Starting Off:
Last Friday, the ConTechTrio aired episode 67 of the podcast in which James Benham (@JamesmBenham), Josh Bone (@BIM2theBone) and special guest host Kris Lengieza (@Gieza0527) discussed the latest construction tech news. Headliners last week included the Amazon Echo, DroneDeploy’s partnership with DJI, BIMobject’s VR and AR platforms, Microsoft’s vision for the future workplace and much more! Special guest, Ricardo Khan, Senior Director of Project Solutions at Mortenson, also joined to discuss AR and VR workflows in construction.
Tech You Should Try:
Amazon Echo – Last week, Amazon Echo released the Amazon Echo Show and the Amazon Echo Look. Both technologies take voice activation to the next level, the Amazon Echo Show provides users with a hands–free, voice–activated screen and the Amazon Echo Look is able to capture voice activated, full length photos and short videos. Pre-order the Amazon Echo Show and Amazon Echo Look Today!
Weekly ConTechTrio Twitter Poll:
Last Week’s Poll: Why is your company NOT using UAV mapping software on the job site? The poll resulted in 36% “Too expensive,” 27% “We are not aware of the benefits” and 37% “We are using UAV mapping software.”
This Week’s Poll: This Week’s Poll: “Does your company have a dedicated BIM/VDC Staff?” Visit the ConTechTrio Twitter page and choose from the following options: “Yes,” “No,” “We are working on it,” or “We outsource this.”
Construction Tech News:
Industry Education, Insights & Trends
Raiders Purchase 62-Acre Las Vegas Site for New $2 Billion Stadium
After buying a 62-acre site for 77.5 million dollars, the Raiders NFL Stadium is one step closer to begin the building process in Las Vegas. The new 65,000 seat stadium will overlook the Las Vegas Strip, as well as, have a pedestrian bridge connecting the stadium to Mandalay Bay. Stay tuned for more details to come!
Microsoft Phone Revenue Fell to $5 Million Last Quarter
Microsoft’s figures and statements regarding its phone division, show that the Microsoft phone hardware business may be dead. Other than this $730 million phone revenue decrease, Microsoft is doing exceedingly well.
Construction Workers in Southern US Lack Employee Benefits
Construction Dive discusses a study from the Houston Chronicle that surveyed almost 1,500 workers across six southern states. They found out that “40% of construction workers in Houston had no health insurance, retirement savings, paid vacation or sick leave.” Read this article to learn more about this issue.
Injured Carpenter Awarded $2 Million Dollars
An injured carpenter was awarded $2 million dollars after a construction management company failed to instruct him to wear protective safety eyewear while operating a nail gun. Sadly, due to this incident, the carpenter is now industrially blind. Read this article to learn more about OSHA regulations.
Framing System Comes Together With Steel Zip Ties and Screws
This article from Building Design + Construction explains how Clemson University School of Architecture has developed a new framing system. This new construction method is predicted to be fast, efficient and use steel ties instead of nails and nail guns.
DroneDeploy Partners With DJI to Bring Complete Drone Mapping Solution to Construction
This partnership allows clients the option to a DroneDeploy yearlong subscription when buying a DJI drone. Read this article to learn more about this integration between DroneDeploy and DJI and their plans for the future.
3D Printing
Making 3D Printing as Simple as Printing on Paper
After recognizing the complicated printing process with 3D printers, a MIT spinout called New Valence Robotics (NVBOTS) has created a fully automated commercial 3D printer. Learn more about the NVPro here!
Matterport Partners with Google to Bring 3D Street View Perspectives Indoors
Matterport, a real estate company that provides 3D scans of homes for potential buyers has partnered with Google’s Street View. This partnership with allow Street View to provide 3D views of spaces, as well as, 360° scans of houses and business that have been publicly published.
Prefabrication & Design
The Unfulfilled Expectations of Prefabrication
ENR gathers data from a new survey by a North Carolina- based management consultant, FMI on how the processes of prefabrication are in need of improvement.
Emerging Technology
At Build, Microsoft’s Vision of the Future Workplace Looks Both Helpful and Intrusive
Microsoft announces at its Build developer conference, a workplace of the future where cameras, sensors and other recording devices surround workers during day to day activities. Learn more here about the “intelligence edge” and the workplace of the future.
BIMobject Extends Construction Product Libraries to Virtual and Augmented Reality
Last week, at The American Institute for Architects (AIA) convention, BIMobject, who has teamed up with Autodesk, announced that they are launching an AR and VR platform for all of their products. Watch the video below to learn more!
Microsoft Wins Patent for Augmented Reality Glasses That Tell You to Stop Eating
Microsoft has received a patent on augmented reality glasses that have sensors which can identify food that users are viewing and relay nutritional facts back to them. Augmented reality glasses like these could help improve safety on jobsites by giving workers an immediate notification in their line of vision.
INTERVIEW] Ricardo Khan, Senior Director of Project Solutions at Mortenson, Discusses AR and VR Workflows in Construction
In the second half of the podcast, Ricardo Khan, Senior Director of Project Solutions at Mortenson, joined the ConTechTrio to discuss AR and VR workflows in construction. Ricardo was born in Trinidad and then moved to Brooklyn, New York at just one year old. [Fun Fact: Ricardo knows how to surf and play the ukulele.]
Ricardo’s love for the construction industry started at a very young age due to his family being in the construction business. Now, he has more than 19 years of experience in the AEC Industry and leads a team of over 60 VDC professionals at Mortenson.
In the interview, Ricardo discusses how to leverage technology and solve key gaps that affect the field. Ricardo and the ConTechTrio wrapped up the interview by discussing Oculus Rift vs. HTC Vive, steps to optimize construction and prefabrication, as well as, the future of augmented and virtual reality throughout the industry.
Tune into the ConTechTrio podcast this Friday for Episode 68, featuring Chad Hollingsworth, President and Co-founder of Triax Technologies on tracking in construction.
Listen to the Podcast: Spreaker, SoundCloud , YouTube, iTunes
Follow On Twitter: @JBKnowledge, @ConTechTrio
