Shopping Center Business is the leading monthly business magazine for the retail real estate industry.
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OXBLUE 84 • SHOPPING CENTER BUSINESS • August 2016 B J's Wholesale Club Inc. decided in 2014 to begin using construction cameras at jobsites where the com- pany builds new stores and fuel stations. BJ's was not looking to address a specific issue or problem, however. Rather, the company was paying heed to a timeless proverb: knowledge is power. "We simply wanted to know more about what was actually going on at our jobsites," says Lloyd Lords, BJ's assistant vice president and manager of construc- tion. "There are always issues on sites, or sometimes it's the lack of information." This lack of information can range from conditions and processes, to other jobsite factors that can affect successful project execution. "A picture is worth a thousand words," Lords believes. The Westborough, Massachu- setts-based company develops and op- erates member warehouse clubs in 15 East Coast states from Maine to Florida. At any one time, the company may have several projects under construction, in- cluding new and repurposed warehouse buildings and fuel station sites. These projects involve dozens of contractors and subcontractors at jobsites from three to six months, on average. ACCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY Providing readily accessible, real-time pictures of project activity and produc- tivity, the construction cameras augment standard project-status reports and help BJ's meet the ongoing challenge confront- ing all retailers that are in market expan- sion mode: keeping store openings on schedule and within budget. BJ's had used construction cameras in the past but only for roofing projects, nev- er for monitoring and helping to manage entire jobsites, Lords says. The company considered a number of construction camera providers, compar- ing system features, commitment to cus- tomer support, ease of implementation and, of course, the additional expenses of equipping jobsites with cameras. "Cost is always a consideration, but it is not the ultimate deciding factor," says Lords. "We look at the total cost of doing business." BJ's chose Atlanta-based OxBlue Cor- poration, a 15-year-old global construc- tion camera service provider. OxBlue offers fixed position and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras, as well as a wide range of solar products designed to power OxBlue camera systems, which provide high-resolution images, high-definition time-lapse movies and a user-friendly web- cam interface. "BJ's shares with us its site plans and other critical project details, which allows us to map out camera placement coverag- es that are tailored to their unique needs," says J. P. Schaaf, OxBlue account execu- tive. For each project, a full survey of the site and of the client's objectives leads to camera placement recommendations that provide not only the best daily views, but also powerful, time-lapse videos at the end of the project. BJ's uses cameras to capture ground- up construction of warehouse clubs and fuel centers, as well as to monitor interior build-outs. The cameras have built-in cellular technology for easy wire- less deployment. From the first day of construction until grand opening day, the cameras observe virtually all activity and document key milestones, including pad preparation; building erection and roof completion; electrical, HVAC and plumbing installation; signage placement, fixture assembly and installation and shelf stocking. On Camera Cameras on construction sites bring a sharp focus to jobsite productivity and help developers avoid mistakes and delays. Randall Shearin BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. uses OxBlue cameras on construction sites to keep an eye on jobsite productivity, and to avoid costly mistakes and delays.