The construction-technology space has been buzzing lately with new product, partnership, and acquisition announcements—all possible signs the market is bouncing back. As contractors begin to consider new technology, it is critical to take into account the technology provider’s roadmap for the product.

As one example of a recent news announcement impacting the construction-technology market, Viewpoint Construction Software, www.viewpointcs.com, Portland, Ore., and ConEst Software Systems, www.conest.com, Manchester, N.H., announced a new partnership.

Network Rail has awarded Carillion the job to deliver a £43m expansion of Peterborough station building extra platforms and new footbridges.

The project will start in April and see two new platforms constructed on the west side of the station for use by trains travelling on east-west routes, freeing up the existing platforms for north-south services.

Roofing firm Rock International Holdings has gone into administration, four years after managers bought the company, CN has learned.

Roofing firm Rock International enters administration

Administrators from KPMG were appointed to the Bedfordshire company, which had 50 staff according to its most recent accounts for the year ended October 2010.

Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told hundreds of industry executives and military officials at a conference that he  is concerned with the potential of a cyber attack on privately owned U.S. computer networks; “I hope this isn’t one of those situations where we won’t do what we need to do until we get slammed,” Carter said

Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is concerned with the potential of a cyber attack on privately owned U.S. computer networks. “I hope this isn’t one of those situations where we won’t do what we need to do until we get slammed,” Carter told the annual Air Force Association conference.

A Yorkshire couple have been convicted after pleading guilty to a £600,000 VAT fraud involving a housebuilding company.

Craig and Tracy Taylor, from Wortley in South Yorkshire, were convicted of fraud and money laundering, as the cash was passed through their personal accounts.

An apprenticeship combines college learning with on-site experience to ensure apprentices get the right balance of technical skills and practical experience.

CITB are the largest provider of apprentices for the construction industry, with over 45 years’ experience of developing skilled workers.

When J.M. Electrical Co., www.jmelectrical.com, Lynnfield, Mass., completed construction and project operations at the Castle Square Apartments located in Boston's historic South End neighborhood, the work came with a green appeal. Energy efficiency is the name of the game today in construction, and these upgrades certainly fit the bill.

It is no surprise that J.M. Electrical Co., would focus on energy efficiency in its work. After all, the company is known for working in advanced automated building system installations. In an effort to reduce energy demand and consumption, Castle Square Apartments created an energy conservation plan to upgrade all apartment units and facility HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems with energy efficient technology. In all, this will help the project realize cost savings with better energy practices and system modifications.

The Stoke-on-Trent based construction firm has been appointed to a four-year construction framework agreement by Staffordshire County Council

Projects on the framework include schools, sports facilities, care homes, as well as extensions and refurbishment projects for existing buildings.

Much emphasis in the construction news of the past week or so has been on building procurement in the public sector. First, on 10 September the All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in Public Building – a snappy title, you must agree – published its report calling for a "procurement revolution" to deliver better value for money in public sector construction projects.

It cited the Olympic Delivery Authority for London 2012 as a shining example of how it's done. This week the PM revealed during a visit to Brazil (one of the downsides of hosting the next Games) that many of the people and companies involved in delivering that infrastructure project have been engaged by the Rio organisers to perform the same task next time around.

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has launched a new guide for the construction sector intended to give Construction Site Managers an understanding of the techniques needed to secure these vulnerable sites. This includes a basic introduction to risk management and an overview of the practical solutions available.

Address construction site security early on, advises BSIA page image