On-Site February 2024

FEBRUARY 2024

> INSIDE <

2023 JOBSITE PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS! PG.19

EQUIPMENT: FILLING THE SKILLS GAP TECHNOLOGY REPORT: AI IN CONSTRUCTION PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH ON THE JOB

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TOWERING ABOVE TOP SHOTS OF 2023

VOLUME 69, NO.1/FEBRUARY 2024

COVER: 2023 PHOTO CONTEST 21 Welcome Letter 22

Towering Above The winner of On-Site’s 2023 Canadian Construction Photo Contest.

24

The Finalists Recognizing the honour roll: The top photos submitted for 2023.

19

IN THIS ISSUE Comment 4 Celebrating tech and photos

5

News The major developments

10

Construction stats The key figures

12

Moving earth Heavy equipment gets a tech assist

30

44

31

Promoting psychological safety Empowering innovation and well-being

COLUMNS 42 Risk Preventing and mitigating worker injury risk

44

Contractors and the Law

43 Index of Advertisers

Making payment a priority

COVER PHOTO: MOE LEPAGE

TECHNOLOGY REPORT 33 Welcome Letter

34

AI in construction Construction hits the AI era

38

The year of AI exploration Emerging technology gaining is gaining momentum

40

AI and the next generation of BIM AI features are streamlining work on BIM platforms

on-sitemag.com / 3

COMMENT

Celebrating photography and technology

Get the latest construction news!

Follow us on @OnSiteMag

This issue of On-Site is one that I look forward to every year. Our annual photo contest is a great opportunity to showcase some of the amazing work, and jobsites, of our readers throughout Canada, including the cover shot by tower crane operator Moe Lepage. What a great view of a sunset over Ottawa. He’s got a great office.

The only regret that I tend to have is that quite a few very good shots – contenders for accolades – end up not making it into our pages. There are a few of these contenders that I have marked for possible use this year, however, so keep your eyes on the pages of On-Site to see if you or your colleagues show up in a future edition.

In the meantime, enjoy the celebration of Canadian construction that starts on page 19. It is proof that there are some photographers in our readership. And don’t forget to keep the cameras rolling as 2024 progresses.

Next year’s contest will kick off in December, and you cannot enter a picture you forgot to take.

The other key theme in this edition is technology, with this year’s Technology Report exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI). More than a buzzword, AI is emerging as a game changer for construction.

Software and app creators have started to work this technology into their platforms, making use of it to find patterns and anomalies that can be difficult to notice without processing massive amounts of data.

As a coach, I’ve even investigated a few AI-based camera systems for sports teams. These systems use AI to follow and record the play, which is great for analysis and player improvement.

If you or your company are thinking about how to harness the power of AI, I invite you to check out some of the advice from our recent panel all about AI in Construction, which is summarized on page 34.

There was a lot of knowledge shared by the panel, including some great advice about developing structures and rules that will help govern safe and appropriate use of AI by your teams.

Until next time, stay safe and do good work.

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Canadian Construction Association

INDUSTRY NEWS

New timeline set for Gordie Howe International Bridge Construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is now expected to be completed in September of 2025, with the bridge opening to traffic in the fall of 2025, reports the project team.

Originally scheduled for completion in November of 2024, the $5.7 billion project was expected to be open to traffic by the end of 2024, but the team working on the project says that, like many other construction projects underway over the past few years, the project experienced unprecedented disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, necessitating the revised timeline.

These challenges had an additional layer of complexity, says the team, given that the Gordie Howe International Bridge project had to navigate Canadian and American pandemic rules and regulations that were not necessarily in alignment.

The public-private partnerships (P3) contract between Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) and Bridging North

PHOTO COURTESY OF WINDSOR-DETROIT BRIDGE AUTHORITY

INDUSTRY>NEWS

America (BNA) provides for the schedule and cost impacts of certain risks to be shared, so the two organizations have agreed to amend the contract to include the new September 2025 construction completion date, new measures to ensure this date is achieved, and an updated overall contract value, which has now been set at $6.4 billion.

“After a three-year pandemic and considering the size and complexity of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project,

Stantec to acquire Morrison Hershfield Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, with headquarters in Edmonton, has signed an agreement to acquire Morrison Hershfield, a 1,150-person engineering and management firm headquartered in Markham, Ont. Founded in 1946 and employee-owned, Morrison Hershfield has considerable experience in the transportation, buildings and environmental services segments. The company has offices in 22 cities in Canada and the United States, and one office in India. The acquisition of Morrison Hershfield will increase Stantec’s Canadian workforce by approximately 10 per cent and expand Stantec’s presence in most major Canadian markets.

In a statement announcing the purchase, the company explained that Morrison Hershfield is one of the few large Canadian-based engineering firms with core strengths, business lines, and clients that are additive to Stantec’s presence in multiple key growth markets, including the Greater Toronto Area. Similarly, Stantec’s global market presence and client relationships will

our project team is pleased that the impact to the construction schedule is limited to only 10 months beyond the original contracted completion date and that we could agree on a reasonable adjustment to the contract value,” stated Charl van Niekerk, WDBA CEO. “With safety as our top priority, we will continue to work together to deliver this much needed infrastructure to the thousands of eager travellers ready to cross North America’s longest cable-stayed bridge.”

accelerate Morrison Hershfield’s business line growth opportunities as part of Stantec.

“We are thrilled to bring a firm of Morrison Hershfield’s stature into the Stantec fold,” said Gord Johnston, president and chief executive officer at Stantec. “Our firms have shared a mutual admiration over many years. Stantec and Morrison Hershfield have a similar history from our roots in the Canadian market, growing and diversifying services both by geography and service line. And, importantly, our values and culture are very well aligned.”

The addition of Morrison Hershfield’s Horizontal Infrastructure business is expected to double Stantec’s transportation presence in Ontario, bolstering the firm’s bridge, highway, construction administration, program management, and inspection services in what it views as a key growth market.

The acquisition, which is being completed by way of a court approved plan of arrangement, is subject to Morrison Hershfield shareholder approval, court approvals, and certain regulatory approvals. It is expected to close later this quarter. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. on-sitemag.com / 5

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED RENTALS, INC.

INDUSTRY NEWS

United Rentals helping track carbon emissions United Rentals is offering an Estimated Emissions dashboard to help its customers understand their equipment emissions and make data-based decisions to make changes that will help

reduce their carbon footprint.

Part of the company’s Total Control cloud-based fleet management platform, the digital tool allows users to view rental equipment and jobsites through the lens of current and historical estimated carbon emissions. Users can view estimated emissions data – specifically, estimated metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent – by equipment category class, time or jobsite.

“Reducing jobsite emissions is a priority for many construction companies and project owners, but it is difficult to manage what you cannot measure,” said Tony Leopold, senior vice-president of strategy and digital at United Rentals. “Access to easily digestible, shareable data on estimated emissions is the first step in the drive to reduce a jobsite’s carbon footprint. With the Estimated Emissions dashboard in Total Control, United Rentals puts this data, and the power to act on it, at our customers’ fingertips.”

Rod Gilbert will be the next president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).

Gilbert, currently the senior vice-president of public affairs and procurement practices with the association, will succeed current president, Mary Van Buren, on May 1.

Last fall, Van Buren announced her intention to step down to pursue other interests. Her last day as president will be April 30. CCA Board chair Brendan Nobes noted that the Board considered the significant impact Gilbert has had at CCA over the past six years, citing his advocacy work to raise CCA’s profile with the federal government, as well as the knowledge he has developed in best practices in contracting while overseeing the Canadian Construction Documents Committee.

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2023-09-27 1:50 PM

PHOTO COURTESY OF CCA

CCA names incoming president

PHOTO COURTESY OF HD HYUNDAI

HD Hyundai introduces Xite vision at CES HD Hyundai is aiming to create a more sustainable future for humanity through the use of technology. Vice-chairman and CEO Kisun Chung presented the company’s “Xite Transformation,” vision during a keynote speech on at this year’s CES show, held in Las Vegas in January.

He explained that the company’s Xite innovation, created with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies and robotics, will go beyond improving construction sites and equipment to fundamentally transform the way humanity builds the future.

HD Hyundai refers to Xite as an expanded concept for construction job sites. It incorporates the company’s goal to bring innovation in building smart construction sites with autonomous, digital twin, eco-friendly, electrification and more future

HD Hyundai vice-chairman Kisun Chung presents details of Xite Transformation at CES

construction equipment technologies.

