David Odeh gives his talk, “Innovative Technology for a Changing Market.”
by Sara Mannes
The start of the decade provides an opportunity to both take a step back and evaluate the past 10 years’ innovation, and to look forward and envision how present-day changes are propelling us into a new era of “smart building.”
This past November, the Archimedia Solutions Group, the parent group of Makepeace and Imtek, hosted its first Technology Forum: Innovation’s Impact on the Building Industry, an event featuring speakers and discussion panels sharing how technologies like laser scanning, BIM, VR, and AI impact the industry. The event’s speakers and panel demonstrated how firms have and continue to utilize disruptive innovation to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving field.
VR
Odeh Engineers principal, David J. Odeh, opened the forum discussing how technology provides an opportunity for collaboration between engineers and architects, and how it can serve as a visualization aid to deliver real-time renderings to key stakeholders and constituents. The firm is currently constructing an “immersion room” in its new office, featuring a VR den designed to facilitate collaboration among project team members, slated to open spring of 2020.
3D Laser Scanning
3D scanning and software equipment facilitates project team communication and conflict prevention to improve workflow as the AEC industry continues to embrace technological advancements. The SYNNEX Corporation’s Keith Cox and Leica Geosystem’s Manny Lujan demonstrated the Leica 3D scanner’s portability and reality capture technology by documenting the event space in real-time.
Leica’s 3D scanning technology provides precision measurements and documentation, notably improving inspection and quality assurance efforts for as-built, verification, and close-out. Makepeace allows businesses to both rent and purchase Leica 3D scanning and software equipment in addition to providing on-site technician services for firms without the time or personnel to scan themselves.
View from the event venue as Odeh speaks
A display featuring Leica’s portable 3D laser scanning technology
AI
Smartvid.io’s John MacVarish delivered a talk outlining the analytical learning applications within the design/build industry. Among AI’s many capabilities, image recognition and deep learning impact the future of the “smart jobsite.” On-the-job AI tech identifies people and mobile equipment and can be applied to project dashboards, contributing to predictive risk management efforts and improving jobsite safety and efficiency.
AI relies on continued data collection and information gathering. Smartvid.io embraces and improves predictive-based safety AI capabilities within the AEC industry with the Predictive Analytics Strategic Council, formed in partnership with AEC firms committed to sharing data to help advance predictive risk efforts in the industry.
BIM
The event’s discussion panel featured a number of virtual design and construction professionals. They also provided a brief overview of the ongoing training and staff development both internally and to subcontractors that accompany the adoption of new tech. As BIM becomes standard practice on projects of varying scales, individuals working on all levels of a given project must be able to effectively understand the technology.
Although BIM has been around for some time, the technology’s diverse uses have transformed the industry’s collaborative nature, allowing project team members to stay up-to-date throughout the entire project lifecycle in a way that physical technical drawings cannot. BIM serves as an essential component of the future of smart building technology, providing competitive advantages to firms who adopt it with increased project acquisition, improved budget, project management, and increased safety.
Sara Mannes is the digital media manager at High-Profile Monthly.
