One key lesson I’ve learned: the difference between a smooth project and a stalled one often comes down to how quickly issues are communicated, and how quickly others act on them.

I’ve lived this reality. I’ve been the guy walking the jobsite, juggling multiple tasks, spotting issues, snapping photos, and telling myself, “I’ll remember that later.” But all too often, “later” meant scrambling at the end of the day to piece together what that photo was supposed to mean.

I know I’m not alone. If you’ve worked in the field, you’ve felt this pain! That’s why I’m excited about AI Voice Notes—a feature in our new OpenSpace Field solution.

Forms aren’t built for the field

Construction moves fast, and time is rarely on your side. On a real jobsite, stopping to fill out a form—especially something like an observation or task—isn’t always realistic. Not because it’s hard, but because it’s slow.

You’re faced with a wall of blank fields: status, location, description, assignee, due date. You know what to say, but you don’t have the time to hunt and peck on your phone screen or click through a dozen dropdowns. So instead you snap a picture, thinking (and hoping!) you’ll remember what it was about later.

But here’s the catch: a photo without context isn’t action. It’s a reminder, and it sits in “draft” mode.

AI Voice Notes is a better way

When we rely only on photos or delayed documentation we miss the immediacy of context. What makes a Field Note truly actionable is knowing what the image is, where it is, why it matters, and what needs to happen next.

That’s where AI Voice Notes comes in—it changes how quickly and easily that context gets captured.

Instead of typing, you just talk—pairing your voice with an image. OpenSpace AI fills out the form for you, and just like that, your Field Note is documented and it’s ready to go.

“Cracked corner at recessed drywall by the TV in room 201. Assign to Jim from the Drywall Company. Make it due Friday.”

In seconds, your note is complete. No guesswork later. No delay in getting it routed to the right person. No bottleneck in moving the project forward.

Why it makes a difference

Let’s break down what happens when you can capture context immediately:

• Create and fill out a Field Note faster. No more toggling through fields to complete or struggling to find time at the end of the day.
• Ensure more meaningful communication. A picture alone isn’t enough—pairing an image with real context makes it clear and complete.
• Assign the issue quickly. The right person sees the issue in real time—no need to wait for a summary email.
• Get faster action and results. The faster the loop from issue identification to action, the more momentum the project keeps.

Built for the realities of the field

AI Voice Notes is about accelerating the project management best practices you already have in place. It eliminates the biggest friction point in field documentation: slow and manual data entry. And it does so in a way that fits naturally into your jobsite workflow—by using your voice and the camera on your smartphone. That’s it.

No competitor offers this kind of hands-free, AI-powered field documentation. Others may let you record voice or attach photos, but OpenSpace fills in all the fields automatically—making the note complete and immediately actionable.

Plus, pairing AI Voice Notes with AI Autolocation—our groundbreaking technology that pins your Field Notes on your exact location, in real time (even indoors)—you can reduce documentation time 5-10x.

Final thought: let the work flow

Every project manager, super, and foreman knows the value of momentum. When issues are handled quickly, everything runs smoother. That’s why I believe in AI Voice Notes—a shift in how the jobsite communicates. The faster you can capture context, the faster someone can act—and the faster you can close it out.

And in construction, closing the loop quickly is everything you need to keep the project moving forward.

Learn more

• OpenSpace Field web page
• OpenSpace Academy course
• AI Voice Notes Support article
• AI Autolocation Support article
• Field Notes overview

The post A new, faster way to fix a problem on the jobsite appeared first on OpenSpace.

It changes today with OpenSpace Field

We’re excited to announce a better way. Introducing OpenSpace Field, an image-based solution for creating and managing tasks and issues in the field. And powered by groundbreaking AI Autolocation technology (built with our Spatial AI). Create, capture, and route work items dramatically faster—with rich visual context and deep, two-way sync with Procore and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC).

OpenSpace Field is for the people doing the work. It makes the field visible, connected, and actionable for everyone, from boots on the ground to the executive suite.

Jobsite data is powerful, but underutilized

Field teams continuously observe, document, and solve problems. But too often the information they collect gets lost in text-heavy reports, disorganized photos, or disconnected systems. What can typically happen:

• When logging issues takes too long, you might delay or skip doing it entirely
• You can easily miss critical details like location, trade, assignee, or due date
• Photos are scattered across phones, texts, and emails, without spatial context
• When the tools you use to document issues aren’t designed for the field, you might avoid using them or end up doing double data entry

These challenges are a problem. You can end up with incomplete data, delayed decisions, unnecessary rework, and avoidable risk. With OpenSpace Field, the jobsite becomes a reliable source of intelligence, not a missed opportunity.

Built for how the field actually works

As an image-first solution, OpenSpace Field gives jobsite teams a fast, intuitive way to create and manage tasks on-site.

You’ll experience the difference immediately. Less typing. Fewer steps. More work captured while it’s happening, with GPS-like location—even indoors. All with speed and simplicity. Just like everything we deliver at OpenSpace, we’re making your work easier, not changing it.

Visual clarity

On-the-spot, visual context that eliminates guesswork and back-and-forth. Every task, issue, report in OpenSpace Field is anchored directly to jobsite images, and pinned to their exact location on your plan. That means everyone—from superintendents to subcontractors to project managers—can see exactly what’s happening and act with confidence.

Mobile workflows

Intuitive workflows, built for the smartphone in your pocket and supercharged with AI, that reduce documentation time 5-10x and ensure your data is complete.

• AI Autolocation (like GPS for indoors) pins your Field Notes on your exact location, in real time. No more pinching and zooming on your plans. No more manual tagging.
• AI Voice Notes technology enables you to create Field Notes by talking instead of typing. OpenSpace AI takes your words and fills in all the details for you (like status, tag, and assignee), in the right place.

Connected systems

Seamless two-way sync with Procore and ACC with Integrated Field Notes. No double entry. Your system of record stays the same, but now you can get work done easier and without slowing down your walk in OpenSpace. Create Procore Punch List Items and Observations, plus ACC Issues in the OpenSpace mobile app, making them quicker and simpler to find, on-site and on the go. Both systems stay in sync. Automatically.

