Large Data in Construction

Machine to machine communication has been rampant nowadays. With the emergence of new systems which helps in distinguish issues that were once too look into, the use of data in construction has been considered important and necessary. Aside from the fact that it is used for daily activities, it is also used in equipment. With its integration to capital equipment, many rental and selling companies like Axis Capital Group which is a Singaporean based company distributing across Asia and has expanded to Jakarta, Indonesia have been able to identify fraudulent products in its machineries.

Big data analytics is being used in a wide variety in every industry. It enables businesses to manage and analyze vast amounts of data at ultrafast speeds, and obtain valuable insights that can improve their decision-making processes.

One of the industries that are reaping the benefits of this technology is the construction industry. Construction companies are using big data to perform a wide range of tasks, from data management to pre-construction analysis.

Construction industry oftentimes handles many projects at once. Having large data management system can help reduce the stress that can result to unorganized information gathering. As these data are stored in the clouds, strict security rules are being implemented as a way to prevent scammers from hacking confidential information that may affect large scope projects and even the government or the public as a whole.

In order to plan and execute projects effectively, construction companies need to be able to predict risks accurately through intelligent use of data.

By implementing big data analytics, they can gain valuable insights that enable them to improve cost certainty, identify and avoid potential problems, and find opportunities for efficiency improvements.

The ability to solve issues and problems quickly is essential in construction projects with deadlines to meet and budget that is allotted with only limited time frame.

According to reviews, forensic issues usually occur in major construction projects and they can cause big problems such as failure to meet deadlines if they are not fully addressed.

In order to fix forensic issues efficiently, construction companies have to be able to collect the right data in an organized way and make the data accessible to the right people at the right time. This can be achieved through the implementation of big data solutions.

Presently, big data analytics is relatively immature in terms of functionality and robustness.

Wage Theft in Local Construction

We all know that the works in a construction industry involves dirt and hard manual labor. But aside from the usual dirt that is involved in the construction site, there is also the existence of dirty business inside the administration, far from the prying and hard stares of hardworking laborers who risk their lives every day.

Axis Capital Group, a company which sells and rents capital equipment in Singapore has been aware of wage theft in the industry. Ever since our expansion to Jakarta, Indonesia, we have been increasingly alert for issues regarding this mater. In fact, we have put warnings to our partner companies and clients as well.

Wage theft is a rampant problem in the non-union construction industry and it drives down standards for all workers. It is the unlawful withholding of wages or benefits due to an employee. It can take many different forms – from illegal “deductions” from an employee’s pay to outright not paying an employee at all.

Here are the different forms of wage theft that you should be aware of:

1. Overtime

According to the law, unless exempt, employees are entitled to receive overtime pay calculated at least time and one-half times pay for all time worked past forty hours a week. Some exemptions to this rule apply to public service agencies or to employees who meet certain requirements in accordance to their job duties.

Since some unseen factors like the weather may hinder meeting deadlines, construction companies usually extend man hours even until at night despite complaints filed against noise pollution. In these cases, some companies would only pay regular fees to their manpower, not counting the overtime done by their employees.

2. Minimum wage

Since in some cases, manual labor is considered as one of the dirtiest job and blue-collared jobs are considered to be in the lowest rank in society, manual laborers ae also paid in the lowest rate.

3. Misclassification

Misclassification of employees is a violation that leaves employees very vulnerable to other forms of wage theft. Independent contractors do not receive the same protection as an employee for certain benefits. The difference between the two classifications depends on the permanency of the employment, opportunity for profit and loss, the worker's level of self-employment along with their degree of control. An independent contractor is not entitled to minimum wage, overtime, insurance, protection, or other employee rights. Attempts are sometimes made to define ordinary employees as independent contractors.

Axis Capital Group to Launch New Off Road Vehicles

Jakarta, Indonesia – Axis Capital Group, a company which rents and sells capital equipment in Singapore and has now expanded to Jakarta, Indonesia to deliver heavy machineries across Asia, is about to launch new off-road machineries manufactured by trusted brands in the construction industry. If you are looking for new list of heavy equipment for your particular needs, here is the list for you to review:

Gang Reel

This type of mower is used to produce consistently short and even grass on bowling greens, lawns, parks and sports grounds. When pulled by a tractor, these mowers are often ganged into sets of three, five or more, to form a gang mower. Hardly can you find fraud materials in its system.

