Photos are a great yardstick of progress. A series of photos converted into a time-lapse video is even better.
Many contractors and construction companies use mounted cameras that can take photos and document progress or problems at jobsites. This allows superintendents or project managers to monitor the process from afar, if necessary, and the cameras can also be a useful tool in litigation or recording safety lapses. However, these images and time-lapse videos are invaluable for telling the story of a project or company.
Selling points
If a municipality is building a library, for instance, but is still seeking private-sector funding to expand the scope of the project, live photos from the site or a time-lapse video can be used to solicit donations. It’s hard to ignore such obvious progress. The best construction cameras enable users to share the photos or time-lapses to a website or social media platform. City leaders like to gauge progress and make sure metrics and timelines are being met, so construction cameras can provide proof that progress is being made. If a project is significantly delayed by weather, city officials and others can see obvious proof through time-lapse photography that might capture snowstorms, thunderstorms or persistent rainy weather. And in the event of a change order, contractors can use the photos or video to illustrate exactly how the cost center went south. See that bedrock? It had to be blasted. See those utility lines? They needed to be rerouted. See that crane collapse? It occurred, as documented, because outriggers weren’t used properly.
Marketing gold
Construction camera footage can also be used as a marketing tool, for either the contractor or the client. Photos or videos can easily be loaded onto a company’s website or Facebook page. This presents a high-tech front that will grab the attention of those who may want to hire the contractor whose work is being captured on a camera. And if it’s something like a convention center, it’s a way to attract attention to the facility early and often. Hosting conventions is a cut-throat competition among cities, and any advance leverage helps.
Exposure at the site and beyond
Also, from a marketing perspective, contractors and builders can display time-lapse video of their projects at trade shows or at other events (in addition to placement on their websites and social media platforms) to initiate conversation and explain how the project came to fruition. News media websites are also prime marketing real estate, and any videos, photo galleries or live feeds are coveted by media sites in these digital days. Audiences can also share the video or photos, giving both the building owner and contractor even more exposure. This can result in generally unexpected dividends, such as footage of an office building prompting an inquiry into leasing space when the building is complete.
People want to know
Construction camera footage is also a good way to satisfy citizen curiosity, especially if the building is going up in a high-profile area or will alter a skyline or cityscape. People always like to know what is being built in their city, and if their online searches reveal a live camera or time-lapse with a project description, it’s even more exposure for the owner and the builder. What’s the best measurement of success for a construction camera? When contractors use them on future projects.
The marketing opportunities afforded by these devices are endless, and the reason boils down to this: People are largely visual creatures, and the best way to gauge progress is through photos.