Answers at your fingertips

Capture, organize, and easily find photos you take in OpenSpace with our camera overhaul in the mobile app and a new AI-powered Media Library. Take all the photos you want—as part of a Field Note, or not—without interrupting your workflow. We automatically index every image, making it a breeze to find what you want with AI Search (by keyword or context). Get visual answers about your project right away.

Easy to adopt & scale

Put simply, OpenSpace Field turns your smartphone into a true jobsite tool—technology built for the field, not retrofitted for it. In fact, early customer Suffolk Construction reports:

• 85% faster issue logging
• 95% completion of all required data fields, including trades, drawings, zones, locations, due dates, and task owners

An issue that used to take 3–5 minutes to log—and often happened after the walk—can now be done in about 30 seconds. While teams are still in the field. Doing their normal work.

Because OpenSpace Field works how you do and requires minimal training, you’ll see high adoption across projects of all sizes. That equates to richer data for every team, and compounding value over time.

OpenSpace Field completely changed our inspection process. What used to take 3–4 hours now takes 30 minutes, and issues no longer get missed or ignored. With every item documented by photo and exact location, our subcontractors know exactly what to fix, and we can clearly verify it was done. The result is not just speed. It is work that actually gets done.

Advancing the OpenSpace Visual Intelligence Platform

OpenSpace Field marks a major step in our transformation to a Visual Intelligence Platform. Working alongside our industry-leading 360° reality capture, this new set of capabilities turns jobsite reality into actionable intelligence, connecting what teams see on-site to the actions and decisions that move projects forward. This launch is just the beginning of our investment in image-first, field-driven workflows that reduce risk, increase speed, and bring clarity to construction.

Get started with OpenSpace Field

The future of construction starts in the field. And now the technology does too. This is more than better documentation. It’s clearer communication and speedier resolution, powered by the field. OpenSpace Field improves QA/QC and safety workflows, reduces unnecessary complexity for the people doing the work, and turns jobsite reality into real intelligence.

• OpenSpace Field will automatically roll out to most customers throughout February—reach out to your OpenSpace representative to learn more
• If you’re not a customer, our team can give you a quick demo to see how OpenSpace Field fits into your projects
• Get an overview on our website

The post New OpenSpace Field—powered by AI Autolocation appeared first on OpenSpace.

And solutions like OpenSpace Air make these tasks easy to achieve. With OpenSpace Air, it’s simple to add drone imagery into our Visual Intelligence Platform, where we process it automatically, and connect it with other project data for a complete view of your site.

Here’s a look at these top five use cases:

1. Progress tracking & documentation

The first way drones support construction project management is by helping you track progress over time. With drones, you can capture high-resolution aerial imagery that provides a clear record of how work is advancing—without needing to walk every inch of the site.

Key benefits:

• Start documenting even before a shovel hits the ground, for visibility from the start
• Reduce time spent on manual documentation
• Improve accountability and transparency
• Get a visual as-built record for billing, disputes, and reporting

Real-world example:

A general contractor using OpenSpace Air uploads drone captures weekly to automatically generate orthomosaics and 3D meshes. Project managers can then use Split View to compare up to four captures side by side to display progress over the course of multiple weeks or months, spot deviations from design intent early with the drawing overlay feature, and share progress visuals directly with owners—all without leaving the OpenSpace platform.

2. Site surveys & mapping

Drones have become an essential tool for site surveying and preconstruction planning. Specifically, you can capture accurate topographical data and generate maps and point clouds in a fraction of the time it takes using traditional surveying methods.

Key benefits:

• Faster, safer, and more cost-effective than manual surveys
• Accurate measurements for grading, drainage, and layout
• Easier logistic planning
• High-quality data that integrates with BIM and CAD tools

Real-world example:

Civil contractors use OpenSpace Air to automatically create 3D meshes and orthomosaics from standard drone flights. You can easily export the resulting files into the formats you need for uploading into tools like ArcGIS and Civil 3D for accurate planning and design validation.

3. Safety & risk management

Our next use case for taking advantage of drone imagery in construction is improving safety with remote inspections and monitoring. Instead of sending folks into hazardous or hard-to-reach areas, you can use drones to safely capture images and videos from above.

Key benefits:

• Keep crews out of unsafe environments
• Identify potential hazards earlier
• Help safety managers validate compliance, anytime and from anywhere

Real-world example:

A safety manager uses a drone to capture aerial overviews of their active zones and staging areas. After ingesting drone imagery into OpenSpace Air, they can layer the captures with site plans to verify barricade placement and ensure clear pathways for equipment and on-site teams. You can make these visuals, plus every drone image geolocated over the base map in full resolution, available to the rest of the safety team and pertinent stakeholders.

4. Earthwork & volume analysis

Drones make earthwork and volume measurement faster, easier, and more accurate than ever. By comparing drone-generated topographic data over time, teams can calculate cut-and-fill volumes and accurately monitor progress.

Key benefits:

• Reduce the need for manual measurement
• Assess grading, drainage, and cut-fill areas with heatmaps and measurement tools
• Track quantities and productivity
• Help validate subcontractor invoices and avoid disputes

Real-world example:

Using OpenSpace Air, site engineers analyze grading and excavation areas with cut-fill functionality and elevation models generated from their drone captures. That gives them more accurate reporting and reduced risk of costly over-excavation.

Note that 2D and 3D measurement functionality will be launching in OpenSpace Air in the coming weeks. With these powerful and accurate measurement capabilities, users will be able to streamline site analysis, improve accuracy, and reduce manual surveying time for construction and earthwork projects.

5. Stakeholder communication & reporting

Drone imagery is super effective for keeping all stakeholders informed. Having high-quality visuals makes it easy to clearly communicate project updates to clients, investors, and leadership teams—without requiring technical expertise.

Key benefits:

• Simplify complex information with imagery
• Build trust and transparency with clients
• Improve collaboration across teams

Real-world example:

Owners and developers use OpenSpace Air to help create visual reports that combine aerial and 360° captures. Everyone—from executives to field teams—can see progress and make faster, more confident decisions.

OpenSpace Air—drones in the Visual Intelligence Platform

With OpenSpace Air, you can upload imagery from any drone and we’ll automatically create high-quality orthomosaics, 3D meshes, and point clouds. With drone imagery added to our Visual Intelligence Platform, you have a single, easy-to-use place to access all your site imagery—from drones, smartphones, 360° cameras, and laser scanners.

