TechBrief

On this episode of ConstructorCast, we feature three AGC companies that are pioneering tech solutions to challenges faced daily by the industry. As a result, they were named the 2020 winners of the AGC Construction Innovation Award. Listen and be inspired by their creations: Anne Brown -- “CopperWorks” by Christman Constructors Inc; Eric Cylwik -- “Slab Former” by Sundt; and Susan Heinking -- “Net Zero Trailer” by Pepper Construction.

Alabama Associated General Contractors, Alabama AGC, is helping pave the way for the construction industry’s future. In 2019, Alabama AGC held a significant role in launching the Hoover city school system’s Skills Trade Academy at the Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3), a program designed to advance youth education and fill worker shortages in the construction industry. Alabama AGC worked with the Hoover School System for over two years to start the skills trade program.

Consumerism and technology drive healthcare design and construction as facilities become less sterile and more resort-like
Earlier this year, results of a hospital market survey conducted by AGC of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate — a market leader in end-to-end construction and property management software — indicated that this market segment would expand in 2020.

In a recent report from the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, digitalization is described as a source of disruption in construction and a key to the industry improving productivity and profitability for the long term. Visit any job site today and that trend is obvious, as technologies such as 3D modeling, digital design mark-up and the shift from paper to electronic files are improving collaboration, communication and record keeping processes. These innovations are streamlining many phases of construction work, from design to fabrication and construction to project closeout.

One of AGC of America’s key focus areas for the foreseeable future is its Future Focus initiative. This initiative is premised on the fact that the commercial construction industry is on the brink of some very profound changes. The point is to track those changes and develop programming and educational materials to help member firms profit from them.

Looking for opportunities to reach 30,000+ construction professionals? Consider advertising in our upcoming Constructor Future Focus, a special annual edition specifically dedicated to technology and the future of construction, a theme that is proving more pertinent with each passing day. For more information on Future Focus, please contact Chis Zabel, publication director, at czabel@naylor.com.

September 9, 2020
2 – 3 p.m.
The construction industry is evolving and expanding its use of technology to adapt to COVID-19. The Beck Group and Linbeck are keeping projects running smoothly and safely for clients by repurposing tech tools such as drones and 360-cameras with live streaming software in affordable and accessible ways to promote a contactless experience on its jobsites. The Beck Group and Linbeck will demonstrate live how they are using drones and 360 degree cameras to bridge the current remote and social distance gap created by COVID. You’ll be able to experience firsthand how to use these tools in a slightly different way than the norm and how they can be even more beneficial in today’s construction environment.

Tracking drawing changes, RFI submittals and responses, and the thousands of other types of design/build documents that go into a modern construction project can be an administrative nightmare. The solution isn’t always a massive, and expensive, construction management system. Sometimes, the answer is just understanding how you can use the Cloud to host and give access to all your files from one location. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone working the project could access the current version of all files at any time, from anywhere? That’s easier than you think, using cloud-based sharing and file markup tools. This presentation by ZenTek Consultants will focus on how construction firms can share construction documents, RFI/RFP, etc. in the cloud for all project stakeholders to access. We will use Bluebeam Revu as an example system to show you how simple this process can be.