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Technology News
Artificial intelligence meets the construction industry
Artificial intelligence meets the construction industry The potential for artificial intelligence – or AI – is high on the social agenda. Seemingly, everyone from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to Tesla CEO Elon Musk has an opinion on the impact of AI on our everyday lives. But how will the techno...
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Eth Zurich invents technique for making an ultra-thin concrete roof
Eth Zurich invents technique for making an ultra-thin concrete roof Researchers from ETH Zurich have built a prototype of an ultra-thin, curved concrete roof using innovative digital design and fabrication methods. The tested novel formwork system will be used in an actual construction project for t...
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Cars, Trucks and Construction Equipment will soon tell you what they need
Cars, Trucks and Construction Equipment will soon tell you what they need MIT team develops software that can tell if tires need air, spark plugs are bad, or air filter needs replacing. Imagine glancing at your smartphone, and telling if your vehicle’s left front tire needs air, its air filter...
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MIT students fortify concrete by adding irradiated recycled plastic
MIT students fortify concrete by adding irradiated recycled plastic Discarded plastic bottles could one day be used to build stronger, more flexible concrete structures, from sidewalks and street barriers, to buildings and bridges, according to a new study. MIT undergraduate students have found that...
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New traffic signal refurbishment contract awarded to Siemens ITS
New traffic signal refurbishment contract awarded to Siemens ITS A new contract to design and refurbish traffic signal equipment and systems at nine signalised junctions in Coventry has been awarded to Siemens by the city council. Following the recent completion of the design stages by Siemens, work...
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Intelligent compaction key to new Ammann rollers
Intelligent compaction key to new Ammann rollers Ammann has released four new soil compactors in its ASC product line. The compactors are built to combine high output with intelligent compaction systems to help contractors eliminate passes – and ultimately reduce costs. The new models are the ASC 11...
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How to save lives through a targeted approach to road safety
How to save lives through a targeted approach to road safety Last month’s reported road casualties in Great Britain: 2016 annual report revealed a 4% increase in the number of reported road safety deaths. While this is not a large increase, it represents yet another year of no improvement in s...
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The Josef Umdasch Research Prize 2018 is looking for start-ups with new tech ideas
The Josef Umdasch Research Prize 2018 is looking for start-ups with new tech ideas Until 30 November 2017 start-ups will have the opportunity to submit their high-tech ideas for the Josef Umdasch Research Prize 2018. The Group is searching for innovative solutions to concrete tasks within their subs...
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Cold Recycling with Foamed Bitumen: A pioneering formula
Cold Recycling with Foamed Bitumen: A pioneering formula Resource-saving technologies are more in demand than ever before. The Wirtgen cold recycling process has been proving its credentials for many years – and already meets the demands of tomorrow and utilising foamed bitumen takes that even furth...
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Research by MIT taps into efficient high-pressure desalination
Research by MIT taps into efficient high-pressure desalination The high-pressure desalination industry, a critical source of potable water in many arid regions, generated more than $13 billion last year and is expected to double within a decade. Most desalination plants today use a process called re...
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Amey tests wearable safety tech for highways workers
Amey tests wearable safety tech for highways workers Wearable technology which could reduce risks to drivers and lone workers has been trialled by highways engineers working for leading service provider Amey. Biometric and location devices which detect when the body is under stress and help workers...
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RetroTek-MU is the first dynamic mobile retro-reflectometer to be certified to ASTM E 1710
RetroTek-MU is the first dynamic mobile retro-reflectometer to be certified to ASTM E 1710 The RetroTek-MU is the first dynamic mobile retro-reflectometer to be certified to ASTM E 1710 capable of measuring road markings / striping across the full width of a traffic lane simultaneously in one pass a...
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Car park management and visual guidance for drivers improves hospitals
Car park management and visual guidance for drivers improves hospitals Anyone who has ever had to attend a hospital out-patient appointment knows the feeling of frustration at having to wait an extra hour or so for a late running clinic, only to then be required to pay more money for on-site parking...