The result? Clarity from every angle—making it fast and easy to turn imagery into intelligence you can use to manage projects efficiently, reduce risk, and make decisions with confidence.

FAQs about drone use cases in construction

1. How are drones used in construction project management?

Drones are used for surveying, progress tracking, inspections, logistic planning, and reporting. They capture high-quality visual data that helps teams manage sites safely, efficiently, and accurately.

2. What are the benefits of drones in construction?

Drone imagery improves visibility from day zero, reduces site visits, enhances safety, and saves time. You can also use your drone data to generate accurate documentation for billing, QA/QC, and schedule tracking.

3. Can drones integrate with project management tools?

Yes. Platforms like OpenSpace Air can help you manage and produce drone data that can be ingested into popular tools such as ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, Autodesk systems like ACC and Civil 3D; plus project management systems like Procore and many more. All creating one central source of truth for project reality.

4. How do drones reduce risk in construction?

By capturing aerial data quickly and safely, drones minimize the need for manual inspections and provide early warnings of safety or schedule issues, helping teams take proactive action.

Want to learn more about OpenSpace Air?

• Grab time with one of our experts to chat and see OpenSpace Air in action, or contact your OpenSpace representative if you’re already an OpenSpace customer
• Head to our OpenSpace Air web page
• Read our FAQs for OpenSpace Air blog post
• Watch Director of Product Jess Lam’s talk about OpenSpace Air from Waypoint 2025

The post Top five use cases for drones in construction project management appeared first on OpenSpace.

While OpenSpace is incredibly easy to use, people often ask us for best practices for the most effective construction site walks with our 360° reality capture. And we’re glad you asked, because small adjustments and best practices can go a long way.

So here are our top five tips for successful construction site walks with OpenSpace.

1. Good lighting and a clean lens matter

As in other types of photography, good lighting makes all the difference. In the case of 360° photo documentation software, strong light helps your camera take high-resolution images while minimizing motion blur. If the space you’re documenting has poorly lit areas, we recommend hardhat lighting options like the Litra Torch or Illumagear Halo. You can always reach out to OpenSpace Support for advice on recommendations for your particular jobsite.

It’s also important to keep your lens clean—wipe it off before you go on a site walk and don’t touch it with your fingers. Lens wipes work the best, but you can also use a microfiber cloth to give your lens a quick wipe before you head out.

Notes:

• If lighting or other conditions were poor and you need to adjust the quality of an image, you can use our image enhancement tools, including AI Image Enhance.

When viewing your images, you can also choose to show the best frames in your OpenSpace captures. In the 360° pano viewer, select Capture path settings and toggle on Show best frames. As you navigate, the clearest images in your path will be indicated with a circular icon.

2. Walk the site with ease

Simply walk the space, taking it all in, with no hurry in mind—knowing that the camera will document all 360 degrees around. No need to look up/down/left/right—we’ve got your imagery covered. What is important is to make sure you cover all the areas of the site—complete coverage ensures you capture everything (you never know what you may need to uncover later). Walking within 10 feet of items is a perfect distance—any closer than 5 feet distance may impact the image quality. 

To illustrate this point, below are examples of two site walks. In the second picture, you can see that the walker captured each room and covered significantly more ground. This approach will help your team in the long run with richer 360° photo documentation and the ability to compare locations on different dates.

3. Identify your current location in the app

If your project has multiple levels or areas, remember to upload all relevant sheets to OpenSpace before walking your site. Then, make sure to start a new capture on the correct sheet in the OpenSpace app every time you move between levels or areas during your site walk. This will ensure your location is captured accurately and reduce the processing time of your 360° photo documentation.

Scan and go. If you have numerous floors you typically walk, you can also use our QuickCodes feature. You’ll generate QR codes and place them on-site at your regular capture start locations. Then simply scan the code and your 360° capture automatically starts—with the correct project, floor plan, and location already selected. Save valuable time on capturing and on training new users—no detailed instructions or onboarding sessions needed.

4. Create Field Notes during your walk for richer documentation

With our Field Notes feature, you can document something you see in greater detail while you’re performing a site capture with your 360° camera. Field Notes organizes 2D images and comments in OpenSpace, mapped to the floor plan and in context of the project. This feature is great for keeping track of observations, flagging issues, streamlining punch lists, speeding up RFIs, and more. (Plus they integrate with tools like Procore and ACC.)

Here’s how it works: While capturing a site during a 360° capture, tap the camera button in the OpenSpace mobile app, snap a photo (as many as you desire), and add your images to a Field Note. Then add all relevant information—descriptions, markups, comments, attachments, due dates, and more to describe the context of your Field Note. OpenSpace automatically timestamps and pins these notes to your floor plan. And don’t worry, creating a Field Note won’t disrupt your 360° capture process, feel free to continue your walk.

5. Lastly—upload your walk how you want

When you’re done with your walk, you can upload the images directly from your mobile device. Or, if you have many captures to upload, your captures are lengthy, or you have spotty WiFi coverage, head back to your computer and upload your video with our Desktop Sync App.

Learn more and get in touch

Here are some helpful resources related to this article. If you’re interested in starting with OpenSpace to document your construction projects, reach out to talk to one of our experts and to get a personalized demo. 

• Use case: documentation
• All about Field Notes
• Support articles: 
  • Walking the Project Site with OpenSpace
  • Supported 360 Cameras
  • Camera Comparison Guide
  • Enhancing Your 360° Captures

The post Using 360° photo documentation technology: 5 tips for more effective construction site walks appeared first on OpenSpace.

During the conversation and live demo we received some great questions from attendees. In this blog we’ve answered questions covering use cases, functionality, and reporting. (If you missed the webinar, you can watch the on-demand recording.)

Type of projects and use cases for OpenSpace Progress Tracking

Is there a minimum size required for objects to be recognized for tracking?

OpenSpace Progress Tracking can pick up anything visually distinguishable in an image, including small items such as sockets and sprinkler heads.

With the recent launch of OpenSpace Air, is there a plan to incorporate and apply progress tracking to exterior and site work scopes?

Drone imagery in OpenSpace Air can already be used to track exterior and site work scopes.

Can OpenSpace Progress Tracking be used for heavy civil projects?

