Ontopical’s Post

If you are in business development for an engineering or construction firm, you understand how important relationships are for winning new business. Our customers have told us repeatedly how important it is to know about agency initiatives as early as possible, so they have the ability to engage at the right time, establish that important relationship, providing them with the best possibility of a favourable outcome. In fact, one client had their junior staff manually track one agency for this purpose, which Ontopical does for tens of thousands of agencies. These are just a few examples of the types of opportunities that are automatically surfaced weekly by Oliver (https://lnkd.in/gGzAuDT9), many months before an RFP would be required to be issued. Reach out if you’d like to learn more about Ontopical and how we can help you discover government work before your competitors. #govtech #disruptingthemarket #innovation #businessdevelopment #engineering #construction #AEC #AI

Technology and Speed in the Francis Scott Key Bridge Replacement Infrastructure projects often face long delays, but the rapid timeline for the replacement of the Francis Scott Key Bridge seems to signal a shift. While Kiewit, the contractor selected for the project, is known for their expertise in large-scale infrastructure, the speed at which the contract was awarded following the bridge’s collapse earlier this year is impressive. Construction is slated to begin in 2024, with completion expected by 2028—a timeline that not only includes the construction of the new bridge but also the demolition and removal of the existing one. To put this into perspective, the original bridge, completed in 1977, took five years to build. Now, with modern regulations, safety requirements, and the additional step of dismantling the old bridge, this replacement is expected to be finished in the same time frame or less. Technology likely plays a critical role in achieving this. Advances in digital modeling, pre-fabrication techniques and project management tools are helping accelerate both the design and construction phases, allowing for quicker adjustments and collaboration. Comparing this to other major projects like the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York (which took five years to build after decades of planning) and the Bay Bridge in San Francisco (which spanned more than a decade due to seismic concerns), the timeline for the Francis Scott Key Bridge is notably aggressive. It will be fascinating to see how Kiewit manages this ambitious schedule and how technology continues to shape the future of infrastructure delivery. https://loom.ly/pLqUyog #construction #engineering #bridges

Happy #InfrastructureWeek: 12th Annual Infrastructure Week: May 13-17, 2024 For more than a decade, United For Infrastructure (UFI) has proudly presented #InfrastructureWeek as an annual, nationwide event focused on raising awareness about the importance of infrastructure and advocating for improvements that address some of our nation’s toughest challenges in transit and transportation, water systems, energy and more. Big shoutout to all civil engineers/planners within the transportation space 🔹 Roadway Designers: You make our travels safe and smooth. 🔹 Traffic Engineers: Keeping traffic flowing like magic. 🔹 Bridge Designers: Connecting us, one bridge at a time. 🔹 Construction Inspectors: Making sure it's built right. 🔹 Transportation Planners: Mapping out our route to the future. You're the real MVPs of our roads. Thanks for all you do to keep us safe! #transportation #highway #traffic #roadway #bridges #transit #aviation #rail #jobs #newengland #engineers #engineering #design #clients #projects

What level of contingency is required to achieve the cost certainty goal in public infrastructure projects? For the public sector, cost certainty provides #stability and #predictability. It enables public decision-makers to evaluate options accurately and make informed Go/No Go choices. However, empirical evidence from existing literature highlights that the public #infrastructure projects often fall short in accounting for cost increases incurred during construction phase mainly due to underestimating the required contingency percentage at the time of investment decision [1].   For example, in the study conducted by Love, Peter ED, et al. (2017) the mean cost overrun of 67 public infrastructure projects reported 23.75%. This indicates that the "traditional deterministic contingency estimate between 2 and 5% which is often applied at the award of a tender would have obviously been inadequate for the sampled projects" [1]. Thus, given the unequivocal need for cost certainty, a much higher level of contingency at the time of awarding a tender may be required considering risks and uncertainties involved in the project. For instance, as shown in the attached Figure, the accuracy of an estimate improves as more information becomes available but in reality, this could be fallacy, especially for schedule driven projects. When a project goes to tender, drawings and BoQs may be inaccurate, incomplete, and/or seldom available due to many factors including level of scope definition, availability of design information (e.g., geotechnical), errors and omissions in documentation. Therefore, it is necessary to have a sufficient contingency allowance in place accounting for possible cost increases may incurred during construction phase. Accurate estimation and realistic allocation of cost contingency play a pivotal role in mitigating the risk of future cost overruns. As stated in the paper "If change is not embraced, then cost overruns will continue” [1]. Therefore, identifying potential causes of future changes during the design development phase and incorporating their impact into the contingency estimate is a crucial step toward achieving cost certainty in public infrastructure projects. In your view, and what are the implications to achieve cost certainty goal in public infrastructure projects? Feel free to share your thoughts or any additional insights! Source: [1] https://lnkd.in/gU3XTBxK #decisionmaking #uncertainty #riskrmanagement #infrastructure #cost #costoverrun #construction #designengineering Hatch Metrolinx Infrastructure Ontario Ontario Power Generation The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships

