Handing a construction project over to a general contractor (GC) can be stressful for an owner — whether or not they have an existing or previous business relationship with the contractor. Since there are so many moving pieces that contribute to project success, it can be difficult for them to trust a GC to do his or her part — regardless of the GC’s actual level of trustworthiness and reliability.
Given all the time and financial resources poured into a construction project, owners obviously want to protect their investments — jobsite security cameras can support this goal and more. In addition to improving jobsite security, the devices can also help boost transparency and build strong lines of communication, trust, and partnership between owners and general contractors.
Here are five ways jobsite security cameras can help you protect your next investment:
Impress Buyers
Owners can give potential and existing buyers access to impressive time-lapse videos that provide visual insight into progress. The videos enable buyers to see first-hand how construction is going, plan for when their doors will open, and generate excitement among their own teams and customers.
Reduce Site Visits
Careful and conscientious project management is key to ensuring a project stays on track. One way owners can check on the progress of a project is through site visits. However, these take time and money. Whether the site is across town or across the country, owners can use jobsite security cameras to access vital and accurate project information remotely. As a result, they can decrease the number of times they need to perform in-person site checks and free up their time for other critical tasks.
Guard Against Litigation
Security cameras with time-lapse and weather data capabilities create a single source of truth that makes it easy to review past claims and determine liability. Owners can use their cameras to look at weather history and grant credits accordingly or even fight back against litigation.
If something goes wrong on the jobsite — a retaining wall collapses, for example — what caused the problem? Did a large piece of equipment run into it? Was there poor drainage behind it? Footage from jobsite security cameras can hold the answer.
Protect the Jobsite
Construction jobsites are a hot spot for criminal activity like break-ins and theft. Jobsite security cameras with motion detection can generate alerts about unauthorized after-hours incidents — e.g., someone breaking into the jobsite or stealing materials and equipment — and capture visual evidence of any suspicious activity. This enables the appropriate party to review the alert and/or video so they can swiftly dispatch police and file for insurance reimbursement.
Insurance companies may also be willing to offer discounts for monitoring if the jobsite security camera service has the right credentials (e.g., UL certified or Five Diamond certified). The service must be able to dispatch police and meet specific response times to qualify.
Build Financial Relationships
Financial institutions need to be confident about the development loans they provide to owners and developers. Time-lapse videos generated by jobsite security cameras can reveal accurate completion percentages, letting the bank see progress and maintain confidence that loans will be repaid.
Footage can also be used to verify an owner’s skills and ability to adhere to timelines, which can help with future loan conversations.
Cameras Can Protect Your Investment
Jobsite security cameras act as another form of insurance for owners, helping them manage risk and protect against financial loss. From remote project check-ins to AI-powered analytics that help you make financial decisions, having a jobsite security camera system in place can provide certainty and protection.