Technology

Construction Technology and Software Rundown: Nov. 13, 2020

Here's a rundown of the latest in construction technology and software.
By Marla McIntyre
November 11, 2020
Topics
Technology

Apps

Zurich North America Insurance’s Construction Solutions App allows workers to reports dangerous conditions or sub-quality work on jobsites so risk managers and supervisors can see and react to issues quickly. Forms can be linked to a QR code so employees, contractors, subcontractors or vendors can complete required forms.

Hello Alfred mobile app connects tenants with a team of in-home assistants for handyman services, cleaning, delivery and more. Hello Alfred’s basic technology package and resident engagement platform is free to property managers through the end of 2020. The app offers remote management technology, an online rent payment portal, incentives for auto-payments and virtual community events.

Raken Checklists documents safety and quality measures as users choose from select-and-go checklist templates or custom forms. The checklists can be used for everything from COVID-19 safety and cleaning protocols, drywall inspections to visitor checklists.

Products

EarthCam’s StreamCam 5G has 4K streaming and 10 Megapixel photography with a built-in Edge Video Recorder for 120 days continuous recording. Heavy duty housing, remote diagnostics and battery and data backup make it ideal for construction sites. Solar power upgrades available.

Drone Deploy’s 360 Walkthrough works with drones, aerial cameras and any on-the-ground 360-cameras (hand-held or robotic) for a comprehensive digital reconstruction of any job site. Also new is Vertical Flight, which provides autonomous flight templates for projects like multi-story buildings or storage tanks, with new immersive 3D inspection tools.

Bosch Bluehound Bluetooth® tag-based asset management system can be applied to construction site assets from trucks to drills. Features include asset delivery tracking from warehouse to jobsite with notifications when the product arrives; end-of-day asset tracking; maintenance alerts and updates; asset assignment; employee certification storage; and document storage linked to an asset.

Software & In the Cloud

ProjectManager.com helps construction teams plan projects, collaborate and obtain real-time project data with dynamic Dashboards, Reports, Project Scheduling Software and more. Users imports files from Microsoft Project or Excel into ProjectManager’s Gantt chart and add data such as budget and resources. Team members can view the project, add files, input progress and measure project status.

With Paya’s integrated payment platform, contractors can issue invoices electronically and receive payment through various channels, including online and mobile payments. Paya also reconciles financials on the back end with automated post-back and enhanced reporting and analytics.

InEight’s Document UI streamlines the capture, review, management and distribution of project documents. Enhancements include UI/UX for an intuitive approach to managing project data; Saved Views to save project, company and personal views of a project dashboard; Quick Launch configurable tool bar with customizable hotlinks for launching favorite modules, actions and reports; Enhanced Sort and Filter; and Simplified Navigation for accessing other InEight solutions.

Honeywell’s suite of Connected Life Safety Services enables systems integrators and facilities managers access data within a fire system from anywhere. Using digitization principles and IIoT technology, Honeywell’s CLSS tools make it easier to design, install, test and commission fire systems. During planned maintenance, CLSS streamlines the verification of compliant fire system testing and automatically generates and archives compliance reports for audit purposes.

Partnerships, Acquisitions & Integrations

Vector Solutions has acquired LiveSafe. The addition of LiveSafe adds real-time mobile risk prevention, reporting and response capabilities into the Vector Solutions product portfolio.

Trimble and Boston Dynamics integrated construction data collection technologies with Boston Dynamics’ Spot® robot platform. The solution combines Spot’s autonomous mobility with Trimble’s data collection sensors and field control software for automation of repetitive tasks such as site scans, surveying and progress monitoring, while the robot navigates dynamic and potentially unsafe environments.

Unanet, project-based ERP software for the government contracting and A/E has acquired Cosential. The acquisition will bring business development, proposal management, project management, finance, operations and resource management to the AEC community.

Nialli and Unified Workscollaborated on Nialli™ Visual Planner, a digital pull planning tool for lean construction. The cloud-based application for just-in-time delivery, value stream mapping and pull planning increases visibility task status can be updated on the spot, with data captured for post-analysis. The solution can be used on large interactive surfaces such as the Nureva® Wall.

Video & Cool Stuff

Viewpoint’s Business Continuity Toolkit (registration required) helps contractors prepare their businesses for unexpected disruptions. It covers finding a path forward, making changes and learning from others.

Digital Engineering: Optimizing Construction's Digital Future by Asite found the United States is leading the push for the global adoption of digital engineering. Common technologies include tools that can improve planning and oversight on projects, such as high-definition photography, 3-D laser scanning and geographic information systems, enabled by recent improvements in drone and drone technology.

by Marla McIntyre

Marla McIntyre is a digital editor of CE This Week and ConstructionExec.com. She edited Construction Executive’s Tech Trends and Risk Management eNewsletters and is the author of more than 200 articles and publications, including Construction Executive’s annual technology predictions, Technology & Software Rundown column and an award-winning series for the Risk Management Association. Her extensive construction and risk management background includes stints as executive director the Surety Information Office and American Subcontractors Association of Metro Washington.



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