Story Homes has partnered with Anderton Concrete to utilise its unique Stepoc concrete shuttering technology to construct retaining walls as part of the development of 40 residential dwellings in Greystoke, West of Penrith. As the ground across the site was uneven in places, retaining walls of up to 1.8metres were
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, today acquired zero trust cybersecurity provider – Tempered Networks, based in Seattle, Washington. Tempered Networks has created ‘Airwall’ technology, an advanced self-defence system for buildings that enables secure network access across diverse groups of endpoint devices, edge
Thousands of businesses worldwide rent and hire machines, tractors, and other automotive equipment daily for professional purposes. Keeping watch over each piece of equipment can become challenging, resulting in financial losses that adversely impact the business. Fortunately, industry experts can prevent these losses by using a reliable and sophisticated GPS
Countries around the world are setting accelerated targets for decarbonization. In the UK, the government’s latest Carbon Budget features plans to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 – compared to 1990 levels – taking the nation more than three-quarters of the way to reaching net zero by 2050.[1] Moreover, in
– Climate targets across the world are accelerating the implementation of smart, decarbonized, energy-efficient buildings. – In order to meet climate change commitments however, building stock requires significantly higher investment – around 3 times the current rate. – Smart financing can enable greater rates of investment in a financially sustainable
HS2 Ltd – the company delivering Britain’s new high speed rail network – and Innovate UK – the UK’s innovation agency – have today (Wednesday 21 October 2020) teamed up to drive innovation on Britain’s largest construction project. The Innovate at HS2 2020: Small Business Research Initiative is open to small and medium-sized firms who will receive support
SITECH UK & Ireland, the leading distributor of Trimble® technology, now offers an innovative progress tracking software solution that uses drones to help site managers map, measure and manage their sites more effectively. Trimble® Stratus, powered by Propeller, is a data analytics and visualisation platform that is designed specifically for
Despite living in our the incredibly digital world, some people prefer to stick with working methods that they’re used to. This isn’t always a bad thing—tradition goes well with consistency, making it easy to estimate and predict how successful certain projects will be. When you calculate construction costs using cost estimating
Apart from modern technology having a positive effect on our environment, online gaming and even the great introduction of NoviBet, it has also had an improved effect within the construction industry and the results have been lifesaving. The world is expanding; the need for more resources increasing and the construction industry
A poll carried out by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest online supplier of ironmongery, has found that despite the ever-growing popularity of smart home products, many tradespeople are still unprepared for the increasing customer demand. The poll, which was conducted in the lead up to Smart Home Week (20- 26 May),
Story Homes has partnered with Anderton Concrete to utilise its unique Stepoc concrete shuttering technology to construct retaining walls as part of the development of 40 residential dwellings in Greystoke, West of Penrith. As the ground across the site was uneven in places, retaining walls of up to 1.8metres were required to ensure an optimal construction was achieved. However, once ground was broken, an unexpected incline of almost 2.5metres between three pairs of gardens was uncovered. This left the developers with a new challenge to ensure the difference in height was addressed by retaining the ground safely and quickly to minimise any potential disruption to the build and maximise on site efficiencies. Story Homes considered several retaining wall possibilities but specified Anderton Concrete’s Stepoc shuttering system because of its quick installation traits and ability to retain ground up to 4.0metres in height. “The initial design details for the scheme were based on a series of smaller garden retaining walls to create back to back terraced gardens, the details employed at this stage were in line with our internal standard suite of retaining wall designs. In order to bring improvements to these garden areas whilst balancing cost, buildability and space on site we decided to utilise the Anderton Concrete Stepoc system,” explains Scott Bradshaw, Engineering Manager, Cumbria and Scotland, Story Homes. “The slenderness of the Stepoc wall meant that with restricted space on the site, the overall amount of slope that had to be cut back could be reduced, saving precious time. This was the same with the overall speed of installation, which was swift and primarily enabled by the lack of steel fixing required in the stem.” Stepoc’s precast concrete block technology is unique in its versatility to facilitate the construction of retaining walls for multiple applications. Story Homes had previously specified the technology, but it was a first for the company’s Site Manager, Paul Woodruff, who was impressed with its wholesale benefits and adaptability. Stepoc’s ability to solve the problem of a considerable incline between gardens was achieved because of its flexible construction and ease of installation. As the wall can be laid dry, it saves valuable time, whilst the concrete pour cascades inside the wall, meaning minimal mess and maintenance. It can also be installed in various weather conditions, meaning no lengthy delays to overall construction times. