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construction dive
5 Quick Answers To Employers’ Questions On E-Verify, Ice Raids
Immigration compliance is changing quickly enough that attorneys at Cozen O’Connor said “it could be changing as we speak” during a webinar held Feb. 6. Employers may be wrangling with questions about what to do in scenarios that are becoming very real, including I-9 audits and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on workplaces. Elizabeth Olivera and Kelli Natrin, associates at the firm, answered questions posed by participants during the event regarding the more practical angles of immigration enforcement. E-Verify is the long-running federal program that allows employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S. by checking the validity of provided Form I-9 document information. While federal contractors are currently required to use E-Verify, Olivera said, it is not currently required that all employers do so. However, “that’s not outside the realm” of what might occur moving forward, she noted. Discussion regarding an E-Verify mandate has especially existed at the state level, she continued, meaning doing some research into what E-Verify is and what it can do for your business may be “a very smart move.” “I wouldn’t say less of a chance,” Olivera said. E-Verify is run through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, so the government does know who uses it, she continued, but the audits are still considered random. An employer could disclose E-Verify use, if audited, but “I do not think they target specific employers who do not use E-Verify,” she said. Typographical errors in I-9 filings can be very small — and costly, Olivera said. These errors can be as simple as transposing a number in an employee’s social security number or checkboxing that HR saw an employee’s passport when they actually showed a different document. Name misspellings and incorrect dates on forms can also count. “Even the smallest typo” can bring a $288 fine, Olivera said. Attorneys during the webinar suggested that employers carefully monitor any ICE agents that come to their premises, and that any employee may follow them during the visit — though they typically recommend a manager do so, Natrin said. Her top tip for discerning between private and public areas of business is to ask: “Would you let a customer in here?” “You can’t stop an ICE agent from perusing your store, but you can stop them from entering your stockroom,” Natrin said — provided they do not have a judicial warrant signed by a judge. Natrin noted that it’s a “common sense situation”; essentially, industries that tend to have a higher population of foreign national employees, like construction and agriculture, are more likely to see ICE raids. “But certainly any industry is susceptible,” she added.
mixed-use
Feb 12, 2025
construction dive
New Construction Technology Releases: February 2025
From updated exoskeletons to an AI agent that doesn’t complain about busywork, the latest construction technology releases have your back. Here, Construction Dive breaks down six of the latest products and enhancements to hit the market in recent months: Berlin-based robotic exoskeleton firm German Bionic has introduced the Apogee Ultra, designed to help workers in industries like construction meet the demands of various high-intensity tasks while enhancing productivity. The robotic exoskeleton is a highly adaptive support system capable of adjusting to individual user needs thanks to advanced machine learning capabilities, the firm says. With dynamic lifting support of up to 80 pounds, it makes physically demanding tasks feel effortless, making a 70-pound lift feel as little as just 8.8 pounds for the lower back. It also offers active walking support, making 10 miles feel like eight, and provides relief for bent-over tasks, enhancing comfort and productivity in intensive roles. Users will have access to ongoing support and updates, according to the news release. “Data serves as the cornerstone for continuous device evolution and protecting workplace investments. Thanks to machine learning, the Apogee ULTRA is always up to date, with new features and capabilities delivered through over-the-air updates,” says Norma Steller, head of development at German Bionic, in the release. Splashtop Augmented Reality now has hands-free capability via RealWear Smart Glasses, enabling full-featured remote support for hazardous environments in utilities and construction. Combining Splashtop AR with RealWear brings expert support to frontline workers to lower maintenance risks, reduce costs of on-site repairs and improve safety, the company says. Splashtop AR with RealWear enables offsite specialists to see what local technicians see and seamlessly guides them through equipment repair from anywhere. By using RealWear Smart Glasses, on-site workers can view live annotations and communicate with remote experts as if they’re side by side, according to the news release. Enabling safer and faster repair work to be done completely hands-free will shorten downtime as well as address safety needs in hazardous spaces and boost OSHA compliance, the firm says. “Most remote solutions are designed for a traditional office setting. Splashtop AR has empowered on-site workers and remote technicians to collaborate in real time, as if they were in the same room,” said Mark Lee, co-founder and CEO of Splashtop. “Making Splashtop AR available on RealWear will be a game-changer for companies in hazardous environments, giving them hands-free access to remote technicians when they need it the