Technology – Page 9 – Roofing Technology Think Tank

Cloud Technology and the Construction Industry

Posted on September 19, 2018September 19, 2018

By Cotney Construction Law.

A critical component of the construction industry is the flow of information. On a daily basis, blueprints, daily reports, change reports, and punch lists are passed among contractors, architects, and subcontractors. That’s just a small list of the information that’s being dispersed. If that’s not enough, the construction environment is fast moving and not all parties are in the same location. In years pass, these details made communication slow and hitting project deadlines a matter of chance. Enter cloud technology.

The “cloud” refers to a remote server that stores data and software. From a technological standpoint, the cloud allows construction companies to keep massive amounts of information in a place that is accessible from anywhere that you can establish a wifi or cellular connection. In terms of day to day operation, the cloud is making an impact in a number of areas. That’s why 59 percent of construction companies surveyed by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage say that they are either using a cloud solution or planning to use one.

The cloud presents a number of benefits to construction companies. Here are a few:

Access to information anywhere. There was a time where plans had to be carried from job site to job site in big tubes. Construction sites are dirty places and items are easily lost. With the cloud, information can be accessed from anywhere with a mobile device. Oftentimes, information is housed in an office, while work is done in the field. Now, information is more easily attained and more accurate.

Real-time collaboration. Similarly, the parties that are involved in a construction project, developers, designers, contractors, and subcontractors are typically in different places. Sometimes different cities. Meeting in person takes time and effort. Phone calls alone leave gaps in information. A cloud solution allows all parties to see construction plans in real time, collaborate on them, and make decisions. It’s a more seamless way of reaching consensus and reduces the types of conflicts that would require the help of a construction law attorney to settle.

Secure data. It may seem counterintuitive that a platform that exists remotely can be more secure than saving files on your own desktop, but the advances in cloud technology make that the case. With many cloud solutions, data is backed up nightly. More importantly, many cloud solution providers use more sophisticated security and antivirus tools than the average user employs on their desktop. Additionally, computers can be stolen or compromised.

Cost-effective solution. Let’s face it, you are going to need a data storage solution at some point. If your company is even moderately successful, you will accumulate a great deal of data. Physical servers are one solution, but they are expensive to purchase and maintain. A cloud solution is much more affordable and is scalable. As your need for data storage grows, so too can your space in the cloud.

As our construction lawyers have noted in previous articles, the construction site is a fast-paced environment. Skilled tradesmen are busy working on various aspects of the project. Materials move back and forth on the job site. Subcontractors work to complete critical components of a structure. All of this is done under strict timelines. However, for the pace at which construction moves, a fundamental part of the process has always hampered it– paperwork. From contracts to change orders, paperwork is a major part of our industry. Collaboration has always been difficult because all parties have to be in the same place. Now with cloud technology, this is no longer the case.

Note: This first published as a two-part article on Cotney Construction Law’s website and can be viewed here.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

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.

What is a Sales CRM and Why Should You Care?

Posted on September 10, 2018

If you don’t have a sales CRM in place, you’re leaving a lot of potential money on the table.

By Ryan Groth.

A sales CRM (customer relationship manager) system can tell you how much work you can expect to come in the next week, month or quarter. It gives roofing contractors the ability to define sales processes and measure the stages of each potential contract. Sales CRM programs also give you reliable reporting to make the right decisions and predict the future. Wouldn’t you rather “know” than “guess?” Making sales predictable so that you have enough work for your crews to do is important, but if you don’t have a sales CRM in place you’re also leaving a lot of potential money on the table. Leads are slipping through the cracks due to mismanagement. Did you know that the first company to contact a lead has a 238 percent higher conversation rate than the second to contact? Companies on average take 19 hours to respond via email and 61 hours to respond by phone, according to a recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Given these overwhelming circumstances, there are some key questions you need to be asking: Do you know that following up is important? What are you doing about it? Do you know that if you take managing leads seriously that you’ll smoke your competition?

