Building Information Modeling (BIM) has become an industry standard on complex construction projects. As more Construction owners reap the benefits of BIM, more projects add a modeling component. While Architects grab Revit, the complexities feel insurmountable, especially for smaller contractors in the electrical and mechanical trades. An investment of 6-18 months and $80-100,000 is not uncommon to hear. So what is a smaller subcontractor to do? Get Educated on BIM. It will keep you in sync with the jargon and help you see the benefits for marketing your firm. MORE >>

Webcast – Tuesday, January 17, 2012. webcast will preview the new book:  Tools of the Trade:  Modern Marketing for Construction Brands by Construction Marketing Association (CMA) Chairman Neil M. Brown. Registration is now open on the Construction Marketing Association (CMA) website, link below. The free webcast for members and non-members is scheduled for  Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 1 pm CST. And MODERN MARKETING will serve as the as the study guide for CMA’s Certified Construction Marketing Professional (CCMP) program. Marketing is changing rapidly. Brown. ABOUT CMA. Questions? MORE >>

Companies across Britain are pouring millions of pounds into developing innovative 3D virtual technology with interactive features offering maximum flexibility to meet customer’s individual preferences even before construction has began. Tesco has revealed today one of the latest 3D kitchen innovations which aims to help people make the right choice in deciding what is best for their kitchen using 3D building design technology. Customers will be able to create any styles that meet their exact needs with custom- made interiors. This method will be equally caring for the environment too. MORE >>

It's the middle of January, and finally time for our annual winter driving safety advisory! Next time it snows more than 2", keep these safety tips in mind before you get behind the wheel. Clear Off Your Vehicle and Warm up Your Car: Clear ALL snow and ice from your vehicle before you leave. We have all seen someone peaking through a small cleared area in their windshield—don’t be one of those people, you know who you are! Clear the windshield, side windows and rear window of all snow/ice and run the defrosters to clear all condensation. Dirty headlights can cut visibility by 50%. MORE >>

For this mid-week Guest Post Friday post, we welcome Houston Neal.  Houston is the Director of Marketing at Software Advice, a website that presents reviews and comparisons of construction software. Houston joined the company in 2007, just shortly after it was started. He spends most of his day getting the word out about Software Advice’s resources. He enjoys researching and reporting trends in software and technology. You can’t manage what you don’t measure, let alone improve it. It’s imperative to set goals, performance indicators and benchmarks for your estimating processes. license. MORE >>