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Snøhetta completes the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design in Bergen
Snøhetta completes the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design in Bergen Snøhetta has completed the new Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (KMD) of the University of Bergen, Norway. This open, robust and interactive building gathers KMD’s 350 art and design students under one roof, while simultaneo...
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Phoenix LiDAR and JOUAV launch TerraHawk CW-30 for VTOL/UAV aerial mapping
Phoenix LiDAR and JOUAV launch TerraHawk CW-30 for VTOL/UAV aerial mapping At the InterGeo tradeshow in Berlin, JOUAV and Phoenix LiDAR Systems unveiled the TerraHawk CW-30, a custom LiDAR equipped version of JOUAV’s popular CW-30 hybrid VTOL/fixed-wing aircraft for aerial mapping. Hybrid VTOL / fix...
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AGD Systems brings next-generation ITS solutions to Traffex Road Expo Scotland
AGD Systems brings next-generation ITS solutions to Traffex Road Expo Scotland AGD Systems, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of ITS product solutions, will be exhibiting at this year’s Traffex Road Expo Scotland – 1-2 November 2017, at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. AGD’s new 350 Traffic...
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Minnesota DoT taps StreetLight Data for Traffic Intelligence
Minnesota DoT taps StreetLight Data for Traffic Intelligence StreetLight Data, Inc., the mobility analytics company that brings real-world travel patterns to light, today announced the company has been selected by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for a pilot subscription. MnDOT wil...
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Smart and responsive Pedestrian Crossing unveiled in London
Smart and responsive Pedestrian Crossing unveiled in London The world’s first responsive road crossing is being showcased in London as a prototype solution, aimed at tackling the 7,000+ incidents recorded each year at UK crossings between vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. Urban design technologist...
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Driving efficiency into road planning
Driving efficiency into road planning In the highways industry, there is, quite rightly, a well-worn path of using Consultants to advise on best practice. There is nothing wrong with this approach as long as you are sure the Consultants are knowledgeable on the latest thinking and open minded to try...
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Prolectric launches reliable year round Mobile Solar Lighting
Prolectric launches reliable year round Mobile Solar Lighting Solar lighting specialist manufacturer Prolectric has launched its ProLight and ProTemp temporary solar lighting for construction, highways and infrastructure projects. With no noise, no fuel and no emissions, they represent a step-change...
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GM outlines possibilities for flexible, autonomous Fuel Cell Electric Platform
GM outlines possibilities for flexible, autonomous Fuel Cell Electric Platform General Motors aims to solve some of the toughest transportation challenges created by natural disasters, complex logistics environments and global conflicts. The company will display its Silent Utility Rover Universal Su...
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MIT puts cement under microscope to make stronger and more sustainable concrete
MIT puts cement under microscope to make stronger and more sustainable concrete Cement materials, including cement paste, mortar, and concrete, are the most widely manufactured materials in the world. Their carbon footprint is similarly hefty: The processes involved in making cement contribute almos...
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CityAirbus demonstrator passes major propulsion testing milestone
CityAirbus demonstrator passes major propulsion testing milestone Airbus Helicopters has recently completed the first full-scale testing for the propulsion system of the CityAirbus demonstrator – a multi-passenger, self-piloted electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle designed for urban...
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Atkins and Moovit partner to help shape future transit systems and smart cities
Atkins and Moovit partner to help shape future transit systems and smart cities Design, engineering and project management consultancy, Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, and Moovit, the world’s largest transit data and analytics company, have signed a global agreement that will help cities...
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US Corps of Engineers prove effectiveness of Tensar TriAx geogrid
US Corps of Engineers prove effectiveness of Tensar TriAx geogrid The latest research by the US Corps of Engineers has demonstrated aggregate layers stabilised with Tensar TriAx geogrid deliver significant performance benefits to flexible road pavements, reducing surface rutting by up to 44%. Resear...
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WSP to support UK roll-out of connected and autonomous vehicles
WSP to support UK roll-out of connected and autonomous vehicles WSP has been commissioned by Highways England to drive forward its connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) programme over the next four years in a contract worth £1.5 million. The programme is part of the DfT’s connected and autonomous...
