With the release of the new iPad this past weekend, there is no better time than now to share some of my favorite applications for the construction industry.  Of course, these would probably look better on a brand new iPad (… Hint, hint, wifey dear … Who am I kidding? She doesn’t read this junk …), but you can definitely find them on my iPod Touch. 

Favorite iPad Apps

In no particular order, here are some of my favorites applications:

  • The new AEC Info iPhone App provides architectural, engineering and construction content through an easy-to-use reader.  You can find content separated in categories for News, Green, Marketing, and Law.  You can view the articles through the application or through Safari.  You can also share articles via email or Twitter with a simple click.  There are numerous content providers, including: Best Practices Construction Law,  Engineering News Record, and AGC Smartbrief.
  • gUnit by Axonic Labs is a must-have conversion tool for those dummies like me who went to law school rather than engineering school.  gUnit helps convert the following unit categories: Area, Energy, Temperature, Time, Length, Weight, Speed, Pressure, Power and Volume.
  • Although I have not used it, Carpenter’s Helper comes highly recommended if you need a construction calculator that can perform normal, unit and roof calculations.  The Professional version contains memory bank and conversion features not available on the Lite version.
  • In our multi-cultural society, what project worksite exists without an array of languages.  Wanna invite your staff to lunch for a meeting, but don’t know how to say it in Spanish? Try the Free Translator: … Vamos a comer y hablar sobre el trabajo.  Don’t have an iPhone, then try Mike Brittain’s Mobile Translator that will work on any mobile device.
  • The iHandy Carpenter is just a fun tool for a construction executive or lawyer, although it is probably more useful for the guy out in the field needing a level, a plumb bob, a ruler, or a protractor.
  • And finally, take a look at the LEED Green Associate Practice Exam & Flash Cards.  I used the earlier version produced by greenexamprep.com to study for (and pass) the new construction v. 2.2 LEED AP test in June 2009.  This one gets the same reviews and has some really good information.

Update:  Right after I published this post, I saw an article in ConstructionWEEKonline.com that featured a new construction app called goBIM, which was designed by Ian Keough, a senior technical designer at international engineering consultancy Buro Happold.  The application supposedly allows the user to view BIM on iPhones and iPads and, thus, in remote locations including on site.  I have not reviewed it yet, but I will let you know my thoughts later.

What are some of your favorite iPhone and iPad applications?