Page 40 - CCD Magazine - Winter-Spring 2019 Issue

personal and professional lives. “Technology has brought new practices, processes, and products into our daily lives,” says Spenser Villwock, CEO of IEC National. “Embracing the wave of continual change in technology to gain efficiencies in operations, win jobs on cutting edge projects across the country, and drive what and how we do our work on job sites makes now and the future an incredibly exciting in the history of the construction industry.” Perhaps one of the most fulfilling aspects of being an electrician is the ability to look at any installation, building, parking lot, or lighted location and say, “That’s my project! That’s my work!” WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING? Smart homes, smart businesses, smart highways, and more are changing electrical contracting rapidly, in big ways and will continue to do so as technology evolves. Technology has impacted jobsite practices, product design, distribution, legislation and policy. It’s important to note that even technology innovations cannot succeed without electricity of some sort to help drive efficiency, improve quality, and create a new culture of safety for all skilled trades professionals as well as the end user. Lighting Technology Advances in technology have revolutionized the way the end user of electricity lives, works, and plays. Consider lighting alone. “Lighting technology has evolved over the past 20 years from incandescent to fluorescent to LED lighting,” says Cal Blair, a 30-year tenured electrician and a 20-year apprenticeship instructor at IECRM. “Electrical lighting systems are now more efficient and programmable. Lighting control systems are doing everything from maximizing energy efficiency, lowering our energy footprint, and providing real time communication and analysis of energy consumption.” Auto-CAD Systems On today’s job sites, paper blueprints rarely exist; building infrastructure and modeling are being conducted virtually through auto-CAD systems that combine powerful software, virtual reality, and information management systems to provide an essential set of tools to support building design, infrastructure design, construction, or a combination of these industries – all of which rely on an electrical system. Through this technology, the electrician can virtually see “behind the wall” and plan out the best application or solution for every scenario. Of the many changes that have occurred over the last two decades, technology is the big impact and it continues to challenge us daily. From a broad spectrum, people think about working with CAD and new Bluebeam tech which have totally changed the industry in terms of sophistication of the way we plan, equip and deliver projects. Wire feeders, smart tuggers and benders... Hand tools are so far advanced ergonomically that it is saving labor costs, improving working conditions and time spent for electricians. Cloud Computing Cloud computing isn’t new, but many newer trends would not be possible without electricity. You must have it for big data, virtual reality design, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The cloud is a computing resource and data storage that electronics can access through a network connection like wifi, cell phone service, internet, etc. Cloud-sharing programs like Dropbox or Google Drive help construction teams access designs, permits, and interactively make decisions between the office and the jobsite. Building Information Modeling BIM (Building Information Modeling) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure. BIM allows electrical contractors to plan and execute more efficiently with connected BIM workflows to support better informed decision making and more predictable outcomes at the job site. The BIM software does more than automate tasks. It connects information and people, helping to increase productivity and lay the digital groundwork to unlock new business opportunities. Virtual Reality Design Virtual reality (VR) design is an evolution of BIM and companies are finding more and new applications for its use. Companies and industry partners can convert 3-D electrical and other infrastructure plans into a virtual reality experience. Imagine fully immersing yourself in a project without actually being there. This allows for better planning, efficiency, and safety. Electricians can determine exactly what tools and resources they need for a project and not bring extras. Another value of virtual reality is training in unique situations. “IECRM’s training and classrooms are the best in the industry, but we can’t simulate every situation in our hands- on labs,” says Lingo. “Virtual reality changes that and becomes a very important tool when teaching safety and many other different scenarios that might be experienced on a job site.” PreFabrication While the manufacturing or assembly of modular components for later installation is not a new concept, prefabrication (“prefab”) is a growing trend in the electrical industry as a 40 | Colorado Construction & Design