Yes, the ideal approach for heavy civil projects is to capture with drones and use OpenSpace Air to process and host the images which will provide the visual context to track progress in the OpenSpace platform.

Does OpenSpace Progress Tracking work for one-off buildings like sewer and water plants, or is it only meant for highly repeatable buildings, such as high rises and hospitals?

OpenSpace Progress Tracking works on repeatable and one-off bespoke projects—any project where objective data can provide insights to help your teams solve challenges like labor shortages, tight schedules, and limited budget.

Can your solution track industrial piping and civil work?

Yes, you can track industrial piping to get valuable insights on civil construction projects.

Are subcontractors using the product and if so, how?

Yes, a variety of subcontractors are using OpenSpace Progress Tracking to manage schedules, monitor progress, and prepare and review payment applications.

Can the system isolate and track specific scopes or work? For example, for electrical or mechanical trades?

Yes, we work with our customers to define the tracking scope, adapting to each customer’s needs. We have projects where we deliver full schedule tracking (all trackable tasks in the schedule) and more focused projects where we may work with the drywall or electrical trade on a select few tasks, to a higher depth of detail.

Is BIM mandatory or can I track just with PDF drawings?

If you’re using BIM, it’s a helpful design tool to support tracking, but it’s not required. OpenSpace Progress Tracking can be set up, and works well, with PDF drawings only.

As a drywall subcontractor we get a PDF schedule from the general contractor. Would that be enough to upload and track progress against the schedule?

Yes, that will be enough to track progress against the schedule and to leverage the full OpenSpace Progress Tracking feature set. The only missing functionality in this case is the ability to export schedule data back into the native file.

If we’re using a model, what if it’s not fully complete and is being worked on through the construction project?

We understand that change is a constant in the AEC industry. Updates to the model and schedule or programme are made by our team on request. If the model itself won’t be complete enough for tracking over the course of the project, PDF construction drawings are enough to set up OpenSpace Progress Tracking. We’ll also process any changes to the model or drawings throughout the lifecycle of the project. For example, if we’re tracking ductwork appearing in the room, but is different from what’s modelled, we’ll still track it based on the path specified in drawings or flag that it’s not following the documentation.

Can 360° captures differentiate varying heights at the same location, e.g., on top of a catwalk vs. underneath a catwalk?

To avoid any issues when capturing varying heights on one location we recommend switching to a separate catwalk floorplan before going up. Our team is currently working on an improved multilevel capture experience.

Can you upload terrestrial LiDAR scans?

Yes, you can import terrestrial LiDAR scans to the OpenSpace platform to inform progress tracking.

How frequently do I need to capture to ensure successful progress tracking?

For best results, we typically recommend doing a comprehensive capture once a week. However we’ll work with you to recommend an appropriate cadence if you prefer less frequent progress updates.

Do we need an employee focused only on capturing and OpenSpace Progress Tracking, or can this be handled by a project engineer or supervisor in addition to their existing responsibilities?

OpenSpace captures are typically done by a project engineer during their daily site walks. The images from OpenSpace Capture and the data delivered by OpenSpace Progress Tracking are then accessible for all roles and teams, including superintendents, project managers and executives, schedulers, operations leaders, and owners.

Have owners or design teams been fully accepting of uploading proprietary drawings, CAD/Revit files, schedules, etc.?

We haven’t had any issues receiving design documents like drawings and models. OpenSpace keeps all received documentation confidential. You can learn more about data privacy and security on the OpenSpace Trust Center.

Output and reporting

How long does it take to get progress tracking reports after doing a 360° video capture with OpenSpace?

The typical turnaround time is 24-48 hours. We align with customers on an agreed delivery day for the progress reports and a cutoff point for the captures one or two days prior to ensure timely processing.

When a project is complete, do you offer a final report that wraps up, or averages, the installation time per activity?

This particular format is not currently part of the standard reporting suite, but we’re open to supporting customers with custom reports or providing the data. Contact your OpenSpace rep or request an OpenSpace Progress Tracking demo here.

Does OpenSpace Progress Tracking provide details on the differences between the schedule and completed work?

Yes, with our schedule integration, we provide a variety of options to show the progress of planned vs. actual work on the platform.

How do you update the status of activities?

We use project documentation to identify the completed state of each activity. When an OpenSpace capture is completed, we identify changes from one week to the next and assesses the completion status of each activity, using a hybrid-AI approach and in-house expert teams of construction professionals to ensure accurate and comprehensive progress outputs.

Does OpenSpace Progress Tracking provide a comparison between captures across different dates? And are insights on progress highlighted on the photos?

With our issue tags feature you can review any issues detected (rework, non-conformance to documentation, etc.) between different capture dates in a side-by-side view. Insights on progress changes are presented in the platform UI and in reports, including an ability to view the progress highlights for each space while viewing the photo. OpenSpace Progress Tracking does not separately highlight each changed element in the photo.

Can OpenSpace Progress Tracking update BIM parameters to highlight elements which have been installed?

This functionality is something we are working on. Stay tuned for updates.

Is OpenSpace Progress Tracking compatible with Microsoft Project?

Yes, you can use Microsoft Project schedules for tracking against planned data.

Can the percent complete on each phase code be uploaded directly into Vista?

We do not currently have a direct integration with Vista. However, Vista can import CSV files so users can convert the provided Excel reports to CSV and import to Vista. 

Is there an integration with Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)?

Since OpenSpace has a direct integration with ACC, we can explore importing compatible data. If given access, we can process project documentation from ACC. 

Learn more about OpenSpace Progress Tracking

• OpenSpace Progress Tracking on-demand webinar
• OpenSpace Progress Tracking product page
• OpenSpace Academy online course

Get a demo

We’re happy to talk to you about implementing OpenSpace Progress Tracking on your projects. Request a demo now!

The post OpenSpace Progress Tracking: frequently asked questions appeared first on OpenSpace.

We invite you to watch the entire OpenSpace Air webinar on demand (it runs just around 30 minutes), but in this blog we’re sharing questions and answers from the lively chat during the event.

Drone hardware and best practices

Do you recommend any particular drone when starting out?

