2018 – Roofing Technology Think Tank

Q4 Commercial Construction Outlook – Focus on Technology

Posted on January 11, 2019January 8, 2019

By Karen L. Edwards, RoofersCoffeeShop® Editor.

Contractors believe that new technologies like drones, augmented reality, artificial intelligence will be useful for productivity and improved safety on jobsites.

Throughout the year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and USG Corporation survey contractors and release a quarterly report detailing their findings. In the recently published Q4 report, contractors shared that the lack of skilled labor is impacting productivity, scheduling and safety. They are searching for new innovations and solutions to address the labor issue.

The Q4 report explored the topic of technology on the jobsite and found that contractors believe that new technologies like drones, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and more will be useful for productivity and improved safety on jobsites. Their show that 74 percent of contractors expect the adoption of technologies to grow quickly over the next few years.

Contractors were asked about their use of advanced technologies and 54% reported that they have used at least one of the following technologies on their jobsite, with drones being the most widely used.

Drones – 34%
Equipment tagging – 16%
Wearable technology – 6%
RFID Tagging – 8%
Augmented and/or virtual reality – 13%
Reality capture – 7%
Automated equipment or robotics – 5%
3D printing – 5%
Not using any of the above – 46%, with 26% indicating that they plan to implement in the near future

The use of these advanced technologies is more prevalent among general contractors than trade contractors. Seventy-three percent of GCs reported that they use at least one of the advanced technologies and usage is expected to grow faster by GCs (to 85%) and larger contractors than by smaller contractors and the trades (59%).

Since many of these technologies are just emerging in the construction industry the study questioned contractors to find out the top three benefits that would encourage them to adopt a new technology. They indicated that labor productivity (66%) is by far the biggest benefit that would convince them to invest in a technology. Schedule, budget and safety were close behind.

Seventy-five percent of contractors surveyed believe that advanced technologies like equipment tagging, robotics and wearable tech can be useful to improve labor productivity and manage project schedules.

Other trends show that at least ¾ of the large companies expected to hire more workers in the next six months where only about half of mid-sized and smaller companies plan to do so. Finding skilled workers remains a challenge with well over half of respondents reporting difficulty. Interestingly, contractors in the western U.S. report a higher level of difficulty (70%) versus their counterparts in the rest of the country, which ranges from 52 – 58 percent. One survey respondent said, “My single most important concern about my business in the next 12 months is hiring the right people and keeping the right people.”

For the purposes of the Commercial Construction Index, the report defines commercial construction as the following types of buildings: office, retail, hospitality, education, healthcare, multifamily residential (mid-and high-rise), government, warehouses, airport terminals and other transportation buildings.

Check out the full Q4 report here.

Source: RoofersCoffeeShop

Monster end-of-year report shows that construction and trades topped the list for hiring in 2018

Posted on January 10, 2019January 8, 2019

By Karen L. Edwards, RoofersCoffeeShop Editor.

The report also analyzed other stats such as the busiest days for job searches and what people are searching for.

Website Monster.com is a leading source of job postings. As 2018 came to a close they decided to scour their data covering everything from top job titles to industries hiring the most and issued this report. It should come as no surprise to those of us in the roofing industry that the construction category was at the top of the list for hiring.

While it was a top category, it’s important to note that Monster placed construction in the category along with trades, production and warehousing. The most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report cited the addition of 25,000 jobs in November alone, which suggests these additional jobs might be related to the increase in Amazon’s needs for workers and the company setting their minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Construction and trades was the highest hiring category in 28 states. The next most popular category was Technology – maybe suggesting that there needs to be more technology developed to support the construction industry.

The company’s data also shows that people are not really searching for construction work. The top 10 search terms were:

Administrative assistant
Part-time
Accounting
Receptionist
Customer service
Sales
Human resources
Warehouse
Administrative
Manager

The data also showed that the most popular time of year for job searches is in January and February. One could surmise that people are entering the new year with a renewed resolution to make a career change. Eight of the top 10 busiest days for job searches were in January and the remaining two busy days were in February.

If you’ve got job openings it might be a good idea to be sure you get them posted. At RoofersCoffeeShop® we see many jobs posted and employees hired through our classified section. It’s an affordable way to reach a large pool of potential employees that have experience in the roofing industry.

Source: RoofersCoffeeShop

BuiltWorlds Releases the Connected Job Site 50 List 2018

Posted on September 17, 2018

The 2018 Connected Job Site 50 List is the easiest way to understand the companies that are changing the future of job sites through IOT-enabled data collecting products and systems.

