Testfit
Dallas, Texas
Founded: 2017
Founders: Clifton Harness (CEO), Ryan Griege (CTO)
Structures can be generated in seconds with TestFit by simply inputting a building’s parameters. Building types and unit styles can be swapped instantly, massing adjustments can be made on the fly, and multiple sites can be reconfigured simultaneously.
TestFit uses a data-driven approach to smart urban planing and removes barriers in the adoption of generative design. TestFit helps real estate developers, architects, and urban planners conduct feasibility studies and test fit sites for multifamily, hotel, modular, parking, and office development. Using proprietary AI algorithms, the company claims results can be produced in seconds. Building simulations can be run using multiple parameters such as geolocation and 3D contest building to build on a site’s GIS data, user-generated building schemes for comparative analysis, and time-of-day shadow generation. Building typologies can be selected from presets that include wrap, donut, tower, hotel, and podium or they can be created custom by users. TestFit data can be exported to Sketchup, integrated with Dynamo/Revit, and have 3D views exported for PDF. In 2020, TestFit announced $2 million in seed funding from Parkway Venture Capital.
Buildots
Tel Aviv, Israel
Founded: 2018
Founders: Aviv Leibovici (CPO), Roy Danon (CEO), Yasir Sudry (CTO)
Buildots was designed to enable maximum control of construction processes with minimal effort. The solution uses 360-degree cameras mounted to project managers’ hardhats to create a digital twin of the construction site and turn every site walk into process data. Once access to updated schedules and designs are loaded into the platform, Buildots uses artificial intelligence to automatically analyze and map all of the files to produce a detailed digital construction program to be tracked by the system. The process data is automatically aggregated and compared to the expected status of the project.
Buildots can help track and identify project loose ends, analyze project progress, calculate expected payments, and detect errors. In order to ensure a higher degree of accuracy and the most valuable insights, the Buildots algorithm is augmented with manual analysis and assistance during the initial weeks of a project. The platform includes features such as automated video analysis, per-trade throughput and progress analysis, a consolidated project view with “percent complete" and identification of the most urgent issues, and on-demand project status and gap, both detailed and aggregated. Additionally, Buildots can be easily integrated into existing management workflows.
AI Clearing
Austin, Texas
Founded: 2020
Founders: Michael Mazur (CEO), Adam Wisniewski (CTO)
The AI Clearing dashboard (below) for a highway construction project. The dashboard is interactive and fully customizable for each project. Reports are also available in PDF format.
AI Clearing is an artificial intelligence-powered construction progress monitoring solution meant to help companies track the progress of work on their large civil engineering project sites. Data from schedules, CAD, BIM, and drones is used and analyzed by artificial intelligence and then sent back to the client in the form of a dashboard. This dashboard tracks metrics such as utilization of materials, completion or various layers of road surface, and the number of structures erected while also identifying even the smallest discrepancies with the design. Analyzing this data could take a human employee 20 days or more, but AI Clearing is able to do the job in 20 minutes.
An example of an overhead drone photo with objects color-coded.
“We’ve realized that construction companies don’t want to spend a lot of time setting up systems, and they definitely don’t want to pay for yet another software license or subscription,” said Michael Mazur, CEO, Co-Founder, AI Clearing. “That’s why we structured the product the way we did. There’s one fee per project. It takes about four hours to set up the transfer of data from out clients and after that it’s automated. We pull the information in and send it back to the client in the form of analysis that’s displayed on dashboards for as many users as they want.”
Current clients include PCL Construction in the U.S. and Canada, and the French construction group Vinci. AI Clearing recently completed a $2 million seed round in December 2020 that was led by Tera Ventures from Estonia. Co-investors included Venture Partners, Innovation Nest, and other funds from places including Australia.
Related Stories
AEC Tech | Apr 19, 2022
VDC maturity and the key to driving better, more predictable outcomes
While more stakeholders across the AEC value chain embrace the concept of virtual design and construction, what is driving the vastly different results that organizations achieve? The answer lies within an assessment of VDC maturity.
AEC Tech | Apr 13, 2022
Morphosis designs EV charging station for automaker Genesis
LA-based design and architecture firm Morphosis has partnered with automotive luxury brand Genesis to bring their signature brand and styling, attention-to-detail, and seamless customer experience to the design of Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) Stations.
AEC Tech | Apr 13, 2022
A robot automates elevator installation
Schindler—which manufactures and installs elevators, escalators, and moving walkways—has created a robot called R.I.S.E. (robotic installation system for elevators) to help install lifts in high-rise buildings.
Hotel Facilities | Apr 12, 2022
A virtual hotel to open in the metaverse
A brand of affordable luxury hotels that launched in 2008, citizenM has announced it will purchase a digital land site in The Sandbox, a virtual game world owned by Animoca Brands.
Modular Building | Mar 31, 2022
Rick Murdock’s dream multifamily housing factory
Modular housing leader Rick Murdock had a vision: Why not use robotic systems to automate the production of affordable modular housing? Now that vision is a reality.
AEC Tech Innovation | Mar 9, 2022
Meet Emerge: WSP USA's new AEC tech incubator
Pooja Jain, WSP’s VP-Strategic Innovation, discusses the pilot programs her firm’s new incubator, Emerge, has initiated with four tech startup companies. Jain speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield about the four AEC tech firms to join Cohort 1 of the firm’s incubator.
AEC Tech | Feb 11, 2022
Trimble Dimensions+ 2022 Call for Speakers Now Open
Trimble has opened its Call for Speakers for the Trimble Dimensions+ 2022 User Conference, which will be held November 7-9 at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.
Coronavirus | Jan 20, 2022
Advances and challenges in improving indoor air quality in commercial buildings
Michael Dreidger, CEO of IAQ tech startup Airsset speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield about how building owners and property managers can improve their buildings' air quality.
Architects | Dec 20, 2021
Digital nomads are influencing design
As our spaces continue to adapt to our future needs, we’ll likely see more collaborative, communal zones where people can relax, shop, and work.
AEC Tech | Dec 16, 2021
Autodesk to Acquire Cloud Based Estimating Company ProEst
Autodesk, Inc. is acquiring ProEst, a cloud-based estimating solution that enables construction teams to create estimates, perform digital takeoffs, generate detailed reports and proposals and manage bid-day processes. Autodesk plans to integrate ProEst with Autodesk Construction Cloud, a comprehensive construction management platform connecting teams, data and workflows across the entire building lifecycle.
