Building a 15-story hotel in less than six days

China's impressive building credentials have been in the news regularly over the past few years, particularly those in evidence at the Shanghai World Expo andBeijing Olympic Games. The most recent example of the striking capability of the Chinese building industry took place in Changsha, Hunan province a few months ago. China's Broad Group showcased their rapid building technology by constructing the 15-story Ark Hotel in less than six days. Using a team of 200 workers the structural framework was erected in just 46.5 hours and the external cladding and internal non-structural surfaces were completed in another 90 hours.

The Ark Hotel used one sixth the material of an equivalent sized building with a cost saving of 20% while still being able to withstand a 9.0 magnitude earthquake. In addition the building uses several technologies to result in energy efficiency five times that of comparable buildings. This includes triple pane windows, external solar shades, 6 inches of thermal insulation, heat recovery ventilation, and LED lighting systems. The plan is to construct 15 similar structures in China and 30 more in other countries.

To be fair, the foundations and other below-ground construction were completed prior to starting the clock and the construction system makes significant use of prefabricated components produced in a dedicated factory, so the "time cost" of these aspects of the process have been left out of the six day figure. But even taking those caveats into account the speed from ground level to 15 stories is certainly impressive as shown in the video below.

The Broad Group and its rapid building technology first came to international attention when they constructed a pavilion for Shanghai's World Expo in one day! The following video shows that remarkable feat and also showcases some of the innovations integral to the building approach.

While it is undoubtedly the speed of construction that will bring this building technology to the attention of developers worldwide it is the environmental aspects that are, I believe, most impressive. Energy efficiency, reduction in material use and building waste minimization are all of paramount importance if we are to build a sustainable human environment into the future.-gizmag.com

Launchpad untuk Lokatoo A800

Sesiapa yang mempunyai GPS Lokatoo model A800 bolehlah download Launchpad tersebut di SINI. Launchpad ini dibuat khas untuk model A800 kerana display pixelnya menggunakan QVGA 320x240.

2012 Ford Ranger Wildtrak Revealed Further In New Video

Ford has begun to ramp up the exposure on its upcoming 2012 Ranger line-up, releasing a new video today that goes a long way toward building anticipation for the top-shelf Wildtrak variant.

Although devoid of the sounds its fans would rather hear, the new clip offers a look at a few new angles for the 2012 Ranger Wildtrak, backed by forest views and urban settings. 

The release of this new promotional clip follows the Wildtrak's unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, where Ford revealed that the range-topping Ranger will be offered in Europe with two engine choices: a 2.2 litre four-cylinder diesel producing 110kW and 375Nm of torque, or a 3.2 litre five-cylinder diesel making 147kW and 470Nm of torque.

Australian details have yet to be confirmed, although more information is likely to trickle out as the new ute draws closer to its local debut later this year.-themotorreport.com.au

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011 preview

Lord March has kicked off the countdown to the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed at the annual press preview.

The theme is Racing Revolutions - Quantum Leaps That Shaped Motorsport. Lord March said it meant a mouth-watering array of cars, celebrating tech advances such as 4wd, carbonfibre and monocoque construction.

Naturally, there are a number of anniversaries to celebrate: the centenary of the Indianapolis 500 race, 100 years of Chevrolet, the Jaguar E-type's golden birthday and 110 years of Skoda motorsport involvement.

'We'll be the main focus for Indy 500 celebrations outside the US,' said Lord March. 'We'll have more than 20% of cars that ever won the Indy 500.'

A range of other events will add the rich diversity that made Goodwood motorsport so famous. The supercar run continues, there's a Rolling Motor Show on the Thursday (with more than 23 car makers signed up) and the FoSTec pavillion will showcase eco cars.

The Festival of Speed runs from Thursday 30 June to Sunday 3 July 2011.

Tim Pollard's updates from the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed preview

• It's a dry day at the Goodwood press preview. Join CAR as we wonder around and see some of the cars coming to the 2011 Festival of Speed.

• What's this? A Nissan Leaf going up the hill - backwards! It's a stunt to show that it's as fast in reverse as it is going forwards. Being driven by stunt driver Terry Grant. Hampered by a 40kph limiter, it'll be removed for the festival as they seek a new, backwards speed record up Lord March's front drive.

• The press preview is like a mini festival in its own right. There can only be a couple of hundred media and sponsor guests - and a whole load of cars to ogle as they run up the hill for demo runs. We're off down to the start line to watch.

• In keeping with the 2011 theme, there are a brace of Jaguar E-types, and its spiritual successor the XKR-S making its dynamic debut. Sadly Jag aren't doing passenger rides. Must seek my thrills elsewhere.

• Bruno Senna has agreed to take me up in the Lotus Evora S. Wristbanded up, I wait for my turn, spotting some of the more interesting machinery lining up on the startline. There's some poor bundle of nerves in a Caparo T1, preparing for certain terror next to Mikka Hakkinen. The SWB Audi Quatro, a Lancia Stratos, McLaren MP4-12C, Tesla Roadster... The list goes on.