Drones / Mapping

DRONEBASE

DroneBase helps to track, map, survey, and manage job sites through providing a network of qualified drone pilots who are trained to fly for construction. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

DRONEDEPLOY

DroneDeploy is a cloud-based automated drone mapping software turning aerial imagery and video from any drone into actionable insights while stimulating collaboration across stakeholders from anywhere in the world.

HANGAR TECHNOLOGIES

Hangar brings together data software, drone hardware, networks of certified pilots, and developers into one integrated platform. Its data acquisition platform extends insights beyond delivery and into operations and maintenance, ensuring projects stay on-time and on-budget.

3DR is a drone data platform specifically for the AEC industries. Their easy-to-use, fully automated software provides point clouds, 3D meshes, or contours to inform and connect those on site with stakeholders. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

SITEAWARE

SiteAware enhances job site monitoring with situation-aware drones bringing daily project progress updates and actionable 3D data to stakeholders.

UNEARTH LABS

Unearth’s collaboration software connects people, places, and plans (blueprints, specifications, spatial measures, and more) in real-time, allowing both the office and field to collaborate at the same time. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

UPLIFT DATA PARTNERS

Uplift’s drone pilot network and turnkey data service helps industry leaders capture and analyze aerial data to prevent rework, reduce waste, increase safety, and improve margins.

Tools & Equipment / Machinery

5D ROBOTICS

5D enables the automation of industrial equipment. Their two tools, 5D Position Engine and Behavior Engine, can integrate into your existing fleet of vehicles and equipment, turning them into ‘smart’ robotics solutions.

APIS COR

Apis Cor has developed the first mobile construction 3D printer, capable of printing entire buildings on site. Apis Cor claims to cut costs by 40% in comparison to traditional construction methods.

CONSTRUCTION ROBOTICS

Construction Robotics is a robotic and automation equipment manufacturer. Its first machine, SAM100, is a robotic bricklayer for on-site masonry construction. Its second and most recent machine, MULE, is a lift assist device for safer handling and placing of materials weighing up to 135 lbs on construction sites.

DEWALT TOOL CONNECT

DeWalt has created a three-part inventory management solution to connect and track your tools across multiple job sites and collect data from their mobile app automatically bringing you real-time information.

FASTBRICKS

Fastbricks has created a dynamic stabilization machine that reacts to wind, vibration, and other factors instantly, enabling precise positioning of heavy objects on your job site.

MILWAUKEE TOOL ONE-KEY

One-Key is the first digital platform for tools and equipment tracking, combining an inventory program with Milwaukee Tools’s innovative set of existing industry tools. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

MX3D

MX3D’s robotic 3D printing technology prints steel, metal or resin structures in virtually any size or shape for manufacturing purposes.

SHAREMYTOOLBOX

ShareMyToolbox is a mobile application that connects employees to a company’s tool catalog to give users access to tools and assets available in the warehouse or field.

TRUCK IT

Truck IT is a cloud-based application for the scheduling and payment of dump truck services. It allows users to access real-time information on dump truck availability in their market.

BOSCH BLUEHOUND

Bosch Bluehound is a cloud-based tracking solution improving transparency between the warehouse and the job site. Their mobile-first platform allows you to track, manage and localize working assets at all times.

People / Collaboration

ARVIZIO

Arvizio has created the industry’s first mixed reality server platform using its advanced spatial data engine to bring large scale 3D data to your 3D viewing devices in the field.

ASTRALINK

Astralink is a Quality Assurance platform for the construction industry, using Augmented Reality (AR) technology to bridge the gap between BIM models and real-life construction field work.

DAQRI

DAQRI produces AR technology to be used on the job site, including their Smart Glasses and Worksense software.

GRIT VIRTUAL

Grit Virtual’s VR-based construction management software is re-imagining the way that project teams interact with their schedule. They are taking the 3D nature of virtual reality and advancing it into the fourth dimension with planning software. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

IMAJION

Imajion has created a mixed reality construction management platform revolutionizing communication on the job site by blending digital objects and information.

IRISVR

IrisVR’s easy-to-use VR platform focuses on the architecture, construction, and engineering industries to stimulate collaboration in virtual space, no matter the physical location of each individual involved.

REALWEAR

RealWear produces a voice-driven, hands-free, head-mounted solution to connect workers with PDF documents and maintenance and assembly manuals on the job and in the field.

XOI TECHNOLOGIES

XOi has developed head-mounted, wearable computing technology that provides real-time visual and audible intelligence for the field service industries, as well as the back-end software that organizes and manages the data and content created. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

Materials

BELLHAWK SYSTEMS

BellHawk software uses mobile data collection, barcode scanning, and printing technologies to provide real-time inventory, materials, and operations tracking for existing ERP, CRM, and other backend software.

