10/18/2021
Hey everyone!
Here’s your weekly AGC News:
Upcoming Events:
AGC Club Hike
Tomorrow, Tuesday 10/19 from 5-6:30pm at Sugarloaf Mountain in South Deerfield
We will meet at Haigis Mall and leave at 5pm. Spend time with AGGers and enjoy the beautiful fall foliage! Carpooling is encouraged. Let us know you’re coming here.
Other Construction Related Events:
BCT Lecture with Peter Pinchot of Whole Forests
Monday 10/18 4-5:15 pm on Zoom.
Learn about new approaches to forest product consumption that perpetuates rainforest conservation!
Habitat for Humanity Build
Saturday 10/23 9-4pm
Join HFH for their first Pioneer Valley Habitat build of the semester! Builds are a great way to meet really awesome people, spend some time outside, and learn all sorts of construction skills. No construction experience necessary. Fill out this form to sign up.
Weekly Word/Acronym: LPS
The Last Planner System (also known as Pull Planning) is a scheduling system used by many construction companies (though it’s not exclusive to construction). The LPS works by working backwards – you start with a project or milestone deadline and say “Okay, what needs to be done for this to happen, and how long will that take?”.
To provide an example, say you have a test in three weeks (your deadline). In order to take the test and do well, you want to do the practice test a day beforehand. To make a good attempt at the practice test, you want to do examples from each of the 5 chapters on the test beforehand – say you want to take a day to do each. Based on this, you’d want to start studying 6 days before the test.
Obviously, a construction project will be a bit more complicated, but that’s the gist of it!
Weekly Joke:
This week’s joke couldn’t be included because we’re overbudget.
This Week in Construction:
If you are a construction crane enthusiast or ever wondered about those tall and fixated cranes in cities, or what they represent (other than their explicit use in construction) this article is for you, reflect on those cranes!
For those short on time, here’s the brief,
- The number of cranes operating in cities in North America has fluctuated since Q1 2020
- Some cities have seen an increase, while others have seen a sharp decrease
- The type of construction (commercial, residential, education etc.) for which they are being used has also varied
- There has been a 40% increase in education sector crane usage
- The number of cranes in Toronto has increased by 81% since Q3 2020
- Pandemic related uncertainty in the construction industry has had significant effects on crane usage
- Across North American cities, commercial cranes are collectively down 36%
The outlook remains positive as many previously delayed projects are now being completed as the pandemic wanes, and construction goes back to more operations.
During the height of the pandemic, think of all the construction that was disrupted or canceled due to health and/or economic reasons. Think about how the number of cranes you see in your city can give you a little snapshot into the health of the construction industry and general economic conditions of the area you’re in!
If you’ve got the time check the article out,
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/north-american-crane-count-decrease-signals-uncertainty/607983/
And if you like cranes as much as Sam, look at the evolution of this crane…
Same construction project, same crane, on different dates, and with different anchoring.
Financial District in Boston
December 16, 2020:
June 4, 2021:
Hope to see you soon,
The AGC E-Board
10/25/2021
Hey Everyone!
Here’s the weekly AGC News:
Upcoming Events:
Geotechnical Engineering Lecture: Friday October 29 4pm in the Elab II Auditorium. Learn from Dr. Richard J. Finno and Professor Emeritus of Northwestern University about the design of excavation support. Not a UMass AGC event, but could be of interest to you all.
Weekly Word/Acronym: GMP
GMP stands for numerous things but this week we’ll look at Guaranteed Maximum Price. This is a type of construction contract where a job is awarded with the understanding that the price will not exceed a predetermined value. The contractor is paid for actual costs and a fixed profit, and is then on the hook for any cost overruns. However, the GMP can be increased if a formal change is issued by the client. Any savings from the GMP are returned to the owner.
Weekly Joke:
Why do drills have no friends? Because they’re always boring!
This Week in Construction:
In continuation with cranes and other machines that move things in the construction industry, here is a recent and crazy example of heavy equipment usage and how it can be very beneficial in construction projects where minimizing public disturbance is paramount.