The problem is salespeople and estimators are telling you one thing, but the reality is they’re doing another. This means that you aren’t in control and you need to keep a closer eye on your projects. Without a good sales CRM, you’ll find that you’re unable to see trends at a glance and see who and what’s really performing well. That makes it very difficult, if not nearly impossible to answer the following key questions directly impacting your company’s day-to-day: How can your sales manager manage his team objectively without knowing what your closing ratio is? How do you know where to spend your marketing dollars, or is it just a guessing game? What can you anticipate in future sales without understanding your pipeline? Are you thinking that you can buy that next big piece of equipment, building or two more service trucks based on hope? It’s better to really know.

Think of it this way, would you hand-weld an entire TPO roof just because you happen to already own a heat gun, or would you rather do the field laps with a robot? A sales CRM is like the robot. A heat gun is like most database software.

In a sales CRM, one must be able to insert and measure their identifiable key performance indicators, or in layman’s terms, each step of the sales steps. Sales managers also need to be paying attention to reports like sales pipeline, closing ratios, selling cycle, achievement against goals for sales and bid volume, lead source tracking on a per-salesperson, per-division basis. If you’re not keeping track then how can you hold your team accountable to performing the right activities to close more deals? It’s better to “know” than to “guess.”

So, is a CRM all about the sales manager after all? No, CRM’s can be user-friendly even for roofers and can actually help sales people sell. Sales reports are a huge pain in the neck for salespeople because they get paid to produce revenue. But if the system can actually help them sell more and keep them focused on the right priorities, everyone wins.
So, if you knew your competition was following up with every lead and tracked every step of the sales process, would you want to compete against that guy?

Ryan Groth is president of the Florida-based Sales Transformation Group, Inc. Over the past decade, he’s helped roofing companies from around the country improve their technological capabilities and transform their sales organizations. Reach him at rgroth@salestransformationgroup.com.

Note: This article first published in Roofing Contractor Magazine and can be viewed here.

Imagine what the future of roofing will be with the latest emerging technologies

Posted on September 6, 2018August 31, 2018

By Heidi J. Ellsworth, RoofersCoffeeShop®

The need for technology advancement in the roofing industry is apparent. It is a movement that continues to gain strength, not just in roofing but in construction and society overall. Being a part of bringing new and disruptive services to the roofing industry is important to RoofersCoffeeShop. We are committed to be the leader in providing a digital network that helps educate, entertain and build the roofing industry. The Coffee Shop has been delivering digital information since 2002 and the growth we have seen in the last three years is phenomenal.

Working and learning from roofing contractors across the country, it has become obvious that we need to help lead the adoption of technology in the roofing industry. We are committed to working across the industry to learn more about new and existing technologies that can help roofing contractors in their business processes and operations. RoofersCoffeeShop.com was one of the founders of a new group of industry thought leaders that recently came together to form the Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3).

The think tank includes a wide range of manufacturers, distributors, roofing contractors and technology companies, that are leading the initiative to bring as much information about technology into the industry as possible. It is not an association but a think tank that is dedicated to learning and then implementing innovative solutions that will make the roofing industry safer, smarter and more productive.

As contractors look at incorporating more technology into their business, I would recommend thinking big. Follow both the Coffee Shop and RT3 as they deliver articles and research on innovative programs, tools, equipment and cloud-based solutions that can evolve your business. It is easy to just think about cloud-based software or mobile devices but there is a lot out there that can help with the labor shortage and overall improvements in productivity and profitability. Here are top areas that I currently see stirring a lot of excitement around technology and roofing.

Artificial Intelligence

Imagine if a computer could look at an aerial image of a building and without any human help, create measurements and assess damage within seconds. It is very close to becoming a reality with companies that are utilizing artificial intelligence. According to Wikipedia, AI is the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages. Remember when aerial imagery measurement reports changed the industry? This is the next level and it will re-define the speed that we are able to evaluate and quote roofing jobs. Customer expectations will rise to all new levels, especially when this is combined with websites that support an independent customer experience.

AI is also going to make an enormous difference in safety regulations. There are companies right now who can capture video on jobsites that detect when employees are not in safety compliance and alert supervisors. AI is constantly monitoring and looking for pre-defined rules of what employees should be wearing (hard hat), where they should or should not be (restricted areas) and what they are doing (productivity). It will offer eyes on the site that will save lives and increase productivity.

Drones

Imagine that AI measurement and damage report being sent to roofing contractors minutes after natural disasters. Companies are currently working on pre-arranged flight programs for drones that will deliver imagery as soon as drones can begin flying. With pilots and drone networks appearing every day, the ability to get imagery faster and at higher resolution is a reality that is right around the corner.