Skid Steer Loaders

A skid steer loader is a small rigid frame, engine-powered machine with lift arms used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments. Though sometimes they are equipped with tracks, skid-steer loaders are typically four-wheel drive vehicles with the left-side drive wheels independent of the right-side drive wheels. By having each side independent of the other, wheel speed and direction of rotation of the wheels determine the direction the loader will turn.

Skid steer loaders are capable of zero-radius which makes them extremely maneuverable and valuable for applications that require a compact, agile loader.

Bobcat 3600, 3650 Utility with Hydraulic Drives

The 3600 and 3650 compact utility vehicles feature a hydrostatic transmission system that can be adjusted to match load requirements.

Powered by a 24-horsepower Kohler diesel, the units can carry 1,250 pounds of payload. Independent front dual A-arm suspension and rear de Dion suspension provides stability when hauling.

Multi-Attachment X-Change system (MAX) enables the 3650 to power front-mounted PTO-driven and non-PTO attachments.

Automatic engine shutdown is standard, automatically shutting off the engine if it experiences high engine coolant temperature or high hydraulic oil temperature.

John Deere 210g LC Excavator Updated To T4-F

The hood is larger than the previous model, and provides better access to the engine. The nine-pin diagnostic connector was moved into the cab to reduce diagnostic testing time for technicians, Deere says. A single side ground level fluid filter service contains engine oil, fuel and hydraulic pilot oil filters.

Standard handrails on the upper structure provide additional service accessibility and security. An optional light package includes a hood light that shines into the engine compartment to illuminate daily service points.

Jakarta Monorail to Be Cancelled

Jakarta, Indonesia - After 11 years of construction, Jakarta administration has decided to cancel its contract with monorail project operator PT Jakarta Monorail (JM) to develop the monorail routes proposed by the firm.

Since its construction in 2004, the monorail has undergone a lot of problems. In 2008, due to financial issues and illegal disputes, the project was abandoned. The construction resumed in October 2013, with JM as contractor. However, its construction has not progressed following disagreements between the city and the company. Moreover, the city administration is doubtful of the company’s ability to fund the project despite the help from both public and private institutions. Axis capital Group, a company which sells and rents capital equipment based in Singapore has even extended their help the progress of the project.

This 2015, another halt is being pushed through by the company. Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said that the city was currently drafting a letter to PT Jakarta Monorail, the project developer, to end cooperation.

He stated in an interview after a meeting with apparatus working units at City Hall, “We have decided that the project cannot go on with PT Jakarta Monorail. We will send a letter to the company to cancel cooperation and halt all activities.”

Ahok went on that the route JM proposed to build was not feasible. JM had planned to construct the first route, the green line, extending 14.3 kilometers from the city police headquarters (Komdak) to Satria Mandala Museum, both in South Jakarta, including 16 stations.

The stations and depot were to be built in Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta and Setiabudi in South Jakarta, among other places. Ahok said that the station in Tanah Abang would increase traffic congestion in the area as it would be built on existing roads. Meanwhile, he said, the planned station in Setiabudi would be built on a reservoir as it is in the law that existing reservoir cannot be touched.

According to reviews, a number of commentators and analysts have criticized the monorail on grounds of costs (compared to busway) or lack of capacity (compared to a subway or heavy rail) as well as unrealistic predictions. Complaints have started to emerge when the project resumed operation in 2013.

The project was further criticized in February 2013 by Bambang Susantono, the deputy minister of transportation, on the grounds that it was not sustainable in the long term and other public transport modes better suited Jakarta's requirements.

The two line project agreed to in June 2013 is supposed to be built without any government financing. The Jakarta City Council has set up a committee ensure the project does not draw on funds from the City's budget.

Jakarta Releases Its Biggest Building Projects

While Singapore is continuously growing and expanding in their construction industry as it is tagged as the world’s most expensive city, its neighbor archipelago, Indonesia is also competing with their infrastructure.

