Starting Off:
Last Friday, the ConTechTrio aired episode 65 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 SmartBid, 3D Repo’s cloud based BIM software, Revit HoloView, Europe’s tallest modular tower and much more! Special guest, Damon Hernandez, Founder and Executive Director at AEC Hackathon and Product Manager at Samsung, also joined to discuss hacking workflows with software in construction.
Tech You Should Try:
SmartBid – Construction starts here™! SmartBid, a product of JBKnowledge, is a construction bid software the helps general contractors manage subcontractors, send invitations to bid, share project documents and organize bid proposals. In 2017, SmartBid has released major software updates, including a full integration with Procore, detailed invitation statistics, Stack Estimating integration updates and much more. Schedule a demo today to learn more!
Weekly ConTechTrio Twitter Poll:
Last Week’s Poll: How user-friendly are the construction apps your company currently uses? The poll resulted in 36% “Very, “ 36% “Somewhat” and 28% “Not at all.”
This Week’s Poll: “Are you leveraging the power of Virtual Reality to communicate with customers?” Visit the ConTechTrio Twitter page and simply answer “Yes” or “No.”
Construction Tech News:
Industry Education, Insights & Trends
[Video] Angry Husband Fills Wife’s Car With Concrete
Construction Junkie provides video footage of a husband from Russia filling his wife’s car with concrete after learning that she changed her last name in order to promote a supermarket chain.
UMass Opens Largest Engineered Wood Building in Northeast US
This $52 million, four-story engineered wood building was designed by Boston based architects using cross-laminated timber (CLT.) The building is located on the University of Massachusetts at Amherst campus and is the first project in the U.S. to use a wood-concrete composite floor system.
Barcodes on Workers Helping Construction Projects Stay on Schedule
A start-up company called Eyrus has developed a new app that works hand in hand with barcode technology. This innovative tool uses the barcode that is on the workers hardhat and provides real-time data and analytics about who is and is not present on the jobsite.
How Internet Technology is Changing Rental Equipment
In this article, ForConstructionPros interview the CEO of KWIPPED, Robert Preville on the role the Internet and technology will play in construction equipment in the years to come.
Know What’s Below – Call 811 Before You Dig!
This CONEXPO-CON/AGG article explains how important it is for contractors to contact and call 811, the national “Call Before You Dig” phone number to request to have underground lines marked prior to digging. Sadly, according to the CGA’s 2015 DIRT Report, more than 30 percent of excavators are still not contacting 811 before they dig which can cause serious safety issues.
Disrupt or Be Disrupted: Welcome to the Digital Transformation
There is change coming to the construction industry. This article from Procore discusses the lagging adoption of Research and Development in the construction industry, as well as, the benefits and innovations that R&D could bring to your company.
Augmented & Virtual Reality
The First Decade of Augmented Reality
In this article, Benedict Evans starts with the year 2006 and gives a rundown of the last 11 years of augmented reality. The article also provides a TED Talk video from Jeff Han on unveiling the genius of multi-touch interface design.
HoloLens Lays 3D BIM Over The Real World
Revit HoloView is an app created by RedCrater that allows users to export Revit models into HoloLens. This app aligns BIM models into the real world, gives user feedback, has one centimeter of accuracy and much more!
3D Repo Launches Cloud-Based BIM Software With Integrated Virtual Reality
A collaborative online BIM platform called 3D Repo, launched a new version of its cloud-based BIM Software. This new version offers Virtual Reality functionality by using 3D models and project data. With this addition, users can now deploy VR simulations for applications such as training, safety and project consultation.
Emerging Technology
Europe’s Tallest Modular Tower Snaps Together in North London
The Apex House is the tallest modular tower in Europe and was developed by Tide Construction and Vision Modular Systems. This new student housing development is 29 stories tall, compromised of 679 modules, has over 580 rooms and was completed in just 12 months.
World’s First Modular Plastic Bridge Debuts in UK
Arup, a design and engineering company, has designed and successfully implemented the first modular glass-fiber, reinforced polymer bridge. This plastic bridge has been installed over a railway line in Oxford.
An Engineer Has Found a Way to Create Plastic Roads
Toby McCartney is an engineer that has come up with a method to create plastic roadways, by replacing bitumen, an oil product used to create asphalt, with waste plastic. These roadways will help lower the demand for oil and reduce plastic waste. Watch the video here to learn more.
INTERVIEW] Damon Hernandez, Founder of AEC Hackathon and Product Manager at Samsung, Discusses Hacking Workflows in Construction
In the second half of the podcast, Damon Hernandez, Founder of AEC Hackathon and Product Manager at Samsung, joined the ConTechTrio to discuss hacking workflows in construction. Damon was born in Denton, Texas and was raised in Louisiana.
Twelve years ago Damon moved out to San Francisco to work with a start-up company and while working there he was exposed to the fabrication side of building. After this exposure, Damon got his start working with the construction industry and grew to love the challenge of inspiring innovation.
Damon goes on to discuss the roots of a “hackathon,” who participates, and how companies are using the events to build and explore the next generation of building technology. Damon and the ConTechTrio wrapped up the interview by discussing how to get involved with AEC Hackathon, bringing VR to the Web, as well as, what’s next for Samsung.
Tune into the ConTechTrio podcast this Friday for Episode 66, featuring Julian Norton, Business Development Manager at Pix4D on photogrammetry in construction.
Listen to the Podcast: Spreaker, SoundCloud , YouTube, iTunes
Follow On Twitter: @JBKnowledge, @ConTechTrio
