Mobile technology and software make construction job sites more efficient

Just a few years ago, if an electrician or a contractor wanted to make a change while on a job site, they would have to stop work, find the most up-to-date blueprint in a mountain of papers or the latest schematic in a stack of binders, physically mark the change, then walk the updated plan to management — where once it was approved, the whole process would run in reverse.

Now, thanks to tablets, cloud computing, and software such as PlanGrid, Bluebeam Revu and Procore, an electrician can pull up the latest schematic, mark the change, email the management team, get approval within minutes, and distribute the updated plans to all the field leads.

“PlanGrid holds all the blueprints, drawings, diagrams, submittals, legal documents. Every piece of paper that normally would have to be printed and stored is now on our tablet,” said Dolores Doyle, field leader with OEG, a NECA/IBEW Local 48 member. “Now, not only can people in the field make adjustments and make a request without interrupting the ongoing work, but the management team can put in changes and have it go to all the general foreman and field leaders at the same time.”

PlanGrid is still relatively new, and was quick to become popular in the Silicon Valley when it hit the market in 2012. OEG has been using PlanGrid for two years.

“I believe we’re currently one of the biggest users of PlanGrid in the state,” said Josh Currie, superintendent with OEG. “We’ve used it for large projects, like the Hyatt near the Convention Center and the new OHSU expansions. It is also useful for smaller projects as well, since it holds all the documents and streamlines the entire process.”

“From the field experience, using the software has been very positive,” said Doyle. “Using the software with our tablets, we now have the ability to communicate up and down the crew, and we can take our plans right to the area we are working in and check it, ask questions in real time and get answers more quickly and in a much more efficient manner.”

“These cloud-based programs are really changing the game for not only the electrical industry but for the whole building and construction field,” said Gary Young, IBEW Local 48 business manager. “Our members have embraced this new technology in an effort to give the customer the very best and bring the job in on time and under budget.”

“Using a platform such as PlanGrid means a jobsite runs more efficiently, saving time and money on a project, which means NECA/IBEW Local 48 members can pass those savings on to our clients,” said Tim Gauthier, executive manager of the Oregon-Columbia NECA chapter.

As technology continues to advance and become more accessible, NECA/IBEW Local 48 members will continue to be leaders in incorporating new technologies into the industry to make job sites more efficient, reliable, and safe.

Full Article: https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2018/11/01/mobile-technology-and-software-make-construction.html