The Art of Allen

Structural steel was first used heavily in buildings about 1885 when the Home Insurance Building in Chicago used it for a framework combined with the more common reinforced concrete. Why so recently? Cost and availability were some factors. Wrought iron had been used frequently for decorations and non-structural applications; cast iron, although strong was brittle, and steel was expensive to make, limiting its use to personal items and tools. Then, in 1855, the Bessemer Method made the production of steel more efficient and with good tensile strength. This was followed in 1879 by the method of removing phosphorous from steel—increasing its quality and its uses. Steel could finally be produced more cheaply so its production grew. The Rand McNally Building , also in Chicago, was built in 1890 as the first all-steel framed skyscraper. Designed by Burnham and Root, it stood ten stories high and cost $1 million to build at the time. It was demolished in 1911. From 1875 to 1920 steel ...

IDC says wearables growth to stall as macroeconomics pressure continue. The post Fact of the Day – 1/31/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-31-2023/ via IFTTT

Here in South Carolina, we are seeing community development happen in a number of different walks of life. Case in point: fiber optic internet access, which has the capacity for today’s internet needs and anticipates tomorrows. As just one example, Lumos has made a technology infrastructure investment in South Carolina’s Richland and Lexington Counties, bringing internet service across the greater Columbia area. Additionally, this type of technology can help underserved areas and create economic advantages right here in the local communities including Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes in Richland County, as well as West Columbia, Lexington, Cayce, Irmo, and Springdale in Lexington County. According to the tech company, this is the first investment it has made in the South Carolina region and the expansion will cover the area with nearly 1,200 miles of the latest fiber optic technology, with a capital investment of more than $100 million. These fiber networks use technology available ...

Manufacturing companies are creating new logistics sites to be the central hub for spare parts—which will be a key component to the international flow of goods. This will create a fast and comprehensive supply of parts for customers. As one example, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Daimler Truck , has set up a central logistics hub for the global supply of spare parts in Halberstadt, Saxony-Anhalt. About 2,600 Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ suppliers will provide the logistics hub with their parts in the future. The new logistics hub will deliver up to 300,000 different items—from the smallest screw to a finished truck cab—to almost 3,000 vehicle dealers in more than 170 countries around the world. Construction is planned for this year and commissioning is scheduled for three years later. The Global Parts Center is planned to be CO2-netural operation. Here is how this can help in manufacturing: Flexible, efficient, and sustainable spare parts logistics will keep fleets on the road. Eliminate addition...

The causes are natural and man-made, the results are all too often catastrophic. Wildfires are a phenomenon that effects millions of acres and thousands of people every year, not just in California, but throughout the country. Property is directly attacked by wildfires, causing evacuations and loss; health is attacked by smoke as well as the fire itself. People and animals are lost, and homes are destroyed. And with the changes in climate conditions, wildfire “season” is no longer a valid term: the destruction from wildfires is a year around concern. The people who live in rural areas and subjected to wildfires have been cautioned to clear areas around their homes, avoid debris accumulation, and create a “defensible space” around buildings. According to the CalFire (California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection) , a defensible space is the buffer you create between a building and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or st...

Gartner predicts half of sales leadership roles will be filled by historically underrepresented groups within five years. The post Fact of the Day – 1/30/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-30-2023/ via IFTTT

Beecham Research says 45% of IoT deployments now have more than 500 connections. The post Fact of the Day – 1/27/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-27-2023/ via IFTTT

Berg Insight says 31% of all IoT SIMs were managed with third-party IoT CMPs at the end of 2021. The post Fact of the Day – 1/26/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-26-2023/ via IFTTT

Juniper Research says eSIM market to be worth more than $4 billion globally in 2023. The post Fact of the Day – 1/25/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-25-2023/ via IFTTT

The IoT (Internet of Things) space was growing before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, and it’s growing now in its aftermath, but that’s not to say the global pandemic didn’t impact the IoT. Quite the opposite; COVID impacted the IoT’s trajectory in ways the sector is still uncovering. For instance, some priorities have shifted because of the pandemic, and some gaps have been revealed. And while it seemed like the IoT was growing by leaps and bounds before everything went down in 2020, there now appears to be even more use cases and applications for the IoT than there were before. The drive to achieve digital transformation is perhaps stronger than it’s ever been, but this wave of adoption has brought new vulnerabilities along with it. A recently released research study from the World Economic Forum called the State of the Connected World 2023 Edition aims to examine the current state of governance gaps on the IoT and related technologies. The research suggests the pandemic ...

