laska generally isn’t viewed as a hotbed for technology trends. That will no longer be the case in 2020 and beyond, as new projects level the playing field and help set the state on par with the rest of the world. From the introduction of the state’s first—and only—terrestrial fiber network to the implementation of increased satellite data bandwidth, Alaskans can expect technology trends to continue to blossom throughout the state.

“Going forward, Alaska can really stay on the same page from a dialogue standpoint with anywhere in the world when they start talking about any type of new technologies or services being deployed,” says Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA) CEO Michael Burke. “People can now think about and realize that bandwidth constraints and capacity constraints are not an obstacle anymore in regard to Alaska doing pretty much anything from a technology standpoint.”

f you got it, a truck brought it.

It seems like a simple concept, but the fact is, Alaska—and the nation—would come to a standstill without the trucking industry. From everyday household items to complex machine parts, truck drivers keep the world running.

No one knows this better than the associations that represent trucking companies, including the Alaska Trucking Association (ATA). Established in 1958 to foster and promote the interests of state’s trucking industry, the organization has more than 200 members ranging from single operators to multinational corporations.

In addition to working with local, state, and federal government and regulatory agencies to keep them abreast of issues facing the trucking industry, the ATA focuses on driver safety, provides DMV services, and offers ongoing education and networking opportunities to its members.

nowmachining in Alaska is huge. According to the study Outdoor Recreation, Impacts and Opportunities published by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development in March 2019, one in twelve Alaskan adults owns a currently registered snowmachine, spawning an entire industry dedicated to meeting their needs for everything from the machines themselves to parts, trailers, trucks, equipment, clothing, fuel, and more.

Nowhere is this love of the sport more obvious than during the Iron Dog, when seventy-two riders set off across the state in one of the longest and most challenging snowmachine races in the world. In addition to the main event, which travels through rural villages throughout the Last Frontier, the race has also spawned trade and safety expos, ceremonial starts, halfway and final banquets, and other events that attract even more people to spend time and money on the sport.

laska has a long history of international trade and there is a reason for that: the state is located within the transportation “crossroads” of the world. Due to its relative remoteness and isolation from the Lower 48, since the mid-20th century Alaska has been actively positioning itself as a part of the Pacific Rim. Late Governor Wally Hickel famously noted that “Alaska’s political ties are with the United States, but our economic ties are with Asia. Our economy depends on exports.” The Alaska timber industry was successfully selling to Japan in the 1950s; for several decades liquefied natural gas was exported to Japan and coal to Korea; and after the fall of the Soviet Union, Alaska companies were among the first to enter the Russian Far Eastern market. By the beginning of the 21st century, Alaska had international trade offices (similar to embassies) in five countries: Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Russia. Many of these fruitful developments have been phased out in recent years due to economic and political changes. For example, the State of Alaska no longer maintains the Office of International Trade or trade representatives overseas.

ecuring a design or construction contract can be a complicated, high-pressure process for any company, no matter its size or reputation. With many companies vying for the same project, and every one of them determined to separate itself from the crowd to be the winning bidder, competition is fierce. So, it’s vital to pay close attention to the project’s Request for Proposal (RFP), which a project owner or developer issues to provide criteria for companies to respond to when trying to secure a potential project.

rchitects often find themselves facing something of a chicken and egg dilemma. When it comes to design, what takes precedence—form or function?

“It’s a great question, and it’s probably a loaded question,” says David McVeigh, president of RIM Architects. “You can ask ten different architects and get ten different answers.”

Many of the factors that influence those answers land outside the architect’s control. The client’s vision for the building, its location and intended use, the project budget, and whether the design must conform to specific guidelines are all details the architect must consider when determining how much emphasis to place on aesthetics and how much on function.

here is a nationwide trend toward sustainable and eco-friendly design and Alaska is helping lead the charge with energy efficient, sustainable architecture.

Alaskan architects have taken that national trend and added aspects unique to the state’s needs such as durability and cost containment measures to create a design that is all-Alaskan.

James Dougherty, managing principal at RIM Architects (headquartered in Anchorage), states that 2018’s November earthquake served as both a reminder and impetus for exceedingly sturdy architecture. Resiliency, says Dougherty, is one of the strongest areas of growth in architecture. He expects this area will continue to grow in the next few years.

Providing consistency and continuity throughout the building was challenging due to the multiple client groups and their individualized needs. Specialized tasks inherent in clinical environments meant that the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design was critical for success. Ongoing communication with end users was crucial to ensure the design supported the requirements of each individual group.

lthough the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was passed in 1972, the conveyance of lands to the Alaska Native corporations formed by that act faces ongoing issues, including the fact that many of the lands were contaminated while not under Alaska Native ownership. The pace at which this is being resolved is unacceptable and unreasonable according to US Senator Lisa Murkowski, who calls it a “raw deal.”

The contaminants on some of these lands—which include arsenic, asbestos, lead, mercury, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and petroleum products—pose health concerns to Native Alaskan communities, negatively impact subsistence resources, and hamper economic activity, according to the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association.

inpointing the exact date new oil operations will come online and their subsequent production levels is an educated guess at best. Even then, access to funding; the permitting process; environmental regulations; changes in local, state, or federal government administrations; or, as is happening now in Alaska, attempts to change the oil tax structure, can all derail those estimates.

Predictions are, as oil and gas executives are careful to point out at investor meetings and presentations, “forward-looking statements” based on the circumstances that exist when the predictions are made and outcomes are, for better or worse, subject to change. With that in mind, here are the 2020 projections for Alaska’s North Slope, from continuations of appraisal and exploration projects begun in 2019 to big changes among the major players.

robust seafood processing industry in Alaska brings value not only to the fish being processed but the communities doing the work. When looking at the Last Frontier’s seafood industry, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that nearly all those working in it are daringly emptying crab traps or scooping thousands of pounds of salmon out of the ocean. But the reality is that a significant number of jobs created in the industry come from the seafood processing sector.

Of the about 58,700 workers directly employed by the Alaska seafood industry, about 26,000 of them work in the seafood processing sector, according to the 2019 Economic Value of Alaska’s Seafood Industry study prepared for Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute by the McDowell Group.

Online bidding will increase security and reduce time and expense, as bidders will no longer have to prepare paper bids, obtain certified checks for bid deposits, and ensure delivery to the Division office in Anchorage.
dnr.alaska.gov

arrie Jokiel grew up playing with Lincoln Logs on the floors of ChemTrack’s Anchorage office, which was founded as a construction company in 1973 by her father and transitioned into an environmental services and engineering company in 1985. Jokiel became the company’s majority shareholder in 2010 and has led the company since. “I love who I work with and I am so grateful for my team,” she says. Jokiel is passionate about the positive impact that engineering can have for Alaskans: “I love our state and that [ChemTrack] gets to be part of the mission to make our state safer and the kind of state that we want to raise our families in.”