The final frontier
Technology takes construction
into new dimensions
By Jeremy
Harrell
Daily Reporter Staff
Computer
technology leads advances in every field from farming and factory
work to aviation and space travel, and the construction industry
is no exception.
Where the
advancements take place in the construction industry, however,
varies from company to company. An engineering firm in Brookfield,
for example, has spun off a technology development arm to lure
business through high-end graphics used in presentations, marketing
and increasing contractor understanding of the job at hand.
Some businesses
have fully integrated computer systems allowing its workers and
owners to track a project from beginning to completion over the
Internet using laptop computers and hand-held devices. Other companies
are still figuring out the intricacies of voice mail.
In a plodding
economic climate, and with the winter slowdown here, firms might
be tempted to set aside plans for technological investment. But
that might not be the best idea, said Larry Vandenberg, chief
information officer with IQTech, a Waupun-based business that
helps construction corporations with their computer systems.
"We're
seeing some companies use the down time to focus on how to communicate
more effectively," he said. "They can take this time
to reflect on what they need and look at drafting three- to five-year
plans for computer systems."
Following
are a handful of ways that construction firms have harnessed the
power of computing to make their business better, and a glimpse
of where the push for higher technology originates.
What a
view
For the last
three years, technicians with R.A. Smith & Associates Inc.,
a Brookfield engineering company, have translated two-dimensional,
computer-aided designs into animated 3-D renderings of projects.
"A lot
of companies have the technology to capture a still image, but
we produce movies of what a project looks like," said Jon
Chapman, 3DV division manager for National Survey & Engineering,
a division of R.A. Smith.
The technicians
first take an architect's blueprints and elevation drawings, then
combine the specifications with the landscape plan to create CAD
models for the job. Chapman and his colleagues then add finishing
touches, such as textural accents for sidewalks, bricks and trees.
Importing
the CAD designs into a program called 3D Studio VIZ, a program
first used by moviemakers in Hollywood, National Survey &
Engineering staff can then assign camera positions to take shots
of the project from any angle.
What's more,
the designers can program in a roving camera that could, say,
simulate the view of a driver pulling up to an apartment building
and parking in front of it, all the while looking right and left
during the drive in, Chapman said.
"We're
not limited by the laws of gravity by any stretch of the imagination,"
he said. "We've done flybys and drive-throughs for projects."
The technology
serves a variety of functions, Chapman said. The company has used
an animated rendering to show government committees what a new
facility will look like, allowing the decision-makers to avoid
preliminary pitfalls that can bog down a building job.
"One
of the issues I hear from owner/developer clients is that the
approval process can be slow," Chapman said. "A project
may be clear to the architect, but not to the planning commissioner
who works during the day as a dentist."
The animated
3-D renderings also have been good marketing tools. If a developer
wants to court investors or if a university wants alumni support
for a new building, having a fully realized picture of the project
could be the winning touch, Chapman said.
Planning
ahead
The Associated
General Contractors of Wisconsin and the AGC of Greater Milwaukee
recently debuted the state's first Internet plan room, a product
designed to ease the takeoff and bidding process for construction
jobs.
With this
program, called iSqFt, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers
can view plans and specifications at any time and from any location.
Users can also search, print and order plans, and the drawings
and specifications can be shipped to any location or printed on
site with a standard plotter.
The prime
benefit of all this technology, proponents said, is more timely
and effective project communication, allowing contractors greater
ability to deliver projects on schedule and at the highest quality.
Using an online
plan room can also reduce the volumes of paper that accompany
most construction projects. Cutting back on paperwork can not
only save time but minimize the risk of losing important documents
in fires or natural disasters, said Tom Sweeney, director of Information
Services at J.H. Findorff & Son Inc., Madison, and chairman
of AGC's Computer Information Services Committee.
With the increased
reliance on a paperless office, however, comes an awareness of
computer security programs and other measures that preserve accounting
systems, contracts, insurance policies, employee records and other
key documents, he said.
"Virus
protection and data security will become increasingly important
issues," Sweeney said.
Owner involvement
In many cases,
owners, more than contractors, will drive the need for construction
companies to become more computer proficient. Some construction
companies have shaped their Web sites to not only draw potential
customers in but also as a way to keep owners abreast of a project's
latest development.
Engineered
Construction Inc., a general contractor in Verona, has a portal
on its Web site geared to owners, allowing them to check in on
a project's progress, said William J. Jackson, the company's marketing
director.
A password-protected
owner page contains a description of the job, weekly comments
from the supervisor, a photograph showing the job's weekly advancement
and a bar graph showing the subcontractors' schedule.
"Out-of-state
clients can see a weekly update," Jackson said. "They
can see where they are, schedule-wise, and it's real user friendly.
This business is all about communication, and this is another
tool."
Like any major
change, getting used to advances the technology represents will
take time. Though computers can make everything run smoothly,
humans still enter the equation, forcing some companies to look
in new directions for employees.
"There
will likely be a need for more (information services) people in
construction," Findorff's Sweeney said. "Specifically,
finding IS professionals with a background in construction will
be especially important."
Freelance
writer Cherie Hendrickson contributed to this article.
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