CONCRETE SENSORS

Concrete Sensors’ sensors are embedded in concrete prior to pouring and connect with mobile devices to report the concrete’s strength and drying time, preventing the need for removing material to test the concrete.

INTELLIWAVE: SITESENSE

Intelliwave Technologies (SiteSense) produces mobile-based software solutions for RFID and GPS identification and tracking of construction materials speeding up the locating of materials in the field by 10X. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

JOVIX: ATLAS RFID SOLUTIONS

Jovix seeks to reduce fabrication delays and other material readiness issues by collecting, processing, and presenting actionable data in a graphical format; allowing laborers to focus on using their tools.

TRACK ‘EM

Using barcode, RFID, and GPS technologies, Track’em offers material, quality, progress, and time control systems to track and optimize company resources.

X-B-E

X-B-E coordinates the movement of materials by dump truck for the construction industry through their software platform bringing control of your materials to the palm of your hand.

Site Monitoring / Safety

BUSYBUSY

busybusy allows users to track their team and equipment from a mobile device and eliminates paper time cards, improving job costing, and simplifying the payroll process. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

EYRUS

Eyrus invisibly registers, records, and reports tradespeople entering and exiting the jobsite, providing worker identity verification via high-security entry structures on job sites. The technology also sends stakeholders real-time trade deployment data. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

MSITE

MSite is a biometric access security system and construction gate monitor that ensures site adherence to safety and security policies and tracks labor time and attendance.

PILLAR TECHNOLOGIES

Pillar’s sensors attach to studs, columns, or other structures on the job site to detect smoke, dust, and other air issues so that workers can pinpoint problem areas.

RHUMBIX

Rhumbix uses crew telematics to capture real-time field data from workers’ smartphones in order to increase construction productivity and safety through a simple-to-use mobile interface. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

SENSERA

Sensera has created a variety of solar powered, wireless construction time-lapse cameras for the monitoring and security of construction sites. An additional benefit is real-time live site monitoring for all stakeholders.

SMARTVID.IO

Smartvid automatically aggregates all of the digital data already being produced on a construction site into one platform to easily identify safety concerns with little added work.

SOLOINSIGHT

Soloinsight provides IoT solutions via an identification platform of integrated software and sensors that helps customers manage security, personnel, assets, and visitors.

TENNA

Tenna’s asset tracking software and physical tags integrate with GPS tracking solutions to provide physical asset planning, including location tracking, usage and service history, maintenance schedules, and documentation, all in the palm of your hand.

TRIAX TECHNOLOGIES

Triax Technologies has created the Spot-r Clip and the Spot-r Equiptag, wearable devices that provides real-time visibility into the job site, resulting in faster response to injuries, improved safety performance, and increased productivity and efficiency of equipment and people.

WEATHERBUILD

WeatherBuild leverages weather data, machine learning, and predictive analytics to enhance safety, and manage risk while optimizing uptime of crews and equipment, reducing the number of delays caused by weather problems. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

Scanners

FARO

Faro brings 3D laser scanning to the AEC industry with detailed point clouds and highly accurate measurements of complex objects and buildings. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

HOLOBUILDER

HoloBuilder’s scanners offer construction professionals and real estate agents the opportunity to create and share 360° views of their buildings through 360° imagery and artificial intelligence.

IMERSO

Imerso builds 3D scanning solutions for mobile devices, digitizing real-world spaces into 1:1 3D models in seconds via photo stitching technology.

KAARTA

Kaarta has produced a hand-held scanner capable of real-time 3D modeling. Its portable systems sense and instantly transform the environment around them with no reliance on GPS. Come see them at the BuiltWorlds Projects LA Connected Job Site Expo

MATTERPORT

Matterport provides cloud-based 3D and virtual reality solutions to the real estate and AEC industries that allow users to create, modify, navigate, and build on digital representations of real places.

PARACOSM

Paracosm is a 3D mapping software company that develops mobile reality capture, progress monitoring, and visualization solutions. They also developed the first hand-held lidar scanning product, the PX-80.

SKUR

SKUR provides cloud analytics and point-cloud software to verify as-built construction variations and catch issues with fabricated elements before they become a problem.

STRUCTIONSITE

StructionSite’s construction documentation software integrates with 360° cameras providing searchable visual documentation to provide accountability and create communication efficiencies for work in-progress on the job site.

Source: BuiltWorlds.

BuiltWorlds Releases 2018 Building Tech 50 List

Posted on August 9, 2018August 9, 2018

By Builtworlds.

