The Best Construction iPhone Apps

by Houston NealDirector of Marketing, SoftwareAdvice.com, 08.25.2010

From time to time we like to write about the “lighter side” of construction technology. This time, it’s apps. Specifically, construction apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

It’s no secret that we love Apple – run a search for “apple” site:softwareadvice.com in Google and you’ll see what I mean – but when it comes to tracking down an App for your iPhone or iPad, the App Store isn’t the friendliest place to search. Enter “construction” into the search bar in iTunes and you get a list of 234 apps (and counting). This includes apps categorized as “games,” “lifestyle” and “entertainment.” Or try typing “architecture.” You’ll get a list of 255 apps that include “photography,” “travel” and “navigation.” Sure we understand playing SimCity Deluxe might alleviate stress on the job site, but it’s not going to help you create a punch list item.

So we decided to build a list of the best architecture, engineering and construction project management software apps for contractors, project managers and architects. Our methodology was simple: filter out the irrelevant apps (e.g. “iShovel” and “Men at Work – Ultimate Sound Box”), sort by trade and functionality, then prioritize by rating and popularity. For anyone interested in seeing a complete list of construction apps (minus the junk), visit this Google Doc. We tagged each app with one or two category names, then added columns for price, rating, device compatibility and minimum iPhone OS requirements. If there is an app that you think belongs in this list, please leave us a comment below.

Project Management

Procore

Procore – This is our favorite construction app. It allows users of Procore construction software to create, manage and share Procore project data from their phones. Specifically, users can create and manage punch list items, access contact data, share and store project photos, log time card entries and more. The Procore iPhone app has a rating of 4.5 and can be used on iPhones (OS 3.0 or later), iPads and iPod Touch.


Roofing

Roofing Calculator

Roofing Calculator – A popular roofing app, this allows DIYers and contractors to estimate the number of roofing shingles, number of squares, or number of bundles for a job. Input the building’s square footage, the roof’s pitch and tap “Calculate.” This app costs $0.99 and works with iPhones (OS 2.0 or later), the iPad and the iPod Touch


Contract Maker

iQuick Contract Maker

iQuick Contract Maker – This app allows users to create and email contracts to customers from your phone. The app uses templates and pre-written information for quick creation of a contract. It can also be used to customize contracts for your industry or trade. The app has been reviewed 13 times and has a good rating of 3.5 out of 5. It costs $2.99 and is available for the iPhone (OS 3.1 or later), iPad and iPod touch.


Document Viewer

Drawvis

Drawvis – There are both free and paid versions of this app. The free version seems to be more popular with 259 ratings as compared to just 3 for the paid version. It allows you to view technical drawings (e.g. drawings from Autocad) so long as they are in DXF textual format. It can be used on the iPhone (OS 3.0 or later), iPad and iPod Touch.


iBluePrint

iBlueprint – This app seems to have mixed reviews, but it has been rated by over 50 users, making it one of the more popular document-viewer apps in the market. iBlueprint allows users to create and export custom floor plans. It’s handy for homebuyers and real estate agents, but can also be used by contractors for quick access to blueprints on the job site. It costs $0.99 and can be used on the iPhone (OS 3.0 or later), iPad or the iPod touch.


Estimating

iQuick Estimator

iQuick Estimator – This is one in a series of construction apps from iQuick Tools. It can perform simple estimates for framing, roofing, flooring, drywall, paint and concrete projects. After determining material and labor costs, you can email your bid directly from the app to your client. The app costs $5.99. It has an average rating of 3 from 35 ratings. The latest version is only available for the iPhone (OS 4.0) and iPod Touch.

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Fast Paint Calculator

Fast Paint Calculator – This is a handy app for painters and finishing contractors that need to quickly calculate costs and materials of paint projects. Users can enter the dimensions of the room, enter the price per gallon of paint, then click calculate to determine the job cost. This information can then be emailed directly from the phone. This app costs $0.99 and works with iPhones (OS 3.1.2 or later), the iPad or iPod touch.


