Latest news with #engineeringfirms
Globe and Mail
07-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Texas Civil Engineers Gain Scalable Support Through IBN Technologies
"IBN Technologies [USA]" Texas Civil Engineers are now providing outsourced design, drafting, and compliance services tailored for construction firms across the state. With scalable resources, certified workflows, and advanced digital collaboration tools, these services help contractors and developers reduce costs, streamline project delivery, and meet growing infrastructure demands efficiently and reliably. Miami, Florida, 07 July 2025 As infrastructure development surges across Texas, the civil engineering landscape is undergoing significant transformation. In response to increasing regulatory complexity, workforce limitations, and aggressive project deadlines, engineering firms are turning to innovative support systems to maintain quality and compliance. IBN Technologies, a global leader in outsourced engineering services, is helping Texas civil engineers streamline workflows and scale operations without compromising on accuracy or speed. IBN Technologies delivers remote engineering services designed to address evolving industry needs. From preliminary design submittals to compliance-aligned documentation, the firm's service model is engineered for fast-paced infrastructure cycles. Texas civil engineers now have a trusted partner capable of aligning with their unique geographic, regulatory, and project-based challenges—enabling greater agility and long-term cost savings. IBN Technologies' scalable solutions offer a compelling advantage in a state where rapid growth and tight turnaround times have become the norm. Refine your project plans with expert engineering insights Industry Challenges in Civil Engineering Across Texas, engineering firms are grappling with a range of persistent challenges that hinder efficiency and project delivery: Shortage of experienced engineers amid rising project demand Complex permitting and compliance documentation processes Bottlenecks in design approvals and coordination workflows Rising operational costs with limited flexibility to scale staff Increasing pressure to reduce turnaround time without sacrificing quality These hurdles are prompting firms to explore more agile and cost-effective engineering support models. IBN Technologies' Solutions for Texas Civil Engineers IBN Technologies has developed a comprehensive outsourcing framework specifically geared toward civil engineering firms in Texas. By integrating with client teams remotely, IBN offers project-ready support aligned to local codes, permitting timelines, and quality benchmarks. Its offerings include: ✅ Initial submission documents created for preliminary condition evaluations ✅ Submittals scheduled to match key delivery milestones ✅ Grading elevations matched to design-phase precision benchmarks ✅ Utility layouts assessed for clearance conflicts and easement limits ✅ Rebar designs mapped in accordance with local inspection codes ✅ Forecast reports tailored to align with funding accountability standards ✅ Final documentation compiled for transparency in audits and regulatory reviews ✅ Comment resolutions tracked by workflow stage and reviewer assignment ✅ Approved files tagged with version control and current approval status ✅ Submission confirmations logged with timestamps and unique IDs ✅ Workflow steps defined for permit-related activity tracking ✅ Submission protocols arranged to meet jurisdiction-specific regulations ✅ Coordination remarks embedded within implementation processes Texas civil engineers benefit from a team that works in real-time through cloud platforms, BIM integrations, and data-secure portals. With IBN Technologies, firms gain scalability without compromising compliance or delivery timelines. Key Benefits of Outsourcing Civil Engineering Services Outsourcing civil engineering tasks with IBN Technologies offers measurable value for firms across Texas: Expanded delivery capacity without internal hiring delays 24/7 support to align with urgent design revisions and document submissions Enhanced focus on strategic tasks by offloading routine engineering work IBN Technologies serves as an extension of the client's team, ensuring continuity, precision, and regulatory confidence. Scalable Strategies Empower Engineering Performance The evolution of infrastructure initiatives is transforming how engineering teams handle design schedules and regulatory obligations. Flexible frameworks that integrate precise oversight with secure collaboration are now yielding steady, measurable outcomes. ✅ Access to ISO-certified engineering workflows (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 20000:2018, ISO 27001:2022) ✅ Reduces engineering expenses by up to 70% without compromising quality ✅ Brings over 25 years of experience in international project delivery ✅ Enables seamless engineering operations through digital platforms Delegating civil engineering tasks through outsourcing helps fill internal resource gaps while accelerating progress in design and documentation phases. IBN Technologies supports clients with reliable engineering solutions anchored in quality performance and full compliance. Enhance your project capacity with skilled engineers Driving the Future of Civil Engineering in Texas As Texas continues its aggressive infrastructure expansion, civil engineers need more than just local expertise—they require partners who can deliver precision, scale, and speed simultaneously. IBN Technologies is meeting this demand through flexible, performance-driven support tailored to the civil engineering lifecycle. IBN Technologies' global project experience, combined with its local alignment in Texas, allows civil engineers to confidently delegate complex tasks like design support, grading plans, utility coordination, and document preparation. With demand for engineers continuing to outpace supply, outsourcing is no longer a temporary fix—it's a strategic solution. Firms that embrace this model gain the agility to respond to project shifts, secure more bids, and operate with leaner in-house teams. For Texas civil engineers seeking to stay ahead of the curve, IBN Technologies provides a seamless path to operational excellence through digital integration, regulatory assurance, and collaborative execution. About IBN Technologies IBN Technologies LLC, an outsourcing specialist with 25 years of experience, serves clients across the United States, United Kingdom, Middle East, and India. Renowned for its expertise in the use- Real estate and construction (civil engineering) Industry, RPA, Intelligent Process Automation includes AP Automation services like P2P, Q2C, and Record-to-Report. IBN Technologies provides solutions compliant with ISO 9001:2015, 27001:2022, CMMI-5, and GDPR standards. The company has established itself as a leading provider of IT, KPO, and BPO, Outsourcing services in finance and accounting, including CPAs, Hedge funds, alternative investments, banking, travel, and human resources. It offers customized solutions that drive AR efficiency and growth.