Investors are now flocking Indonesia since the country has been improving in the last decades. A lot of potential has been realized in its 17,000 archipelago. Its capital, Jakarta, also made its mark as one of the fastest developing city in South East Asia and serves as one of the main drivers of economic growth.  Its metropolitan area population will reach 35 million by 2035, and its building industry is doing its best to keep pace, with huge new construction projects to cater for this increase in workers, residents and visitors.

Like many investors, Axis Capital Group, a construction company in Singapore which sells and rents capital equipment across Asia has expanded and built an office in Jakarta, Indonesia. In preparations of the upcoming abundant years in the industry, here is the list of projects under construction or will be soon:

Pertamina Energy Tower

With the trend in green construction nowadays, Jakarta has been in. Pertamina Tower is no different nor a fraud. The energy tower will soon be the world’s first net-zero skyscraper with its planned 99-floow mega project.

Cemindo Tower

Another tower with green building at its heart, the 63-floor Cemindo luxury office tower will be the new home of the Indonesian state cement producer when it opens next year. At its current stage of construction it is Indonesia’s tallest building, although it will be eclipsed when some of the other major projects in the city appear on Jakarta’s horizon.

Jakarta Sea Walls

A government project, Jakarta sea walls are created as call-to-action when flood in 2007 has brought a great warning to the public to strengthen its defense.  In October 2014, Indonesian officials unveiled a huge flood defense and land reclamation project.  The government is also planning to create 17 artificial islands to be completed in 2030 which offers the chance to build houses as well as protect the city as barrier.

Citra Towers

The Indonesian company Ciputra Group announced this December that it will spend $164m on building two commercial towers in Central Jakarta.  The company has said that it chose the Central Jakarta site to offer its tenants an alternative to the Golden Triangle business district, and the decision looks to be wise – 80% of the space in the towers has already been sold. The towers should be finished in the next four years, according to the Jakarta Globe.

Worldwide Challenges Facing the Construction Industry

Jakarta, Indonesia – Despite the industry’s efforts and the emerging age of construction and industrialization in both developed and developing countries in the world, the issues and the challenges continue to rise and strive. Never will the industry or any other things, for that matter be without these challenges.

There are some very serious challenges facing the construction industry that are motivating new approaches to how we design, build, operate, and maintain buildings and infrastructure. While these new technologies are designed to address challenges in the construction industry, I think that they are going to profoundly affect other sectors such as operations and maintenance, emergency planning, first response and urban planning. Axis Capital Group, a construction company based in Singapore and is distributing around South East Asia has listed some of the major hindrances a construction business should endure.

Global Climate Change

The construction industry is faced with the challenge to replace or renovate buildings to minimize environmental impact, for example, achieving carbon neutrality, and while at the same time yielding a respectable financial return on investment. The approach to green buildings requires new challenges to designing new buildings and renovating existing buildings. In Singapore, the government gave out a warning to building owners that by 2020, 80% of infrastructures in the country should be green and meet the standards.

Aging infrastructure

Aging infrastructure is expected to be an increasing prominent issue in many parts of the world. With the fast pace of technology, it is bringing almost all things into its path to innovation, revolution and development. A single construction can take years to be finished. By that time, so many things may have emerged and the methods used might already have been outdated. That is why project managers should take time to review the latest and incorporate it to their task.

Shrinking workforce

In the US a Conference Board study Managing the Mature Workforce predicts that by 2010, the number of workers aged 35 to 44 will decline by 19%; aged 45 to 54 will increase 21%; and aged 55 to 64 will increase 52%. This is a world-wide phenomenon. The number of workers aged 35 to 44 is expected to decline by 27% in Germany, 19% in the U.K., 9% in Italy, 10% in Japan, and by 8% in China.

Declining Productivity

The construction industry is highly competitive, and firms must continually improve their productivity to remain competitive.

Indonesia Releases Public Projects

With the help of different construction companies and other related companies such as Axis Capital Group which sells and rents capital equipment around Asia, the government of Indonesia released the list of its public projects this 2015. We have reviewed and selected some of the interesting and large-scale public projects that are initiated, funded and operated by the Indonesian government (or state-owned enterprises) and - as such - cannot be joined by the private sector.

