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Green Indoor Ski Resort Planned

One of the most intriguing and ambitious architectural projects on the horizon is set to be built in 2013 in Sweden. A Swedish architect has designed a gigantic and impressive indoor ski resort which will be the largest in the world. Located 45 minutes outside of Stockholm, the resort will be large enough to meet the requirements for hosting the World Cup. In addition to downhill skiing the resort will offer other attractions such as a cross-country skiing tunnel of over two miles, a snowboarding park, and arenas for ice hockey and other activities. The resort will also feature a hotel, shops, and restaurants.

The architects designed this project with sustainability at the forefront of their minds; the goal is for the resort to be 100 percent self-sufficient. The building will draw renewable energy from geothermal heating as well as solar, wind, and hydro power.
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Posted by Scott Sweeney on September 28, 2011 12:45:00 PM EDT #

Researchers Turn Wastewater into Source of Hydrogen

News in the search for sustainable fuels

The search for sustainable fuel sources to transition us away from finite fossil fuels continues, as researchers from Penn State have developed a way to produce hydrogen while using no grid electricity. Hydrogen as a fuel source is one of the best bets to become one of the new fuel alternatives. But in the past, it has taken energy generated by fossil fuels to manufacture hydrogen. The new method involves extracting energy from the ionic differences between salt water and fresh water; enough energy to generate hydrogen from organic material. The process requires only seawater and river water and biodegradable organic matter (wastewater), so supplies are essentially limitless.

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Posted by Scott Sweeney on September 21, 2011 11:28:00 AM EDT #

AGC’s Plea for Infrastructure Investment

Back in May, AGC released a new report on the need for the federal government to invest in much-needed infrastructure projects. According to AGC’s report:

The report notes that the federal government has a Constitutional responsibility to invest in transportation facilities that support interstate commerce. It adds that infrastructure investments are crucial to national economic security and protecting businesses and citizens from the hidden tax they would bare should our infrastructure be allowed to fail. And the report makes clear that investing in the maintenance of infrastructure is far cheaper than paying to fix those facilities once they break.

AGC stated that the federal government needs to allow states and local governments greater flexibility in determining those projects most beneficial to their constituents. According to AGC, this would allow states to rebuild their infrastructure systems in critical need of upgrade and create jobs in areas hit hard by the recession. AGC also called for the government to make it easier for private investment to help bridge the gap with budget shortfalls. AGC made available their entire infrastructure development plan, an accompanying press release, and a fact sheet about the plan.

A few days ago, AGC responded to President Obama’s job proposal plan. Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of AGC, had this to say in response to the President’s speech:
Should Congress fail to enact the desperately needed infrastructure investments the President proposes, too many construction workers will remain unemployed, the private sector will suffer, and taxpayers will end up paying more, later, for infrastructure. Infrastructure projects don’t just create construction jobs. New construction activity boosts demand for steel, concrete, construction equipment and countless other services and supplies.
AGC is not the first design and construction association to be critical of the nation’s aging infrastructure. ASCE issues an annual infrastructure report card and pleads for investment in projects to help prevent critical system failures.
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Posted by Paul Riccardi on September 16, 2011 8:54:00 AM EDT #

Army Corps of Engineers Uses Phone App for Flood Data

new technology for surveyors

As the eastern seaboard recovers from the recent flooding, governments will have to assess the damage inflicted by the overflowing rivers on adjacent property. The Army Corps of Engineers is now using a smart phone application that automatically links photos, video, and text reports with Global Positioning System information that can be sent to the home office instantaneously. The Army Corps of Engineers developed the Android-based application, which has been used by teams of surveyors to transmit flood damage reports to the home office, allowing staff to accurately assess the damage and provide repair cost estimates.

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Posted by Scott Sweeney on September 13, 2011 8:07:00 AM EDT #

Warranties in Contracts

from the desk of Judy Mendoza

In a recently reviewed contract, an engineer replaced the word “warrants” with the word “represents,” believing that this would alleviate the possibility of an uninsured claim for express warranties. Unfortunately, it did not solve the problem. A warranty is a promise of a given result. If the promised result does not occur, the consultant can still be held responsible, even if the damages were not caused by the consultant’s negligence. Warranties can be created in many ways without using the word “warrant.” Using words such as “assure,” “ensure,” “insure,” “promise,” “represent,” and even “shall” could result in uninsurable warranties.   
 
Express warranties and guarantees establish liability even though no proof of negligence is required. Under U.S. common law, design professionals have the responsibility of using due care in providing their services. There is no warranty of the efficacy of professional services, nor does the design professional provide a warranty for the work of the contractor or others based on the services or instruments of service provided by the design professional. Courts have not extended the duty to provide a guarantee to design professionals because they provide services based on judgment and expertise; a design professional is applying its professional skills and reasoning on a unique set of facts for each project. Professional liability insurance policies exclude coverage for claims arising out of express warranties or guarantees. Because coverage is for professional services provided and not assumed contractual obligations, professional liability insurance does not "stretch" to provide coverage for a warranty of services beyond meeting the standard of care.
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Posted by Scott Sweeney on September 7, 2011 8:29:00 AM EDT #