ConstructionAdvisorToday

Autodesk Acquires Dynamite VSP, SIM Visualization Software Products, Related Assets

Autodesk Inc. recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Dynamite VSP and Dynamite SIM visualization software products and related assets. The products were purchased from 3AM Solutions, a United Kingdom-based technology company that develops visualization software for civil infrastructure. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Lawmakers Want 10 Million Solar Rooftops

Congressional lawmakers earlier this month introduced legislation designed to get photovoltaic solar panels installed on 10 million rooftops across the United States over the next 10 years. The bill, offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), also would increase the capacity of solar hot water by an estimated 10 million gallons over the same period.

Construction Project Governance

FEATURED WEBINAR

WPL Publishing will host a webinar that is designed to help companies understand how a project governance program can help them stand out as an ethical member of the construction community and minimize some of the risks they may face.

For the webinar, entitled "Project Governance: How to Improve on 'One Foot on the Gas' and 'One Foot on the Brake'," WPL will partner with Harold Dorbin, a senior vice president and project advisory leader for Marsh Risk Consulting's Construction Consulting Practice. The 90-minute webinar will take place Tues., Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. To register, click here.

Who Should Pay for Pricing Scope Changes?

When a project owner has issued directives involving a changed scope of work, or is merely considering changes, the owner quite appropriately looks to the contractor for a price proposal. On a large, complex project, or a project plagued by excessive changes, the preparation of change order proposals can be quite burdensome for the contractor.

Lochinvar Develops Library of Drawings of Its Product That Are Configured for Placement in BIMs

Lebanon, Tenn.-based Lochinvar has developed a library of drawings of its commercial and residential products that are fully configured for placement in Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 building information models. Architects, contractors, and designers using the 2010 edition of Revit software, which allows them to design with parametric modeling and drafting elements, can now download the pre-programmed, 3D Lochinvar equipment models at www.Lochinvar.com.  Lochinvar manufactures water heaters, boilers, pool heaters, and storage tanks.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council Adds Resource Pages to Whole Building Design Guide

With help from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the nonprofit Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) has contributed new resource pages on site security design to the "Whole Building Design Guide" (WBDG).

Itemizing Anticipated Costs In a Notice of Claim

Construction contracts frequently include a “notice of claim” provision. The contractor is required to provide the project owner or owner’s representative with a written notice of claim within a stipulated number of days of the occurrence giving rise to the claim. If the contractor was not aware of the occurrence, notice must be provided within a stated number of days of the contractor’s discovery of the event. Failure to give timely written notice operates as a complete waiver and release of the contractor’s claim rights.

Bill to Spur Energy-Efficient Building Retrofits Gains House Approval

The House recently approved a bill that would allow federal loan guarantees to be applied to energy efficiency projects funded through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bonds.

AGC Develops MEP Spatial Coordination Requirements for BIM

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has announced the development of a document entitled "MEP Spatial Coordination Requirements for Building Information Modeling."

"The recent widespread adoption of building information modeling (BIM) and 3D modeling in the construction industry has necessitated the development of a well-defined, organized, consistent, and repeatable framework for spatial coordination of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire-protection systems," according to the report, created by the Specialty Contractor's Subforum of the AGC BIMForum.

Does Bid-Listing of Subcontractors Constrain Competition In Public Works Contracting?

In many jurisdictions across the country, bidders on public works contracts are required to list the key subcontractors they intend to use if awarded the contract. Many times, the list of trade contractors is provided by the public project owner, based on successful sub-bidders on those trade contracts. Sometimes the bidder simply commits in advance to subcontractors it selected. Unauthorized substitution of listed subcontractors typically subjects the bidder to a financial penalty.