Construction technology is defined as innovation and modification in the construction industry that lessens manual labor. Innovative construction technology enables massive improvements in the safety and efficiency of large-scale construction projects.
Construction has a long history. People started inhabiting caves and relied on various types of stone. Throughout the evolution of humankind, we have witnessed remarkable innovations in construction. Most construction innovations happened in the past century. In this article, you will read impressive construction technology trends impacting the industry in 2022.
- Constructions wearable
Construction wearables are clothes and gadgets worn during construction.
This wearable technology increases the work rate and ensures the safety of workers. Its adoption rapidly increases because of its safety advantages. Collisions with equipment are a reason for hundreds of workers’ death each year. Construction wearable prevents injuries and death.
Smart and hard boots, smart hand tools, power gloves, and smart bodywear are included in wearables. They monitor user health conditions. These wearable devices offer sensible and detecting parameters. Other wearables, like smartwatches, monitors and goggles, are also used.
Construction exoskeletons increase the work rate and make it efficient for laborers.
- 3D Printing
3D printing innovations have become an essential part of construction technology. It involves layer-by-layer creation using machines. It increases facilities for designers by offering three-dimensional objects from the computer-aided design model. Users can change the material sources by 3d designing. A 3d printer uses various materials to create objects or even entire structures. Entire houses or buildings have been printed using this technology.
Following are the benefits of 3d printing:
- It provides the capability to either prefabricated off-site or directly on-site
- It reduces materials waste and saves time by production
- Its efficient material usage
- Its increases speed
- It’s eliminating errors
3D printing will have a huge impact on construction technology. It also emerged to increase efficiency for the job sites.
- Artificial intelligence (Ai) and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence is opposed to the natural intelligence displayed by humans, including animals. Machine learning is a field of Artificial intelligence. It’s the ability to “learn” from past experiences and big data analysis. Both play an important role and become so strong in construction technology. This technology is also available and used today, but it will help in advanced construction in the future. In Ai constructions, users use computers for automatic calculation and designing. It increases efficiency in this industry. These technologies have massive impacts on construction, where efficient and intelligent decision-making makes productivity and safety.
The benefits of Ai are followings:
- It makes it easier to design buildings
- It helps in better financial planning and project management
- It improves safety
- It Increased productivity
- It saves time
Soon this technology will affect every aspect of construction.
- Blockchain
Blockchain provides a construction supply chain and increased functionality. Blockchain’s main functionality is to store transactions in virtual blocks. It can encrypt and protect key elements in construction operations and the supply chain.
This technology could handle all contractual relationships using concepts like smart contracts. Its distributed ledgers can enable better transparency and accountability.
The following aspects of blockchain make it particularly appealing for the construction industry:
- It’s Secure: All data related to the project is encrypted, so all information stays protected.
- Using Decentralized technology: Project information can be accessed from anywhere.
- It’s Scalable: Blockchain can be scaled to very large projects because it doesn’t require a massive data warehouse.
In upcoming years, blockchain will influence many aspects of construction management, i.e. contracts and management of payment and material. It will also store all information even after a project is completed.
- Drones
Drone technology gets huge value in construction technology. Drones are small flying machines controlled by remotes. It also has a small camera mounted on it. It makes the construction of buildings more accessible. Moreover, the construction manager used this device to supervise the project.
Followings are benefits of drones in constructions:
- These flying machines provide accurate data
- These drones are also used to deliver materials.
- It also helps in security concerns.
- It also helps to track equipment.
Robots
Robotics is a form of automation. Robots can work with precision and accuracy. A computer program that operates repetitively with a rule-based process. Robotics replicates and collaborates with the actions of human beings, interacting with the user interface of a computer system. It improves accuracy, consistency, speed, and cost of execution.
It can enhance project control and tasks related to project finance. It decreases labor work.
- Cloud technology:
Cloud technology is the root of the digital construction revolution. Users can outsource data, processing, and storage to powerful machines accessible from a remote location. It uses special software for doing different tasks. Cloud computing makes sharing and collaboration easy.
Storing project data in the cloud is an easy decision for contractors. It saves data and protects from data loss, damage, or theft. It secures data while making it accessible to the team. Engineers, architects, and contractors can share data, ideas, and plans between them. It has changed the nature of the project from a local to a global scale.
The mobile device is capable of this technology. Users can access this technology on their mobile devices.
- Building Information modeling (BIM)
BIM is creating a digital representation of a structure before building.BIM or Building information modeling technology is an intelligent tool that supports engineering, architects, and construction professionals to effectively plan, design, modify and manage the building and its infrastructure. The representation of buildings enables everyone involved in construction to anticipate difficulties, eliminate risk, determine logistics and increase efficiency. Before construction, it helps reduce the need for future change orders by anticipating challenges. During construction, It improves communication and efficiency by offering a central hub. After construction, it creates the possibility for building management for the structure’s entire life cycle.
- Augmented & Virtual Reality
Augmented and Virtual reality technologies have enabled construction companies and customers to visualize elements of their projects’ design, build, and post-construction phases. These two technologies are proven as game-changers for the construction industry.
Augmented Reality or AR is a live, direct or indirect view of the real-world environment.
Virtual Reality or VR is an artificial environment created with software and presented to a user in a virtual model.
VR and AR provide a virtual 3D overlay view of buildings and interiors.