Balancing COVID-19 with Worker Safety while Maintaining Essential Critical Infrastructure Projects

Balancing COVID-19 with Worker Safety while Maintaining Essential Critical Infrastructure Projects

How one critical infrastructure construction company is continuing to support the growth of communications, data and technology clients in tandem with prioritizing safety.

It’s no doubt that the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread around the world and continues to be of great concern. The concern is not only to personal safety but to the economy in large scale. As a result of the requirement to greatly reduce human-to-human contact, the construction of communications, data and technology facilities are even more essential than ever before. In most cases, technology has become the only string bonding people and communities, providing face-to-face interaction for education, healthcare, financial, etc. alongside important recreational activities like online gaming and streaming workouts.

No one knows for sure how this will impact the way we do business or interact with each other in the long run. Though what is becoming apparently clear is that those who adapt the quickest and bring real world solutions to their clients are the ones who will emerge from this tumultuous time of adjustment better able to provide value to the businesses they serve.

Modifying behaviors from the onset and being agile enough to know when quick, decisive action is pertinent not only ensures business continuity, but protects the health of the team members required to execute the work.

So much so was the concern of Constructiv, an organization focused on mission critical, 5G and edge data center deployments that they instantly implemented and trained all team members on the Standard Operating Procedure for work during pandemic events.

However, they didn’t stop there. Realizing that critical infrastructure projects require specialized expertise and an elevated level of dedication, Constructiv took matters into their own hands.

Early and continued commitment is the cornerstone for success.

In February, Constructiv began a new data center project for Data Foundry, a data center colocation provider. By March the project was in full gear and coronavirus had become a reality in the U.S.

To keep the project on schedule and the workers safe meant having to quickly implement fundamental alterations to the construction team’s behaviors that went beyond the norm. With this steadfast attitude to keep the project moving forward and adhering to OSHA and CDC guidelines, Constructiv’s safety protocol was amplified to include:

• Hyper-communication of procedural information and expectations with staff, clients, subcontractors and vendors. Operating procedures for work during pandemic events was implemented and shared with staff, clients, subcontractors and vendors. This allowed both internal and external teams know what was expected of them and how to proceed.

• Daily reporting with a Self-Disclosure Health Questionnaire for all employees, including field, office and remote workers. This was used to assess if workers were at risk of being infected or of the potential to infect others.

• Temperature screenings for all onsite workers implemented. Those with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater or those that had contact with potentially sick individuals were sent home and monitored for either quarantine or other actions.

• Contact tracing and application of separating activities was initiated. The tracking of teams as a whole or “family” was performed. This reduced the impact of one positive but asymptomatic individual entering the workspace potentially infecting the entire workforce.

• Frequent hand washing protocol was directed. Hand wash stations were placed in the pathway of construction entrances and exits.

• Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces with a CDC-approved, industrial anti-viral solution at the beginning and end of each workday required.

• Reducing human-to-human interaction was prioritized. Points of personal contact such as security badging and tool sharing were lessened to minimize daily transactions.

• Social distancing processes were launched. Besides having project meetings online, site work was coordinated in shifts. For instance, whereas the electricians and the mechanical subcontractors would not be scheduled to occupy the same workspace at the same time.

• Employing the proper and consistent use of (personal protective equipment) PPE.

These procedures were found to be so successful in maintaining safety as well as maintaining the integrity of the project and schedule that they have been incorporated into all Constructiv work going forward.

Plans are to further enhance these procedures with certain work functions such as quality control (QC) and punch list walk throughs performed virtually with the assistance of body worn video camera systems and sophisticated VR software.

This outdated data center practice is costing you big money and here’s how to avoid it

This outdated data center practice is costing you big money and here’s how to avoid it

Why does the data center industry continue to use the cost per MW model to guide design and construction decisions? There is a better method.

The use of cost per MW as the key metric early in the data center design process is prevalent in the industry. It’s often used when determining design decisions and their relation to the cost to build.

However, the metric leads to a host of inconsistencies and lost opportunity to optimize the design, taking away from the use of another metric that often is most optimal for early decision making.

As the data center industry continues to mature, the intense focus on cost per MW modeling during design is switching to a process focused on using total cost of ownership (TCO) to drive evaluation and optimize design decisions. TCO is important for evaluating costs that aren't always reflected in upfront pricing.

Contrariwise, the cost per MW model is fixated on first cost only and does not account for a true data center development strategy. And since there is so much variability in data center design and construction, the idea of using a cost per MW model across a portfolio of data centers in multiple markets is a risky measure. This may lead to decisions that do not necessarily meet the strategy of the business. A strategy that should be focused on factors that drive TCO.