most.” Tapping into 2025’s focus on agentic AI, the Munich-based AEC design software provider Nemetschek Group unveiled AI Assistant for two of its products, ALLPLAN and Graphisoft. The AI agent helps creatives by doing the more tedious busywork for them, so they can focus on higher-level priorities. For example, according to a YouTube walkthrough of the product, a designer working on early-stage mockups of a structure could task AI Assistant with putting virtual wood cladding on the exterior of a building, to give clients insight into the concept of a build, without taking on the laborious task of drawing it in themselves. Alternatively, when doing clash or compliance reviews, a subject matter expert could ask AI Assistant to isolate all MEP components from a design, or call out any non fire-rated doors. AI Assistant is embedded directly into Graphisoft’s Archicad solution as a chatbot, which takes direction from users. Within ALLPLAN, its functionality extends to the internet, according to the firm, where it can gather product knowledge, industry insights and find tools to tackle complex projects. Chelmsford, England-based Sterling DCS is betting that owners and builders will continue to focus on projects’ carbon footprints, regardless of government policy. Its newly released Forecasting Module helps AEC pros integrate project schedules with detailed cost and carbon estimates, the firm said in a news release. "The Forecasting Module is a leap forward for construction professionals,” said Steve Brunning, Sterling’s CEO, in the release. “By connecting cost and carbon data with project schedules, Sterling enables smarter decision-making and fosters sustainable, efficient project delivery. This is about empowering the industry with the tools it needs to succeed in a modern, data-driven world." The company said its new module, which allows integration with Oracle Primavera P6, Microsoft Project and Excel, outputs monthly or cumulative cash and carbon forecasts, providing visibility into project expenditure and environmental impact. It also features a Revision Manager, which allows project teams to adapt to changes, maintain transparency and ensure all stakeholders are on the same page throughout a project’s construction phase. Construction tech firms Buildots and Revizto have announced a strategic integration that enables construction teams to maximize the full capabilities of both platforms while centralizing issue management and streamlining construction management workflows. The integration allows construction teams to leverage Buildots' comprehensive artificial intelligence-driven performance tracking and analysis while managing project communication and collaboration through Revizto's platform. Teams can now seamlessly export construction issues detected by Buildots' advanced AI-powered progress tracking platform into Revizto using the industry-standard BCF format, the firms say. Each exported issue includes detailed documentation, such as photo snapshots captured by Buildots and precise BIM model locations, enabling teams to quickly understand and resolve issues before they escalate into costly complications or delays. By streamlining workflows and improving issue resolution, this integration drives greater efficiency and enhanced project performance. Madison, Wisconsin-based IVO Systems claims it can save time and money tracking timecards on heavy civil projects. The firm’s TimeVO solution helps bridge the gap between the field, office and shop by adding auto-populated time tracking to its equipment and employee management tools, the firm said in a news release. The module’s auto-populated data allows firms to link multiple pieces of equipment to an employee and provides a system to manage bid items with multiple cost codes, always a challenge in the heavy civil arena. Users in the field can choose from pre-filled menus or copy historical entries from previous timecards, the firm said. By linking auto-populated timecard data to project budgets, managers can make proactive adjustments to stay on track, the firm said. The same goes for cost codes to help streamline the job setup process. The module integrates with nine other tracking modules from IVO Systems, which is backed by TitletownTech, a partnership of Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers.
mixed-use
Feb 12, 2025
construction dive
Icc Eyes Building Codes For 3D Printing
Historically, 3D printing has failed to take off in commercial construction due to what Patti Harburg-Petrich, then a principal in the Los Angeles office of U.K.-based engineering firm Buro Happold, said in 2023 was the result of lagging code adoption. “The issue is that it takes a really long time for new technologies and building innovations to get incorporated into the building code,” Harburg-Petrich said. “That’s for good reason: safety is the highest priority, so the building code is inherently conservative. But that also makes it a long, time-consuming, expensive process to get new technology incorporated into the code.” However, contractors continue to experiment with the building method. FMGI, a general contractor out of Woodstock, Georgia, built a 3D-printed addition on WalMart’s Athens, Tennessee, location in partnership with Greeley, Colorado-based Alquist 3D. Work on a second project between the pair — a 5,000-square foot addition to a Walmart Supercenter in Huntsville, Alabama — will start this month, according to FMGI’s website. The ICC already has measures in place for 3D printing on the residential side of construction, which includes standards for tiny houses and for the general residential code.