These are the companies that are paving the way for connected buildings of the future. Four companies made the list in the roof systems category.

WINDOWS

View

Removing the need for blinds altogether, View’s Dynamic Glass system intuitively adjusts tint to reduce solar radiation and glare, improving productivity and reducing energy costs. After securing another $200 million in funding in 2017, the internet-connected glass company has positioned itself as one of the world’s leading innovators in smart building technology.

VG SmartGlass

VG SmartGlass’ patented solution delivers glare, privacy, and energy control using layers of polarized film. Their user-controlled system is making smart glass a more affordable option for residential and commercial buildings alike.

iGlass Technology

iGlass has developed Wisp, a sunlight control system that adjusts in real-time to lower energy bills and protect from harmful UV radiation. Wisp is easy to install on existing windows and carries benefits for both building operators and tenants.

Onyx Solar

Onyx creates photovoltaic glass that is transforming buildings into efficient, energy-generating assets. Used in more than 150 projects worldwide, Onyx has established itself as a leader in the smart building landscape.

Polysolar

Polysolar’s Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) platform brings both environmental and economic benefits to any building project. Their technology has applications throughout the building envelope, from facade to roof to windows.

LIGHTING

Lunera

Lunera has developed a smart lighting platform that uses lights, sensors, and an IoT network to provide building operators with real-time information and control. This dynamic, cloud-based platform allows existing buildings to tap into newfound energy savings and improve the user experience.

Signify

(formerly Philips Lighting) Signify’s IoT-based lighting platform, Interact, delivers connected LED lighting systems to office buildings, stadiums, industrial facilities, and infrastructure assets. Turning raw data from embedded light sensors into actionable business insights, they are empowering companies to get the most out of their buildings.

Igor

Using Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology, Igor is decreasing the installation and retrofitting costs of upgrading to smart lighting. Their scalable, AI-enabled system is driving the shift toward energy-efficiency in buildings.

OSRAM

OSRAM has created a range of Light Management Systems (LMS) that offer improvements in operational efficiency to a variety of business types and sizes. Their platform integrates wireless hardware with powerful software, creating a connected building network.

LumiFi

With a wireless lighting control platform, Lumifi connects third-party IoT-enabled devices to help building owners and operators monitor their light systems. Their intuitive mobile interface and web management platform offers users a wide range of lighting features and functionalities.

ENERGY

Abundant Power

Abundant Power’s performance analytics software allows for reliable and accessible reporting about building energy consumption. The result is a building that enables flexible service, affordable operating expense, and maximum occupant comfort.

Ravti

With unique solutions for both property owners and property managers, Ravti is creating a more efficient and streamlined HVAC management system. By creating and updating a detailed HVAC inventory, tracking performance, and generating intuitive reports, they are helping to significantly reduce a critical yet costly building service expense.

Optimum Energy

Optimum Energy’s True Optimization solution is a control software that integrates directly with any building automation system to continuously reduce energy consumption. By optimizing energy consumption in HVAC systems, Optimum Energy can deliver electricity savings of up to 50%.

Totem

Totem Power has established itself as a leader of innovation in the world of smart energy products. They are developing solutions in 5G connectivity, thermal management, cyber security, and remote device monitoring.

Enerbrain

Enerbrain has developed a simple solution for HVAC monitoring and performance management, with a fully-integrated network of sensors, IoT actuators, and a mobile app for continual monitoring.

SolarEdge

SolarEdge aims to address a broad range of energy markets by offering large scale photovoltaic systems, battery storage and backup, electric vehicle charging, home energy management, electrical grid services, and uninterrupted power supply solutions.

ROOF SYSTEMS

Ebeco

Ebeco uses self-regulating and connected heating technology to improve the performance of building roof systems. Their solution prevents costly erosion of roofs, gutters, and downpipes from snow and ice accumulation.

Voltaic Systems

Voltaic Systems has created a line of durable, IoT-enabled photovoltaic panels. Their highly customizable system enables increased efficiency in rooftop energy generation for smart buildings.

Opti

Opti has built an IoT-based solution that is transforming how buildings use roof systems to manage stormwater. Their Continuous Monitoring and Adaptive Control (CMAC) technology automatically controls the timing and rate of stormwater flow through existing and new facilities, enabling them to plan, observe, and predictively respond to storm events.

SolarCity

A subsidiary of Tesla, SolarCity’s Solar Roof platform uses durable glass tiles to turn buildings into energy-generating utilities. SolarCity sets itself apart by offering a range of beautiful tile designs to integrate solar technology into different architectural styles.

