Tech firms in the construction space often join forces to marry their niche solutions with other technologies and provide more comprehensive and interoperable tools. Every few weeks, Construction Dive provides a roundup of the most recent mergers, acquisitions and integrations in the construction technology space. To view the entire series, click here.
3DR, Yuneec announce joint venture
Drone firms 3DR and Yuneec today announced their new joint venture, 3DR Government Services, to bring products based on their co-founded Dronecode platform to market. The partnership focuses on the security and open platform needs of U.S. government customers and their vendors in the construction and engineering space.
The JV combines Yuneec’s hardware expertise and manufacturing scale with 3DR’s software, the press release said, and both parties bring experience supplying UAS solutions to U.S. government agencies. The JV's first product, the Yuneec 3DR H520-G, will be unveiled at the Interdrone Conference this week. The H520-G includes 3DR's Site Scan UAS platform, which is integrated into Dronecode-based Yuneec H520 hexacopter sUAS technology, and a controller designed for Apple iOS devices. In addition, the product includes integrations with Autodesk and Esri platforms.
3DR Government Services said the H520-G and future products can meet agencies' and contractors' demand for vendor choice and secure, open platforms that can be approved beyond the constraints of Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 regulations.
“This joint venture cements a strong relationship that goes back to the start of Dronecode and the shared belief that an open software platform would help the drone industry grow and mature faster, just as it has in so many other industries,” said Chris Anderson, CEO of 3DR.
Siemens, Bentley extend alliance to provide capital project delivery
German software giant Siemens recently strengthened its partnership with Bentley Systems, a software provider for AEC infrastructure contractors, with the pair doubling investment from their original 2016 deal's €50 million (U.S. $58 million) to €100 million.
The move is meant to bring to market the duo's new jointly offered software products and cloud services for capital project delivery on infrastructure projects. "Now we are investing in the next collaboration level with Bentley, where, for instance, we will strengthen their engineering and project management tools with Siemens enterprise-wide collaboration platform Teamcenter to create a full digital twin for the engineering and construction world," said Klaus Helmrich, a Siemens board member.
Siemens now owns more than 9% of Bentley's common stock.
Manitowoc selects CM Labs as training simulator partner
Manitowoc Cranes tapped CM Labs to develop and deliver a series of simulators of Manitowoc’s new crane control system. The CCS operating platform provides a common human-machine interface across multiple crane product lines, according to a CM Labs press release.
CM Labs will put the new control technology into simulators that replicate the functionality and behavior of a 40 U.S. ton Grove RT540E crane, so that dealers and customers can experience and train with it in a true-to-life worksite. The simulators, which are powered by Vortex Studio, will include actual on-board crane computers and load moment indicators; various boom configurations; multiple rigging options; and cable physical property simulation for winch line, slings and load.
John Deere WorkSight includes Fleet Intelligence
John Deere selected Foresight Intelligence's recently released product Fleet Intelligence as a mixed fleet solution for its WorkSight suite of construction technology products. The fleet management platform, which provides analytics aimed at boosting machine productivity and efficiency, is designed for construction and forestry heavy equipment contractors and dealers.
Fleet Intelligence allows end users to assess the performance of all machines — regardless of brand — in one application, Foresight says. It also delivers map views, charts and graphs that provide information to help protect assets, maximize utilization, optimize machine health, manage costs and increase uptime, according to the company.
In addition to machine monitoring, subscribers can manage job costs and preventative maintenance schedules, the announcement said, as well as organize statistics by foreman and identify low-utilized machines.
IngeniousIO launches company, announces $4M in funding
IngeniusIO yesterday announced its official launch, as well as the close of $4 million in American Family Ventures-led funding. The company, which hosts an AI-driven platform intended to translate construction documents into insights, aims to make jobsite information viewable in real-time to all parties involved in a project.
The initial launch, according to the press release, will include an application for engineering and architecture firms designed to streamline internal operations for external collaboration. The company plans to release owner and contractor applications at a later date. Founder and CEO Nick Carter said in the press release that the company's platform uses a “unifying, data-driven approach" to make construction workflows less fragmented.
Currently at 15 employees, the company hopes to use this funding to accelerate product development and build out its sales and customer implementation teams.