Equipment and software are a big investment. Should you rent? Should you buy? How do you tap into all that data that exists? Taking a closer look at some of the biggest trends can help businesses make more informed decisions. Recently the ELFA (Equipment Leasing and Finance Assn.) released its list of Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2023. These trends were compiled through industry research, industry participants’ expertise, and member input. The objective is to help businesses as they execute their equipment acquisition strategies. Let’s dig into the numbers. Real private investment by U.S. businesses in equipment and software is forecast to be more than $2 trillion in 2023, with a substantial amount of that investment activity financed, so these trends impact a significant portion of the U.S. economy. With all this in mind, the following top 10 equipment acquisition trends for 2023 include: 1. The U.S. economy will see sluggish growth in 2023 , due to a struggling housin...

At World of Concrete last week, many were discussing all the new solutions in the construction industry—and how technology and tools can provide opportunities to solve new and long-standing challenges that exist in the construction industry. I had an opportunity to sit down with Mike McGowan, region head and chief executive officer, Hilti North America , to talk about some of the hurdles that exist in the construction industry today. “We are a little bit different in how we go to market,” he says. “We don’t go through distribution channels. We go direct. The reason is we feel it gives us the ability to understand the pain points our customers face on a day-to-day basis and then we are able to take that information and bring it back to our development teams and develop relevant products and software or even services to help our customers.” Three of the big ones include access to labor; health and safety; and inefficient processes. “We are trying to help our customers solve all of ...

During the early days of the pandemic, many people realized they could do their jobs from just about anywhere and moved their families across the state—or in some cases across the country. How long did that trend continue? Pew suggests moves out of the densest parts of big cities, those with more than 10,000 people per square mile, jumped 17% to about 2.9 million during the first year of the pandemic, from March 2020 to February 2021. The number of moves out of those dense areas returned to pre-pandemic levels in the following year, March 2021 to February 2022. Where did they move? What states currently have the most new construction homes being developed? New data gives us insight into what is being built across the country. The data by portlandrealestate.com analyzed U.S. Census data and Statista to determine which states had the most new construction homes being developed per 1,000 residents, and it uncovered the areas that are seeing the most newly built homes. In fact, the s...

Gartner forecasts worldwide low-code development technologies market to grow 20% in 2023. The post Fact of the Day – 1/23/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-23-2023/ via IFTTT

Going green is a mantra that many individuals are using to point out their conservation bona fides. Every bit helps but the larger the “bit,” the better it helps. While governments at every level make promises—see COP26, The Paris Accords—it falls on the people to make those promises reality. And the local initiatives, both individual and government, are the starting points for actual success. Cities come in a wide variety of sizes, with aging or recently rebuilt infrastructure, with green or concrete gray as the major color, with plans for the future or an eye on the past. In an unfortunate number of cases today, cities can also come devastated and reduced to rubble. War, in Ukraine and other countries around the world, has had a major impact on urban areas. The resiliency of the governments and people in these cities will determine when—and if—they will rise again. Ukraine has shown determination and fortitude in its resistance to Russian invasion throughout 2022. Despite the ongoi...

Battery companies are at the forefront of innovation, as commercial vehicle electrification technology surges. Thus, we are seeing the rise of electrification and battery manufacturing plants all across the country. As one example, Proterra has announced the company has produced its Proterra Powered EV (electric vehicle) battery at its new plant in South Carolina. Where this gets really innovative as the company has achieved end-to-end production for electric medium-duty and heavy-duty electric vehicles and equipment. Here is how this can help in manufacturing: Create new jobs with roles in engineering, production, quality, and design. Bring state-of-the-art production closer to home. Lead to more zero-emission transportation opportunities. Looking to the future, we are going to see the rise in electrification in all areas of transportation—and we will need to fuel the plants to make this all happen. We will certainly keep an eye on lithium and other future battery materials. ...