“The construction industry has laid the foundation for human civilization, and yet it remains one of the slowest today when it comes to technology and innovation,” said Chung. “We are here today to share HD Hyundai’s vision for changing the future course of humanity by changing the future of the construction industry, which we are calling Xite Transformation.

This solution utilizes the latest technology to create a more sustainable future for humanity by solving pressing challenges such as safety, security, supply chain issues and climate change.”

Chung outlined the company’s three main innovation goals: enhancing safety

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with digital technologies, delivering productivity with site autonomy, and decarbonizing and building an energy value chain. He also revealed its innovative technology, X-Wise and X-Wise Xite, which he says will be key in the journey towards Xite Transformation.

X-Wise is an AI platform that aims to maximize safety and efficiency in fleet management to reach an ultimate goal of site autonomy. It will be applied to all HD Hyundai’s industrial solutions as a base technology going forward. X-Wise Xite is an intelligent site management solution developed for optimal production of infrastructure by connecting all construction equipment applied with X-Wise in real time.

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2023-11-28 10:08 AM

PHOTO COURTESY OF CCA

INDUSTRY NEWS

CCA gearing up for Punta Cana conference

B.C. adopts 2024 Building and Fire Codes

The Canadian Construction Association is heading to the Paradisus Palma Real Golf and Resort Spa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for its 2024 Annual Conference this March. The multi-day marquis event will bring together leaders from across the country from March 12 to 15 for industry-related content, networking and the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) National Awards program.

In addition to the conference activities, CCA’s National Advisory Council (NAC) meetings and Annual General Meeting (AGM) will also take place at the same location, but a day earlier, on March 11.

All registrations for delegates, companions and children include access to all sessions, a welcome night reception and dinner, the awards ceremony, an afternoon fun party, and the closing gala.

Registration and room booking information is available on the CCA website, www.cca-acc.com.

British Columbia has adopted the British Columbia Building and Fire Codes (B.C. Codes 2024), which the province says will provide people with a greater level of building safety and and also make new buildings more sustainable, resilient and accessible.

“As we take historic steps to build more homes for people faster, we are also taking action to make sure homes are safe, accessible and more resilient to climate change,” said Ravi Kahlon, the province’s minister of housing. “We have to find ways to innovate and build differently. Over the next year, the province will lead a discussion on enabling single-egress stairs in the B.C. Building Code.”

Key updates to the building code address accessibility, mass-timber construction and radon safety. Most updates to the building code will come into effect provincewide on March 8, 2024, although changes impacting adaptable dwellings and earthquake design have been deferred to March 10, 2025.

“Eliminating barriers to accessibility is a core motive in our efforts to making our province a safe and barrier-free place to live in,” said Susie Chant, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility.

“We are taking action on what we’ve heard in our engagements with British Columbians, especially people living with disabilities. That is why we are updating the standards in our building code to support everyone in their day-to-day activities.”

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CONSTRUCTION STATS A selection of data reflecting trends in the Canadian construction industry

Investment in non-residential construction, November 2023 (in $Millions)

$6,040.8

Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT ON THE RISE A small drop in commercial segment could not hold back building construction investment growth as both residential and non-residential sectors landed in positive space in November.

Investment rose 1.7 per cent across Canada for the month, reaching $19.8 billion, according to figures released by Statistics Canada. The residential sector grew 2.2 per cent to $13.7 billion, while investment in the non-residential sector edged up 0.4 per cent to $6 billion.

Residential was led by more activity in new construction in Nova Scotia, Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, with Alberta’s residential monthly growth hitting a record high of $2 billion. National investment in multi-unit buildings increased 3.1 per cent to $7.2 billion.

Gains were slimmer in the non-residential sector, but growth could be found in all but the commercial segment. Institutional investment was up 3.1 per cent to $1.6 billion. Industrial grew by one per cent, to $1.3 billion. And investments in commercial investment dipped 1.2 per cent to $3.2 billion for the month.

$25.6

Prince Edward Island

$17.1

Nova Scotia

$88.5 $76.1

New Brunswick Quebec

$1,305.9

Ontario

$2,568.8

Manitoba

$180.2

Saskatchewan

$130.1

Alberta

$692.9

British Columbia

$924.7

Yukon

$18.1

Northwest Territories

$8.7

Nunavut

$4.1 TABLE: STATISTICS CANADA

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT SLIDES UPWARDS The jobs picture was almost flat across all sectors in November of 2023, although the construction sector contributed 16,000 additional workers to the figures reported by Statistics Canada. Across all sectors, there were 25,000 more workers, a gain of a tenth of a percentage point.

Construction sector employment grew by a full percentage point from October. Expanding the view to seasonally adjusted annual figures, there were 1,595,500 workers in the construction sector this past November, some 27,000 more than were in the industry in November of 2022, or a rise of 1.7 per cent. Adjusted for seasonality, job vacancies in the construction sector were sitting at 58,635 openings in November, with a job vacancy rate of 4.8 per cent.

Total Employment in Canada

20,313,000 Unemployment Rate

5.8% Construction Employment

1,595,500 10 / FEBRUARY 2024

RESIDENTIAL

Multi-Family

-2.8%

INDUSTRIAL

-7.2%

-4.7%

COMMERCIAL

-3.5%

INSTITUTIONAL

-7.9%

PERMIT VALUES TAKE A HIT Building permits were on the decline in November, according to figures released

by Statistics Canada in January. November’s total monthly value of building permits in Canada decreased 3.9 per cent from October, landing at $10.9 billion for the month. Declines were posted across almost all building segments.

Although eight provinces posted monthly gains in residential construction intentions, the total value of residential permits declined 2.8 per cent overall to $7 billion. Falls of more than 19 per cent in British Columbia and 17 per cent in Quebec more than offset the residential gains in the rest of the country in November.

In the non-residential space, all three components were contributors to the overall decline. The total monthly value of non-residential building permits decreased 5.8 per cent from October to $3.9 billion. The commercial component decreased for a third consecutive month, dipping 3.5 per cent from October. The industrial segment posted $862 million in permits in November, a drop of 7.2 per cent from October. And institutional permits were also off considerably in November, falling 7.9 per cent from a month earlier, although that segment remains a bright spot on a year-over-year basis. The November 2023 figures were 20.4 per cent higher than November of 2022.

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EQUIPMENT

A TECH ASSIST

FOR MOVING EARTH Automation and user-friendly controls fill the skills gap in the earthmoving machinery sector.

BY NATE HENDLEY

12 / FEBRUARY 2024

PHOTO: COURTESY OF DEVELON

PHOTO: COURTESY OF KOMATSU

E

quipment manufacturers have been adding high-tech systems and software to dozers and motor graders for years. While these solutions are generally designed to enhance productivity, efficiency, and safety, earthmoving equipment is increasingly sporting “features that support a less experienced work force,” as Matt Costello, product marketing manager at John Deere, put it.

While Costello was speaking for John Deere equipment, his comments apply broadly. Fewer young people are entering the skilled trades today, and those who do take jobs in construction are often techsavvy but unfamiliar with the workings of dozers and graders. There is a trend towards fitting construction equipment with automated features and user-friendly technology to fill this skills gap, in addition to enhancing performance.

“Our approach is really about supplementing the labour force we have today, and simplifying tasks that maybe take years to learn,” says Costello. The goal, he says, is twofold. Not only are manufacturers looking to help new operators get up to speed as quickly as possible, but the technologies they develop and offer also enhance the abilities of more experienced operators.

Jacob Sherman, product and dealer marketing manager at Develon agrees, noting, “In the past, the only way to gain expert capability in the jobsite was time in the seat.”

Today, this is no longer the case; Sherman points to his company’s 2D grading system, which makes it easier for inexperienced operators to master precision grading.

“There is definitely a noticeable shift in modern construction towards ‘smart machines’ where less input is required of the operator,” adds Nathan Repp, product marketing manager for Komatsu. “This trend towards machinery that requires less input means more opportunity for inexperienced operators to work on those machines and produce good results.”

The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), meanwhile, represents a high-tech wild card that might have a huge impact

on construction equipment manufacturing going forward. “[AI] is a key word lately in the news.

There’s a lot of innovation in that sector.

We are in what I would call testing and research phase of seeing how [AI] could provide some positive ROI for our customers,” says Sherman.

If AI seems like a futuristic dream, fully autonomous construction equipment also seemed like science-fiction at one point but is now a reality.

