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Benchmarking – The Early Path to Success

Benchmarking – The Early Path to Success

The benchmarking process is one where a project’s general scope using key metrics is compared to other similar projects. This general metric/scope includes such items as total gross square feet, net square feet, rentable square feet, net-to-gross ratio, number of occupants, the number of particular spaces (i.e. number of rooms in a hotel), general configuration (footprint and/or number of stories), location of project, and timeframe. If this initial comparison doesn’t illuminate a projects cost and/or schedule similarities or peculiarities, then one must delve deeper into the project scope to determine any or all differences. This means the stakeholders must understand the projects detailed scope parameters such as type of structure, assumed number of interior spaces, the level of finishes and specialties, the vertical transportation needs, the requirements of the mechanical and electrical systems, and site specific differences (roads, utilities, parking, etc.). Once this type of comparison is completed, a proposed facility should be fully benchmarked against its peers.

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Shipyards: Dealing with Disruption Claims

Shipyards: Dealing with Disruption Claims

Shipyards that are building or repairing ships operate in a very complicated marketplace where costs are carefully monitored. Often claims are submitted requesting additional costs above the stated contract amount because problems beyond the shipyard’s control resulted in disruption of their as-planned flow of work. All too often, the alleged problems follow a pattern that becomes apparent when analyzing such claims. Common allegations of disruption include excessive owner changes, delays in approving changes, late responses to inquiries and problems, defective design, late or defective information or equipment supplied by the owner, and over-inspection. Such allegations form the basis for requests for equitable adjustments, claims, and lawsuits. However, many claims overlook problems that may be the responsibility of the shipyard such as underbidding the costs, rework due to poor performance, management and planning inadequacies, detail design errors, procurement problems and labor difficulties.

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Making Offshore Engineering Pay Off

Making Offshore Engineering Pay Off

Most manufacturers can easily tick off any number of practical reasons either for building new factories in China, India, Vietnam, and other low-cost nations or for buying parts from suppliers based in those countries. Simplified supply chains, better inventory management, and sharply reduced costs are among the obvious benefits. But the same group displays less enthusiasm for offshoring design and engineering.

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Time Impact Analysis Rosetta Stone for CPM

Time Impact Analysis Rosetta Stone for CPM

In this edition: Time Impact Analysis (TIA®) The Rosetta Stone for CPM Schedule Analysis Robert C. McCue, P.E., Consulting Engineer Mark D. Steele, P.E., Consulting Engineer Critical Path Method (CPM) schedules and formalized methods of analyzing schedule impacts...

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Water Treatment: Not Just a Third World Issue

Water Treatment: Not Just a Third World Issue

Donald R. Keer, P.E., Esq. MDCSystems® Consulting Engineer In March the United Nations celebrated World Water Day 2013 by choosing Water Cooperation (supplying clean, accessible water to vulnerable communities) as its theme. With continuous pressure being put on...

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“No Damage for Delay” Clauses – An Update

“No Damage for Delay” Clauses – An Update

“No damage for delay” clauses continue to divide the country and the courts on their application and interpretation. Although owners and prime contractors insist on enforceability, the net result typically shifts the risk onto the party least likely to negotiate fair limits, to control events on the jobsite and absorb the ultimate cost. Nevertheless, these clauses are found in most construction contracts in some form or another.

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Risk Management in Design

Risk Management in Design

In previous editions of the MDCAdvisor®, our contributors have addressed risk issues relative to budgeting and cost estimating as well as overall risk considerations. A key contributor to almost all of the potential project risk scenarios is the conception, development and execution of the design process for the project.

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What’s That Smell?? Mold – The New ‘Asbestos’

What’s That Smell?? Mold – The New ‘Asbestos’

E. Mitchell Swann, P.E. MDCSystems® Consulting Engineer Mold cases have become almost as prolific in the legal world as the little fuzzy devils themselves in the real world. Mold is a hot topic and claims associated with mold, mildew and related IAQ issues including...

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Pennsylvania Solar Energy Rebate On Hold

Pennsylvania Solar Energy Rebate On Hold

Amal Kabalan MDC Systems® Former Consulting Engineer How Consumers Can Still Save Energy Last July Pennsylvania state officials announced the $100 million consumer and small business solar energy rebate program -- part of a $650 million Alternative Energy Investment...