Forrester says public cloud is poised to surpass $1 trillion by 2026—but not without enduring several global challenges. The post Fact of the Day – 1/20/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-20-2023/ via IFTTT

Berg Insight says 74% of all electricity meters in North America are now smart. The post Fact of the Day – 1/19/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-19-2023/ via IFTTT

Sound pollution is one of the top complaints homeowners have about their properties and is one of the main reasons people decide to move out of their homes. The post Tips to Help Reduce Sound Pollution in Your Home appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/01/tips-help-reduce-sound-pollution-home/ via IFTTT

Juniper Research says connected vehicles to surpass 367 million globally by 2027. The post Fact of the Day – 1/18/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-18-2023/ via IFTTT

This year—2023 offers interesting opportunities for hiring in the construction industry—and the vast majority expect to do just that. In fact, more than two-thirds expect to add to their headcount, according to new research. The Associated General Contractors of America and Sage recently released the finding of a new survey titled High Hopes for Public Sector Funding Amid Workforce and Supply Chain Challenges: The 2023 Construction Hiring & Business Outlook. All in all, it finds the construction industry is continuing to look to the public sector as private dries up. The survey suggests contractors expect infrastructure and other public-sector funding will help in the year ahead. The workforce statistics provide an interesting look at what is to come in 2023 in relation to hiring. While just under half of construction companies expect to increase their people by 10% or less, nearly one-quarter expect more significant gains. More specifically, 18% of the respondents say their h...

IDC says smart-home shipments forecast to decline slightly in 2022 with modest growth expected in 2023. The post Fact of the Day – 1/17/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-1-17-2023/ via IFTTT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laura Black   Editor-At-Large lblack@specialtypub.com Columbia, S.C. — Jan. 17, 2023 — We have a labor shortage that has intensified in the past few years, along with a supply-chain crisis that collapsed under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic. Add to this material shortages and a looming economic crisis, and it has created this perfect storm for the construction industry. This is where technology enters the equation, as digital transformation is set to surge. The challenge becomes wading through all the hype and to avoid shiny technology syndrome, which is the tendency to follow a tech trend without first weighing the potential. This is where the Constructech Top Products enter the equation—which aims to cut through all the noise to find the truly best products serving the construction industry. “The 2023 Constructech Top Products can help improve efficiencies, minimize rework, reduce tedious and manual tasks, heighten safety, and ultimat...

The Irish group B*Witched recorded it in 1998, perhaps anticipating 2022: So here we are at the start of this road Together building castles in the air Today’s castles in the air might be better called Castles in the Cloud for there is where most of them reside. Built on faith and virtual reality, occupying a never-never land called the Metaverse, these castles are as real as you want them to be. The Metaverse is a term coined by, logically, Meta , the parent company of Facebook. Despite naming it, Meta does not own the metaverse. However, it does build technology that connects us to it. The metaverse is owned by everyone who uses it, including 3D artists, game developers, immersive collaboration platforms, and even VR (virtual reality) headset owners. But what is it they own? Gartner defines a metaverse as a collective virtual 3D shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical and digital reality. A metaverse is persistent, providing enhanced immersive ex...

With the start of the New Year also comes the start of new building codes for residential housing here in South Carolina. I am discovering they are impacting Columbia and all of South Carolina. Let’s take a closer look at what changes are in store for 2023 and beyond. First, a primer. Prior to June 13, 1997, local jurisdictions that desired to adopt building codes were permitted to do so by local ordinance. If a jurisdiction did adopt building codes, it was required to adopt only the codes authorized by the Building Codes Act. Beginning July 2, 2003, the Council was charged with the responsibility for adopting all mandatory building codes and establishing the date of implementation for the local jurisdictions. Starting with the 2006 code adoption cycle, the Council, instead of the local jurisdictions, began adopting the appendices as needed. The main function of the Building Codes Council is to adopt or modify model building codes for the state. On Oct. 6, 2021, the South Carolina B...

Computer Guidance Corp. 14624 North Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 350 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 https://computerguidance.com/ eCMS v.4.2 Construction Cloud ERP Commercial Trusted Product ERP Evolves A construction company’s ERP (enterprise-resource planning) system is central to its business, enabling both financial and project management to make decisions. To help users gain insights, eCMS v.4.2 Construction Cloud ERP from Computer Guidance Corp., is a cloud-based, construction-specific ERP solution tailored to commercial contractors. Contractors can manage multi-company, multi-division, and multi-department accounting, union and non-union payroll, and federal or private reporting. Also, it facilitates the exchange of project and financial data to ensure expedited completion through realtime collaboration between operations and financial teams. In the past year, the company has enhanced the product by seamlessly connecting jobsite personnel and office employees through a web-based Web2 ...