There’s a reason why the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are so impressive. Each built more than 2200 years ago, our modern minds find it difficult to understand how such architectural and building methods could be accomplished with such rudimentary tools as a builder’s thread, measuring arm, angle and straight edge. True, most have been destroyed by earthquake (there’s something to be said about today’s seismic standards), but their legacies live on. Today’s construction methods are far more complicated. For example, most contractors wouldn’t consider working on a project without some sort of schedule. Contracts must be evaluated by attorneys. Coordination between the trades is an absolute must. And, computer technology continues to edge its way into every aspect of the construction process, from conception to facility maintenance. That’s where Construction Project Controls comes in. We’re here to provide you the latest information on the construction industry. At the forefront is building information modeling. We want to look at what it is, where it’s going and why it’s important to the building process. We also want to hear about your experiences with it—the good, the bad and the ugly. E-mail us at editor@wpl.net with your questions and comments. Want to learn more about it? Sign up for our audio conference series on BIM. Visit www.projectcontrols.com and click on Roadmap to BIM 2008 for more information.

By Larry True
Software bells and whistles are great if you use them, but with programs getting more sophisticated by the day, it pays to look at your company’s specific needs and then provide the training needed to maximize your investment.

By John Jurewicz of ASPTIP.COM
Coordination, monitoring and interference checking are just some of the reasons why contractors should upgrade to BIM-based contracting, says John Jurewicz. But, there’s more, he says.

By Gordon H. Aronson
Unanswered questions create confusion in the scheduling process. Rhetoric aside, Gordon Aronson argues that scheduling must play a more permanent role in the construction process. It needs to be upgraded to a day job, not a fractionally managed duty of the project manager.

Here’s a look at recent industry happenings.