Featured Civil Spot Review
Classroom training or on the job competency based training, which do you prefer? Are you aware?
I have had recent dealings with a number of companies regarding the training of their staff. I was surprised by the number of companies that are still putting their staff through classroom ciriculm based training. It appears that the Tafes and other training organizations have an agenda to get your people into the classroom. This [...]
Planning your IT spend
When it comes to IT spending, SMEs have simple needs. First, they want IT systems that work. Second, they want value for money on the dollars they invest. I’d imagine there are few businesses however, who can claim to have consistently achieved these goals. From big investments that don’t pay off, to systems that deliver [...]
How the iPad is being used in business – can we have some civil examples?
The iPad has completely changed the personal computing world. But alongside the hundreds of thousands of apps offered in Apple’s flagship market, Australian SMEs are now designing their own ways of integrating the iPad into the workplace. Property valuation tools, ordering and inventory facilities and superannuation calculators are just some of the methods Australian businesses [...]
Water authorities connecting with contractors
Collaboration, integration, alliances, joint ventures are all the talk. It is great to see some of this talk turning into action. A number of recommendations in my report, ‘Advancements in Civil Construction’, point to greater interaction between client, contractor and designer. The Civil Contractors Federation have been voicing this ideal to the industry in recent [...]
Tablet use explodes, where is civil construction at with mobility?
One in five Australians are tipped to own a tablet computer by 2015 according to a report by PwC Entertainment and Media Outlook. As I review this report and type out this article all on my iPad, I am wondering what impact this explosive growth in tablet use will have on the civil construction industry. [...]
When will we see a forum for Estimators Australia?
On return of my study tour to the States and Canada, I undertook a great deal of research in order to develop my paper. During this research I noted a number of resources available via associations for estimators. Seeing the obvious value in these associations, this got me thinking, why have we not yet setup [...]
Contractors take BIM to the field in USA, Australia take note
Technology solutions associated with building information modelling (BIM) process have already proven value in design and preconstruction. The next big thing for contractors in the US is using building information modelling (BIM) while on-site. Traditional business processes are being redefined as field BIM allows for information storage that can simplify workflow and make collaboration easier. [...]
