NEWS SCOPE

TECHNOLOGY

Artifical intelligence, data analytics, IoT top 2018 trends

Identified Technologies, a Pittsburgh-based spe- business in a much more efficient way. existing data sets into visualizations, sto-
cialist in drone-enabled gathering of data from Data capture has been around for a long ries, and reports.
construction materials production and job sites, time, but understanding all sensor-relayed Virtual reality + existing platforms.
projects a watershed year for technology adop- information is key. Analytics and decision VR will go from a novelty to necessity in con-
tion among contractors, suppliers and customers. making is easier than ever before thanks struction, a physical business that becomes
Leading the firm’s Top Construction Technology to service providers equipped to help con- more challenging if the planning, bidding
Trends of 2018: struction interests draw conclusions from and building team is not familiar with the
Artificial intelligence ubiquity. The ability data. Microsoft Business Intelligence is a site. This year will see VR incorporated into
for computers to learn and detect patterns is good example of wide data analytics avail- established software platforms, rather than
powerful. Machine learning is impacting con- ability; any company can use it to turn existing in its own silo.
struction project planning, fleet management,
and structural damage assessment. What’s new
in 2018 is how ubiquitous such learning will
become, thanks especially to developers from
institutions like Carnegie Mellon University,
Pittsburgh, who are making artificial intelligence
as easy to use as an iPhone.
Internet of Things horizontal integra-
tion. Few construction businesses are using
sensor-connected hardware. This year will see
construction interests place sensors throughout
the vertical and horizontal construction space—
from boots and hats to tablets and trucks— then
aim to connect collected data to every other
piece of data. Horizontal integration of IoT
stands to make the construction job site as effi-
cient as it has made the factory floor.
Data analytics for Big Data. Analytics
is poised to help construction companies do

CONEXPO-CON/AGG MANAGER
EMBRACES DATA ANALYTICS
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers,
Milwaukee, has acquired Minneapolis-based Har-
grove & Associates Inc. (HAI), a data processing
and business analytics company for whom it has
been a client since 1989. The move dovetails a
manufacturing industry transformation, driven
by the innovative use of data, and enables AEM
to further develop its statistics program for con-
struction and agricultural equipment members.
“Insights gained through participation in
[the] program give members an advantage in
an increasingly competitive global marketplace,”
says AEM President Dennis Slater. “Through
investment in HAI, we look to sharpen this
competitive advantage.”
“We are looking forward to how this deep-
ening of our 30-year working relationship will
position both of our groups for exciting growth
and technological opportunities, while maintain-
ing strong commitment to the data program so
valued by the equipment industry,” notes HAI
President Claire Hargrove.
The firm will operate as a stand-alone AEM
subsidiary in its current Minneapolis office, she
adds, and continue to maintain sole access
and handling of company data. In addition to
customer care and support, HAI employees will
collaborate with AEM on projects using advanced
data analytics that bring value to association
members.

www.concreteproducts.com February 2018 • 23

Copyright of Concrete Products is the property of Mining Media Inc. and its content may not
be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's
express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for
individual use.