Trimble Introduces CrewSight System for Rapid Personnel Management on Construction Jobsites

Trimble CrewSight Enables Companies to Deploy Applications that Manage Labor on Jobsites

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Feb 26, 2015, 06:30 ET

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) today announced the availability of CrewSight™ system, an automated jobsite management solution that enables general contractors to rapidly and accurately manage field personnel on a construction site. CrewSight delivers greater insight into jobsite operations and enables construction contractors to operate more effectively and intelligently drive productivity, safety and security.

As labor costs on construction sites continue to make up almost 40 percent of total project costs, it is essential for general contractors and project managers to correlate productivity with actual hours of worker time. Knowing who and when workers are on site allows project managers to validate project costs for labor, provide proof of compliance and maintain safety on the site. In addition, even general contractors who have implemented systems to control the entry and exit of workers on the jobsite face challenges since entering the data from these systems is not typically automated. Trimble CrewSight system automates the management of workers entering or leaving a jobsite, allowing tighter tracking of progress to pinpoint discrepancies and identify opportunities to optimize the work process.

Serving as the central hub of a complete labor management solution, CrewSight captures data from ThingMagic® sensors automatically, without the need for human intervention. Trimble CrewSight gives contractors rapid access control of their site, ensuring that only workers who are verified can enter. Contractors can be confident that the right number of workers is on site for each phase of the project, to keep schedules on time and budgets in line. The system also provides a safety element, if personnel need to be located in the case of an emergency. Site supervisors can receive alerts on their phones or tablets in real-time, which can be critical if there is a dangerous situation on site.

Locate and Manage Verified Personnel

The system consists of three main components: Trimble CrewSight, the application that enables contractors to collect, view, analyze and store the workers' data; a choice of hardware sensor devices that collect information for worker entry and exit on the jobsite; and an enrollment station and RFID-enabled badges that allow companies to verify and enroll each worker in the system prior to entry, eliminating the need for on-hand personnel to check-in workers manually. CrewSight provides up-to-date data that is accessible from any Web-enabled device and will be integrated with existing scheduling software such as Trimble's popular Prolog® project management and scheduling software to enhance the implementation with real-time field data.

"Controlling labor costs is a major consideration for all construction managers," said Mark Sawyer, general manager of the GC/CM Division of Trimble Buildings. "Trimble CrewSight provides accurate reporting on the actual hours contractors and subs are working to ensure that projects stay on track. The planned integration with scheduling software, such as Trimble Prolog, gives a more complete picture of the site, the workers and the entire project."

View, Analyze and Report

The CrewSight system collects and houses worker information in a database that can be used to verify workers' authorization and record hours worked. This data can also be sorted and analyzed for a variety of uses by the contractor. For example, meeting compliance regulations such as local municipal hiring or WBE/MBE (Women's Business Enterprises and Minority Business Enterprises) guidelines, users of CrewSight can extract the information and develop reports specific to the requirements. In addition, knowing which verified employees have entered the site can also be critical in the event of an emergency and can create a safer environment for both general contractors and employees.

Secure Access Control at the Site Perimeter

Depending on what type of hardware sensor devices are chosen for each site, contractors have an option of using guard-assisted worker check-in, worker self check-in using a manual check-in/check-out device called "VIS Box" or hard access using a turnstile or vehicle gates. This access control prevents unauthorized workers from being on the site or in areas of the site without the proper credentials. In addition, CrewSight allows contractors to monitor every zone of the site and supports monitoring multiple sites from the same user interface.

"Construction companies can benefit greatly from knowing which workers are on job sites," said Tom Grant, general manager of Trimble's ThingMagic Division. "CrewSight provides construction companies with a scalable, cloud-based solution that provides automated worker attendance information for site security, safety, cost control and government compliance in a single, easy-to-use Web portal."

Availability

Trimble CrewSight is available in North America through the BuildingPoint network and other Authorized Distribution Partners of Trimble GC/CM solutions. For more information, visit: http://www.trimble.com/construction/crewsight. The integration of Trimble Prolog project management and scheduling software is expected in the first quarter of 2015.

About Trimble's ThingMagic Division

Trimble's ThingMagic Division is a leading provider of UHF RFID reader engines, development platforms and design services for a wide range of applications. ThingMagic develops products for demanding high-volume applications and provides consulting and design services to create solutions for challenging applications. ThingMagic's customers include some of the world's largest industrial automation firms, manufacturers, automotive companies, retailers and consumer companies. Located in Woburn, Massachusetts, the ThingMagic business was founded in 2000 by a group of visionary PhD graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab. ThingMagic is "The Engine in RFID™".

For more information, visit: www.thingmagic.com.

About Trimble Buildings

Trimble Buildings, a part of Trimble's Engineering and Construction segment, is a world leader in solutions that optimize the complete Design-Build-Operate (DBO) lifecycle of buildings. Incorporating the Trimble Connect collaboration platform and spanning top brands such as SketchUp, Tekla, Gehry Technologies, Proliance, Vico Office, WinEst, Accubid, Manhattan Software, and more, Trimble's product and professional service offerings improve productivity, visibility and data interoperability, from simulation to renovation. Used in over 150 countries around the world and supported by a global dealer and distribution partner network, Trimble technology is a mainstay of the building industry.

Information on Trimble Buildings' DBO portfolio is available at: http://buildings.trimble.com.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

For more information, visit: www.trimble.com.

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SOURCE Trimble