New tool helps developers, contractors identify geographic risk for construction

Developers and contractors entering new markets that are looking to mitigate their projects’ risk now have available an interactive tool that not only allows them to access real-time updates pertaining to the risk climate of municipalities across the U.S., but also to create a job-specific risk profile that takes into account such factors as local statutes and the potential for catastrophic exposure.

Aon Risk Solutions, through its Construction Services Group, has gone live with its Construction Risk Portal, a web-enhanced tool that helps clients navigate risk when working across multiple geographies simultaneously.

Aon Risk Solutions is a division of London-based Aon plc, a publicly traded global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. It has clients in 120 countries.

The portal is a single website with two applications:

• Construction Risk Map is a searchable reference library. It provides a macroeconomic vantage of the construction risk climate across the country, and outlines specific issues—such as litigation, legislation, and insurance requirements—that contribute to overall construction’s risk rating;

• Construction Risk Register is an interactive module through which users can create project- and location-specific risk profiles based on data about the project. The profile would have three components: State-specific statutes and case law based on construction-specific issues as tracked in the Construction Risk Map; a map that plots a project’s location based on information input and through a partnership with Aon Benfield’s Impact Forecasting capabilities and analysis of catastrophic exposure; and a risk “matrix” that plots the potential severity of jurisdictional issues and catastrophic exposures on a construction project.

Aon Risk Solutions developed this interactive platform with assistance from Johnson & Bell, a real estate and construction litigation firm, and one of several information partners with which Aon has on retainer.

“The Construction Risk Portal will allow our clients and colleagues to have access 24-hours a day, seven days a week to statutory developments, case law, risk trends and regulatory updates,” says Matt Walsh, Executive Vice President and Chief Broking Officer of Aon Risk Solutions’ Construction Services Group.

Aon now includes access to this portal as one of the services it offers to clients, says Walsh. The plan is to add other applications in 2015, which Walsh says could revolve around safety drivers, contractual issues, and information about risks in other countries, such as Canada.

Allan Bilka, RA, is a Senior Staff Architect and Secretariat to the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) with the International Code Council, based in the ICC’s Chicago district office. He also serves as staff liaison to the ICC-700 National Green Building Standard. He has written several ICC white papers on green building and numerous green-related articles for the ICC. A registered architect, Bilka has over 30 years of combined residential design/build and commercial consulting engineering experience.

| Oct 17, 2011

Austin's newest urban apartment complex under construction

Complex sits on a four-acre waterfront site along Lady Bird Lake with spectacular city and lake views, and is slated to open spring 2013.

| Oct 17, 2011

Aerialogics announces technology partnership with CertainTeed Corp.

CertainTeed to provide Aerialogics’ Aerial Measurement Services to its credentialed contractor base and utilize the technology in its Roofing Products Division.