Fall 2017 issue of Horizons

3-D Modeling Another recent innovation that some

Change orders can be generated by the team onsite, then reviewed and approved by management more efficiently. With this enhanced wireless capability, project managers and superintendents are able to utilize tablet devices to their full potential, submitting data such as receipts for small purchases and information about progress on the job, in real-time. For outdoor jobs, project managers and foremen are able to track weather forecasts to ensure that crews do not have potentially unsafe situations due to incoming storms. Certain applications will allow project managers to track employee timecards, which provides the dual benefits of maintaining timecards in the same place (for data storage purposes) and being able to submit timecards electronically (permitting transfer to payroll). Regardless of the specific tasks it’s used for, WiFi on job sites has helped construction companies communicate more easily and efficiently. Drones In addition to WiFi capabilities, another more popular innovation to recently take flight at construction sites is the unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone. It’s not difficult to imagine why they have become frequent sights on construction jobs. Drones allow the operator to traverse large job sites quickly to survey the status of the job, saving time previously spent walking from end to end. Drones can provide a new aerial perspective on the job site, permitting the user to identify potential hazards or design flaws that may not be evident from the ground level. Drones can also assist in performing tasks, such as inspections at high elevations or in tight quarters, that would have otherwise presented a safety risk. Lastly, drones grant the user a means of surveillance to both watch for uninvited guests to the job site and to monitor workers, if necessary. Drones have aided companies by making job sites safer and more accessible for employees.

companies utilize is 3-D modeling. In the near future, physical blueprints of building designs may become obsolete, as 3-D modeling software becomes more sophisticated and cost effective. Used in conjunction with tablet devices, 3-D modeling software allows companies to make changes more efficiently to project designs. When taking other available data into consideration (such as financial information about the project or local ordinances), the software will also allow the user to quickly determine whether or not a projected design change would fit within the budget or would even be permitted under local code, further saving the company valuable time and resources. Smart Clothing While these existing technological advances have already helped construction companies in numerous ways, the future of technology promises even further gains in efficiency and employee safety. Some of these advances, such as smart clothing, are already in their infancy stage and being used in other industries. Professional (and even some amateur) athletes are already wearing smart clothing on a daily basis. Small sensors located within shirts, shoes, or other active wear are able to track the sensory data of the athlete and compile the data for an interested coach or for the athletes themselves. This data helps to detect and notify the user when the athlete is experiencing excess fatigue or other unsafe health conditions, such as an elevated heart rate or blood pressure. Construction companies making use of this technology would therefore be able to tell if an employee is unable to safely continue work tasks. One company within the industry is even designing a smart safety vest with built-in lights that will activate when the site gets too dark and an ‘airbag collar’ that will deploy if the wearer falls from an excessive height.

Fall 2017

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