Starting Off:
Last Friday, the ConTechTrio aired episode 62 of the podcast in which James Benham (@JamesmBenham), Rob McKinney (@Conappguru) and Josh Bone (@BIM2theBone) discussed the latest construction tech news. Headliners last week included the Triax Spot-r, Bentley System’s Updates, SpaceKnow’s online analytics platform, Rhumbix Foreman Feedback release and much more! Special guest, Christian Proulx, Customer Success Director at BIM Track, also joined to discuss changes in BIM.
Listen to “ConTechTrio 62 Tracking Changes in BIM with Christian Proulx @ChrisP_02 @BIMTrack & @TriaxSpotr” on Spreaker.
Tech You Should Try:
Spot-r by Triax – Spot-r is more than just a safety system, it connects on-site workers with real-time communication and location technology. This lightweight wearable sensor automatically tracks workers production hours in each zone, detects workers safety movements and much more!
Weekly ConTechTrio Twitter Poll:
Last Week’s Poll: How does your company manage change? The poll resulted in 30% “Top down,” 20% “Bottom up,” 40% “Organic: both top down and bottom up” and 10% “Why change we are perfect.”
This Week’s Poll: “Which web based collaboration is your company using?” Visit the ConTechTrio Twitter page and choose from the following options, “BIM Track,” “BIM 360 Glue,” “Revizto” or “None of the above.”
Construction Tech News:
Industry Education, Insights & Trends
New App Brings Precision to Designing a Building for Higher Performance
A cloud-based platform, PlanIT Impact, is using their web application to help building professionals better understand operational costs to enable data-driven green design. Watch the video here to learn more about this new interactive app.
6 Real Estate Startups Poised to Disrupt the Industry
This article mentions New York real estate startup companies that could have national implications. The companies include Bowery, Flip, Ravti, OnTarget, Enertiv and hOM.
Qatar researchers are developing a self-cooling hard hat to help reduce head and face temperatures. This self-cooling hard hat will hopefully help reduce the death toll of construction workers working on building the 2022 World Cup Soccer Arena in over 122° weather.
Commission Your Own Traffic and Construction Studies Without Leaving Your Bed
SpaceKnow’s online analytics platform allows professionals access to transparent information from analysis of satellite imagery. With SpaceKnow users can whip up a count of cars with any satellite image, compare changes over time with historical imagery and much more!
Rhumbix Feature Release: Foreman Feedback
Zachary Scheel, CEO of Rhumbix, discusses their feature release called Foreman Feedback. Foreman Feedback allows foremen for the first time ever to have a feedback system to see how their teams are tracking cost codes on a daily basis.
Loader Operator Saves Rhino Stuck in Mud
Watch this video of how an equipment operator saved a rhino stuck in mud on a construction site.
New World Record Set for Converting Sunlight to Electricity
The technology for solar energy is constantly improving. Engineers at the University of South Wales have achieved 34.5% sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency. “This remarkable level of efficiency proves that we are on the verge of a revolution in energy.” – James Benham
Blockchains Will Change Construction
In this article, Arup discusses supply chain disruption through blockchains. A blockchain is a highly secure ledger with encrypted data chained together. Read this article to learn more on how blockchain technology is transforming the process around engineering and construction.
Drones
Drones in Construction: Everything You Need to Know
Construction Dive discusses everything you need to know about drones. This article explains how to fly drones, top trends, drone companies taking off, drone laws, steps to adding drones to construction sites and facts and figures about drones in the construction industry.
Bentley Launches Major Reality Modeling Update
At SPAR 3D 2017, Bentley Systems released updates on their modeling solutions. These updates include, ContextCapture aerial and mobile lidar processing, ContextCapture photo planning, ContextCapture mobile app, ContextCapture cloud, ProjectWise ContextShare and next-generation 3D reality meshes.
3D Printing
Zaha Hadid Architects 3D Prints an Experimental Structure With the Help of Robots
Inhabitat discusses in this article the use of 3D printing and robotics. Zaha Hadid Architects revealed Thallus, a 3D printed structure created with the help of robots. Thallus is made up of continuous and repeating loops and was designed by a six-axis robotic 3D printing technology.
On Site Robotics Modernizes Construction with 3D Printing System
Barcelona’s Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IIAC) developed an on-site robotics project that included a 3D printing system developed for the production of large scale construction parts and tiny drones to monitor the construction process. Watch the video here to see the printer operating.
INTERVIEW] Christian Proulx, Customer Success Director at BIM Track, Discusses Tracking Changes in BIM
In the second half of the podcast, Christian Proulx, Customer Success Director at BIM Track joined the ConTechTrio to discuss changes in BIM. Christian graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from University of Montreal in Canada.
After University, Christian decided to get involved in the construction industry and started working for the Quebec Airport as a project manager managing the baggage systems. Now, as the Customer Success Director at BIM Track, Christian focuses on reaching clients’ efficiency objectives with BIM Track software and making sure they have the best experience with their software features.
Christian explains his takeaways from the 2017 BIMForum in San Diego last week and what he found unique about the U.S market when it comes to BIM. Christian and the ConTechTrio wrapped up the interview by discussing the difference between micro and macro coordination tools, technical hurdles BIM Track has had to overcome, the importance of supporting Open BIM standards, and how BIM will evolve in the future.
Tune into the ConTechTrio podcast this Friday for Episode 63, featuring Alan Bracken, Professional Speaker, Coach and Trainer on developing leadership tools.
Listen to the Podcast: Spreaker, SoundCloud , YouTube, iTunes
Follow On Twitter: @JBKnowledge, @ConTechTrio
