Author name: Douglas Buhr

Douglas Buhr is president of Honolulu-based full-service firm Douglas Engineering Pacific, Inc. He’s a licensed engineer with more than 35 years of experience designing and permitting building systems around Hawaii and the Pacific Rim.

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How to Select a Project Team: The Difference Between Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build

Design-build and design-bid-build are two ways to manage construction projects. Design-build uses one contractor for both design and construction, making it faster and potentially cheaper but with less owner control. Design-bid-build separates design and construction, giving the owner more control but often leading to delays and higher costs. The best choice depends on the project and the people involved.

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AI – Evil Genius or Talkative Parrot?

AI is useful mainly for basic research and improving writing, but its outputs must always be verified. Human expertise and trained professionals remain essential because AI is ultimately just a sophisticated system for compiling data, not true intelligence.

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Love Them or Hate Them, Electric Vehicles Are Here to Stay

The article explains that modern EVs became practical thanks to lithium-ion batteries and improved motor technology. EV fires are rare compared to gasoline car fires, though battery fires are harder to extinguish. Charging remains the biggest challenge—especially for people in older high-rise buildings with limited electrical capacity. Whether to buy an EV depends mostly on driving habits and access to reliable charging.