The Construction Technology Handbook. Hugh Seaton
format. It will give you the resources you need to have conversations on the jobsite about technology.
This book will empower you to innovate and change the way things are done. In order to succeed we must all have a voice and we must all pitch in.
If we do not keep up, we will be left behind.
–Mike Zivanovic
Preface
This book was written to bridge a gap between the technology world and the construction industry. It provides a collection of definitions, explanations, and discussions about everything from what technology is, to how it works, to how to innovate.
Technology is just another set of tools, and these are supposed to be easier to use than older tools. Some are not, but most are trying to become easy, fast, and useful. By understanding the terms and some of the concepts, you will find new technologies easier to try out and master.
Most of all, I want to dispel the myth that somehow technology is “different” from the work that goes on in construction. Everyone uses technology every day. Digital technology takes a little translation, and a little getting used to, but it is not even close to the hardest thing a pipefitter, mechanical contractor, surveyor, or any one of the seasoned professionals onsite or in the office need to know to pull modern buildings out of the ground.
Human intelligence, problem‐solving ability, and general common sense are irreplaceable. No software, robot, or artificial intelligence that we can build or even conceive of can do what construction professionals do every day.
Reading this book will add to your toolkit, so you can go out and build the world faster, safer, and, hopefully, a little better.
In addition, because any book will get outdated almost immediately, I will be producing a quarterly round up of construction technology, The Construction Technology Quarterly. It will comprise a free, downloadable report, and a free presentation webinar. You can learn more at https://www.constructiontechnologyquarterly.com/
Hugh Seaton
New York, NY
June 2020
Acknowledgments
I set out to write a book that would be useful to real people, so I asked as many people as I could find. The construction industry is full of down‐to‐earth, smart people who like the idea of sharing their thinking and in the process, molding mine. It is a bigger list than most books, and my debt to the industry is greater than most authors. I am humbled by your insights, and honored to have heard you.
Paul Doherty introduced me to BIM in 2010 and has been a friend and mentor ever since. Damon Hernandez introduced me to Silicon Valley, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and showed me how to run a hackathon – his friendship has been a defining influence for almost a decade. Cody Nowak, also of hackathon fame, took to my writing of this book like a true friend and introduced me to dozens of his colleagues. Mike Zivanovic has been a guide to the trades and the ultimate gut‐check.
These four were instrumental to the success of this book – thank you guys.
Thanks to Al Vaquez, I really understand what a world‐class software engineer can do, and thanks to the Glimpse Group, I've seen what a committed, smart group of technologists can do. Thank you especially to Lyron Bentovim, Maydan Rothblum, and Saul Pena.
To Sasha Reed and Jessie Davidson of Procore.org, thank you for the opportunity to create the “Data in Construction” courses, and for putting up with me while I finished the book.
I was lucky enough to interview dozens of people for this book, all of whom contributed to my understanding, all of whom tried their best to keep me out of trouble. I'm honored all of you would spend the time to share your wisdom. Thank you to:
Aarni Heiskanen of AEC-Business.com, for telling me about construction technology in Europe
Abhya Sinha of DPR, for telling me about data and VDC
Alex Brown of Openspace.ai, for a great intro to capturing jobsite progress
Amy Marks of Autodesk, for schooling me on Industrialized Construction
Andy Huh of Fentrend and SCS‐NY, for insights on startups in construction
Atul Khanzode of DPR, for breakthrough thinking and enduring a “fan‐boy” interview
Barry LePatner, founder of LePatner & Associates, for clarifying the muddy waters of construction contracts
Blake Berg, chapter lead of the SCS‐NY, for insight into tech in the field
Brek Goin of Hammr, for insight into the trades
Cherise Lakeside of CSI, for amazing insight into the demographics of the industry
Chris Tisdel of Ruckus Consulting, for telling me about technology in construction
CJ Best of McKinstry, for some great cases of data and technology in the trades
Dan Bulley of the MCA Chicago, for amazing perspective
Dan Nash of Kiewit, for sharing perspective on innovation at GCs
Danielle Dy Buncio of ViaTechnik, for perspectives on technology in this complex industry
Darren Young of Hermanson, for perspectives of a construction technologist
David de Yarza of BuilderBox, for entertaining perspectives on contracts and innovation in construction
Don Metcalf of Nemmer Electric, for a real‐world view of prefab and offsite construction
Doug Chambers of Fieldlens and WeWork, for support and perspective on startups in construction
Hamzah Shanbari of The Haskell Company, for insight into how they do innovation
Harry Handorf of Holobuilder, for explaining the future of construction site imaging
Heather Wilshart‐Smith of Jacobs, for insights into data in construction
Jake Olsen of Dado, for amazing perspective on how to create technology people actually need
James Benham of JBKnowledge, for great perspectives and putting in the years to tranform the industry
Jamie Frankel of Schiff Hardin, for guidance as I researched the book
Jeff Sample of eSub, for perspectives on selling and supporting software in construction
Jesse Devitte of Borealis and Building Ventures, for a revealing look at the past and present of construction technology startups
Jonathan Marsh of Steeltoe Consulting, for a brass‐tacks look at technology in the mechanical trades
Josh Bone of NECA, for being the coolest guy in construction, and generously sharing his time for my various projects
Karl Sorenson of Blue Collar Capital Partners, for early encouragement and great perspectives
Kaustubh Pandya of Brick & Mortar, for bringing high‐level VC perspectives
Kean Walmsley of Autodesk, for the future of design perspective
Ken Schneider of the United Association, for support and perspective
Ken Simonson of the Association of General Contractors, for an economist's perspective
KP Reddy of Shadow Ventures, for perspectives on startups
Kris Lengieza of Procore, for some great cases of data and technology in construction
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