Poettker Construction Field Tests New Drone Program

Poettker Construction has launched a drone program to enhance pre-project planning, improve construction visibility, boost safety measures and increase operations efficiencies. During testing, the new program has been a great asset during preconstruction. With drone technology, Poettker takes aerial images of potential projects, then places the proposed building plan onto the site. This helps clients better understand possible building placements on a property. The risk management department has also seen significant benefits with this program, as drones can quickly cover large areas and gather high-quality data. This enables the creation of a comprehensive data collection, including 3D models, thermal scans, … Read more

Filed under: NewsTagged with: , ,

ABC: Construction Materials Prices Increase 1.4% in January, Up 40.5% Since February 2020

Construction input prices increased 1.4% in January compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data. Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.9% for the month. Overall construction input prices are 1.3% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 0.7% higher. Prices increased in all three energy subcategories last month. Crude petroleum prices increased 14.8%, while natural gas and unprocessed energy material prices increased 13.7% and 13.0%, respectively. “Materials prices increased at the fastest monthly pace in two years in January,” said ABC … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, NewsTagged with: , ,

Tuner Pilots Reducing Carbon Footprint with Renewable Diesel

Turner Construction Company is using renewable diesel on several pilot projects, including major data centers. These pilot projects provide valuable data and demonstrate renewable diesel’s effectiveness across diverse climates and project types. This effort is part of the company’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 across project sites and offices. Renewable diesel, often referred to as hydrotreated vegetable oil in its most common form, is produced from renewable resources such as animal fats, used cooking oils and plant-based feedstocks. Unlike biodiesel, renewable diesel is chemically identical to petroleum diesel, making it compatible with existing diesel engines without modifications. This … Read more

Filed under: NewsTagged with:

ABC: All but 3 States Had Construction Unemployment Rates Below 10% in December 2024

The national December 2024 not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate was 5.2%, up 0.8% from December 2023, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. The analysis found that only six states had lower estimated construction unemployment rates over the same period and 44 states were higher. All but three states (Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island) had construction unemployment rates below 10%. National NSA payroll construction employment was 191,000 higher than December 2023. As of December 2024, SA payroll construction employment was 701,000, or 9.2%, above its pre-pandemic peak … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, NewsTagged with: , , ,

Nonresidential Construction Adds Modest 4,400 Jobs in January

The construction industry added 4,000 jobs on net in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has increased by 178,000 jobs, an increase of 2.2%.  Nonresidential construction employment increased by 4,400 positions on net, with growth in 2 of the 3 subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade added the most jobs, increasing by 5,600 positions, followed by nonresidential building, which added 1,100 jobs. Heavy and civil engineering lost 2,300 jobs last month. The construction unemployment rate rose to 6.5% in January. Unemployment across all industries … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, NewsTagged with: , , ,