Concrete Sensor maker, Giatec, launched their first wireless concrete sensor in 2015 and, since then, they have continued to improve both their hardware and software. At the World of Concrete 2020, the company announced a re-design of their SmartRock sensor and I was there to get the details.
Read moreSmartBarrel Turns Orange Construction Barrels into a “Virtual Superintendent”
courtesy of SmartBarrel
Tracking time sheets is a difficult task on a construction site. Unlike most businesses, you don’t have the luxury of a static workplace with one central area for hourly employees to clock in and out. I recently had a conversation with founder of SmartBarrel, Albert Bou Fadel, and he told me about how his company can help solve a lot of the woes contractors are feeling in regards to time keeping and other field-based reporting tasks.
Read moreThe NAHB Has More Than a Dozen Free Video Toolbox Talks on their Website
Providing continuous safety training is a key aspect of building a proper safety culture at the jobsite, and a common way that a lot of contractors handle that is through daily or weekly toolbox talks. Fresh new content for safety topics can be hard to find at times, but the NAHB, in conjunction with the Job-Site Safety Institute and National Housing Endowment, has recently released over a dozen free video toolbox talks on their website.
Read moreAutodesk Announces 8 Updates for BIM 360 and PlanGrid
At Autodesk University in late 2019, the company announced dozens of updates for PlanGrid, BIM 360, Assemble, and BuildingConnected. They have continued that effort in 2020 with the announcement of 8 additional updates to BIM 360 and PlanGrid.
BIM 360
The BIM 360 updates include the addition of Meeting Minutes, Pay Applications, Submittals to the Field, and usability upgrades to Submittals.
Meeting Minutes allows users to create agendas, add invitees, assign individuals to action items, and easily store the minutes for future reference. More information about the addition in BIM 360’s tweet below.
⏰ No more hunting for lost meeting minutes, questioning accountability, or running the risk of unanswerable claims. Introducing #BIM360 Meeting Minutes! https://t.co/jgzWA23cs2 @ADSK_Construct pic.twitter.com/eQfj85Y6hi
— Autodesk BIM 360 (@BIM360) January 30, 2020
Pay Applications aims to allow better management of contracts through automation and forecasting
Submittals to the Field gives instant access to approved submittals and submittals in progress. iOS users can search and filter.
The usability upgrades to Submittals includes contractual date tracking, the ability to re-open/edit closed submittal packages, export submittal data, enhanced submittal items & list view, and improved filter options.
For more information and videos about these updates, check out BIM 360’s blog post here.
PlanGrid
PlanGrid users will see upgrades to Submittals on mobile, additional custom form templates, additional custom form questions, and root cause for tasks.
Like BIM 360’s updates above, Submittals on PlanGrid mobile will be easier to access within their new list view.
Field Reports receives two updates, including additional custom form templates and additional custom form templates. Templates are now optimized for mobile, automatically adjusting the reports to fit any sized screen. Form questions can also now be marked as required before a form can be submitted to reduce missing information.
Finally, Tasks receives the addition of a box to document the Root Cause of the issue. Determining root cause is perhaps the most important step in any incident investigation, because it helps keep the same problem from happening again, assuming action is taken. Now, tasks can be filtered by root cause and reports can be generated to get a better understanding of your project.
For more information about these updates, check out PlanGrid’s blog post here.
Tech Startup Announces Development of Smart Contact Lens for Augmented Reality
via Mojo Vision
Tech companies have been looking for the perfect recipe to make wearable augmented reality a more easily adoptable technology in construction for years. Most notably, Microsoft has teamed up with Trimble in recent years to make its Hololens more jobsite friendly. Now, a new technology from Mojo Vision could solve one of the wearable headset’s biggest drawbacks.
via Mojo Vision
The Mojo Lens promises to be the world’s first true smart contact lens, which will allow for a true head-up display of information without a bulky headset to block peripheral vision. The company has been developing the technology “in stealth” for about 10 years and is currently in the research and development phase.
Before anyone gets too excited, the lenses are cannot be purchased yet and Mojo Vision plans to use their technology to “help people struggling with low vision through enhanced image displays,” according to the press release. Rollout to businesses for productivity applications will come after the vision assisting release, which is likely several years away.
Mojo claims its Lens has the “smallest and densest dynamic display ever made, the world’s most power-efficient image sensor optimized for computer vision, a custom wireless radio, and motion sensors for eye-tracking and image stabilization.”
The next step will be working with the FDA to allow the contacts to be worn in the eye. There’s no word on how disposable these lenses will be.
Tell me what you think about this! Would this be a better option than wearable face and eye shields?
For more information on the Mojo Lens, CNET released a video with some snippets of a hands-on trial they were able to take part in and you can watch it below:
Featured
Procore Releases New Product for Prequalifying Contractors
via Procore
Having a healthy preconstruction process sets your project up for success. Without proper bid management, your company will have a hard time consistently winning bids. Without prequalifying your contractors before the project, you could be dramatically increasing your risk later in the project.
Read moreLevelset Releases Public Contractor Rating System Based Upon Payment Performance
Cashflow is the lifeblood for contractors. Without a steady stream of income, they can’t pay their suppliers, any subcontractors, or their employees in a timely manner. This could lead to unnecessary borrowing, lost money due to payment penalties, or unhappy workers leaving for greener pastures.
Read moreProcore Adds 3 Enhancements to Daily Logs & Safety Incident Logging on Mobile
via YouTube // Procore
Daily logs are a time consuming, but necessary process. Thankfully, there have been plenty of technological developments in recent years allowing superintendents and foremen to more easily collect and submit daily log information on mobile devices. Procore features mobile Daily Logs on their Project Management platform and it recently received updates to help simplify the process.
Read more[VIDEOS] In-Depth Series on Raiders Stadium Build Continues
For a little over 2 years, the Raiders have been producing and releasing periodic videos, which give an in-depth look into the construction of their nearly $2 billion dollar stadium in Las Vegas. I wrote about this series early last year, but I thought it would be a good time to give an update.
Read moreConTech Report Highlights Need for Software Integration, BIM Adoption
Another year, another comprehensive collection of construction technology survey results from our friends at JBKnowledge. The 8th Annual Construction Technology Report is now available for download on their website and it highlights all of the trends accumulated from thousands of construction industry respondents.
Read more
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.