by Arnie Gess, president of Construction Links Network

The jobsite of the future may be arriving faster than many expected. Imagine crews speaking directly to project data, cameras automatically identifying safety conditions, robots working alongside tradespeople and digital twins testing weather, scheduling and construction scenarios before they occur.

Those capabilities aren’t science fiction—they’re among the technologies featured in this week’s ConTech Weekly. We’re also covering new developments in estimating, fabrication, reality capture, field automation and equipment service. Together, they offer an intriguing look at how connected intelligence could reshape the way construction projects are planned and delivered.

Have news to share? We’re always looking to spotlight forward-thinking companies and ideas. Submit your ConTech or PropTech updates by Tuesday end of day for next week’s edition.

PypeServer has expanded its Cloud+ fabrication software with version 3.0, giving HVAC and mechanical contractors one platform to manage and track both piping and sheet metal ductwork from design through installation. The platform connects workflows that have traditionally operated separately, helping contractors coordinate the “wet side” and “dry side” of mechanical fabrication using a single job record. PypeServer extracts MAJ files from Revit, AutoCAD Fabrication MEP and Plant3D, supports revision control and integrates with CAMduct for nesting and cutting. Direct integration with Mestek Lockformer spiral machinery can also eliminate manual programming and data entry. PypeServer’s QR-coded tracking follows duct packages through fabrication, staging, shipping and installation, while field crews can scan labels to access real-time fabrication status, part information and a 3D Assembly Viewer. DILFO Mechanical, an existing PypeServer piping customer, is moving its ductwork operations onto the same Cloud+ platform to improve visibility, collaboration and data-driven decision-making across its mechanical fabrication workflows.

Hoylu has introduced a new release of its visual construction planning software designed to connect project schedules, field lookaheads and real-time project information across construction teams. Used by more than 130,000 people, including contractors across Europe and North America, Hoylu provides general contractors, project managers, superintendents and schedulers with a shared visual planning environment. New XER schedule import and master schedule alignment capabilities connect field lookaheads with master schedules, helping reduce disconnected workflows between the field, office and project leadership. Hoylu works alongside existing construction technology including Procore, Oracle Primavera P6 and Microsoft Excel rather than requiring companies to replace their current systems. The cloud-based platform combines visual planning, whiteboarding, task management and project reporting to support construction workflows from planning through field execution. Hoylu says its broader vision is to create a connected layer of live project data that improves communication, trade participation, consistency and decision-making throughout the construction process.

DroneDeploy has launched Ground Pro, an advanced 3D construction reality capture solution designed to give superintendents and site managers measurable records of current jobsite conditions. A premium add-on to DroneDeploy Ground, Ground Pro uses iPhones, iPads and 360 cameras already carried by field teams to capture indoor, outdoor and underground work in 3D. New capabilities include Interior Maps for viewing floor and ceiling conditions, Mobile 3D Scan for documenting trenches, in-slab sleeves and other work before it is covered, and 3D Measure & Navigation for creating measurable models from 360-degree site walks. Contractors can use the technology to document concealed work, verify dimensions, sequence trades, review material staging and answer questions without returning to the jobsite. Following Procore’s acquisition of DroneDeploy, Ground Pro’s reality capture data is also expected to expand the information available to Procore AI, connecting measurable site conditions with construction management workflows and helping project teams improve documentation, collaboration and field-to-office decision-making.

Newforma has acquired Toronto-based Lumi AI to expand its AI-powered analytics capabilities for architecture, engineering, construction and owner (AECO) firms. Lumi’s analytics engine converts plain-language questions into explainable and verifiable answers, using a semantic layer to interpret data across operational systems. Newforma plans to integrate the technology into its platforms, drawing on more than 20 years of structured AECO project information including RFIs, submittals, issues and communication history. The combination is intended to help project teams query information across multiple systems while showing the reasoning and underlying data behind AI-generated answers. Lumi’s agentic technology will also extend Vojo, Newforma’s AI assistant, with planned capabilities including natural-language search and cross-project queries. Newforma Konekt is expected to use Lumi’s analytics layer to identify trends such as RFI turnaround delays, unusual issue patterns and submittal cycles that deviate from historical project baselines. Lumi co-founder Tudor Boiangiu joins Newforma as VP of AI Engineering, while Lumi’s engineering team will continue operating from Toronto.