mixed-use
Feb 12, 2025
construction dive
Construction Planning Up 26% To Start 2025
Nonresidential construction planning carried its late-2024 momentum into the new year, posting growth across all sectors, according to Dodge Construction Network. The Dodge Momentum Index, a benchmark that measures nonresidential construction planning, jumped 5.6% in January. Institutional planning, such as hospitals and education, led the month’s growth with an 8.7% increase, while commercial planning gained 4.2%, according to the report. “Nonresidential planning activity saw diversified growth in January, with every vertical experiencing positive momentum,” said Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. Despite that progress, risks still loom, she said. “Uncertainty over fiscal policies, ongoing labor shortages and elevated construction costs will continue to be headwinds to the construction sector.” Nevertheless, further monetary easing and the sizable number of projects in planning should still support construction spending in the back half of the year, said Martin. On a year over year basis, the index jumped 26% from January 2024, according to Dodge. Commercial planning surged 37% compared to January 2024, while institutional planning increased 9% during that period. Data centers remain a key driver of that growth, though overall planning activity continues to broaden as well. Excluding data centers, commercial planning would have jumped 13%, while the overall DMI would have climbed 11%. A total of 33 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning in January. Major commercial projects included: The largest institutional projects to enter planning included:
mixed-use
Feb 11, 2025
construction dive
Former Asphalt Paving Exec Pleads Guilty To Antitrust Violations
Baugher’s guilty plea is the tenth in the Justice Department Antitrust Division’s ongoing investigation into collusion in the Michigan asphalt paving industry, according to the release. ASI and another former ASI executive also pleaded guilty for their participation in the conspiracy with Allied in January 2024. Allied Construction and two of its executives previously pleaded guilty in August 2023 for their participation in the conspiracy. As part of the deal, Baugher pleaded guilty to one count of violating Section 1 of the Sherman Act, established in 1890 as a key piece of antitrust legislation in the U.S. He faces a maximum 10-year prison term and $1 million criminal fine, per the release. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date, according to the DOJ. “Fair and open marketplace competition is essential in providing consumers and taxpayers the integrity expected in procuring contracts funded with public dollars,” said Anthony Licari, special agent in charge from the DOT’s Office of Inspector General, Midwestern region, the release said. “Corporate executives who collude to fixing prices and rigging bids will be held accountable.” An ASI spokesperson told Construction Dive that the company’s founders no longer control the company and have no operational role. The firm said it has invested in a variety of backstops that include a new CEO, CFO, general counsel and chief compliance officer, alongside more stringent bidding integrity processes and associated trainings, a strengthened legal reporting structure and more rigorous compliance policies. “ASI today is not the company it was when these practices occurred, and they are inconsistent with our core values,” the firm said in its statement. “ASI is committed to moving forward with a clear focus on serving our customers and doing well by doing right. Timothy Baugher and his lawyer did not respond to Construction Dive’s requests for comment. F. Allied Construction declined to comment.
mixed-use
Feb 11, 2025
construction dive
2 Universities To Build $2B Children’S Hospital In North Carolina
UNC Health and Duke Health have announced plans to build a new children’s health system in North Carolina in what will be the state’s first freestanding hospital dedicated to caring for kids, according to a Jan. 28 release from Duke. The project is expected to cost around $2 billion, per Axios. Plans for NC Children’s include a 500-bed children’s hospital, a children’s outpatient care center, a behavioral health center, an ambulatory surgical center and medical office building. Officials from Duke Health and UNC Health said it is still early in the project planning process, so they have not made determinations around selecting a designer nor general contractor. The campus will be built on a 100-plus acre site, yet to be determined, somewhere in the Research Triangle, a region of North Carolina anchored by Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The roughly 4,800-square-mile area is home to The University of North Carolina, Duke University and North Carolina State University. A freestanding children’s hospital in the state has been a decade-long goal for both institutions, per the release. A $320 million investment into the facility by the state of North Carolina in early 2024 advanced the discussions for a collaboration between the University of North Carolina and Duke. The partners plan to break ground by 2027, with construction of the campus anticipated to take roughly six years. The hospital will open in the early 2030s, per the release, but core services, such as the behavioral health hospital, ambulatory surgical center or medical office building may open years earlier.
