OpenSpace raises $15.9 million to automate photo documentation on construction sites

OpenSpace, a platform that helps construction teams track the progress of building projects by capturing 360-degree photos of construction sites, has raised $15.9 million in a series B round of funding led by Menlo Ventures. While the construction sector has never been renowned for efficiency, digital technology is playing a pivotal role in getting the $11 trillion industry back on its feet during the COVID-19 crisis. The construction industry has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, due to social distancing measures, but AI and remote collaboration tools are making it easier to resume some projects by reducing the number of people required to be on-site. Founded in 2017, San Francisco-based OpenSpace uses AI to automatically create navigable 360-degree photos of construction sites. The software works in tandem with a 360-degree camera, which builders or site managers strap to their hats to document the evolution of a site.