Page 18 - Rosendin Corporate Newsletter Q4, 2018

Turning AR/VR Rosendin’s foray into virtual reality and augmented reality

Two years ago, our Building Information Management (BIM) Director and I were invited to Hollywood to see how the
movie industry was using augmented reality and virtual reality. That visit was eye-opening, and we knew they could
Enthusiasm When we returned, we pitched a few use cases at our annual manager's meeting and began building out the
be game changers here at Rosendin.

technology. While we’re in the early stages of our VR application, we’re developing a pilot to train our electricians in
into Reality power rooms so they can safely learn how to wire in live environments.

We’re also piloting a combination platform that uses VR headsets with motion platforms to train our employees to
drive forklifts, scissor lifts, and Zoom Booms on construction sites. Each program has several variations so users can
progress from a scenario in which you’re maneuvering the machinery on a manageable, flat floor to a construction
site with oil spills. In that oil spill example, the motion platform moves to make you feel like you’re fishtailing so new
hires can learn to compensate safely.
A trip to Hollywood inspired the adoption of We’ve also begun deploying augmented reality with devices like AR headsets, iPads, and even mobile devices. Our

mobile devices, for example, superimpose 3D models over a blank room to give employees a view of what could be
augmented and virtual realities at Rosendin behind a wall. Employees can also view the conduits that are being pulled up from the floor before the concrete is
run to ensure everything is in the right place.

AR headsets are distributed to our foremen who use it to overlay a 3D model in
By Sam Lamonica, CIO an empty room to get an idea of where the conduit and racks will be run and
Reprinted from The Enterprisers Project where pipes will stub up, for example. This model gives them perspective
early on so they can start the detailing.

While these technologies have been paramount to maintaining a high
Fred Meeske, BIM Director, and Sam Lamonica, CIO, standard of construction, the real value we derive is in maintaining a
were tasked with developing a business case for AR/VR safe work environment. We want every employee to come home
to their family after every workday, and we work to ensure that
technology and testing the waters for relevance at Rosendin. everyone is rigorously qualified.

Hiring for new technologies
In the world of IT, some technologies resonate instantly while others
are a tougher sell. Most of our augmented reality
technologies are developed internally,
which means we need to employ top
Video conferencing, for example, was one of the easy ones. While not
very sexy, executives loved it because it reduced travel. On the other gaming talent. Sometimes this is a
hand, it was more challenging to deploy drones for visual inspections. challenge in the construction industry.
People were excited about it conceptually, but adoption was difficult To be more appealing to potential talent,
because injecting drone technology into their daily work didn’t come we emphasize that most of our design and
naturally. development is in 3D now, which is a draw for
gamers. It also helps that these jobs pay very well
and are pretty interesting.
Our most recent work
in augmented reality
and virtual reality, Ten years ago, my job was to keep the business’s
though, is an example networks and systems running 24/7. My role as CIO and
of both — technologies our greater IT organization have come such a long way
with instant adoption and since then. It’s been exciting to experiment with these
compelling use cases that cutting-edge technologies in ways that can really make
a difference — ensuring our employee’s safety and
also got people really excited. maintaining high-quality construction — while keeping
an eye to the future and as we continue to propel the
business forward.

18 The Feeder | Issue 4, 2018 Issue 4, 2018 | The Feeder 19