While the mining industry has used autonomous trucks for years, such vehicles operate in tunnels and other controlled environments. If a driverless mining vehicle malfunctions, damage is limited to a confined area. Construction work, by contrast, is often conducted in crowded urban settings, raising the possibility of machines running amok near schools or residential neighbourhoods.

As a result, semi-autonomous solutions, in which some machine functions are automated, but a human is still required to be in the cab, have been the norm for construction equipment.

Develon, however, recently expanded its pioneering construction machine lineup, pursuing safety as well as efficiency, and raising the possibility of driverless dozers and graders becoming commonplace on construction sites of the future.

With this in mind, here’s a look at what’s new and/or newsworthy in dozers and motor graders.

KOMATSU Komatsu showcased three specialized dozers—the D39PXi-24, D51PXi-24, and the D71PXi-24—at CONEXPO 2023 last March in Las Vegas.

This dozer trio, which offer 105 hp, 131 hp, and 237 hp respectively, were all fitted with IMC 2.0, the latest iteration of the company’s proprietary Intelligent Machine Control (IMC). Other Komatsu dozers also sport this control.

IMC 2.0 offers “a tremendous number of improvements” over the company’s original IMC system, which was introduced a decade ago, says Rafal Bukowski, product specialist for HST Dozers, Komatsu.

“With IMC 2.0, we’ve made it very-user on-sitemag.com / 13

PHOTO: COURTESY OF JOHN DEERE

EQUIPMENT

friendly. Operators are able to set multiple shortcuts on the screen to adjust and turn IMC 2.0 features off or on, depending on their application,” he explains.

Handy IMC 2.0 features include proactive dozing control, where the machine measures terrain it traverses then uses this data to configure a new, more productive pass, and tilt steering control, where the blade is automatically adjusted to ensure straight travel in applications involving rough dozing. Lift layer control, meanwhile, enables operators to press a button to automatically spread fill from an existing surface.

The new machine control can be used to upload new plans simultaneously into multiple machines. Komatsu dozers also use Komtrax, the company’s telematics system, for performance data and other metrics.

While improving productivity and efficiency was the impetus behind the development of IMC 2.0, the machine control is ideal for operators who are either inexperienced or want to focus on the jobsite rather than joysticks, says Bukowski.

“While IMC 2.0 doesn’t enable automatic dozing—because the operator still has

14 / FEBRUARY 2024

to be in the cab—we do make it significantly easier for the operator. Our data shows 80 per cent less operator input while using IMC 2.0 versus standard,” he states.

Komatsu has also introduced a 2D laser field install kit, for situations where 3D functionality is limited (when working indoors, under bridges or power lines, satellite connectivity to 3D systems can be impaired).

JOHN DEERE John Deere introduced a line of new P-Tier small dozers at CONEXPO 2023 and announced high-tech updates to its GP-Series of motor graders at bauma 2022 in Munich, Germany.

The new 450 P-Tier dozer has a maximum operating weight of 8,634 kilograms, with a 3.15-metre-wide blade, and a 71-horsepower engine. The 550 P-Tier has a maximum operating weight of 9,124 kg, offers 92 hp, and also has a 3.15-metre blade, while the 650 P-Tier has a maximum operating weight of 10,198 kg, boasts a 104-hp engine and 3.25-metre blade. The Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system has been

removed on the 450 P-tier, but the dozer’s engine still meets Tier 4 Final and Stage V emission standards.

The dozers offer precise hydraulics, and factory-fitted electrohydraulic (EH) controls featuring EZ Grade. That is a grade-management system that provides automatic blade corrections. Operators can also upgrade to Slope Control, so they can grade on slopes, if they wish.

Cabs in the new P-Tier dozer lineup boast eight-inch touchscreen displays and are 14 per cent larger than previous models. The hood line has been dropped seven inches on the 450 and 550 P-Tier models and five inches on the 650 P-Tier for better visibility.

John Deere also took the opportunity to reveal its futuristic hybrid/electric 850 X-Tier dozer at CONEXPO. The 850 X-Tier features a diesel engine and electric drive motors.

As “the newest member to our E-Drive fleet” the 850 X-Tier “gives customers multiple operating modes to help tailor that machine to the needs of their jobsite,” says Costello, adding that the machine offers power, maneuverability and control. The 850

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X-Tier also features a surround-view camera set-up and EZ Grade.

John Deere has ambitious plans to offer over 20 electric-hybrid construction models by 2026 as it looks to establish what it calls an “electrification ecosystem” with easily accessible recharging stations and other solutions.

The company, which developed the industry’s first SmartGrade Motor Graders, showcased high-tech advancements to its GP-Series motor graders at bauma 2022.

These include Auto-Gain, which automatically adjusts blade responsiveness while using John Deere’s cross slope solution, and Machine Presets, which let an operator program multiple functions into a single button.

Its GP-Series motor graders now come with Premium Circle as well, a fully sealed bearing and pinion that reduces maintenance while increasing torque and power.

DEVELON

DD100-CX dozer, the DD130’s predecessor, into the company’s autonomous equipment lineup, where the cableless DD100-CX and other autonomous Develon equipment were put through their paces.

“At CONEXPO, we demonstrated with a dozer, how sensors and cameras can work collaboratively to avoid obstructions [or detect] someone walking behind dozer or any type of obstacle,” says Sherman.

Develon calls its emergency stop feature E-Stop. When E-Stop detects the presence of a person or machine, it automatically halts the machine.

CASE CASE recently overhauled its 650M, 750M and 850M Series dozers, putting a focus on the operator and their needs.

“We believe that an operator-first mindset in the design helps keep operators happier, and more comfortable and productive,” explains Jeremy Dulak, North American product and marketing manager for Dozers and Compaction at CASE Construction Equipment.

The electrical and hydraulic systems on M Series dozers were redesigned with an emphasis on durability, reliability and serviceability, he explains. He says that main features of the electrical redesign included improved retention frequency, new braided chassis harness, and the use of strategic

PHOTO: COURTESY OF DEVELON

CONEXPO 2023 had a lot of new product introductions, and Develon was not to be left out. The company introduced its DD130, only the second dozer made by the brand, and announced that it is expanded its automated construction platform.

Designed for fine grading work in residential and light commercial construction, the DD130 boasts an operating weight of

33,730 pounds and a 157-hp engine. It sports an eight-inch colour touchscreen display, all around glass cab, rear and front LED lights, and a rearview camera.

The cooling system is in the rear while a downward sloping front improves visibility for the operator.

The DD130 comes standard with a six-way, 12-foot-wide angle pitch blade, Blade Shake function, heat and air conditioning, and Develon Fleet Management— the company’s telematics system. An optional 2D Blade Assist grading solution makes it easier for novice operators to grade with precision.

The DD130 also boasts Smart Key technology, which is similar to the fobs many of us use in our cars. The dozer operator keeps the Smart Key in their pocket and doesn’t need to insert it in the ignition to start the machine.

Develon also unveiled Concept-X2 at CONEXPO, an expanded version of its pioneering Concept-X platform. Introduced in 2019, Concept-X has been described

by Develon as “the world’s first automated construction solution.” According to company literature, the system was developed to increase efficiency, while providing contractors with a solution to the skilled worker shortage within the construction industry.

At the show, Concept-X2 incorporated a

16 / FEBRUARY 2024

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jumper harnesses for brake valve, pumps, engine, and horn. Hydraulic improvements included splitting up the main manifold, once found in the centre of the chassis, to augment routings, access and repairability.

Zip ties on hoses and stacked fittings were also eliminated, reducing potential leaks.

“The 650M dozers have new and improved mechanical control, providing a reduced lever effort by over 20 per cent, reduced float time and reduced interior cab noise,” says Dulak. “The 750M and 850M models have a new electrohydraulic control valve enabling EH blade control as standard, just like the larger CASE dozers.”

Revamped M Series dozers also boast Bluetooth radio, and ergonomic joysticks to reduce operator fatigue. CASE Universal Machine Control is optional for the 750, 850, 1150, 1650 and 2050 M-Series dozers, enabling them to be fitted with machine control systems from various suppliers. These dozers can also be equipped with factory-fitted Leica Geosystems.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CASE

EQUIPMENT

Safety is enhanced by LED lights, with four in the front and two in the rear, and an optional rear-view camera. A low sloping front hood design ensures “good forward visibility,” adds Dulak.