BUILDING MANAGEMENT

Aquicore

Aquicore has created a versatile building management software solution to help building owners track performance and operations. Acting as the command center of a smart building, the Aquicore platform enables real-time energy consumption monitoring, task management, budgeting services, and more.

Gridium

Gridium’s software offers data-driven operations services to streamline building maintenance and lower energy costs. The platform also produces regular performance reports, making analytics and raw data easy to understand for building owners and managers.

Enertiv

Used in residential, office, hospitality, and warehouse buildings, Enertiv’s Operations Performance System (OPS) tracks every aspect of building operations, from equipment performance to indoor environmental conditions. Their platform aims to improve equipment reliability, optimize system configuration, and enable predictive maintenance.

Senseware

Senseware is a full-stack IoT solution that enables integration, monitoring, and control of building systems in real-time. By transforming existing building infrastructure into productive and communicative assets, Senseware is putting your data to work.

Bractlet

Bractlet’s Infrastructure Investment Platform empowers property owners to make informed, confident decisions based on insights gleaned from performance data and modeling. By monitoring at the equipment-level and diagnosing issues as they arise, they protect building investments and ensure savings on operating expenses.

OpenEE

OpenEE’s mission is to promote energy efficiency and transform buildings into distributed energy resources. Their open source platform offers loading, calculating, and visualization of building-level energy performance.

STRUCTURAL MONITORING

Concrete Sensors

Concrete Sensors has combined wireless sensing technology with powerful software to deliver the most accurate, real-time information about concrete. Their solution takes the guesswork out of using concrete on any given project and ensures that buildings meet structural requirements and financial goals.

Canzac

A mainstay of the concrete industry, Canzac’s catalog of products includes an innovative concrete sensor used to monitor concrete strength and temperature. The rugged, waterproof, and wireless sensor uses bluetooth technology to relay performance information through a mobile app.

Giatec

Giatec offers a complete suite of smart concrete testing solutions for various applications in wireless concrete monitoring, infrastructure condition assessment, and durability-based quality control of concrete. Their mobile-based technology makes it easy for construction companies, consulting firms, and ready-mix producers to improve efficiency in concrete projects.

WATER

Intellihot

Intellihot’s tankless water heating system allow you to conserve valuable space and improve energy efficiency. By delivering endless hot water on demand while consuming less space and fewer resources, they are making the traditional tank and boiler model obsolete.

Sensus

Sensus has developed a range of IoT-enabled smart solutions, including a data-driven smart water platform for buildings. Their system combines advanced sensors with software to improve measurement, facilitate communication, improve revenue, and increase overall efficiency.

Itron

Itron’s Riva platform brings IoT sensor technology and edge computing analytics to water systems. With conservation in mind, their solutions help to eliminate non-revenue water from all types of buildings.

Aquagen ISI

Aquagen Infrastructure Systems’ technology incorporates the natural benefits of algae-based photosynthesis to enhance the operational process of wastewater treatment. Not only does this save operators on costs, but it turns wastewater into a sustainable community resource.

Flo Technologies

Flo’s water damage prevention system monitors water equipment to detect and proactively stop leaks. With the ability to monitor water consumption using mobile technology, Flo maximizes water security and savings.

SAFETY + SECURITY

Soloinsight

Cloudgate, a powerful facial recognition platform created by Soloinsight, is leveraging IoT and AI to improve building security. A highly customizable system, Cloudgate uses biometric credentials and advanced check-in technology to manage access.

Doorport

Bringing security and convenience to apartment buildings, Doorport enables smartphone an key card access, video intercom, and web encryption services. With low installation costs, they remove the need for expensive security contractors and make buildings safer for residents.

Nubo

Nubo has created the world’s first 4G/LTE-enabled security camera. This small, weatherproof device is making it easier than ever to remotely monitor buildings, putting tenants’ and owners’ minds at ease and avoiding security threats.

Canary

Canary has created a line of products that integrate remotely monitored cameras with sirens to provide an all-in-one security solution. Their system balances personal privacy with the principles of mutual trust and transparency.

Cyberbit

Cyberbit offers a building security solution that consolidates visibility, detection, and incident response. The Cyberbit platform combines multiple security products and technologies to offer a complete security operations solution, formerly only available from multiple vendors.

Plumis

Plumis offers an IoT-enabled fire protection system for buildings. Their cost-effective alternative has been proven to achieve the same fire performance as traditional sprinkler systems, while using 90% less water.

MOBILITY

EverCharge

EverCharge built an electric charging solution specifically designed for apartments and condominiums. As electric vehicle ownership continues to rise, EverCharge’s built-in IoT and remote monitoring capabilities set it apart from other EV charging options.

