Sunday, May 5, 2024 
Sunday, May 5, 2024
September 29, 2023
A look at the world of Construction Technology – by Arnie Gess, publisher of Construction Links Network
Editorial submission deadline is every Tuesday – end of day. 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.
Standard field logs capture information on production, equipment and material utilization, and labor. B2W Custom Properties give contractors a powerful option to add user-defined fields to their field logs. These supplement standard fields and provide a way to capture information specific to their business. The variety of customized fields that a company could create and benefit from is unlimited. B2W Field tracking software makes it easy to create them, format them and add them to specific sections of field logs. Learn more and watch the video.
Scaling a construction business can be a daunting task, but it’s an essential step for long-term success and profitability. Whether you’re a small contractor looking to grow or a mid-sized firm aiming to expand further, this comprehensive guide by OnTraccr Technologies will provide you with strategies to scale your construction business effectively. Read the blog.
According to a report released by Procore Technologies, Inc. and the Associated General Contractors of America, 70% of Canadian civil and infrastructure construction firms expect their project backlog to increase or remain the same over the next year as new federal infrastructure funding ramps up. The report, Top Civil & Infrastructure Trends: Today’s Industry Challenges and Opportunities, found that many firms are worried that labour shortages and productivity challenges could undermine their success with these projects. Learn more and download the report here.
Burnaby’s ETRO Construction has won the 2023 Groundbreaker Award for Excellence in Workforce Development. Procore’s Groundbreaker Awards celebrate the top companies, projects and individuals that drive excellence across the construction industry. ETRO is the sole Canadian winner this year. The company previously won a Groundbreaker Award in 2021 for Excellence in Sustainability.
Requests for information (RFIs) are essential elements of construction project planning. When a stakeholder wants to improve or clarify a certain aspect of the project, they can file an RFI to gain access to relevant data. In this way, RFI plays a small part in keeping everyone informed and ensuring the project runs smoothly. Here’s everything aspiring professionals need to know about the hows, whys and whens of RFIs in the construction industry. Courtesy of Premier Construction Software.
Today’s jobsite security cameras offer a multitude of features – from intelligent motion alerts to AI-powered PPE detection. However, one of the options you’ll likely be offered when purchasing a jobsite camera is professional monitoring. It can often seem like a big decision, as it often means adding on another monthly fee for something you may never use, but we believe that the one time you need it, it’ll be worth the cost. Download this eBook published by TrueLook Construction Cameras and learn why professional monitoring is the missing link in your jobsite security.
Implementing new software can often be a challenging endeavour, but FlexManager is committed to making this transition smooth and hassle-free. Recognizing the potential hurdles, FlexManager offers a dedicated implementation team that will guide you every step of the way. From initial setup to data migration, FlexManager’s implementation team will ensure a seamless transition, minimizing disruptions to your business operations. Tailored Solutions to Meet Your Needs.
The construction industry has been notoriously slow to adopt many forms of digital technology. This is partly down to the cost of implementing such tech, however it’s also partly due to the lack of portability and usability of such tech on a construction site. Cloud technology combined with global wireless internet connection and smartphone evolution has solved this latter issue. Huge amounts of data can now be stored on the cloud and accessed from anywhere using an app on a smartphone. This has many benefits within construction – including benefits for clients, project managers and their workers. The following post delves into some of these advantages.
Command Technologies has introduced Contractor’s Command Post® Version 4.0, a significant advancement in streamlining construction business operations. This latest version connects business development, operations, and finance seamlessly. Key features include Net Profit Forecasting, allowing monthly gross profit calculation and break-even point identification. Resource Scheduling aids project managers in efficient project assignment. Seamless Integration ensures contact management across connected apps. Comprehensive Project Tracking covers lead aggregation to project closeout.
SoilFLO has been awarded a groundbreaking contract by Metrolinx, the agency overseeing major transit initiatives in Greater Toronto, marking a significant step in environmental sustainability for construction and transportation. Metrolinx, known for its sustainability commitment, will use SoilFLO’s software to optimize soil management, streamlining tracking, record-keeping, and compliance while reducing costs and environmental impact. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to environmental preservation and empowers teams with tools for sustainable soil management. It not only enhances operational efficiency but also aligns with Metrolinx’s vision of a cleaner and greener transportation system, contributing to a sustainable future for Ontario.
Payapps, a construction SaaS solution, has earned the title of Best SaaS Product for Construction at the SaaS Awards 2023, surpassing global competition. This recognition highlights its role in simplifying and standardizing progress payment claims for contractors. Judges praised Payapps for reducing claim processing time, enhancing compliance through integrated documentation verification, and seamless integration with various construction software. Geoff Tarrant, Co-Founder of Payapps, emphasized the company’s commitment to streamlining construction progress payments with a cloud-based solution, making them simpler, fairer, and faster for all involved parties.
Trimble has introduced SketchUp Viewer for Meta Quest 2, Quest Pro, and Quest 3, providing an immersive way to display 3D SketchUp models in virtual reality (VR). This tool benefits interior designers, architects, engineers, and construction professionals by facilitating experiential design reviews on Quest VR headsets, enhancing collaboration and decision-making. SketchUp Viewer for Quest simplifies the VR experience, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical users. It enables clients to understand designs better by allowing them to walk through and experience them in a true-to-scale VR environment, improving communication, collaboration, and design iteration. Additional features include tabletop and presentation modes for various presentation options. This collaboration between Trimble and Meta aims to make VR more accessible and valuable to architecture and design professionals.
SafeTo, a construction crew management and safety technology startup, has officially launched, aiming to revolutionize construction site safety by seamlessly integrating safety protocols into daily planning and task execution. Developed through a collaboration between Deloury Construction and Hedgehog Labs, SafeTo offers contractors and crews easy access to crew scheduling, task management, safety information, and more. By incorporating safety into daily operations, SafeTo reduces risks and makes safety a core part of construction work. It addresses the shortcomings of existing safety solutions by prioritizing accessibility and user-friendliness.
InEight, a leading construction capital project management software provider, has introduced innovative features to enhance collaboration and quality control in construction projects. Their Integrated Quality Management feature integrates quality requirements into daily work, reducing risks and promoting collaboration for successful project delivery. Additionally, the upgraded Design Issue Management feature facilitates early resolution of design issues, preventing rework and safety concerns. These improvements aim to streamline project handover, increase accountability, and support collaborative delivery models.
A study by Dodge Construction Network and Versatile reveals that utilizing site data as an analytical tool can help general contractors address common challenges in construction projects. The report, “Measuring What Matters: Unleashing the Power of Site Data to Enhance Construction Performance,” is based on a survey of over 200 U.S. general contractors. It shows that those using automated technology for data collection and analysis report significant performance improvements compared to manual methods. However, the study highlights that many contractors have yet to fully integrate these practices, with only 28% tracking performance frequently and less than one-third having regular access to site data for analysis. The report emphasizes the potential for improvement in leveraging data to enhance construction performance, especially through automated digital technologies.