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, today acquired zero trust cybersecurity provider – Tempered Networks, based in Seattle, Washington. Tempered Networks has created ‘Airwall’ technology, an advanced self-defence system for buildings that enables secure network access across diverse groups of endpoint devices, edge gateways, cloud platforms and service technicians. It represents a step-change in operational technology built on secure transmission pipelines to ensure buildings data exchanges and service actions can only take place between people and devices that are continuously authenticated. The acquisition gives Johnson Controls the capability to provide zero trust security within the fabric of its OpenBlue secure communications stack, advancing its vision of enabling fully autonomous buildings that are inherently resilient to cyberattack. How Airwall Works Tempered Networks Airwall technology uses the Host Identity Protocol and a cloud-based policy orchestration platform to create new overlay networks built on encrypted and authenticated communication. The policy manager (a.k.a. the conductor) enforces configured digital policies that control connections within the cloaked overlay system. The default position for the policy manager is ‘zero trust’, i.e., only allowing connections between continuously authenticated and authorised entities. Once a communicating device authenticates itself correctly, an encrypted tunnel is created through which data flows. The advantages of this cybersecurity technique are as follows: ▪ The creation of an always-on and software-defined security perimeter protecting device-to-device, device-to-cloud and device-to-user interactions. ▪ Airwall achieves this by using Host Identity Protocol to create a cloaked and micro-segmented network which overlays a building’s existing network infrastructure, making the solution also highly cost-effective. ▪ A new level of authentication for connected building systems is created, allowing for greater system automation of functions such as heating and cooling, lighting, security and airflows. “When it comes to buildings, we must create easily implementable cybersecurity defences as we’re often dealing with critical infrastructure, including assets such as data centres and hospitals,” said Vijay Sankaran, vice president and chief technology officer, Johnson Controls. “Tempered Networks Airwall approach is purpose-built for our sector as it’s designed around principles of zero trust, securing device communications as data moves between devices and the cloud – so enabling remote building optimisation in the most trusted way possible.” Technology Integration Tempered Networks Airwall technology is being integrated into Johnson Controls OpenBlue platform which is increasingly recognised as a leading smart building software platform with advanced AI-enabled building management capabilities[1]. OpenBlue provides a flexible computing approach for converging building technologies and making those technologies more insightful, powerful, and optimised through edge AI and through full machine learning in the cloud. The ultimate goal is to make all buildings smarter, healthier and more sustainable. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. To learn more about Johnson Controls’ approach to cybersecurity, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/cybersolutions. See an explanation video for Tempered Networks Airwall technology below…
Thousands of businesses worldwide rent and hire machines, tractors, and other automotive equipment daily for professional purposes. Keeping watch over each piece of equipment can become challenging, resulting in financial losses that adversely impact the business. Fortunately, industry experts can prevent these losses by using a reliable and sophisticated GPS tracker to keep an eye on their equipment, even when they operate over long distances. The high-end software does more than monitoring the machines, enabling companies to enjoy greater returns on investment. Businesses investing in these fantastic products for the first time will find the following benefits of doing so remarkably interesting. Route Optimisation The best advantage of wearable technology for fleet management is that you can quickly and effortlessly identify the best, safest, and shortest routes for your equipment. Managers can use location and drive data to chart new and more efficient courses, enabling drivers to manoeuvre the vehicles more effectively. Another advantage of this type of route deliberation and planning is that companies can save a lot by reducing commute times, ensuring the machines reach their location and leave on time. It can also help prevent dangerous paths that lead to cargo theft and other losses due to poor road conditions. Excellent Safety Besides reducing administrative roles and saving time, the software can make work safer for large and small machine operators. For instance, it can facilitate pre-work inspections, shutting down the equipment entirely until the proper and essential examinations are done. Also, the geofencing feature ensures the precious fleet does not leave a set boundary without the necessary permit, preventing thefts and accidents. If the equipment is on dangerous ground, operators can remotely monitor it and shut it down from incredibly long distances. Moreover, it has integration