Starting Off:
Last Friday, the ConTechTrio aired episode 66 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 Halo by ILLUMAGEAR, Trimble mixed-reality program, FARO’s PointSense software, MIT’s giant mobile 3D printer and much more! Special guest, Julian Norton, Business Development Manager at Pix4D, also joined to discuss photogrammetry for capturing advanced imagery on construction sites.
Tech You Should Try:
Halo 360° Personal Safety and Task Light – The Halo is a personal safety system that attaches to any hard hat allowing workers to be seen at all times on job sites. Powered by ILLUMAGEAR, the Halo is especially beneficial for anyone trying to work in limited lighting, but especially for construction workers in heavy civil environments. Check out the video below for more details!
Weekly ConTechTrio Twitter Poll:
Last Week’s Poll: Are you leveraging the power of Virtual Reality to communicate with customers? The poll resulted in 26% “Yes” and 74% “No.”
This Week’s Poll: “Why is your company NOT using UAV mapping software on the job site?” Visit the ConTechTrio Twitter page and choose from the following options: “Too expensive,” “Traditional ground surveys are more efficient,” “We are not aware of the benefits,” or “We are using UAV mapping software.”
Construction Tech News:
Industry Education, Insights & Trends
Technology and Software Rundown
Marla McIntyre, Editor of Construction Executive, provides a run-down of new software applications and integrations in the industry. This article features CoreLogic SkyMeasure mobile app for roofing data, Mobelisk, Hangar’s job site platform, SmartBid’s integration with Procore and much more!
Honeywell Highlights Smart Technology for Mosques in the Mideast
Honeywell is improving energy-efficiency in mosques all around the Middle East. With Honeywell’s VisionPRO 8000 thermostat, users can calculate prayer times via GPS and adjust temperatures automatically within the mosque to maintain comfort during prayer times.
This is What Hackers Look Like. Surprised? And They’re Coming for Your Data
This article from Zbrella defines “CEO fraud,” how it is on the rise throughout every industry, and gives step by step instructions on how to stop cyber-attacks in the future.
Prefabrication & Design
Multifamily Prefab Company Prescient Raises $40M
Construction Dive informs us in this article about a Colorado-based firm that makes modular structures for multifamily buildings and has raised $40 million dollars in funding. Since 2013, Prescient has built three million square feet of space in five states.
Marriott Expands its Modular Construction Initiative to Accelerate Growth
Marriott is investing in modular technology that will impact over 50 new hotels this year. Read this article to watch a time-lapse video of this mass scale production.
Augmented & Virtual Reality
Trimble Mixed-Reality Pilot Program With Brookfield GIS
Trimble is partnering with Brookfield Global Integrations Solutions to tie together Microsoft HoloLens and Trimble technology to create a mixed reality program for the property and facilities management industry.
Ennovar Intern Creates Virtual Reality Construction Game
A Wichita State graduate, Humam Nameer has created an app that works with HoloLens and allows future homeowners to view the building spatially before it is built, as well as, view different paint colors, furniture, carpeting and other housing equipment in real time.
Build The Perfect Home Stairlift With Help From AR
Futurism provides a short video of how a German-based engineering and manufacturing firm, Thyssenkrupp, is using Microsoft HoloLens to build home stair lifts faster and more efficiently.
Emerging Technology
FARO Introduces PointSense 18.0 Suite for Construction and Architecture
FARO has announced the availability of PointSense 18.0 software suite. This software platform allows integration with 2018 AutoCAD and Revit design tools, a more effective user experience, improved software handling and much more! If you are using FARO for your laser scanning, you definitely want to check this out!
Upcoming App Promises to Create Basic 3D Models of Existing Spaces in 1 Minute
Walkabout Worlds is an upcoming app that will improve the process of creating a 3D model of existing places. This app gives a real sense of walking through a space by turning 360° photographs into 3D models.
MIT’s Giant Mobile 3D Printer Can Produce a Building in 14 Hours
MIT has created a new approach to making buildings. The Digital Construction Platform can 3D print an entire building. The machine uses a large industrial robotic arm located on the front, as well as, a smaller robotic arm attached at the end that is designed for precision and motion.
Self-Repairing Concrete Could Save Billions of Dollars
A microbiologist at Delft University is developing bio-concrete, a self-healing concrete made out of self-activating limestone-producing bacteria that can heal cracks in pavements, bridges and buildings.
INTERVIEW] Julian Norton, Business Development Manager at Pix4D, Discusses Photogrammetry on Construction Sites
In the second half of the podcast, Julian Norton, Business Development Manager at Pix4D, joined the ConTechTrio to discuss photogrammetry in construction. Julian was born and raised in Nottingham, England.
Julian began his career as a construction surveyor. Julian started working with photogrammetry about 30 years ago to speed up the data capture process. After working around 20 years for Leica Geosystems, Julian decided to move to a smaller company and has worked for Pix4D for the past two years.
In the interview, Julian discusses the process of photogrammetry, the equipment needed to create photogrammetry workflows and how Pix4D is advancing beyond traditional photogrammetry. Julian and the ConTechTrio wrapped up the interview by discussing how the construction industry approaches the use of UAV’s, Pix4d Crane Camera workflows, as well as, the future of photogrammetry technology.
Tune into the ConTechTrio podcast this Friday for Episode 67, featuring Ricardo Khan, Senior Director of Project Solutions at Mortenson on augmented and virtual reality in construction.
Listen to the Podcast: Spreaker, SoundCloud , YouTube, iTunes
Follow On Twitter: @JBKnowledge, @ConTechTrio