Robotics

Imagine the next generation of roofing crews being trained not only on quality roofing installations but also on the ability to operate the robots that are doing the hardest parts of the job. The next generation will be experts in running and repairing robots that are laying membrane and hammering shingles. It may seem very futuristic, but companies are already selling equipment for roofing installation that is more like robots then traditional equipment. Check out Soprema’s MINI-MACADEN®, a machine for laying bituminous membranes and you will see what I mean.

GPS

Imagine customers watching their phone as your roofing trucks pull up and their materials are delivered. We do it now with Uber, we watch the car on our phone until it pulls up to pick us up. It is already happening with some contractors who communicate through portals and mobile, to show their customers the material delivery and crew travel details with pictures of little roofing trucks making their way to the job. And in the home office, operations and dispatch is watching too. Along with GPS enabled fleets, watch for GPS enabled tools. DeWalt and others are doing amazing work to help stop theft from jobsites with GPS enabled tools that have auto kill switches when taken out of range.

Virtual Reality

Imagine picking out the color and style of your roof while standing in your front yard with goggles. VR goggles are being actively used in architecture and city planning. Customers step into a new world looking at what could be while relating it to what they are seeing in front of them. Soprema once again is leading the way with sopremavr.com. Check out the future of how customers will be making decisions and watching job progress.

Cloud-Based Solutions

Some of the earliest adoption of technology has been cloud-based software. The cloud has changed our world and cloud-based solutions are changing the way roofing contractors handle sales, marketing and production planning and execution. The Coffee Shop partners with great software companies including Nearmap, FCS, Contractors Cloud, JobNimbus, AccuLynx and Harness. These companies have taken excel sheets and manual activities and created easy-to-use applications that make your business work better. It is worth the time to see what they offer.

The key to understanding what the technology can do for your company is communication. Use the network offered on the Coffee Shop. Ask questions in the forum, explore the technology blog and research the directory. Information is key and the fact that you are reading this is the first step to finding amazing solutions to grow your business.

Note: This article first published on RoofersCoffeeShop and can be viewed here.

COINS Grand Challenge fosters innovation

Posted on August 17, 2018August 15, 2018

Every day, three workers die on US construction sites. There are simply far more job sites than safety inspectors, and many sites don’t receive nearly enough inspections to ensure the safety of workers. That is a problem Ardalan Khosrowpour is tackling with his company OnSiteIQ. A startup venture that began in 2017, OnSiteIQ provides users with weekly virtual tours of job sites based on high-resolution photographic scans. This allows inspectors to see more job sites, thereby increasing the number of safe sites around the country.

“It’s pretty much like Google Street View for the construction site,” Khosrowpour said. “We enable our clients to document the site remotely, inspect the site, and do progress updates.”

While this is a great idea that can certainly benefit the entire built industry, sometimes it can be hard for a startup like OnSiteIQ to find footing or traction. Hoping to spread the word in the industry and receiving some feedback—Khosrowpour entered OnSiteIQ into the COINS Grand Challenge, an open competition put on by COINS, a leading built industry software company based out of the United Kingdom.
“We are trying to uncover the next generation of innovators and entrepreneur in the built environment,” said Robert Brown, the CEO of COINS. “We are really just looking for people who have genuinely innovative ideas that will potentially make a difference in the industry.”

Brown stressed that the competition has two main objectives, which is why COINS has hosted it for the past four years. Not only does the company want to make the construction industry a more appealing and attractive industry, but COINS also sees this as an opportunity to give back to the industry.

“We genuinely believe that with success comes a responsibility to give back to society as a whole,” Brown said. “That’s part of our core DNA as a business.”
The competition is divided into two categories – the open competition that is open to anyone over the age of 18, and the undergraduate portion, which is exclusively for university students. In each of those categories, entrants compete in two different challenges: New & Emerging Technology, and Leadership. Eight finalists are chosen and receive an inclusive trip to present their projects to a group of 12 judges with extensive industry experience (this year, BuiltWorlds’ own Bryant Donnowitz was a judge).

Companies and ideas like OnSiteIQ go before the panel of judges to receive feedback on their products.