Linarc has launched a new estimate-to-invoice project management solution for specialty fabricators, connecting estimating, purchasing, scheduling, production, cost tracking and billing within its cloud-based construction management platform. Designed for metal fabricators, structural steel contractors, mechanical shops, cabinetry manufacturers and other specialty fabricators, the offering converts estimate data into work orders, purchase orders, schedules and invoices to reduce duplicate data entry. As projects progress, estimated material and overhead costs are replaced with actual costs, while labour is tracked alongside them, giving teams real-time visibility into job costs, margins and cash flow. Fabrication shops can import estimates from standard Excel files, manage purchasing and vendor receipts, track shop hours, generate invoices based on manufactured quantities and monitor project performance. Reporting capabilities include planned versus actual costs and margins, outstanding payments, payment speed, estimating pipelines and win rates. Linarc says the fabrication solution is the first of several segment-specific offerings planned for its construction management platform.

Zebel has launched AI Bid Review, a new capability designed to automate subcontractor bid review and leveling while keeping construction estimators in control of final decisions. Available to all Zebel users, the technology reads incoming subcontractor bids, extracts line items and maps them to bid forms connected directly to the project’s live estimate. Each extracted figure links back to the corresponding text in the original subcontractor document, allowing estimators to verify the source before approving it. Zebel can also identify missing scope, compare leveled bid totals against amounts carried in the estimate and flag discrepancies before buyout. Once a subcontractor bid is selected, the information can be pushed directly into the project budget. Zebel says a typical construction project can involve 100 to 200 individual bid reviews, with manual review and leveling consuming significant estimator time. AI Bid Review integrates with Zebel’s estimating, cost history, bid management and GMP budgeting capabilities, while supporting bid data from BuildingConnected, historical project data from Procore and takeoffs from Togal.AI.

Motive has launched Agents, a new agentic AI capability designed to automatically act on fleet safety and operations data before problems escalate. Available to Motive customers, Agents can monitor predefined conditions and initiate actions across safety, compliance, maintenance and dispatch, including contacting drivers, opening maintenance work orders, escalating issues to managers and responding to excessive idling. The technology can identify early signs of driver fatigue, monitor severe weather affecting active routes and detect vehicle fault codes that could lead to breakdowns. Later in 2026, Agents will integrate with Atlas, Motive’s AI assistant, to call drivers directly in the cab with guidance, while early next year customers are expected to be able to create Agents using plain-language instructions. Motive also plans to let organizations define operational goals—such as reducing collisions, improving on-time performance or lowering operating costs—and have Agents determine appropriate actions. The company says the technology is intended to shift operations teams from manually responding to alerts toward AI-powered automated workflows while retaining human oversight for higher-risk decisions.

Axion PM has launched its construction project management platform for general contractors and real estate developers across the U.S., offering unlimited projects and users under a flat company-wide pricing model. Developed by general contractor and senior project manager Kenny Doll, Axion PM combines everyday construction workflows including daily logs, weather tracking, photos, punch lists, schedules and lookaheads with document management for drawings, specifications, RFIs, submittals and meeting minutes. Financial tools include cost-code budgets, subcontracts, purchase orders, subcontractor pay applications, retainage, owner billing, change orders and cost forecasting. The platform also provides accounting exports for QuickBooks and Sage along with branded PDF and Excel reports. General contractors can invite subcontractors, owners and architects to projects without additional user fees while controlling what information each participant can access. Subcontractors can submit pay applications, RFIs and change order requests directly through the platform. Axion PM operates through web browsers on computers, tablets and phones, with a mobile layout designed for construction field teams.

Stratus has announced a new Procore integration for MEP contractors designed to connect fabrication workflows with construction project management and keep current drawings available from the shop to the field. The first release of the Stratus Integration data connector, now in beta on the Procore App Marketplace, automatically publishes current-revision documents from Stratus into Procore. When an MEP fabrication package changes following a design revision, the updated document is automatically carried into Procore, reducing manual exporting, duplicate uploads and the risk of field crews working from outdated drawings. The integration is designed for electrical, piping, plumbing and sheet metal contractors using Stratus for fabrication and Procore for project management. Stratus remains the source for fabrication information while Procore provides the project environment used by construction teams. The companies say the connection supports the growing use of MEP prefabrication by improving information flow from design and modeling through fabrication, shipping, logistics and field installation, helping contractors better connect office, shop and field operations.

TrackVia has released 7 Ways to Cut Friction in Field Operations, a report analyzing how more than 250 customers are using automation and mobile technology to improve field operations across construction, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries. The research found that field inspections are the most common starting point for automation, used by 60% of customers overall and 75% of construction customers. Crew and subcontractor management and work orders each followed at 31%, with inventory management at 23%, asset tracking at 20% and safety and compliance at 16%. Nearly half of customers have automated three or more operational processes, while construction customers use a median of five. Manual processes remain a major challenge, with 70% of customers describing paper, spreadsheets or email as operational barriers before adopting TrackVia, while more than half lacked centralized real-time visibility. TrackVia recommends organizations begin by automating one high-impact workflow, measure results over 30 days and then expand automation across additional field operations.

