If there’s one thing we can all say has changed the world, its technology. Nowhere is this change more visible than in the construction industry. Over the last few years, several great changes have been made to the way we do construction. And of course, what is change without profitability? Nobody wants that.
Technological upgrades have made the construction industry a much viable industry than ever with most construction companies reporting profits. The introduction of new technology into the industry not only quickens the construction process, but also helps companies make marginal savings on the resources needed projects.
These projects are now funded by more finance options and the contributors have to be eligible for construction finance to get them. Here are 7 ways the construction industry is changing today:
1. Digital records and plans:
In recent times, the construction industry has advanced beyond paper plans to using digital records of building plans, permit applications and safety inspections. Client communications have also become digitized. The construction industry now uses mobile apps and cloud computing to efficiently manage projects.
Paper cards have been abandoned and mobile apps which capture workers hours and reduce mistakes have become even more favored. This technology allows for the analysis of daily production allowing for changes to be made immediately.
Thus skipping the long days of making such corrections and waiting for information to become available. Regardless of location, cloud technology makes information readily available. It also reduced the problems of referring to outdated documents as current versions are readily available.
2. Equipment Management Technology:
Equipment is another major expense in the construction process. The location of equipment as well as how they are used can now be monitored using GPS tracking. This is a way of reducing the costs of having to purchase equipment as it informs project managers of if the assets enter into prohibited territory or if they are being used improperly.
With this technology, data received can be used to compare how equipment is being used on different job sites. Furthermore, equipment can now be ordered and returned with little hassle, providing equipment as quickly as they are needed.
3. Near-Field Communication:
The Near-Field communication system allows for data to be securely exchanged between physical tags and NFC enabled devices. It allows for the facilitation of plans and changes, communication between property owners, anyone else involved in the building project. This software assists with budgeting and billing processes, timeline management and real-time communication, collaboration tools.
They can also be used by developers and builders streamlining therefore permitting and inspection processes. For instance, NFC data could inform on site personnel on mistakes with orders allowing them to be immediately corrected.
4. Drones are now a big deal:
Although recently introduced, drones are proving to be very useful in the construction field. These remotely operated devices using GPS technology pre-programmed flight patterns allow large scale projects to be remotely surveilled, monitoring the project’s progress. They could also be used in the inspection of dangerous areas of the process and provides information of mistakes which need to be corrected.
Equipped with high-resolution digital camera and advanced software, drones do not only hasten the survey process, but also less cumbersome and time-consuming. They allow contractors make better informed decisions on the architecture and design elements of the building. They also allow site managers and teams receive real-time progress updates that would allow them to check and monitor health and safety hazards they may have missed physically.
5. Virtual Reality And Augmented Reality:
Virtual reality is no longer limited to just video games; it has found its way into the construction industry alongside Augmented Reality. These tools allow worksites to be more user-friendly opening allowing for vast limitless possibilities. In construction, virtual reality allows for real-time comparison of 3D models to physical spaces, overlay of location as well as virtual walkthrough.
These tools reduce mistakes and increase safety. One example is the Daqri helmet which offers improved awareness in worksites such as differences in temperature and unsafe conditions. This has created a new world of possibilities for collaboration between innovative designers and builders.
6. Predictive Analysis:
These systems provide insights into safety concerns, scheduling or budget outlooks. By combining techniques such as data mining, statistics, modeling, machine learning and artificial intelligence, predictive analysis to analyze data and make future predictions. This is done by creating a new approach to problem solving by using data, predicting patterns in construction workflow and highlighting innovative solutions.
Predictive analysis allow for problems and opportunities in construction to be anticipated. Thus giving project managers insights when making critical decisions. With predictive analysis, project managers can cover all the bases when it comes to making decisions on what to build, how far to continue and what mistakes might be made.
7. Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning:
AI technology makes it easy for construction managers to oversee all elements of the project on a larger project. Using AI and machine learning in construction, collating data and analyzing multiple streams of data from an integrated digital workflow has become easier. Properly trained AI allows data to be categorized faster than human operator which cuts the time needed to get a clear picture of issues on a jobsite.
Using machine learning, visual information is obtained from jobsite cameras and uses artificial intelligence to tag potential hazards and safety violations. Productivity and performance are also greatly improved.
Much like in other industries, technology has brought giant leaps to the way constructions are carried out. Technology is changing the way projects are managed by construction professionals. It also affects the planning and building process.
Construction projects take far less time to complete now, and are much safer. With new technology, mistakes can be easily detected early on, saving construction companies millions of pounds in repairs.
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