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Dispute Resolution Methodologies

Dispute Resolution Methodologies

Stephen M. Rymal, P.E., Esq.
MDC Systems®
Consulting Engineer

In the construction industry, there are several alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methodologies designed to provide a means to resolve disputes without resorting to formal litigation in court. Some projects set up dispute resolution boards (DRBs) to address disputes in real time before the parties harden their positions and carve them into stone. The advantage of DRBs is that they meet regularly with the parties to recognize and address disputes at their earliest stage when the inherent risks can be truly estimated, appreciated, and shared…

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Reasonably Relied Upon…

Reasonably Relied Upon…

As a strong component of the sustainability initiative in buildings, energy use is rightfully taking its place as a leading metric in evaluating a building’s performance. Further emphasizing the importance of performance measurement is the expected roll out of an industry wide “Building Energy Performance” label which is intended to provide an objective comparison of energy use between buildings. Rating systems like Energy Star along with model energy codes look at both predictive energy use models and actual usage as crucial to determining a building’s true performance and rating. The USGBC’s newly issued LEED v3.0 rating system requires the initial certification, recertification and by extension the possibility of decertification of LEED buildings to be tied closely to comparisons of modeled and measured energy use over time.

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The CSI Effect: The Increasing Role of Forensic Evidence in Construction Litigation

The CSI Effect: The Increasing Role of Forensic Evidence in Construction Litigation

Leigh Erin Schmeltz, Esq.

As demonstrated by the popularity of CBS’s television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the intriguing field of forensic science is capturing the attention of many across the nation. Beyond entertainment and education, however, forensics plays a very real and crucial role in civil investigations, using technology to investigate and establish facts in the civil courts. Evidence that illustrates wrongdoing, negligence and malfeasance through photographs, detailed reports, and testing can mean the difference between an adverse judgment and a complete discharge from liability.

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Advanced Energy Design Guide

Advanced Energy Design Guide

The Advanced Energy Design Guide was developed to provide contractors and designers with a simple approach to exceed energy savings of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1999 by 30%. Without resorting to time consuming analysis, the guide offers a means for construction professionals to provide owners with more value through a combination of optimized process and proven design practice. Written for office buildings no greater than 20,000 square feet, the guide is meant as a supplement to the 90.1 standard, with an outline that reads more like a textbook than code specification. The energy saving goals and means are broken down by building component; envelope, lighting, HVAC, service water heating, and more. Hour-based energy analysis software verified the 30% savings in energy. This guide provides detailed tables, climate zone-specific examples, and stepwise methodology.

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Is Changing Climate Driving Water Management Processes?

Is Changing Climate Driving Water Management Processes?

Written by Donald Keer, PE In light of the ongoing drought in the Midwest which is affecting food production, transportation and industry operations, a review of Federal recommendations is appropriate.  Not only is corn production stunted but the Mississippi River was...

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Much Ado About Stucco

Much Ado About Stucco

By Michelle N. Delehanty, PE, PMP
MDC Systems® Consulting Engineer

In recent years, the popularity of stucco siding for houses has soared.  Or, depending who you ask, it’s the notoriety that has increased so steadily over the past decade.  Good or bad, stucco is being talked about among builders, homeowners, and even in the news.

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Systems Thinking – A New Paradigm for Successful Projects

Systems Thinking – A New Paradigm for Successful Projects

How can a large, well-funded capital project fail to achieve its technical, cost and performance goals and why is this still acommon outcome? These projects are typically undertaken by teams of personnel from the Owner, Architect and Engineer firms and Contractors. How can such a collection of talent, carefully selected based upon experience and references, fail to deliver?

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A Global Owner Talks About Project Execution Completion

A Global Owner Talks About Project Execution Completion

Interview with Joe Gionfriddo, Global Construction Process Owner of Proctor & Gamble

MDC Systems®’s Mitchell Swann met with Joe Gionfriddo at this year’s McGraw-Hill Global Construction Summit in Beijing, China in April 2006. Mr. Gionfriddo, the Global Construction manager – Corporate Engineering at P&G, was a part of a Panel Program entitled “What Do Global Owners Need?” which featured speakers form a number of global owners. We thought his comments and viewpoints were very insightful and would be of value to our Advisor readers. Below is a short interview we conducted with Joe Gionfriddo.

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