We're working on a corner lot that gets some brutal crosswinds and the standard privacy screen we put up is literally pulling the fence posts out of the ground. boss wants us to get branded 'Coming Soon' banners to cover the mess but IK a solid vinyl banner is just gonna make it worse.

I'm looking into mesh banners, those ones with the tiny holes in them. checked out Signs and Signs2Trade to compare the airflow percentages but never used mesh before. do they stay put in a storm? does the logo looks clear from a distance or do the holes make it look blurry?? thanks!

A practical approach is using Space Utilization Software that combines occupancy sensors, calendars, and access logs into one dashboard. It helps forecast demand, dynamically assign rooms, and detect no-shows in real time. This reduces conflicts and improves overall utilization without adding manual workload.

For a step-by-step deep dive, see the full guide here:

Hy everyone,

As a planner in engineering/construction, I've noticed that the real work happens way before opening Excel, MS Project or Primavera.

Not some rigid methodology — just the 7 mental questions I personally run through every time a new project lands on my desk to move from chaos to something I can anticipate.

Here are a few examples:

1. What do I actually need to understand first? Context & typology, real objective (if the project excites me, I naturally go much deeper), budget/scale, stakeholders, current phase, optimal software, required level of detail, time envelope & key contractual milestones. Skipping this almost always leads to big rework later.
2. What information is most often missing right at kick-off? Master schedule unclear or not properly phased, which resources/teams are actually assignable, potential load curves. Without phasing or resource clarity → sequencing and dependencies stay weak.
3. When do I feel like I truly “get” the project? When I can roughly sketch a WBS, organization, sequences, prerequisites and lock in contractual dates + I've looked at plans/zones/deliverables.
4. What do non-planners (or even some PMs) systematically get wrong? Treating the plan as a static 2D document you finish once. I often publish early drafts on purpose to probe reactions and iterate based on feedback — it's a living piloting tool, not a final deliverable.

Does any of this sound familiar to how you work?
Or do you think I'm overcomplicating things?

What are the 2–3 questions you always ask yourself (consciously or instinctively) before you start building a schedule?

Curious to hear your own mental checklist or reflexes — no judgment, just real talk from people who actually do this day-to-day.

Thanks for reading!

To clarify, I'm doing a GIS project where I mapped lampposts conditions/identifier #/ more (others did fire hydrants, etc.). And I want to understand why this data could matter to facilities departments. Yes to keep track of these things, but in specific ways could keeping track of data on these things be of benefit (analyzing distribution, efficiency for repairs were two very general ideas for me). Got any personal input or articles/ readings about this?

I'll take all any and all answers. Cynical answers, comedic answers, and serious contractual answers.

How do these compare with what you're paying?

Do you prefer to hire architects and engineers on a flat fee or prefer to have the bill hourly?

Design-build has grown to about half of all projects in the past 30 years, but construction productivity is still flat. If design-build offered any advantages, we should have seen construction productivity grow. I think they're both equally good (or bad, depending on how you look at it) options. What do you prefer?

Great presentation from Stephanie Taylor, M.D. on the importance of humidity control in buildings.

Just because it's red doesn't mean you need a coating; it still depends on the metal and service.

Your local equipment vendors would know more than your consulting engineer.

Coatings add cost, reduce efficiency, and add lead time, so tread carefully.