Once the regulatory issues are worked out, the future potential for drones on construction sites is vast and may include automatic updates to schedules leveraging their GPS accuracy and regular safety checks of tower cranes and equipment on jobsites. Image courtesy Hensel Phelps.

Q&A: Hensel Phelps Director of VDC Thai Nguyen On Latest Technology Shaping the Industry

By Carol Eaton Like it or not, technology in

various forms has become an essential tool on today’s con- struction project. Whether it is 3D laser scan-

ning, 4D, 5D or even 6D BIM, augmented reality / virtual real- ity devices, the use of drones on jobsites, 3D printing, or “prox- imity sensors” such as the iBeacon, new technology is raising the competitive bar for contractors looking to utilize the latest tools to help them build a better project. For those contractors who prefer to

stick to more “traditional” approaches, the failure to adapt to and implement some newer technology applications on their jobs may put them at a distinct disadvan- tage when it comes to meeting rising client expectations and achieving increasingly demanding production, cost, and schedule

12 September/October 2015

goals. And the push for new and emerging

technology adoption

doesn’t just come from a chang- ing business marketplace or ven- dors. The newest generation of construction workers is also lead- ing that push, as they enter the job market already well versed in cloud computing, virtual reality devices, and the like, and eager to embrace the latest tools.

California Constructor interviewed

leading construction technology expert, Thai Nguyen, Director of Virtual Design & Construction at Hensel Phelps, about the state of technology in today’s construc- tion industry. Nguyen, a frequent speaker at AGC forums and other industry events, discussed some of

the latest technology

trends; the newest gadgets and their appli- cations; and the practical implementation of emerging, next-generation technology on HP jobs and industrywide.

A Q

Let’s start with an overview, “big picture” perspective on technology in the construction industry. What are some of the implementation trends and challenges that the industry is currently seeing?

From the big picture perspective, too often VDC (Virtual Design and Con- struction) is being focused solely on tech- nology and not the process or the people. For Hensel Phelps, it’s first and foremost about the people. You have to first take an assessment of who are your team mem- bers and what their capabilities are, and then what processes and workflows are we going to deploy? From there, let’s figure out what technologies will support us. I think all too often (project leaders) go the opposite way, trying to figure out between the people and the process how we can make a given technology work. Unfortu- nately in certain instances the environ-

California Constructor