10 high-tech solutions to make construction smart and safe
Innovation-focused multinationals look to Israel to put more intelligence into the industry processes.
Buildots uses wearable technology to turn a construction site into a digitized environment. Photo courtesy of Buildots
Israelis often joke that the crane is our national bird because the horizon of this young and growing country is dominated by construction cranes.
Many construction projects drag on for years, causing cost overruns and traffic snarls. Now, Israeli innovators aim to help the construction industry improve safety, productivity and efficiency.
“TLV ConTech & PropTech 2020,” held in November, presented 35 Israeli construction and real-estate technology companies to some 1,000 participants around the world.
Eyebrows raised and stammering.
That’s how the Airbnb CEO reacted on live TV when he found out the company’s shares had skyrocketed 113 percent to $144.7 during its stock market debut Thursday. “That’s the first time I’ve heard the number,” he managed to say. “Um, that is, that’s … I … I don’t know what else to say.”
Ahead of its IPO, which raised $3.5 billion, Airbnb priced shares at $68. Even without a pop, that was already a remarkable feat given a volatile year that saw major layoffs and a $2 billion funding lifeline. The 12-year-old hospitality startup now has a market cap of $100.7 billion more than Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt combined. And that’s without any physical assets. By comparison, Booking.com and Expedia have market caps of $86 billion and $18 billion, respectively.