Seven Ways Pixly Can Help Your Job Site Photo Documentation

Being a professional builder for a General Contractor, specialty subcontractor, or yourself can be a very demanding and chaotic business. However, it can be made a lot more simple by deploying the right tools at the right time. Anyone who has worked in the construction industry understands the complexities that come with completing a job. Here are some great examples of how Pixly’s photo collaboration app is the right tool to help your Job Sites be more successful and contribute to your project's overall success by collaborating on photos in real-time to identify pre-existing conditions, observations, safety issues, progress, and more.
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Increased Collaboration

Once a construction project gets underway, there can be a vast array of stakeholders involved in the process. Owners, developers, architects, contractors, and inspectors alike understand that they all play vital roles in contributing to the project's overall success. Many of these collaborators are involved in a multitude of projects, sometimes across state lines. For those not involved day-to-day on construction projects, it isn't easy to check in, have clear visibility, or have their team members communicate on the progress effectively. Utilizing Pixly, an AEC industry-specific photo collaboration app increases the visibility of the overall project progress by giving access to all the collaborators remotely. Individuals and teams can access Pixly construction project photos in real-time as soon as anyone takes the photos. They can get an executive overview of progress in a Pixly project photo feed and simply scroll through project photos. They can tap on any photo for a detailed view, to see associated tags, comments, conversations, or task assignments related to that project photo. There are enormous time savings to addressing issues without having to be physically present at the Jobsite.
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Stakeholder Communication

The standard expectation for a construction professional has been to document the project regularly. Typically, the contractors are expected to capture progress photos on a monthly, weekly, or sometimes daily basis as part of deliverables to the owner. The hardware evolution in recent times has taken us from point & shoot cameras to high-resolution image capture using today’s smartphones. Furthermore, having a current set of constantly updated progress photos is always valued by the project stakeholders including the owners. Having a construction progress photo app like Pixly makes this process more collaborative and simplifies the overall documentation process.
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Keeping Photos Organized

As a project progresses, keeping your bearings on where the photo was taken is critical for the documentation process. In the past, keeping an accurate set of images meant manually documenting where the photo was captured and then dropping the pictures into a folder structure based on location, level, and area onto a shared server. Anyone who has participated in this process knows it is time-consuming and cumbersome and can be littered with inaccuracies from human error. Utilizing Pixly’s robust construction progress photo app takes the antiquated method of organizing these photos and makes it less burdensome and way less time-consuming. Time will always be money. There is no more need to waste precious time by manually moving photos around from phones, uploading to servers, back down to computers, then marketing up on a desktop and emailing. Those days are over. By having Pixly at your fingertips, individuals responsible for the photo collection can streamline the process and track pictures in an orderly fashion. Pixly organizes photos taken by project and by projects within albums. Users can quickly search by project name, user, tag, location, or date and time to find any project photos. With Pixly you don’t have to waste any time searching through servers and folders for photos when you need them.
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Historical Record Keeping

Photo documentation is an incredible resource when looking back on how the project has progressed. It can be utilized to recall how things were installed in the past, whether for practice purposes for equipment or trade coordination or for instances where a project is not going particularly well, and the project team needs to understand how the project has fallen behind. Pixly provides a robust construction progress photo app. Pixly serves as a historical record since photos are time stamped automatically. This important feature is a practical means for recalling past efforts, understanding how the project has progressed, and protecting and defending yourself from any potential litigation. Pixly creates a simple method for all stakeholders to review and evaluate the overall construction progress whenever they want from anywhere they want.
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Asset Tagging & Search

Having a deep library of progress photos has straightforward applications associated with the location and timestamping the tagging efforts. The next level handling of progress photos involves the tagging of assets based on what is being documented. Determining tags that can be keywords to be associated with specific images adds a layer of organization to the overall construction Jobsite photo documentation process. Tagging photos with mechanical, electrical, exterior, architectural, in-wall, overhead, equipment, or similar helps users recall specific project elements at a moment's notice. A simple yet practical method for categorizing photo assets will help your team maintain a well-documented library of assets that can be called upon as necessary.
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Verify Schedule Progress

The utilization of a CPM schedule is the industry standard for tracking progress every month for a construction project. Any good Superintendent or Scheduling Manager can appreciate the amount of information that can be drawn for the baseline and progress schedules. It is not something that anyone outside of an engineer's mind sees significant value applied to progress tracking. A set of detailed construction progress photos managed in Pixly can supplement that information in a digestible format that is easy to understand and decipher by anyone on the project. A CPM progress schedule is vital from a technical standpoint. Still, progress photos add a layer of simplicity that will add value to the information being conveyed to your project team. Everyone on the project can see progress photos in real-time that can be used to verify the schedule.
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Resource and Time Savings

Taking construction progress photos can take a lot of valuable time. The average Superintendent spends 1+ hours a day documenting project progress photos. Depending on the size and scope of the project it can require even more time when there are some issues or concerns that can cause project delays. Keeping a well-documented set of photos was a cumbersome and all-consuming process before Pixly. Ask any field engineer or trade partner tasked with taking, tracking, and posting progress photos; it takes a significant amount of time and effort to complete. When your staff is regularly focused on this task, they lose opportunities to focus on the project's mission and energy away from resource tracking, schedule management, quality control, and all that it takes to complete a successful construction project. When time is reduced managing photos with Pixly’s simple, intuitive app for construction progress photo management, emphasis on all project required tasks increases to allow for adequate control of the construction and team members.