Bechtel wins contract for Silicon Valley rail extension The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has selected Bechtel to provide construction management services for the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II extension in California, US. The new rail line will be the largest single public infrastructure project ever constructed in Santa Clara County, and by 2040, is expected to carry nearly 55,000 passengers each weekday. BART’s Phase II consists of a six-mile extension with four new stations and five-and-a-half miles of tunnel, linking San Jose area riders to the rest of the system. Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation has executed a ten-year contract to manage BART’s Phase II extension and begin overseeing construction later this year. “This latest rail extension will provide a fast and convenient transit alternative for major commute corridors,” said Bechtel Infrastructure Corporation Senior Vice President, Kelvin Sims. Bechtel, as part of a joint venture, led the design and construction of the original BART system, which went on to form the backbone of the Bay Area’s public transport infrastructure. Bechtel also oversaw the engineering and construction of Phase I of the Silicon Valley Line, which first welcomed passengers in 2020. Tom Maguire, Chief Megaprojects Officer, VTA, said, “One-third of upcoming growth in the San Francisco Bay Area is expected to occur in and around San Jose and this extension further into the Silicon Valley will support that growth and continue to connect the region.” The Bay Area Rapid Transit District asked a Bechtel joint venture to develop engineering data, a preliminary design, and estimates for a radically new rapid-transit system. Ramamurthy Mayavan Philip Varghese #Transportation #construction #engineering #contract #equipment #constructionequipment #manufacturing #infrastructure #data

TYC provides clients with Programme and Planning support worldwide. Whether you need a Programme from spec, one that's non-compliant developed for acceptance or approval or a one off claim or 'what-if' scenario - we can help you, in country or remotely. Get in touch. #thamesyarraconsulting #construction #engineering #projectplanning #rail & #roads #Infrastructure #programmanagement #sustainability #constructionandengineeringmatters #projectsinunison

Public funding for US construction projects continues to grow, while private non-residential spending fell by 0.3% in May. As has been the case for the past 2 years, the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as well as follow-on legislation such as the $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act, continues to prop up public spending. One private market that is showing no signs of stopping is data centers, with construction in the sector jumping 69% in the past 12 months.

The process of a tunnel construction 🏗️🏗️.

Big Infrastructure News: Austin's $32M Bridge Boost The U.S. DOT has awarded Austin, TX a $32 million grant to replace the historic Barton Springs Road Bridge. This project highlights a growing trend of federal investment in aging urban infrastructure, particularly focusing on multimodal transportation solutions. The new bridge design, featuring expanded lanes and improved cyclist/pedestrian pathways, reflects the increasing emphasis on creating more inclusive and diverse urban mobility networks. This approach aligns with the broader industry shift towards sustainable and accessible city planning. For urban planners and civil engineers, this project offers valuable insights into managing complex infrastructure upgrades in bustling city centers. The phased construction approach, maintaining traffic flow throughout the 3-year timeline, demonstrates innovative project management techniques that could be applied to similar urban renewal efforts nationwide. As we see more cities tackle their aging infrastructure, expect an surge in demand for expertise in sustainable urban design and traffic flow optimization. Professionals in these fields should prepare for increased opportunities and evolving project requirements. The Barton Springs Bridge project may well serve as a blueprint for future urban infrastructure revitalization efforts across the U.S. #UrbanInfrastructure #SustainableTransport #CivilEngineering

Atlas recently attended the 2024 Design-Build (DB) for Transportation/Aviation Conference in Cincinnati to connect with some of the nation’s top delivery partners — and gain insights into today’s burgeoning DB industry. Research indicates that DB is on a growth trajectory, projected to represent over 47% of spending by 2026, translating to $1.9 trillion in construction over a 2022-2026 forecast period. The West-South Central, South Atlantic, and Pacific regions are set to dominate DB spending, with highway/street, educational, and manufacturing sectors taking the lead through 2026. Alone, transportation will account for 18% of DB spending. These findings highlight the growing prominence of DB, especially progressive DB, as a preferred procurement method in managing cost uncertainty in a volatile market environment. With extensive expertise in DB, Progressive DB, and CMAR/CMGC — and having completed 118 Alternative Delivery (AD) projects nationwide totaling $80 billion in construction costs — we are proud to be a leading partner in Transportation and Infrastructure AD. Thank you to our colleagues at the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) for hosting us! 📷 From left to right: Mark Micikas, Brian McGowan, Jacob Beedle P.E., CFM, and Harshal Desai Explore our DB footprint here: https://loom.ly/w2kNmU4