Five Game-Changing Technologies in the Construction Industry
The construction industry has made some significant advances through the use of new technology that helps to increase the efficiency of builders, produce higher-quality in the finished products and improve the process of planning and building overall. We’ve come so far with modern techniques and programs that help from the planning to completion stage. Many of the processes that were previously done through time-consuming methods are now streamlined by digital programs that reduce the amount of time and expense involved. Here are five game-changing technologies in the construction industry.
1. Digitally Enhanced Manufacturing of Componetized Buildings
This technology features the use of industrialized and componentized construction innovations. It’s one of the latest trends in increasing the focus on the methods for building by increasing the efficiency of the processes and reducing the amount of time that is required for the completion of the processes. It takes an industrial approach that shifts many of the activities involved with construction from the building site, to allocate the tasks to companies and factories that work on the modular or prefab construction options. The use of pre-assembled modules and building components in other locations shortens the amount of time that is taken in completing industrial structures. Digital programs are used to put together plans consisting of prefab and componentized aspects of construction allow for builders in charge of completing projects to order the components that will be used from other parties and to have them shipped to the building site for the faster and more economic assembly of the components. This helps to bypass many of the common construction challenges by creating plans and strategies that streamline many of the processes involved in construction processes through the use of digital technology.
2. Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality is a technology that is used along with Virtual reality in the construction business with increasing frequency. It’s a technology that allows computer-generated images to be superimposed on a world view that users can use to replace what is currently seen in the real world through a computer-simulated environment. This is a tech that is used in planning for new construction of buildings and other structures. It shows the possibilities of what could exist in a certain space. This is an emerging trend in the construction arena that brings with it multiple benefits. Augmented Reality allows for visualizing the area along with displays of critical information about nearby risks for strategic planning. Some programs are designed to sound alerts for users when there is a high temperature or an electrically charged spot in the environment. This kind of technology can help to detect errors in design and coordination that are useful for avoiding common construction challenges and obstacles. AR also presents BIM data through a visual platform that assists the construction team, designers, and consultants in working together with more efficient coordination.
3. Building Information Modeling
Building Information Modeling, also known as BIM, is much like CAD (computer-aided design) technology. It uses 3D software to produce a digital model of the structure that is to be built. This gives users a 3D model of the building to construct however, it goes much further into the architecture and engineering of the process. It captures insights into the design that are not possible on paper. It also creates a variety of layers of metadata about the components and the specifications of the parts of the building that helps construction companies to set a collaborative workflow into action. This type of technology is currently used for roughly a third of the construction efforts undertaken by the larger companies. In the United Kingdom, BIM is a technology that is mandated for use in all government construction projects that are undertaken. BIM provides all stakeholders better collaboration because it allows each user with expertise and knowledge in key areas to add their input into the model. This cuts down on the amount of time and effort needed for everyone to have their input on the model. When users add their insights to the program, it is immediately integrated into the overall structure that is produced. It’s one of the most efficient ways to streamline the design of a new building project and to catch errors early in the planning process.
4. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is a technology that is used along with other types of technologies used in the construction industry. This emerging yet rapidly evolving technology is instrumental in providing a variety of different laser scanners, wearables, and sensors that are useful in gathering information that helps planners make important decisions about construction projects. It is the technology that allows machines and computers to function with intelligence levels that are similar to that of humans. It provides information about problem-solving for common construction challenges. It has the capability of integrating years’ worth of data about construction problems and identifying patterns to find more efficient building methods. AI speeds up the analysis tasks i5n construction projects to make planning faster and easier based on real data. It can also assist in project planning and scheduling as well as powering construction drones and robots to perform jobs that were once done by humans. It helps in improving the productivity of a construction site as well as helping to improve safety.
5. Virtual Reality and Wearables
Virtual Reality is a technology that is often combined with Augmented Reality and BIM to help planners better understand the nature of complex construction projects. It has the potential to help the client have a more realistic view of what the project will look like once it is finished This allows for planners to make the changes that will be needed early in the planning process to avoid the need for costly change orders that frequently happen partway through construction projects. VR is also used with wearables that can make the construction site a safer place to work and aid in risk management for each construction site. S[ecial smart glasses with depth sensors and other special features allow workers to gain more data in the environment. They provide information and instructions needed to complete complex tasks through a display, that cuts down on the number of errors and allows for faster completion of tasks.