Tag: technology: Page 41

Business

STEM graduates are finding a weak job market. Why that could be a big opportunity to fix construction’s skilled labor woes

A recent article at Business Insider revealed an odd wrinkle in the job market. According to Census Bureau statistics, less than half the college graduates with STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering and math) find jobs in STEM related fields. This wouldn’t be surprising except for the fact that so many people bleat on like a […]

July 11, 2014

Roadbuilding

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-E1 and FZ-X1 devices designed to withstand tough jobsite conditions

Panasonic has introduced its Toughpad FZ-E1 and FZ-X1 tablets, which are designed to withstand impact, water and other conditions on the jobsite. Each 5-inch tablet is built to resist drops of up to 10 feet to concrete, submersion in up to 5 feet of water for 30 minutes and other variables such as impact, shock, […]

July 1, 2014

Technology

Trimble demos Google Project Tango apps that can see through walls, make editable 3D maps with the wave of a tablet

Glass is by far the most well-known hardware project still in development at Google. But it’s another project that likely has more opportunity for meaningful impact on the construction industry: Project Tango. Seeing that opportunity, the software teams at Trimble are already hard at work developing apps for Tango with pretty exciting capabilities. Using a […]

June 30, 2014

Workforce

Documentary “Tim’s Vermeer” shows how valuable the intersection of the arts and technology is to a nation re-learning how to make things

If you are any kind of craftsman, if you’ve ever had to build your own tools, jigs or fixtures to solve a problem, you’ll get a kick out of the recently released DVD documentary Tim’s Vermeer. It’s a clever technological mystery story that illustrates the oft-ignored relationship between art and technology. Tim Jenison, the subject […]

June 24, 2014

Roadbuilding

PHOTOS: Cat B15Q smartphone built to resist drops, water damage, extreme temperatures

Caterpillar has introduced a new generation of smartphones that are built to resist damage from drops, water and extreme temperatures. The Cat B15Q is a smartphone that can globally support (4.4) KitKat, the latest version of Android. The B15Q features a faster core processor, Bluetooth version 4 and LED Flash added to the HD camera. […]

June 23, 2014

Telematics

Managers of largest heavy equipment fleets in America voice frustrations with telematics: torrents of data, unintuitive software

Last week I attended the Association of Equipment Management Professionals annual retreat and strategy session.  As chairman of the AEMP’s conference education committee I have a lot of opportunity to rub elbows with end user members and I usually pick up some good intelligence on what the managers of these big fleets are thinking, what […]

June 18, 2014

Technology

5 reasons the old two-way radio is better than a smartphone for jobsite communication

Is your jobsite one of the many across the country that has embraced smartphones? In many ways, these portable computers have made contractors and construction workers more capable in the field than ever thanks to the ever-growing number of apps available. But according to Motorola (a company quite fond of smartphones) reseller Forestry Suppliers, a […]

June 13, 2014

Roadbuilding

FHWA research could improve visibility, safety for snowplow operators

Imagine clearing the roads in the thick of winter. The weather produces whiteout conditions and there is no visibility, yet your crew is able to safely remove snow and allow people, goods and services to begin moving again. That may soon be possible thanks to research the Federal Highway Administration is conducting. FHWA is working […]

June 11, 2014

Roadbuilding

Funds available to transport elderly, persons with disabilities

Funds are available to private, non-profit or and governmental entities for transportation needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities for whom mass transportation services are “unavailable, insufficient or inappropriate,” says the Nebraska Department of Roads. The program is designed to provide assistance for the purchase of vehicles and related equipment. Applicants for the grants […]

June 11, 2014

Roadbuilding

5 benefits of using two-way radios instead of mobile phones

Does your jobsite use cell phones? They’re convenient and often multi-functional. (Workers can even calculate how much asphalt a job requires, thanks to the availability of several apps.) But according to Motorola reseller Forestry Suppliers, a mobile phone may not be the best option for communication on the jobsite. The better choice, the company argues, […]

June 10, 2014

Telematics

German trade association endorses AEM/AEMP telematics standard

Just months after two United States based equipment associations announced a new standard to govern fleet telematics, a German-based trade association has said they like it and want to participate. The Association of Equipment Management Professionals and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers announced today that VDBUM will be supporting the new telematics standard. VDBUM serves […]

May 20, 2014

Roadbuilding

How one city used technology and training to cut its salt budget

West Des Moines, Iowa, has implemented new technology and boosted its training efforts throughout the past few years to radically reduce the amount of deicer materials required to achieve desired and expected levels of service through use of advanced spreader controls, automated vehicle location units and educational opportunities. To find out more about how West […]

May 6, 2014