Reconstruct
What?
One of the most complex tasks in construction management is to verify whether the assembly is done according to plan. Reconstruct provides software that allows to thoroughly document the construction process and monitor progress.
For now, the information gathering happens through videos and photos captured by humans through off the shelf 360 Cameras, but Reconstruct is working on visual capture robots and quadcopters that should be able to navigate construction sites autonomously.
Of course documenting the progress is only part of the solution. The really interesting part is when you are able to combine the architectural plans with the current state of the construction. Reconstruct provides this possibility by overlaying the 3D design models (eg BIM model) of the building with a composite 3d model of the collected images and point clouds. Using AI, deep learning en computer vision the software can detect whether a certain BIM element is in place and, using pattern recognition, even whether the correct material has been used.
imagery by Reconstruct
Why
The type of software Reconstruct is providing is allowing building commissioners, architects and, construction managers to dramatically reduce the time documenting and reporting progress. By allowing to virtually doing inspection rounds it enables to do more of the work remote and reduces the need for site visits. The integration with the 3d models reduces workload and provides a more pro-active discrepancy detection which in turn will prevent delay and (costly) rework. Further automating the process through AI will mean that instead of relying on spot-checks, a complete verification can be done on each and every inspection round.
Why not?
Until the image capture bit of the solution can be fully automated it takes a significant up-front-investment to create the imagery to provide a sufficiently complete image of the construction site. It is of upmost importance for this process to be as easy as efficient to make it tolerable and the ROI satisfactory.
Who?
Reconstruct was founded in 2016 by Derek Hoiem and Mani Golparvar. Until now it raised over $10 million of funding. Since Feb 2018 Zak MacRunnels came on board as CEO.
Who else?
As the underlying technology (360 Cameras, Computer vision, Machine learning, BIM) that enables this kind of solutions is maturing more and more similar startups are appearing in this niche. Solutions coming out of the 3D modeling industry like Verity that allow aligning photos of a job site with a coordinated 3D model. Solutions coming out of the drone industry like Propeller and Pix4DScan where automated surveying is much easier but only possible from the outside of your construction site. And finally, the AI startups tackling this space coming from an artificial intelligence background like Siteaware, Scaled Robotics, and Open Space.
Further reading?
Placetech article on AI in construction
Things happening
Eightsleep launched a cover to make your mattress smart: your home is getting smarter one way or the other… There is a new last meter talk published: always worth the listen… The 1st version of the proptechforgood map has launched: with quite a few startups that seem interesting to cover in the coming weeks…