What contractors use their time lapse footage for

Most contractors buy a construction time lapse camera for the film at the end, that is a perfectly good reason to have one, yet the film is only one part of what the camera can give you.

By the time a project reaches practical completion, the camera has often been useful in several other ways, for instance:

• Helping a client see progress without visiting the site
• Giving the project team a visual record when there is a question about the programme
• Supporting a response to a neighbour’s complaint
• Showing what happened during a particular stage of the build 

Let's look at the detail of what experienced contractors actually use their time lapse footage for.

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Job one: The film

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The finished film is far more than a nice-to-have extra at the end of a project, in fact a well-made construction film can become one of the most useful pieces of marketing material a contractor has, because it shows the work rather than describing it. 

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“What does this do for the client?”

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For a prospective client, they’re then able to see the site change from an empty plot through groundworks, structure and fit-out without needing to read a case study explaining what happened.

That makes it useful in bid submissions and PQQs, particularly where a contractor needs to demonstrate experience of delivering projects of a similar scale. 

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“Can this help with recruitment?”

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Timelapse footage can also be useful for recruitment for top talent, since there is a big difference between telling someone that your business delivers major construction projects and showing them one.

The important point is that the final film is only as good as the footage captured during the build, so look for a provider that can offer just that. 

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Job two: Progress reporting without the site visit

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This is probably the everyday use that creates the most value, something that simply cannot go overlooked in terms of its versatility.

For example, more often than not, a client will want to know what has happened on site this week, all the while a funder wants to see progress. 

A project director is overseeing several developments and wants to check what is happening without spending half a day travelling to each one.

This doesn’t replace a site visit, since there are things that a camera cannot tell you about workmanship or what is happening inside a building. However, what it does give you is another way of keeping up with the physical progress of the project between visits. 

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“Why is this useful?”

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It is common for contractors to be running several schemes at once, thus, a project director can look across multiple sites from one place rather than relying on verbal or paper updates to build a picture of what is happening. 

For clients and project teams, it is always useful being able to look back, for example if somebody asks what the site looked like three weeks ago, or when a particular section of the structure appeared, there is an existing record to refer to.

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Job three: The record when the programme is contested

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That is when a continuous visual record is precise and therefore valuable, as if there is a discussion about when access was actually given, the footage is there to establish what the site looked like at the time.

If the arrival of a piece of equipment is relevant to the programme, there may be a dated visual record of it. Likewise if part of the compound remained inactive for a period, the footage can help show what was happening during those weeks rather than relying solely on retrospective descriptions.

Something else commonly demonstrated is weather, since these can often form part of a discussion about programme delay, footage can help show the reality.

It does not determine whether an extension of time is contractually due, but it can give the project team a much clearer picture of what was physically happening during the period being discussed.

None of this means a time lapse camera replaces formal records, but it is another source of evidence. 

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Job four: Neighbours, planning & ESG

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Construction sites are surrounded by people who are not part of the project team, whether that be neighbours, businesses, members of the public or local authorities; these people may all have questions about what is happening around them.

Complaints about working hours, dust, access, deliveries or boundaries are not unusual, therefore a dated image can be useful here, because it takes some of the argument out of the conversation. 

Rather than relying on somebody’s recollection of where equipment was positioned or what was happening on a particular day, the project team has a visual record to work from. 

It will not answer every question, but it can help establish the facts around the complaint.

Something that cannot go overlooked is the need for contractors and clients to demonstrate what they are doing in relation to environmental and social commitments. 

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How can timelapse footage assist in this manner?

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On a project using solar-powered equipment, for example, a visual record can show that equipment in action during development. As well as that, for clients with ESG reporting requirements, having a dated record of how the site operated can be useful supporting evidence. 

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Job five: The site’s own record of itself

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There is a less obvious use for time lapse footage that sits entirely within the construction business itself, meaning it isn’t necessarily for anybody else.

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Keeping it internal means that your projects can generate an enormous amount of knowledge while they are being built, and time lapse gives you that record.

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This kind of footage can be used in inductions and training, since someone joining the business later can see how a previous project developed. While this is unlikely to be the sole purpose of using time lapse cameras on your site, it is a great way of maximising its usability altogether.

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How a time lapse camera needs to be positioned

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The best camera position is not necessarily the one that gives you the best shot on the first day, since it is no secret that these sites move fast.

Why? Because the position needs to be considered in relation to how the project will change, you should be asking questions such as:

• Where will the building eventually sit? 
• How high will it become? 
• Where will the crane be? 
• Where are deliveries going to come in? Is the compound going to move? 
• Will a neighbouring building or temporary structure eventually block the view? 

These are practical questions, but they make a significant difference to the quality of the record.

A good position is one that makes sense for the building you are going to have at the end, not just the empty plot you have now.

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“What makes footage usable months later?”

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Construction sites change constantly, and temporary power arrangements are not always permanent. A generator can be moved, isolated or switched off as the works progress.

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If the camera depends on an arrangement that stops working when the site changes, the gap in the footage may only become apparent when someone needs the record later. 

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The solution = Renewable energy

Solar-powered systems can provide a practical alternative where mains power is not suitable, plus with 4G or 5G upload, footage can be transferred away from the physical camera to a secure online platform. 

If the unit is damaged or stolen, the footage that has already been uploaded is still available to use, this is crucial if the camera itself is sitting in a live construction environment for months or even years.

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Where AI monitoring fits in…

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The same camera infrastructure can also have a second role on site, as when time lapse is integrated with AI CCTV, the system can help identify people, vehicles and other activity while the camera continues to provide the visual record of the build. 

That means the project is not relying on two completely separate systems for documentation and monitoring.

AI can identify and flag activity, but control room operators can review what has been detected and decide what needs attention, this is a great way of hitting all angles of security while maximising your services.

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How we can help

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At VIS Systems, we provide construction time lapse solutions designed around the way projects actually operate and change. 

If you are planning a new development, the useful conversation is not simply about what the finished film will look like, it is about what you might need the footage for in the future, talk to our team to find out how we can provide just that.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a construction time lapse camera used for besides the video?

A construction time lapse camera can be used for remote progress reporting, project oversight and creating a dated visual record of the works. The footage can also support client updates, marketing, bid submissions, handover, internal training, lessons learned and investigations into programme or sequencing issues.

How long should a time lapse camera stay on site?

Ideally, a construction time lapse camera should remain on site throughout the project, from the start to finish. Continuous coverage creates a much more useful record than installing a camera for selected stages and leaving gaps between them.

Where should a time lapse camera be positioned on a construction site?

The camera should be positioned with the entire construction programme in mind, the site layout, future building height, crane position, delivery routes, compound location and potential obstructions should all be considered. 

How long is time lapse footage kept after a project completes?

This depends on the system and the agreed retention period. It is worth discussing retention before the camera is installed, particularly where footage may be needed after practical completion for project records, commercial discussions, reporting or marketing.

Do you need mains power for a construction time lapse camera?

No. Solar-powered construction time lapse systems can operate without relying on mains power, which can be useful on sites where power is temporary, unavailable or likely to change as the project progresses. At VIS Systems, we can provide solar-powered time lapse solutions with 4G and 5G connectivity.

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