Safety
Business

Keeping Construction on Track in an Uncertain World

Advancements in weather forecasting technology and methodologies mean more accurate forecasts, which allows contrators to proactively manage scheduling and prepare crews for weather conditions.
By Sergey Sundukovskiy
April 14, 2019
Topics
Safety
Business

The construction industry has always been at the mercy of the weather, one of the most common threats to project deadlines. Contractors face the threat of litigation or financial penalties for missing milestones because of Mother Nature. Extreme weather related to climate change threatens to make the situation even worse.

A series of nor’easters and hurricanes threatened the East Coast in 2018. The southern United States saw widespread flooding in February 2019. Just weeks later, in March, an unusually powerful “bomb cyclone” hit the Great Plains and upper Midwest, producing blizzard conditions and affecting 70 million people across the United States.

It’s estimated that weather-related delays cost the construction industry almost $4 billion in the United States annually. Extreme weather variations will continue to amplify the effects the industry is already seeing. Severe weather can cause a cascading series of delays as milestones are missed and crews are idled. In extreme cases, consecutive weather delays of 30 days or longer may result in missing the window for project completion entirely, pushing work into the following year.

Financial Effects of Climate Change

Climate change will impact the construction industry where it can least afford it — in the profit margins, which are already among the lowest when compared to other industries. A typical general contractor might be lucky to see a three to five percent profit margin on a project. Throw in enough delays because of volatile, climate-change driven weather, and the project will be driven straight into the red.

Specific examples of weather hazards:

  • excessive rains flooding a jobsite or rendering it impassable;
  • prolonged dry conditions that can cause delays in beginning foundation work; and
  • unusually hot or cold temperatures that affect the health of employees, driving up workers’ compensation costs and hurting the ability of the contractor's field crews.

The costs related to climate change are beginning to add up for the construction industry. Extreme weather conditions slowly but surely drive up insurance costs due to project delays and possible labor risks. Material prices rise as increasingly stronger, lighter and more durable materials are required to stand up to weather-related damage.

As prices rise, contractors will find it harder to compete as increased costs are passed on to project owners and subcontractors see their own margins dwindle. Unpredictable weather might make it unfeasible for companies to bid on multi-year projects or struggle to compile accurate RFPs and best estimates.

How Construction Technology Can Help

Construction companies cannot control the weather, but they can control their response to it. Although traditionally reluctant to adopt new technologies, contractors are responding to pressure of the weather and labor shortages by looking for technological solutions.

Technology is being used to facilitate and reinforce basic reporting and management functions. In an uncertain world, accuracy matters. Software applications are being used to:

  • keep better track of time, materials and equipment;
  • accurately track labor, materials and equipment profitability based on estimated vs. actual profitability; and
  • conduct job safety/job hazard briefings ahead of weather events.

Weather-related technology is becoming very important for keeping construction projects on schedule and for helping protect contractors from safety- or delay-related disputes. Software can allow the capture of detailed information about current weather conditions on multiple sites, giving construction supervisors real-time data about how to best deploy crews. The documentation also gives the contractor an evidence trail to use in disputes over project delays.

Meanwhile, advancements in weather forecasting technology and methodologies mean more accurate forecasts that look further ahead. This kind of intelligence allows construction companies to proactively manage scheduling or to prepare crews for weather conditions.

The construction industry might not be able to control climate change, but technological advances are giving contractors the tools to better manage projects even in the face of extreme weather.

by Sergey Sundukovskiy

Before Co-Founding Raken, Dr. Sergey Sundukovskiy served in capacities of Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer and Chief Product Officer. Sundukovskiy is a serial entrepreneur co-founding multiple successful Startups focused on Small Business Marketing and eCommerce. Sundukovskiy specializes in the implementation of subscription based high volume SaaS platforms, with strong emphasis on early stage product development, product marketing and customer acquisition. Sundukovskiy has a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego, M.S. in Information Technology from the University of Liverpool, and Ph.D. in Information Technology Management from the School of Business and Technology, Capella University.

Related stories

Safety
Mitigating Struck-By Incidents on the Jobsite
By Rob Dahl
Some workplace injuries are more serious than others, but that doesn't mean mitigating them has to be more complicated.
Safety
Cultivating a Company Culture Committed to Safety, Mentorship and Education
By David Frazier
Mentorships, education and employee training programs still work wonders when cultivating a culture of wellbeing at your construction company.
Safety
Where's the Fire?
By John Heinen
Fire safety on construction sites is at a crossroads. It’s time for an approach based on collaboration, education and training—and powered by wireless digital solutions.

Follow us




Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Stay in the know with the latest industry news, technology and our weekly features. Get early access to any CE events and webinars.