Worse yet, operators in regions where the demand is largest such as, Northern Virginia or the Silicon Valley have the most to lose when cost models are not accurate. Don’t be surprised if you are one of them.

Why operators in regions where the demand is largest have the most to lose when cost models are not accurate.

To prove this point, we’ve laid out the negative effects that outweigh the benefits of using the cost per MW model as an appropriate strategy. Plus, what we at Constructiv believe are better metrics for assessing data center construction costs.

Compare and contrast the local energy costs and availability of renewables in three major regions: Northern Virginia, Phoenix and Northern California. According to JLL’s Data Center Outlook for 2019, Northern Virginia’s average cost per kWH is around 5.2 cents, Phoenix at 6.4 cents and Northern California at 13.4 cents. With this in mind, the optimal design decisions are only made by using a TCO module. The TCO will evaluate the first cost of energy efficient mechanical systems, for example, as well as the cost of energy over the lifetime of the data center.     

Furthermore, PUE is another metric in the industry used to guide design decisions. Using PUE to guide the design will dramatically change the first cost of that build. There are many variables that go into identifying the PUE of a data center facility, generally speaking though, the closer the PUE is to 1.0, the higher the upfront cost to construct.

As has been discussed heavily in the data center industry, Google has been providing data on their trailing twelve-month PUE since 2008 on the entire Google fleet. Throughout this span, Google has been able to reduce their overall PUE from 1.26 to 1.1. Google accomplished this through a variety of design elements that would drive up the cost/MW of the installation. Their decisions are likely driven by a combination of TCO modeling as well as a desire to lead the industry in energy efficiency.

Using a pure cost/MW model doesn’t allow for an intelligent evaluation or an optimal decision for the business. Contrary to the Google model, and for the bulk of data center developers, simply driving PUE down for the sake of marketing a low PUE doesn’t always drive to an optional cost decision during design. This is specifically true in very low cost of energy locations, where the payback on the higher first cost of low energy systems may be 10+ years or more. Thusly, Constructiv believes TCO modeling is the optimal way to truly make an intelligent cost-based decision.

One other consideration is the need to accommodate future change. Considering the future cost scale of the infrastructure to meet a clients’ changing needs and the flexibility of that architecture can impact the cost per MW to build. Highly flexible mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems come at a higher upfront construction cost but are essential in attracting many different customer types (hyperscale, wholesale, retail, managed service providers).   

Examples of flexible and scalable architecture include: modular power and cooling systems; prefabricated mechanical and electrical infrastructure that may be added to an active design without affecting current production; rack level cooling and row containment; and grooved mechanical piping technology. These technologies along with others are affording builders and operators alike the option to scale as the business does versus overbuilding on day one.

Using a TCO model with consideration of the necessity for future change will optimize the decision-making process during design and prohibit a myopic view of first cost/MW only.

Shaping your data center cost strategy.

Beyond the cost per kW/MW model there are a number of factors to consider. These factors are all vital inputs that dramatically effect TCO.

• The type of construction performed (greenfield vs. brownfield).

• Marketability of the property.

• Taking advantage of environmental conditions.

• True scalability for future expansions.

• Flexibility to cost effectively implement future changes.

• The implementation of energy efficient measures.

In essence, the business strategy should always drive design and TCO, which should then drive the cost molding to support decision making.   

Constructiv, as one of the nation’s principal data center sector construction and construction management firms, undertakes the accurate estimating of data center costs by considering a host of factors. Coupled with lessons learned from over 2o years in the industry.

Constructiv Builders (Constructiv) is an organization focused on mission critical, 5G and edge data center deployments. Constructiv, by viewing these installments from a constructor’s perspective, offers client’s flexibility and vast industry experience, giving them a competitive advantage in the design and build of complex technical projects.

How Technological Change Is Positively Effecting Data Center Construction

How Technological Change Is Positively Effecting Data Center Construction

What lies ahead for construction organizations building 5G networks and edge data centers solutions.

It is no secret that recent technological advancements are changing the way we perceive ourselves. Access to a seemingly infinite amount of content and information (thanks to the internet) is at our disposal within seconds and most of us do not have to wonder how it got there or who is responsible for managing it. Yet, we continuously desire for that content and information to be at our fingertips more effectively and efficiently every single day. How do we continuously push the limits of communication? Advancements in ubiquitous high-speed mobile access or 5G across the globe, widespread adoption of big data analytics, AI and edge computing are pushing boundaries never thought imaginable just a decade ago.

These technological drivers of change have a profound effect on the world as we know it and in turn are changing construction means and methodologies that have been around for more than a century. This new age, coined The Fourth Industrial Revolution is like none of its predecessors in that it will forever impact the way in which human and machine interrelate with one another.