capabilities, allowing companies to communicate important information with one another at all times, boosting security and safety measures. They can track their property twenty-four-seven, ensuring it remains safe and operational whenever necessary. Cost-effective When you chart short drive paths using the technology, it helps you save massively on fuel costs in the long run. Also, since you will pick the safest and best roads for your fleet to ply on, you can enjoy reduced repair and maintenance costs. All this will eventually lead to improved customer satisfaction, leading to increased demand. Ultimately, the above things will help your company make more enormous profits by maximising productivity and saving more. You will undoubtedly scale new heights in shorter periods with the undeniable aid of this indispensable modern technology. Expert Manufacturers The best GPS tracker is provided by specialists with over a decade or two of experience in the industry, using their wealth of experience and know-how to ensure optimal profits from the software. You can read case studies on their official websites to learn how their product can help companies save money and prevent short and long-term losses. Moreover, they have custom trackers that benefit various industries and their changing needs, such as rental companies, construction industries, and trade businesses. Their product has incredible features that ensure maximum efficiency at all times, enabling businesses to track every piece of machinery easily. Therefore, investing in this valuable tracking technology will be among the best business decisions your company can make.
Countries around the world are setting accelerated targets for decarbonization. In the UK, the government’s latest Carbon Budget features plans to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 – compared to 1990 levels – taking the nation more than three-quarters of the way to reaching net zero by 2050.[1] Moreover, in its ‘Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’ this administration has highlighted the decarbonization of buildings as a key aspect of its policy towards reaching these targets.[2] Given buildings account for 36% of final energy use, they are a prime target for energy efficiency initiatives and will be a major contributor to climate target attainment.[3] In order to achieve these goals, more attention needs to be paid to the existing commercial and public building stock. In Europe, for instance, roughly 75% of the building stock is energy-inefficient[4]. This means that a large part of the energy consumed is in effect wasted. Renovating existing buildings could reduce the EU’s total energy consumption by 5-6% and lower carbon dioxide emissions by about 5%. Yet, on average, less than 1% of the national building stock is renovated each year. To meet climate and energy objectives, experts state that the current rates of renovation should at least double[5]. To get on track to net-zero carbon building stock by 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that by 2030, direct building CO2 emissions need to fall by 50 percent and indirect building sector emissions by 60 percent. A recent study[6] from Siemens Financial Services estimates the gap between the existing rate of investment in energy-efficient smart buildings and the accelerated rate which experts are saying needs to be reached to achieve sustainability and climate change targets. This gap is where smart finance can step in to enable the investment that should be made but is not yet happening. To bridge the investment gap, building owners and managers are having to look at changing how their buildings operate, their business models and how they are going to finance the required upgrades. Regarding operational technology, commercial and public buildings are going to have to become smarter to cope with these new demands for decarbonization. Smarter buildings allow flexible working – whether from the perspective of hot-desking, agile changes of use, security and safety, greater efficiency and flexibility or adapting to cope with volatile circumstances. While there is wide consensus around the need to make buildings smarter, all countries and sectors need a way of making that conversion financially sustainable. Yet how can this be done in practice? The starting point is to use smart technology to reduce building energy consumption. This produces hard financial savings that – through smart financing arrangements – can be harnessed to significantly subsidize the energy efficiency renovation of existing buildings. In selected cases, the energy savings might even pay for overall conversion. This can be done at an enterprise level, or in small incremental steps, each of which proves its return on investment. Typical building energy efficiency savings are usually at least 20%[7] (often far higher) representing very substantial operating economies. New models for smart financing Smart financing takes a variety of forms, depending on the business processes that need to be enabled. At the technology component level, financing tools are available to help vendors and distributors add value with cash flow capabilities for their buyers. For larger installations or systems, smart financing arrangements can be flexed and tailored to align costs with the rate of benefit gained from the energy-efficient technology. At the most complex level, Smart-Buildings-as-a-Service provides the financing solution, with future expected savings from energy efficiency being harnessed and used to pay for the capital investment and more. Conclusions Renovation projects to decarbonize