Contents:
1. Navigating the Complexities of Construction: Why General Contractors Need 360° Site Walks
2. Where can 360° Site Walks help General Contractors?
3. What is PlanRadar SiteView?
4. Key Features of PlanRadar SiteView
5. The Benefits of SiteView for General Contractors
Navigating the Complexities of Construction: Why General Contractors Need 360° Site Walks
For general contractors, delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the highest quality is a constant balancing act. Managing large-scale construction projects involves juggling multiple stakeholders, from owners and architects to subcontractors and suppliers, all while ensuring work progresses as planned. However, traditional methods of project oversight often create barriers that lead to inefficiencies, delays, and costly mistakes.
Where can 360° Site Walks help General Contractors?
One of the biggest challenges contractors face is communication breakdowns. With teams spread across different locations—some on-site, others working remotely—it’s easy for misunderstandings to arise. Critical details can get lost in email chains, site reports may lack visual clarity, and by the time an issue is identified, it may already be too late to prevent delays or rework.
Speaking of rework, this is another major pain point in the industry. Studies show that up to 30% of construction costs stem from rework caused by errors, omissions, or miscommunication. Without a clear, up-to-date visual record of site progress, decision-makers may struggle to identify potential risks before they escalate. This lack of real-time visibility leads to inefficiencies, wasted resources, and disputes over accountability.
Then there’s compliance and documentation. General contractors are responsible for ensuring that projects meet safety regulations, quality standards, and contractual obligations. However, traditional documentation methods—like manually taken photos or written reports—can be inconsistent and difficult to verify. In the event of a dispute, missing or inaccurate records can result in costly legal battles and project delays.
These challenges make it clear: construction projects need a smarter way to document and monitor site progress. This is where technology like PlanRadar’s SiteView comes in. By enabling 360° site walks that automatically capture and map real-time imagery onto project plans, SiteView offers general contractors a way to enhance transparency, streamline communication, and reduce rework—ultimately helping them keep projects on track and profitable.
What is PlanRadar SiteView?
SiteView is an advanced 360° site walk technology designed to bring clarity and accountability to construction projects. It enables users to capture 360° panoramic images of a construction site simply by walking through it with a camera mounted on a helmet. These images are then automatically mapped onto a floor plan within the PlanRadar platform, creating a fully interactive, time-stamped visual record of site conditions.
Unlike traditional site photos which require manual organisation and can be difficult to interpret without context, SiteView automates the process, ensuring that every image is precisely located on the site plan. This eliminates the guesswork when reviewing site progress and makes it easier for teams—whether they are on-site or working remotely—to access up-to-date visual records.
From conditional surveys to real time progress reporting, PlanRadar’s SiteView elevates how we deliver projects, giving team members who cannot be on-site daily more visibility and oversight. It enables us to better deliver for our customers, as we can provide visual updates on how the project is progressing. Plus – it’s easy to capture the 360 images during a simple walk around the site.
Key Features of PlanRadar SiteView
- Hands-Free 360° Site Walks
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- Using an Insta360 X4 camera mounted on a helmet, users can document an entire site without needing to stop and take individual photos.
- Images are captured automatically as the user walks through the site, eliminating the need for manual documentation.
- Automated Mapping to 2D Plans
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- Captured 360° images are automatically overlaid onto project plans within PlanRadar, making it easy to navigate and compare progress over time.
- No need for manual photo organisation—every image is stored and categorised in the correct location.
- Historical Site Comparisons
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- Compare past and present site conditions at the click of a button.
- Track changes over time to quickly identify discrepancies, delays, or potential issues.
- Remote Access for Decision-Makers
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- Stakeholders and project managers can review site progress remotely, reducing the need for frequent site visits.
- Enables leadership teams to make informed decisions faster, based on real-time visual data.
- Full Transparency and Compliance
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- Every image is time-stamped and stored securely within PlanRadar, creating a tamper-proof audit trail.
- Helps ensure compliance with safety regulations, quality standards, and contract requirements.
Now you know what SiteView does, let’s take a look at how these features could benefit you.
The Benefits of SiteView for General Contractors
1. Enhanced Project Transparency
With 360° site imagery automatically linked to project plans, leadership teams get a clear and comprehensive view of site progress at any given time. This transparency helps prevent miscommunication, ensures stakeholders are aligned, and fosters trust between contractors, owners, and subcontractors.
2. Improved Efficiency & Cost Savings
Traditional site inspections can be time-consuming and labour-intensive. SiteView eliminates the need for manual photo documentation, allowing teams to focus on higher-value tasks. Additionally, by reducing the risk of rework, SiteView can significantly cut down on project costs associated with delays and errors.
3. Minimised Risk & Dispute Resolution
Having a verified, time-stamped visual record of a construction site reduces the risk of disputes over delays, defects, or safety concerns. If an issue arises, general contractors can quickly reference historical site images to resolve disagreements with stakeholders.
4. Faster Decision-Making
Since decision-makers often manage multiple projects across different sites, they can’t always be physically present. SiteView enables leadership teams to review site conditions remotely, ensuring that informed decisions can be made without the need for frequent site visits.
5. Increased Accountability & Compliance
SiteView acts as a tamper-proof audit trail, ensuring that contractors have reliable documentation for legal and compliance purposes. This helps mitigate liability and ensures that project documentation is complete, consistent, and accessible when needed.
Final Thoughts
As construction projects become increasingly complex, general contractors need smarter tools to improve oversight, minimise rework, and enhance communication. PlanRadar’s SiteView provides a seamless, automated way to document and monitor site conditions with 360° visual clarity—helping teams stay on track, reduce costs, and deliver projects with confidence.
Whether you’re managing a single project or multiple job sites, SiteView empowers you with the real-time insights needed to make better decisions, faster.
Want to see how 360° site walks can transform your projects? Get in touch with PlanRadar today to learn more.
