Smart Video

About Smart Video

Smartvid.io, which now operates as Newmetrix, is a Boston-based software company established by Josh Kanner. The founding team has a collaborative history spanning over 15 years in various software ventures, including Vela Systems, which was acquired by Autodesk. Smartvid.io was launched to apply machine learning for enhancing safety, productivity, and quality within the global architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

The company's core offering is a platform that utilizes an artificial intelligence engine, nicknamed "Vinnie," to analyze visual data from construction sites. This AI is trained specifically on construction data, enabling it to identify over 100 types of safety hazards and risks from photos and videos. The system can detect issues such as non-compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing, and the presence of site-built ladders, among other risks. This automated analysis provides risk reduction, saves time for field personnel, and improves communication with project owners. Vinnie's construction-focused training has proven to be significantly more effective than general-purpose AI models for this specific application.

The platform serves the AEC industry by integrating with existing project management and data storage systems like Autodesk BIM 360, Procore, and Box, automatically pulling and analyzing media content. The business model centers on providing this analytical service to construction companies, helping them to predict and prevent safety incidents. By analyzing a combination of AI-driven observations and human-reported data, the system can forecast which projects are at a higher risk of incidents, allowing for proactive safety measures. This predictive capability has reportedly helped some clients reduce their incident rates. The company also forged a partnership with insurance provider AXA-XL to leverage this technology for reducing construction insurance costs.