Delivering Time Lapse Results with Professional Construction Camera Solutions
SUMMARY:
With an upcoming education-based construction project at Thaddeus Stevens Technology School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Kevin Martorana of Take One Productions found himself in need of a professional-grade construction time-lapse camera solution.As a professional videographer and visual storyteller, cameras and time-lapse services were nothing new to Kevin and his team. With previous experience with consumer-style time-lapse solutions, Kevin knew a more robust and reliable professional-grade solution would be needed to document the year-long project.
Specifically, Kevin needed a construction camera solution that could withstand months in the volatile and unpredictable weather of southern Pennsylvania without missing a beat, all while being intuitive, easy to use, and delivering detail-rich photos and time-lapse movies.
“Seeing is believing, and iBEAM went above and beyond to help answer all of my questions in a timely manner and show me exactly what their time-lapse cameras deliver!”
Company: Take One Productions
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Owner: Kevin Martorana, Owner/Videographer/Producer/Visual Storyteller
Industry: Videography
Website: www.takeoneprod.com
Project: Thaddeus Stevens Technology School
Equipment Used: Fixed 4K Construction Camera with Non-Penetrating Roof
Mount
Project Background:
Kevin and Take One Productions were contracted by Thaddeus Stevens Technology School to document the construction of the upcoming Steinman Community Learning Center project - a 14,000-square-foot, two-story building with a childcare center, STEM makerspace, and community meeting space.
Starting construction in the fall of 2024, the $6.8 million Steinman Community Learning Center project represents a significant investment in Lancaster’s future.
Needs:
Due to the scale and duration of the project, coupled with the less-than-ideal winter weather in the area, Kevin knew he needed a proven professional-grade time-lapse solution.
Additionally, Kevin would need to be able to provide timely updates to everyone involved with the project - be it contractors, the university, or the local community.
The Problem(s):
Construction projects in Lancaster are subject to a variety of weather conditions, including subzero and freezing temperatures, so any construction camera solution would need to be rugged, dependable, and able to operate in such weather extremes without issue.
For this education-based construction project, Kevin also knew that he would need the ability to share photos and time-lapse video updates. Sharing detail-rich photos and time-lapse movies with contractors, the university, and the community would need to be intuitive and easy to accomplish, not only for himself, but also for anyone else with access to the camera.
Finally, Kevin knew from his previous experience with DIY and consumer-grade time-lapse cameras that reliability is paramount to success. Constantly changing camera batteries or adjusting lenses week in and week out can quickly become tiresome.
Solution:
Based on past experiences with time-lapse solutions, Kevin and his team knew a DIY or consumer-grade solution like a GoPro wasn’t going to cut it.
After conducting an online search for time-lapse camera providers, Kevin reached out to us to learn more about iBEAM’s camera solutions. A few conversations and an online demo later, Kevin knew he had found a winner.
The iBEAM Fixed 4K Construction Camera was the best choice to meet all of the needs Kevin expressed. It checked all of the boxes:
- Reliable power supply for uninterrupted documentation of the construction progress
- Super wide-angle lens to help capture the entirety of the job site
- Rugged design for less-than-ideal weather conditions (iBEAM cameras have withstood -56F in Minnesota!)
- Easy-to-share detail-rich photos and 4K time-lapse movies directly from the camera interface
“The ease of sharing access with the school has been super beneficial!
They can get on and see the
project whenever they want…I couldn’t be happier with the results!”
Results:
Kevin and his team at Take One Productions are thrilled with the results of their iBEAM Construction Camera:
- Live-video feed quality - Take One Productions provides crisp live video of the Thaddeus Stevens Technology School project to team members, the school, and contractors, delivering real-time information and images/video.
- Ease-of-use - With an intuitive and easy-to-use password-protected online camera archive, Kevin and Take One Productions can easily share captured images, view archived images, create on-demand time-lapse movies, view live-streaming video, and more!
- Durability - Designed for real-world job site conditions, our time-lapse and construction cameras are rugged and durable where it matters most. Our industry-leading cameras have withstood temperatures as low as -28F (-56F with wind chill), and were exactly what Kevin was looking for.
“They (the school or contractors) can get on and see the project whenever they want. The clarity is exceptional, and the lack of weather negatively impacting the lens and shot is superb!”
“Ease of use was #1 for our team, and our iBEAM camera is incredibly easy to use and set up…it truly is ‘set it and forget it’.”
“All-weather resistance from a professional solution like iBEAM’s is designed to be in the heat, cold, snow, rain, and work without a hiccup. That can’t be beat and is exactly what we got with our iBEAM camera.”
“This camera is incredibly easy to use and set up…for anyone not familiar with construction cameras, it couldn’t be easier!”
Time-Lapse Movie
Final Thoughts:
Kevin, Take One Productions, and Thaddeus Stevens Technology School couldn’t be more pleased with their iBEAM Construction Camera and what it delivers day in and day out on the job site.
“I’m super impressed with the camera, lens, and iBEAM team. I thought the camera and lens would need to be cleaned, but it never has. I couldn’t be happier!”