mixed-use
Feb 11, 2025
construction dive
Sherwin-Williams’ Cleveland Hq Opening Delayed By Construction Issues
Sherwin-Williams, which makes intumescent coatings used for fire protection of steel in some beam assemblies, said that a third-party certification provider changed its listing for one of these protective coating products in July 2024, according to Julie Young, vice president of global corporate communications for the company. As a result, the coating’s applied thickness that’s necessary to achieve certain fire ratings increased. “Sherwin-Williams has been working proactively with stakeholders to ensure that all applicable fire ratings are met in our new facilities,” Young said. The 1 million-square-foot headquarters comprises three buildings, according to Sherwin-Williams — a two-story pavilion that will act like a front porch to downtown Cleveland’s Public Square park, a 36-floor office tower and a multilevel parking garage. This isn’t the headquarters’ first delay. In March 2024, the local NeoTrans blog, which covers Northeast Ohio economic news, reported that the headquarters’ opening was pushed indefinitely into 2025. Following that news, Sherwin-Williams set the grand opening for March, NeoTrans reported in January. NeoTrans noted that while the date was set, occupancy of the structure was still up in the air as crews worked to complete repairs. Sherwin-Williams committed a minimum of $600 million for both the HQ and the R&D facility, per a 2021 news release, while the headquarters section of the project was originally slated for a cost of $300 million, Cleveland Magazine reported in March 2022. Sherwin-Williams said in a Dec. 2022 newsletter it was updating the cost to $750 million.
mixed-use
Feb 11, 2025
construction dive
January 2025 Economic Roundup
Surging data center activity helped jumpstart nonresidential construction planning last month, but contractors still face a number of hurdles in the year ahead. While planning picked up due to the momentum around data centers, overall backlog dropped to its lowest level in nearly two years. The decline underscores the ongoing challenges tied to elevated interest rates and tighter financing conditions, despite contractor confidence in a pickup later this year. Construction input prices remained stable to close out 2024, though cost pressures are mounting. President Donald Trump announced this week new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, adding to concerns over rising material costs. Additional trade restrictions on Canadian and Mexican products were postponed earlier this month, but construction economists warn across-the-board tariffs would put even further strain on contractor pricing strategies in the months ahead. Meanwhile, construction groundbreakings dipped in December as infrastructure activity slowed. Spending also ticked down, with declines across several public-sector categories. Here, Construction Dive rounds up the latest key industry data.
mixed-use
Feb 11, 2025
construction dive
Trump Tags Steel, Aluminum Imports With 25% Tariffs
President Donald Trump signed executive orders Monday implementing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. The orders return steel tariffs to the level Trump set during his first term while increasing existing 10% aluminum tariffs he enacted in 2018. It also removes all exemptions and production exclusions. “It's 25% without exceptions or exemptions, and that's all countries, no matter where it comes from,” Trump told reporters during an executive order signing ceremony at the White House. Steel and aluminum imports have been a frequent tariff target under the last few presidential administrations. Trump instituted import duties on several steel and aluminum product categories during his first term, and President Joe Biden supported the actions during his own. The U.S. imported over 26 million metric tons of steel products in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, including just over 9.1 million tons from Canada and Mexico combined. Brazil, South Korea and Vietnam counted for a large share of steel imports as well, per the American Iron and Steel Institute. Meanwhile, more than 5 million metric tons of aluminum were imported into the U.S. in 2024, with more than half coming from Canada alone, per the International Trade Administration. New duties on steel and aluminum imports could put a strain on U.S. manufacturing, particularly the U.S. automotive sector. “The US automotive industry employs more than one million people and the sector depends on imported steel and aluminum, meaning that there will be real consequences if the proposed tariff is enacted,” Jonathan Colehower, managing director of the global supply chain practice at technology consulting firm UST, told Supply Chain Dive prior to Monday’s order. However, prior to Trump’s orders on Monday, the American Iron and Steel Institute expressed support for new duties on steel. “We look forward to working closely with the President and his administration to implement a robust and reinvigorated trade agenda to address the many foreign market-distorting policies and practices that create an unlevel playing field for American steelmakers,” Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute, said in an emailed statement. Meanwhile, following Monday’s orders, United Steelworkers International President David McCall said the organization was in favor of “efforts to contain the global overcapacity” of steel, but warned against imposing tariffs on U.S. allies, particularly Canada. “Canada is not the problem,” McCall said. “Indeed, Canada has taken steps to coordinate their trade policies with the U.S. to respond to unfair foreign trade, and applying across-the-board tariffs ultimately hurts workers on both sides of the border.” The president had hinted at the new steel and aluminum import duties on Sunday in a press briefing on Air Force One. He also said the U.S. would be announcing "reciprocal" tariffs later this week. On Monday, Trump once again stated his intention to enact such reciprocal tariffs, suggesting his administration will look at semiconductors, cars and pharmaceuticals among possible product categories to receive tariff treatment. “If they charge us, we charge them,” Trump said Monday. “If they're at 25, we're at 25. If they're at 10, we're at 10. And if they're much higher than 25, that's what we are too.”
