Construction site of the future
Throughout the construction age, construction companies have basically relied on “old school” methods of project management. During this era of technological progress, it's not uncommon for construction companies to rely on spreadsheets, manual data entry, and paperwork. Low Information Technology (IT) budgets and inadequate time for training have contributed to hesitancy around adopting new methods and technology in the construction industry.
There are real, practical applications and benefits to modernizing the current construction processes. And if a construction company wants to remain competitive and not to be left behind, it should find and create ways to integrate new approaches into its strategy and workflow.
These new technologies are drastically changing how the industry operates and how future projects will be managed and completed.
Artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. The construction industry is already seeing the implementation of artificial intelligence on the job site with the use of robots for tasks like bricklaying and autonomous equipment that can operate and complete tasks without the need for human interactions.
AI benefits construction projects through increased safety, improving workflow, and jobs get done faster and better.AI can also replicate judgments, decisions, and actions of humans without getting fatigued.
3D Printing
3D printing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed.
As a construction technology,3D printing has the potential to change material sourcing. For prefabrication, materials for construction can be printed and then transported to the job site ready for immediate use allowing one to get material faster and streamline the process by removing extra steps in the middle .3D printing may also allow faster and more accurate construction of complex projects as well as lowering the cost and waste production.
Building information modeling (BIM)
It's a software for 3D design to digitally model what will be built,it doesn’t just create a visually appealing 3D model of the building-it creates numerous layer of metadata and renders them within a collaborative workflow.
The use of BIM provides space for better collaboration because each person and expertise area can add their piece to the same model, instead of broken out multiple versions of a 2D paper drawing. This way, the model evolves immediately as people contribute, streamlining the process and increasing efficiency.BIM also helps in solving problems in the design and planning stages of a project, by automatic clash detection and providing a more complete picture of the project.
Virtual Reality And Wearables (VR).
Virtual Reality technology is often used in conjunction with BIM to help better understand complex projects. This gives the client or the team a more realistic idea of what the project will look like when the project is completed. Having a more complete grasp on the project before it begins gives one an opportunity to avoid big and expensive changes during the construction.
Wearables are construction technologies that will have an impact on job site safety and risk management.CGS 3D is an example of this technology.The glasses have an augmented reality display, wide-angle camera,depth sensor, and other features that allow workers to collect and see data in hard to reach areas in their environment. The glasses give workers the information and instructions they need to complete a task right on the display, getting the job done faster and minimum room for error.
Drones
Drones are the most widely used emerging construction technology. They can conduct site surveys more faster and accurately than the team on the ground and are also cheaper than aerial imaging. Their high-resolution cameras and the data collected can create an interactive 3D or topographical maps, models, and help in taking volume measurements.
Drones also have the ability to inspect hard to reach places such as tall buildings and bridges and also use them to monitor the progress of work and see how people are working.
Mobile and webTechnology.
Mobile and web applications are becoming more of the norm in the construction industry. Increased portability of tablets and smartphones allows for greater communication and the ability to work from anywhere. Integrating this type of technology in the current processes can be much simpler and require a smaller upfront investment while still providing major benefits and boosting productivity in day to day operations.
Contributor: John Thuku
Handle : @JoniiKiruthi