Smart Parking

Smart Parking’s platform uses sensors identify available parking spaces, GPS technology to direct drivers to those spaces, and an intuitive payment interface to facilitate paid parking facilities. Each of these solutions can be combined and integrated to create custom parking solutions for different buildings.

Parkifi

With spot-level parking data from lots, garages, and on-street parking spaces, Parkifi allows building operators to access inventory and gain actionable insights effortlessly. Their cloud-based analytics dashboard makes managing parking facilities easy.

ChargePoint

ChargePoint delivers EV charging stations to office buildings, apartments and condos, and industrial facilities use cutting-edge hardware technology. ChargePoint stations are part of a complete solution that includes 24/7 driver support, cloud-based software, and world-class service and maintenance.

Boni

Boni’s digital mapping platform brings location service software indoors. They facilitate indoor wayfinding for owners, residents, and visitors of a variety of buildings to improve their ability to move efficiently and find exactly what they are looking for.

Thyssenkrupp MAX

MAX is taking elevator availability, reliability, and efficiency to new heights with the industry’s first real-time, cloud-based predictive maintenance solution. Their smart, IoT-enabled solution dramatically increases elevator availability and predicts maintenance issues before they occur.

TENANT SERVICES

HqO’s software platform gives tenants more control than ever over their buildings. With visitor registration, room booking, parking monitoring, food ordering, and community engagement functionality, they are turning the workplace into a truly interactive experience.

Mobile Doorman

Mobile Doorman helps properties go beyond the web portal to create customizable, branded apps to interact with residents on their mobile devices. Their services improve how residents interact with buildings using a fully-customized, user-friendly tool that empowers them to live smarter and helps owners manage efficiently, improve retention, and boost their bottom line.

Amazon Hub

Hub by Amazon is a comprehensive solution that frees building staff from daily package management, from high-rise buildings to garden-style apartments. Hub’s intuitive and simple design improves residents’ living experience, declutters building lobbies and storage rooms, and provides a secure location for package deliveries.

Comfy

Comfy aims to improve the workplace experience by connecting people, places, and systems though a single intuitive mobile platform. With Comfy, employees can control aspects of their workplace environment including temperature, lighting, meeting rooms, and more.

Visit BuiltWorlds to download a PDF of the complete list.

How Predictive Analytic Technology Can Grow Your Roofing Business

Posted on June 22, 2018

By Tony Agresta, Vice President of Marketing, Nearmap

Predictive analytics is not new, it’s been used by marketers for many years. It is simply using historical data on response or performance to determine who is most likely to buy a product or respond to a promotion. For example, cataloguers would take a sampling of data, send out a mailing and track who responds. The more data they had about the people such as income, age, interests, prior buying history, the better they could predict future buying behavior since the responders and non-responders could be modeled.

By scoring and modeling the data, a company could focus their dollars and marketing efforts on the people who scored highest and were determined to be the most likely to buy. Rich, accurate models leverage robust data sets. That same concept can be applied to roofing, using modern technology, to determine the properties most likely to need roofing services.

Many roofing contractors today already understand the value that high-resolution aerial maps bring to their business. The images provide a lot of data about a property that satellite imagery cannot. For instance, using freely available satellite imagery, it’s not easy to tell the difference between a solar panel or a skylight on a roof, and it can be hard to tell what type of roofing material is on the property.

With higher-resolution aerial maps, contractors can review properties, see the type of roof, whether there are skylights, solar panels, outbuildings, the presence or absence of trees, and can even look back over time to see how the roofs may have changed. High-resolution aerial maps provide the detail needed to classify features of the property and the grounds. Just the way the cataloguers could use sample data to differentiate responders from non-responders or multi-product buyers from single product buyers, aerial maps can be used to create data sets that classify type of roof and other features.

When machine learning algorithms are applied to this new source of data, users can automatically detect which properties have skylights, or solar panels or missing shingles. It could detect the pitch and potentially the type of roof material. Then the algorithm could store all those attributes in a database. The database is important because now you have data about all the properties in an area that can be queried.

Querying the database would allow a contractor to ask for only properties that meet certain criteria to be returned. Perhaps you want roofs of a certain size, or ones that appear to have damage, or only want to look at roofs with asphalt shingles. You no longer must spend the time manually scanning through images of properties, the algorithm does it for you.

