By Mark S. Kuhar How do you use drones and robots to make underground mining less risky for workers? Virginia Tech researcher Richard Bishop and his West Virginia University collaborators are working to answer this question. A recent two-year, $569,149 Alpha Foundation grant will allow the team to study ways to use autonomous drones to predict and prevent roof collapses…
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On the Rocks: Happy Hour With Arkay Beverages
By Mark S. Kuhar I have been known to indulge in a nice cold craft beer or two, and I certainly won’t turn down two fingers of good Kentucky bourbon. But I was very intrigued when I was contacted by Arkay Beverages, a company shaking up the cocktail industry – pun intended – with a line of no-alcohol (NA) liquor. Why…
Read MoreHumor Helps – Even in Aggregates
While doing some online research I came upon the website for Manchester Sand & Gravel Co. in Hooksett, N.H., part of the Boston Sand & Gravel family of companies. What caught my eye was the company’s motto: “Customer service & humor, sets us apart from the competition.” Intrigued, I reached out for more information on how humor fits into the…
Read MoreCracking the Concrete Code
New Research Develops Self-Sensing Metamaterial Concrete for Smart Infrastructure Systems. By Mark S. Kuhar Concrete is the most used material in the construction industry and dates to the Roman Empire. Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh are now reimagining its design for the 21st century. New research introduces metamaterial concrete for the development of smart civil infrastructure systems. The paper,…
Read MoreJustin Bateman, Pebble Artist
By Mark S. Kuhar British artist Justin Bateman creates impermanent artwork from found pebbles and stones. The artist, who now lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand, leaves detailed pebble portraits on beaches, in forests, by railways, and up mountains. Each natural-colored stone acts as an individual paint stroke or mark that’s integral to the overall image. There are portraits of renowned…
Read MoreUSGS: Aggregates Production Flat in 2022
By Mark S. Kuhar At the start of 2022, it was highly anticipated that aggregates production would rise to about 2.80 billion metric tons (Gt) for the year. Well, final numbers are in and the estimated annual output of construction aggregates produced for consumption in 2022 was 2.44 Gt, unchanged from that of 2021, according to Jason Christopher Willett, commodity…
Read MoreUSGS: Nonfuel Mineral Production Jumps $3.6 Billion in 2022
By Mark S. Kuhar U.S. mines produced approximately $98.2 billion in nonfuel mineral commodities in 2022 – an estimated $3.6 billion increase over the 2021 revised total of $94.6 billion, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This information comes from the 28th annual USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries report, released Jan. 31 by the USGS National Minerals Information Center. The report…
Read MoreWhy Was Ancient Roman Concrete So Durable?
By Mark S. Kuhar According to a new article in Science Advances, in contrast to their modern counterparts, ancient Roman mortars and concretes have remained durable in a variety of climates, seismic zones and even in direct contact with seawater, as in the case for maritime concrete. Because of this proven longevity on the order of millennia, these ancient construction…
Read MoreEquipment Finance Outlook
By Mark S. Kuhar In what is likely to be a more challenging year for both the economy and the equipment finance industry, the 2023 forecast for equipment and software investment growth is 4.2%, according to the 2023 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook. The report released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation also forecasts sluggish U.S. GDP…
Read MorePen State
The Cap-O-Matic Pen is Perfect For Those Whose Work Requires Much More Resilience And Durability From Their Pen. By Mark S. Kuhar Quarry workers almost always have a pen or two in their pocket or in their truck, whether working in the office or at the plant. While writing on a piece of paper in other environments might be easy,…
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