In Ft. Lauderdale, FL a section of I-95 bridge was moved in 3 hours using remote controlled Mammoet heavy transporters to pick up the bridge- saving a month of demolition and related traffic congestions and delays. 
The original plan called for a 30 day two-stage demolition, but contractors and project managers were able to come up with alternative plans that only required I-95 to be shut down for only 8 hours overnight. 
With this alternative, Mammoet (A Dutch company specializing in heavy lifting and transport), was able to lift the 1082-ton bridge span from its support moorings and transport it to a demolition site down the road. The great success of this engineering and construction logistical marvel saved time and increased safety as crews would not have to work a demolition with traffic below.
If you have time, read the article!
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/accelerated-method-expedites-florida-bridge-removal/604985/
Hope to see you soon,
The AGC E-Board
11/1/2021
Hey Everyone!
Here’s the weekly AGC News:
Upcoming AGC Events and Annoucements:
Equity and Justice in the Heavy Civil Industry – A Discussion with Ken Canty
Thursday, November 4, 2021. 6pm in Marston 132.
Learn about Ken Canty’s harrowing experience with racism in the construction industry and what you can do to make positive change today. RSVP if you would like some refreshments beforehand at 5:30pm! See flyer.
AGC Officer Elections
December 7, 2021
Are you involved in AGC? Join our E-Board! AGC Elections will take this semester on 12/7 instead of in the spring due to special circumstances. All Executive Board positions will be available, and all are encouraged to run! Show us your enthusiasm for all things construction by coming to our upcoming events!
Don’t forget to check out the AGC Website, which now has our first blog post up, along with our event archive for Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and this semester. Drop in to our Discord for juicy announcements, crisp resources, and copious fun!
Other Upcoming Events:
CEE Seminar: Sustainable Structural Demolition and Repurposing
Friday, November 5, 2021. 2:30pm-3:30pm in Elab II Auditorium.
Learn how Ken Canty, President/CEO of AMC Civil, uses net carbon zero engineered demolition solutions to combat climate change. See flyer.
Weekly Word/Acronym: SOFP
Spray on Fire Protection is commonly used on structural steel elements to provide thermal resistance. In the past, it was made of asbestos, current products commonly use gypsum or cement binders. SOFP is useful for applications where large areas need to fire rated, or there are details which make applying fire-rated sealants (like caulking) by hand difficult
Weekly Joke:
What’s the most exciting part of construction? Riveting!
This Week in Construction:
Let’s talk about wind in Massachusetts! And how it ties engineering, construction, and energy in a single gale…
You have hopefully heard about the potential for wind power in areas where prevailing wind patterns are strong enough and predictable to harvest for the means of energy production.
For reference, 
With this information in mind, check out this project soon breaking ground in MA and 15 miles SW of Martha’s Vineyards in the ocean!
Vineyard Wind: a $2.3 – $2.8 billion offshore wind farm
- Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities in 2019, to be completed in 2023, the farm’s array will include 84 wind turbines with a capacity of 804 MW- enough power of about 400,000 homes.
- The farm will be connected to the MA electrical grid by a submarine power cable running 34 miles underwater from the farm to Barnstable.
- Federal approval- May ’21 and $2.3 billion in funds secured October ’21
- An agreement has been made for energy to be sold at $0.09 / kWh for 20 years.
Check these links out for more information!
>Overarching and most important facts and figures<
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vineyard_Wind
>More on offshore wind<
https://www.eenews.net/articles/offshore-wind-is-americas-new-industry-who-will-build-it/
>Local article<
https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2021/10/22/mvc-approves-massive-marine-terminal-development-vineyard-wind
>Planning, logistics, construction<
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-build-an-offshore-wind-farm/
A mega infrastructure project like this has the ability to provide for needs in energy demand for years to come while potentially offering economic opportunity to the areas it’s impact spans and promote greener alternatives to fossil fuels in energy production.
Hope to see you soon,
The AGC E-Board
11/8/2021
Hey Everyone!