OpenSpace Air is drone agnostic, meaning you can use any drone that captures georeferenced images. OpenSpace Air works with any JPG images with GPS data captured by any drone or drone app. Images can be processed into orthomosaics, point clouds, and 3D meshes or pinned to the map as additional images. Both manually captured or images from automated flights work. We’re seeing many customers adopting the Mavic 3E, but note this drone is on the more expensive side if you’re not sure you’ll be flying regularly.

Is there a minimum size or weight for a drone?

No, there is no required minimum size or weight required for OpenSpace Air. Be sure to follow local and federal regulations in your area.

Do pilots flying drones under 250 grams still need a license for commercial use?

Yes. Using a drone for commercial purposes requires a license.

Is an 8K camera drone sufficient quality?

More than sufficient. For example, customers are seeing great results with the Mavic 3E, which has a 4K camera with a robust lens and 20 megapixels.

Do the drones need RTK?

OpenSpace Air supports real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) integrated drones but does not require RTK. The RTK data is stored as metadata in the images, which increases the GPS accuracy.

For drones with waypoint flight planning, what height-to-overlap ratio do you recommend?

We recommend following the flight app’s recommended ratio. For best results, capture a minimum of 75% overlap and 65% sidelap. Learn more in our Drone Capture Best Practices Support article.

Is there a way to increase image quality?

Image quality is dependent on the drone and camera you’re using. Some drones allow you to adjust image settings using the drone manufacturer’s app.

What are the recommended settings to get higher quality 3D outputs?

With most photogrammetry engines, the images you use, the angle, differences in elevation, and overall coverage can have an effect on the processing outputs. For higher quality 3D meshes and point clouds, we recommend capturing oblique images with a camera angle of 30°-45° to get more detail of vertical faces. Find more information in our Drone Capture Best Practices Support article.

Can you upload images from the drone remote control or SD card into OpenSpace Air?

Yes, you can download images from the controller or SD card to your computer, and then upload into OpenSpace Air. Follow these steps for uploading drone images.

OpenSpace Air access and features

Is there an additional cost to use OpenSpace Air for existing OpenSpace customers?

Any company with an active OpenSpace Capture subscription has access to OpenSpace Air drone mapping software at no additional cost, including on projects where you are not using OpenSpace Capture. Drone image processing for maps and 3D outputs is available on unlimited projects. The integration of these two solutions ensures that all your site data—whether captured via drones or 360° cameras—is centralized in one platform, making project tracking and analysis more efficient.

Can OpenSpace Air use AI/machine learning yet?

There are a number of AI models running in the background in OpenSpace and more to come.

How do you overlay using OpenSpace Air (versus side by side)?

In OpenSpace Air, you’ll find an overlay menu on the left side. Use that menu to upload PDF files you can use as overlays over your processed orthomosaic images. This feature is great for determining if work is going according to plan. Follow this step-by-step guide to get started with overlays.

Can you communicate and collaborate between users in OpenSpace Air?

Yes, your uploaded drone captures are available to all users with access to the project. OpenSpace Air takes image-based collaboration to a new level. Integrating aerial drone data into OpenSpace gives you a one-stop shop for a complete picture of your jobsite. Now, in addition to imagery from 360° cameras, mobile devices, and laser scanners, you can easily view, manage, and analyze imagery from drones—all on the OpenSpace platform.

Is the Beta phase completed? Can my company join the Beta test?

The initial Beta is complete, but we’ll be launching Beta programs for future features. Let your OpenSpace representative know if you’d like to be included.

OpenSpace Air roadmap

Will you have connections between OpenSpace Air and BIM in OpenSpace—overlapping point clouds with BIM files?

This functionality is something we’re currently exploring—with the goal of ensuring all files can be viewed in the same environment/screen. Stay tuned for updates.

Will we be able to do comparisons in 3D mode (similar to how you can compare 3 or 4 different captures now in 2D mode)?

We do not currently support comparisons in 3D mode, but it’s a great idea! We passed this feature request along to our product and development team.

I saw that you can add additional images to the drone captures. Do the images need to be standard images, or can they be 360° captures?

For now, we support standard 2D images, but 360° photos will be supported later this year.

What about laser scans in OpenSpace Air?

With OpenSpace BIM+, you can already bring point clouds from laser scanners into OpenSpace. We may explore the ability to bring point clouds into OpenSpace Air in the future.

Does OpenSpace Air have cut/fill and measure tools?

These features will be available in an upcoming update.

Any plans for vertical facade inspections?

Yes—this is something we’re exploring for delivery later this year.

Do you plan to add an option for manual georeferencing for more accurate spatial positioning?

Yes, we plan to ship georeferencing capabilities later this year.

Do you have plans to adopt drone stations?

We’re actively monitoring drone station adoption. If your team is using them—or plans to—please let your OpenSpace representative know.

Learn more about OpenSpace Air

• OpenSpace Air on-demand webinar
• OpenSpace Air product page
• Support articles
• Blog post: OpenSpace Air launch
• OpenSpace Academy online course

Get a demo

We’re happy to talk to you about implementing OpenSpace Air on your projects. Request a demo now!

The post FAQs for OpenSpace Air—your easy tool to manage drone-captured data appeared first on OpenSpace.

Why seamless technology implementation matters

For a successful technology adoption and to maximize your return on investment, it’s important to make sure your new tool is fully integrated into everyday workflows.

OpenSpace delivers value by helping teams boost productivity, improve collaboration, and reduce risk through efficient site documentation. With consistent use, OpenSpace gives you clear visual records that help lower costs and minimize rework across every phase of a construction project. When implementation is seamless, you’ll see that adoption happens naturally, and real value emerges from the start.

What to consider before you get started

To set your teams up for success, be sure to define and agree on the specific use cases you want the platform to support—for example streamlining coordination meetings, improving QA/QC, or creating better documentation for handoff.

It’s also important to identify key stakeholders early on. Project managers, superintendents, tech leads, and anyone responsible for documentation should be brought into the process from the beginning. Defining roles and responsibilities ensures everyone knows who is doing what—whether it’s setting up projects, capturing site data, or managing access. As one of our customers wisely noted, “It’s not just about the tech—it’s about making sure people understand and own the process.”

How to set up your first project in OpenSpace

Setting up your first project in OpenSpace is designed to be intuitive. It only takes a few clicks. You begin by creating a new project with just a name and address.

