All | 3D Printing | Aviation | Computing | Construction Software | Energy | Robotics | Science | Smart Cities | Smart Construction | Smart Highways | Smart Mobility
Technology News
Remote control decreases downtime on Florida’s Interstate 4 project
Remote control decreases downtime on Florida’s Interstate 4 project The ActiveCare alert came in on a sunny Wednesday morning in Florida: ‘Engine coolant critically low’. A technician sprang into action, temporarily halting a Volvo excavator from its work on the I-4 Ultimate Improvement...
Read more
MIT study shows how to get sprayed metal coatings to stick
MIT study shows how to get sprayed metal coatings to stick When bonding two pieces of metal, either the metals must melt a bit where they meet or some molten metal must be introduced between the pieces. A solid bond then forms when the metal solidifies again. But researchers at MIT have found that i...
Read more
Roads sector expresses amusement at Chancellor’s future car vision for Britain
Roads sector expresses amusement at Chancellor’s future car vision for Britain The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has greeted the Chancellor’s, Philip Hammond, announcement that driverless cars will be on Britain’s roads by 2021 with some amusement. Hammond has made the announcemen...
Read more
Taking control of the Future brings success
Taking control of the Future brings success Training and access to resources are key The construction industry is dynamic — ever changing and evolving through technology. The way contractors work today is clearly much different than 50 years ago — or 20 years — or even five years ago. The big differ...
Read more
The Tesla Semi will deliver a high-tech and ultra-safe truck alternative.
The Tesla Semi will deliver a high-tech and ultra-safe truck alternative. Unrivalled Performance Without a trailer, the Tesla Semi achieves 0-60 mph in five seconds, compared to 15 seconds in a comparable diesel truck. It does 0-60 mph in 20 seconds with a full 80,000-pound load, a task that takes a...
Read more
Volvo’s Building Tomorrow vision for a better future
Volvo’s Building Tomorrow vision for a better future The Spanish seaside town of Alicante recently played host to the start of the Volvo Ocean Race, a 9-month yacht race around the world that is held every three years. Formerly known as the Whitbread race, Volvo took over sponsorship in 2005, and th...
Read more
Grayhill touch encoder enhances machine control user experience
Grayhill touch encoder enhances machine control user experience The Grayhill touch encoder is an exciting concept, which helps construction equipment and vehicle product development engineers simplify designs for equipment controls by combining touchscreens, pushbuttons, trackballs and rotary switch...
Read more
NASA 3D Printed Habitat Challenge won by Foster + Partners technology
NASA 3D Printed Habitat Challenge won by Foster + Partners technology In a competition to advance the fundamental construction technologies necessary to create off-world habitats, NASA awarded first prize to team Foster + Partners. Out of 77 registered teams, five teams qualified to compete in the f...
Read more
Volvo Trucks unveils new innovative transport solution to drive safety and productivity
Volvo Trucks unveils new innovative transport solution to drive safety and productivity The self-driving truck, driving autonomously from one hub to another, is part of a development project exploring how automation can contribute to increased productivity, enhanced safety and lower environmental im...
Read more
MIT comes up with a new way to store thermal energy
MIT comes up with a new way to store thermal energy MIT researchers create material for a chemical heat “battery” that could release its energy on demand. In large parts of the developing world, people have abundant heat from the sun during the day, but most cooking takes place later in the evening...
Read more
Victoria announces first driverless bus now running in Australia
Victoria announces first driverless bus now running in Australia Victoria’s first driverless Autonobus, will transport students around La Trobe University in Bundoora. The Autonobus has brought together world-leading experts in automated vehicle technology in a trial which will help shape Victoria’s...
Read more
Integrated 3D Dozer Control system defines cutting edge
Integrated 3D Dozer Control system defines cutting edge Automated grade control using GNSS signals has transformed how earthmoving contractors get work done. Through the engineering efforts of its innovators and developers, machine control technology has been improved and refined over the years. A d...
Read more
Drones set to take off in construction
Drones set to take off in construction Floating effortlessly and able to be positioned with great accuracy, drones – also referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – are becoming an increasingly popular tool in the construction industry. Named after stingless male bees, drones were originally a...
Read more
The best active road stud in the world just got even better
The best active road stud in the world just got even better With the traditional cat’s eye road stud set for a rebrand after councils reported complaints over ‘cats eyes removed’ warning signs, it’s important we understand the difference between passive and active road studs. Passive road studs are...
Read more
MIT finds a new way to mix oil and water for better emulsions
MIT finds a new way to mix oil and water for better emulsions The reluctance of oil and water to mix together and stay that way is so well-known that it has become a cliché for describing any two things that do not go together well. Now, a new finding from researchers at MIT might ...
Read more
Recipe extraction by artificial intelligence aids materials fabrication
Recipe extraction by artificial intelligence aids materials fabrication In recent years, research efforts such as the Materials Genome Initiative and the Materials Project have produced a wealth of computational tools for designing new materials useful for a range of applications, from energy and el...
Read more
Technology and psychology boosts parking compliance
Technology and psychology boosts parking compliance It doesn’t really matter if you manage a car park for a local authority, an NHS Health Trust, an education facility, a retail park or a corporate company, at some point the issue of how to enforce your parking regulations with parking technology wi...
Read more
London’s Sculptural Rolling Bridge is a design icon
London’s Sculptural Rolling Bridge is a design icon In 2004, a pedestrian bridge with a difference was opened in London spanning an inlet off the main canal at Merchant Square, Paddington Basin. The Rolling Bridge was conceived by the Heatherwick Studio, who were influenced by the fluid, coiling tai...
Read more
Ex-Google engineer starts Built Robotics to disrupt construction
Ex-Google engineer starts Built Robotics to disrupt construction News about self-driving vehicles and automated flying taxi’s keep hitting the headlines and is now set to revolutionise the construction industry. Building on his experience working on self-driving cars at Google, Noah Ready-Campbell,...
Read more
Los Angeles DoT selects INRIX for Urban Mobility Intelligence
Los Angeles DoT selects INRIX for Urban Mobility Intelligence Los Angeles drivers spent an average of 104 hours last year in traffic jams during peak congestion hours – more than any other city in the world – as identified by the 2016 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard. To improve Urban Mobility Intelli...
Read more
Traffic jams and congestion cost the UK £30 billion a year
Traffic jams and congestion cost the UK £30 billion a year The UK is the third most congested country in Europe and we spend an average of 32 hours each year stuck in peak hour traffic. According to the latest report from Inrix the combined cost of congestion on the UK’s roads added up to ...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
Cold Recycling with Foamed Bitumen
Cold Recycling with Foamed Bitumen 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 further. Roads that are sub...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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,...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
Fundamentals of IoT for Construction
Fundamentals of IoT for Construction 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 any device with an on and off switch to the Interne...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
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...
Read more