Here’s the weekly AGC News:
Upcoming AGC Events:
Bridge Restoration Project: Introductory Meeting
Tuesday, November 9th from 6:30pm-7:30pm in ODB 162
Come learn about the AGC bridge restoration project! This is an entirely AGC-led project where we will restore a deteriorating bridge on campus. If you choose to participate, you will be able to help out with project research, measurements, material estimates, design, and/or construction. Come to get more project details, ask questions, and begin with committee forming and planning.
Guest Lecture: Mitigating the Impacts of Highway Construction (MassDOT)
Friday, November 19th from 6pm-7pm in ODB 162
See flyer.
Due to special circumstances, AGC officer elections will take place this semester during our December 7th meeting. If you are involved with AGC, start considering positions you might want to run for! Show us your enthusiasm for all things construction by coming to our upcoming events!
Other Construction Related Events:
BCT Lecture Series: The Continuing Rise of Women in Construction
Monday, November 8, 2021 from 4:00pm-5:15pm in ODB 170 or via Zoom
More details here.
EERI 2021 Distinguished Lecture Webinar Series with Craig Davis – Part 3: Lifeline Infrastructure System Functional Recovery and Operability
Wednesday November 10th, 2021 from 2:30pm-4:00pm
More details and registration here.
Interactive Theater Workshop: Bystander Intervention & Interrupting Microaggressions
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 from 4:00pm-5:30pm & 7:00pm-8:30pm in Bowker Auditorium
Following our meeting with Ken Canty, join this theater-based workshop that will give you the tools to learn how to recognize and interrupt microaggressions you might experience or witness in your daily interactions on campus. Register here.
Weekly Word/Acronym: BIM
BIM stands for Building Information Modeling. It is used to create 3d (and sometimes 4d) models of buildings. A whole building design can be stored in a BIM model, including things such as wall types and materials, structural element shapes, and product specifications. This tool can be incredibly powerful for coordinating the layout of different trades such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, to ensure no pipes get crossed. The project schedule can also be incorporated into a BIM model, making it ‘4d’ as it displays not only what product will be installed and where, but also when.
Weekly Joke:
Why did the busybody roofer perform such a poor job on the building?
He was consistently eavesdropping!
This Week in Construction:
Hooray! This week congress passed a $1.2 Trillion infrastructure bill!
Picture of the bill being rolled through a hallway in the Capitol. Source: AP
At around 11:30pm on November 5, the bill passed in The House 228 to 206.
The Senate previously passed it on August 10, so now the bill goes to President Biden’s desk for signing.
This legislation is critically important to construction, engineering, and transportation in the country.
Associated General Contractor (AGC) CEO Stephen Sandherr said that the measure “provides the kind of funding needed to modernize the country’s aging and overburdened infrastructure.”
A breakdown of the bill,
Of the $1.2-trillion total, $550 billion is increased funding over current baseline levels for various infrastructure categories.
- Highways, bridges and other major transportation projects would receive about $110
- Passenger and freight rail would get $66 billion
- Transit would receive $39 billion,
- Airports $25 billion
- Port and Inland Waterways projects would get $17 billion
- Water infrastructure, including funds for drinking-water and wastewater-treatment projects, would be allotted $55 billion
- Improvements to the electric grid would be allotted $73 billion
- $46 billion to increase projects’ resilience against storms, wildfires and other natural disasters
- $65 billion to expand broadband infrastructure
- $65 billion to build resilient electric transmission lines
- $7.5 billion to construct a network of charging stations for electric vehicles
And lots of other funding to further sectors of American infrastructure as a whole.
While this is objectively a step forward for American infrastructure and desperately needed for many, this bill is still a hot political issue that faced opposition throughout its journey in our American political system. Many Republicans uniformly oppose the legislation, citing it as a dramatic expansion of government that would hurt businesses. The nonpartisan U.S. Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the social-spending bill would raise $1.48 trillion in new tax revenue over the next decade, short of its $1.75 trillion cost. There are certainly many angles to this bill and it’s good to see it from both sides. Since this will be happening in the years to come, it is likely that you or I might be involved in an infrastructure project stemming from this legislation some day. Until then, keep this on your radar.
