This year's IT Forum Conference was a stand-out event. While difficult to narrow the highlights down to 10, here are some top observations from the premier construction technology event.

Earlier this month, AGC of America held its 2016 AGC IT Forum Conference in Chicago. This was the eighth annual addition of this industry-leading technology event. The conference consists of a day and a half of amazing presentations and demonstrations of new and cutting-edge technology for the construction industry. This year the AGC IT Forum partnered with Northwestern University to provide a new academic flavor to the conference. There were several great presentations at the conference this year. Here is a recap of Day One. Look for additional information on the conference in next month's issue of Tech Brief.

AGC of America and the IT Forum Steering Committee wishes to express sincere thanks to those who attended the 8th annual IT Forum Conference in Chicago. The keynote speeches, rapid fire demonstrations and topic sessions were all very stimulating and informative. We covered everything from IoT to cybersecurity and ,strong>construction trends. The Fab4 did a great job talking about the changing role of IT. And, as always, affordable solutions was a success. The ConTechTrio added a unique session by hosting a live podcast along with live conference participation. And, new this year was a joint venture with Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering. I believe we hit our mark with the theme this year, "See IT, Learn IT, Build IT". We hope you left with new ideas and new friends. We can’t wait for next year – hope you feel the same as well.

Pepper Construction's VP of Technology, Howie Piersma, took the stage earlier this month as host and event chair for the eighth annual AGC IT Forum Conference, which drew hundreds of AGC members from chapters across the U.S., as well as industry technologists, vendors, consultants, researchers, and more. All were focused on learning and sharing the latest and greatest data available on technology use and best practices in construction. Rob McManamy sat down with Piersma prior to the premier technology event.

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It has begun. Robots are starting to appear on the jobsite. The robots of the construction industry are not humanoid in shape, but they possess some of the defining properties of a true robot: they’re autonomous, can respond to their environment, and make decisions about their actions. They can perform some of the same functions that humans can, as well as some that humans can’t.

It’s easy to hope for no construction-cost overruns, but much harder to achieve. Yet, that’s exactly what a growing number of construction and AEC companies are aiming to do. These firms are involving their estimators much earlier in the project planning process to inject a higher degree of cost analysis into critical decision-making discussions. What makes this kind of collaboration possible? For many companies, model-based cost estimating (also known as 5D BIM) is helping their estimating team provide the value engineering feedback needed for greater cost predictability—and cost savings.

Despite the buzz about digital, paper-free workplaces, contractors still rely on paper drawings, which they can review together and mark up as necessary. HP has engineered its new DesignJet technical printers to withstand

The Construction Open Standards Alliance (COSA) is a community of construction industry professionals who support open integration standards in construction software. Join the effort today.

All events are scheduled in Eastern Standard Time. 

July 26, 2016
WedbEd: Construction Technology Forecast: Trends and Analysis
2-3 p.m.

Sept. 28, 2016
WebEd: How Construction Contractors Are Already Using Drones
2 p.m. 

Aug. 4, 2016 
WebEd: BIM Coordination Best Practices
2-3 p.m. 

Aug. 26, 2016 
WebEd: 2016 Level of Development Specification Update
2-3 p.m.

Oct. 5, 2016
Drones: The New Federal "Rules of the Road"
2 p.m. 

Oct. 12, 2016
Privacy, Nuisance and Other Legal Doctrines Restricting Drone Operations
2 p.m.  

Oct. 17-19, 2016
Fall BIMForum 
Atlanta, Georgia 

Oct. 19, 2016
Insurance and Outsourcing Strategies for Drone Operations
2 p.m. 

Oct. 26, 2016
How to Manage the Additional Data that Drones Generate
2 p.m.