San Francisco-based construction technology-focused startup OpenSpace has created an imaging and AI-driven platform providing 360-degree visibility for construction sites. Founded in 2017 by Jeevan Kalanithi, Philip DeCamp, and Michael Fleischma, who were three former classmates from MIT.
With OpenSpace, project stakeholders can conduct virtual site tours, communicate easily about changing orders, and review photo records to see modifications over time.
How does OpenSpace work?
> OpenSpace uses patent-pending, cutting-edge artificial intelligence to automatically create navigable, 360° photo representations of any physical space.
> Builders attach a small camera to their hard-hats and walk the site as normal, with OpenSpace in the background passively capturing images.
> Imagery data is then uploaded to the cloud, where the algorithms of OpenSpace map and stitch the photos to project plans, creating a site-like visual representation similar to Google Street View.
> This information then accumulates over time, offering a “time machine” for builders to check the conditions of the site as they were a day earlier, week ago or years ago.
OpenSpace is used worldwide in construction activities. In North America and beyond, Japan, Brazil, Thailand and more, the company has encountered rapid client acceptance. At present, it has secured funding from Lux Capital, Foundation Capital, the National Science Foundation, Goldcrest Capital, and from notable firms in the real estate and construction realm, like JLL Spark, WeWork, Navitas Capital, Suffolk Construction, Tishman Speyer, and Zigg Capital.
According to co-founder and CEO Jeevan Kalanithi, WeWork and the involved construction company investors were all clients before supporting OpenSpace. Other customers now include Turner Construction, WEST Builders, Hoar Construction, Novo Construction, McCownGordon, Hathaway Dinwiddie and more.
References
Kelso, L. (2019, August 13). OpenSpace Announces New Strategic Partnerships to Help Bring “Street View”-Style Documentation to Construction Sites.
Kevin-R. (2019, August 14). Construction site mapping startup raises $14M from JLL, WeWork.
OpenSpace. (2019, August 13). OpenSpace, AI-Powered Construction Tech Company, Announces New Strategic Partnerships to Help Bring “Street View”-Style Documentation to Real Estate Development and Construction Industries.
Wiggers, K. (2018, June 5). OpenSpace uses AI to bring Street View to construction sites.
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