I am the CEO of P360M. A mobile app service, which works alongside any 360 degree camera and allows a user to annotate, then share 360 degree photos with their teams via simple web views.  This article will give you a basic understanding of 360 degree photography and how it can be used in the construction business.

Let’s start with the basics of 360 degree cameras. A 360 degree camera consists of multiple cameras in one device. When it’s activated, each camera takes a photo, which is then stitched together to form a complete 360 degree view around the camera. Usually, 360 degree cameras work with an accompanying mobile app, so the viewer can see and rotate the 360 degree view on their phone. The phone can also be used to control the camera, enabling the user to place a camera on a tripod and take a photo of a complete space without the photographer being in the photo. 

You do not need to spend huge sums on 360 cameras for use in construction. The camera we recommend to use is the Ricoh Theta S, because  it’s easy to use, generates great quality pictures, has a good battery life and retails at less than £200. Other options are the Samsung 360 camera or Insta 360. 

How to make 360 degree photos useful in your work. 
To make 360 degree photos useful, you need to be able to easily add notes and be able to share them.  P360M is a mobile app based service (iOS and Android supported), which enables a user to annotate 360 images on their phone and then share them with their teams via simple emailed web links.

​A user who receives a P360M web link, can open the 360 degree photo within a web browser. The user can rotate the view to see all 360 degrees of the photo and any annotations added by the P360M app user. 

​The image can also be viewed in  virtual reality goggles, using a mobile phone and low cost Google Cardboard goggles. 

Why use 360 degree photography in construction?
A picture says a 1000 words, a 360 degree picture says everything. Here are some basic reasons why 360 degree photography can help in construction:

• Saving time: Instead of taking many standard photos, you can take one and see everything around the camera. 
  
  
• Making the site real for those offsite:A 360 degree photo enables your teams or clients offsite to feel like they are onsite. It’s much easier to see how different elements in a space fit together if you are using 360 photography. Reducing confusion of clients or team members. Enabling better decision making
  
  
• A 360 degree photo never lies:It’s almost impossible to fake a 360 degree image, as it shows everything. Now you can trust your teams on site to report exactly what’s happening, reducing the need for costly visits
  
  
• Less confusion and less ambiguity will speed up decisions:A 360 degree photo shows it all, meaning everyone is on the same page from clients, suppliers to project teams. 
  
  
• It’s a new and fresh way to communicate with clients:It provides a fresh approach to communication, which enables clients to feel more involved in projects. 

 
Where can it be used in construction?
This is by no means an exhaustive list of applications, but here are a number of interesting areas 360 photography can be used:

• Project scoping: You only need to take a few 360 degree images to scope out a site. Also 360 images include a powerful element of spatial awareness. Enabling a user offsite to achieve a much deeper understanding of how  to deliver a project. 
  
  
• Day to day project updates: 360 degree photos provide a fast route to sharing updates to project team members and clients. Enabling faster decision making and better customer experience.
  
  
• Project snagging:One 360 degree image can show the complete scene, enabling easy communication of issues or changes required.
  
  
• Job auditing:360 degree photos are almost impossible to manipulate and show everything around the camera. Thus, they provide a powerful tool to audit projects from start to finish. 
  
  
• Health and Safety management:360 degree photos enable better day to day health and safety management onsite. 360 degree cameras can be used to constantly monitor sites and keep them safe. 360 degree photos can also be used in incident reporting, through the nature of capturing a full 360 degree view.
  
  
• Security management:360 degree cameras can be permanently installed on site to monitor 360 degree view. Ideal for securing a site. 

 
Find out more at https://p360m.co.uk
​

Click heP360M launches update to web views to improve how text is shown within a 360 view. Now text can be placed in any orientation and any position across a 360 degree image and it will show correctly via P360M cloud powered web views. 


P360M is a powerful tool for managing large projects. Users can take a 360 degree image using any number of 360 degree cameras and annotate them within the P360M mobile app. Once comments, arrows, boxes or drawings are added to a 360 image, they can be easily shared to others using the P360M cloud service. To view and rotate annotated images, all that is needed is a simple web browser. P360M allows all project team members to feel like they are onsite through the power of 360 degree photography. Making project communication simple and quick. Ideal for construction, health and safety and many other large physical projects. Take a closer look at our site https://p360m.co.uk 

P360M web view example: Construction project update

A long 3 days in London this week exhibiting at the Health & Safety Expo, but it was worth it. With over a 100 new leads to follow up, means I am an exceptionally happy man. It was great to talk to so many people about how P360M can help them in their business. Here are just a few takeouts:

•  A great tool for helping resolve snagging 
• An excellent tool for auditing and signing off physical projects
• Instead of writing a long report and taking lots of ordinary pictures, P360M enables me to just take one image, annotate and share it with the team. That'll save me hours!
• 360 pictures are virtually impossible to fudge, so P360M can create an audit trail everyone can trust
• It's ideal for incident management
• We love it, as it's so easy to use 
• We can use it in our role as security managers to better track incidences and plan security 
• Perfect for supporting Health and Safety managers in their day to day job. 
• When can I have it!

Thanks again to Eric and Sian for all their help over the last three days. 

P360M app is now available for Android. Allowing users with android phones or tablets to share annotated 360 images with their project teams. Ideal for the world of construction, where ruggedised Android phones are the norm for project teams. 

Android users can now share visual project updates with their teams offsite, via using the P360M app and service . Offsite team members receive an email which links to a 360o annotated picture in a basic web view, which can be seen on a computer or via VR headsets. Now everyone can feel they are there onsite, allowing better and more effective project management. 

Excellent tool for the world of construction, project audits and in health & safety applications.
Go to P360m.co.uk to sign up and install our app

Now you can see how P360M works out in the field:

1. Take a photo using your 360o camera. We suggest Ricoh, as it's great to use
2. Drag you photo into P360M. Annotate your pics and share with your team via email.
3. Back at the office, your team can open the images within a standard web browser. They can rotate images using their mouse or view them within Google Cardboard in VR!