This article is part of Construction Junkie’s coverage of Groundbreak 2020, Procore’s annual technology conference. StructionSite will be in attendance in the virtual exhibitor hall. More details can be found below.
A picture is worth a thousand words, they say – but, when that same picture has a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) software behind it, it also yields millions of valuable data points. StructionSite, a 360 degree photo documentation software, has recently developed a product to automatically track progress made on your jobsite using only photos and AI.
StructionSIte
For those previously unfamiliar with StructionSite, I was able to interview their Co-Founder and CEO, Matt Daly, at Groundbreak last year, and he provided a great overview of how the program works. Using only a 360 degree camera and StructionSite’s VideoWalk app, users simply walk around their jobsite, while the program stitches those images together in the background. The result is a perfectly organized group of images that are overlaid onto your project’s floor plan and timestamped for easy access at a later time.
SmartTrack
One of StructionSite’s newest developments is their AI-powered production tracking application called SmartTrack. With no additional effort from the user, SmartTrack analyzes the photos that were captured during VideoWalk and determines the linear footage of framing and square footage of drywall that has been installed. If quantity data from estimates or BIM models are added to the software, SmartTrack can also report on the total percent completed of the two trades.
Not only can this production data help with scheduling and project management, it also provides hard evidence of completed work when submitting for pay draws.
StructionSite customers can also use SmartTrack to go back in time and track their installation rates of previous projects, as well, helping to build more complete historical data.
Interview with Tom Alterman, VP of Product for StructionSite
I recently sat down for a virtual interview with StructionSite’s VP of Product, Tom Alterman, to discuss SmartTrack, which you can watch below. The video includes a helpful demo, showing the products dashboard and plan view.
Use Cases During the Ongoing Pandemic
The ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic has left many in the construction industry finding ways to maintain social distancing while still getting the job done, a task that’s not too easy in the hands-on world of construction. Like other construction technology companies, StructionSite has seen an increase in usage over the past few months as their product is being utilized in ways no one could have ever expected.
As many sites are limiting the number of guests and building departments have been limiting their travel, a stress has been put on how inspections can be completed. StructionSite has seen many of their customers using their 360 degree photo tool to perform virtual inspections in conjunction with their local jurisdictions. Being able to see the site in context, as opposed to a two dimensional picture, gives inspectors a lot more confidence that the work is being completed correctly and that it’s in the geographic area it’s supposed to be.
Being able to virtually walk jobsites through the software also reduces the need for certain site walks and gives managers enough confidence that they don’t need to physically be on-site as much as they used to be.
StructionSIte + Procore
StructionSite and Procore have a long standing partnership in terms of integrations. With the pre-built integrations, data can flow freely back and forth from the two programs, eliminating data silos and double data entry. Users can automatically add all of the images collected within StructionSite to the Procore album of their choice and even attach images to observations and RFIs to add additional context.
StructionSite is also a part of Procore’s embedded app experience, in which users can use the full version of StructionSite without leaving Procore, reducing the need to switch between programs.
Find StructionSite at Groundbreak 2020
Groundbreak will be held virtually this year on October 27 and 28. For those interested in finding out more about StructionSite, the sponsor showcase hours for the virtual exhibitor hall will be held:
Tuesday, Oct 27 - 11:10am - 12:30pm
Wednesday, Oct 28 - 11:10am - 12:30pm
There’s no doubt that one of the most important aspects of managing a construction project is being able to quickly and easily analyze your financials. There are a ton of moving parts on each project, from the estimate, to ordering materials and equipment, to billing, and having that information where and when you need it can make all the difference.