LEED

EcoFlash BD+C Lite

EcoFlash BD+C Lite – This is a popular and highly rated flashcard app that will help you study for the LEED AP 2009 Building Design & Construction exam. It has an average user rating of 3.5 stars, it can be used on all devices (minimum iPhone OS requirement of 3.1.2) and best of all, it’s free.


LEED AP Building Design + Construction

LEED AP Building Design + Construction – Similar to the previous app, this is designed to help construction professionals study for the LEED AP Building Design and Construction exam. The app includes 200 flashcards and a 100 question practice exam. It has received a 5 star rating by 2 reviewers and comes in at a cost of $19.99.

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Green Pro

Green Pro – This app gives architects, engineers, owners, and contractors the ability to both access and track LEED credits for New Construction and Major Renovations. Users can access information about credit requirements and indicate when a particular requirement has been met. The app costs $3.99 and can be used on the iPhone (OS 3.1.2 or later), iPad and iPod Touch.


Level

sightLevel

sightLevel – This app popular among homeowners and DIYers, but it could be used on a job site when a normal level isn’t available. It works by holding the phone in landscape view, tilting it until the bubble is centered, then using the horizontal red line to determine the slope. This could be used to determine if walls, dividers, fences, wall hangings, and picture frames are level. The app costs $1.99. It 23 ratings and has an average of 2.5.


News

AEC Info

AEC Info – A simple news app that pulls architectural, engineering and construction industry news from Engineering News Record, Architectural Record, Builder Online and others. There are mixed reviews about this app, but it is one of the few apps that pulls news headlines in from multiple industries. The app is free and can be used on the iPhone (OS 3.0 or later), iPad and iPod Touch.


Plan Room

Mobile PlanRoom

Mobile PlanRoom – This is the first official construction app for iPads. It allows architects, engineers and contractors to access drawings from the field without having to carry paper plans. It is designed to synchronize with www.BuilditLive.com, a web-based software application that allows project members to share drawings, specifications, and other electronic information. The app also works on iPhones (OS 3.2 or later).

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Reference

I.D. Wood

I.D. Wood – This is a very popular app that is highly – and widely – rated. Not only is it an iTunes Staff favorite, but the app has been reviewed by BobVilla.com and “This Old House” staff. I.D. Wood helps users identify different types of woods from around the world. It presents screen samples and detailed information for almost 160 different woods. The app costs $4.99 and is available on the iPhone (OS 3.0 or later), iPad and iPod Touch.

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[Steel]

[steel] – This is a popular and highly rated reference tool about structural steel. It gives users access to the current and historic AISC Structural Steel Database, right from their phone. The developer claims it has “everything you will need when checking / drafting / designing a steel member.” With over 60 ratings and a 4.5 rating, this is easy to believe. The app is $4.99 and can be used on the iPhone (OS 3.0 or later), iPad and iPod touch.


Call Project Technology Solutions today to arrange a live demonstration of the power of web based construction software.

Project Technology Solutions (ProTech)
Preferred Dealer for Procore - Web Based Construction Software
866-570-4640

iphone apps for construction are for RFI log and submittals log and this is the best procore construction software and we are the procore dealer named ProTech.   Construction apps for the iphone and web based construction software, also called construction cloudware is the future for large construction projects where we track construction punch list log and construction daily log and weather log.   Procore is the best construction iphone apps as reported by Softwareadvice.com article on iphone apps. IPad apps for Construction and construction roofing calculator along with iQuick Contract Maker are recommended.  Some other are LEED AP Building Design and Green Pro or GreenPro.... But EcoFlash BD is great and Fast paint Calculator is the bomb with iQuick and others like iBlueprint and Drawvis.   Many to list here including SightLevel and Moble Plan Room along with I.D. Wood.    
 

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