buildings by transforming them into smart, energy-efficient environments are falling behind governments’ declared climate goals around the world. Many experts have declared that the annual investment rate should scale by three times or more to reach those declared targets. In order to bridge the gap between current investment rates and the required volumes, smart financing methods are being offered by private sector finance. They all seek to make the conversion to decarbonized, energy-efficient, smart buildings affordable for owners. At the least, these financing tools ease cash flow and align costs to the rate of benefits gained. At the best, smart financing makes the transition to decarbonization budget neutral, by harnessing future savings to pay for current investment. [1] Gov.uk, ‘UK enshrines new target in law to slash emissions by 78%’, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-enshrines-new-target-in-law-to-slash-emissions-by-78-by-2035 [2] Gov.uk, ‘The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’, 2021 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ten-point-plan-for-a-green-industrial-revolution/title#point-7-greener-buildings, 2020 [3] GlobalABC, Status Report 2019 [4] European Commission, In focus: Energy efficiency in buildings, 17 Feb 2020 [5] European Commission, In focus: Energy efficiency in buildings, 17 Feb 2020 [6] Siemens Financial Services, Bridging the Investment Gap: Smart Financing for Decarbonization in Buildings, 2021 https://www.siemens.com/financing-decarbonization-manufacturing [7] IPF Research Programme, Costing Energy Efficiency Improvements in Existing Commercial Buildings, Oct 2017
– Climate targets across the world are accelerating the implementation of smart, decarbonized, energy-efficient buildings. – In order to meet climate change commitments however, building stock requires significantly higher investment – around 3 times the current rate. – Smart financing can enable greater rates of investment in a financially sustainable way. – New research from Siemens Financial Services (SFS) estimates the ‘investment gap’ between current investment levels in energy efficient renovation of buildings stock, and those needed to achieve decarbonization targets in 4 regions across 3 sectors. Siemens Financial Services (SFS) has released a new insight study entitled “Financing Decarbonization: Smart Buildings” which estimates the ‘investment gap’ between current levels of investment in renovating the office, hospital, and education estate and the actual level needed to meet accelerated decarbonization targets by 2050. Part of a series on financing decarbonization, the research focuses on buildings – which account for 36% of final energy use – as a prime target for energy efficiency initiatives, and a major potential contributor to climate target attainment. The ‘gap’ represents a substantial shortcoming in each of the 4 countries studied, specifically: USA ($5.3bn for offices, $1bn for hospitals, $3.8bn for education) China ($12.7bn, $2.7bn, and $10.8bn respectively) India ($0.9bn, $0.6bn, and $6.2bn respectively), and Europe ($7.8bn, $2.2bn, and $5.5bn respectively). The research finds that smart buildings – which incorporate hot-desking, health and safety, information access controls, security, infection mitigation, and much more – are best suited to ensure more efficient use of commercial and public buildings, significantly reduced energy usage and emissions, and the transformation of buildings into far more sustainable assets for society. In order to bridge the gap between current investment levels and the required volumes, smart financing methods are being offered by private sector finance. These solutions seek to make the conversion to decarbonized, energy-efficient, smart buildings affordable for owners. Financing tools can ease cash flow and align costs to the rate of benefits gained. Smart financing also has the potential to make the transition to decarbonization budget neutral, by harnessing future savings to pay for current investment. “Our use of buildings has been disrupted and altered by the pandemic,” says Jo Harris, Sales Director, Commercial Finance UK, Siemens Financial Services. “Not only can smarter building stock better cope with this change, it will contribute significantly to a cleaner and greener future. Smart financing solutions can accelerate the rate of transformation, helping buildings owners to achieve net-zero carbon building stock by 2050. Methodology Proprietary data from Siemens Financial Services on cost of energy efficiency renovation per m2 (existing buildings) was applied to total m2 of the hospital, office and education estate for each country/region studied. The total cost of energy efficiency renovation was calculated based on the Global Alliance for Building and Construction’s estimate of the % of building stock that would have to be converted by 2040 to meet current climate targets (rising to 2% by 2030 and 3% by 2040). Then, the cumulative % of actual current renovation rates (approx. 1% of existing building stock) was projected to 2040 and the cost of renovation calculated at those current rates. The Investment Gap is the difference between current energy efficiency renovation rates and the projected rate of renovation needed to meet climate targets. For further information, please see: www.siemens.com/financing-decarbonization-smart-buildings For further information on SFS, please see www.siemens.com/finance
