The ConTech Crew 99: Technology Awareness for Construction with Lonnie Fritz from Caterpillar
Starting Off:
The ConTechCrew came together to bring you episode 99 with Caterpillar Industries, Lonnie Fritz! Lonnie stopped by talk to The Crew about the way technology awareness is shaping construction. Top construction news this week included Tesla, Holograms, wearables, and more!
ConTechTuesday:
When the weather outside is frightful, the ConAppGuru has our back! This ConTechTuesday, Rob McKinney reviews DeWALT Heated Work Gear.
Amazon Sumerian is the new platform making 3D, AR, and VR app building a breeze! Developers can create complex apps in less time with minimal coding…for free. (Just pay storage.)
What’s it cost to renovate an 86 year old steel bridge without disrupting the flow of busy traffic? Bayonne, New Jersey found out the answer is $1.7 BILLION over budget.
Later diesel! PepsiCo adds 100 Tesla electric semi trucks to their fleet. Sure, electric semis are more expensive (roughly $150-200k per truck) but are projected to save the company $250k by 1 million miles.
The numbers are in, Dodge Data & Analytics’ newest SmartMarketReport shows tech is creating safer construction sites. The report delves into citations and injuries as reported by OSHA along with an analysis of the types of devices and software used to simplify construction workflows.
Don’t forget to lock up/secure all of your equipment. You never know when someone will feel the need to take your very expensive piece of machinery on a joyride turned police-chase. Conversely, if you’re the type of thrill-seeker craving a 20 mph police pursuit, expect the ordeal to be recorded then shared on social media! (Not to mention the expensive legal consequences.)
Although state mandates are popping up everywhere, the US still hasn’t implemented standards for BIM. BIM isn’t just a passing fad, it’s revolutionizing the way the construction industry operates and saves money. What’s holding back a set of national regulations?
No longer the stuff of sci-fi, it is possible to 3D print objects within seconds using holography. Lasers, holographs, and resin – oh my! This new 3D printing tactic is so impressive it’s almost supernatural.
What robotic construction workers are you employing? Drones for inventory, bots that paint buildings, and 3D printed bricks that strategically place themselves according to a programmed plan – find out which 8 start up robotic construction workers you can lookout for next year to reduce errors and improve ROI.
Geek of the Week:
We Interviewed: Lonnie Fritz 
Day Job: Heavy Construction Marketing Professional, Caterpillar, Inc
Fun Fact: Lonnie went to high school in Walnut, IL with MLB player Dan Kolb.
Resume: Lonnie was born into a family deeply rooted in the construction industry. He studied Construction Management at Bradley University then worked in the field for 16 years. His rich background as a Caterpillar customer prepared him for his career in Heavy Construction Marketing at Caterpillar.
Joined the Podcast to Geek Out On: The age of Smart Iron: how Cat is utilizing apps, data analytics, smarter machines, content, and training the next generation for better tools and a more skilled workforce!
Our next episode: Our next episode is numero 100! Check out our next special episode we’ll be looking back at our 99 favorite moments since the very beginning of The ConTechCrew.
Listen to the Podcast: Spreaker, YouTube, iTunes,
Follow On Twitter: @JBKnowledge, @ConTechTrio