Nate Hendley is a freelance writer and author, and is a regular contributor to On-Site Magazine.

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2024-01-30 3:45 PM

2022 winner

2023 JOBSITE PHOTO CONTEST

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Capturing Canada’s Construction Sector in Pictures.

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on-sitemag.com / 19

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PHOTO CONTEST

A visual celebration of the industry

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rueLook is delighted to help announce the finalists for On-Site’s Annual Canadian Construction Photo Contest. After careful consideration, this year’s judges have selected a collection of captivating images that vividly depict the beauty, innovation, and dedication found within construction projects across Canada. Each finalist photograph encapsulates a unique story of progress and excellence in the industry, showcasing the remarkable moments captured on various jobsites.

At TrueLook, we remain committed to providing total jobsite visibility through our innovative camera solutions. Just as each finalist photo offers a glimpse into the dynamic world of construction, TrueLook empowers project stakeholders with comprehensive visual insights into every aspect of their projects. From remote monitoring and project documentation to enhanced communication and decision-making, our platform ensures transparency and efficiency throughout the construction process.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists and express our gratitude to everyone who submitted their inspiring photographs. Together, let us continue to celebrate the ingenuity and passion that drive our industry forward.

Here’s to a stellar 2024!

Roger Yarrow Chief Operating Officer TrueLook

on-sitemag.com / 21

22 / FEBRUARY 2024

PHOTO CONTEST

TOWERING

ABOVE

C

hecking out the sunset this past November, tower crane operator Moe Lepage shared the view from his office high above Canada’s capital city. His photo, captured from the operator’s cab on the East Crane at Parliament Hill, topped a field of over 200 photos that were submitted for the 2023 Canadian Construction Photo Contest, as presented by On-Site Magazine and our sponsor, TrueLook.

No stranger to capturing great images, Moe shares his photos on his social media feed and has been featured on CTV showcasing his unique view of some of the construction projects that can be spotted in Ottawa. That’s something he started doing just over 10 years ago.

“People always ask me about the job, the view, and what’s it like,” he said as he explained his motivation for posting the photos he captures. “A picture is worth 1,000 words, so they can actually see what I see.”

This view from Parliament Hill is part of the current rehabilitation work to

modernize and restore Centre Block of Canada’s Parliament Buildings.

That project includes the construction of a new Parliament Welcome Centre that will extend underneath the Centre Block, connecting to the main building in several locations, as well as restoration of the Peace Tower, earthquake-proofing the building, and significant restoration of stonework, glass and other aspects of the structure.

The largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation in Canadian history, the project is scheduled for completion between 2030 and 2031.

Moe also worked on the West Block rehabilitation project, which was completed in 2018, and is also working on a pair of new buildings in downtown Ottawa that will bring new retail and residential units to the city when they are completed in 2027.

As is tradition with our contest, a donation has been made in Moe’s name to a charity of his choice. This year we are proud to recognize his great shot with a

Tower crane operator Moe Lepage’s view from high above Parliament Hill captured the attention of the judges of On-Site’s 2023 Canadian Construction Photo Contest.

That’s a phenomenal view from his office window, high in the sky.

donation to the Ottawa Humane Society.

Congratulations Moe! And keep those photos coming.

Anyone who has served as a judge for this contest can attest, that it is not easy to select a winner. As such, we would like to also recognize the photos in the pages that follow with honourable mentions.

These, and some of the other submitted photos may find their way into future editions of the magazine – there were so many great shots this year.

To everyone who submitted photos, thank you for sharing these moments from your jobsites. We can attest that there is great work happening in Canada’s construction sector – we have the photographic proof.

The contest will return again next year, so please keep the cameras rolling throughout 2024. The next Canadian Construction Photo Contest will launch in December, and you can’t enter a photo that was not captured, so keep those cameras, drones and smartphones rolling!

Happy, and safe, shooting.

Company: Coffrages Synergy Formwork Photographer:Moe Lepage, tower crane operator Location: Ottawa, Ontario

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PHOTO CONTEST

FINALISTS

Choosing one winner from a field of more than 200 photos is not an easy job, and there were some great shots in this year’s crop of images, including enough fill twice the space that we have for our contest. We would like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who took the time to share photos of their work. There were a lot of impressive shots of hard work and great scenery sent our way from the busy jobsites of the past year. Congratulations to Moe for his great shot from high above Ottawa, and to the following honourable mention winners. And warm up those cameras. We encourage you to (safely) capture pictures of you and your colleagues so that you are ready for the 2024 contest, launching this December.

Company: EllisDon Photographer: Jeff Cooke/Cooked Photography Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Working on an EllisDon project in February, the demolition crew from J. Mason Contracting prepares for the removal of a concrete facade at the 22-storey Loyola Residence Tower at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. The concrete panels were replaced with solar panels, making the tower the tallest solar-integrated building in North America.

Company: Steelcon Photographer: Matthew Zen Working on a mission-critical data centre facility in Ontario, a member of the Steelcon Erectors team navigates the process of installing steel beams, with assistance from an overhead crane.

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PHOTO CONTEST Company: Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. Photographer: Dave Silver Location: Richmond, British Columbia Team meetings can happen in interesting places on some jobsites, as this team from Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. can attest.

This gathering was to mark a milestone on a sewer project.

Company: EllisDon Photographer: Tom Moroney Location: Calgary, Alberta EllisDon team members work on the glass roof at Telus Sky, a 60-storey luxury office building in the heart of downtown Calgary.

Company: Carbonleo Photographer: Marc-Aurèle Courchesne-Paré Location: Montreal, Quebec The Royalmount construction project is massive, as is its main atrium, shown here. Once all phases are complete, the mixed-use project will offer some 3.5 million square feet commercial and residential space, featuring high-end restaurants, retailers, hotels, corporate offices, and entertainment venues. The $7-billion project is the biggest private project in Quebec.

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Company: Ontario Cutting & Coring Photographer: David Ohashi Sometimes you just need a big saw. A team member from Ontario Cutting & Coring sets his sights on his line to be cut in a slab of concrete.

Company: Pomerleau Photographer: Pierre Seager Location: Vaudreuil, Quebec On an intensely hot day in July, ironworkers prepare the foundations of one of the main floors of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Hospital, the second-largest medical construction project in the country.

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Company: COWI North America Photographer: Jessica Ng Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Two COWI inspectors, one Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff member, and three high-angle standby rescue team members from Dynamic Rescue Systems Group of Companies took part in an external visual condition inspection of the main cable of the Lions Gate Bridge last March with the aim of identifying the most suitable locations to conduct a future internal condition inspection.

Company: Lafarge Photographer: Angela Campbell Location: Maple Ridge, British Columbia Angela Campbell caught the light shining through the trees as the Lafarge team was working on a paving project at a rural subdivision in Maple Ridge in late October.

Company: Peninsula Construction and Silverback Traffic Solutions Photographer: Philip Castleton Location: Strathroy, Ontario Working on a Ministry of Transportation of Ontario project in November, a worker prepares to install the first post of a leaving-end treatment for highway guide rails.

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HEALTH & SAFETY

PROMOTING PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION

Empowering Innovation and Well-being

BY JUSTIN LEISLE

RESOURCES AND SUPPORT Workers’ safety and well-being is of the utmost importance, which is why providing them with essential resources is crucial.

One way to do this is by ensuring that each worker has access to important contact information. This information can be shared through the use of posters or QR codes in strategic locations like washrooms, outhouses and notice boards.

In my home province of British Columbia, this can include the use of such tools as the mental health and wellness resources developed by the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), as well

30 / FEBRUARY 2024

as company wellness programs that champion mental health and wellness initiatives.

Make sure that your people know how to connect with, and use, Employee and Family Assistance Programs, and given the heightened risk in the sector, share the hotline number for the suicide prevention hotline in your region. By having this information readily available, such as on the inside brim of their hard hat, workers can easily reach out or get information for support and assistance when needed.

CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION To combat the stigma associated with mental health, we have observed that incorporating discussions on this topic during toolbox meetings, trade meetings, and even company newsletters, can create a normalizing effect while raising awareness.

Additionally, implementing open-invite, peer-to-peer drop-in hours for managers creates a safe space for employees to connect and engage in meaningful conversations. This fosters a supportive environment and provides opportunity to connect employees with relevant community organizations and address individual needs effectively.