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Volvo CE releases Compact Assist for accurate soil compaction
Volvo CE releases Compact Assist for accurate soil compaction Adding to the suite of Assist programs available through the Volvo Co-Pilot interface, Compact Assist for Soil is now available in North America. Compact Assist for Soil offers real-time guidance to the operator by displaying number of pa...
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Three ways that universities can improve their parking acumen with intelligence
Three ways that universities can improve their parking acumen with intelligence Across the Higher Education sector, universities are having to become increasingly streamlined, find new ways to exploit their estates to maximise income, and secure alternative funding streams outside of the traditional...
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Monitor concrete temperature and maturity wirelessly with COMMAND Center for iOS App
Monitor concrete temperature and maturity wirelessly with COMMAND Center for iOS App Pavement engineering firm The Transtec Group released a wireless option for the COMMAND Center concrete temperature and maturity system. Builders, subcontractors, suppliers, testing firms, owners and owner agencies,...
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Pre-construction planning software helps build Winery Visitor Centre
Pre-construction planning software helps build Winery Visitor Centre In the world of fine wine there was a time long ago when those with sophisticated palettes would harrumph and turn up their nose at the thought of sipping an American-produced wine. It was harshly referred to as drinking swill. It...
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HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed witnesses first Autonomous Air Taxi test flight in Dubai
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed witnesses first Autonomous Air Taxi test flight in Dubai HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, attended the maiden concept flight of the Autonomous Air Taxi (AAT), a vehicle that will be used for the world’s first self-flying taxi s...
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High-speed Grinding Technology deployed in France for the first time
High-speed Grinding Technology deployed in France for the first time The operating company Tisséo is commissioning Vossloh to carry out preventive maintenance on Toulouse’s tram network. The three-year framework agreement signed also contains two extension options each for one year. The first...
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Fundamentals of IoT for Construction – Greater interconnectivity defines success
Fundamentals of IoT for Construction – Greater interconnectivity defines success Probably the best definition of the Internet of Things (IoT) appears in a Forbes magazine article written by the futurist Jacob Morgan. According to Morgan, the IoT refers to the concept of “basically connecting a...
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Siemens upgrades their hosted traffic management platform
Siemens upgrades their hosted traffic management platform Siemens, a global leader in traffic management technology, has announced major upgrades to the latest hosted application modules for Stratos, the company’s cloudbased strategic traffic management solution. According to David Pregon, Senior Pr...
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Signalling the way forward for traffic controls
Signalling the way forward for traffic controls The JCT Symposium always signals the start of the next round of events for Clearview Intelligence. JCT takes place at the University of Warwick every September and offers a unique opportunity for traffic signal engineers to exchange knowledge, experien...
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Hitachi blends proven technology with new innovations to create new hybrid excavator
Hitachi blends proven technology with new innovations to create new hybrid excavator The new Hitachi hybrid hydraulic excavator has been unveiled for the first time in Europe this month. The ZH210-6 was presented by the official Hitachi dealer in Belgium, Luyckx, at the Matexpo biennial internationa...
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Major new ITS contract awarded to Siemens in Northern Ireland
Major new ITS contract awarded to Siemens in Northern Ireland A new long-term contract to maintain traffic management equipment throughout Northern Ireland (NI) for a minimum period of four years has been awarded to Siemens by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), NI. With traffic signal equipmen...
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AGD launches next-gen Traffic Control Radar at JCT Symposium
AGD launches next-gen Traffic Control Radar at JCT Symposium AGD Systems, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of ITS product solutions, will launch its next-generation AGD 350 Traffic Control Radar at JCT Symposium & Exhibition – 20-21 September 2017, at the University of Warwick. The 350 is a...
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FHWA and Transtec Group release Intelligent Compaction guideline documents
FHWA and Transtec Group release Intelligent Compaction guideline documents Adequate and uniform compaction of road materials, such as soils, aggregate bases, and asphalt pavement materials, is one of the most important requirements in roadway construction. It is indispensable to strive for high qual...
