Augmented reality on construction job sites has been a focus of several technology companies in recent years. As of now the clear leaders in the category have been the DAQRI smart helmet and glasses and the MIcrosoft Hololens. Early this year, DAQRI introduced their new smart glasses, which are the lighter and more mobile version of their fully protective smart hard hat. The new DAQRI product is a clear competitor for Microsoft’s Hololens, which is also a smart headset product. Backed by the powerful construction technology company Trimble and in a partnership with the University of Cambridge, the Hololens is getting tested with 2 new concepts specifically for the construction industry: Automated Progress Monitoring and Automated Bridge Damage Detection.
Read more[VIDEO] Company Believes Bubble Inspired Buildings Can Change the Construction Industry
Binishells, via Youtube
The concept of a bubble has surprisingly inspired many designers within the construction industry in recent years. There’s the inflatable bubble building in Shanghai that is supposed to help air and light quality, the inflatable tunnel that will protect pedestrians and business during road construction in Canada, and even a solar cell that was created to be lighter than a soap bubble. We can now add Binishells to our list.
Read moreNew Hard Hat Attachment Senses When Workers Are Fatigued
Construction workers work long hours in some pretty rough exterior conditions a lot of the time and there’s no doubt that fatigue is a major factor in job site accidents. In recent years, we’ve seen a few technological advances that will either reduce worker fatigue or sense it, including robotic attachments, lighter and less vibratory power tools, and camera systems on CAT machines that sense when drivers are closing their eyes too much. Recently, a company out of Australia has been developing a smart hard hat that sensors when mental fatigue has set in.
Read moreNIOSH Releases Sound Level Meter App for Smartphone
NIOSH
Occupational hearing loss is talked about a lot in the construction industry, but noise levels have always been difficult to quantify for the everyday worker. A company may have a professional sound level meter or noise dosimeter, but how often are they actually used? With the advancement of smartphones, the power to avoid the lasting effects of hearing loss is being given back to individuals.
The lack of available technology or general lack of concern has most likely been the major contributing factors for the 23,000 people who suffered from occupational hearing loss 2007 (the last year this data was published by NIOSH). That same year, 14% of occupational illnesses were the result of hearing loss.
For iOS users, NIOSH has just released a free new smartphone app, called NIOSH SLM, to measure sound levels on the job site. The app underwent extensive laboratory testing in order to meet the approved criteria for sound measurement, within 2dB of a type 1 sound meter). If used with a calibrated external microphone, the app has proven to work within 1dB of the type 1 sound meter. NIOSH states that the key benefits of the app are: raised worker awareness, helps workers make informed decisions about potential hazards, serves as a research tool to collect noise exposure data, and it promotes better hearing health and prevention measures.
In November of 2016, NIOSH also updated their evaluation of almost 200 different sound level meter apps available on both Android and iOS. Of the 130 iOS apps researched, only 10 passed within the testing limits. Of the 62 Android apps researched, only 4 apps passed. The study suggests that the Android apps were not nearly as reliable as the iOS apps and did not have many fo the same functions. But since NIOSH has not released an Android app themselves, users will have to choose between the four listed in the study, which are: SPL Meter by AudioControl (free), deciBel Pro by BSB Mobile Solutions ($3.60), dB Sound Meter by Darren Gates ($0.99), and Noise Meter by JINASYS (free).
Featured
World’s First 3D Printed Bridge Officially Opens
3D printed construction has been on top of the news the past few years, but we have yet to truly see many real world applications of the process. Last year, Dubai unveiled a completed 3D printed office building, which they say was built in only 19 days, but news has been pretty slow until the world’s first 3D printed bridge was completed recently.
Read moreMIT Researchers Design A Material 10 Times the Strength of Steel
As consistent and strong as wood, concrete, and steel have been for the past centuries, researchers and scientists are continually trying to improve them or create a better replacement product. Many have tried, but none have yet to succeed on a large scale. The latest scientific breakthrough takes a look at the geometry of a structure, rather than simply the material itself.
Read moreHow 20 Different Construction Teams Manage Their Projects
The following is a guest post from Kari at Appfluence, maker of Priority Matrix, a priority management solution that helps construction teams execute more effectively, by centralizing project information and enhancing communication.
As a manager, it’s not uncommon to ask yourself, ‘am I doing this right?’ Even the most experienced managers in the construction industry consistently strive to learn different methods of management that allow them to increase their team efficiency and deliver more successful projects.
Read moreMilwaukee ONE-KEY Gets Upgrade with Added Tool Security
As technology is slowly but surely creeping into construction job sites across the world, power tools are no exception. Not only are they becoming lighter, more powerful, and cord free, they’re also beginning to interact with smartphones and applications. In 2015, Milwaukee Tool jumped head first into the industry’s most comprehensive smart tool application, ONE-KEY, and it’s still continuing to develop with new upgrades.
The are 4 key benefits of the ONE-KEY system: tool customization, tracking, and management. ONE-key enabled tools can be located using Bluetooth technology when within distance and remembers the last known location. The ONE-KEY app allows you to change tool settings with the click of a button and save profiles for specific tool functions. The tool and equipment management software is a free, digital catalog for all of your company’s or your personal tools, no matter if they’re the red and black brand or not.
In January, Milwaukee announced it’s newest addition to the application: Integrated Tool Security. With the new update, your tool can be remotely rendered completely useless if it ever gets stolen. If the tool comes within Bluetooth range of any open ONE-KEY app, a remote signal will be sent to the tool to lock itself out. Another added benefit of tool security is that you can hide your tools from other ONE-KEY users so only you can see your tools. At the end of the day, you can lock the trigger or the footpad to prevent others from using the tool or changing your settings.
The update adds some nice features, which allow you to take back control of your tool security. Check out the infographic below or the ONE-KEY website for some additional information.
Featured
Smart Hard Hat Maker, Daqri, Releases New Lighter Weight Smart Glasses
Daqri, an augmented reality technology company, made waves throughout the industry when they released the heir apparent to the trusty hard hat last year. The Daqri Smart Helmet is part head protection, part computer and is littered with sensors and gadgets that can make a construction job site completely interactive. The helmet puts 3d models, plans, and even a thermal imaging camera on your head and overlays that information onto your real life project. At 3.3 pounds, the helmet is a pretty hefty object, so that’s one of the reasons the company decided to create a lighter, more mobile version of their technology in the form of Smart Glasses.
Read moreFLIR Updates Thermal Imaging Smartphone Accessory for Pros
FLIR
Announced at the start of the new year, FLIR has released specs on its new and updated line of thermal imaging devices and accessories. We have talked about the many reasons that contractors should use a thermal imaging camera and the FLIR ONE mobile accessory in the past and it has returned in 2017 with a new Gen 3 Pro Model. They have also announced their FLIR C3, which is the size of a standard digital camera, offering great accuracy and detail in a compact form. Lastly, FLIR is also offering the FLIR Duo, which will remind you of an action camera. Intended to be used on that fancy new drone quad-copter you got your kids for Christmas.
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Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.