EMPOWERING MANAGERS Construction workers and leaders, including front-line supervisors, foremen, first aid attendants, and workers, can receive valuable support through comprehensive mental health first aid, suicide intervention training, and overdose prevention training.

By prioritizing inclusiveness and promoting a culture of active engagement, programs like the “Be more than a

Adding a sticker with contact information for support providers is a great way to ensure that everyone on a site can access help when they have need.

bystander” training, offered by the B.C. Centre for Women in the Trades, help promote a culture of active engagement while putting a priority on inclusiveness.

Training courses like this are a great resource to empower individuals and enhance their ability to support those in need.

By encouraging the open expression of ideas, sharing concerns, and taking calculated risks, teamwork and project outcomes are enhanced.

Prioritizing mental health and psychological safety by offering additional training, accessible resources and support to address the high suicide rate and overdose crisis, and taking proactive measures like providing essential contact information and promoting continuous communication, are key in ensuring a safer work environment.

Justin Leisle is a registered safety professional who serves as the director of health, safety, environment and quality at Ventana Construction Corporation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VENTANA CONSTRUCTION

C

reating a culture of psychological safety is crucial for innovation and well-being in construction.

Fostering an environment where individuals freely express ideas, share concerns, and take calculated risks without fear of repercussions, psychological safety enhances teamwork and project outcomes.

In the wake of the pandemic, construction organizations and leaders have grown increasingly cognizant of the imperative to prioritize mental health and psychological safety within the industry. Addressing the alarmingly high suicide rate and the repercussions of the overdose crisis calls for innovative approaches.

A spectrum of support and resources is being made available to assist individuals working at construction job sites, while senior management is actively endorsing and championing these initiatives. Despite these efforts, however, a persisting “old school” mentality can still be observed at a number of job sites.

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OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS A PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN FUTURE IN CONSTRUCTION

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s we navigate the fast-evolving landscape of modern construction, it’s clear that embracing change isn’t just a choice—it’s a necessity. Our industry is defined by rapid changes, suffering labour shortages, new regulations, tight margins, and even tighter deadlines. This year’s On-Site Construction Technology Report underscores a vital truth: To stay ahead, we must innovate and adapt. Yet, this evolution is more than just a shift in tactics; it’s a transformation rooted in precision and driven by data.

At Buildots, our journey began in 2018 with a simple yet powerful vision: To equip construction professionals with the tools to make decisions grounded in solid, reliable data.

Driven by our mission, we analyzed the equivalent of 82 years of ongoing construction activity and identified a crucial link between performance metrics and project delays. It highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in management methodologies—moving from lagging indicators like schedules and budgets to leading indicators focused on operational performance and process efficiency.

This is how, in collaboration with leading construction companies, we developed Performance-Driven Construction Management (PDCM)—a testament to our commitment to lead the way for better efficiency in construction.

Performance-Driven Construction Management resolves the entrenched blind spots in traditional project management, addressing hidden, systemic inefficiencies while elevating Planned Percentage Complete (PPC), boosting production pace, and sealing completion gaps.

It isn’t just a concept; it’s a reality shaped by real-world pain points and tangible facts, honed in partnership with industry leaders.

This unique approach is about ensuring outcomes, not hoping for them. We are eager to build a future where measurement, analysis, and optimization are the cornerstones of every successful project, a vision made possible by the trust and collaboration of our forward-thinking clients. This is our contribution: Forging a path towards a smarter, more productive, and more predictable world of construction, together.

Enjoy this year’s Construction Technology Report as we explore how technologies like artificial intelligence are bringing value to Canada’s construction industry.

Warm regards, Jessica Herrala Buildots Regional Director - North America

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TECHNOLOGY REPORT

CONSTRUCTION HITS THE

AI ERA

Webinar panel shares insights into how artificial intelligence is driving change in the construction sector.

M

uch as such technologies as computers, email and smartphones have transformed business, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly emerging as a generational game-changer, and a game-changer that is already in play in the construction industry.

AI is not new. In fact, the concept was considered by scientists and authors more than 70 years ago. In the ensuing decades, the pursuit of machines and programming that could mimic human-like decision making has made considerable headway, but the speed at which computers could analyze potential outcomes and apply decisions was always a limiting factor.

As computer technology has evolved, so too has AI, however, and the latest generation of the technology, which includes large language model-based programs like ChatGPT, is now making AI viable, and available to the masses.

While most agree that AI can be a game changer, it is not without its pitfalls, and many in Canada’s construction industry are wrestling with the practical applications of AI, and what it can and cannot do for the world of construction.

To assess the impact that this tech-

34 / FEBRUARY 2024

nology is currently having on Canada’s construction sector, as well as the potential it holds, this past January, On-Site Magazine hosted a webinar featuring experts from five of the nation’s foremost contracting and engineering companies.

The panel discussion, which was sponsored by Buildots, whose technology uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to improve efficiency on construction projects, and American Global – Canada, one of North America’s largest privately held insurance and surety brokerage firms specializing in all aspects of construction risk management, featured Hammad Chaudhry, vice-president of innovation and construction technology at EllisDon Corp., Charles Davis, director of data and analytics at Modern Niagara Group, Carolyne Filion, director of innovation, research and development at Pomerleau, Kevin MacLean, principal at Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., and Chris Palmer, director, enterprise intelligence and security at PCL Business Technology.

AI IN THE FIELD As he opened the discussion, On-Site editor Adam Freill asked the panel where AI is having an impact on the industry. They were

quick to point out several current uses, as well as uses that are emerging and evolving as existing and start-up technology companies find industry pain points that they can address with various AI-based apps and technology platforms.

“If you look at BIM and VDC, you can use AI to help do things like automated clash detection that we couldn’t do before without draining a lot of resources,” said Chaudhry. “And then there’s a predictive side of things.”

As an example, he pointed at the ability of machine learning to analyze large amounts of data relatively quickly to do such things as assess risks on a project, explaining that risk mitigation is driving considerable interest in AI growth.

“The way we’ve been considering AI, as specialty trades contractors, is how can we use the tool set to eliminate or reduce the repetitive and mundane,” added Davis. “We see there’s some real value in that as a tool in the toolkit to help us become much more effective, and to free up time for people to really lean into their specific skills.”

He also listed a variety of opportunities where AI can be harnessed, from the drawing stages to estimation, pointing to the

PHOTO: B4LLS / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS / GETTY IMAGES

BY ON-SITE STAFF

jobsite issue of on-site logistics as a prime opportunity that will benefit his company.

“A lot of these sites where we’re working, you’ve got multiple trades working there, you have limited set-down areas to keep things in, so having tools that can help with the logistics – with the coordination – could reduce the time and effort that really is a lot of manual chasing.”

Filion, added that “safety, efficiency and the decision-making process” were core construction concepts where AI holds considerable promise.

EVOLVING QUICKLY While some companies are already making use of AI through a variety of technologies on their sites, developments are moving quickly, which Davis said can make it difficult for many company owners and management staff to sort out the hype from the practical uses and applications.

“At this point, there’s a lot of tire kicking going on, and trying to work your way through what is real and what is marketing,” he explained, adding that costs associated with some of the customizable AI platforms can make access to their use prohibitive for smaller construction and contracting firms.

Today’s iterations of AI are making it easier for those companies who have made the jump, however.

“In the past, AI was difficult to integrate, when data was unstructured,” shared Filion. “Thanks to the evolution of AI, I’ll say that today unstructured data is no longer as much of an issue as it once was. Of course, Crews working on a road widening project on the more structured and organized that Vancouverdata Island. you have, the easier the technology will be integrated in your practice.”

MacLean said that for many in the engineering community, their first steps into the use of AI have been going after the low hanging fruit of debugging code and models.

AUGMENTING THE DETAILS He explained that engineering and professional services firms appear to be focused on using AI technology to automate repeatable details, to add depth and additional data into the files they create.

“There is a lot of data that exists, but often, it’s not in a form that you can use to draw conclusions,” said MacLean. “So, we are looking towards automating the creation of databases using drawings and interpreting annotations and visual representations of our work because, ultimately, our product

is an image that represents a three-dimensional building.”

He used the example of rebar, since most models are not so detailed to include each piece in the drawings, however an AI platform has the potential to automatically add in each piece, which makes for a richer 3D rendering, with data that can be further used to add efficiency to the project.

“From a structural engineering perspective, the engineer doesn’t draw every piece of rebar on the drawing, they don’t detail every connection on the drawings, a lot of that’s indicative, and there’s an opportunity to translate that sort of common expectation about what those annotations mean, into something that’s a bit more tangible,” he explained.

