stocking. We’ve already covered pocket knives, flashlights, and handkerchiefs, but there are many more handy and neat things available. Creek Stewart, the Senior Instructor at the Willow Haven Outdoor School for Survival, Preparedness & Bushcraft, and pretty much my favorite AoM contributor of all time, carries a lot of great items in his store, like a manual military can opener, an EDC survival saw, and a mini Swedish firesteel. By the way,while it probably won’t fit in a stocking, Creek’s recently released book – Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit – should find a place under every man’s tree this year. I used its detailed, easy-to-follow instructions to finally put together my own BOB this year.

Balsa Wood Airplanes

Another fun toy to give a man in his stocking stuffer is a balsa wood airplane. They’re easy to put together and you’ll have a blast tossing them around the house. The Duluth Trading Co. is offering a squadron of 12 made by a company that’s been making the planes here in America for decades. $27

So there are a few ideas for a man’s man stocking stuffers.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 17, 2012

Bridge Super Job
Filed under: Industry outlook — Tags: — nedpelger

An old friend contacted me last week looking for a bridge superintendent. His company is moving into bridge work and PennDOT tells him an experienced bridge super (particularly one that has built PennDOT bridges) will be a big plus in their certification.

His firm has been around for decades and has an excellent reputation. They are also starting up a bridge design and engineering firm at the same time, which will give them the ability to value engineer. This seems like a good opportunity for the right person. Shoot me a note if you have an interest.

I’m glad to see more construction companies expanding in many different ways. I remember hearing way back in 2008 that it may be 2013 till the construction market rebounds, which seemed kind of crazy. Now it seems prophetic.

I expect lots of projects to come out of the gates hard in 2013. The pent up demand, particularly in the industrial and commercial sector, should start driving the dream.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 11, 2012

Free WiFi on the Jobsite for your Tablet
Filed under: Computers in Construction — Tags: — nedpelger

My good friend and tech guru Kneal sent me a work-around for the jobsite WiFi issue I discussed yesterday. If you have a smart phone, you probably don’t pay the expensive extra charge ($20/mo) to use the phone as a WiFi hotspot. I know I don’t.

I use my laptop anywhere I have phone service by utilizing the PDAnet Android app that tethers the phone to the laptop and gives internet service. That works great for me on vacation or anytime I’m away from free Wifi.

Unfortunately, tablet computers don’t have the USB port to tether the phone to the tablet. Kneal told me about FoxFi, which allows most Android phones to become a wireless hotspot without paying the outlandish phone company fees.

So I downloaded the FoxFi app from the Play Store, but it doesn’t support my stupid HTC phone. Though the app does support most other phones. So hopefully you can benefit from this tidbit.

By the way, the free version of FoxFi gives you 10 to 30 minutes of WiFi, then forces you to reconnect. They really give it to you just to make sure it works on your phone. If it does, then pay the $8 one time charge for the app and get the full version. Sprint and AT&T block you from downloading FoxFi from the Play store, so go directly to the FoxFi.com website from your phone’s internet browser. You can easily load it onto your phone from there.

As an aside, if you’re in the market for an Android phone, avoid HTC. I have the Rezound and it drops calls daily and has poor battery life (even with the extended battery). I’m still a big Verizon fan, but will soon trash my HTC and go with another phone. Any suggestions?

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 10, 2012

The Christmas of the Tablet
Filed under: Computers in Construction — Tags: — nedpelger

The gadget of the year certainly looks to be the iPad or tablet computer. It’s amazing to remember that iPads were  only introduced in 2010. What a steep adoption curve these oversized smart phones have experienced!

Yet, I still struggle to force myself to use the Motorola Xoom with Wi-Fi 10.1″ Android I purchased a year ago. I set up a wireless router at home so I’d have Wi-Fi signal, which does come in handy for visitors. But I really don’t use the tablet for anything except checking email or doing Google searches when I’m sitting on the couch (instead of in  front of the desktop computer).

I can see the future in construction certainly involves having all drawings, schedules, meeting minutes and everything else job related on the cloud and accessible to all stake-holders. I’m doing that, yet don’t really access it myself that much.

The fact that we don’t currently set up Wi-Fi on our jobsites probably contributes to the lack of construction use for me. If I started to always provide a jobsite Wi-Fi, the tablets would become much more useful.

The scrolling and zooming capabilities of the tablet certainly make it more useful than a regular laptop for viewing drawings. We’ve found that trying to look at drawings on a smart phone screen seems almost useless. It’s just too small.

So, even though I’m still not utilizing my tablet enough, I still encourage you to consider putting it on your Christmas list. The construction changes will come fast in the next year or two. The tablet will become a crucial jobsite tool.