Some literature to read about this important bill:
Have a great week,
The AGC E-Board
11/15/2021
Hey Everyone!
Here’s the weekly AGC News:
Upcoming AGC Events:
AGC Bridge Project: Measurements and pre-documentation of the bridgeTuesday, November 16th at 3:30pm meet at the bridge.Learn more about the bridge project here.
AGC Bridge Project: Historical ResearchTuesday, November 16th from 6pm-7pm in ODB 162Learn more about the bridge project here. AGC Guest
Lecture: Mitigating the Impacts of Highway Construction (MassDOT)Friday, November 19th from 6pm-7pm in ODB 162
See the flyer for more details.
Due to special circumstances, AGC officer elections will take place this semester during our December 7th meeting. If you are involved with AGC, start considering positions you might want to run for! Show us your enthusiasm for all things construction by coming to our upcoming events!
Other Construction Related Events:
Site tour of BU Data Center construction with CEE434
Friday, November 19th at 2:30pm in Boston
Learn more about the project here.
Tour the construction of the BU Data Center in Boston. Sign up here – note that there are carpooling options if you don’t have a ride. Estimated arrival back to campus is 6pm.
Weekly Word/Acronym: O&M
O&M stands for Operations and Maintenance, or Operations and Management. It’s commonly referenced in construction projects – clients will require a package of “O&M Manuals” for all equipment, that details the specifications and how to operate everything.
Weekly Joke:
What do you hear if you take a construction worker’s hat off and hold it to your ear?
The OSHA.
This Week in Construction:
To complement the upcoming AGC presentation on Friday featuring MassDOT’s Wetland Unit Supervisor, Henry Barbaro, and connecting last week’s mention of the infrastructure bill passing, if you haven’t heard of Wildlife Crossings then here’s a little on them…
Wildlife Crossings are manmade structures built across spans of roadway with the intent of reconnecting natural wildlife habitats that otherwise are disrupted by our highway infrastructure.
They create a safe passing for animals across highways where chance of collision with vehicles traveling at speed is high. When implemented properly, they let local ecology take its course while not interrupting migrations or other movements of animals around the country. They make conditions safer for humans by reducing animal related incidents and allow for animals to not become roadkill- which can affect their respective population sizes.
Some examples,
From Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative page
From BBC article
Earlier this month when the House passed the $1.2 Trillion infrastructure bill, the ‘slice’ that allotted money for highway maintenance set aside a $350 Million smaller ‘slice’ that will go for animal-friendly infrastructure which include Wildlife Crossings along with bridges, underpasses, and roadside fences to be more animal friendly. This is a significant investment in wildlife conservation in the scope of construction and infrastructure as a whole which we can only hope will be brought more to light in the future! Check out the Vox article explaining this in more detail.
Some other articles of interest,
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/worlds-largest-wildlife-bridge-could-save-mountain-lions/
https://www.willistonherald.com/news/williston/wildlife-crossings-are-imperative-to-keeping-north-dakotas-animals-safe/article_fd78f7fa-31f4-11ec-a516-275eb9129b1f.html
Don’t forget to come to Henry Barbaro’s MassDOT presentation this Friday, November 19th @ 6pm in ODB-162!
Have a great week,
The AGC E-Board
11/22/2021
Hey Everyone!
Here’s the weekly AGC News:
Upcoming AGC Events:
None this week – enjoy your break!
When we return:
Dec. 7, 2021 at 6pm – Chapter Meeting: Construction Language and Officer Elections
TBD – Continue with bridge project
For a complete list of our semester events, visit our website here.
Other Construction Related Events:
Nov. 29, 2021 – BCT Lecture: Building Performance Improvement with Building Automation Systems
Click here for more details
Dec. 4, 2021 – Pioneer Valley Habitat Build from 9:00am-4:00pm
Sign up here – no construction experience necessary!
