New Technology

Modifying house plans is a critical part of the construction process because no project ever goes exactly as originally designed. While blueprints provide the foundation, real-world factors like budget constraints, site conditions, client preferences, material availability, and code requirements often require adjustments along the way. Being able to thoughtfully modify house plans ensures that the final product is both functional and aligned with the homeowner’s vision. It also helps prevent costly mistakes by addressing issues early instead of forcing a design that doesn’t quite fit the realities of the build. In this video, I show a house plan designed to have a basement. This particular build has a foundation which does not allow for basement construction. Without scrapping the entire plan, I have shown how to make a small change of location for a certain room. For project managers, flexibility is one of the most valuable skills they can bring to a job site. Construction is dynamic,...

As a construction project manager at Idaho State University, I use Bluebeam regularly, and I’ve come to realize that it’s more than just a PDF markup tool. It’s actually a powerful learning resource. I mentioned this software program in my last blog, not even thinking some people might not know what this software is. Bluebeam is a software program designed for working with construction documents. It allows users to view, mark up, measure, and organize digital drawings and PDFs. Instead of printing plans and making handwritten notes, everything can be done digitally and shared with others instantly. What makes Bluebeam stand out is how interactive it is. Users can add comments, symbols, measurements, and even custom tool sets that match industry standards. This turns static drawings into something much more engaging and educational. There are different price plans for Bluebeam, allowing it to be a full function project management software and the less expensive PDF tool software.

Construction projects involve people with different backgrounds and levels of technical knowledge. Raw photos can be confusing, cluttered, or unclear, especially when taken in busy jobsite environments. Edited images—such as photos with annotations, arrows, labels, or highlights—help everyone quickly understand what they are looking at. For project managers, this clarity is critical. An edited image can instantly show where an issue exists, what has changed, or what needs attention. Instead of long written explanations, a single marked‑up image can communicate the message faster and more accurately.  This image was created to show a residential site plan prior to construction using BlueBeam software. The proverbial, "the sky is the limit," can be used to describe what kind of information can be put into software, such as BlueBeam, to help project managers clearly communicate site conditions for all involved. Using edited images shows that the project manager is not just docum...

When it comes to copyright law, most people think about movies, songs, or author's writings, but it also plays an important role in construction project management. In fact, I did a good Google search just to make sure the picture I included was not protected from a copyright. In construction, copyrighted materials can include architectural drawings, engineering plans, specifications, schedules, BIM models, reports, and training documents. These works are automatically protected once they are created. As a project manager, I regularly use and distribute documents created by architects, engineers, and consultants. Understanding copyright helps ensure these materials are used only for their intended project and not reused or modified without permission. Misusing copyrighted plans or documents could lead to legal issues or contract disputes. I think of how many documents I have generated which truly belong to me. Overall, having a basic understanding of copyright law helps constructio...