From there, you upload your floor plans—these can be traditional architectural sheets, Google Maps screenshots, or even hand-drawn layouts created in tools like MS Paint. The idea is to remove any barrier to entry. Once uploaded, you can select and rename sheets to make them easily identifiable for your field teams.

OpenSpace is built to be flexible, so you can get started with whatever you have available. Once you have your floorplans ready, you can start capturing.

Getting the right hardware for the job

OpenSpace works with affordable, off-the-shelf 360° cameras, such as the Ricoh Theta or Insta360. These are the same types of cameras people take on ski trips—durable, simple, and cost-effective. For easy capturing simply attach the camera to your hardhat or use a selfie stick to position the camera at optimal heights.

Additional accessories like external battery packs are useful for longer site walks, and good lighting is essential for capturing high-quality images, especially in dimly lit environments. A lens cap also goes a long way in protecting your equipment between uses.

How to get the best results

Capturing site data effectively is all about consistency and coverage. Walks should be thorough—cover the entire site, including every hallway and room. To build a complete visual history of your project, establish a regular capture schedule, such as weekly site walks. Plus, capture your site before major construction milestones like concrete pours or drywall installation.

Documenting with OpenSpace is intuitive and easy, with features like heat maps to show where you’ve walked before. For the best image quality, keep your camera lens clean and ensure the site is well-lit.

Integrating OpenSpace into your daily workflows

OpenSpace is designed to enhance your current workflows—not replace them. One of our most powerful tools that puts your visual data to work is the Field Notes feature—it enables teams to capture punch items, safety issues, or general observations directly from the mobile app or desktop. Field Notes are automatically mapped to your floor plans, customizable with tags, statuses, and attachments, and integrate with platforms like Procore and Autodesk Construction Cloud.

OpenSpace also offers permissions settings to ensure the right people have the appropriate level of access, from organization admins to project viewers. Flexible permission options allow you to share specific data with stakeholders, subcontractors, or owners while keeping control over the full project view.

Scaling OpenSpace across projects

Once you’ve successfully implemented OpenSpace on one project, expanding to other projects can take just a few clicks. From your organization’s dashboard, you can easily create new projects and manage them individually.

The Admin Portal allows you to track key metrics such as capture frequency, top users, and Field Note volume. Export reports to CSV files, and, with the Usage API, create custom dashboards in tools like Power BI to monitor adoption and impact. One OpenSpace customer, McLaren, rolled out the platform across 34 active projects in just eight months—an impressive testament to its scalability and ease of use.

Support when you need it

Your OpenSpace team is here to support you every step of the way. Solutions Engineers can assist with onboarding, training sessions, and technical questions. Account Executives are available for commercial inquiries, and our dedicated 24/7 support team is always ready to help with anything from camera setup to troubleshooting.

For ongoing education, the OpenSpace Academy offers step-by-step online courses and certification options—available to customers or anyone exploring the platform.

Want to learn more about how to implement OpenSpace for maximum value?

Here are some resources you might find useful:

• [Webinar] Insights for success: implementing OpenSpace and accelerating adoption
• [Webinar] Getting the most out of reality capture: how to quantify value, savings & productivity
• [Blog] Construction tech enterprise rollouts—advice from the experts
• [Support Center] Getting started with OpenSpace

If you’re ready to transform how your team documents and manages jobsites, request your personalized demo here.

The post Best practices for adopting OpenSpace at scale appeared first on OpenSpace.

So we brought two of those experts to the table—James Eaton (Head of Digital Delivery at McLaren Construction Group) and Angelos Nicolaou (CEO at SEKTOR)—to hear their best practices for minimizing challenges organizations face when introducing new tech (reality capture and beyond), driving adoption, managing change, and scaling enterprise-wide. They both are in the business of avoiding wasting money (and we mean big money) on technology that never gets adopted.

This blog post summarizes the conversation Tamas Borodi from OpenSpace had with James and Angelos. We highly recommend watching the complete webinar for every nugget of advice, brought to life with real-world examples.

What to consider before jumping into a company-wide implementation

Tamas asked our panelists what factors they look at to determine if a technology solution is a candidate for implementation across an organization. James explained that step one is to look at the underlying process of what you want to improve:

• Does your company already have a defined process for the problem you’re trying to improve with technology?
• Bring in the key stakeholders right away to either define or refine the process, and to outline the future, improved process. If you implement a solution without involving stakeholders, they’ll feel like the tech was “done to them,” rather than being done with them—stakeholder involvement guarantees better results.
• Get your stakeholder requirements done before you start evaluating tech options.

Angelos agreed it’s important to clearly understand the job you want a new solution to do for you. He often sees companies buy a technology because it’s the trend, rather than truly understanding the actual job they want the platform to do. You can only be ready to roll something out enterprise-wide when you’ve clearly defined what the software solves for you.

We very often find that companies buy technologies because it’s the trend, but they don’t really think about “what is the job that I’m hiring this product to do for me”?

Ensuring a new solution supports your objectives

Before you can drive adoption of a technology, it needs to support your overall business strategy and objectives. In short, the tech should lead to profit. Angelos shared that a technology should always result in profit, whether by increasing revenue or improving efficiency. Data shows that technologies can increase productivity and output by 25-30%. If the solution you’re considering isn’t adding up to that kind of savings, you need to find out why.

When building a business case for a new construction technology solution, including getting buy-in from the board, ask how the tech will:

• Reduce your risk.
• Increase overall productivity.
• Protect your profit margin.
• Help with compliance and legislation your organization is facing (e.g., health and safety, the Building Safety Act in the UK).

Choosing the right vendor

You’ve done your due diligence in defining the problem you want to solve and your business objectives. You involved all the stakeholders. You know what type of technology solution fits the bill. So now you’re ready to choose a vendor—a big decision that must lead to adoption. James and Angelos have strong feelings about making the right choice. To start, a smart approach is to look at best-in-class providers for the problem you’re trying to solve.

