November - 2020CONSTRUCTIONTECHREVIEW.COM9COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, but the visibility and accountability required by owners and project teams have notturnaround time and cost, they quickly became of limited use for real-time coordination and communication. Without near real-time and measurable visual walkthroughs, it was almost impossible to verify progress, review payment applications and lower project risk.Reality Mapping is necessary to improve project monitoringNew solutions are now available to automatically transform photos, videos from cell phones, drones, 360-degree cameras into measurable, street-view walkthroughs which can be compared against drawings. Our firm, Serra Ventures, has recently built a building. So, we put this new technology to the test. Before weekly coordination meetings, our builder would do a drone capture outdoors. On a daily basis, they would do a walkthrough with a 360-degree camera mounted on a hardhat. When necessary, they would also take pictures with cell phones. The photos and videos from drones, 360-degree cameras and cell phones were automatically mapped to project plans, indoors and outdoors. We were able to review these photos and videos per work area, measure various assets and their conditions, and put them in the context of the project schedule - all within the same online environments. With COVID-19, reality mapping is a game-changer solution. I would like to highlight five specific benefits:1. Travel costs: Travel costs can be measured in time and money. Prior to the pandemic, I spoke with owner reps that had to travel to multiple sites per week. Aside from the travel costs, most of their week was consumed by travel. Remote monitoring solutions were an attractive solution then, and now are imperative.2. Better collaboration and communication: The near real-time visual documentation with measurement capability and the flexibility to use all types of photos and videos during makes coordination meetings more efficient. Issues are addressed right away by having measurable images and the ability to compare them against design and project schedules. The result is saving thousands of dollars in rework and change orders.3. Historical Record: Some solutions offer a complete historical record of the construction projects. The measurable as-built records help maintenance and operation teams understand what asset is where, and what systems are behind closed drywalls.4. Time-saving for builders: Taking videos with a hardhat-mounted 360-degree camera has freed up the time builders spend on taking pictures. Documentation tasks are more efficient, allowing them to focus on their construction tasks. Builders also use these measurable photos with their teams and sub-contractors to accurately and efficiently coordinate construction tasks.5. Payment application review: Measurable photo documentation offers builders with backup evidence of the completed work. These visuals streamline payment application reviews and expedite the payments to builders.COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, but the visibility and accountability required by owners and project teams have not. They still must answer the critical questions like - is the project on time, was the work been done right and what future work is at risk? Remote construction monitoring solutions enable construction leaders to answer these questions in real-time without having to be at the site. I believe as the industry adopts this new technology the benefits will be clear and remote construction monitoring will be here to stay.
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