LEADERSHIP

My definition of leadership is this: The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character that inspires confidence.

— General Montgomery

Let's delve into the facets of this definition and reflect on its significance in our shared journey:

🌐 Capacity and Will: Leadership is marked by the capability to envision a shared purpose and the unwavering determination to bring it to fruition. Let's embrace the capacity to innovate, strategize, and propel our collective objectives forward.

🤝 Rallying Together: The essence of leadership lies in the ability to unite diverse individuals under a common purpose. Let's foster an environment where each team member feels valued, understood, and inspired to contribute their best toward our shared goals.

🌟 Character that Inspires Confidence: Confidence is cultivated through character. As leaders, let's exemplify integrity, authenticity, and a steadfast commitment to our values. In doing so, we instill confidence in our team, fostering a culture of trust and reliability.

👥 A Shared Purpose: Our collective strength lies in a common purpose. Let's continually communicate and reinforce the overarching mission that unites us, ensuring that each team member sees their role as an integral part of our shared journey.

May this definition of leadership guide us in our daily endeavors, inspiring us to lead with capacity, will, and a character that breeds confidence.

— Wayne Jensen

Presented by:

Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc.

INNOVATION

The Future of Nuclear Power: Embracing a Modular Approach

Traditional nuclear power construction faces challenges of delays and budget overruns.

This article explores the potential of a modular approach, focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) with standardized designs and production systems. A shift from project-focused to programmatic thinking is crucial for nuclear power's competitiveness and relevance in addressing climate change.

The recent startup of Georgia Power's Vogtle nuclear power plant, marked by significant delays and budget overruns, underscores the challenges facing traditional approaches to nuclear power construction. In the face of climate change and a renewed emphasis on energy security, nuclear power is returning to the energy agenda. However, the conventional method of constructing large, unique power stations poses serious cost and scheduling problems.

The Pitfalls of Traditional Approaches

International tendering for one-off power stations, such as Hinckley Point C, Moorside, and Wylfa in the UK, has proven ineffective. These projects, characterized by unique designs and extensive negotiations over funding and risk allocation, often collapse or rely on foreign governments for financial support. The result is high electricity prices for consumers for an extended period.

Learning from Global Infrastructure Projects

Professor Bent Flyvbjerg's analysis of over 1,000 infrastructure projects worldwide reveals that nuclear power stations are among the least predictable in terms of cost overruns and delays. Large, complex projects with unique designs contribute to this unpredictability. Historical data from the construction of nuclear power stations in the USA and France in the 1980s further supports the idea that standardized designs and stable construction teams lead to more efficient and cost-effective outcomes.

The Modular Approach to Nuclear Power

To address the cost and scheduling challenges, a modular approach to nuclear power plant design and construction is proposed. Small modular reactors (SMRs) can be built faster and more economically if standardized designs and components are employed. Advancing programs of several SMRs allow vendors to invest in stable supply chains and modern production systems, fostering continuous improvement.

Benefits of Modularization and Production Systems

SMRs have a better potential for modularization due to their smaller size. The success of modularization hinges on standardizing designs, supply chains, and construction processes. Off-site manufacturing and reducing construction schedules can significantly impact capital costs. Production modeling to design optimal production systems is crucial, considering factors like what to modularize and where to conduct the work.

Transforming Mindsets for Future Success

To overcome the persistent challenges in cost and schedule, a shift from a project-focused mindset to a programmatic approach is essential. Building a series of standard nuclear power plants designed for modular construction, coupled with investments in series production facilities, can restore nuclear power's competitiveness. This transformation is vital for nuclear power to play a meaningful role in addressing climate change and energy needs globally. It requires a departure from traditional project management to a production management system, as demonstrated by successful models in other industries. While challenging, this shift is imperative for the nuclear industry's future relevance and success.

TECHNOLOGY

The Construction 3D Printing World Council (C3D-PWC) has been officially introduced, comprising over 40 global manufacturers.

This collaborative effort among industry leaders aims to advance technological standards, standardize best practices, and accelerate the adoption of 3D printing in large-scale construction.

Ahmed Mahil, CEO of Luyten 3D, has been appointed as the Secretary-General, emphasizing the need for a global body to oversee the rapid growth and standards development in the industry. The council's mission includes developing best practice standards, fostering global understanding and adoption, and facilitating discussions on the future of construction 3D printing.

A significant development in the construction industry was announced at the Formnext Exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany, where the Construction 3D Printing World Council (C3D-PWC) was officially introduced. Comprising over 40 leading global manufacturers, including companies like Luyten 3D from Australia and Construction-3D from France, the council aims to promote innovation, advance technological standards, and standardize best practices in large-scale construction 3D printing.

Key Points:

1. Industry Collaboration: The council represents a collaborative effort among industry leaders to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing in construction. By fostering collaboration, the members seek to address challenges and seize opportunities within the field.

2. Leadership Appointment: Ahmed Mahil, the co-founder and CEO of Luyten 3D, has been appointed as the Secretary-General for the Construction 3D Printing World Council. Mahil emphasized the urgent need for a global body to navigate and oversee the rapid growth and standards development in the industry.

3. Mission and Focus Areas: The council's mission includes developing best practice standards, fostering global understanding and adoption, facilitating discussions on the future of construction 3D printing, and providing opportunities for demonstrations and networking.

