Technology adoption when it comes to construction has indeed changed the industry massively in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the pace at which contractors turn towards evolving software tools as well as applications to enhance workflows.
Still, technology happens to be always changing, thereby leaving the sector constantly preparing for the coming wave of capabilities that are indeed poised to disrupt the status quo.
It is well to be noted that construction media company The B1M, in partnership with sector experts from Bluebeam, recently went on to come together so as to determine the top 10 technology trends that look pretty ready to make waves within the construction spectrum in the years to come.
1. The democratization when it comes to technology
The democratization of technology happens to be the process when it comes to making new technology available to a much broader range of people, which happens to be now being seen in construction.
Cutting-edge tech used to be quite limited to just big businesses as well as governments. But all thanks to the evolution in computing technology, which happens to be led by the proliferation of smartphones as well as the mobile application ecosystem, small construction companies and workers can go on to get their hands on powerful tools when it comes to facilitating the design as well as build process.
Apparently, this will go on in the future as tech that is breaking through all throughout the other sectors seeps its way into construction.
2. 3D printing
Also called additive manufacturing, 3D printing happens to be the sequential layering of material so as to create building components or even entire structures by way of using machines.
What has begun as a way to come up with rapid prototypes across other industries happens to be now taking off in construction too, going from 3D-printed walls across the mid-2000s to entire bridges as well as houses. It can be used so as to build quicker as well as safer options with less waste and even more creative design probabilities.
While there happens to be optimism that recent projects can soon go on to be scaled up so as to create bigger buildings as well as whole 3D-printed communities, issues pertaining to cost, skills gaps, and regulatory barriers are pretty much there.
3. Automation
Automation happens to be the use of machines so as to carry out specific tasks that traditionally would be done manually, the ones that are repetitive, time-consuming, and sometimes dangerous.
The trend happens to be already widespread throughout construction in its various forms, right from modeling software and that too at the design phase to the automated factories that can go on to produce all the elements pertaining to a project, hence making it a pretty crucial aspect of the offsite manufacturing process.
Semi as well as fully autonomous robots are becoming more prevalent within the gamut of construction, by way of carrying out simple but quite labor-intensive tasks, aiding to fill skills shortages as well as boost productivity and not just replace the jobs entirely.
4. Geospatial/mapping
It is well to be noted that this is where technology like a geographic information system- GIS happens to be used to collect, evaluate, and store data pertaining to a location wherein the construction is planned, thereby overlaying plans onto a real-world map.
Geospatial engineering has gone on to become a crucial part of numerous construction projects, thereby helping to map them by way of GIS teamed with aerial, drone, and satellite imagery, as well as other technologies.
The usage of GIS data is all set to rise as the adoption of building information modeling progresses, while new data capture technologies like laser scanners for surveying and Lidar happen to be gaining interest in the field.
5. Offsite manufacturing
Offsite manufacturing is where the elements of a building happen to be produced or prefabricated within a factory right before being transported to the site for assembly. This can also range from small panels as well as M&E parts to entire sections or units, which happen to be craned in. This is termed modular construction.
This tech, apparently, can go on to reduce cost, risk, time, and waste while at the same time also improving safety, quality, and productivity. Offsite construction skills are primarily used in homebuilding; however, their applications are indeed widening.
It is well to be noted that whole prefabricated skyscrapers happen to be now in the works, while the advancements within the precast concrete happen to be enabling projects such as bridges as well as stadiums, which need to be built bigger as well as faster.
6. Digital Collab
There is a growth of digital tools within construction when it comes to transforming the way people across projects work together so as to deliver them.
More than only digitizing physical workflows, digital collab is more about working in close proximity that’s enabled by digital technologies.
Teams can now go ahead and share project data in generic environments that all the users can access, thereby helping everyone to get hold of the information they require, wherever they are, throughout a range of devices, and also make changes.
With the projects becoming more complex and data-rich, digital collab between stakeholders is going to be even more significant in the future.
7. Autonomous vehicles
Autonomous vehicle- AV, make use of technology like sensors, cameras, radars, and artificial intelligence in order to travel a distance or carry out tasks without a human operator.
There has been immense progress in this spectrum of the construction industry as compared to certain other sectors due to the fact that it takes place in a controlled setting, thereby resulting in meager risk.
The point is that the sector is already witnessing autonomous excavators, trucks, dozers, and site surveyors in early operation that help to enhance safety by way of taking workers out of hazardous environments and, at the same time, also increase productivity by way of longer operating hours.
Avs are indeed expected to become more common as technology like radar and Lidar systems go on to develop and as the advantages become clearer to the broader industry, thereby leading to more uptake.
8. Site video tracking
Video monitoring helps the users remotely view their jobsite, which in turn helps to elevate security outside of work hours and, at the same time, also track the project’s growth.
Apart from high-definition CCTV, modern setups can go on to include mobile surveillance units, high-technology management systems, and security apps.
These services happen to be expected to get more sophisticated since the technology improves, with autonomous surveyor robots, higher-quality cameras, and new communications technology like 5G for livestreaming, along with greater connectivity between the devices, all on the horizon.
9. Remote Work
With COVID-19 forcing people to get into remote working environments across the past year, digital tools have gone on to prove to be a lifeline for various construction projects, thereby allowing work to take place and get accomplished even from team members’ homes.
The techs which are at the forefront of this development are video conferencing, messaging apps, as well as construction software.
These technologies have gained more users due to the pandemic-induced remote work trend, and it is actually predicted that this way of functioning could very well become mainstream post-pandemic.
10. Data Accessibility
Accessibility to data happens to be crucial so as to ensure the information gathered on the project is being used correctly. The sector, apparently, has gone beyond simple PDFs, and the construction firms are now hiring data scientists to make sure that they are staying competitive pertaining to how data is used as well as processed. Thanks to evolving technology, construction firms are now going ahead and generating massive amounts of data that can go on to help with decision-making as well as productivity.