This Brittish review link provides a good understanding of the various options. The market seems mature enough that the “You get what you pay for adage” seems true. So decide how much you want to spend, whether you love or hate Apple, and then dive in.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 5, 2012

Telling Your Story: Industrial Museums
Filed under: Innovation in Construction — Tags: — nedpelger

Some of my favorite museums in the world were built to showcase industrial brands. The SPAM Museum in Austin, MN provides quirky entertainment and teaches lessons about marketing history. My Dad and I loved the tour and had SPAM burgers to celebrate. Hormel spent millions on that museum, but has seen a nice return on their investment.

They built their brand with some creativity and a building. Of course, having Monty Python mock you helps as well. Watch the video below and give yourself a good laugh. By the way, I learned at the SPAM Museum why this was so funny to Brit baby boomers. During WWII, America  sent millions of cans of SPAM to England, which was almost the only meat available. The children raised during that time had a SPAM heavy diet.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

I first learned about industrial museums 25 years ago when visiting the Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta, GA. Again, the displays were creative and I learned much about business marketing and risk taking. Here’s an excellent video that shows the highlights.

I recall the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam also being excellent. The Economist also mentions the Kohler Design Center in Kohler, WI, the Cumberland Pencil Museum in Keswick, England, the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, WI, the John Deere Museum in Moline, IL and the Hershey Experience in Hershey, PA.

Beyond good travel destinations, though, I challenge you to think about how these successful companies built their brands by telling their stories in a creative way. So what’s the story of your business? How do you share it? Most of us won’t be building museums to ourselves, but we need to think about sharing our stories and building our brand.

That’s a good topic to contemplate as this year ends and we look to 2013.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 3, 2012

The Beauty of Public Private Partnerships
Filed under: Innovation in Construction — Tags: — nedpelger

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC) and the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) want to build two 2500′ cable stayed bridges spanning the Ohio River. Rather than proceeding with the traditional complete design and public bid method, the KTC and the IFA went with a Public Private Partnership (P3).

They engaged Engineering firms to produce conceptual bridge designs, estimated costs and schedules. Then they interviewed and short-listed four firms to prepare more detailed designs, with bid costs and schedules.

The Walsh Group from Chicago, IL won both competitions. The Indiana project had a price of $763M US. That price was 23% lower than the estimate and the completion date of October 2016 was eight months ahead of the conceptual schedule. The Kentucky project was $860M US, which was about 10% under budget and 18 months ahead of schedule.

The further beauty of these P3 projects will be the lack of change orders due to design deficiencies. When the design-build contractor gets to control the design, the designs improve and the savings accrue for everyone. With the need for increased efficiency for spending public funds, this method needs to see more use in all the states.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

December 1, 2012

Big Decision on Desalinated Water
Filed under: Cool Projects — Tags: — nedpelger

The largest drinking water desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere just got approved. The San Diego County Water Authority agreed to purchase 50M gallons of water each day from Poseidon Resources LLC. The $984M project will serve about 7% of the Authority’s water needs.

San Diego currently brings water from Northern California and the Colorado River via hundreds of miles of aqueducts. They pay about .33 cents per gallon for that water. They agreed to pay twice that amount for the desalinated water.

Why pay more? The Authority believes this plant will provide drought protection and that the cost of  water will increase substantially in the future. Many bond investors must agree, because Poseidon Resources LLC has sold the bonds which will finance the plant.

This type of big thinking helped make America great. It’s good to see folks taking on substantial projects. Let’s hope the construction managers are able to hold to their budgets and the technology works. If you want to know a bit more about the process, check out Desal 101.

CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE BLOG

November 29, 2012

R.I.P. Zig
Filed under: People Skills — Tags: — nedpelger

When I was a younger man, I read lots of books trying to learn the best way to live. One of the authors that moved me most was Zig Zigler. He grew up poor (though didn’t know it at the time) and with character. He was an amazing salesman, teaching himself the lessons of selling with integrity and humor.

I think this was a Zig story about selling vacuum cleaners. He was in a prospect’s house and threw a handful of dirt on the floor and said, “If my vacuum cleaner can’t completely clean that dirt up, I’ll eat it.” The prospect said to him in a drawl, “Wellll, I hope you brought your appetite cause we ain’t got the ‘lectricity. ”

Zigler on Selling is one of the best sales books I’ve ever read. Their website blurb says:

Selling is a magnificently rewarding and exciting profession. It is, however, more than a career. You’ve got to be before you can do. A successful sales professional clearly understands that education and preparation is never finished.

So you probably don’t work in sales and wonder why I’d recommend you read or listen to Zig. We all sell, regardless of our type of work. And we all benefit from moving our attitude from blah to bold.

Zig died this week at 86 (the same age as my Dad). If you’ve read his books, pick one back up and look over it again. If you haven’t, check his website and have a read or a listen. He will inspire you to be the best possible you.

Here are a few of his many memorable quotes:

You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.

If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.

Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.

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