DYNAMIC DECISION MAKING Beyond fleshing out the model, Filion is excited about how fluid changes can be worked into the management of projects.

“Integrating AI with other technologies, such as IoT sensors or the BIM model, can enable a dynamic and responsive approach to construction project management, where decisions are based on current data rather than a static plan,” she said, adding that

on-sitemag.com / 35

TECHNOLOGY REPORT

data gathered from current projects adds to the machine learning algorithms, which can help to optimize future projects. “This is really the strength to be exploited from AI; to learn about the past and improve the future,” she explained.

“The Holy Grail is the true optimization of the building, and that’s running through and having an algorithm make design decisions,” said MacLean. “But I think that’s a long way down the road.”

“We’re really at the beginning of this technology and what it’s going to do,” added Palmer. “The initial benefit that we’re going to get is probably driving basic efficiencies.

And then as we continue to develop the technology within our toolset and within our processes, we’re going to see the real enhancements come down the road.”

For now, Palmer says the technology can help site personnel juggle the numerous, and often repetitive, tasks that are a necessary process of managing a project.

“We have so many intelligent people that, through experience, understand the nuances of what goes into building a structure,” he said. “How do we free up these knowledgeable people to focus on critical tasks and make them more effective? That’s where I see AI being a tool they can use; to help automate more mundane tasks.”

SECURITY AND CHATGPT The panel was somewhat split on whether the use of ChatGPT was a positive or a negative for industry professionals. The risk of losing proprietary data into the cloud is a major concern, and a concern with merit – Chaudhry pointed to a recent issue experi-

36 / FEBRUARY 2024

enced by Samsung, where its staff accidentally leaked some of the company’s source code via an open AI platform.

“In general, it’s a yea to ChatGPT, but doing it in a safe manner,” said Palmer.

“There are guidelines that people should follow… They will bypass your technical controls and those sorts of things. You’d be in a far better position to educate.”

“I think, personally, it’s a phenomenal tool for practical applications and creative things,” said Chaudhry. “From the scare side of a business, whether you’re a small specialty contractor, large design firm, or anything in between, we all probably heard about the Samsung story… You need to educate, but I think blocking access, potentially, and providing a different tool, if you have the resources to… so you don’t expose yourself to unnecessary risk.”

“If you haven’t already been having a discussion internally around creating guidance for your folks about ‘How do I safely use generative AI tools or AI tools in general?’, ‘What are the telltale signs of where you can safely bring data versus when and where you can’t?’ and making sure people understand and have examples of what is an acceptable use and what is an unacceptable use, [you should initiate that discussion] because then you are arming them to use it safely and to use it without putting your organization, your data, or your clients at risk,” explained Palmer.

“You’ve got to have good methods and tool sets around prioritizing your data security, access controls, secure authentication, and encryption. These are table stakes that you really have to put in there,

particularly since the services are all cloud-based services,” added Davis. “You need to do regular security audits, and compliance with data protection laws and data protection practices is essential. Depending on your client base, you may have data residency requirements that you have to consider.”

Those details may not be part of the marketing pitch from a vendor offering to create an AI program that integrates into a construction company’s procedures, so the panel advised digging deeper into such matters, rather than risking data loss, and to ensure that contractual requirements, which may include an integrity of data clause, are met.

LOOKING AHEAD One thing that all panellists could agree upon is that the age of AI is upon us.

“Winston Churchill said, ‘We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.’ I think it’s apt to consider a modern twist, given AI in our digital age,” said Chaudhry. “We create our data, and thereafter it shapes us.

So, the linchpin to all these technologies, whether it’s construction or anything else, is data. And that’s what AI is unlocking.”

“AI is becoming integral in Canadian construction, we see that there’s an opportunity for the tool sets to enhance efficiency, enhance sustainability and the work that we’re doing; to augment the workforce to help us free people for their highest and best use,” said Davis. “The success lies in balancing the technology with human insight and continuous learning, and considering AI as a tool.”

“AI has a really big role to play on the future of our industry,” concluded Filion. “But you’ll get more impact if you link AI also with other technologies, such as robotics, IoT sensor, and BIM models.”

To watch the full webinar on On-Site’s YouTube channel, scan the QR Code.

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TECHNOLOGY REPORT

THE YEAR OF

AI EXPLORATION Emerging technology is gaining strong momentum throughout the build sector.

L

ast year was a year of first steps in the investigation and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in construction.

There have been many marketing releases and statements about AI, but it’s very much in the early stages when it comes to construction companies incorporating AI into products or business practices.

What we did see in 2023 was many companies starting to announce their strategies, plans and beliefs about the use of AI. And we saw some early adopters using AI in their planning departments to evaluate historical data, including using the technology to explore what went wrong and how long certain initiatives took.

With AI still in the “new and evolving” stage for construction, it is difficult to predict the specifics of how software companies will provide AI for the industry, but the intent is certainly there. It’s been somewhat of a boom for the rise of AI startups in the construction space, as well as related domains such as site capture, planning, tendering and contract review.

We also saw many small teams form companies to tackle these fields, and we have seen more and more people using ChatGPT for search and quick research but, in reality, we saw more marketing than traction. We’ll need to see real-world data sets and use cases to move AI forward at a faster pace.

Big-name vendors are, of course, working on AI products, but seeing the number of AI startups formed to service the

38 / FEBRUARY 2024

construction industry has been fascinating to watch. This growth has been catalyzed by the number of construction companies projected to use AI to improve their business practices. Most construction companies aren’t developing AI products in-house, so they will look outside for AI vendors.

And the impact of language models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Bard and Microsoft Bing should not be understated.

The move from closed providers and models, for example, ChatGPT and Google Bard, to Meta’s pioneering of LLAMA/ LLAMA2, has driven a lot of innovation in the space. With closed models, you don’t know how it works or how it was trained.

Further, there are limited ways to extend their abilities.

LANGUAGE MODELS AND DATA QUALITY As the technology has advanced, we saw that RAG, or resource augmented generation, was essential for enhancing language models such as ChatGPT with document data. If you want to ask a question about financials, you can use a language model to quickly pull out the answer with a semantic search to your question instead of scouring through multiple records.

Data quality is vital to corporate success, as researchers have found that language models can be significantly more accurate and cost-effective when the training data is curated correctly. We’ve heard a lot about having big data, which is good, but ultimately it comes down to building proper

data pipelines to have robust data quality with minimal errors.

And cross training may improve the ability of AI, as the use of different data sources allows models to become multi-modal to be able to “read” and “see.”

Currently within the construction sector, AI mainly lives in the IT departments of contracting companies. They are the custodians of the data infrastructure and, therefore, the best place to try to find applications of AI that will correlation with the data they have. This is good and bad as it provides oversight and control but also limits user capability – at least for now.

The construction site has seen limited adoption, mainly for information capture and with field devices to drive productivity information. We also saw some progressive companies use a bit of AI for planning and analyzing historical data to help with accounting, procurement, reporting, fraud detection, and transactions, however this is in the early stages.

There are some promising developments on the horizon though, which may open the

PHOTO: PHONLAMAIPHOTO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS /GETTY IMAGES

BY DANIEL HEWSON

AI NEEDS PEOPLE If you are someone who is worried about machines taking over for humans, don’t expect to see AI causing layoffs in construction any time soon. The data is too messy for people to lose their jobs, and humans are needed. It’s definitely going to be a scenario of AI augmenting what people do, not replacing them.

door to more advanced use in this sector.

To start, combining RAG with language models and tools with semantic search and external data sources will make it much faster to conduct document reviews, contract reviews, tendering, etc.

TALK TO MY AGENT Agents, which are a computer program, system, app or bot that can interpret the environment to take an intended action, have a conversational interface so that you can feed in text to predict subsequent text.

With agents, we can augment language models with tools, such as a calculator, to answer questions and enable users and non-users of programs to ask questions in natural language to get answers. We won’t see this in full force this year, but we should see the start of this trend.

Also expect to see the democratization of machine learning to advance this year.

We should see programs such as Excel and Power BI incorporating AI to enable users to take historical data, tools, and BI apps to perform forecasts for future

projects. This will allow them to use large amounts of well-structured data to improve business decisions.

TRENDS WITH BENEFITS There are two primary reasons why construction professionals might want to pay attention to these trends.

The first is to improve productivity.