CBC
18-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Expired joints, cracked pipes: new details emerge about leaky LRT tunnel at St-Laurent
After a series of incidents in which loose concrete fell from Ottawa's St-Laurent LRT station last year, CBC News has learned more details about how the city is addressing chronic water infiltration in the former bus tunnel, including fixing leaky joints — some of which had passed their life expectancy. According to engineering reports, some of those joints had not been replaced in nearly four decades — including in areas where concrete chunks fell onto the train tracks in January 2024. CBC has also learned of an ongoing leak near another tunnel joint, which the city said it hopes to address next year. The tunnel, which was built for buses in the 1980s before being repurposed into an LRT station, has been suffering from water leakage for decades. Last spring, city officials couldn't say what was causing the persistent leaks, which are deteriorating the concrete by causing "delamination" and "spalling" — when concrete pieces break off the main slab. During planned maintenance this month, the city plans to further inspect the tunnel, scale down more loose concrete and address other issues identified during the 2024 Ontario-mandated inspection — a regular checkup that was largely skipped in 2022 due to major construction at the bus station above the tunnel. Leaky expansion joints In 2018, a year before the LRT station opened, two engineering firms investigated and laid out multiple possible sources of the leaks. They also suggested potential temporary and permanent fixes, according to reports CBC obtained through a freedom of information request. According to a report by engineering firm Morrison Hershfield, the tunnel's expansion joints appeared to be a hot spot for water infiltration, damaging the concrete and ceiling framing and corroding pipes. Expansion joints connect concrete sections of the tunnel and contain flexible material such as a sealant, allowing the structure to contract and expand with temperature changes and other factors. Without properly working joints, stress from those fluctuations can cause cracking and leaks, compromising the durability of the concrete. "Joint intersections are common sources of water leakage due to the difficulty of manufacturing a continuous … seal," reads the report. The estimated life expectancy of an expansion joint is 15 to 30 years, while the seals themselves are expected to last five to 15 years, according to the report, which cites a manual from Ontario's Ministry of Transportation. While six joints in the St-Laurent tunnel were replaced in 2009, two others identified in the report as joints G and H hadn't been replaced since 1986. When the report was compiled in 2018, these two joints were already 32 years old. "It is noted, however, that these joints are not leaking as severely as [others]," the report states, rating them in "fair operating condition." But by 2020, an inspection found water had been actively leaking from Joint G. "Majority of expansion joint seals are leaking," reads the provincially mandated inspection report obtained by CBC. The city said joints G and H were finally replaced in 2023. By that time they were 37 years old, well past their life expectancy. Then, in January 2024, concrete chunks fell onto the tracks below joint G. That May, concrete debris was found to have "disrupted" ceiling tiles above passenger platforms, and more loose concrete was discovered in October, once again halting LRT service at the station. If it's performing, why take it out? - Susan Johns, director of asset management After that May incident, an internal city email revealed staff had again "found extended delaminated area at expansion G over the track." According to the city's director of asset management Susan Johns, replacing the joint didn't address the leakage problem. "When the expansion joint work was completed, which should eliminate leaking, there was still leaking," Johns told CBC. Crews then found a "new source of water," Johns said — drainpipes in the tunnel roof were cracked and leaking, including over Joint G. This has now been fixed, Johns told CBC. Regarding the life expectancy of the joints, Johns said the city monitors its structures regularly and prioritizes replacement based on performance. "If it's performing, why take it out?" she said. 'Permanent solution' recommended In addition to replacing all the expansion joints at the St-Laurent station, engineering firm Paterson Group recommended in 2018 installing a new permanent membrane to waterproof the concrete slab above the tunnel. "Once the permanent solution is in effect, it's expected that most of the leaks within the St. Laurent Station would be reduced significantly," the report concludes. The city told CBC partial waterproofing of the roof slab was done during the 2023 repairs, as well as plugging some utility ducts and electrical boxes. Remaining work to mitigate leakage, including more waterproofing and replacing outstanding sections of expansion joints, is scheduled for 2026 and 2027, the city said. There's also an outstanding leak near expansion Joint D, the city added. It's now being investigated and will be fixed during the 2026 project. Despite these ongoing issues, Johns said the tunnel is safe. "It's in very good condition. It does not pose a risk to our passengers, to our staff or to our trains," she said. Water 'to be avoided': engineer "We need to avoid, as much as possible, water from concrete structures," said Leandro Sanchez, a concrete durability expert and engineering professor at the University of Ottawa. Asked about the lifespan of expansion joints, Sanchez explained that if they're not properly maintained they can become more rigid, allowing water to seep through and cause further deterioration. "Then you start having durability-related issues," he said, adding photos of the station published by CBC showed signs of that. Sanchez agreed that performance, not age, is key to determining the viability of an expansion joint. "But you know, all of the materials, they have some lifespan — all of them, including concrete. And the harsher the condition, the lower the life expectancy," he said. Sanchez stressed regular assessments, as well as early rehabilitation and maintenance, are "really, really crucial" when it comes to concrete tunnels like the one at St-Laurent.