HS2 Ltd – the company delivering Britain’s new high speed rail network – and Innovate UK – the UK’s innovation agency – have today (Wednesday 21 October 2020) teamed up to drive innovation on Britain’s largest construction project. The Innovate at HS2 2020: Small Business Research Initiative is open to small and medium-sized firms who will receive support to put together research and development plans for their proposal. The scheme is looking to harness innovative ways to advance the digitalisation and automation on construction; improve efficiency; integrate and digitise the many interfaces of a construction project the size of HS2. Other innovations sought as part of this initiative include recruitment; and cost management and control. With the R&D phase beginning in March 2021, each of the 10 selected firms will have three months to demonstrate the desirability and feasibility of their solution and that their innovation has a viable business case. Commenting, HS2 Ltd innovation manager, Rob Cairns said: “Thousands of businesses right across Britain are already getting involved in HS2, benefiting from the project and creating jobs at a time when the country needs it most. “There are huge benefits to be reaped from innovating in the construction sector – not just for HS2’s delivery but also to provide a legacy of innovation benefitting future infrastructure projects. “HS2 encourages innovative small businesses to come forward with their ideas. We’ll help the chosen 10 firms to hone and develop their solutions and integrate with the HS2 supply chain, unlocking a route to market.” Simon Edmonds, Deputy Executive Chair and Chief Business Officer, Innovate UK, said: “HS2 has the potential to revolutionise Great Britain’s railway. It will connect commerce and communities, providing capacity and speed. It is right that such an innovative project should call upon the UK’s most innovative smaller companies in its delivery. Innovate UK can bring its unique ability to reach these enterprises and bring forward the best of British ideas.” Further details of the competition will be published at https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/708/overview Applications close on 16 December 2020.
SITECH UK & Ireland, the leading distributor of Trimble® technology, now offers an innovative progress tracking software solution that uses drones to help site managers map, measure and manage their sites more effectively. Trimble® Stratus, powered by Propeller, is a data analytics and visualisation platform that is designed specifically for earthmoving applications to help contractors track progress and productivity. Harnessing the power of highly accurate surveying and mapping capabilities, contractors are able to avoid costly delays and minimise rework. Unlike other industries that are embracing digitalisation, earthworks and construction have traditionally lagged behind and have been slow to innovate. For example, many construction companies still rely on traditional methods of surveying, such as pegs, to map a project. This often requires skilled surveyors that can make the necessary calculations and interpret the data. However, their time on site is limited, and it isn’t always easy to access this expertise when you need it. SITECH now supplies Trimble® Stratus to help construction companies digitise and overcome common surveying issues. The new package uses Trimble’s ® Connected Site solutions and delivers a new end-to-end solution for contractors. This means that contractors can place and activate their ground control points and then fly their drone to collect site data. Using Trimble® Stratus, you can then upload and view this data and share it between the site, office and across the team. This can help prevent miscommunication and ensure that everyone in the company is updated on site progress. “If manual surveys are inaccurate, construction companies can see a decline in performance and see delays that mean they fall behind schedule and go over budget,” explained Ian Barnes, Head of Business at SITECH UK & Ireland. “By using drone technology, surveyors can access highly accurate data to ensure operations remain on schedule. Companies can also remove employees from difficult to access and dangerous areas, like quarries, improving safety as well as accuracy.” “While other software tries to accommodate a broad category of users, Trimble Stratus is 100 percent focused on earthmoving and construction environments,” explained Jan Wouter Kruyt, Director of European Operations at Propeller. “The cloud-based platform is also really intuitive and can be used without surveying expertise ─ the drone images are processed in Trimble Stratus and then visualised as an interactive, measurable 3D terrain models. It’s easy to create and share measurements on these 3D maps. “The new package delivers several benefits for construction companies, including capabilities to compare designs and minimise rework by generating highly accurate survey data,” continued Kruyt. “Most importantly, having frequent up-to-date survey data on hand means that companies can complete projects ahead of schedule and under budget, something that’s becoming more important as companies try to get back on track following lockdown.” “Trimble® Stratus is ground-breaking for construction companies that want to enhance their surveying,” continued Barnes. “By harnessing the power of drone technology and combining this with a Trimble® platform, contractors now have access to highly accurate progress tracking with a solution designed specifically for earthworks projects like theirs.” Interested in using Trimble® Stratus to help you plan your site? Visit our website and find out more about what we offer https://www.sitechukandireland.com/sitech-drone-services/.
