How mobile tech makes documenting your site visits easier

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["b"],["i"],["a",["href","https:\/\/info.deltek.com\/archisnapper-mobiletech?sourceid=20\u0026utm_source=Online\u0026utm_medium=Advertising\u0026utm_campaign=aianewsletter_september2023\u0026partnerref=Advertising_Online_aianewsletter_september2023","target","_blank"]],["em"]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"Mobile solutions can make site visits more productive. AIA partner Deltek explores what tools to use and how best to implement them. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Architects have two options when documenting their site visits. They can either rely on traditional, manual processes with pen, paper, and hard copies of documents and drawings \u2014 or they can leverage the right mobile solutions to make the site visit as productive as possible."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"But simply buying a top-of-the-line tablet and a host of peripherals won\u2019t guarantee you\u2019ll see the productivity gains you want from your investment. Instead, true on-site efficiency comes from using the right technology at the right time."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Here are a few ways you can leverage mobile tech to save time, and advice on how to find the right mobile devices and apps for your needs and how to be more productive."]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[0],1,"Document your site inspection in real-time"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Whether you use a pen and paper or dictation to take notes, you\u2019ll need to manually transcribe them to document the site visit. Compared with manual transcription, using a professional field report app can save an extra hour per report \u2014 or nearly two whole billable days each month."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Since architects often juggle multiple projects, if your notes are captured before getting back to the office, it can help prevent delays in completing the next steps and can help ensure tasks aren\u2019t forgotten and project deadlines are met."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Thankfully, two technologies are on hand to help."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Many architects use speech-to-text technology in the office to \u201cwrite\u201d hands-free more accurately and efficiently than typing. In fact, you probably have the right app on your mobile device already \u2014 all Android and iOS devices have features that let users dictate notes by voice. So, when you\u2019re visiting a site, speech-to-text is a great way to quickly take notes."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"If you want the convenience of a mobile device, but prefer the feel of a pen, then pairing a stylus with a note-taking app like GoodNotes, Nebo, or OneNote can make documenting meetings and storing notes far smoother and easier than a paper notebook."]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[0],1,"The latest technology to help you measure and scan"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"When you\u2019re only on site for a limited amount of time, you need to be able to sketch drafts as quickly and precisely as possible. All phones support basic apps using the device\u2019s camera to take measurements and quickly generate floor plans. And if you have a more advanced device with a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) scanner \u2014 like the latest generation of iPhones and iPads \u2014 you get even faster, more accurate measurements."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"LiDAR technology gives apps more useful and accurate information about their surroundings. This enables architects to quickly scan a 3D model of any location and generate smoother, more reliable augmented reality to work in."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"For example, using the RoomScan LiDAR app is as easy as tapping each wall and swiping for doors and openings. LiDAR does the rest, creating an accurate 3D model in minutes."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Once you\u2019ve measured up and generated your plan on your device \u2014 far quicker than you could do manually \u2014 you\u2019re now ready to annotate it."]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[0],1,"The best apps for annotating digital sketches"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Whether you have scanned a site location by digital photography or using LiDAR, the next step is to add annotations and additional sketches. An iPad in combination with a stylus and a sketch app gives a great drawing experience that bridges the gap between analog and digital work."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Adding on apps like Morpholio, Concepts, and Procreate allows users to scale, work with layers, and choose from brushes to create accurate, detailed sketches. And a platform such as ArchiSnapper, a mobile tool designed for architects, enables the user to record text, take photos, and annotate floor plans \u2014 all in one place."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"These powerful aids can transform the way you capture ideas and concepts, but whichever apps you use to streamline site inspections, you\u2019ll still need to finish off your report and make it available for colleagues and clients to see."]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[0],1,"How to finish a field report before you get back to the office"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Finishing a field report before returning to the office becomes effortlessly achievable with Deltek + ArchiSnapper. This specialized field report software equips professionals with the tools they need to streamline data capture, annotate visuals, and collaborate in real-time while on site. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"With Deltek + ArchiSnapper\u0027s mobile app, users can input observations directly into templates, attach photos for context, and prioritize items seamlessly. The automated report generation feature ensures that your reports are not only completed, but also professionally formatted and ready to be shared with stakeholders before you even leave the field."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"On-site work is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mobile productivity. With the right device, apps, and accessories, productivity is no longer tied to your office and workstation. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[1],0,"Learn how to leverage your mobile device to save time in Deltek + ArchiSnapper\u2019s "],[0,[2],1,"recent white paper"],[0,[],1,"."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"AIA does not sponsor or endorse any enterprise, whether \npublic or private, operated for profit. Further, no AIA officer, \ndirector, committee member, or employee, or any of its component \norganizations in his or her official capacity, is permitted to approve, \nsponsor, endorse, or do anything that may be deemed or construed to be \nan approval, sponsorship, or endorsement of any material of construction\n or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in\n any material or product."]]]]}