CSI Project Solutions

Construction of the Vancouver Convention Centre's Habitat Skirt

Written by WorleyParsons Canada Ltd. Fri, May 21, 2010

The Vancouver Convention Centre, which was featured on the Go Green channel as a case study in April, has an extremely unique design feature – an artificial reef (also referred to as a “habitat skirt”). The concrete habitat skirt steps down in five tiers from the underside of the public walkway into the harbor. The skirt was designed with input from marine biologists and other consultants to make it mimic a natural environment.

Turn Smart Water Technologies Into Profit Opportunities

Written by Troy Leezy of Hunter Industries Thu, May 27, 2010

In challenging economic times such as these, we need to find new ways to create revenue. With increasing focus on water conservation and efficient irrigation practices come new opportunities. Whether it is simply offering product upgrades to current customers through the bid, or marketing to past customers with aging irrigation systems, a wide variety of efficient product solutions exist in the market today. Many of the new products available today do not require much or any effort above and beyond traditional installation practices and offer your customers a reasonable timeframe for return on investment.

Maintenance Tips: Automatic Sprinkler Systems

Written by Buildipedia Staff Tue, May 22, 2012

Maintaining your sprinkler system will conserve water and save money. This article will show you how to use an irrigation system to more efficiently water your lawn, garden, or landscaping.

Similar to any other product installed in your home, an automatic sprinkler system needs to be properly maintained. An automatic sprinkler system that is not properly maintained will waste water and be a detriment to the upkeep of your lawn and landscaping. Protecting your investments with regularly scheduled maintenance will ensure that your automatic sprinkler system operates efficiently throughout the year.

U.S. Infrastructure: Stephen Flynn's Edge of Disaster

Written by Andrew Kimos Thu, May 13, 2010

I just finished reading Stephen Flynn’s 2007 book "The Edge of Disaster: Rebuilding a Resilient Nation." For those who’ve been interested enough in infrastructure topics to find their way to the Operations Channel, I’d highly recommend this book. Flynn is more of a security expert than he is a construction specialist, but it is exactly this objective perspective which makes his focus on our infrastructure so valuable. He includes infrastructure shortfalls along with Jihadists and pandemics as major threats to our society. He sees our aging infrastructure beyond the bricks and mortar, as reducing our national flexibility, as vulnerable terrorist targets, and as economic liabilities for future generations. These add up to make our declining infrastructure a tangible national security issue that he’s rightly concerned about.

Sprinkler System Installation Guide

Written by Rain Bird Corporation Tue, May 25, 2010

Okay, the planning's done, you've bought all the parts, now you're in the yard, shovel in hand, ready to start. In this helpful video, we'll show you the steps to a perfect sprinkler system installation, including trenching, connecting the water source, installing shut-off valves, working with PVC pipe, building a valve manifold, connecting wires, installing sprinklers and flushing your system.

Water Saving and Lawn Care Tips

Written by Rain Bird Corporation Thu, Jun 03, 2010

If you know how to take care of it, your lawn and garden can give you years of enjoyment for surprisingly little effort.

When it comes to watering your yard, you may be able to save yourself some “green” without your lawn turning brown -- by using an automatic irrigation system. If that system is correctly designed, installed and maintained, it can keep your landscape looking lush on the least amount of water.

Economic Transformation in Rural Communities

Written by Kristin Dispenza Mon, May 10, 2010

As promised in my In Studio blog, Building in the Midwest: Where Do We Go From Here?, the topics discussed at the Inside Out: Transforming the Built Environment symposium offered insights into small town economic and architectural development that can be put into practice throughout the Midwest. In fact, some of the revitalization efforts that have taken place in South Dakota have earned national attention.

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2013 Editorial Calendar

January	February	March
IBS	De-Construction	Wind Power
Construction Outlook	Life Cycle Analysis	Landscape Architecture
Modular Homes	Cob, Adobe, Earth Houses	Urban Planning
Home Security & Safety	Winter Home Maintenance	Tax Rebates, Exemptions, etc.
How to Recycle Everything	Multigenerational Design	Spring Maintenance and Preperation
Home Gym	Tips for Winter Apartment Living	Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens
April	May	June
Emerging Green Technologies	Pritzker Prize	Hospitality Operations
FoM Municipal Pools, etc.	Continuing Education	Heavy Equipment
Commercial MEP	Project Management	Emerging Architects
Residential Solar Power	Pritzker Residential Builds	Remodeling
Basements, Flooding, etc.	Natural Pest Control	Driveways and Pavement
Curb Appeal	Moving Tips & Renter’s Rights	Storm Readiness and Repair
July	August	September
Climate Change	Adaptive Reuse	Solar Decathlon
FoM of Leisure Facilities	Historic Preservation	AEC Emerging Careers
Carbon Credits	AEC Billings Indices	Colleges and Universities
Kid-Friendly Backyards \| Homesteading	Residential Reuse	Walls, Windows, Doors
Residential Irrigation	Guide to Tools and Maintenance	Painting Exteriors
Guide to Home Cooling	Outbuilding	Organization & Storage
October	November	December
Museums	AEC Legislative Concerns	2013’s Best ArchiMoments
Building Envelopes	GreenBuild	FoM of Malls
Energy Management	LEED	Healthy Buildings
Painting Interiors	Holidays at Home	Guest Rooms
Plumbing	Kitchens	DIY Projects for Winter
Whole Year Guide to When	Green Products & Materials	House of the Year

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Decorating for Spring Without Spending a Bundle

Written by Tara D Sturm Wed, May 12, 2010

Spring cleaning is just around the corner, only to be followed by spring decorating! Five interior designers give us tips on how to give our space a fresh spring look without breaking the bank.

Irrigation: Is Grass Greener on the Other Side?

Written by Jeff Calcamuggio Thu, May 20, 2010

Water is essential to grass. Healthy grass is composed of 75 - 85% water, and water assists with seed germination, maintaining plant temperature, and tissue development, along with food and nutrient processes. Without water, grass is susceptible to disease, will brown and wilt and, although very resilient, may die. Healthy, lush, green grass is achieved from thorough, regular watering, which develops deep, drought-resistant roots. The amount of water, frequency, and method of watering depends on where you live, what type of grass you grow, and how you approach completing the task. Common methods include manual watering and automatic sprinkler systems.

Underground Water Storage Tanks

Written by Andrew Kimos Wed, May 05, 2010

Recently, I had the opportunity to observe firsthand the installation of an underground water storage tank for the purpose of fire-fighting in rural western Howard County, Maryland. An underground water storage tank can serve as a water source for firefighters in an area where hydrants connected to water mains are either unavailable or located at great distances from each other. Underground water storage tanks provide greater fire safety, are more compact and visually unobtrusive when compared to aboveground models, and could represent cost savings to local government agencies as well as homeowners.

LECA Masonry

Written by Stephanie Aurora Lewis Mon, May 03, 2010

Light Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA) masonry block, which was used in the construction of the Landskrona Townhouse, is a low embodied energy material, is relatively inexpensive, is lightwieght, has a high insulation R-value, and is made by heating the materials to 1200 degrees Celsius in a rotary kiln. The origins of LECA and other aggregates such as Gravelite, Perlite, and Rocklite can be traced back to the invention of Haydite (invented for the construction of the USS Selma) in 1917 in Kansas City, Missouri. In Europe, LECA block was first used in Denmark, Germany, Holland, and the U.K.