Despite living in our the incredibly digital world, some people prefer to stick with working methods that they’re used to. This isn’t always a bad thing—tradition goes well with consistency, making it easy to estimate and predict how successful certain projects will be. When you calculate construction costs using cost estimating software, you can help to ensure a successful and productive project. However, what if we were to tell you that there’s actually a lot of modern technology that prides itself on accuracy? This is where cost estimating software comes in. Cost estimating software that allows you to input numbers, measurements and other variables to give accurate estimates for your construction clients. Despite the programs being new technology, they are designed for accuracy. This accuracy can help bridge the gap between tradition and the future, giving you programs that will assist your company in the long run. To show you exactly why this type of application is beneficial, we’ve created a list of 4 Reasons Every Contractor Should Invest in Cost Estimating Software: 1. Calculate Construction Costs without Human Error One of the biggest mistakes companies can make when calculating estimates on their own is simply that: calculating estimates on their own. Though there are many skilled individuals who are experts at making estimates for companies, even experts can experience human error. This is why estimating programs can be helpful, as algorithms and equations are more reliable overall. 2. Programs Can Decide What is Essential When you’re working with an estimation program, you have to understand that the program itself is typically advanced enough to make personal decisions on which parts of a project are necessary. When you input certain tasks into the program, it will be able to strip options and aspects of a project that aren’t absolutely necessary, allowing you to have tighter estimates that are more in favor of the client. Because there are so many different factors to consider when building a property, it’s also good to have flexibility. By having more accurate estimates, you can ensure that clients will want to come back for more work and your company’s overall success rate will stay consistent. Though it might seem easy to simply keep track of which things are necessary, it can also be easy to apply similar settings to different projects when making multiple estimates at once, making estimate programs necessary allies. 3. Save Time In traditional scenarios, a customer changing their mind or having to adjust their request at any time can lead to many different recalculations. If you use an estimation program, this is not necessarily the case—instead of having to recalculate, you can simply adjust certain values and see the entire estimate change almost immediately! 4. Save Money At the end of the day, the most important thing about estimation software is that it will save you money. Through giving you more options, efficiency and less error, you will be able to make sure your estimates are effective and affordable. By having estimates that are leaner and more on the side of the customer, you can also drive up your engagement and gain more consistent clients. What do you think of our list? Are you a contractor who doesn’t yet use estimating software? We hope our list has been helpful so you can understand the benefits of using software to calculate construction costs!
