What is the role of technology in construction?
It’s safe to argue that we wouldn’t be able to carry out our day-to-day tasks without the aid of technology. Technological advancements have profoundly altered our ability to communicate and learn. Nowadays, accepting technology developments in the building sector is a great way to reap greater profits. In the next sections, you’ll learn how building automation technologies can boost production and profit when used efficiently.
Go Mobile:
Mobile devices and apps, considered one of the most widely used forms of technology, have significantly impacted the construction sector. More construction management apps are needed to make it easier and faster for managers and engineers to access, document, share, and amend critical project information. It’s possible to do it on the job site itself, which can aid with scheduling, field reporting, back office management, preconstruction, and project management. There are new and enhanced applications almost every day, and their software producers are creating alliances.
Data can now be seamlessly integrated with your other software solutions, making it easier than ever for industry professionals to run their businesses. Using these cloud-based applications, employees can submit timecards, work records, RFIs, expense reports, and other validated paperwork. Data entry and file organization can be automated, which can save a significant amount of time each year. It’s time to say goodbye to digging through paper files in search of old reports.
GPS Tracking:
GPS tracking has become an essential part of every construction enterprise or firm. Each vehicle is equipped with GPS technology linked to the headquarters via satellite. Managers can track the whereabouts of all of their vehicles in real-time, thanks to this technology. If a problem arises or a vehicle stops working properly, management can locate it and track it more rapidly, allowing them to address it more promptly.
Another advantage of fleet tracking software and systems is that they may provide real-time information about field and equipment conditions. As a result, the information may be conveniently gathered into a single dashboard or hub. We may expect to see a lot more integration amongst GPS tracking systems. With so many options available, productivity might skyrocket.
Drones:
Drones are a very useful and beneficial technology that every building site or company has used. They are known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and they can be used to transport particular items from one location to another. Using drones to collect data in difficult-to-reach places has proven to be a time and labor-saving method for humans. A construction team’s awareness of the progress and built-in conditions can be aided by photos taken during site inspections and assessments and by the images themselves.
Many businesses and organizations would substantially benefit from the use of drones since they allow for the collection of drone footage that can be compared to architectural blueprints. Improved cameras and lenses and improved real-time communication between the drone and the software on the receiving end are expected to be the primary emphasis of future enhancements to these drones. It is also possible to employ these flying marvels to monitor the daily operations and chores on the construction site, resulting in increased production if something out of the norm is detected and dealt with. ‘ These high-quality drones are essential for any construction company or corporation to be productive and efficient in today’s modern-day.
3D Printing:
3D printing is one of the most extensively used technologies today. With its ability to build prototypes or models, construction is taking full advantage of it. Management and engineering teams can benefit immensely by using materials like concrete and polymers to produce components or even entire buildings. According to reports, Dubai has built the world’s first 3D-printed office, and it’s a sight to behold. Even though 3D printers can be a bit pricey, they’re worth every penny because of all the benefits they’ll bring.
Cost savings and time savings are both possible outcomes of using 3D printers in place of more traditional building methods and processes. Profit margins for companies will soar as a result, as 3D printing will allow them to enter markets they were previously unable to enter due to their technological limitations. In addition, because 3D printing eliminates waste, it would enhance the company’s overall brand image. So in the eyes of the public and investors, the corporation would be regarded as trustworthy because of its efforts to reduce waste during building. I think it’s an excellent idea.
Laser technology:
Laser scanning is a great option if you’re looking for a way to increase productivity on your building site. Laser scanners use a high number of points on a coordinate system to gather extremely precise geometric information.
The cameras can accurately depict all aspects of the construction site on the construction site. An expensive luxury and a time-consuming way to insert point data into construction files were once regarded to be the norm. However, as technology has advanced, this task can now be completed much less time and more accurately.
Even more advanced scanners and picture-perfect software interfacing are expected to make the procedure completely automated in the future. Additionally, laser scanners can be quite helpful in determining potential conflicts between current circumstances and future building features. To put it another way, the strategy would save a lot of money and a lot of time. This technology may be improved to incorporate data faster, and the design and construction process can be reorganized more effectively.
Machines and Robotics:
Many people are terrified of what machines and robotics will do in the future since it is difficult to fathom that many of the tasks we performed manually in the past will be performed quickly and easily by machines. Robots are performing demolition, heavy-lifting, brick-laying, and other tasks. In order to raise production and save time, inventors and producers are always working to improve the agility and scalability of these robots.
Let’s imagine a machine doing all of your work for you in a more efficient and effective manner. Even though these robots are self-contained machines, they nevertheless require regular supervision and guidance to ensure that there are no system faults or bugs during the assembly process. They are there to help, not to replace, but to improve the performance and productivity of the workers.
Gadgets and Wearables:
Wearable gadgets and tools can be used in a variety of ways in the construction sector. Wearables like smart glasses and hard hats that can deliver visual, amplified, or mixed reality are examples of these wearables. These visualization tools can make a huge difference in productivity, accuracy, and safety. Using various wearables to protect the safety of employees and workers is great for business. Smartwatches and health monitors are just a few examples of technology-enhanced safety vests and other products. They have biometric and environmental sensors as well as Wi-Fi, location trackers, voltage detectors, and other sensors.
Site or safety managers might use these devices to create restricted or dangerous areas, informing workers via pre-installed alarms and lights that space is solely for machines or robots. Clothing that can detect critical human signals like skin temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate is also available as smart clothing using technologically advanced materials. There are a number of new wearable devices that can monitor an employee’s posture and track their movements, as well as identify whether or not the person is fatigued.
They can also determine whether or not the employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. These advances in technology can help you keep an eye on your personnel and perhaps detect an accident before it happens! Aside from boosting productivity and reducing risks, these wearables and gadgets also help improve the well-being of your managers and the safety of your staff members.
Capabilities of BIM:
This widely used technique, known as BIM (Building Information Modeling), provides a slew of advantages. A major development in construction history, because it eliminates the need for extensive preparation before getting started on any job. Better digital representations of buildings in 3D models make it easier for everyone involved in a construction project to work together more effectively. A better design and construction of structures can result from this and a connection to gadgets on the construction site. With this kind of technology, you may find everything you need for a project in one spot. All parties are able to interact and work together smoothly as a result of this method’s elimination of contractors and clients working in isolation in their own offices.
In the construction industry, BIM procedures are becoming more popular than the previous blueprints method. Researching and applying BIM in their plans and daily activities has resulted in higher productivity, better teamwork, and on-time and under-budget completion of their work. One of the most significant factors in every organization is making more money and doing so in less time. According to a number of experts, building information modeling (BIM) will gradually migrate into the 5D modeling world with characteristics like time and costs management. Every construction company should be utilizing BIM in the near future.
Virtual Reality:
Everyone at a construction company or firm’s worst dread is the financial expense of trying something and failing. However, suppose there was a way to conduct experiments without experiencing any physical hurdles or delays? Virtual reality (VR) is a great method to get a feel for a project before starting. Additionally, it is widely utilized to train managers and staff before they are put into the field for the first time. Employees may be able to experience dangerous settings like tight spaces or high altitudes in a controlled environment thanks to virtual reality (VR).
To put it another way, even if something goes wrong, it will just be a learning experience in the virtual world, not the real one. VR simulators have been used to train pilots, soldiers, and doctors for years. They can now be used to train workers in everything from welding and masonry work to operating cranes and excavators. This is a great advancement. Virtual reality is ripe for innovation since its inventors and developers have complete control over every part of it. With VR technology, anything is conceivable on the construction site, and the finished building would be better than ever before.