• Launch a formal request for proposal (RFP) process with clearly defined requirements. You can do this in two phases: long lists, then short lists.
• Integration—take a look at your entire tech stack. A new technology must fit into your existing tech stack, so engage your IT department to ensure a new tool integrates well with your other tools. Be sure your IT requirements are very clear.
• Do you trust the people on the other side of the table? More than a vendor, you should look for a trusted partner. Are they transparent and a cultural fit? If you hit bumps, your requirements change, or their roadmap changes, you need to have confidence the company will be with you all the way.
• Run a pilot. Running a pilot puts the new tech to the test. Rather than confine a pilot to your tech/innovation team or the C-suite, make sure your end users are involved from the start. They’re the ones who can pressure test if the tool is easy to use, and therefore easy to scale. Any solution that’s too complex for the end user will sit on the shelf, and fail. James shared that when you have delighted end users, you don’t have to worry about much else!

You should be buying best-in-breed for what you’re trying to solve, and then make sure you get the integration right with your tech stack.

Top challenges of technology implementation

Angelos and James stress that securing management buy-in from the start is paramount, and maintaining their engagement is critical. Senior leadership should continually communicate with their teams, reiterating the importance of using the new technology. Even when you’ve chosen a solution that’s easy to use, change can be challenging, especially for experienced field team members who have successfully delivered projects in the past.

But change is key to remaining competitive, so ensuring senior management is on board and that they’re communicating value is important for implementation—and adoption. Your total cost of ownership includes adoption, which you should account for from the start.

Some companies don’t think about the adoption piece when they buy a new technology. You have to think about the total cost of ownership, which includes adoption. If you don’t account for that from the beginning, you are destined to fail. And that’s why digital transformation [across all industries] has a 70% failure rate.

For any enterprise rollout:

• Define a set of key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Report up to the board level on adoption and feedback.
• Look at league tables to compare adoption and drive further engagement.

Keeping the momentum and scaling your technology

To keep the momentum going, be sure you have people who will own the relationship going forward with your vendor. This team should meet with your vendor regularly, e.g., monthly, to review your KPIs, reporting, and discuss any issues. (A vendor who is a true partner will be on board with ongoing check-ins, open to feedback, and sharing what’s on their roadmap.) Plus, this team will be a crucial resource as you scale. You can’t simply push a button to roll out a construction technology enterprise-wide, so have enough people resources as you grow. James shared that by following those best practices, McLaren was able to scale OpenSpace to 34 live jobs across the business within 8 months.

You have to talk within your own company. Talk upwards and with the end user. Build a relationship with your enterprise partner, where you feel you can have an open dialogue, all the time. They’re not just a provider of a service. They’re a true partner.

Tamas asked Angelos and James their top tips for ensuring a technology is scalable:

• When your technology solves an obvious problem, it makes it easier to scale. The best way to demonstrate the potential value across your organization is sharing how the technology is solving the problem where it’s rolled out already.
• Adhere to your governance framework. When you’ve set a benchmark for using a technology (e.g., capturing your jobsite weekly or running scheduled reports), be relentless in measuring the benefits and following the framework.
• Keep communicating the benefits of the technology. Remind people about the process you were using before, and why it’s better now. Hone in on the values that are important for different stakeholders:
  • Internal drop-in sessions for user feedback.
  • Slack/Teams channel for sharing experiences and knowledge.
  • Inviting someone from a project that’s using the tech to talk to the team who will be implementing the solution.
• Learn from experience. Gather your stakeholders and have each person share their challenges and what worked. Document these learnings.

Measuring success

What metrics or KPIs should organizations track to get a pulse on the success of a tech adoption? Angelos and James shared these examples and bits of wisdom:

• Is the technology increasing your profitability?
• Is the new technology making you more productive? Are you managing more projects with the same amount of resources?
• What are your adoption numbers, and are they matching up to your benchmarks? It’s ok if your benchmarks aren’t perfect—the important thing is you are doing those measurements and creating conversation. You can refine benchmarks as time goes by, based on discussion and new learnings.

James stressed that you don’t need to over-analyze. In fact, he said, “If people are talking and getting excited and animated, you’re probably ok!”

Learn more and get in touch

For the full conversation on how to roll out new construction technology solutions across your enterprise, you can watch the webinar on-demand anytime: From pilot to enterprise solution: How to successfully roll out new technological solutions across your projects with McLaren and SEKTOR.

If you’re interested in learning about implementing OpenSpace for the first time, or expanding in your organization, let’s chat!

The post Construction tech enterprise rollouts—advice from the experts appeared first on OpenSpace.

Companies using OpenSpace are seeing real gains: faster documentation, clearer progress tracking, and fewer rework cycles, all while reducing costs and streamlining communication between the field and office.

Tackling common subcontractor pain points with AI

Subcontractors use construction AI technology from OpenSpace to tackle these challenges visually and efficiently:

• Material overruns: Instead of relying on guesswork or outdated plans, subcontractors can turn to their OpenSpace capture data to validate install areas, reducing costly over-ordering.
• Delays and inefficient scheduling: OpenSpace integrates with scheduling platforms to help you visualize exactly where work is progressing, or stalling. Easily see areas of concern and intervene before delays cascade.
• Poor coordination: Trade stacking and miscommunication are frequent issues on the jobsite. OpenSpace creates a shared visual reference that eliminates confusion, so trades can coordinate effectively without stepping on each other’s toes.
• Compliance and documentation: With automatic 360° photo capture and AI-driven progress mapping, OpenSpace creates records that have your back. Subcontractors have the visual documentation they need to protect themselves in disputes, support change orders, and ensure compliance without drowning in paperwork.

A subcontractor’s competitive edge: AI from OpenSpace

With unclear documentation, subcontractors are bound to face issues like inaccurate takeoffs, inefficient site coordination, and delays. With OpenSpace, you can avoid those inefficiencies—our computer vision and AI-driven insights provide a near real-time visual representation of your jobsite you can access anytime, anywhere.

Field teams using OpenSpace report:

• Up to 50% faster issue resolution through photo-verified context
• Dramatic reduction in travel and rework
• Increased billing accuracy with verified progress documentation

OpenSpace turns your jobsite into a source of reliable, AI-analyzed data that supports better decisions, faster workflows, and clearer accountability.

Beyond the promise of construction AI technology

McKinsey research shows AI technology boosts construction productivity by 15% while reducing costs by 5%. These numbers demand, and deserve, attention, but choosing the right solutions and rolling them out successfully requires strategic planning.