Apart from modern technology having a positive effect on our environment, online gaming and even the great introduction of NoviBet, it has also had an improved effect within the construction industry and the results have been lifesaving. The world is expanding; the need for more resources increasing and the construction industry busier than it has ever been before. This has made it necessary for construction workers to reap the benefits of the very thing that has made it necessary for more buildings, malls, hotels and the like; modern tech. Taking a look under the hood of modern tech shows us why and how it has played a positive role within the inner workings of every scenario involving construction and buildings. Safety and Security The use of modern tech has reshaped the construction industry in terms of workers safety and security. Construction work is incredibly hazardous and workers have even been known to receive danger pay, more money for more life threatening tasks. Imagine operating from the very top of a scaffold, or imagine working on constructing the world’s tallest buildings facing severe weather conditions. Modern technology has allowed for the manufacturing of tools and equipment which have the ability to reach the same heights that humankind can. Rather than risking a life, tools can be used to do the work of men and women. Speed Unlike living in the 1800’s or even two decades ago, buildings are constructed faster than they ever have been in the past. Not only are buildings quicker to piece together but more workers can be employed and put onto a manageable payroll. Being able to manage and hire more staff reduces the time it takes to build these sites. Efficient The use of modern tech has also enables us to build more energy efficient buildings thanks to the use of solar panels and greener building. As the planet is continuously striving to improve or living conditions to benefit the environment, building demands become more necessary rather than wanted. Using Construction scheduling software also helps increase speed and risk management at your job site. With a good software package, you can achieve a 75% increase in execution certainty and a 40% increase in planning efficiency. Along with the ability to schedule and analyze your project’s risk in real-time and better understand the possible outcomes of the project, you’ll be armed with everything you need for the most efficient construction project you’ve been involved with yet. Software and Mobile Applications The software solutions that have been developed for the intended purpose of building developments and construction includes mobile accessibility which allows users to garner a better understanding of what is required for the project. For example, preconstruction and scheduling can be streamlined into a productive projection which is necessary to determine the length and the difficulty of constructing modern and efficient buildings. Being a mobile application, users are usually allowed to edit and change docs with all changes being made in real time for a more accurate prediction of what is to be expected in terms of constructing what is desired. As modern tech progresses and changes, we know it is heading into a more positive era than it currently stands in today. This gives many something to look forward to while benefiting from the positive aspects of this tech. Construction and building is necessary to keep our economy efficient, but we need to keep our environment safe also and modern tech allows for this.
A poll carried out by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest online supplier of ironmongery, has found that despite the ever-growing popularity of smart home products, many tradespeople are still unprepared for the increasing customer demand. The poll, which was conducted in the lead up to Smart Home Week (20- 26 May), found that 82% of tradespeople have never undertaken any form of training in smart home technology. This figure remains largely unchanged following results from the same poll in 2018. Research has shown that 40% of UK homeowners now own at least one smart home product, a rise of 13% on the previous year[1]. However, despite continued growth, the number of tradespeople improving their knowledge and skills in this area remains disproportionately low. This is backed up by previous national research carried out by the leading online ironmongery supplier, which showed that almost 90% of tradespeople are not confident when advising customers on smart products. Now in its third year, Smart Home Week aims to raise the profile of smart home technology and to inform, educate and reassure consumers about the benefits and opportunities of living in a smart, connected way. Wayne Lysaght-Mason, Managing Director of IronmongeryDirect, said: “We’re living in the age of rapid technological development, and it’s easy to see why people are investing in smart technology to bring comfort, convenience and added security to their homes. However, with a huge range of smart devices available, and new products being developed all the time, it is important that tradespeople do their research and make a conscious effort to stay up to date on the latest news and trends surrounding smart home technology. “There is of course still a demand for traditional products, but these new smart alternatives should not be ignored. There are some brilliant products currently on the market, whether you want to specialise in lighting, heating, security or household appliances.” IronmongeryDirect stocks a variety of products including the Yale® Conexis L1 Multipoint Smart Lock, which eradicates the need for a physical key, the Burg Wachter BURGprotect Alarm Kit 2200, which can send a notification to a connected smartphone within seconds of a break-in or smoke being detected and the Yale® Smart Home CCTV Kit, which allows homeowners to view footage remotely in real-time via an app, wherever they are in the world. The customer service team are available from 7am-8pm 7 days a week and can help with any questions or queries tradespeople may have about smart home technology. IronmongeryDirect has over 17,500 products available and in stock. Orders can be placed as late as 8pm for next day delivery from Sunday through to Friday and by 4pm on Saturdays. Free, no quibble returns are available on all products. For more information, visit IronmongeryDirect.com or call their team of specialist advisors on 0800 168 28 28.