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Dynamic speed bumps crossing the ocean from Sweden to Australia
Dynamic speed bumps crossing the ocean from Sweden to Australia The tech company Edeva from Sweden has developed a dynamic speed bump, called the Actibump, that has proven its efficiency through years of use in Sweden. The Actibump product has turned some heads in the international traffic safety bu...
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Hitachi unveils a first for the construction industry
Hitachi unveils a first for the construction industry Hitachi has developed an industry-leading innovation as part of its ConSite remote fleet monitoring system. The first of its kind in the construction industry, it extracts data from two unique sensors that monitor the quality of an excavator’s en...
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Concrete hydrodemolition technology used in Johannesburg bridge rehabilitation
Concrete hydrodemolition technology used in Johannesburg bridge rehabilitation Major structural repairs to the M1 North highway bridges over Oxford and Federation Roads in Johannesburg were recently completed. The removal of superfluous concrete in preparation was made possible through hydrodemoliti...
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Alaskan contractor Valley General benefits from technology for quick and quality work
Alaskan contractor Valley General benefits from technology for quick and quality work For most people the acronym, JSCCR, is a definite puzzler. What it stands for is Juniper, Spruce, Cranberry, Cottonwood, and Rose, which are the names of the roads in a heavily-wooded residential subdivision locate...
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Overcoming barriers to highways innovation
Overcoming barriers to highways innovation Removing barriers to adopting innovation and ensuring standards keep pace with technical developments is vital if we are to meet future infrastructure needs, says Tensar Highways Technical Manager Craig Andrews. More than £460bn is set to be spent on the UK...
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Cat Phones introduces 3 new additions to its range of rugged devices
Cat Phones introduces 3 new additions to its range of rugged devices Cat phones has introduced three new additions to its portfolio which see important updates to its rugged and resilient Cat Smartphone range and the first release of a rugged tablet. The launches build on Cat phones’ heritage of cre...
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Stress absorbing membrane delivers a stronger, safer and more reliable motorway
Stress absorbing membrane delivers a stronger, safer and more reliable motorway A Stress Absorbing Membrane Interlayer has delivered stronger, safer and more reliable running lanes for the M3 smart motorway project in Surrey. More than 130,000 vehicles use the M3 between Junctions 2 (Thorpe and the...
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Fastbrick Robotics wins national Innovation Awards in Australia
Fastbrick Robotics wins national Innovation Awards in Australia Australian robotic technology company Fastbrick Robotics Limited has received two National Innovation Awards at Australia’s premier innovation awards event. The iAwards were held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wedn...
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UK gives truck platooning trials the green light
UK gives truck platooning trials the green light The UK’s first Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) ‘platooning’ trial, jointly funded by Highways England and the Department for Transport, has been approved. Overseen by Highways England, TRL (the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory) will carry out...
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Connected cities need connected car parks
Connected cities need connected car parks A ‘connected city’, also known as a ‘smart city’, relies on an intelligent infrastructure which utilises the wealth of innovation and technologies created by Internet of Things (IoT) and applies them to urban needs. There is a plethora of new and emerging de...
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Bomag promotes digitalisation in road construction
Bomag promotes digitalisation in road construction Digitalisation, modern communication technologies, and Building Information Modelling (BIM) is improving and speeding up construction site planning, process control and operation flow on construction sites. Bomag has promoted this development with i...
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Colas and partners launch first autonomous road safety vehicle
Colas and partners launch first autonomous road safety vehicle Colas in partnership with US companies Royal Truck and Equipment (RT&E) and Micro Systems Inc. (MSI) have developed the world’s first Autonomous Impact Protection Vehicle (AIPV) for use on the World’s highways to protect the lives of...
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Intelligent soil compaction with Bomag Economizer for single drum rollers
Intelligent soil compaction with Bomag Economizer for single drum rollers The Bomag Economizer measures the level of compaction and displays the result in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. At customer request, Bomag now equips any of its single drum roller models worldwide with the Economizer. Fo...
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Siemens builds eHighway for hybrid trucks in Germany
Siemens builds eHighway for hybrid trucks in Germany Siemens has been commissioned by the German state of Hesse to build an overhead contact line for electrified freight transport on a ten-kilometer stretch of autobahn. The line will supply electricity for the electric drive of a hybrid truck. Sieme...