Planera has launched the RFI-to-Schedule Risk Scanner, an AI agent that connects Procore RFIs with Planera construction schedules to identify issues that could delay critical project activities. Available through the Procore Agent Marketplace, the tool uses Procore AI and Planera’s MCP connector to analyze open RFIs against the project’s critical path and look-ahead schedule, ranking risks based on schedule float and upcoming work. When the agent matches an RFI to a schedule activity, it records the RFI number, responsible party, due date and Procore link directly in Planera, reducing manual cross-referencing and duplicate data entry. The system can alert teams when open RFIs threaten work within upcoming weeks while leaving schedule changes and final decisions with the scheduler. If the AI cannot confidently match an RFI to an activity, it flags the item as unmatched rather than guessing. Planera says its open MCP server also allows schedule data to connect with Procore AI or other AI agent platforms contractors choose to use.

Drone as a Service, a subsidiary of ZenaTech, has opened a new location in Mesa, Arizona, expanding access to AI-powered drone services for construction surveying, mapping and inspections. The facility includes a corporate office, 15 ZenaDrone aircraft and six certified drone pilots, supporting construction firms, utilities, property managers, government agencies and other organizations. Using autonomous drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and specialized sensors, Drone as a Service combines aerial data collection with AI-powered analysis to help customers improve project visibility, reduce manual site inspections and enhance safety without purchasing equipment or developing an in-house drone program. The company says drone-based surveying and inspection can also help contractors address workforce shortages by enabling smaller teams to capture site information more efficiently. Future services planned for Arizona include inventory management, power washing and additional drone-based AI automation. The Mesa operation joins Drone as a Service’s expanding international network of approximately 40 locations across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

Human Friendly Robotics (HFR) has signed a three-year, $3.55 million robotic tiling contract with Foley Tile, a Tucson, Arizona contractor that plans to deploy HFR’s Tyler robots alongside skilled tile installers on projects in Arizona and other markets. Tyler automates repetitive tile placement while tradespeople continue handling cuts, edges, finishing and quality control, allowing experienced crews to increase installation capacity without relying solely on additional hiring. Foley Tile says the technology will help it pursue larger and out-of-region projects with more predictable schedules. The contractor previously evaluated Tyler during work at Plaza Las Américas in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where HFR says the robot and installation crew achieved eight times the human benchmark pace. Tyler is offered on a per-square-foot pricing model without requiring contractors to purchase equipment. HFR says the robotic system can reduce repetitive kneeling, bending and lifting while maintaining installation pace as crews tire, potentially improving productivity, reducing physical strain and helping contractors respond to skilled labour shortages.

FORT Robotics has announced approximately $20 million in new investment commitments to accelerate development and expansion of its physical AI safety platform across construction, warehousing, defense and other industries adopting autonomous systems. Tiger Global is leading approximately $10 million in financing, with participation from Mark Cuban Companies, while committing another $10 million to FORT’s previously announced PIPE associated with its proposed business combination with Newbury Street II Acquisition Corp. The latest commitments bring total capital committed in connection with the proposed transaction to more than $50 million. FORT’s Trust Layer provides safety infrastructure designed to help robotic and autonomous systems operate safely, securely and reliably and is currently deployed across more than 19,500 units serving over 600 customers. FORT plans to use the additional capital to expand its team and operating capacity as demand for physical AI grows

Dassault Systèmes and Vertiv have announced a collaboration to use virtual twin technology for AI factory infrastructure, allowing complex data centre systems to be configured, simulated and validated before construction begins. The collaboration combines Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform with Vertiv’s power, cooling and digital infrastructure expertise to support NVIDIA DSX AI factories based on the NVIDIA Vera Rubin DSX AI Factory reference design and NVIDIA Omniverse DSX Blueprint. Engineers can model power, thermal management, compute, controls and supporting infrastructure as an integrated digital system, evaluate configurations and assess how design changes affect multiple disciplines before physical deployment. The approach builds on Vertiv SmartRun and extends to infrastructure solutions including Vertiv OneCore and SimReady power and cooling designs. Dassault Systèmes and Vertiv say the model-based approach could accelerate development of a configured and validated AI factory solution by up to 10 times and reduce the defined infrastructure deployment period by up to 50%, based on Vertiv’s modeling rather than measured customer results.

Procore Technologies has launched Procore AI Go, a voice-first mobile app designed to give construction field crews instant access to project information through natural conversation. Now available in open beta in North America, Procore AI Go connects directly to project data in Procore, allowing users to ask questions about drawings, specifications, RFIs, submittals, daily logs, observations and inspections and receive spoken answers with supporting information. The app includes push-to-talk controls for noisy jobsites and retains conversation history for follow-up questions. Procore is also partnering with Meta to test Procore AI Go on AI glasses, enabling hands-free access to project information and first-person photo capture through voice commands. Future capabilities are expected to let crews create daily logs and observations, draft RFIs, translate information and access AI agents for tasks including reporting and site safety. Procore is also participating in a study with Moss Construction to evaluate how AI agents, voice technology and AI-enabled wearables could reduce administrative work and improve field productivity.

