A look at the world of Construction Technology – by Arnie Gess, publisher of Construction Links Network

Editorial submission deadline is every Friday a noon. Ideal for news releases, blogs, podcasts, upcoming webinars, case studies, whitepapers and videos. Always free for members – see media kit.

Technology is transforming every aspect of the construction industry, from design and planning to project management and execution. As new tools and techniques continue to emerge, it’s more important than ever for professionals in the field to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations. This blog series offers in-depth coverage of the most important developments in construction technology. Whether you’re interested in the latest software platforms, the newest building materials, or the cutting-edge research shaping the future of the industry, you’ll find it all here.

Hong Kong’s second-largest public housing provider is set to implement a digitized tracking system, including smart helmets and wristbands, to enhance worker safety at construction sites following a series of recent fatal industrial accidents in the city. Known as the Smart Site Safety System (4S), it is expected to be adopted at 16 public housing projects after a successful trial at a Kai Tak development site. The system offers real-time data on construction site conditions, enabling proactive safety measures. It tracks worker location, body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, allowing for prompt medical assistance if needed. Additionally, the system alerts the control room about worker proximity to heavy machinery, enhancing overall safety. This initiative is part of the housing provider’s commitment to prioritize construction quality and safety, and it plans to expand the system to other developments in the near future. To ensure contractor compliance, the housing provider covers the costs of the system, which is seen as an invaluable investment in worker safety in a high-risk industry.

SmartPM Technologies has strengthened its strategic partnership with Procore, a prominent construction management software provider, in a significant development for the construction technology sector. This collaboration aims to improve the way construction professionals handle their projects from start to finish. It seamlessly integrates SmartPM’s analytics and monitoring capabilities with Procore’s comprehensive project management features, providing professionals with actionable insights to reduce project delays, mitigate risks, and streamline operations. The CEO of SmartPM, Michael Pink, expressed excitement about this partnership, emphasizing that it combines the best of both platforms to offer unparalleled solutions to construction professionals globally. This collaboration also includes a session at Procore’s Groundbreak 2023 conference, where experts will discuss the future of construction scheduling and the transformative potential of digital evolution in the construction sector, highlighting the transition to contemporary data-enabled platforms enriched with powerful analytics.

Agave, a startup born out of the co-founders’ extensive experience, is addressing a critical challenge in the construction industry. With many popular construction software systems dating back 20 to 40 years and lacking interoperability, Agave offers a unified API that connects with over 30 different software systems. This innovation streamlines communication and data transfer between disparate systems, reducing the burden of manual data transfer for construction teams. The four co-founders of Agave, who previously worked together at Graphiq and Amazon, recognized this need after Amazon’s acquisition of Graphiq delayed their construction-related project. Agave’s API currently connects with 33 software systems, offering solutions for various construction tasks, including invoice processing, vendor information verification, time tracking, and real-time analytics. The startup’s success is evident in its rapid growth, with 65 customers and quadrupled revenue year-over-year. The recent $2.9 million seed funding, led by Accel, will fuel Agave’s expansion by hiring more software engineers and adding new integrations, ultimately advancing its mission to create a standardized highway system for construction technology.

SIS is a prominent provider of Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP|CRM|BI solutions, including Advanced Labor for Union Payroll, tailored for construction and project-based industries. Sarens’ Nuclear Division has adopted SIS Construct 365 Advanced Labor for Union Payroll, designed to integrate seamlessly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 or other ERP systems and third-party payroll processors. Sarens’ move to this solution was driven by their need to automate union payroll processing, streamlining operations and enhancing their existing Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP setup. The Finance Manager at Sarens, Brenda Pillard, highlights the importance of this transition in automating payroll processing, reducing manual errors, and aligning with their digital transformation strategy.

Bentley Systems, a leading infrastructure engineering software company, has unveiled the finalists for the 2023 Going Digital Awards in Infrastructure, celebrating the remarkable achievements of Bentley software users in advancing infrastructure design, construction, and operations worldwide. These finalists, selected by twelve independent jury panels across twelve award categories, were chosen from over 300 nominations submitted by 235 organizations in 51 countries. The selected organizations will present their projects to an independent panel of judges to determine the winners at the 2023 Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards event, taking place at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on October 11-12, 2023.