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Atkins and INRIX sign BIG DATA global partnership for transportation infrastructure projects
Atkins and INRIX sign BIG DATA global partnership for transportation infrastructure projects Atkins, one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies, has signed a global partnership agreement with INRIX, the world leader in connected car services and transp...
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Look No Wires – Using wireless vehicle detection to reduce congestion
Look No Wires – Using wireless vehicle detection to reduce congestion Traffic flows better and congestion is reduced when signalised junctions use adaptive traffic control (ATC) systems such as SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) and MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuati...
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Cheshire’s new smart motorway safety barrier nears completion
Cheshire’s new smart motorway safety barrier nears completion Last 4-tonne concrete blocks lifted into place on M6 A new 20-mile-long concrete safety barrier on the M6 in Cheshire is nearing completion as part of a £274 million project to upgrade the route to a smart motorway. The Highways England s...
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‘First of its kind’ speed awareness solution installed across six locations on the A75 in Scotland
‘First of its kind’ speed awareness solution installed across six locations on the A75 in Scotland The A75 Gretna Green to Stranraer road is the main route through Scotland to the ferry port servicing Northern Ireland. Consequently, traffic volumes tend to increase when a ferry is scheduled to arriv...
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Trimble announces machine control solution for Sumitomo Excavators
Trimble announces machine control solution for Sumitomo Excavators Trimble and Sumitomo Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (Sumitomo) announced today that Trimble has been chosen as Sumitomo’s preferred technology provider for machine control solutions. Working closely with Trimble, Sumitomo will offe...
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ALE builds second 800 tonne MEGA JACK 800 to meet demand
ALE builds second 800 tonne MEGA JACK 800 to meet demand ALE HeavyLift has started to build a second Mega Jack 800 jacking system. The Mega Jack 800, an innovative 800 tonne jacking system is a multi-application solution that was launched in 2014 as part of ALE’s Innovation Series. Since then, it ha...
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Cold-in-place recycling additive system allows milling and paving a roadway in a single process
Cold-in-place recycling additive system allows milling and paving a roadway in a single process The Roadtec CIR Additive System is used in the cold-in-place recycling of asphalt pavement in the repair and rehabilitation of asphalt-paved roads. The system is used to transfer, measure, and inject eith...
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Australia is going Electric with The Queensland Electric Super Highway
Australia is going Electric with The Queensland Electric Super Highway The future of motoring in Queensland has been launched at Parliament House in Brisbane – and it is electric. Environment Minister and Acting Main Roads Minister Steven Miles officially kick-started the EV revolution in the State...
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Doka’s Concremote concrete sensor technology crowned “Commercial Innovation of the year”
Doka’s Concremote concrete sensor technology crowned “Commercial Innovation of the year” Doka UK was awarded for the innovative concrete- sensor technology Concremote with this year’s Construction News Award. Concremote allows construction firms to digitally monitor their con...
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Targeting night-time road safety will reduce fatal accidents
Targeting night-time road safety will reduce fatal accidents The 11th road safety performance index report was released last month. This report monitors progress on the European Union’s commitment to reduce road deaths by 50% between 2010 and 2020, and ranks all EU countries according to the percent...
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Radar measurement technology brings accuracy and productivity to cement plants
Radar measurement technology brings accuracy and productivity to cement plants New radar technology offers accurate continuous level measurement in cement plants not affected by internal structural objects and build-ups in silos. A variety of issues affect accurate continuous level measurement in ce...
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Trimble and Propeller Aero collaborate on unmanned aircraft for construction
Trimble and Propeller Aero collaborate on unmanned aircraft for construction Trimble has announced it is collaborating with Propeller Aero to distribute its Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) analytics platform. Propeller, based in Sydney and Denver, is a leader in the advanced collection, visualization...
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Providing local parking can be a juggling act
Providing local parking can be a juggling act There is a juggling act that Local Authorities face when providing parking facilities. They are having to face up to a no-win situation. If they please their residents by reserving parking spaces they will risk upsetting visitors. If they provide visitor...
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