Procore Technologies is expanding its collaboration with NVIDIA to bring advanced construction digital twin technology to complex projects, allowing teams to visualize and simulate real-world conditions before they affect the jobsite. Currently in closed beta, the integration connects Procore’s Model Manager and Realism Mode, powered by NVIDIA Omniverse libraries, to create highly realistic 3D project environments. Construction teams can simulate factors including extreme weather, sun exposure, crew and equipment movement, material delays and installation changes to understand their potential impact before problems lead to rework or schedule disruption. Procore’s acquisition of DroneDeploy adds aerial and ground-based reality capture, allowing teams to compare actual jobsite conditions and construction progress against project designs. By connecting 3D models with schedule, procurement and field data, Procore and NVIDIA aim to help contractors identify discrepancies, evaluate downstream impacts and make earlier decisions on increasingly complex projects. The companies see digital twins and AI-powered simulation playing a growing role in data centre, energy and other major infrastructure construction.

EarthCam has launched the tenth generation of its Procore integration, expanding AI-powered jobsite visual intelligence across construction management workflows. The integration connects EarthCam’s live cameras, high-resolution imagery and AI detection data with Procore, allowing project teams to access visual information about equipment, deliveries, weather, safety conditions and PPE violations alongside other project records. New capabilities include automated milestone snapshots tied to project schedules, direct EarthCam imagery for Punch List items and Inspections, and Procore Observation Markers that allow users to review visual conditions before and after an issue was recorded. EarthCam has also added AI detections for trench safety, housekeeping hazards, delivery verification and dump truck analysis. With DroneDeploy now part of Procore, EarthCam’s existing DroneDeploy integration can combine continuous ground-level imagery with aerial reality capture for a more comprehensive project record. Powered by EarthCam Control Center 9, the integration brings live video, imagery, AI analytics and automated reporting into connected Procore construction workflows.

EarthCam has launched new construction AI connectors and seven AI models designed to deliver verified jobsite intelligence directly into the AI platforms construction teams already use. Built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), EarthCam’s connectors integrate its construction-specific visual intelligence with ChatGPT and Claude and can connect with other MCP-compatible platforms. EarthCam analyzes imagery from its jobsite cameras before user queries are made, allowing AI assistants to work from completed detections and supporting data rather than independently interpreting raw images. The company says this can provide faster answers while reducing AI usage costs, with results verifiable against high-resolution imagery, timestamps and metadata. New AI capabilities include trench safety analytics, housekeeping hazard detection, thermal analytics, delivery verification, dump truck analysis, visual occupancy analysis and retail signage detection. EarthCam’s construction AI has been trained using billions of real-world construction images and works with its Control Center 9 platform to support construction documentation, safety, security, productivity and project management workflows.

CanLift Equipment Ltd. is expanding its use of AI in equipment service operations, deploying the Keycard AI-powered service documentation platform to all road service technicians while introducing an internal integration layer connecting approved AI tools with selected live operational data. Keycard gives technicians access to voice-based service documentation, AI-powered technical manual search, mobile field workflows and relevant work-order, asset and service-history information, with selected workflows integrated with Point of Rental. CanLift is evaluating whether the technology can reduce paperwork, improve service responsiveness and minimize equipment downtime. The Canadian-owned equipment rental company has also developed an integration layer using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing authorized AI environments to securely access selected business systems and current operational information. CanLift says its AI strategy emphasizes employee augmentation rather than replacement, supported by human oversight, data protection and employee accountability. After a year of testing, the company is moving AI into daily operations while evaluating future applications in fleet management, logistics, sales and reporting.

RIB Software has launched RIB Unify in Australia, introducing a cloud-native construction platform designed to connect project teams, information and workflows from preconstruction through project delivery. Unify combines document and process management, field operations, quantity takeoff, estimating, analytics and embedded AI within a browser-based SaaS environment. Field teams can capture site information through mobile workflows and Digital Site Diaries, while office teams gain access to structured tasks, documentation, approvals and current project information. RIB Omni, the platform’s embedded AI capability, allows users to search and interrogate project documents and task information using natural language. For preconstruction teams, Unify connects 2D and 3D takeoff with estimating, including AI-assisted quantity extraction, integrated pricing and analytics designed to improve visibility into bids and cost changes. RIB says the platform is designed to reduce reliance on disconnected software, spreadsheets, paper and informal communication while improving collaboration, accountability and information flow between construction sites and office teams.