“Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic.” Arthur C. Clarke said.
Today we’re seeing a lot of advancements when it comes to adopting new technologies onsite and many companies are moving towards running fully paperless jobsites. However, while some leaders are adapting quickly, others are finding it more difficult to make the jump. The threat of this growing technological gap makes right now a more important time than ever for construction professionals to adapt emerging trends in technology and form ideas.
Advanced technology is helping to improve a number of different industries today and the construction industry is no exception. When equipped with the right technology, construction companies across the globe are able to work safely and more efficiently.
With better-built technology in mind, here are a number of tech apps that are changing the construction landscape for the better:
Construction Manager:
There are half a million estimated people using this app, meaning that this many construction professionals can’t be wrong. The app allows the transfer of maintenance logs, daily reports, project estimates and time sheets between company headquarters and construction sites. It also gives salespeople and estimators the ability to create on-site estimates for construction and repair projects. The app is available on the Play store.
Fall Safety App:
The app is designed for people who work in high places and adds fall detection to their iPhones. It detects falls while running in the background by using the iPhone’s built-in accelerometer. If the app detects a fall, an audible alarm sounds for 30 seconds and then alerts your emergency contacts by email, text and voice message.
Fieldwire:
This is a planning app that makes it easy for foremen, project managers and superintendents to collaborate while they are in the field. The organizational app lets crews look at the latest set of plans and share critical information such as photos and punch lists. The app is available for Apple phones and tablets.
Autodesk BIM 360:
Autodesk’s BIM 360 Docs is so new, it was launched in March this year. You can use it to keep your project team on the latest documents, plans and models. It includes unlimited users and unlimited documents — all for free. The cloud-based document-management software integrates with mobile apps for easy document handling, whether you’re in the office or on the job site. The app is available for Apple phones and tablets.
PlanGrid:
It has made the top apps list every year — and for good reason. It’s still one of the best mobile apps around, letting contractors and architects collaborate on all their project plans, specs and photos, as well as track revisions, document progress, and manage problems in the field while keeping the team in the loop.
Viewpoint For Mobile:
Viewpoint Construction Software, of Portland, Ore., recently released its Viewpoint For Mobile, formally Mobile Field Manager. The Grid Time Entry lets users track time and productivity in a grid, which has the feel of a spreadsheet. Also, users can take and organize job-site progress photos that are tagged automatically with a date, location and job code. The app is available on the Google Play store and iTunes.
Harmon.ie:
It may sound like a dating app, but it’s built for the construction industry. Harmon.ie gives workers access to documents, emails and collaboration capabilities. Can’t find a WiFi connection? No problem. With Harmon.ie, you can access your documents remotely, even when there is no connection.