By assigning scores to certain characteristics and using artificial intelligence and machine learning, the database can deliver a list of leads that are prime candidates for a new roof. This allows you to strategically deploy your sales team to the homes that score the highest, rather than walking a neighborhood knocking on every door. Companies providing aerial maps are applying machine learning to vivid imagery. They are refining the algorithms, building accuracy into the models and making the resulting data available to roofers to help drive their business faster.

3 Ways to Improve Communication on Your Jobsite with Drones

Posted on June 19, 2018

By Devon Tackles.

Keeping tabs on a construction project is no small task. Every job has many moving parts. From tracking progress to managing subcontractors, communicating across teams can be challenging — no matter the size of your organization. The good news is, by spending less than an hour each week mapping your jobsite with drones, you’ll gain an entire toolkit to help you and your team work more efficiently, make more informed decisions, and communicate with ease.

Drone maps and models not only provide an aerial view of your project, but each map includes a rich set of data that can be used to further measure and analyze just about anything on a site. Here are three ways you can improve communication on your jobsite with the use of drones and aerial maps.

Project Monitoring and Site Inspection

DroneDeploy, an industry leader in drone mapping software, discovered that 60% of their customers make maps weekly. This regular, overhead view is invaluable when it comes to tracking progress and inspecting for safety issues on construction projects. “Drone maps give my team a bird’s eye view of the site, which looks a lot different than being on the ground,” explained Matthew Forster, Project Engineer for Choate Construction. “It gives them a full picture.”

Although nothing replaces boots on the ground, weekly drone maps can significantly reduce the amount of time you spend walking an entire site for the purposes of inspection and monitoring. For more advanced oversight, you can import and overlay site plans right in the DroneDeploy interface, or export your maps into industry software like BIM, GIS, and CAD. You can easily export your data in the format you need or use open APIs to sync your data with everyday tools.

Contract Project Manager Nick Johnson of Tilt Rock of Texas does this to help him manage large, custom home projects. Homeowners make frequent changes to house footprints, models, and orientation, so Johnson overlays drone maps with utility, wastewater, and communications plans to help him can catch conflicts with services before they actually happen and redirect them at minimal cost.

“Aerial imagery identifies conflicts I wouldn’t normally see from the ground level. Now, I find out about conflicts in a matter of days, instead of months.”- Nick Johnson, Project Manager, Tilt Rock of Texas

Take Volume and Area Measurements, Estimate Stockpiles, and Monitor Earthwork

Every location on a drone map is geotagged, so you can take basic measurements almost instantly, from any device. For situations that require centimeter-level accuracy, ground control points (GCPs) can be added to a map. These marked targets help mapping software accurately position your map in relation to the real world and afford the accuracy needed to make precise volumetric and linear measurements.

“I can tell how many square feet of roof we’ve put down, how much square footage of concrete is left to pour,” Ryan Moret, Field Solutions Manager at McCarthy Building Companies, said. “If we’re trying to figure out truck access, we can measure the width of a road or gate or how much room we need to clear out for material to make the site clean and organized.”

Share Insights, Align Teams, and Inform Stakeholders

Drones make collaboration and information sharing, both internally and externally, easier than ever before. Cloud-based platforms make it easy to share annotated maps between team members, or keep external stakeholders up-to-speed on the progress of a project.

In contractor meetings, having a clear display of any current site issues is a powerful communication tool. Likewise, having an up-to-date drone map helps distribute information efficiently, even among large teams. Streamline the decision-making process by referencing a drone map any time changes need to be made to a project.

McCarthy Building Companies uses drones in many high-tech ways, but at the end of the day, “paper is still the common denominator for jobsites,” says Moret. On every McCarthy site, the wall of the job trailer is covered with weekly drone maps posted in sequence, giving anyone who walks into the room a clear picture of the project’s progress over time, as well as a snapshot of any current issues on the site.

“The trades love it, being able to walk up to the wall and see nine weeks of construction photos,” Moret said. “They pull these up in every sub meeting, every owner meeting. We have data from that week to show contractors, ‘hey, the site’s a mess; you guys need to go clean it up.’ You can see rebar spread out all over the place, so there’s no arguing. They see it for what it’s worth.”

BuiltWorlds partnered with DroneDeploy to bring you this article. You can read the full version of this piece here.

Study Finds Construction Industry Can Benefit From Artificial Intelligence Adoption

Posted on June 15, 2018

A McKinsey & Co. study on artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the construction industry reports a combined use of machines and digital technology can enhance quality control, project scheduling, data analysis, and project cost savings, according to www.constructiondive.com.

The construction industry currently is the second-least digitized economic sector in the world, and the industry needs to lay the groundwork before AI can be widely adopted. The study identifies investment in data collection and processing tools like cloud infrastructure and advanced analytics as the first step.