“What better way to validate your idea, your business model, your team, and your technology than being judged by 12 different judges who are experts in their industry?” said Khosrowpour.

Much to Khosrowpour’s surprise, OnSiteIQ cleaned house at the Grand Challenge. Not only did the company win the open competition’s New & Emerging Technology category, but OnSiteIQ took home the Investment Award—and more importantly, $150,000. With those winnings, Khosrowpour plans to further develop OnSiteIQ’s technology, add new features, and expand the company to catch up with the application’s growing demand. He is thrilled by his success at the COINS Grand Challenge and thinks the event is having a significant influence on the built environment.

This will have a very positive impact on the industry,” said Khosrowpour.

Note: This article first published on BuiltWorld’s blog and can be viewed here.

Using roofing software to create more accurate estimates and material orders

Posted on August 15, 2018August 15, 2018

CRM software with real-time supplier pricing reduces ordering mistakes and homeowner distrust.

By Michelle Mittelman, AccuLynx.

When roofers are in the field assessing storm damage, talking to homeowners, and providing work estimates, one of the most important factors that they rely on is knowing the price of their materials. Every roofer has a preference of who he orders from; and knowing what materials he needs, and how much they cost are a huge part of generating an estimate.

When time is of the essence, a roofer may choose to rely on a template to provide a quote to a homeowner – but what if, unbeknownst to the sales rep, there has been a change in material availability or pricing? That estimate price may change significantly when it is processed as an order, prompting adjustments that could potentially anger the homeowner, and make the roofer appear untrustworthy.

Roofers who order material supplies through a CRM platform like AccuLynx, with a direct integration to a trusted material supplier see more accurate pricing, less mistakes in material ordering, and eliminate the need to handwrite the same information over and over across different documentation.

Using Real-Time Pricing in Your Estimates:

At the start of any job, roofers build estimates based on several factors, including the materials they use, and the costs assigned to those products.

A roofer that has digital access to real-time pricing within his estimates saves valuable time searching for the current price and availability of each individual line item. Templates in AccuLynx that pull from your local branch, with your negotiated rates give roofers an instant, accurate material cost that they can apply to their estimates, eliminating the guesswork, and potential surprises down the line.

CRM platforms with material supplier integrations allow you to complete jobs faster, meaning your company can take on more projects and make more profit.

Order Your Roofing Materials Directly from Your Estimate

Having accurate estimates translates into placing accurate orders. By converting your estimate to a material order through an integration, roofers eliminate human error, provide a digital record from one document to the next, and save time transferring the data from one platform to another. There is no time wasted between steps.

Roofers can feel confident that there will be no surprises in either availability or price when they order materials through their connected CRM platform. This proficiency improves a company’s reputation, leading to more business, and higher customer satisfaction.

Note: This article was first published on AccuLynx’s blog and can be viewed here.

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.

Wrapping down Projects Chicago Conference

Posted on July 12, 2018July 11, 2018

By Jim Lichtenwalte, BuiltWorlds

Much to the fanfare of coffee-lovers everywhere, Starbucks will open a massive, 45,000 square-foot roastery in downtown Chicago next year. Formerly Crate & Barrel, it will be the largest Starbucks location in the world, and feature a staggering assortment of coffee, teas, and food.

And right around the corner from where that store is currently under construction, BuiltWorlds hosted its Chicago Projects Conference last month. In Loyola University’s Corboy Law Center, looking out at some of downtown Chicago’s most impressive structures, attendees learned how new construction technologies are changing job sites around the world, and revolutionizing the industry into something smarter, safer, and more interconnected.

Three of Chicago’s most exciting projects–the massive new Starbucks on Michigan Avenue, the renovation of the old Chicago Post Office, and the construction the 774,000 square-foot office space at 110 North Carpenter in the West Loop–were used as case studies illustrating just how far technology is pushing the built industry. The seven panels spanning the day-long conference covered, in great detail, the technology solutions currently in play in the AEC industry that are changing the way we build.

The conference opened with a keynote address by Sean Conlon, the president and co-founder of Conlon & Co. and the host of CNBC’s “The Deed Chicago.” A successful real estate developer and entrepreneur, Conlon walked the audience through his beginnings in Ireland, his journey to Chicago, and the successes and failures he’s had along the way. Conlon encouraged attendees to be bold and push forward.

