| Technology
News Gap Filled
I want to commend
ENR for recent articles on technology, including the Soldier
Field 3-D CAD cover story, “Steel Sector Plans Paradigm
Shift” (ENR 4/14 p. 10); the article on the International
Alliance for Interoperability (ENR 5/26 p. 14); and the cover
story on scheduling software (ENR 5/26 p. 30). ENR is beginning
to cover the business use and big-picture aspects of technology
with clarity and insight. There is a serious need within the
industry for this type of business-oriented technology coverage,
written for the field team and the boardroom.
Industry-savvy, business-oriented technology coverage is
more important than ever because construction has more to
gain from information technology than any other mature industry.
Another reason this coverage is
important is that the industry can’t get it anywhere
else. General business publications still haven’t figured
out that there is a construction industry and the information
technology publications are not covering developments in the
second-largest industry in the U.S. because they generally
don’t understand the unique business processes or the
real potential of technology in the construction industry.
These are the publications that told us e-procurement—cutting
out subcontractors and suppliers and buying directly from
the manufacturers—was going to “transform”
the $3.9-trillion global construction industry. Right!
Snow Melt Not Considered
Contrary
to “Crews Patch 40-Ft-Long Rip at Seam of Denver Airport
Roof” (ENR 3/31 p. 16), the structural engineer, Severud
Associates, did not figure “any snow would melt with
the building’s rising heat, and slide off the roof.”
Under no circumstance was the reduction of load by melting
even considered.
The roof of Denver International
Airport’s main terminal was designed in accordance with
the Denver Building Code. Wind and snow simulations and studies
were conducted by a well-known wind tunnel consultant. Based
on reports from the site, the depth, density and weight of
snow in place (and still falling) when the rip occurred exceeded
all predicted loading conditions.
There was no damage to exterior
glass walls, the inner liner or architectural finishes. This
is particularly relevant in light of the substantial number
of Denver-area roof collapses the same storm caused.
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