There has been increased interest in sensors, cloud-based data sharing and mobile connectivity within the construction industry. Some employers already are using wearable sensory devices to monitor workers’ location and equipment at worksites. Data collected from the devices is transmitted to a cloud-based platform accessible from any compatible mobile device. AI algorithms advance the process one step further by deploying real-time solutions based on data analysis, helping employers ensure their workers stay safe on the job.

Industry employers may look to other industries that have successfully used AI to optimize processes, including the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. The study notes an AI algorithm is used by the pharmaceutical industry to predict medical trial outcomes; a similar algorithm may be used by the construction industry to forecast project risks and constructability. And image recognition algorithms used by the healthcare industry to support diagnoses may enable drones to assess construction site images for signs of defects or structural failures.

Note: This article first published on the NRCA website and can be viewed here.

Roofing Technology Think Tank Elects Board of Directors

Posted on June 12, 2018July 2, 2018

The newly elected board of directors will serve terms that range from one to three years in length.

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced that it has elected six directors of the board at its May 9 virtual meetup.

RT3 was formed to act as a conduit for curating knowledge on technologies that can help roofing contractors and the roofing industry overall. Formed in July of 2017, the group has grown from twenty founding members to over sixty. The think tank was officially incorporated in 2018 and now is proud to announce its new board of directors.

Heidi J. Ellsworth, Partner, RoofersCoffeeShop.com and Karen Inman, Chief Operating Officer, Antis Roofing and Waterproofing, will serve three-year terms on the board. Steve Little, Head Coach at KPost Roofing & Waterproofing and Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing will serve two-year terms while Trent Cotney, Cotney Construction Law and Tom Whitaker, President of Harness Software will serve one-year terms.

The board will support the RT3 mission statement and work to successfully accomplish its objectives to support and advance the adoption of technology within the roofing industry. According to its mission statement, “Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), is a consortium of thought leaders exploring emerging technology solutions for the roofing industry, striving to inform contractors by bringing together progressive and disruptive solutions that help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry,”

The think tank meets six times a year, four virtual and two live. Past live meetings included tours of Georgia Tech, BuiltWorlds and the U.S. Capitol. Future meetings will continue to be held at innovative locations that will help enlighten the group on progressive technologies that can make a difference in the roofing industry.

“It is about education and the initiative to understand and then disseminate innovative technologies into the roofing industry,” stated Heidi J. Ellsworth. “One of the ways to attract the new generation and a diversified labor force is to incorporate the use of technology including robotics, drones, software, cloud solutions and cutting-edge technologies that we are not even aware of yet.”

For more information about RT3, visit www.rt3thinktank.test.

NRCA Urges Consumers to Recognize National Roofing Week 2018, Identify Local Contractor in Preparation for Summer Storms

Posted on June 1, 2018June 1, 2018

Rosemont, Illinois – The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is urging communities to recognize the significance of roofs to every home and business during National Roofing Week, which takes place June 3-9. NRCA also is reminding consumers National Roofing Week comes at the beginning of summer storm season and encourages them to prepare for severe summer weather by identifying a local roofing contractor before a storm hits.

Severe summer weather often is followed by fraudulent contractors who show up and attempt to prey on the emotions of homeowners and business owners whose roofs have been badly damaged by a tornado, hail storm or hurricane.

During National Roofing Week, NRCA is urging consumers to research and find a reputable local roofing contractor ahead of the storm. Having this information in advance will protect storm victims from also becoming the victims of a fraudulent contractor.

“National Roofing Week comes at a time when knowing your local roofing contractor is more important than ever,” says Reid Ribble, NRCA’s CEO. “Homeowners and business owners should protect themselves by putting their roofing contractor’s phone number on their refrigerator or in their cell phone in case of emergency.”

The roof is one of the most important components of a structure. It is the first line of defense against natural elements such as rain, snow or wind, yet it is often taken for granted until it falls into disrepair. During National Roofing Week, NRCA also encourages its members to participate by engaging in their communities and informing the public about the essential role roofs and professional roofing contractors play in every community.

NRCA will recognize National Roofing Week by highlighting the work, training and good deeds of its members and their employees on its various social media outlets.

Additional information about National Roofing Week can be found at www.nrca.net/roofingweek. To find a local roofing contractor in your area, visit NRCA’s consumer website at www.everybodyneedsaroof.com.

NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. NRCA’s mission is to inform and assist the roofing industry, act as its principal advocate and help members in serving their customers. NRCA continually strives to enhance every aspect of the roofing industry. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit www.nrca.net

Category: <span>2018</span>

Category: 2018