Adopting AI in your subcontracting business doesn’t mean overhauling everything at once. A new solution needs to fit your existing workflows, not disrupt them.

If you’re looking to implement OpenSpace, here’s a rough outline for getting started:

1. Start with a pilot project. Use OpenSpace on one job to compare traditional workflows vs. AI-driven insights.
2. Define success metrics like time saved, rework reduced, or billing accuracy improved.
3. Train your teams. OpenSpace’s intuitive UI and dedicated support make onboarding easy, but involving your team from the start is important.
4. Scale across projects. Once your team sees the value, expanding to other projects is straightforward with OpenSpace.

Adding OpenSpace to your tech stack is a big decision—you need to know that your team will use it. That’s why we built our solutions to be easy to use, and easy to scale. Capturing your site is as easy as walking with a 360° camera. From there, our AI does the heavy lifting—analyzing, mapping, and transforming that data into actionable insights.

OpenSpace customers are the proof

Subcontractors use OpenSpace to:

• Track progress daily without needing extra manpower.
• Validate work completed for billing or inspection.
• Share visual updates with GCs and owners instantly.
• Document hidden work (pre-cover) to avoid future liability.

Compared to traditional methods, subcontractors using OpenSpace report:

• 25–50% faster progress validation
• 30%+ fewer site visits required
• Improved trust with GCs and clients due to increased transparency

The future is visual—and it’s already here

Subcontractors thriving today are those who embrace AI-powered tools like OpenSpace. From drywall and framing to MEP and finishes, trades are using OpenSpace to bring clarity to the chaos, reduce waste, and build smarter.

In an industry where margins are tight and timelines are tighter, the difference between surviving and thriving lies in the tools you use. With OpenSpace, you’re not just documenting your work, you’re proving it, improving it, and getting paid for it.

Ready to see how OpenSpace can make your subcontracting business more efficient? Let’s talk. 

The post Construction AI — making subcontractors more efficient appeared first on OpenSpace.

And the data speaks volumes about AI’s impact on core project management functions. Project teams using construction AI-powered tools report 58% gains in efficiency through automated expense tracking and resource optimization.

Construction projects require extensive planning phases which might span multiple years before breaking ground. Construction AI systems can process vast datasets from past projects, identifying patterns human managers might miss. The results? Sharper risk forecasts, better-informed decisions, and fewer costly surprises during execution. This shift marks a fundamental change in how construction teams can approach project planning and delivery.

AI-powered planning and design phase

The construction industry wastes nearly 70% of its activities on non-value-added tasks. AI-assisted design systems tackle this challenge by automating time-consuming work like drawing set production, component identification, and code compliance verification. With AI assistance, design teams can dedicate more hours to creative problem-solving instead of repetitive documentation.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) stands at the forefront of this technological advancement. AI-enhanced BIM platforms analyze project data to generate optimal design solutions, creating digital twins of buildings’ physical and functional elements. The technology’s most significant impact  is automated clash detection—a process that previously consumed countless hours now identifies system conflicts before they become costly site problems.

Project teams report exceeding client objectives across multiple metrics thanks to generative design—from reduced carbon footprints to increased occupant satisfaction. Autodesk’s generative design solutions for example, results in higher quality work, greater speed/productivity, and lower costs.

Predictive analytics reshapes how teams approach project planning. These sophisticated systems examine historical data to spot potential issues human designers might overlook, enabling proactive risk management. The results speak for themselves: AI-powered cost estimation achieves 97% accuracy when analyzing past project data, while construction teams produce more reliable budgets and timelines.

Smart sustainability features round out the design capability enhancements boosted by AI. The technology optimizes energy-intensive systems, from HVAC to lighting. Through advanced simulations, teams can evaluate multiple scenarios to identify the most energy-efficient solutions, meeting strict sustainability requirements while reducing long-term operational expenses.

Data-driven monitoring and control

Construction teams lose 35% of productive time to inadequate project monitoring. Modern AI systems address this issue through intelligent data collection and analysis. Site monitoring platforms combine high-resolution cameras, IoT sensors, and machine learning algorithms to spot safety violations and hazardous conditions in real-time. Site supervisors receive instant alerts when workers skip safety gear or unsafe conditions develop.

Contract compliance reaches new levels of precision with AI-powered tracking systems. These platforms monitor deadlines, deliverables, and regulatory requirements, and their algorithms become increasingly adept at flagging compliance issues based on historical patterns.

AI-enhanced equipment management also has significant financial impact. Smart sensors paired with predictive algorithms spot potential failures before they occur, dramatically reducing costly downtime. PETRONAS exemplifies the bottom-line benefits—their AI analytics program delivered $33 million in savings while boosting plant utilization by 0.1%.

Project teams gain unprecedented insight through modern reporting platforms that deliver:

• Performance metrics in real-time, ending reliance on after-the-fact reports.
• Structured data collection and analysis frameworks.
• Automated compliance documentation trails.

Research confirms the competitive edge—organizations leveraging data analytics consistently outperform industry peers. Beyond daily operations, these AI monitoring systems create detailed digital records, proving invaluable for future maintenance and renovation work.

Computer vision technology marks perhaps the most significant advance in progress tracking. These systems enable automated detection of as-built conditions and work-in-progress measurements. Project managers now track site progress with unprecedented accuracy, spotting productivity trends and scheduling conflicts without constant site visits.

Wrapping it up

Construction project teams adopting AI-powered solutions report dramatic improvements across three core areas: BIM-enhanced planning and generative design, IoT-enabled site execution, and data-driven monitoring systems.

Market forecasts project AI construction technology reaching $22.68 billion by 2032, reflecting the measurable value these solutions deliver. Construction teams using digital twin technology paired with real-time monitoring catch potential issues weeks earlier than traditional methods. That means fewer schedule delays, tighter budget control, and improved safety outcomes.

The future of construction project management points clearly toward increased AI adoption. Teams that embrace these tools—from predictive analytics to computer vision systems—position themselves to tackle age-old industry challenges with unprecedented accuracy. The evidence shows that construction firms following this path consistently deliver projects faster, safer, and more efficiently than their competitors.

The challenge, of course, is to choose the right solutions, get stakeholders on board, and ensure adoption. Find tips on successful tech implementation in our webinar.

The post ​Construction AI for project management appeared first on OpenSpace.