“Pioneers often get shot in the back with arrows, not pilgrims,” he said.

Many innovative and technologically-driven practices are being used on large scale projects right here in Chicago. When designing the 110 North Carpenter office building (which now houses McDonald’s new corporate headquarters), Gensler utilized analytics and imaging software to create nearly 70 iterations of how to use the building site optimally and create a public space, before deciding on the design that was eventually chosen. The building is also now home to cutting-edge smart building technology in its lobby. Using a combination of key cards, turnstiles, and a 12-car elevator group, KONE created a more intelligent way to funnel people from the building’s entrance and to their offices.

“We wanted to see what we could do to help people get to their destination,” said Dan Brooks, KONE’s director of corporate sales.

In just about every office in America, a building’s occupants swipe their key cards to be admitted to the elevator bank, and then wait for their elevator along with a mishmash of other people destined for a variety of floors. The system KONE installed has the occupants of 110 North Carpenter equipped with smart key cards with data about their floor number. When swiping at the building’s turnstiles, users are assigned to an elevator with a group of people going to nearby floors. Brooks compared this change like moving from a bus to a taxi.

Similarly, ManufactOn and Skender are also two companies utilizing technology to change the industry. In their presentation, Tim Swanson, Skender’s chief design officer, Kevin Bredeson, Skender’s chief technology officer, and Raghi Iyengar, ManufactOn’s founder and chief executive officer, announced a formal, continuing partnership. ManufactOn is a platform that helps companies plan, track, and manage prefabricated projects. Moving forward, Skender will be using ManufactOn software to create modular construction projects. The three men see modular projects as a smarter way to build cities that is safer and uses less resources.

“About half the world’s resources we pull out of the ground we for buildings, and half the energy we use goes into buildings,” Swanson said. “Maybe there is a different way to do it. Maybe there is an alternative future, one does that doesn’t necessarily have to look like ‘Ready Player One.’”

Other panels examined the way technology is making construction sites safer places to work. Aiden Dalley, the product marketing manager of Viewpoint, David de Yarza, the CEO of Builderbox, Inc., and Daniel J. Klancnik, the director of project solutions Leopardo, detailed how interconnected technologies are making job sites safer and safer with each passing day. Using 360 cameras, job sites can be scanned and examined by superintendents for any safety issues.

“You now have the ability to make everybody on the jobsite with a cellphone a safety inspector,” De Yarza noted.

John Cahalan, the director of strategy at XOi, and Mark Schlander, vice president at GuardHat, Inc., discuss how their companies’ wearable products track workers’ locations, enable easier communications, and alert workers of dangerous conditions.

“Everyday 14 workers don’t come home from work,” Schlander said. “We make the invisible visible.”

The conference was capped off by the announcement of BuiltWorlds’ Project Technology Challenge winner, which was chosen by an experienced group of judges. Bobby Goodman, the co-founder of Truss announced Colas’ solar panel roadway as the winner of the competition. The project will line the existing surface area of roads with thin solar panels to produce more sustainable energy.

Moving forward, there is a lot to be excited about in the construction industry. If leaders keep pushing forward and striving for innovation as Conlon encouraged in the keynote, the built industry will certainly continue to become a safer, smarter place and yield amazing results.

Note: This first appeared on BuiltWorld’s website and can be viewed here.

Why Data Privacy Just Got Serious for American Websites

Posted on July 11, 2018July 24, 2018

By Bekkah Anderson, Art Unlimited.

We have seen pretty much every app developer or corporate business send us an email saying they have recently updated their privacy policy. We’ve even seen those new annoying pop-ups telling us they have cookies, but now, consumer data rules are hitting your business.

As a business owner, is data privacy something to think about?

Two months ago, many people were saying, “Naw, just change your settings to block other countries from viewing your website.” But since California rolled out their own data privacy rules on June 28th, 2018 via the California Consumer Privacy Act, this isn’t something to sneeze at. As we start to see more initiatives to protect Americans’ privacy, big data should respond accordingly.

What do I have that could be considered private information?

You might not think you have any “big data,” but if you have a list of past customers, newsletter subscribers, a mailing list, online payment options, or use Google Analytics, you technically have possession of data that has privacy rights. Some privacy rights have always been out there, but most businesses had to make the ethical choice to use the information at their discretion because enforcing compliance on every business was obnoxiously hard for anyone to do.