4. Formnext Exhibition: The official announcement of the Construction 3D Printing World Council was made at the prestigious Formnext Exhibition, a key event in the additive manufacturing and 3D printing industry.

5. Potential Impact: The council aims to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of construction, making it more sustainable, efficient, and adaptable to the evolving needs of the global community.

The establishment of the Construction 3D Printing World Council signifies a significant milestone in the development of 3D printing technology within the construction industry. The collaborative efforts of industry giants aim to drive advancements, standardize practices, and contribute to the transformative potential of large-scale construction 3D printing.

Our minds can change the structure of our brains and influence the way we feel.

At any given time, what we feel is the result of the brain and mind interacting with each other.

But what exactly distinguishes the brain from the mind?

ECONOMY

The outdoor recreation industry reached a significant milestone, contributing $563.7 billion to the U.S. GDP in 2022, accounting for 2.2% of the total GDP and employing 5 million workers.

Spending on outdoor recreation, measured as gross output, reached $1.1 trillion, marking a 19% increase from 2021.

This surpasses the economic impact of the country's mining, agriculture, and technology industries. The data supports the importance of the outdoor recreation industry, particularly as federal lawmakers consider the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023.

The outdoor recreation industry has reached a significant milestone, with the Bureau of Economic Analysis reporting that outdoor businesses earned $563.7 billion in 2022, contributing to 2.2% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and employing 5 million workers. Spending on outdoor recreation, defined as gross output, reached $1.1 trillion, marking a 19% increase from 2021. This places the outdoor recreation economy ahead of the country's mining, agriculture, and technology industries. The data supports the importance of the outdoor recreation industry, particularly as federal lawmakers consider the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023.

Key Highlights:

1. Trillion-Dollar Impact: The outdoor recreation industry's gross output reached $1.1 trillion, showcasing its economic significance.

2. Federal Legislation: The America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023, sponsored by Democrats and Republicans, is under consideration. It addresses various aspects, including supporting outdoor businesses and managing the impacts of recreation in rural communities.

3. Bureau of Economic Analysis Categories: The outdoor recreation industry is measured in three categories: "conventional" outdoor recreation (e.g., cycling, fishing, skiing), "other" outdoor recreation (e.g., amusement parks, concerts), and "supporting" industries (e.g., construction, travel).

4. Travel Dominance: Travel is the largest contributor to the outdoor recreation economy, accounting for approximately 40% or over $339 million.

5. State Impact: Colorado ranks sixth among states with the fastest-growing outdoor recreation economies, with a 9.2% increase in outdoor recreation employment in 2022.

6. Snowsports Contribution: Snowsports played a significant role in the growth, with the economic impact of snow activity growing 39%, reaching $13.2 billion nationally.

7. Federal Office of Recreation: With the industry now at a trillion-dollar level, there are calls for the creation of a federal office of recreation within the Department of Commerce to oversee and support the sector.

8. Industry Support: The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, representing 110,000 outdoor businesses, sees the data as providing support for the industry's priorities.

The trillion-dollar impact highlights the outdoor recreation industry's economic force, contributing to job creation, GDP, and various sectors. As federal legislation is considered, the industry aims to secure a role in shaping policy and supporting the comprehensive package of outdoor recreation bills. The economic impact is expected to influence discussions and policy decisions, emphasizing the industry's importance in the national economy.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

SAFETY

Smart construction robots developed by the Smart Structures Lab at the University of British Columbia (UBC) are set to transform construction sites.

These robots, capable of autonomous tasks such as lifting, moving objects, and monitoring safety, were demonstrated at a construction site in Richmond, B.C.

Using digital twin technology created by aerial drones, the AI-equipped robots navigate and perform tasks without human operators. The technology aims to accelerate construction times, enhance worker safety, and address labor shortages in the construction industry.

Construction sites are set to transform with the introduction of smart construction robots developed by the Smart Structures Lab at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Led by Dr. Tony Yang, a professor of structural engineering, the team has created robots capable of performing basic tasks autonomously, including lifting and moving objects, transporting materials, and monitoring safety on construction sites. The technology was demonstrated at a construction site in Richmond, B.C., using aerial drones to create a "digital twin" of the site. AI-equipped cranes and forklifts then used this information to navigate and perform tasks without human operators.

Key Points:

1. Autonomous Construction Robots: The smart construction robots developed by UBC can recognize objects, perform detailed scans for quality assurance, precisely place objects on site, and check against a computer model to ensure alignment with construction plans.

2. Digital Twin Technology: Aerial drones fitted with cameras captured site details to create a digital twin—a simulation of the construction site. This digital model is used by AI-equipped machinery to navigate, move materials, and perform tasks autonomously.

3. Benefits of Smart Robots: Dr. Tony Yang emphasizes that smart robots can contribute to speeding up construction times, enhancing worker safety, and addressing labor shortages in the construction industry.

4. Industry Collaboration: The UBC team is collaborating with several construction companies in British Columbia to explore opportunities for implementing smart robots in commercial building projects.

5. Global Competitiveness: Dr. Yang highlights the readiness of the made-in-Canada technology, stating that it can be deployed now and scaled up quickly, contributing to the competitiveness of Canadian construction on the global stage.

The development of smart construction robots with autonomous capabilities aligns with the broader trend of integrating AI and robotics to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity in various industries. As construction sites increasingly adopt these technologies, the potential benefits include reduced construction times, improved accuracy, and a safer working environment.