Construction Industry Undergoing Its Own Disruptive Technology Revolution

ETF Trends | February 13, 2020

The construction industry can be late adopters when it comes to disruptive technology, but with the aid of GPS and telematics, the sector is undergoing its own revolution that can help accomplish more tasks efficiently. A recent For Construction Pros article featured Trimble senior director Aviad Almagor, who gave his birds-eye view on where the industry is and where it’s heading in terms of disruptive tech usage. Almagor emphasized the importance of safety in the construction sector where workplace hazards are abundant. First and foremost, robotics are about improving safety, Almagor stressed. Considering the fact that about 20% of work-related injuries in the U.S. occur on construction sites, there’s a huge potential here. This can be alleviated with the help of autonomous robots that can take the place of humans, especially in dangerous tasks. Field robotics is quite a wide field, but I think that there are three groups of technologies involved. It’s about perception, guidance and bio-inspired technologies, said Almagor. A critical capability for a robotic system is the ability to move around and find its way from point A to point B.

Spotlight

How we use OpenSpace to capture 3D site photos and compare them side by side to BIM models to validate designs.

"For people who have a lot on their plate like Directors or for Design Managers, it's quite straightforward to pull up a side-by-side view of the model and make sure what’s been installed is actually the approved design", Kevin Hogan, Senior Design Manager.

This ease of access to information is not only valuable for our Design teams, but also for our clients. With this technology, we're able to take them along the journey with us, and also give them access to this information afterwards so they can revisit any part of the build process and use it as a tool while they maintain their asset for decades to come.

Spotlight

How we use OpenSpace to capture 3D site photos and compare them side by side to BIM models to validate designs.

"For people who have a lot on their plate like Directors or for Design Managers, it's quite straightforward to pull up a side-by-side view of the model and make sure what’s been installed is actually the approved design", Kevin Hogan, Senior Design Manager.

This ease of access to information is not only valuable for our Design teams, but also for our clients. With this technology, we're able to take them along the journey with us, and also give them access to this information afterwards so they can revisit any part of the build process and use it as a tool while they maintain their asset for decades to come.

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PERSPECTIVES,ENGINEERING TECH,CONSTRUCTION

BZI Steel Integrates Procore’s Construction Management Suite to Manage Projects

Procore | January 25, 2023

Leading steel fabricator and construction contractor, BZI Steel, will use Procore Technologies’ construction management platform for its construction projects, the company announced yesterday. BZI Steel is revolutionizing the steel industry by offering one-of-a-kind steel fabrication and erection, with wall system processes and technology to construct projects for some of leading industrial, distribution and retail clients. BZI Steel and Procure have been collaborating since last year, and this development extends the mutual goal of innovating the construction industry. Procore’s industry-leading, all-in-one construction management platform aims to impact and optimize construction outcomes, while minimizing risks and protecting profits. BZI’s integration with Procore’s platform creates a perfect synergy as it assists owners, specialty contractors and general contractors at every stage of the project from start to end, ensuring jobsite safety, while increasing the overall efficiency. James Barlow, CEO of BZI Steel, said, "BZI Steel and Procore are construction technology industry vanguards, and our relationship goes much further than just being a customer. Our team has closely collaborated with Procore over the last year to quickly adopt their latest construction management software and provide product feedback to their team, which was warmly welcomed." (Source – Business Wire) Will Lehrmann, Head of Product for Specialty Contractors at Procore, said, "At Procore and BZI, our cultures and commitment to customers are very much aligned. Both our teams are committed to improving the lives of everybody in the construction trades through technology and innovation." He further added, "This partnership demonstrates our investment in the specialty contractor market, and we are excited to continue collaborating in years to come." (Source – Business Wire) About Procore Technologies, Inc. Procore Technologies, Inc., is a cloud-based construction management solution provider. . The company’s project management tools help its users, owners, general contractors, and specialty contractors manage construction projects at every stage. It’s platform reduces the complex paper-based documentation process, email communication, and spreadsheets for construction projects by mobilizing and streamlining the process with a powerful collaborative solution. In addition, it provides real-time data management, reducing delays and risks to increase business profits. It also provides tools to measure the project's progress, reach unlimited clients, customize data, and build applications with its developer toolkit.

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ENGINEERING TECH,CONSTRUCTION

Carmichael Engineering Acquisition to Expand UES Presence in Southeast Region

Universal Engineering Sciences | January 09, 2023

Universal Engineering Sciences (UES), a national engineering and consulting firm, has acquired Carmichael Engineering, a geotechnical engineering, and construction materials and testing company based in Alabama. The purchase of Carmichael Engineering makes UES's presence in the southern states even stronger and adds to the wide range of services they already offer. The acquisition increases UES' geotechnical expertise to offer comprehensive geotechnical and construction monitoring services to its clients throughout the Southeast region. The leadership team at Carmichael Engineering will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the company. This acquisition is part of UES' strategy to expand in high-growth areas and provide additional technical expertise to its clients. "UES is continuing to expand our reach in high-growth areas such as the Southeast, where significant infrastructure projects are increasing the demand for our services. The acquisition of Carmichael Engineering gives us the ability to provide additional technical expertise to our clients in the region. We look forward to welcoming them to the UES team!" UES CEO, Dave Witsken. (Source: CISION PRNewswire) About Universal Engineering Sciences With nearly 60 years of experience in geotechnical engineering, testing construction materials, adhering to building codes, threshold inspections, and environmental consulting, Universal Engineering Sciences is a privately held, rapidly expanding engineering and consulting company. UES consults on projects of all sizes for public and private clients in industries ranging from transportation and healthcare to commercial, residential, and education, employing nearly 3,400 professionals across more than 70 branches in high-growth markets in the U.S.

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ENGINEERING TECH, CONSTRUCTION

HOVER and ABC Supply Announce Expansion of Business Relationship

HOVER Inc. | February 16, 2023

On February 15, 2023, HOVER, a technology company that converts smartphone photos and blueprint designs of any estate into a scaled 3D model, and ABC Supply Co., Inc., the largest wholesale distributor of siding, roofing, and other select interior and exterior building products in North America, announced that they are expanding their business relationship to provide contractors with quick, accurate measurements and estimates for ground-up construction or additions. Through myABCsupply, its clients now have access to HOVER's array of solutions at preferential pricing. They can also charge HOVER jobs directly to their ABC Supply account, making it more straightforward for roofing and siding contractors to make special orders. Contractors bidding on new construction projects may expedite the bidding process and boost their trust in every proposal by decreasing the laborious human labor necessary to acquire measurements and generate estimates. With HOVER's innovative construction solution, ABC Supply clients can upload any design from their smartphone or personal computer and obtain precise measurements and siding and roofing quotes for their project within hours. This functionality eliminates the laborious process of scaling off blueprint drawings and the necessity for complicated spreadsheets or specialist software. In addition, HOVER converts a 2D drawing into a full-color 3D model, enabling contractors to excite homeowners with a digital model displaying the project in various materials and colors. This feature allows for contractors bidding on new projects to use 3D visualizations to distinguish their offers. About HOVER HOVER is a 3D data and technology firm for home repair and property insurance experts. It is building the most complete and useable data collection of the physical property to make home repair and new construction more accessible and transparent. Utilized by builders, insurance adjusters, and homeowners alike, HOVER is a mobile software that measures, plans, and estimates prices in a single location; smartphone images or blueprints of unbuilt buildings are converted into beautifully rendered, fully-measured 3D models of any property. In addition, the company, renowned for its industry-leading measurements, 3D renderings, and accurate project estimates, provides contractors with easy-to-use tools and configurable automation for every outdoor trade, task type, and team—all in one location.

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