According to Elon Musk, artificial intelligence (AI) is on the brink of surpassing human intellect as early as next year. Is there truth to his prediction? The potential for a “Gutenberg moment” in technology looms large, promising a seismic shift in innovation. Yet, even if this transformation unfolds more gradually over the coming decade, one thing is certain: it will demand colossal energy resources to fuel AI’s appetite for cloud computing.
Connections are the Heart of Steel
As we enter into 2024, I wanted to reflect on what I’ve learned over my past year joining the Qnect team. I’m amazed at the growing interest in early connected models and other related trends like AI and sustainability and how that is shaping our company’s direction. As I see customers adopting Qnect to deliver more efficient and sustainable steel structures, steel connections remain at the heart of the process. As Allan Paull, Senior VP with AECOM Tishman said at NASCC 2022 “If I can connect the steel early, the rest of the project follows.” Working through how the steel connects is so critical to mitigating risk on the project, not just the steel but the other trades that depend upon the frame getting erected. I bet we can all agree, thinking through the connections is a key to efficient steel delivery. Working with a team that understands connection design but also detailing and constructability is crucial and is a testament to the success our customers are seeing. I wanted to share some of the advances we’ve made in 2023 and what is coming down the pike in 2024.
Every Bolt Counts: The Ripple Effect of Conserving Every Pound of Steel
As the steel sector searches for sustainable solutions in the carbon heavy construction industry, it is crucial not to overlook the power of conservation and efficiency. Decisions made early in the design process, using quality data, have a major impact on a building’s carbon footprint. In fact, when we use early data to our advantage, steel becomes a much more sustainable building material.
Using Early Connected Models to Create a Precise Bills of Materials
In the fast-paced world of construction, efficiency and accuracy are key to success. Construction Managers are always on the lookout for innovative tools and methods to streamline their processes, reduce costs, and secure more competitive bids. One such game-changing approach is the use of Early Connected Steel Models, which involve modeling and connection engineering during the design phase. In this blog, we'll explore how these models not only cut down on bids but also enable Construction Managers to provide precise Bills of Materials (BoMs) for bidding purposes. This was a hot topic for many Construction Managers at CMAA last week.
Rationalization and RFIs: Silent Players in Excess Carbon
Over the past year, I’ve heard from engineers that their clients are now asking how they are reducing embodied carbon in their designs. Back in the fall I shared some strategies for how to do this (AECBytes, Dec 2022). However, with so many approaches that engineers can take, it may feel overwhelming knowing where to start. Many engineers are now asking the question: What are the most impactful actions I can take to reduce embodied carbon? One engineer said to me, “If I design the structure efficiently to the building code, am I not already doing everything I can?”
