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Here’s the rundown on a coffeemaker durable enough for the jobsite; a wireless equipment monitoring device; a wrist communicator; new software releases; a 3-D printer that build houses; and new reports on productivity, KPIs and GPS monitoring.

Products

COFFEEBOXX, the world’s toughest coffeemaker

The OXX COFFEEBOXX is tough enough for a construction sites. The COFFEEBOXX uses single-serve coffee pods and works with all Keurig® K-Cup®-compatible pods. Its new companion coffee, Workhorse Coffee, is available in two blends—Dark & Bold and 2X Caffeine. A separate hot water line provides clean, hot water for noodles, tea or even a clean shave in the field.

Keytroller’s CYBERWATCH LAN Wireless Hour and Alarm Meter

Keytroller’s new CYBERWATCH LAN wireless hour and alarm meter provides monitoring on equipment such as forklifts, generators, compressors and powered vehicles, with no monthly service cost. Users can monitor usage, idling, maintenance needs and alarm warnings (such as low fuel or impacts) with optional sensors for monitoring impact, voltage, hydraulic, usage, pneumatic and temperature. The Cyberwatch LAN is embedded with its own web browser and IP address so users can view data from a tablet, cell phone or computer. The CYBERWATCH LAN is self-contained and installs on any make or model gas, LPG, diesel or electric machine.

Rufus Cuff Wrist Communicator Sends Safety Updates

Rufus Labs' industrial wearable wrist communicator, the Rufus Cuff, incorporates Bluetooth Beacon technology so it can notify construction workers of safety updates based on their location. The wrist wearable allows workers to operate hands-free. The 1175 mAh battery lasts eight to 12 hours.

SLAM Automates Surveying and Mapping Data

GeoSLAM’s Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) eliminates manual processes of surveying building structures and shares the extrapolated data as the operator of a portable SLAM device simply walks throughout the structure. The end result is that a map is created from the data. The portable SLAM-based device rapidly scans rooms and structures, does not require a GPS signal and requires one moderately trained person to use. The data are assembled into a “point cloud” rendering and are automatically shared over the cloud, making it compatible with BIM platforms for easy collaboration among teams.

Software & In the Cloud

Viewpoint Construction Software® Viewpoint Team is a next- generation collaboration platform

Viewpoint Construction Software® Viewpoint Team is a fully collaborative, cloud-based platform for project management and construction operations solutions that integrates with Vista, Viewpoint’s core ERP product, and is browser- and mobile-friendly. The first application to launch in Viewpoint Team is Submittals, which streamlines the complex submittal process, ensuring all stakeholders can review, comment and approve documents in real time. Additional project management capabilities and increasing integration across all Viewpoint products will follow to give project managers end-to-end process control and visibility, all within the Viewpoint Team environment.

C/F Data Systems Releases New Version of Construction Accounting Software

C/F Data Systems released its latest version of STRUCTURE Blue, which helps contractors manage all aspects of their projects, execute all accounting operations and streamline processes. New features include Document Management so contractors can attach all types of documents to the many file locations and integrated mobile applications that allow contractors to handle time collection, mobile work orders and change requests in the field.

Video & Cool Stuff

Construction Technology and Automation Startup Uses 3-D Printers to Build Houses

Entrepreneurs Chris Kelsey and Fernando De Los Rios have launched Cazza, a construction technology and automation company. Cazza's team of engineers is developing automated machines and construction mixes that increase construction speed while reducing labor and material costs. Cazza's technologies can build concrete, earthquake-proof homes within 24 hours by using proprietary software that integrates design with automated portable 3-D printing machines. According to Cazza, the technology can save up to 90 percent on labor costs and can reduce materials costs by more than 50 percent. Cazza aims to design and build 3-D printed smart cities across the globe.

Why U.S. Construction Productivity is Lower than in 1997

Stevens-Day Construction Institute’s white paper, U.S. Construction Productivity is Lower than in 1997: Why?, explains why productivity has declined despite advances in professionalism, methods, technology and training. According to authors Matt Stevens and Jennifer Day, after the 2008-2009 financial crisis, companies eliminated marginal employees and cross-trained core employees, then carefully rebuilt themselves with the lessons from that period. Surprisingly, except for a brief upsurge in 2009-2010, possibly attributable to drastic cuts in headcount and significant government stimulus outlays, productivity has trended lower, currently measured to be below that of 1997.

SMPS Foundation Releases Report on Hit-Rate and KPIs Research in AEC Industries

The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Foundation report, Measuring for Success: A Look at Hit Rates & Other KPIs in the A/E/C Industries, examines the tools and processes AEC companies use to track their success with winning projects. SMPS members can download the report for free; nonmembers pay a small fee to download. The SMPS Foundation partnered with the Master of Marketing Research program at Southern Illinois University to understand more thoroughly how AEC firms measure the success of sales and marketing efforts.

Study Finds Employees Have Positive Views on GPS

T Sheets conducted research into GPS tracking, asking 1,000 employees from a cross-section of industries what they think about GPS tracking at work. "THE SURPRISING TRUTH: What Employees Think of GPS Tracking in the Workplace" found that the more people actually used GPS tracking, the more they liked it.