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What are the benefits of reality capture tools for construction photo documentation?

Reality capture tools for construction photo documentation offer numerous benefits to construction projects. Technology built for the field make it faster, easier, and more powerful way to document the site.

One significant advantage is the instant and automatic sharing in a easy to use social feed. This comprehensive visual documentation allows stakeholders to quicly gain valuable insights into the progress of the project. Identifying any issues or problems becomes significantly easier as a result. With a visual record that spans the lifetime of the project and the building, it becomes effortless to refer back to specific details whenever needed, thus aiding in better organization, preventing rework and reducing the risk of disputes.

The ability to share these photo and video captures with stakeholders remotely is invaluable. Comprehensive updates can be shared, offering transparency and keeping all involved parties informed of the project's progress. This remote accessibility reduces unnecessary travel and need for frequent on-site visits, saving valuable time for everyone involved.

The time-saving aspect of Pixly is another significant benefit. By making it super fast and easy construction professionals can focus on other essential tasks, without the need for fumbling around more complex software that can takes minutes to access the camera and require days or weeks of training. This not only speeds up the overall construction process but also allows for increased efficiency and productivity.

In essence, visual capture tools for construction photo documentation empower construction professionals with an efficient and effective way to better document job sites. By providing a comprehensive visual record, facilitating remote collaboration, saving time, and promoting transparency, Pixly enables better organization, faster capture, and ultimately, a smoother construction process.

How can one take better project photos for construction documentation?‍

Becoming a power user of Pixly requires very little time to master the features and capabilities of the platform. Explore the available tools and functionalities, such tags, comments, markups and annotations. Take advantage of training resources and tutorials provided by the platform and the team to master it in minutes. Experiment with different techniques and approaches to maximize the potential of the photos.

How can buy-in from the team be obtained for construction documentation photography?‍

Obtaining buy-in from the team for construction documentation photography requires effective communication and collaboration. Clearly explain the purpose and benefits of capturing daily progress photos, emphasizing how it contributes to overall project success. Involve team members in the process by encouraging their participation and input. Provide training and support to ensure everyone understands the importance of documentation and how to capture quality photos. Regularly share the results and impact of the documentation efforts to reinforce the value.

How can a schedule be set to walk the job site for photography purposes?‍

Setting a daily schedule to walk the job site for photography purposes can help ensure regular documentation. Create a plan that outlines specific days and times dedicated to capturing progress photos. Coordinate with the project team to determine the optimal times for photography, considering factors such as construction activities, lighting conditions, and access restrictions. Regularly communicate and update the schedule to keep everyone informed and involved.

How can one capture images like a professional?‍

To capture images like a professional, it is essential to pay attention to composition and framing. Take the time to frame the shot properly, ensuring that important elements are included. Additionally, consider using techniques such as leading lines, rule of thirds, and different perspectives to add visual interest to the photos. Experiment with different angles and viewpoints to capture unique and compelling images.

What type of camera should be chosen for construction documentation photography?‍

Simple. The camera you carry with you everywhere that is built into your phone or tablet. If you prefer to use a professional camera for construction documentation photography, it is important to select the right type of camera. Consider using a camera that offers high-resolution images, preferably with a wide-angle lens to capture a broader view of the site. Additionally, cameras with good low-light performance can be beneficial for capturing detailed images in various lighting conditions. All photos can be easily imported to Pixly via the web app when not originally captured in the Pixly mobile app

What are some product enhancements that Pixly has made to improve efficiency in construction photo documentation?

Pixly technology has made significant strides in enhancing our platform and product to improve efficiency in construction photo documentation. One of the key focus areas has been the strengthening of visual image-based platform foundation, which simplifies communication and enables project teams to work more swiftly. Over the past year, Pixly has invested heavily in building enhancements aimed at streamlining the process of documenting and sharing updates from the field.

These product enhancements have been designed to expedite the capture of construction progress through images, allowing teams to swiftly and accurately document what is happening on-site. Pixly has developed features that enable seamless image capture and organization, eliminating time-consuming manual processes. By simplifying communication through images, these enhancements enable project teams to quickly share visual updates, resulting in faster decision-making and increased productivity.

Furthermore, Pixly has introduced efficient tools to streamline the sharing of construction documentation. These tools facilitate the seamless dissemination of captured images to stakeholders, reducing the need for extensive written reports and saving valuable time. By providing a user-friendly platform for sharing images, Pixly encourages collaboration and effective communication among project teams and stakeholders, ultimately enhancing efficiency in construction documentation.

In summary, Pixly has made significant product enhancements focused on enhancing efficiency in construction photo documentation. They include

- Video capture

- Automatically capturing the project workspace and project addresses

- Pins to projects in workspaces

- Pins to photos in projects with previews

- Global tags

- Export options by project, album or individual selection

- Enhanced task (punch list) assignments

- Offline mode

By strengthening Pixly's image-based platform foundation, facilitating quick and accurate image capture, and streamlining the sharing of documentation, Pixly has successfully optimized the construction process, enabling project teams to work faster and more effectively.