Caveat: Unless one of two things happened to you that got people worked up:

You had a ton of people you were contacting without permission that all decided to complain together and make a class action lawsuit against you.
You got hacked and all of your customer data was stolen

Most of the rules for the new data protection, honestly, just made good marketing sense. Such as, if you send a previous customer 27 emails in one day, you’re going to get marked as spam and email providers will block you. This also has probably happened to you if you tried to include 60 people in the same email and you accidentally locked down your email account.

What can I do to ensure I’m compliant with the 2018 California Consumer Privacy Act?

Step 1: Ensure you have an updated privacy policy that clearly lays out how you use the data such as (but not limited to):

If you do remarketing with this data
If you keep their data to contact them later with promotional content
If you sell their purchase habits to a 3rd party provider
If you record their device location
If you track their last click to leave your website
If they like your page on Facebook
If you share their contact information with any of your affiliates in order to target users better
If you collect their information to use for marketing purposes via sweepstakes, trade shows, or drawings (or any other paper form)

The list could just keep going. Anything that collects information about your users on your website should be listed in your privacy policy or anyone who has access to this information should be listed. If you do it, name it in your privacy policy. You should probably get this reviewed by your legal adviser as well to make sure it has everything.

Step 2: Clearly provide an opportunity for customers to “opt-out” of how you are using the data

Website users now have the right to request that you stop collecting their data, and you need to make sure this option is provided loud and proud.

Tip: be careful with how your program your pop-up though, especially on mobile. If all your users can see is a pop up that blocks your homepage navigation on mobile, it could affect your ranking because of a poor user experience.

Step 3: Have a process for actually following through on the users that request to be removed from your data uses.

This is where my heart hurts for business owners because this is rarely enforced well. If you say you’re going to stop talking to them after they ask you to, ACTUALLY DO IT. In the past, I just marked you as spam, but now (if I was a California resident) I could just report you to the Attorney General’s office or go after you with a personal lawyer. Have a process the thoroughly removes their information from your system and documents when the user requested to be removed.

Step 4: Don’t target people under the age of 16 unless they have specifically given you permission to or their parents have agreed to consent (if under the age of 13).

Bottom line: You have to disclose how it’s used, who has access to it, and how users can choose to not be a part of the data.

Having a data control officer who knows where the information is, where it’s going, and how it can be removed is good to have for your business. The more you know, the safer you can make your business for your customers.

What happens now if I accidentally do something I shouldn’t with customer data?

Under the new California laws, you could have to pay a civil penalty of $7,500 per incident AND pay for the cleanup/recovery of any person that had actual damages affect them OR pay out $750 a person for the violation to their privacy (whichever is a larger payout).

How long do I have before I need to make these changes?

The California Consumer Privacy Act unleashes its fangs of consequences for non-compliant business owners in 2020. You have some time to start planning your implementation strategy. Don’t get nervous, but have a clear plan of action steps to get you to where you need to be. It’s also important to keep an eye on the changes that might happen to the data rules in the months ahead. If the laws get extended to other states, there might be some new changes that make things more detailed as to certain industry or specific platform compliance.

I don’t do business in California: Do I still need to change my privacy policies?

For the present, yes and no, if you want to block your website from being searchable by any of your customers within California you could just avoid this all together….But it’s going to limit your reach, hurt your ranking ability, and if some of your customers have a beach home in California, you might be losing some of your client base because they can’t find you.

More Data Privacy Rules Are Inevitable

No matter how much money Amazon and AT&T pump into lobbyists, the passing of new laws usually has a domino effect in American legislature. If it works out nicely for California, you can expect it to either start rolling out in your state soon, or becoming a federal initiative.

We’ve already seem rumblings in Washington to push this into a federal compliance law. So, it’s always better to start being privacy complaint sooner rather than deal with the consequences of doing it later. Rushing things in the last minute to avoid penalties is never a fun spot to be in as a business. Plus, who wouldn’t want to gain a higher level of trust with customers by being respectful of their data?

Note: This article first published on Art Unlimited’s website and can be viewed here.

Photo credit: Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Tag: <span>Technology</span>

Tag: Technology