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
Standard of Care
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.
MDC Systems® Offers Engineering Inspection Services Using Drones
MDC Systems® is currently offering Facility, Façade and Area Inspection and evaluation services in conjunction with Flexright Solutions using industrial drones and will soon add a DJI Phantom 3 Advanced drone model and imaging package to the service. MDC expects to have its own personnel FAA approved for drone operations by the Summer of 2016.
More Than Just Counting Rainy Days: Documenting Weather Delays
by Michelle N. Delehanty, PE, PMP
MDC Systems® Consultant
According to the farmer’s almanac, this upcoming winter is predicted to be more severe than last year, which already seems as if it were one for the record books. For many regions throughout the United States, that means a multitude of storms, extreme cold, and potential closings to schools, offices, and, most problematic, construction sites. These closings of construction projects can lead to schedule delays, change order requests, and ultimately claims. In order for a contractor to justify to the owner that there is indeed a weather-related construction delay, they must demonstrate four specific things: (1) that the delay is within the terms of the contract (2) that the activity delayed had a direct effect on the project end date (was on the critical path), (3) the weather event occurred in excess of the “normal” weather for the season, and (4) there is documentation of which specific activities were delayed on each weather occurrence.
What Standard? Under Whose Care?
By Robert C. McCue, PE and E. Mitchell Swann, PE
Consulting Engineers, MDC Systems®
design-build-graphicCan a Designer or Owner shift responsibility for design errors and omissions by requiring an enhanced effort for construction coordination drawings by contractors?
To answer this question we will recount an example project that was bid as Design-Bid-Build where the fundamental element of the dispute was design defects with regard to spatial arrangement and sizing of system features.