Construction has tight resource limitations with very thin margins and people in construction are often overworked. This can include spending hours looking for crucial information in existing data and documentation. RAG and agents will allow people to be more productive and save time when seeking information within documentation.

The second is that democratization will move AI from IT departments to users. This is critical as IT is experienced in managing the data infrastructure but not in using and interpreting the data.

Democratization gives the data and AI to the actual users and true subject-matter experts, empowering them and enhancing data-driven decision-making during

daily tasks. We should also expect to see planners, site supervisors, and various other players in the industry begin to use new tools in conjunction with AI to augment their AI experience.

This will all require guardrails to ensure that confidential data is protected, stays within the boundaries of corporate governance, and meets government regulations and guidelines. There will be friction and learning along the way, as well as training and upskilling of people.

As AI matures, we will see planners using AI-driven tools to analyze historical data and rich, current data. We should also see some site supervisors and workers adding more field devices like cameras and sensors to help capture more of that loop for AI usage and improvements in safety and progress tracking.

This past year, we saw the groundwork for AI being laid throughout construction and entering the industry’s consciousness.

AI in the building world will take off in both usage and further development, but with that, let us remember that we are seeing quite a bit of “AI hype” right now when we need to see less fanfare and more problem solving.

Complicating matters is that some AI vendors tend to keep their development projects under wraps, so it can all be a bit confusing as the AI market is being developed and sorted out. Many startups that focus on AI in construction are in the works, and we should see many of these new ideas stick in the office and on job sites.

Many construction companies have included AI as part of their business strategy, and we’ll see the transition occur from a strategic level goal to trials and experimentation, or what I call “AI Exploration.”

Daniel Hewson is the data capability manager at Elecosoft, a company that helps its customers implement technical innovations. He oversees development of overall data and AI strategy to focus on how AI can be leveraged to improve project planning and to identify inherent project risk.

on-sitemag.com / 39

TECHNOLOGY

By Jacob Stoller

AI and the next generation of BIM Newly released AI features from major BIM platforms are targeted at streamlining the work of architects and engineers.

L

ast fall, the investment advisory firm Wall Street Zen released a study showing that the mere mention of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a company’s quarterly report resulted in a measurable bump in the company’s share prices. AI, it appears, is the magic bullet that you can’t go wrong with. For contractors, however, techno-optimism meets a sobering reality: the challenge of applying digital information to a real-life physical job site.

“AI doesn’t hammer nails,” says Thomas Strong, principal at construction tech firm wired.construction and CEO of Building Transformations, a not-for-profit serving the digital needs of the construction industry. “AI can help manage all the pre-construction processes like creating schedules and better coordinated designs or buying materials. But at the end of the day, until you actually affect what’s happening on the job site, you’re not actually creating any real efficiencies in construction.”

Pre-construction, consequently, is where the action is for contractors, at least for now. “Our thoughts with AI-based 3D models are to create another layer that will empower the production process,” says Hammad Chaudhry, vice-president, Innovation & Construction Technology at EllisDon. SWAPP and Augmenta are examples of upcoming start-ups betting on this change and aiming to bridge that gap. “We generally don’t build models, but there are tools in the market right now that help us get that AutoCAD or Revit model ready for production,” says Chaudhry. “So, you don’t need somebody to do the drafting or modelling – AI will do that, allowing those who were focused on modelling or drafting to focus on coordination.”

For many contractors, their AI journey began with ChatGPT, using it for such time-consuming work as looking up information from building codes.

“I think ChatGPT set the tone for all of these AI products,” says Strong. “There are so many construction-specific tools emerging, focused especially on the pre-construction phase of work, which is a lot of navigating red tape, reading documentation, and producing a plan that ultimately needs to be taken to the job site.”

Software vendor Zapier, for example, provides a tool for creating workflows with ChatGPT and Procore. Many of the new tools are bridging the gap between sophisticated digital models and contractors’ in-house skill levels. These tools not only help extract data from models, but from within the company’s own data assets.

“The data already exists, but it’s a lot harder to extract everything and look at all of it. You need someone who’s very, very experienced,” says Rajitha Chaparala, vice-president of product, data and AI at Procore. “So, what we can do is build models that

40 / FEBRUARY 2024

actually extract meaning and present it so users can see everything together and make the decisions.”

The Procore BIM product takes models from major platforms and makes it accessible for contractors and facilities managers.

“Procore BIM takes created models and builds a production model that can be used through pre-construction, construction, and building maintenance,” says Chaparala.

LOOKING AHEAD The biggest opportunities for AI may lie in enabling the adoption of new business models.

“A lot of the value of AI is going to be on the architect’s side,” says Chaudhry, “but in a future world where we’re working on an RFP for a design-build project, we’d be working with a design team to come up with a lot of different drawings and models for something that might not even move forward. So, AI could make a huge impact there.”

According to Chaparala, contractors can expect new products that will bring new capabilities to contractors, such as better clash detection, determining and tracking the carbon footprint of building materials, and detecting bias in a model.

AI can also support better collaboration between designers, contractors, and owners. “Hypothetically what we’ve been seeing is precon coming in earlier,” says Chaudhry, “and this is the perfect time to emphasize the value of precon becoming more important.

With the architects and designers having the ability to get their models and drawings to production level a little bit sooner, precon can actually do what we’ve all been trying to do with models – identify the issues and flush them out before construction.”

His company’s in-house Insight and Analytics team, led by Eze Machabanksi, is working on what he calls “some exciting things” that they hope to showcase soon.

AI could also help contractors improve their products the way manufacturers do. “Manufacturers retain their IP and iterate to make their products better, but we don’t do that in construction.

We start with a clean slate every time,” says Strong. “The Province of Ontario has built many hospitals, and each one is unique. The government paid for that unique solution every time, and there’s a huge cost to that. If we want to create efficiency, we need to do the same thing more than once so we can iterate and improve.”

Jacob Stoller is principal of StollerStrategies. Send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com.

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RISK

By David Bowcott

Preventing and mitigating worker injury risk

Many reasons, and benefits, to putting a focus on safety and injury reduction practices.

W

ithin the construction industry there should be no greater priority than preventing and reducing the frequency and severity of worker injury. With labour shortages being a primary concern, a focus on the safety of workers can only serve to ensure that those workers who are in the industry remain within the industry.

Additionally, the costs associated with worker injuries continue to rise, whether you are navigating government-led workers compensation insurance programs or a private sector insurance program, the price is becoming a material portion of your organization’s total cost of risk, so reducing worker injury losses can only serve to make your company more competitive.

Finally, there are several insurance studies that have shown companies with low worker injury losses (both frequency and severity) have overall lower insurance claims results in all lines of cover – they also tend to have some of the highest profitability levels.

Here are a few ways your organization can focus on optimal management of this risk.

TRAINING

TOP-DOWN, SAFETY FIRST AND SAFETY CULTURE

WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Leadership of your organization needs to lead by example. Employees at your company need to see that company leadership are demanding that management of worker injury risk be priority number 1. Such prioritization by leadership lays the foundation for a company-wide safety culture.

Through leadership’s prioritization of safety, employees will begin developing a safety culture whereby they think safety first and develop support structures for each other to ensure they have each other’s backs when it comes to safety. As they say, “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” meaning if your organization has the right culture, the plans fall into place to create a successful company.

Worker fatigue, stress and addiction can contribute to safety incidents. Organizations that have solutions to help their employees deal with these issues, such as benefits programs and internal resources, will see substantial benefits, including reductions in worker injury events.

DEDICATED SAFETY TEAMS Having an appropriately staffed team of dedicated safety professionals is absolutely necessary to driving down frequency and severity of worker injury events. This team should have experts who help all employees implement the best safety decisions. While the team is dedicated to safety, everyone in the organization has to have a safety-first mindset. Have your safety team perform regular audits.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF REPORTING With a strong safety culture, driven by support from leadership, employees will feel comfortable reporting safety concerns and incidents without any fear of repercussions. This is vital step in preventing and mitigating worker injury risk.

42 / FEBRUARY 2024

An organization that is successful at managing safety risk needs training. Training sessions need to be regular, thorough, and required for all employees. Training isn’t “one and done;” it is continuous.

Safety consultants, insurance company resources and insurance brokers have resources available.

INVESTING IN EQUIPMENT Ensure your company invests in top safety gear and equipment, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and that it is driven to stay on top of advances within the PPE sector and the construction tools and machinery sector.

