Weekly quiz: What is unusual about US employment trend? | US$1.4bn Vancouver tunnelling project | More accurate inspection app

1) The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing reforms to its New Source Review (NSR) permitting rules. What change is intended to speed up data centre and power generation projects?

• Allowing certain non-emissions-related construction, such as installing cement pads, to begin before a permit is issued.
• Eliminating the requirement for all air quality permits on new projects.
• Increasing the number of inspections required during early construction phases.

2) What reduction in travel time is expected once the 24km line Santiago-Batuco railway project in Chile, awarded to Chinese contractor CRCC, is expected once it is complete?

• From 1.5 hours to 24 minutes
• From 2 hours to 1 hour
• From 90 minutes to 45 minutes

3) Metro Vancouver is constructing five seismic-resilient under-river water supply tunnels as part of a US$1.4bn programme. What distinguishes the Annacis crossing currently under construction?

• It is the shallowest crossing, built only 10m below the riverbed
• It is the longest of the planned crossings, designed to withstand a “one-in-10,000-year” earthquake
• It is the first crossing to use a microtunnelling machine rather than a TBM

4) UK-based technology firm Krank has launched its Inspeq inspection app for rental companies. What key efficiency gain has the company reported from using the tool?

• Inspection accuracy improved by 10%
• Rental fleet costs reduced by 25%
• Inspection times cut by up to 50%

5) According to analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), US construction employment fell by 7,000 jobs in August, marking the third consecutive monthly decline. Yet what unusual trend was observed in the same period?

• The construction unemployment rate fell to 3.2%, matching the lowest level ever recorded
• Non-residential construction employment rose by 10,000 jobs
• Contractors reported a collapse in confidence about future sales

Submit Answers