Construction
Rob McManamy
DEWALT shifts to solve jobsite WiFi woes

Yesterday, DEWALT, accompanied by Procore, announced their new WiFi Mesh, which promises to increase wireless connectivity on the jobsite. We talked to two DEWALT executives about the new product — here's what they had to say.

DEWALT shifts to solve jobsite WiFi woes
Architecture + Design
Rob McManamy
Data-driven design propelling collaboration

"Data-driven design" suggests an impersonal, robotic process that replaces human creativity with cold numbers. But at our latest BuildIdeas Breakfast, we learned from IBM Watson and Detroit Mercy Hospital that it can mean greater customer satisfaction.

Data-driven design propelling collaboration
Business
Rob McManamy
Hawaii, Vermont, RI see clean energy surge

Despite wavering venture investment, the clean energy market is still growing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Here, the annual Clean Energy Trust Challenge gives us a welcome opportunity to check in on multiple, vibrant efforts to implement power innovation.

Hawaii, Vermont, RI see clean energy surge
Cities
Rob McManamy
Cities, data drive BW Summit conversations

If cities will yield the richest data upon which tomorrow's most consequential decisions will be based, then it is no surprise they were a recurring topic at last week's BuiltWorlds Summit. To see some of the actionable insights that were shared, read on.

Cities, data drive BW Summit conversations
Architecture + Design
Rob McManamy
Obamas unveil Presidential Center design

Just days after the former First Lady urged architects not to neglect inner cities, she and her husband came home to Chicago this week to reveal their vision for a $500-million community hub that they hope will reinvigorate a long-struggling community.   

Obamas unveil Presidential Center design
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Smart Cities: IBM, GSA on how building data will drive efficiencies

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Smart Cities: IBM, GSA on how building data will drive efficiencies

VIDEO: By 2025, buildings will the largest producer of greenhouse gases. Here, IBM convenes an expert online panel to discuss how smarter cities and structures can cut energy use, improve performance and just be more green.

Growing cities must surmount big threats to ecosystems

Growing cities must surmount big threats to ecosystems

Join us for our next SmartWorlds special event on Urban Ecosystems and how global cities must find ways to manage sustainably the huge growth speeding their way. Peter Ellis, John Tolva, Paul Doherty, and Susan Heinking all will discuss.

Kapow! Atop Scenic Hotel, BW Celebrates Birthday, thanks Backers

Atop the recently opened sky deck at the Virgin Hotel, BuiltWorlds held its first party among a throng of supporters. Their sunlit patio played the perfect setting to usher in our second year surrounded by the stunning skyscrapers of downtown Chicago. 

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TT+20: Harnessing The Power Of Big Data

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TT+20: Harnessing The Power Of Big Data

In the last of four excerpts from its forward-looking annual report, Thornton Tomasetti looks at “Big Data.” Indeed, all the information available today can be overwhelming, but if leveraged correctly, it can also lead to unprecedented gains.

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Will Smart Exit signs light the way to safer buildings?

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Will Smart Exit signs light the way to safer buildings?

Would you trust a robot to lead you to safety in an emergency? What design would best attract your attention in a smoke-filled environment? Exit signage is vital, so now it is being improved with technology, writes FieldLens' Lee Rankin.

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Mammoth quarry to be giant reservoir in epic engineering milestone

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Mammoth quarry to be giant reservoir in epic engineering milestone

This week, south of Chicago, one of the world's longest-running civil engineering projects will achieve an epic milestone, 40 years and $3 billion after it all began. And it will do so with little fanfare.

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Brits' BIM certification mandate may be recipe for confusion

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Brits' BIM certification mandate may be recipe for confusion

With a national BIM mandate now just six months away, Britain's AEC community is scrambling to get ready. Terry Gough, a former shopfitter and avid 'BIM champion', thinks the situation is only going to get crazier.

View from Green sailing center now includes LEED Gold

View from Green sailing center now includes LEED Gold

Northwestern University's official color is purple, but it may want to add gold now in honor of its new LEED-certified Sailing Center on the scenic shores of Lake Michigan.

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The robots are coming! The robots are coming! (To a museum near you)

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The robots are coming! The robots are coming! (To a museum near you)

Now on national tour, the new Robot Revolution exhibit in Chicago boasts "the coolest robots ever assembled." Before heading back to college, BW intern Mike Hrymak decided to judge for himself.

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On Cloud 9 after 360° view of modern jobsites

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On Cloud 9 after 360° view of modern jobsites

Cloud computing has revolutionized how we do business on and off of the jobsite, so we brought in some heavy hitters for our Cloud Coverage: A 360° View from the Field event to demonstrate how they make this aspect of technology work for them.

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Survey Finds Tech Use Rising, Investment still Lagging

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Survey Finds Tech Use Rising, Investment still Lagging

Tech researcher and product tester James Benham returned to Chicago last week for a rousing presentation to AGC-IT on the findings of his latest industry survey and the state of overall tech usage in our industry.

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Startup City Q&A from Inside Tel Aviv

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Startup City Q&A from Inside Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Israel, Pop: 400,000. Startups: 5,000, and counting. While visiting one of the globe's most vibrant tech hubs, BW sat down with two local movers and shakers to gain an insider's insight into what makes Startup City tick.

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BIM – Sorry, but One Size Fits No One!

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BIM – Sorry, but One Size Fits No One!

There is no one BIM approach or strategy that is right for all. Everyone needs to tailor their BIM usage to their individual needs, the needs of those they are collaborating with, and the specific project objectives, writes Beca's Jon Williams. 

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FieldLens, Bluebeam launch layered drawings tool

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FieldLens, Bluebeam launch layered drawings tool

Unveiled at Bluebeam eXtreme in LA, FieldLens Drawings will integrate with Bluebeam Software to work with any PDF file, and tag conversations right to your drawings to enable real-time tracking and reveal location conditions at any given moment.

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TT+20: How can we retain the 'Other 51 Percent'?

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TT+20: How can we retain the 'Other 51 Percent'?

Women make up 51% of the population, but less than 20% of engineers and architects. Thornton Tomasetti convened several prominent female leaders from our industry to discuss this issue and explore solutions for improving those numbers.

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After decades of delay, LaGuardia remake at last taking flight

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After decades of delay, LaGuardia remake at last taking flight

In 2014, VP Biden said, "If you were blind-folded and taken to LaGuardia Airport, you'd think you were in a third-world country." Last week, NY's Gov. picked up that gauntlet and unveiled a huge, public-private redevelopment plan.

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Tech cloudburst rains opportunity on all disciplines

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Tech cloudburst rains opportunity on all disciplines

From Autodesk and Applied Software to Master Graphics and Heitman Technologies, a midsummer night's dream team of tech presenters filled BuiltWorlds with visions of a collaborative world that may only just be getting started. 

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The construction worker of the future

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The construction worker of the future

Last week, the ConAppGuru visited Chicago to present at the annual AGC-IT Forum. Here is another presentation he also made to AGC last month on the high-tech jobsites of tomorrow, and the evolved workers who will populate them.

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