Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for providing enhanced communications for the managing of projects, particularly to project communications involving multiple resource providers. The invention provides for a network accessed business system and database. The system permits parallel public, limited, and proprietary access to database information for the purpose of establishing and managing projects requiring multiple, and potentially competitive, resource providers. The invention specifically provides for the exchange of information required between project owners, project managers, and competitive, bidding resource providers necessary to assemble and manage both materiel and an effective project team.

Abstract: A method of testing concrete in a structure in situ, by: directing a succession of pulses of laser radiation at a point on the structure so that each pulse effects removal of a quantity of concrete and transfers energy to the concrete; detecting a characteristic of energy which has been transferred to the concrete; determining, separately from the detecting step, the total quantity of concrete removed by the succession of pulses; and calculating a property of the concrete on the basis of the detected energy characteristic and the determined total quantity of concrete removed.