One of the most effective ways to avoid unnecessary construction problems is to ensure that a complete and thorough design review is performed at the A/E level prior to drawings and specifications going out to bid. The design review should be performed by the architects and engineers that are preparing the plans and specifications for
Professional Practice
Project Risk Management – The Real Cost of Value Engineering
Problems stemming from “value engineering” are a common source point in many of our forensic engineering and claims management engagements involving systems, equipment or materials where the actual performance is found to be ‘problematic’ with respect to project expectations. Misunderstandings concerning the purpose and intent of value engineering are often at the heart of the
Is the CPM Critical Path REAL or IMAGINARY?
by Robert C. McCue, PE; E. Mitchell Swann, PE; and Michelle N. Delehanty, PE Where is the critical path? This is one of the questions most often asked concerning schedule analysis. For some types of projects it is easy to anticipate where the critical path should be; for instance in high-rise building construction, the critical
The Internet of Things : Managing Risk & Reward
By E. Mitchell Swann, PE A hot topic in the industry today is the “Internet of Things” (IoT). The IoT is the use of “smart” devices, transmitters and systems to facilitate the real time transmission of information, control of equipment and optimized operation of systems; often including or via some Internet-based communication network. The objective
MDCSystems® Taking Off with Commercial Drones
MDC Systems® has recently entered the commercial drone industry with its drone for various inspection and engineering evaluation services. The future for the commercial drone industry looks very bright. In 2015 the U.S. commercial drone market size was an estimated $400 million, and by the year 2022 it is projected to grow to over $1 billion.
Design–Build In Name Only
By Robert C. McCue, PE, MDC Systems® Owners and Contractors should ask the following questions and carefully consider the answers before identifying a new project as Design-Build. It seems that almost every undertaking is now labeled as Design–Build. Is this application well suited for the contract type? Does the design aspect depend on unique or
