TECHNOLOGY TRENDS Tirdly, digital offsite prefabri- 3D printing
Plan versioning software can help that, inexpensively. Certainly the biggest area for
improvement is simply investment – actually investing in more technology, investing in process improvements, investing in mobility solutions and bringing more technology on board.
greatest impact to the construction jobsite or office over the next decade or so, to improve efficiency and productivity?
Q A
Really the top 3 would be field solutions, safety solutions, and then prefabri-
cation solutions. First let’s take field mobility
solutions, or digital plan solutions. Tat means taking all of the processes that occur in the field on paper and excel sheets, converting them into real time digital mobile workflow. Tat keeps the field connected in real time. Ten there is technology related to
safety solutions. Of course morally and ethically contractors are obligated to keep people safe – but safety mistakes also cost so much money. Tere are some fantastic safety solutions that help identify potential safety predictors, to help stem off a safety event before it happens.
What do you see as the
top 3-4 leading technology trends that will offer the
cation is a big trend, where you design something in 3D and produce it in an offsite fabrication shop instead of producing it in the field. Tat means you have to have a highly accurate 3D model of what you’re building. Fabri- cating in a shop is a much safer place than onsite. We’ve talked to countless mechanical contractors, and the ones that moved to fabrication make more money and have fewer safety events. But it requires a lot of technology. Prefabrication requires BIM, it requires layout software, robotic stations, and preferably 3D scanners as well. Tere’s a lot of technology that goes into making that work. A fourth major trend would be a
much better estimating process. Tat’s where some of our software comes in, like SmartBid (
SmartBid.co). We’re helping people use technology to connect with a lot more companies
There are some fantastic safety solutions that help identify potential safety predictors, to help stem off a safety event before it happens.
in a secure, private way to collect numbers and estimate better and faster. Good estimating and preconstruction software that is going to allow you to produce really accurate estimates and bids is important. We’ve been working on this for 10
years. We’ve had to break down a lot of walls, explaining why this is better than Excel and FTP sites, or why it’s better than email and Dropbox; why integrating your prequalification process with bidding and entering that with sub compliance leads to lower risk on the jobsite, and to a better chance
of success and a more financially viable project.
2016 annual construction industry technology survey, which will release this fall. Are there any areas in particular that you’re especially looking to see changes from previous years’ surveys?
Q
traveling around the country speaking to construction industry groups, encouraging them to take both spending on technology and spending on staffing technology seriously. Last year, 42 percent of our respondents said they don’t even have a single IT person at their company. It’s hard to take technology seriously if don’t have a single worker. Tat’s a huge challenge.
A
the industry, and what can be done to mitigate them?
who said he relishes the strain, anxiety and struggle of construction. Te thought of changing that process is uncomfortable. Another contractor I was talking with called everything that every technology company does for construction companies “micromanagement.” But there is real money at stake
Q A
here. Tere’s one GC I know who, just by tracking worker movement on a jobsite every day and optimizing the layout of the jobsite (using software tools), was able to save half a million
Attitude towards change is number one. I had dinner recently with a contractor
What are the major
challenges or barriers to new technology adoption in
We’re really eager to see where spending is this year. I’ve spent the last decade
JBKnowledge is currently in the midst of compiling the results from your
www.AGC-CA.org
Associated General Contractors of California 13
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