Weekly Word/Acronym: HX
HX stands for heat exchanger, a piece of mechanical equipment used to increase or decrease water temperature. Water from other mechanical units (say an air handler) that has gotten too cool or warm for that unit’s temperature settings is sent to a heat exchanger, where it is circulated adjacent to water at or around the desired temperature. Heat transfer brings the process water to the desired temperature and it is sent back to the air handler to be used.
Weekly Joke:
Despite all these modern construction tools…
I think the shovel is the most groundbreaking.
This Week in Construction:
An interesting situation is brewing in Maine with potential implications to Massachusetts’ push for cleaner energy.
A previously approved project to widen forest gaps and build power transmission lines from Canada, through Maine, to Massachusetts for the delivery of cleaner hydroelectric power is being challenged by Mainers who voted and opposed this construction project. Legal proceedings will determine whether or not Maine’s referendum was constitutional and if construction will proceed. 
Photo from AP: Transmission lines are built as forest gap is widened through Maine
The transmission line is supposed to deliver 1,200 megawatts of power (about the same capacity as a large nuclear-power reactor), from Canadian company, Hydro-Quebec.
From the WBUR article,
“Importing electricity from Canadian dams has long appealed to Northeastern states that are trying to reduce burning of fossil fuels, but it hasn’t been easy. Maine opponents have been battling for years to defeat a project they have likened to an extension cord stretched through their forested landscape for Massachusetts’ benefit.”
This previously-approved clean energy project is currently on pause at the request of Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills after she certified election results earlier in November in which residents firmly opposed the project. The leaders of the New England Clean Energy Connect Transmission LLC will stop construction on the 145 mile (233 km) $1 billion project until the legal cases are resolved.
This is an interesting situation not only between Maine and Massachusetts, but between wanting cleaner energy for New England and not modifying or altering the precious landscape in the process. There will eventually have to be compromise between the two groups that are so polarized on opposing sides of this issue. There will be more to come on the news regarding this legal challenge with the will of the people of Maine and that of a clean energy project that is benefiting Massachusetts and the rest of New England. Could this conversation about renewable energy and conservation be hijacked by deep-pocketed corporate interest, or are there true benefits that we can’t see yet that are worth fighting for?
As the Gizmodo article put it so well,
“These are real, tough conversations about how local communities can be disrupted by big-ticket energy projects and the tradeoffs between conservation on a local scale and stopping catastrophic climate change on a larger scale.”
Check these links out for more:
WBUR
WSJ
Gizmodo
Enjoy your break!
The AGC E-Board
11/29/2021
Hey Everyone!
Here’s the weekly AGC News:
Upcoming Events: (our last two of the semester!)
Bridge Project: Design and Materials work
Monday, December 6, 2021 from 5:00pm-6:00pm in Marston 211
AGC Chapter Meeting: Construction Language and Officer Elections
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 from 6:00pm-7:00pm – Location TBD
Join us for a relaxed meeting where we learn construction language and correct terminology. Officer elections will take place via a nomination process. Before Friday December 3 at midnight, please nominate yourself or another AGCer for a position here!
For a complete list events, visit our website here.
Other Construction Related Events:
BCT Lecture: Building Performance Improvement with Building Automation Systems (BAS)
Monday, November 29, 2021 from 4:00pm-5:15pm in Olver Design Building, Rm 170 or attend via zoom
Learn how overall building performance can be improved through continuous monitoring and adjustment of operating parameters through building automation systems (BAS).
Pioneer Valley Habitat Build
Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 9:00am-4:00pm
Sign up here – no construction experience necessary!
Weekly Word/Acronym: HDPE
HDPE stands for high-density polyethylene. HDPE is a high-density-high-strength plastic that can be molded into a variety of forms. It has a few uses in construction, such as a waterproofing sheet for a building envelope. It can also be used to make entrance mats, or floor underlayments (what goes between a concrete floor slab and the nice flooring on top of it).
Weekly Joke:
Which band do construction workers love listening to the most? They absolutely love ‘The Carpenters’.