mixed-use
Feb 11, 2025
construction dive
Bill To Abolish Osha Has ‘Zero Chance’ Of Becoming Law, Attorney Says
New legislation designed to do away with OSHA at a federal level will not move forward, an employment attorney told Construction Dive. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., last month proposed the Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act, which would abolish the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 that created OSHA. Biggs introduced similar legislation in 2021, which stalled out after it was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. “OSHA’s existence is yet another example of the federal government creating agencies to address issues that are more appropriately handled by state governments and private employers,” Biggs said in a statement in 2021. Phillip Russell, Tampa, Florida-based OSHA and employment lawyer for Ogletree Deakins said that the new bill will not pass, as OSHA plays a vital role in workplace safety. “I think that’s got zero chance of that thing ever seeing the light of day,” Russell said. “I believe the agency serves an important role, but it just needs to be more focused, it needs to stay within its statutory authority, and it needs to be effective.” When asked if he thought President Donald Trump could support the bill, Russell said, “I really don’t know. There have been so many surprises.” Even if Trump did support it, Russell said, Republicans would have to get rid of the filibuster in the Senate, which he does not see as likely. Nevertheless, the Trump administration has taken other actions in recent days that could impact the agency, such as pausing rulemaking and attempts to cut departments’ and agencies’ headcounts. On Jan. 20, Trump issued a memorandum directing executive agencies to stop proposing or issuing rules until a department head appointed by the president can review and approve them. It also immediately withdrew rules that have been sent to the Office of the Federal Register but have not yet been published, according to a Feb. 4 blog post from Ogletree Deakins. Due to these moves, it appears that the directive halts the implementation of the agency’s heat injury and illness standard, per Ogletree Deakins. Already-issued updates, such as the walkaround rule and a construction standard requiring well-fitting personal protective equipment remain in effect, the blog said. The pause to the heat illness rule is “no surprise,” Russell told Construction Dive. OSHA’s open comment period for the heat rule closed on Dec. 30, and Russell said it can take months to review comments. Trump’s return to the White House means the rule will likely never go into effect. On Jan. 31, an executive order from Trump directed agencies to identify 10 rules or regulations to repeal every time they wish to issue one new one. “I don’t think you’re going to feel so strongly about that particular heat illness standard, especially in the light of those public comments opposing it,” Russell said. The president’s nominee for Department of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, awaits confirmation, and no new head of OSHA has been named yet, but Russell said he doubts anyone chosen would elect to get rid of 10 rules to make the heat standard a reality. Trump’s team has attempted to reduce headcount at federal agencies by offering federal workers a buyout. Employees at many agencies were given the option to resign from their jobs by last Thursday in exchange for going on leave with pay through the end of September. A federal judge in Boston has temporarily halted that buyout, Reuters reported. Nevertheless, it remains clear that it reflects Trump’s intention of shrinking the federal workforce. Meanwhile, Trump has mandated that federal workers return to their offices, ending COVID-era policies that offered more remote or hybrid options. Russell said both a return to office and a reduction in the federal workforce could be positive for OSHA. “I think that could substantially help the development of some of the newer compliance officers," Russell said of the return-to-office policy. “Maybe the efforts to make the agency more lean will make it more focused.”
