Below is a listing of the stories in this month's DATELINE, organized by categories. The full text is available to DBIA members through the mail.
Featured Stories
Design-Build Technology: From Generation Lost to Generation Found
By Paul Doherty, AIA
The past ten years have been a traumatic experience for design-build professionals. Learning new tools, such as technology-based solutions like CAD, have brought new values, new revenues, and new processes to design-build and the business of constructing buildings.
Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS): The Hub of Design-Build Practices
By Randy Tardy, P.E., and Tom Harter, DBIA
Over the years, many articles have been written about the applications of information technology (IT) in large corporations and government agencies. In addition, numerous software companies are in the business of providing IT software and implementation services for large systems that manage and control information.
Building Information Modeling and Integrated Project Delivery — Design-Build Synergy in Action
By Rick Rundell, AIA, and Ken Stowe, P.E.
Over the last 20 years information technology has revolutionized the design and production of movies and music, airplanes and toasters, machinery and holidays.
The Keys to Success for Mission-Critical Projects
By William P. Mazzetti, Jr., P.E.
24/7, uptime, operational continuity, disaster recovery — it all sounds like a Tom Clancy book. Mission-critical spaces aren’t mystical, however, they are part of everyday business.
The Purpose-Driven Exchange of Project Information
By Bob Batcheler and Ian Howell
Despite the successful track record of design-build as a significant improvement upon traditional project delivery methods, design-build organizations use the same technical, project management, and design software applications as the rest of the building industry.
Integrated Web-based Collaboration in Design-Build
By Dennis Stroud and Jon Taffler
Project Collaboration, where the efforts of many coalesce in the creation of one, has been essential to the success of construction since the beginning of time.
Quality in Commissioning
By Wanda Lenkewich, LEED AP, and Randy Beauchamp, LEED AP
What is Commissioning? Commissioning is a proven quality based process that provides a systematic method of ensuring that all building systems perform interactively according to the design intent and the facilities program and operational needs.
Construction Industry Productivity: Its History and Future Direction
By Preston H. Haskell, P.E., DBIA
This paper analyzes and reports on long-term trends in construction industry productivity between the years 1966 and 2003; the particular segment studied is the U.S. building construction industry. In contrast to many previous studies, it is concerned with overall, aggregate productivity, i.e., both labor and non-labor (principally materials and equipment). As in other research, productivity is defined as aggregate output divided by aggregate input at one or more given points in time.
Construction Industry Productivity: Its History and Future Direction - Tables
By Preston H. Haskell, P.E., DBIA
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Departments
Editor's Notes
Developing the articles for this issue has been an exciting venture. An astounding variety of tools is now available that facilitate significant innovation in design, estimating, planning, scheduling, construction, quality control, budgeting, and maintenance.
Board Reflections
One of my major preoccupations these days is overseeing the design and construction of a new hospital on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. The new medical center will replace the main hospital building, built nearly a half century ago in 1960.
Editorial Forum
By Patrick Aragon, Adobe Systems Incorporated
Advantages of design-build can turn into liabilities if processes are managed improperly. More seamless collaboration across design, engineering, and construction teams means that projects move faster from initial planning through approval to construction.
Legal Briefs
By Robynne Thaxton Parkinson, Esq., DBIA, and David C. Groff, Esq.
Parties are often surprised at the conclusion of a procurement that the “teaming agreement” — the agreement that parties enter into to pursue a competitive bid — does not create what the parties consider to be a “team.”
Legislative Update
Indiana recently took a major step forward in utilizing the design-build project delivery method by passing Public Law 74. Recently signed by Governor Mitch Daniels, the law takes effect July 1, 2005.
Publication Focus
The advent of wireless communication networks has had a tremendous impact on various professions and industries in recent years. This new form of telecommunications technology, which is considerably less expensive than cable or fiber optic networks, enables individuals to access and communicate information instantly from any location.
Members in the News
Projects To Watch
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