Benefits of Solar Construction Cameras

While construction management technologies are a necessary concern on all projects, some sites and situations require a greater degree of flexibility than others. Remote locations, absent of readily available power, and urban locales, where it can be difficult to coordinate utilities, often present a need for independently available power. Similarly, power is often unavailable during the site preparation stage. This lack of initial power makes it difficult to monitor and manage a project's crucial beginnings and can limit a builders' ability to use the ideal tools for a given task, exposing them to the risk of costly delays and scheduling difficulties.

In recent years, advances in construction technology have allowed solar powered camera systems to emerge as a reliable and durable solution. Builders coping with powerless jobsites or wanting to leverage green technologies now have the alternative they have been seeking.

Engineering:
Engineered with the same goals as the OxBlue construction camera, the solar powered stations needed to be reliable, maintenance-free and cost-effective. While customers have been asking for a solar powered alternative for years, they often faced a daunting set of mixed messages from vendors. Clients have reported price fluctuations as high as 300% for the same site across multiple dealers. The most significant factor in the cost of a solar station is the quantity and quality of the panels and batteries being utilized. Most often, fluctuations in cost speak to fluctuations in quality. Borrowing from the approach we used with our construction camera, OxBlue has developed a highly standardized system that delivers high quality images that are both reliable and cost effective.

OxBlue's standardized approach to the situation allows us to eliminate much of the guesswork in terms of cost and performance. We use the same premium components in the largest and smallest systems and have employed a uniform production process. As a result, OxBlue brings a greater purchasing power to bear and is able to deliver a premium solar station at a reduced price. OxBlue's Chandler McCormack provided an example, "One component in good solar power stations should be a quality charge controller. With other systems a controller consisting of one or two indicator lights to display its status would be typical. However, with OxBlue's units we've been able to leverage our purchasing power to incorporate a top of the line charge controller that includes an LED screen, increasing reliability and giving the user an easy to understand system. As a result of our engineering we've been able to incorporate many similar improvements into the system while keeping the cost low".

Adopting a standardized model also creates an easier to use system for the customer. Instead of having various wires and connections to make between the parts, OxBlue has special outdoor cables manufactured specifically for their solar systems. These cables eliminate the need for a conduit and, since they only connect the correct way, they eliminate the complications of having to figure out the wiring involved. Similarly, every system is designed for December conditions, when average daily sunlight is at a minimum, and even in these conditions the power stations are capable of running for almost a week without sun.

Success Stories:
AMB Property Corporation (NYSE:AMB) started using OxBlue Solar Construction Cameras on jobsites in order to monitor the project from day one, when sites are being cleared and temporary power is not yet available. A construction camera is only as good as the view it can capture, and Solar Power Systems allow AMB to position cameras anywhere on the site they like, regardless of power line locations. The systems eliminate the coordination and headaches of getting power to the right location, which can be an issue in both urban and rural areas. In addition, AMB were able to use the OxBlue Solar Power stations as part of their LEED certification program and to take advantage of the 30% Federal Tax Credit for Renewable Power. Needless to say, the decision to use OxBlue Solar Power stations has resulted in a successful customer and program.

Tax Incentives:
An additional incentive for these construction cameras is the renewable energy Federal tax credit program. The Solar Energy Federal Tax Credit offers a 30% credit for equipment that uses solar energy to generate electricity, such as the solar power stations available from OxBlue. For most companies, that translates into savings starting at more than $1,000 per camera.

The Solar Energy Federal Tax Credit has become so popular that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation that extends the 30% Federal tax credit through 2017, giving business owners plenty of time to purchase a solar construction camera system and take advantage of the dollar for dollar tax savings opportunity.

In addition to federal tax incentives, customers purchasing the solar power station for a construction webcam system may be eligible for other state, local and utility incentives that promote renewable energy. Additional information regarding these incentives can be found on the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) website at dsireusa.org.

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Construction Cameras Help Contractors Differentiate Themselves and Give Owners Peace of Mind

The change in construction materials cost in 2009 has been significant, but the real bottom line change is resulting from increased competition between contractors. Our clients who are owners openly discuss the challenges they have related to the increasing complexity and competition during the bid process. A few years ago a K-12 school construction project had 3-5 bidders, today there are 30 firms competing for the same project. The challenge for owners is to determine which contractors are qualified. The ability for a contractor to demonstrate experience and performance from past projects is crucial to satisfying owners concerns and winning bids.

Perhaps one of the most compelling ways for a contractor to create peace of mind for the owner, and to differentiate themselves from the competition, is to offer them transparency and communication which is guaranteed to be timely, accurate and compelling. Contractors who offer construction camera systems are offering the owner additional service. By demonstrating this level of transparency, efficiency and accountability those contractors have one more way to connect with owners needs which helps to build relationships and win work.

The president of an Atlanta construction company, explains how construction cameras translate to real dollars for them: "Our firm has been using construction cameras to monitor progress on all of our jobsites. In order to keep everyone in the office up to date on each site, we setup monitors to display live images from each project. It's paid for itself several times over", says Atlanta construction company president. "A new client who was expanding operations in the southeast interviewed us as part of the bid process. When they awarded us the contract they explained that it was the demonstration of proactive management through the use of live images which was key in their decision."

Why Implement a Construction Camera:

The old adage that everyone expects more for less rings loud in today's construction marketplace. Owners who put their projects out to bid are expecting lower prices, higher quality and better service from the contractors that try to compete for their business. One more way to separate yourself from the pack is to proactively include a construction camera service in your bid in order to:

- Keep all team-members up to date on project progress

- Confirm jobsite activities against other reporting methods

- Review daily progress against schedules

- Monitor jobsite weather conditions

- Document as-built conditions

Need for Reliability:

Any system is only as good as the weakest link. For too many corporate purchases, the weakest link can be the initial implementation, or lack thereof. By selecting an easy turnkey solution, you will have a hassle free implementation and carefree maintenance experience.

There are four key parts to a full construction camera system. The camera hardware at the jobsite, the internet connection, the servers where the images are stored and the software. A failure with anyone of these parts creates a failure of the entire system and construction sites are not the friendliest places for electronics. By using a full service construction camera provider you maximize the client's experience and ensure success while avoiding the problems associated with running the system in house or using security equipment which only has an image quality adequate for a small area.

Once you've chosen a full service provider, power is another issue to consider when it comes to reliability. For camera locations without easy access to power, or in urban areas with utility coordination headaches, a well designed solar power stations can ensure reliability and ease of setup. Additionally, implementing solar construction cameras qualifies you for the 30% solar energy tax credits at the federal level as well as other state and local tax credits where available.

Summary:
As you work on your next bid, or break ground on your next project, consider offering the owner construction cameras as part of the package. It's an opportunity to gain additional efficiency and show everyone what goes into delivering the type of service and quality your firm offers. As a marketing tool it can be a great differentiator so do your research. Review examples of live construction cameras online. Find a reputable provider who offers a turnkey solution and guarantees their service. Then put the peace of mind that a good construction camera experience provides to work for you.

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