Related Links: ENR: Cloud Computing and Marketing ENR: Cloud Computing Makes the Grade Gone are the days of carrying around flash drives and panicking when the office server is full. Online document storage has become the easiest and quickest way for sharing information that can be securely accessed from anywhere within a company.Dozens of service providers offer cloud-based file sharing and storage, but Natick, Mass.-based Nasuni provides a new breed of storage and sharing that combines on-premises hardware with encrypted cloud-based primary storage. Its unlimited storage capability appeals to companies with multiple sites that need access to the same files.Andres

Photo by Holcim The WeatherAPP is a four-day weather forecast that accounts for air and concrete temperatures, wind speed and humidity. Related Links: The Holcim Weather App Concrete contractors should take note. A free, new tool just arrived to make their lives easier. It's a mobile app that instantly displays a four-day forecast to predict whether the weather is right to place concrete."In Utah, we have a huge issue with cracking. It's dry and windy, and the humidity is very low," says Mark Sweats, tech services manager at cement and aggregate provider Westroc Inc., Pleasantville Utah. "We use the app

Related Links: The Building Research Information Database The American Institute of Architects National Institute of Building Sciences A new website formed by two buildings organizations aims to be a bank of peer-reviewed research projects and case studies that dive into every phase of the building cycle, from predesign through occupancy and re-use."I believe that it has the potential to be transformative in our industry," says A. Ray Pentecost III, chairman of the board of direction for the new site: BRIKbase.org.BRIK stands for "Building Research Information Knowledgebase" and was formed by the American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of

Related Links: Latista The LATISTA App LATISTA, a leading field data management software vendor, is set to release a new iPad version on Jan. 15 with upgrades that include increased speed for viewing building information modeling files in PDF format."We benchmarked it against many leading companies," says Patricia Remacle, vice president, product management at LATISTA, Reston, Va. She says the product was faster in most tests. The benchmarking was done by opening 20 files of varying size and complexity on the same iPad. The programs tested against were Good Reader, Adobe Reader and PDF Expert. She says LATISTA was faster

Photo courtesy of Livescribee Livescribe's pens allow users to record written and verbal notes and synch them directly to a computer or device via WiFi. Related Links: Livescribe Sky Smartpen Evernote Whenever ENR editors find a tool we want for ourselves that also has crossover appeal for architects, engineers or construction managers, we like to show it off. Livescribe's Smartpen is one of those tools. At first glance, it just looks like a stocky pen, but the technology inside allows users to record audio and, at the same time, turn any written notes into digital files that users can save

Related Links: Acoustimaxx Safety Glasses Car Connection magicJack Plus netTalk Duo WiFi Bald Technologies Liquid Displays Lantronix XPrint Server ENR's editors are always on the lookout for new and useful electronic devices that have the potential to improve construction. As 2012 comes to a close, we've gathered a collection of the most promising gadgets we've run across or experimented with lately. Some have obvious applications to the jobsite, while others may just be convenient for companies fielding new devices or mobilizing workforces. Still other devices are noted simply for their ability to reduce the cost of sought-after tech and increase

Related Links: BIM 360 Glue Amazon Web Services Health Dashboard From BIM 360 programs and remote desktop protocols to amped-up graphics-processing units, cloud-based tools are the top priorities of Autodesk. The cloud theme rang out at the firm's Autodesk University 2012 conference in Las Vegas last month. Many companies at the conference featured cloud technology that helps smooth remote access to large amounts of data or functions as a powerful workstation.Anthony Governanti, Autodesk's technical marketing manager, found his BIM 360 booth very popular during the conference."It's one click to BIM," Governanti told the users crowding around his booth and during

Screen shot courtesy of Autodesk Finger Models The new graphic modeling iPad app from Autodesk displays building area and volume and also allows for sun diagramming. Related Links: FormIt on iTunes Autodesk YouTube Video of FormIt in Action At first glance, Autodesk's FormIt app looks like SketchUp, Trimble's 3D modeling tool. But Autodesk says this app does more, such as adding more site information to the building information model. Users can pinpoint site location on imported satellite images and run sun diagrams, among other features. The app debuted at Autodesk University 2012, Las Vegas.Matt Jezyk, senior manager of the AEC

Photo by Sean Hamilton / Hunter Roberts Oliver Soler, Hunter Roberts information systems manager, explains Windows 8's home screen to his IT team. Related Links: Online buzz over Microsoft Surface Pro All About Microsoft blog Microsoft's rolling release of its new Windows 8 operating system, along with its companion Surface touch-screen tablets to run it, is being greeted by construction IT managers like a beast with a split personality—but with great potential to liberate data.For some qualities—specifically, the ability to run Windows applications while using Microsoft's DirectAccess server to make secure, effortless connections through firewalls, along with Surface's battery life

Courtesy of Morpholio Morpholio Trace lets users sketch on layers of digital tracing paper and store, share and critique design work through the Morpholio app. Related Links: Morpholio Trace Link to App Store Mobile devices have seen unprecedented growth recently. Apple alone has sold over 84 million iPads in the past two years. It is clear these devices have changed the culture of digital-media consumption, but have they changed the way designers work?The Morpholio Project, a digital-media company started by practitioners and academics in the design professions, enters the currently limited field of design-oriented mobile-device apps with the goal of