Construction

Written by Bob Reichardt

Staff report
Posted : Sunday Oct 11, 2009 8:59:38 EDT

The largest military construction project in the Air Force will begin in November at Lackland Air Force Base.

The $900 million project to build 13 new basic training facilities - eight airman training complexes and four dining-classroom facilities - will replace the existing 1,000-man recruit housing and training buildings scattered across the base.

The existing recruit buildings were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s to replace World War II-era open-bay barracks.

Construction of the 13 new facilities, which will be located on two new campuses, will be phased in over nine years. Work on the eastern campus will begin first, and officials estimate work on a new training complex will begin every 12 months.

Work on the second campus will begin in February 2013.

The new airman training complexes each will cost $75 million and accommodate 1,200 basic trainees. Each complex will have its own running track, drill pad and war skills area.

The dining-classroom facilities are estimated to cost $32 million each.

In addition to the campuses, a new, $20 million basic military training processing and information center also is in the works.

Air Force Times

Last Updated on Thursday, 15 October 2009 20:12 Written by Bob Reichardt

Monday, October 12, 2009 5:59:38 AM

Reported by Nick VinZant

ORLANDO -- Florida could face a budget shortfall of as much as $2.6 billion, and state economists told lawmakers the state's recession will last at least until next spring.

The news comes as a huge wave of construction projects is about to transform many of Central Florida's busiest roads -- taking a lot of people off the unemployment rolls, and put them onto the tax rolls.

IN DEPTH:
» See Projects Coming to Your Area

The construction will be made possible by $1.3 billion in stimulus funds.

On Highway 50, lanes will be added and reconstructed along a 3-mile stretch from Avalon Road to state Road 429. It is just one of many projects set to begin by the end of the month.

Last Updated on Monday, 21 September 2009 13:56

The construction of the foundation has to be a fairly exact science. If everything is not calculated correctly, many issues can arise. Experts have devised many construction tricks and techniques that are used to avoid potential pitfalls during the building process. One of these involves the usage of plastic slip sheets. Using a slip sheet as reinforcement has been successfully used for many years in construction.

What is a Plastic Slip Sheet?

A slip sheet is a piece of plastic, typically polyethylene. It can be made in varying thickness, but it is often used in a 10ml form. Like the name suggests, the slip sheet is used to reduce friction and prevent movement or slippage. Using plastic slip sheets as reinforcement in foundation building helps to prevent cracking.

The Post-Tension Process

Slab-on-grade foundations are one of the most commonly used types of foundations in the United States. These foundations are quick and inexpensive to build (which is why they are so popular); however, they can be prone to cracking during the curing stage. Concrete can shrink as it dries; this can cause cosmetic damage to future floor finishes like tile, vinyl, wood, and carpeting. The type of soil - called expansive soil - is what ultimately causes the shrinkage and cracks. Expansive soil shrinks and swells as the water content changes.

 

Last Updated on Monday, 21 September 2009 13:55

While in the process of building, construction sites are prone to vandalism and theft of raw materials and expensive industrial equipment. Because of the temporary nature of construction sites, the best security investment may be a wireless video surveillance camera system.

Wireless systems are completely reusable with every new construction site. There's no need to invest in new wiring upon every installation. And installation is a breeze. Once the batteries are charged, just find the optimum location camera surveillance and install the device.

New innovative systems have many features that can be useful for construction sites in particular. Some systems offer monitoring services which frees managers and foremen from having to constantly watch the video feeds to ensure security. Instead, they can focus on the task at hand and concentrate on other things like deadlines and on-site safety regulations.