EllisDon, a global construction services company, used visual monitoring technology to support the $115 million expansion and renovation of Calgary’s Glenbow Museum. The large-scale project involved significant upgrades to the building’s exterior, interior systems, floor configurations, and accessibility — all within the constraints of a historic site and a fixed timeline.
To help manage complexity and keep both internal teams and the client informed, EllisDon implemented the Timescapes platform, a visual monitoring system that uses high-quality cameras and computer vision to provide real-time and historical views of construction progress.
The technology enabled both the EllisDon team and the museum to view the site remotely and verify that milestones were being met. Cameras were installed and activated in under 30 minutes, and the system immediately began producing timelapse visuals and project insights. The museum’s team also used the visuals for public communications, helping engage patrons and the wider community during the lengthy renovation process.
According to site superintendent Joe Hrgovic, the visual data helped align the client and contractor by giving both parties the same view of the job site. It also reduced the volume of day-to-day update requests, saving time and improving trust. “With Timescapes, the client shared the same view of the project as the EllisDon team, ensuring everyone was on the same page,” said Hrgovic.
Beyond communication, the system improved operational efficiency. Site superintendents were able to track work from their devices instead of walking the site multiple times per day. Over the course of the project, this translated into an estimated 1,400 hours saved in supervision time and more than $84,000 in associated costs.
The success of the Glenbow Museum project led EllisDon to expand its use of the Timescapes system and formalize a strategic partnership with the company. The museum, meanwhile, continues to use the platform as work progresses toward completion.
For EllisDon, the integration of visual data tools into major infrastructure projects is more than a matter of efficiency — it’s a way to improve collaboration, build trust with stakeholders, and maintain transparency with the public.
This article is part of Innovation+ in the Plus 15, a special editorial series from the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum and Digital Journal that explores how Calgary-based companies are innovating.