AuditSoft, a leading safety and compliance auditing software, partners with Construction Safety Nova Scotia (CSNS) to enhance its Certificate of Recognition (COR®) program. AuditSoft’s innovative solutions streamline auditing processes, reduce time, ensure standardization, and provide valuable data-driven safety insights. This collaboration signifies AuditSoft’s first official partnership with a safety association in Canada’s Maritime provinces. CSNS aims to simplify safety for its members and leverage AuditSoft’s technology to improve occupational health and safety management systems. All CSNS OHS Advisors will use AuditSoft for external COR® audits starting September 1, 2023, facilitating workplace safety improvements across Nova Scotia’s construction industry.

Safe Site Check In, a leading provider of construction management software, has introduced its new Advanced Edition aimed at enhancing jobsite productivity and safety. This edition offers several key features, including streamlined project onboarding for all workers, QR badge creation, badge scanning for check-ins and check-outs using various devices, self-service visitor management, automated daily log capture and cloud storage, and integration with construction management platforms like Procore and Autodesk Build to lower operating costs. The software also enhances safety and security by verifying attendance, confirming safety requirements, and facilitating communication with field personnel. Safe Site Check In aims to save time, reduce costs, and provide real-time data for improved project management and safety compliance.

This Geo Week News article discusses the importance of infrastructure maintenance and the role of technology, particularly digital twins and IoT sensors, in improving the inspection and safety of critical structures such as bridges and dams. Aging infrastructure has raised concerns about potential failures, leading to legislation, awareness campaigns, and renovation projects. Bentley Systems is at the forefront of this innovation, enabling infrastructure owners to create accurate 3D models of structures connected to various data points. The workflow involves creating a reality mesh using laser scanning and drones, followed by connecting sensors for real-time information. This data is then processed using Bentley’s software to create a digital twin, enhancing inspection accuracy and safety. The benefits include significant time and cost savings in inspections and early issue detection. The technology has already been applied in various projects, such as monitoring bridges and dams, ensuring their safety and functionality. Anticipated legislation and continued investment in this field are expected to further advance infrastructure inspection and maintenance using digital twins and IoT sensors.

Pirros, a technology platform, has secured a $2 million seed round investment from a group of investors and advisors, including notable figures like Carl Bass, former CEO of Autodesk, Joseph Walla of HelloSign, and Ryan Sutton-Gee of PlanGrid, along with venture capital firms like YCombinator, FundersClub, and Twenty Two Ventures. Pirros offers a solution for architecture and engineering firms to efficiently manage their drawing sets. It automatically categorizes and catalogs thousands of drawing sets created by these firms for buildings and infrastructure projects. By centralizing and making these drawings searchable, Pirros enables architects and engineers to save time and focus on designing rather than documenting. The platform also leverages AI to identify the best versions of details automatically. Pirros plans to use the funding to expand its team, enhance its product, and integrate more AI features. It’s rapidly gaining adoption among industry leaders and aims to revolutionize architectural detail management, an area often overlooked by technology platforms in the field, ultimately transforming how buildings are designed and documented.

WSP is collaborating with RCAM Technologies to introduce 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) into the construction industry as an innovative and sustainable solution. This technology aims to reduce labor costs, planning time, and waste in construction processes. WSP is providing comprehensive support to RCAM Technologies for the development of 3DPC applications in the renewable energy sector. These applications include support structures for wind turbines, land-based and offshore wind turbine foundations, anchors for floating offshore wind turbines, deep-sea pumped hydroelectric storage units, and floating offshore solar energy structures. While 3DPC won’t replace traditional concrete construction methods, it is expected to complement them, offering new design possibilities and faster construction, particularly for vertical structures. WSP’s involvement in pioneering 3DPC applications demonstrates its commitment to innovation and sustainability in the construction industry, addressing challenges such as material reinforcement and environmental considerations while anticipating exponential growth in this technology’s adoption across various construction sectors.