Ubiquitous high-speed mobile Internet - 5G.

We have been hearing about the next generation of High-Speed Mobile Internet for years now and it looks like we are on the cusp of early stage deployment. The largest wireless carriers in North America: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint have all made commitments to release their 5th Generation or “5G” wireless networks in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City and Atlanta over the upcoming months. What we believe this means to those networks are internet speeds that are up to 100 times faster than previous networks (3G, 4G...etc.), the ability to support broader networks of machine to machine (M2M) communications and extremely low latencies between the available content and devices.

At this moment, it is hard to quantify the social, economical and financial impacts that 5G will have on our daily lives, but we know that it will dynamically change the way in which we interact with one another and machines alike. Network infrastructure that incorporates small cell technology will be deployed with more commonality and data center platforms like edge and micro edge data centers will need to be located closer to the users/devices. 5G will also push the network beyond the use of its traditional use with devices like smartphones and mobile broadband hotspots, tablets and laptops and into a world of Internet of Things (IoT) or always connected nodes/endpoints, smart cities, machine learning and autonomous vehicles.

How does this help the construction industry?

The reliability and uber low latency that comes with a 5G network can consistently help support these data-heavy compute platforms far better than previous networks could.

With low latency 5G networks and dense content sitting at the edge, Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) tools will become robust and user friendly. These tools will allow for collaboration between designer and constructor and provide previously inaccessible insight to skilled trades in the field by the introduction of VR goggles. Imagine how an electrician might use VR in the field to install a piece of critical power equipment. VR will allow better visualization of the construction task and provide immediate availability of data required to ensure a high-quality installation.

Edge computing.

While a 5G network is critical to advancements in the current industrial revolution, the compute power, storage and networking capabilities of our existing architecture will not support the reliability and ultra-low latencies that a 5G network possess. In comes, edge computing!

It has been said that autonomous vehicles if and when they are released at economies of scale will create approximately two terabytes of data in a 25-minute commute to work. “To put this in perspective, the average U.S. consumer uses about 10 gigabytes of data per month and would take about 17 years to go through two terabytes.” And this is just one example of the data that will need to be accessed, stored and computated at the edge of our networks. Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart homes and the Internet of Things (IoT) will require an architecture that is not latency constrained and is more robust in locality to where the data is being accessed.

Edge computing devices, like the ones mentioned above and others will depend heavily on network access in order to deliver and receive information at ultra-high speeds. This kind of compute is not possible without accessing said content through a large network of edge or micro edge data center solutions. These iterations of edge data centers include interconnection points between network carriers and content providers, data storage capacity and network connectivity that make access to important data closer to the endpoint/end user/node than previously thought possible. The beauty of these solutions is that they can provide flexibility within the network architecture offering added layers of security, greater performance and access to critical data in a localized environment more rapidly.

What does this mean for construction organizations building out 5G networks and edge data center solutions?

Off site and modular construction will be paramount to speedy and successful installments of these types of solutions.

Secondary, trierarchy and rural installations are believed to be where 5G and edge computing will see the highest economic impact because most of the extended networks outside of many of the largest U.S. cities are undeveloped. Edge computing architecture in these areas will need the support of localized retrieval of content and data, this can be accomplished through deployments of an edge data center solution. Utilizing construction components and materials that are prefabricated offsite or built in a modular fashion reduces many of the challenges around construction manpower availability, usage and the cost associated with traveling long distances to meet job site requirements.

Other edge data center advancements center around critical infrastructure integration and testing, like precast structures; mechanical, electrical and plumbing installments; monitoring; controls systems; and advanced analytic software, by unifying infrastructure, software and testing procedures while still in production creates additional benefits. An acceleration on economies of scale occurs by establishing a uniformity to each product or system that leaves the manufacturing or production line. This lends itself to lower human interaction and much less potential risk when localized manpower is responsible for less smarts and parts installation and lastly it may lead to an overall reduction of Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the owner, when a solution now becomes highly repeatable.

Keeping up with the pace of change.

The technological drivers of change affecting the construction industry are immediate and are not only transforming the construction industry but also transforming the expectation of owners. Building efficiently and cost effectively is still an important component of the construction industry, but the future lies in those who can implement the best high-tech tools combined with professionals that have a strong background in traditional data center build practices.

Constructiv Builders (Constructiv) is an organization focused on mission critical, 5G and edge data center deployments. Constructiv, by viewing these installments from a constructor’s perspective can offer flexibility and vast industry experience to client’s and we believe this gives us a competitive advantage to assist in designing and building complex projects.

Where did all the skilled labor go?

