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Dwayne McAninch, Iowa's largest earthmoving contractor, is a pioneer in driving earthmoving, an old-line business into the digital age and is considered the industry's 'missionary' for three-dimensional grade controls. From 1999, he risked millions on digital controls and set out to teach the construction industry about the benefits of digital grading controls by giving talks at conferences, producing videos and inviting his competitors to see his machines work and thus pushed an industry into the future.

The ethics in construction is also affecting the key industry sectors, such as equipment fleet management, in nontraditional ways. Dave Markey, vice president of American Infrastructure is pushing a tougher ethics policy between fleet owners and their vendors and he proposed toughening rules in a market sector conducive to unethical bargaining and handshake deals.

The 51-year old operator Jack Padgett, sits in the air-conditioned cab of a hydraulic excavator, gripping two control joysticks. His guide is a tiny computer screen that displays a three-dimensional model of the job site.

David Greenlee, of Alyeska Pipeline Services Co. in Alaska faces trouble in the form of operators who use or sometimes abuse, the company's construction machines. Greenlee is partnering with efficiency experts to help him police the machines with the help of little back boxes to keep a check on operators.

Corporate brands constantly change with the times and it is difficult for the big fleet owners to choose machinery with so many competitors in the construction market. Dealer support and customer service stand tall, quality is more transparent and resale value of the brands holds a sway over the buyers.

2005 will be a softer and more predictable version of 2004, if construction equipment sales serve as an indicator of the overall health of the industry. Across the board, manufacturers, dealers, rental outlets and auctioneers are enjoying higher prices, robust demand and thicker backlogs.

Mississippi River awaits the landmark of new crossings with its 100-plus crossings reaching the end of their design life, while planners along the length of the river are investigating rehabilitation or replacements of the old bridges. However, the future crossings are depending on the transportation bills that are stalled in Congress.

Onboard computers are driving the new changes, as manufacturers recover from a three-year recession that killed a record boom for new construction equipment. Sophisticated electronics under the hood of heavy mobile machinery is giving the construction machine owners a clearer view of the real cost of owning and operating equipments.

Ohio's Department of Transportation (ODOT) hopes its unusual decision to pave one direction of new eight-mile, four-lane highway in asphalt and the other side in concrete will help its engineers recognize political shades of gray in their future studies of long life pavement materials. This $53.6-million project reflects a national quest for highway pavements designed to last beyond typical 20-year life cycles with little or no maintenance.

The business of engineering and construction is always about risk-pioneering methods under dangerous conditions with no guarantee of being paid on time, or at all. The secret to longevity for designers and contractors is to find the right mix of hubris and humble pie, creating a culture of adaptable entrepreneurs that can change with the times and preserve the company for future generations without letting greed get out of control.

The engine manufacturers have to add complex emissions reduction and electrical systems for work trucks. This has increased the equipment and maintenance costs for new engines.

Increase in the number of high-voltage power line accidents is discussed, which is a cause of concern. The factors leading to such accidents are linked like linemen experience levels, lack of protective equipment, improper grounding etc.

The revenue statistics of the top 600 special contractors is enlisted. The downturn in the private nonresidential building market, led to the revenue decline, affecting the special contractors.

Clean air requires more complex engine technology and more complex fuel and with fuel economy on everyone's mind, construction firms are becoming savvier about how they manage fuel. The new powertrain business mirrors most manufacturers' efforts to increase the efficiency of their engines.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) enacted in August 2005 has provisions that allow greater flexibility in issuing tax-exempt bonds and forming public-private partnerships. Missouri was one of the SAFETEA-LU winners, receiving $862 million a year, or a $200-million yearly increase.

President Bush is expected to travel to House Speaker Dennis Hastert's Illinois district to sign the safe, accountable, flexible, efficient Transportation Equity Act which guarantees $244 billion over five years. The long-term transportation bill, the largest public works measure in the US history is about to become a law.

Machinery and tool thefts are common problems prevailing in the construction industry, which cost at least $1billion annually in the United States. The contractors are trying to use the basic lock and key method to protect their assets from being stolen.

The high materials prices propelled inflation in the construction industry from 3% at the beginning of the year 2004 to about 10% by September 2004 followed by aftershocks in lumber, plywood, gypsum wallboard, copper, stainless steel, insulation and concrete products. It is suggested that the rebound in nonresidential construction markets, strong spending on public works and record levels of home building pushed up demand for materials and prices along with it.

Digital cameras are powerful construction tools as they are able to capture a meaningful image and e-mail it to colleagues being an ideal combination for project managers. Digital photos can help support valid legal claims, as well as nullify erroneous ones.

Aviation construction is back on the runway and is gaining speed due to the regional jet expansion playing a key role. Airport officials are examining alternative financial approaches to projects, such as third-party private development and private operations of airport services.

Home Depot's success story through its Building program is detailed. Home Depot sells approximately to 100 million gallons of paint each year, which is enough to paint the entire City of Manhattan Island, using the urban neighborhood prototype, and the firms working with Atlanta-based Home Depot that are using this prototype is revitalizing.

After a couple of fatal accidents, the Minnesota Department of Transportation felt a need to urge local contractors to educate their operators, and trucking sub contractors on how to drive vehicles safely in and around MnDOT jobsites. The setting up of the construction truck operator training was done with a view to provide advanced training, behind-the- wheel training and various other such areas.