Paul Doherty First ever AEC Hackathon. Related Links: AEC Hackathon Hackathons have long been staple events in the Technology Industry since the late 1990’s. A Hackathon is an intensive event that brings together computer programmers like software developers, graphic designers and user interface specialists along with industry process experts and professionals to identify issues and create software solutions, usually within a weekend.The first meaningful Hackathon took place in 1999 at Sun Microsystem’s JavaOne Conference, where Sun challenged the attendees to develop Java for the new 3Com Palm 5 mobile device. The event was a wild success. Our design and construction
Courtesy of InfoSense SL-RAT sends sound waves through pipes to find blockages. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, N.C., Utilities Division (CMUD) uses CCTV cameras to inspect its underground sanitary sewer pipes for blockages and interferences, but a new device that sends acoustical waves through sewer pipes is giving the utility a more accurate view.“Often, the [CCTV] images were so dark and murky or the system would get hung up, and we couldn’t get a clear picture,” says John Fishburne, senior engineer in CMUD’s field operations division. “We wound up cleaning pipes that, in many cases, didn’t need it.”In 2005, CMUD commissioned Ivan
Some contractors believe the primary purpose of a Project Engineer is to digest information flooding onto a project and divert it to the proper channels—a seemingly indispensable role. But what if technology comes to work so well that the information routing is automatic and the inefficiencies we now battle in our workflows disappear? Will Project Engineers disappear too?I don’t really think so: I have no doubt Project Engineers are here to stay. But I do believe their roles will shift in response to the paperless jobsite movement, if that movement can overcome its own hurdles of inefficiency that currently exist.
Related Links: GitHub Browser-Based Version of Build-A-Bolt The American Institute of Steel Construction is offering cash prizes for developers who create apps that it deems useful to the steel design and construction industry.Also, the AISC just released an app of its own to help workers, for any given job, select the correct bolt, washer and nut combination of the right material, steel grade, finish and manufacturer."There are only a handful of steel apps currently available," says Erin Criste, an AISC staff engineer. "So the AISC saw a need for more apps to assist with the design, construction, fabrication and erection
Courtesy Bentley Systems Bentley's Map Mobile displays geospatial data, such as fire hydrants and underwater pipes, overlayed on a map. Related Links: Bentley Picks Up Ivaras Asset Performance Management Tools Bentley's Developer Network Bentley's Map Mobile in Google Play When Thomas Kaufmann, an engineering-plans design supervisor at the Philadelphia Dept. of Water, sends engineers out to the field to look for underground water pipes, he says they typically have to take more than 120 maps in the truck to help track down the pipes. Once at the location in question, the engineers must rifle through countless paper maps to locate
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows an increase in the rate of IT job creation, with 88,900 IT jobs added in the last 12 months, but analysis of a mid-year IT salary survey by an consulting firm that tracks issues for CIOs and CFOs, shows that hiring is not really robust, and IT salaries remain flat. “Based on our interviews with over 96 CIOs in the last 30 days, we concluded that CIOs are not in a great hurry to hire new staff except to meet short term needs until they see a clear trend as to what is
Image Courtesy of PCI Geomatics The visual search function of Geomatica Discover eases management of geospatial data. Related Links: Geomatica Discover A new browser-based, stand-alone software released in late June searches local, system and removable drives to discover and index the geospatial data of more than 100 formats. It creates a graphical geospatial data catalogue from vector and image files."When I started in this industry, you were lucky to fit two satellite images on your hard drive," says David Stanley, chief technology officer at PCI Geomatics, the Ontario, Canada-based photogrammetric software development company that released Geomatica Discover. "Now, people pass
By Luke Abaffy New app allows remote access to smart devices. Related Links: LogMeIn Rescue LogMeIn Rescue for Android LogMeIn Rescue is a new app for the iOS platform that supports any IT help desk by allowing remote access to iOS mobile devices. The new app is released in conjunction with a redesign to the existing Android app of the same name, which has been out since February."We allow you to remotely configure and chat with the iPad and iPhone," says Lou Orfanos, product manager, LogMeIn Inc., Boston. "Once you request a support session, you end up with a chat
Photo Courtesy N.J. DOT By reading drivers' Bluetooth signals, New Jersey DOT monitors traffic flows to predict travel times on highways and through work zones. Related Links: TrafficCast A traffic monitoring system that reads Bluetooth signals from mobile devices inside cars is being implemented around Boston and other cities to predict highway travel times through construction zones and on highways.The BlueTOAD traffic-monitoring system was created by TrafficCast, Madison, Wis. "It's very, very accurate," says Taylor Stukes, senior engineer of information technology services with KCUS Consulting, Boston. "We're covering roads from Boston to Cape Cod with it, and MassDOT has aggressive
Photos by Luke Abaffy for ENR The iPhone beeps when its magnetometer, in the upper right of the phone, is near metal. Related Links: Stud Find App on the iTunes Store Stud Find is an iPhone application that uses the device's built-in magnetometer to find metal studs, screws, nails and anything metallic in a wall.The iPhone's three-axis magnetometer is an instrument that measures magnetic forces. Internal Apple software uses the instrument to position the phone's 360° orientation. Stud Find uses the magnetometer as a metal detector.Testing the app on an iPhone 5, we found it works best when moved slowly
RSS
