The use of photographs and videos to document construction projects is not a new concept. However, photographic documentation as a strategy to proactively manage risk and legal exposure is becoming more prevalent, and technology is evolving to meet that need. Gone are the days of using low-resolution webcams and security cameras to document projects. Today’s professional construction camera services provide a constant flow of images from the jobsite, rain or shine, 24 hours a day, and are available in 4, 6, 8 and 12 megapixel resolutions.
Today’s cellular and solar capabilities allow cameras to be positioned at virtually any site in the world and at any location on that site. Third-party networks, servers and support ensure the secure and redundant archival of virtually every moment of construction activity.
As an owner, architect, engineer, contractor or surety, the most effective strategy for photographic documentation begins with pre-construction and runs post-completion.
- Pre-construction. Almost every contract requires a contractor to protect existing utilities, onsite structures, and adjacent structures and sites, as well as take responsibility for the repair if anything is damaged during construction. A comprehensive set of pre-construction pictures—not only of the site and existing structures, but also of stream beds and downstream sites—can mitigate the risk of being required to repair a pre-existing condition.
- Initial demolition and grading. A significant amount of liability exists during the demolition and grading phases of a project when construction teams are most likely to negatively impact environmental conditions, as well as fail to meet contractual schedule commitments.
- Construction. There are literally hundreds of reasons to take photographs during construction; it is an easy way to document the existing conditions and project progress at a specific point in time. The continuous photographic record of site conditions and activities becomes an archive of problem areas, accidents, interferences, delays, material and equipment deliveries, defective work and the status at critical milestones.
- Post-construction. Leave cameras in place until construction is completely finished in order to show the final product. Post-project images show how the site was left after work was complete.
While digital cameras work well for walking around a jobsite and photographing individual people and tasks, today’s construction cameras provide a continuous, chronological record of an entire project without manual input. Construction cameras also can provide valuable context for the photos, such as weather conditions.
With each captured photo, various metadata are stored, including the capture time of the photo. The continuous archive and individual time stamp serve as an accurate and verifiable record of project conditions and activity for internal and external uses. As such, this powerful tool prevents erroneous or incomplete documentation.
Claims prevention and dispute resolution are necessary parts of all roles in the construction industry. Judges, juries and arbitrators now expect photographic documentation. A whole body of case law favors the admissibility of photographs, should a dispute get that far. In most cases, thorough photo documentation can prevent legal battles. Photographs also aid witnesses who may have “selective” memories, which become less accurate over time.
Some argue construction cameras could provide damaging evidence. The truth is onsite cameras typically raise the bar with respect to quality of work and safety. The existence of photos neither creates nor removes liability; however, photos can substantially reduce frivolous claims and prevent meritless lawsuits.