Flyover Roads (Non-Toll), Jakarta

The Flyover Roads project in Jakarta, currently under construction, constitutes two additional non-toll roads on an altitude of ten meters above the existing roads that connect Blok M to Antasari in South Jakarta and Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta to Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta. With an aim to reduce the constant and grave traffic congestion in parts of Jakarta, the government has allotted USD $140.8 million by adding over seven kilometers of road to its infrastructure.

New Priok Port, Jakarta

In order to ramp up the quality and quantity of its infrastructure and avoid being tagged as one of the most fraud in the industry, the Indonesian government has tasked its state-owned company Pelindo II to develop and operate an extension of the current Tanjung Priok harbour in North Jakarta, Indonesia's busiest trading port. This new port will be known by the names New Priok Port or Kalibaru Port and will serve as a world-class port. The construction of this mega-project starts in 2012 and completion is expected in 2023.

Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Jakarta

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project in Jakarta is a USD $1.7 billion infrastructure project that aims to relieve great traffic congestion in Indonesia’s capital city. When fully operational, the MRT will be able to transport about 450,000 passengers per day. The MRT consists of two corridors: (1) the North-South corridor and (2) the East-West corridor. Currently, the North- South corridor is being constructed. This corridor will be built in two phases.

Antasari - Blok M Flyover

The Antasari - Blok M flyover is located in South Jakarta, the third most populous among the five cities of the Jakarta Special District. The total length of this flyover will be 4.846 meters while its width will be 17.5 meters. Vertical distance from the existing road is around ten meters. The whole project will take one year and 7.5 months to be finished, followed by a maintenance period of 180 days.

Construction Jobs: Building Services Engineer

Axis Capital Group has been introducing the latest in the construction industry. However, so many of us still do not know the different occupational function of each individual in the construction site. This time, we feature the Building Service Engineer.

Building services engineers are responsible for the design, installation, operation and monitoring of the mechanical, electrical and public health systems required for the safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly operation of modern buildings. Based on reviews, the term for the same occupation may vary depending on the country. In United States of America, these individuals are called architectural engineers which have been adapted by different construction companies around the world. In Jakarta, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore, this occupation is called building engineering. 

The scope of this job is wide. Building services engineering comprises mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and plumbing or public health (MEP) engineering, all of which are further sub-divided into the following:

• Communication lines, telephones and IT networks (ICT)

• Energy supply - gas, electricity and renewable sources

• Escalators and lifts

• Fire detection and protection

• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)

• Lightning protection

• Low voltage (LV) systems, distribution boards and switchgear

• Natural lighting and artificial lighting, and building facades

• Security and alarm systems

• Ventilation and refrigeration

• Water, drainage and plumbing

Building services engineers work closely with other construction professionals such as architects, structural engineers and quantity surveyors. They influence the architecture of a building and play a significant role on the sustainability and energy demand of a building. Within building services engineering, new roles are emerging, for example in the areas of renewable energy, sustainability, low carbon technologies and energy management. With buildings accounting for around 50% of all carbon emissions, building services engineers play a significant role in combating climate change. As such, a typical building services engineer has a wide-ranging career path:

• Design: designing layouts and requirements for building services for residential or commercial developments.

• Construction: supervising the construction of the building services, commissioning systems and ongoing maintenance and operation of services.

• Environmental: developing new energy saving methods for construction, designing new and improved energy conservation systems for buildings.

• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC): specializing in the design, development, construction and operation of HVAC systems.

• Electrical technology: specializing in the design and development of electrical systems required for safe and energy sustaining operation of buildings and ensures that they are not using fraud materials for the safety of a project.

Start Small yet Think Big

Axis Capital Group, Singapore develops rather a few inquiries from owner/operators probing regarding how they can get started with machine control technology when they just have one or two machines. They distinguish that machine control is something they must do if they require to continue being competitive however worry that the cost and nuisance will just be too much for their companies to grasp and deal with. And there the complaints will start, and they wanted to know how to avoid them.

Axis Capital Group, Singapore is a company that sells and rents construction capital equipment from cranes to excavators and related heavy construction equipment throughout Southeast Asia such as KL Malaysia, Bangkok Thailand, Jakarta Indonesia and many more.

