Build America Podcast

You’re probably reading this from America or Canada. Ever wonder what the infrastructure and construction means and methods are like in a smaller less developed country like Laos? [For those who haven’t tapped into Google yet to find out where Laos is, it’s a landlocked country adjacent to Vietnam (to the west) in Southeast Asia.]

http://sjcivil.net/news/laos-infrastructure-means-methods/

A cubic yard is not a cubic yard when it comes to earthwork estimating and field operations. Know the difference to best estimate productions and to negotiate pricing in the field.

http://sjcivil.net/estimating/earthwork-whats-a-cubic-yard/

Takeoff is a primary function in the estimation of construction costs. A good takeoff includes more than is plainly seen on the drawings. Here is discussed the definition and purpose of takeoff along with what makes a takeoff good.

http://sjcivil.net/news/takeoff-beyond-the-drawings/

In a best case scenario, a construction claim will make the contractor financially whole again on the matter. In a worst case scenario, the contractor goes out of business. Most claims conclude somewhere in between with all parties unhappy.

http://sjcivil.net/news/avoid-claims-with-a-pre-bid-analysis/

Advice for life in general, and professional life, is often gleaned by the sharing of lessons and anecdotes. Here are some lessons to apply to both home and work.

http://sjcivil.net/news/from-me-to-you-things-ive-learned-as-a-professional/

The reader is introduced to the process of contractor estimating from initial project evaluation through the call for bond, the takeoff, the actual estimating of a civil project, an even the turn in of the bid...

http://sjcivil.net/news/introduction-to-contractor-estimating/

A constructability review can significantly and positively impact a project. But what is it and what are the third-party reviewers looking for in their review? Here we look just at the drawings/plan review (not the specification and contract review).

http://sjcivil.net/pre-construction/designers-design-constructors-construct-drawings-constructability-review/

Contractors are often brought into a project in the design phase to minimize cost.  Here are some guidelines on infrastructure project cost cutting measures from a Contractor’s viewpoint – it’s advice to a design team.

http://sjcivil.net/news/designing-with-cost-in-mind/

On a project with multiple subcontractors, and say you’re one of them, implement a winning strategy for claims success by joining other subcontractors.

http://sjcivil.net/sjcc/subs-should-join-forces/

Once the project starts, it is the Contractor’s project management team’s responsibility to update the client on a regular, usually weekly, basis. This is done graphically using a lookahead schedule in bar chart format (also known as a Gantt Chart). Here we discuss the contents and reliability of the lookahead schedule.

http://sjcivil.net/news/the-lookahead-schedule-and-90-60-30/