mixed-use
Feb 10, 2025
construction dive
California High-Speed Rail Project Faces $6.5B Shortfall, Possible Federal Investigation
California’s ambitious project to link Los Angeles and San Francisco by high-speed rail kicked off in 2008 with voter approval of a bond measure to help finance it. According to a California High-Speed Rail Authority spokesperson, 171 miles of the high-speed rail project are under design and active construction. “Of approximately $13 billion spent on the project, $10.5 billion have been funded exclusively by the State of California,” the spokesperson said in an email. The authority estimated the total cost of building the 171-mile line at between $28.5 billion and $35.3 billion in its 2024 business plan. The authority committed about two years ago to beginning service along the Merced-Bakersville line between 2030 and 2033. The OIG report notes that project schedule changes “have already used a third of the excess time” allowed in the plan. Anticipated federal funding for the project during the Biden administration fell short of expectations, the authority explained in its written response to the OIG report. The authority’s goal was to obtain $8 billion from the 2021 infrastructure law, but it was awarded a total of $3.3 billion. The authority said Congress did not fully fund authorized levels of grant programs it planned to rely on. Trump’s first term as president, from 2017 to 2021, was not kind to the California project. In 2019, the Trump administration canceled a $929 million federal grant and sought to take back nearly $2.5 billion in federal funds that the rail authority had already received. Some Republican members of Congress have expressed support for other high-speed rail projects, such as the proposed Texas Central project to connect Dallas and Houston and Brightline West’s Las Vegas-Southern California line, which is under construction. But Amtrak and high-speed rail projects may suffer in the cost-cutting fervor of the current administration and Congress, according to transportation and public policy experts at law firm Holland & Knight. The California High-Speed Rail Authority shrugged off Trump’s latest comments in a Feb. 4 post on X: “Ignore the noise. We’re busy building.”
mixed-use
Feb 10, 2025
construction dive
Preconstruction Data Analytics: Learn From Your Past. Predict The Future
Let’s be real – historically speaking, construction wasn’t exactly known for being cutting-edge when it comes to tech. But that’s changing fast, and if you’re not using data analytics in preconstruction, you’re basically still using a flip phone in 2025. Here’s how to level up your data game. Think of this as your construction Spotify Wrapped – but instead of tracking your questionable music choices, you’re tracking project performance. You can: Stack your current projects against your past wins (or losses). Compare specific elements (like how much elevated slabs cost or how fast your team installs column formwork). Fact-check those “too good to be true” contractor or subcontractor quotes. Run quality checks before you hit "send" on that proposal. Pro tip: Internally reviewing your estimates against historical data before submission can save your personal and corporate reputation. Just like how Netflix knows you’ll watch anything with Pedro Pascal in it, trend analysis helps you spot patterns in your data over time. We’re talking: Design efficiency trends (like how much actual usable space is in a design). Strategic insights like design efficiency (net leasable area vs. gross area). Project type performance (which ones are actually worth your time). Regional variations (because building a data center in Seattle hits different than one in Phoenix). These insights don’t just help with pricing or design; they can shape your entire business strategy. Should you focus more on manufacturing or hospitality pursuits? Should you self-perform certain tasks or subcontract them? The trends will tell you. You know how your food delivery app gives you an estimated arrival time? This is like that, but for project costs. And just like you don’t want your dinner to be late, clients don’t want budget surprises. Getting close the first time gets you invited back or kicked off the island. Here’s the reality: Owners often ask for budgets while they’re still brainstorming. They’re not handing out the award; they’re gathering data points. Your job? Deliver quick, reliable numbers without breaking the bank in the process. By leveraging historical data and the right tools, you can reduce pursuit costs and still wow your clients. Your project history is like a playlist of your greatest hits – it tells a story of successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Make it a good one. No need to trash your current systems – work with what you’ve got. Clean up your data like you’d clean up your camera roll before showing it to someone. Data conditioning is key; don’t just dump everything into a Data Lake and hope for the best. Define your metrics (KPIs) and measure against them. Remember when everyone thought Bitcoin would make us all millionaires? Yeah, predictions aren’t always that simple. But with the right tools: Use predictive analytics (but make it make sense). Predict quantities, costs, and unit prices, but ensure your process is transparent. Keep it transparent – if you can’t explain how you got a number, it’s as sketchy as a 3 AM text. Sometimes manual is better (shocking, we know). Building up budgets piece by piece enables accountability and accuracy. Context is everything – knowing the origin of your data ensures you’re making valid predictions. Let’s talk AI – yes, it’s everywhere, like that one song you couldn’t escape in 2023. In preconstruction, it’s great for: Automated takeoffs. Contract document reviews. Specifications risk analysis. But for cost prediction? It’s complicated. Super advanced AI can be like that friend who makes plans but can’t explain how they’ll actually show up – mysterious and unreliable. If your AI tool can’t show you exactly how it generated a number, your estimators won’t trust it. And trust is everything. Start. Now. Like, right after you finish reading this. This isn’t some new social media trend that’ll be gone next week – successful teams have been doing this for years. The sooner you jump in, the better your data game will be. Remember: The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is now.
mixed-use
Feb 10, 2025