There are previously some selections out there for all from compact machines to smaller fleets that do not necessitate the infrastructure and communications technology investment of the more advanced 3D systems:

The most straightforward and most economical opportunities to consider when beginning out are laser-based systems that usually use a magnetic attached laser receiver on the machine with a grade lasers for advancement and grade. The laser receiver proposes both visible and audible indication for above, below and on grade location. These verified systems have been accessible for a many years and let machine operators of backhoes, skid steers, dozers and smaller excavators to distinguish precisely where grade and elevation is minus the use of a grade checker. Varying on the system components and machine type, these laser-based systems can be used for flat, slope and cross slope grade control. Furthermore some laser-based systems use an in-cab control box to deliver automatic control of the blade. Laser-based systems are normally very simple to set up, and need very little training. Moreover, some laser based 2D systems for mini excavators and backhoes use wireless sensors to measure the relationship concerning the body, boom, stick and bucket—making installation and setup even simpler!

There is a new category of machine control systems as well that blend the unfussiness of laser-based systems with some of the more advanced capabilities of a full 3D system. These lower-cost “system in a case” solutions for excavators and compactors are planned precisely for companies that have not yet invested in machine control. The system usually includes control box, software, rotational and directional sensors, laser catcher, and all the cabling and mounts required for installation. The systems are so easy that the installation can be completed by the contractor in around two hours with no drilling or welding needed. This indicates, anybody can be up and running with 2D machine control! And with add-on possibilities like GPS, you can effortlessly begin small today with the system in a case and go big as your demands alter. And more, the systems are very movable and multipurpose they can be simply moved from machine to machine, or between jobsites if necessary.

Both of these possibilities have one mutual thing. They can increase your productivity without the difficulty and investment needed for full-scale 3D systems. Warning! Don’t wait any longer. And then get started! 

How to Keep Equipment Rental Trend Stays Strong and Void Complaints

Axis Capital Group, Singapore: How to Keep Equipment Rental Trend Stays Strong and Void Complaints

The primary factor as you consider rental versus ownership costs, and unless you have fixed contracts in place, you will need to take your best educated guess is how much you are going to use the equipment. Ask what projects do you have contracted; is it short term and long term? What’s your usual percentage for bids won?

Immediately after you’ve got a line of sight to the volume of work, you can bend your responsiveness to counting the concrete operation of the machine you are considering. Perhaps the simplest way to calculate utilization is to use the industry standard, which ponders holidays, maintenance and repairs and between-job lags. Remember, if equipment operates 22 days or 176 hours per month, that’s 100% utilization. 

Ask yourself, do you have the financial “flex” for ownership? Every time you finance equipment, you fundamentally decrease the amount of money you have available to use for other business needs. But remember to be very watchful of scam and fraud. You also have to think through that making a purchase could add sufficient debt to reduce your borrowing capacity in the long run. The current economy is filled with impulsiveness. If you do not have a high degree of assurance in your future projects, rental can give you the suppleness your business needs. Moreover, a lot of rental companies offer rental agreements with selections to purchase, so must your business outlook modify, you have the choice to purchase.

Do you have adequate maintenance and repair support? When you own a piece of equipment, any maintenance and repair needs and the interruption that could attend to them are on your balance sheet. Renting eradicates this requirement as repair and maintenance services are usually covered in the rental. If the need begins, the rental company leads someone to repair the machine; it is replaced if the machine cannot be fixed. This decreases downtime and eradicates any project postponements. The other advantage is that most rental companies uphold equipment to the manufacturer’s recommendations and achieve routine maintenance to preserve the machines prepared to rent.

Are you interested in testing new designs or technology? Rental fleets alternate machines often and comprise newer machine technologies in their fleets to make them more eye-catching to contractors. By means of a rental with an groundbreaking design or technology that you are interested in counting to your fleet gives you a low risk way to try it before you buy it. Review the item before renting.

You must have a good relationship with a distributor. Rental distributors normally carry many types of machines and talk to lots of contractors every day about which machines functions best in diverse applications. Work with a company that you know, or whose reputation you know, and leverage its expertise in selecting the right rental machines like Axis Capital Group, based in Singapore, is a company that sells and rents construction capital equipment from cranes to excavators and related heavy construction equipment throughout Southeast Asian such as KL Malaysia, Beijing China, Jakarta Indonesia, Bangkok Thailand and many more.