• My time is approaching to accompany Senna up the hill. He's staying in the Evora, as there's a chill in the air. I climb in, and we talk about F1, the film about his uncle Ayrton ('it's really moving, a great movie'), and his new company car: an Evora S like the one we're sitting in. 'I'll have mine in a dark colour, not yellow,' he tells me. 'I'll stand out in Monaco too much.'

• Strapped in, we inch towards the start line. I attach a video camera to capture it for CAR Online and suddenly we're off. Damn, this supercharged one is fast. We squirm as the rear wheels scrabbles for grip on the Goodwood startline. I'm pushed back hard and brace myself as we approach the first corner. I've not driven the S only the basic Evora , but it's bloody quick. That trad Lotus ride quality is intact and Senna throws the car into the corners before Goodwood House. He fluffs a couple of gearchanges, but we still hit 110mph past the house. Then it's hard on the brakes for Molecomb and we're slowed down as the hillclimb is truncated for press day. There sadly aren't enough haybales to run flat out to the top. It's quite a ride.

• The man from TAG Heuer whisks me aside to show me its original 100-year-old first car timer. It's normally kept in a Swiss museum - looks like a giant stop watch or ship's clock, and accurate to one second.

• Tag Heuer has struck a deal to time at the Festival of Speed. After the crashes in the 1990s, they won't be timing full runs or doing speed traps, but rather doing a 100m standing start - with points for the most brutal getaways. Turns out Anthony Reid scored the fastest start in a Jaguar XF-R. Of course, in Goodwood parlance that's 'the most spirited getaway.'

• Ferrari's heard that golfer Nick Faldo has bought a McLaren MP4-12C. They're desperately shunting the golfer into a 458 Italia for a run up the hill. Perhaps he'll have one of each.

• Few details emerging about the 2011 Goodwood Revival. There'll be a separate E-type-only race broken out of the TT. A 45-minute, two-driver race. And as it's the Spitfire's 75th anniversary, there'll be a special celebration at its former airbase. 'We are hoping to have a record for the most number of Spitfires in the air at one time since WW2,' said Lord March. 'We should have 15 to 18.'-carmagazine.co.uk

Ford Unveils a Slick Electric Microcar … in 1967 (video)

Updated: 7 p.m. We found some video of the Comuta in action! Hat tip to David A.

Forget the Focus EV. It promises to be a fine vehicle, but it’s old hat. Ford’s first attempt at a modern electric vehicle made its debut more than 40 years ago at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show, and it foreshadowed the next four decades of EV development.

The Comuta was Ford’s first stab at battery-powered propulsion since Henry Ford and Thomas Edison worked on an EV in 1913. It could (reasonably) comfortably seat two adults and two children, and it had a top speed of 40 mph and a range of 40 miles if driven at 25 mph– not bad for 43 years ago, and in the ballpark of modern neighborhood electric vehicles.

When the folks at Gizmag dug up an archival photo of the Comuta, we were as amused as the lady in the picture and had to find out more about the tiny Ford EV that never was. Ford’s archivists were kind enough to provide photos and press releases about the vehicle’s original debut.

It turns out it was a concept developed by Ford of Britain. Heritage Fleet Director (we love that title) John Nevill tells us the concept’s rear wheels were driven by dual DC electric motors that put out 3.7 kilowatts (5 horsepower) and were originally designed as aircraft auxiliary units. Power came from four mid-mounted 12-volt lead-acid batteries.

At 6 feet, 8 inches long, the Comuta was less than half the length of a contemporary Cortina or Mustang. It was so small you could fit three of them in a single parking space. It had a “sophisticated” heating and cooling system, and a battery-charge meter was optional. Ford advertised the vehicle as a city car with a turning radius of 18 feet and “automatic driving” without a transmission.

At the vehicle’s unveiling, Ford of Britain’s assistant managing director Leonard Crossland — later Ford chairman Sir Leonard Crossland — said similar cars would hit the road by the mid-1970s, and he said it before any hint of the oil crisis we experienced during that era. “We expect electric cars to be commercially feasible within the next 10 years, although we believe their uses will be primarily as city-center delivery vans and suburban shopping cars.”

“The internal combustion engine will continue to be the most practical form of power for long-distance and motorway driving, but we are sure that electric cars will have a part to play in meeting some future transportation needs,” Crossland continued. The “practical, little experimental car” needed better batteries, he said. “And, as you know, a great deal of effort is being put into more-advanced battery technology.”

The more things change …

According to Nevill, Ford built two Comutas. One still exists at the Science Museum in London, alongside other feats of British engineering including Sinclair computers, Avro aircraft and early steam engines.

Even though the styling screams, “Honey, I shrunk the Econoline!” down to the 10-inch “dog dish” wheels, we imagine its retro lines might make a cute Cube competitor on the Fiesta platform.-wired.com