Video cameras join trucks, excavators on the job site

By CHRIS HAZELMANN
Pro Video

The old saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. If that's the case, then what are 30 frames per second worth?

When the first tile fell from the Kingdome roof, it was imperative first to protect the public and then to document the exact condition of the remaining tiles. Given the demands of the job (staffing two camera crews around the clock on only a few hours notice) and the potential uses of the footage (from documentation to evidence) video was not only valuable, it was essential.

Working on construction or demolition sites are trying for sensitive electronic equipment. But it was imperative that video crews preserve the conditions inside the dome as quickly as possible. So armed with large plastic garbage bags, extra lens filters, cleaning solution, rolls of duct tape and dust masks, film crews tromped off to the dome.

Without video such things as stress tests showing the amount of force (or lack thereof) required to pry the tile from the ceiling could not have been included along with the condition of the remaining tiles as they came down.

From site surveys and documentation of installation processes to marketing communications and "news at eleven," video is playing an increasingly important role in the equipment and construction industries.

Within the next two to five years, better and newer technology such as faster CD-ROM drives and DVD (digital video disk) will help bridge the gap between traditional video and desktop computing. What this means to the end user is a greater ability to manage visual information easily.

During the construction of the Harborview hospital addition, video crews were called in to help document the intricate wiring and ducting systems before they were walled in. Each floor of the new wing was recorded on tape and cross-referenced to the actual plans and blueprints. In addition, a written log was created for each tape and blueprint set.

During the taping, the camera operator verbally slated each area while recording, and the path taken by the camera was drawn on the plans. Now there is an accurate record of exactly what is behind the walls and its exact location for future reference.

Atkinson Construction recently used video to record completion of the First Avenue South Bridge. The footage was used to instill a sense of pride and ownership in a job well done to each of the team members involved. It was also used to help maintain communication between work groups as well as enhancing messages about the importance of safety. According to Atkinson's safety manager for the project, video was used to show people what can be done when working as a team. The tape is now also being used in Atkinson's marketing and promotion efforts.

Making a video? Here's a few things to consider: What are the main points you wish to make? (There should be no more than five.) Who are the audiences and what do they already know about the subject? How do you want the video to impact the audience? What photographs, film, slides or video tape do you have that can be used? Who will have input on the script, final approval of the script, and final approval of the entire program? What is the deadline? How will the program be distributed? Will there be other materials as part of the program? Will the video be multi-purpose? What is your budget? Once you have answered these questions, reevaluate to be sure video or a combination of video and other technology is the best way to communicate your message.

When Todd Pacific Shipyards got a contract to build the new fleet of jumbo ferries for Washington state, it needed to implement a new manufacturing process that would eliminate re-work and waste. Traditionally, each work area was separate from the others and did not view the project as a whole; Todd managers used video to help retrain the work force.

It was crucial to show each member of the team the importance of accuracy and how each piece of the assembly process fit into the project as a whole. The project manager in charge of the video said, "The idea of using video was to present a consistent message so that we could reach a large number of people in a short period of time."

The video also needed to ensure that the messages were appropriate, would be well received, and could help to change work styles. Each team was taught to view the next stage of the production process as their "customers," giving more of a sense of ownership in the project and a sense of having an effect on the final product.

Video is frequently used as a training or orientation tool. During construction of the West Point Treatment Plant, every contractor and subcontractor was shown an eight-minute video that explained the project, the guidelines and philosophy of the team effort. Over a period of several months, more than 500 people saw the video, a great savings over having one person repeat orientation and training messages.

On a Port of Seattle project, Robert E. Bayley Construction developed an interactive presentation using CAD drawings scanned to video to do a walk-through of the project while construction was still in process. It gave project managers at the Port an opportunity to be part of the project in progress and recognize the intricacies involved in it.

In a similar way, developers are using computer graphics programs which allow potential buyers to virtually walk through a project before it is built. There is also the "video intervalometer," essentially a time-lapse video of a building in progress, that can be used by construction companies to promote or demonstrate new building techniques.

Some equipment manufacturers such as Ingersoll-Rand are developing video to be used in lieu of, or in addition to, training manuals. It is far easier to explain a procedure through video than it is to develop manuals that illustrate and describe in text the operation or repair of complex machinery.

Although these uses will continue to be important, even more exciting is the new technology that is evolving which will allow video to integrate with desktop computing. There is no doubt that video is going digital, compression is getting better and computers are getting faster.

In the not-so-distant future, it is likely that what is now contained on many different video tapes will be compressed and stored on a single DVD disk which can hold almost 15 times more information than a CD-ROM. For the foreseeable future, though, we'll still be using a lot of tape. And, when used well, it can be worth many thousands of words.

Chris Hazelmann is general manager of ProVideo Productions, a Seattle production facility which specializes in legal and construction documentation and corporate communications.

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