SAFETY CHECKLISTS Identify the best safety procedures checklists and make them available to all employees in a format that is easy to use and easy to monitor. These checklists can be developed internally, or sourced externally.

TECHNOLOGY Last, but by no means least, there are a myriad of safety technologies available in the market that have demonstrated material reductions in worker injury incidents and costs. Examples of these solutions include project management technology platforms, worker injury data driven AI solutions, worker wearable technologies, reality capture technologies, and technology training solutions. There are even some insurers that provide premium discounts for companies using tech solutions.

The above represents a selection of best practices and tools that your organization can use to better tackle the risk of worker injury, but there are other solutions beyond this list. Given the scarcity of workers in the construction economy, you should be strongly encouraged to investigate all solutions to ensure you protect your most precious resource – your talent.

David Bowcott is the managing director, construction, at NFP Corp.

Please send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com.

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CONTRACTORS & THE LAW

By Patricia Morrison and Marin Leci

Making payment a priority With legislation passed, in force, and possibly coming to most regions across Canada, prompt payment is on the brink of being the new reality in construction.

ALBERTA

Ontario led the way with implementation of prompt payment legislation in 2019. Although it appears that the Ontario construction industry has adapted to these changes, the transition provisions in Ontario’s Construction Act may mean that some projects in Ontario are still working under the old legislation. Generally, with some exceptions, the prompt payment requirements of the Construction Act apply to contracts entered into on or after October 1, 2019.

Ontario’s legislation makes adjudication mandatory. The province has designated a single adjudication body to handle disputes. In its 2022 annual report, adjudication figures rose significantly from its 2021 reporting, with 121 adjudication claims commenced worth more than $33.5 million. Of those, 67 determinations were delivered, directing a total of $3.45 million to be paid. These figures suggest that Ontario’s adjudication regime is rapidly expanding and can be expected to address an even larger number of disputes in the coming years.

On August 29, 2022, Alberta’s Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act (PPCLA) came into force. The PPCLA applies to all contracts or subcontracts entered into on or after August 29, 2022. It still unclear whether this could result in the old and new legislation applying to different contracts on the same project. The act also includes a two-year transition period for pre-existing contracts to be amended to comply.

In April 2023, Arcana received authorization to act as Alberta’s Nominating Authority, although the PPCLA allows for more than one.

Despite several adjudications having been determined under the adjudication regime, there has been very little judicial consideration of the prompt payment and adjudication provisions of the PPCLA. Only one year after coming in force, on September 28, 2023, Alberta issued a regulation that allows certain entities and projects to be exempted from the prompt payment requirements by eliminating the obligation for a contractor to provide an owner with a proper invoice every 31 days. This would allow parties to agree to a payment schedule that would otherwise violate the PPCLA prompt payment provisions.

To be exempt, the entity or project agreement must be listed in the Schedule to the Regulation and meet certain criteria, such as being directly connected to a project valuing at least $5 billion, and contributing to significant job creation and economic growth. Currently only one project is listed under the PPCLA exemption regulation.

SASKATCHEWAN

NOVA SCOTIA

On March 1, 2022, The Builders’ Lien (Prompt Payment) Amendment Act came into force in Saskatchewan. While the prompt payment timelines mirror Ontario and Alberta, unlike Ontario and Alberta, the act expressly states that the prompt payment and adjudication provisions do not apply to architects and engineers.

The new provisions apply to contracts entered into on or after March 1, 2022, and with respect to subcontracts made under those contracts. If a contract for an improvement was entered into before March 1, 2022, the old act will apply with respect to all contracts relating to that improvement, regardless of when a subcontract was entered into. This binary transitional provision should reduce, but may not eliminate, uncertainty associated with applying the new or old act.

On April 12, 2019, amendments to the Nova Scotia Builders’ Lien Act received royal assent which added a prompt payment and adjudication regime, with the details to be stipulated later by regulation, and changed the name to the Builders’ Lien and Prompt Payment Act. These amendments have yet to come into force.

In 2023, the province was in consultation with the construction industry regarding the drafting of the regulations under the act, suggesting that the amended act may come into force soon.

ONTARIO

44 / FEBRUARY 2024

MANITOBA On May 30, 2023, The Prompt Payment for Construction Act received royal assent to amend Manitoba’s Builders’ Liens Act, but

PHOTO: WUTWHANFOTO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS /GETTY IMAGES

T

he shift towards prompt payment and adjudication in the construction industry continues to expand across Canada.

As of January 2024, three provinces have implemented prompt payment legislation, four more have passed legislation that is not yet in force and, most recently, federal legislation has come into effect. Prompt payment is now a market reality that owners and contractors must account for in negotiating contracts and executing projects.

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CONTRACTORS & THE LAW

is not yet in force. The regulations have not yet been published. Like other provinces, Manitoba’s act will require owners to pay contractors no later than 28 days after a proper invoice is given to the owner by the contractor.

Like Saskatchewan, Manitoba’s act will not apply to architects or engineers. Like Alberta, the new act will apply to contracts or subcontracts entered into on or after the date the amendments come into force. Forthcoming regulations may impact how these changes will work in practice.

NEW BRUNSWICK Beginning in July 2019, New Brunswick released a series of law reform notes that supported the introduction of prompt payment and adjudication legislation in two stages: the first stage being an update to the existing lien legislation, and the second being the introduction of a prompt payment and adjudication regime. As part of stage one, the Construction Remedies Act came substantially into force on November 1, 2021, with the act coming into full effect on April 1, 2022, when holdback trust account provisions came into force.

On May 9, 2023, the New Brunswick Legislature began stage two, by releasing the Construction Prompt Payment and Adjudication Act. That act received royal assent on June 16, 2023, and introduces a prompt payment and mandatory adjudication regime in the province. This act is not yet in force. It is generally modelled after Ontario’s prompt payment and adjudication regime.

PEI/NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador do not appear to have plans to develop or table prompt payment and adjudication legislation at this time.

FEDERAL LEGISLATION The federal Prompt Payment for Construction Work Act, which applies to federal real property or federal immovables, received royal assent on June 21, 2019, and came into force on December 9, 2023.

Regulations were published in February 2023. The prompt payment provisions are similar to those in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The Canada Dispute Adjudication for Construction Contracts (“CanDACC”) is the adjudication authority under the federal act.

The federal act will apply to all applicable contracts one year after coming into force. In other words, the act contains a one-year deferral period for contractors and owners to amend contracts and processes to comply with prompt payment and adjudication requirements. This approach will require owners and contractors on affected projects to modify existing dispute resolution and payment processes mid-project.

The act permits the federal government to exempt provinces from the federal regime if they have adopted equivalent legislation. On December 8, 2023, the federal government exempted Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan on this basis.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

The policy of governments across Canada is clear – timely payment of contractors and subcontractors in the construction industry is a priority. Prompt payment is no longer just an emerging trend but will soon be an established norm. However, while significant advances have been made in the last few years, some prompt payment regimes across the country will need time to come into force or develop further.

Recent regulatory amendments in Alberta signal that governments may continue to change the legislation, or its application, to suit their needs or to address unintended consequences. As a result, the construction sector must take proactive steps to stay current on legislative updates, and the specific prompt payment and adjudication rules, in all regions where they carry on business.

British Columbia continues to make efforts toward implementing prompt payment. On January 24, 2022, British Columbia established an industry working group to accelerate progress on prompt payment reform. However, the province has not yet tabled any new legislation.

In late 2023, B.C. began consultation with associations and groups to review legislation adopted in other provinces to determine how prompt payment legislation could work best in the province.

Patricia (Trish) Morrison, partner and national business leader, and Marin Leci, partner, are construction lawyers at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. This article provides an overview and is not intended to be exhaustive of the subject matter contained therein. Although care has been taken to ensure accuracy, this article should not be relied upon as legal advice.

On June 2, 2022, Quebec assented An Act mainly to promote Quebec-sourced and responsible procurement by public bodies, to reinforce the integrity regime of enterprises and to increase the powers of the Autorité des marchés publics. The act provides a foundation for prompt payment legislation but is not yet in force.

Regulations prescribing payment timelines, adjudication procedures, and details regarding notices of non-payment have not been published. Like Alberta, Quebec may move swiftly to make prompt payment and adjudication law once associated regulations are released.

46 / FEBRUARY 2024

IMAGE: © OLLI TURHO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

PROMPT PAYMENT – NOT IF BUT WHEN QUEBEC

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