Where did all the skilled labor go? Changing the construction landscape.

Industrywide skilled labor shortages and transformative technologies have changed the construction landscape and the options are to innovate or become obsolete.

The Manpower Group publishes the talent shortage survey every year and in 2018 talent shortages reached a 12-year high. In the United States alone, 46% of employers are not able to fill their open positions. While the talent shortage epidemic is continuing to reach new heights, bursting onto the scene are new job opportunities like: Big Data Specialists, User Experience and Culture Experts, Interaction Designers, Robotics Engineers and Blockchain Specialists. Emerging professions like those mentioned above are dominating the new frontier of possibilities for the educated, ever growing middle class and is now leaving behind the skilled trades of yester year.

Who wouldn’t want to be a Big Data Specialist, come on? I am kidding, but all joking aside this leap into uncharted career waters has created a gaping hole in tradesman that have made a living for centuries in the construction and building space. We have seen such a decline in the labor force that as construction professionals we have had to completely re-think our go-to-market strategies and continually enhance and innovate our solutions.

Drivers of change.

In the latest World Economic Forum (WEF) future of jobs 2018 release there were four specific areas identified in which technological advancements are completely turning the job landscape upside down. Those include ubiquitous high-speed mobile internet, artificial intelligence, widespread adoption of big data analytics and cloud technology. Most of these technologies are not trends or fads, they are products and services that have a profound effect on the way in which we interact and communicate with one another every single day.

We can also look at the socio-economic trends of the future and it is not hard to uncover that there is an increasingly large talent pool of educated individuals that yearn to be a part of this wave of new careers. Because of these reasons and the fact that schools for the last 30 years or so have put little emphasis on encouraging skilled construction trades there is less of a desire to enter the skilled or craft tradesman workforce. We have entered a day and age where new employment opportunities and advancing industry ventures are created faster than traditional professions can become obsolete, examples like mail carriers, librarians, fast food cooks and travel agents.

Another driver of change within the skilled trade professions and discussion of hot topic centers around the stigma associated with professional trade work. Graduating high schoolers in recent years have been taught that the well-paying and often highly stable jobs are those that come out of earning a college degree. Is that truly the case though?

Contrary to popular belief, high school graduates destined to earn four-year college degrees often come out of college with significantly higher debt/income ratios and it is not uncommon for college graduates to earn less than their trade school counterparts during the first few years of employment. Additionally, skilled trades work requires training, apprenticeships, two-year associate degrees and further developmental education all the while receiving compensation for their efforts. Our school systems have not fully addressed the misperception that surrounds the professional trade industry and in turn most high school graduates fail to see all the benefits that come with pursuing a career in the trade fields.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution.

If you go back in history and look at the first two industrial revolutions, you will find that those civilizations were modernized by manual workers producing goods and services with their bodies to advance the greater good of their perspective societies. Now, review the last (Third) and most current revolutions (Fourth) and you can see that the advancements and the most profound disruptions in human history have come from that transition from using our bodies to using our minds.

Most folks do not realize the impact that Artificial Intelligence has on their ever day lives and will continue to have. Think about an improved quality of life at home, work and play due to innovations with robotics and automation that give us the freedom to worry less about agriculture, our power grid and physical infrastructure. Ultimately, our need to be forever and always connected to our things through the invention of the Internet and the more recently coined “Internet of Things” (IoT). The Fourth Industrial Revolution paradigm shift has completely altered the way we produce goods and services and we believe will continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what was traditionally done by manual labor.

A new(er) pathway to construction success.

While these ideas may seem like they negatively impact the construction community, the skilled labor availability and our economy it paves the way for innovation and advancement within the design and construction business. Technologies like Virtual Design and Construction, BIM in 5,6 and 7D, Artificial Intelligence as well as off-site and modular construction incorporates components of the new job frontier that will make the construction profession that much more sought after in the future.

Incorporating these transformative technologies and others into the construction landscape to help fill the gap of skilled and craft tradesman will continue to grow. As a result, it will also aide in the reduction of human error and onsite risk.

Downtown Data Center Builds

Downtown Data Center Builds

Take a glimpse at some of the world's most densely populated data centers where Constructiv is building data center assets for some of the top-rated Colos in the industry.

Constructiv is enhancing the infrastructure of some of the most densely populated critical spaces in downtown areas. As Construction Specialists in the renovation, upgrading and enhancing of data center and telecom buildings in active environments, Constructiv travels the country serving colo and cloud providers with best-in-class service.

Maintain your claim in this highly competitive market and let Constructiv evaluate your facility infrastructure options. Don’t allow lack of robust connectivity keep your business from being a true contender.