This Week in Construction:
Regarding the policies to be implemented that fight COVID-19 on a national level: Read from White House’s fact sheet
Recent news stemming from the Biden administration’s policy regarding vaccine requirements for large employers has AGC (with other groups), OSHA, and vaccines in a socio-political mix that leaves the construction industry on a see-saw between complying to government policy for health and regulatory reasons, pursuing public health, and challenging it so to not marginalize or negatively affect companies or workers in an already precarious industry with low vaccination rates Forbes. This issue is not new as the country has been pushing for the vaccination of individuals who are willing and able for some time now, but as the January 4th date of compliance nears, some people are worried at the potential for legal outfall as challenges in the courts are stacking up against this mandate.
The construction industry is facing a decades-long skilled labor shortage, where almost 90% of firms have reported having a hard time filling jobs as the workforce continues to age. With the addition of this mandate, those working in the industry who have not been vaccinated will cause for those companies (100 people or more) with unvaccinated individuals on payroll to be fined for their noncompliance. Alternatively, employers and employees can choose to part ways (not a great outcome). This situation, like that we’ve seen in other industries and public works (such as fire and law enforcement) have caused those reluctant to get vaccinated to leave or change profession. This does not solve the problem or better public health as many will desire to remain unvaccinated otherwise. Convincing people to receive a vaccine may require an approach not bound by mandate, but through our daily interactions where people convince people, not government obliging individuals directly via policy. It could make those hesitant to get vaccinated more reluctant as this method is rather forceful and not necessarily the best method of conveying the proven scientific individual and societal benefits of becoming inoculated Construction Dive.
At the end of the day we all want positive outcomes for our colleagues in this industry. So we hope this situation the industry finds itself in will get resolved efficiently and not worsen conditions for anyone involved. As the holidays and new year are now about a month away, we’ll be watching to see how this unique situation unfolds.
Read more,
Wall Street Journal
NBC
CBS
Hope to see you soon,
The AGC E-Board
12/6/2021
Hey Everyone!
This is our last weekly newsletter of the semester. Make sure to read until the end!
Upcoming Events:
Bridge Project: Design and Materials work
Monday, December 6, 2021 from 5:00pm-6:00pm in Marston 211
AGC Chapter Meeting: Construction Language and Officer Elections
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 from 6:00pm-7:00pm in Marston 211
Join us for officer elections followed by a relaxed meeting where we learn construction language and hang out. There will be prizes.
These are our last two events of the semester.
Weekly Word/Acronym: PFAS
PFAS stands for Personal Fall Arrest System. These are usually straps or clips connected to a stable structure, that a worker at risk of falling ties themselves off to. The key distinction between these and fall protection systems (ie guardrails) is that they stop a worker who is currently falling from continuing to fall, while fall protection systems merely stop a worker from falling in the first place.
Weekly Joke:
What kind of criticism do architectural critics give? They give constructive criticism.
This Week in Construction:
Cold weather is upon us!
Game of Thrones meme: Brace yourself, winter is coming
Map showing what a winter looks like in various parts of the country that can be used to estimate impact on construction from weather.
We don’t have news to highlight this week, but we do want to share what we’re thinking about these days… construction in winter!!
You may have noticed or not, that construction slows down in colder areas. This is dependent on the type of construction project, location, and what specific aspects of the project need to be completed.
Regarding concrete:
“Laying down concrete in winter is fraught with problems that show up when the ground under it begins to thaw in Spring, causing the concrete to move and shift. Using a Ground Thaw Machine to melt the freeze before pouring concrete and adding antifreeze to the concrete mixture is a practical solution for this. Concrete emits a huge amount of heat when it is first laid down. Harnessing all that heat with insulating blankets will ease the job process as well.”
Custom Truck
Concrete laying in frigid temperatures has challenges which can be overcome.
Of course, there are other instances where construction is better suited for warmer temperatures to avoid the cost of adapting to cold weather.
See below for some articles regarding cold weather construction!
The Daily Universe
Concrete Construction
Earth Net Works
We would also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a happy new year!
This is the last weekly email for the semester, more to come in the spring!
Thank you,
The AGC E-Board