Tech has completely transformed all kinds of different industries, and the construction industry is no exception. It’s changing the way that construction businesses are able to function, making them safer, more efficient and producing better results, from construction organisation and planning through to reporting and everything in between. We’re here to introduce a few ways that tech has helped to transform the construction industry, from drones to advanced error softwares and 4D simulations.
Drones On Site
More and more construction companies are using drones across their business, with many different purposes. From site analysis to initial planning and design, inventory and progress reports/maps, drones are able to provide quicker, easier, less costly and more effective results than the traditional alternatives that were the only options in the past. One more detailed example would be the planning and design phase of a construction project, enabling teams to utilise the 3D imaging produced by the drones to compare designs to the actual space available, as well as create accurate models of what the end result will look like, to ensure everyone is on the same page and that any avoidable delays can be resolved. With access to drones, particularly for larger construction companies, it can save a huge amount of resources and really improve the efficiency of the work.
Advanced Softwares To Identify Errors
Something else that has helped to transform the industry, in terms of machinery specifically, is the advanced software that is now built into plant equipment, so issues are quickly identified and can promptly be resolved, reducing the downtime of any machinery and improving efficiency. This is particularly helpful for plant hire companies, as between clients they can run much more thorough inspections that go beyond manual ones, to ensure that when they are hiring out their machinery, that it’s in the best possible condition. This improves their reputation and repeat business, and as so much of the construction industry is about word of mouth and reputation, it can make a significant difference. It’s predominantly the industry leading brands who are fully incorporating the most advanced options into their machinery, with no doubt that the rest are soon to follow.
4D Simulation
Next we have 4D simulation, which helps to create a visualisation of a project timeline. Site layouts can be mapped out, as well as how and where any temporary structures will be used, to ensure that everything fits into the timeline, that any potential issues or gaps are identified and can be planned for in advance and basically just to run through everything that should be happening on site to ensure that there is the necessary space and resource there to make it happen. Again, the use of 4D simulation on a construction site considerably helps with both time and cost efficiency, removing avoidable issues prior to the construction beginning.
Humanoid Labourers
Last but certainly not least, we have humanoid labourers, which are robots that can assist with manual labour tasks, from carrying loads through to heavy materials. It’s no secret that labour shortages have been an issue, so this can help to fill those shortages and also provide more efficiency so time can be invested by the team into the tasks that matter. These are largely only used on larger projects as this is not cheap, however it’s usually a very cost effective investment for big construction companies.
Final Thoughts
Technology has undoubtedly changed the construction industry, and there’s no sign of it slowing down with the way tech continues to develop. The investments in tech that businesses are able to make does depend on the size of the business and funds available, however making an effort to invest in some form of tech can really help with the long term profitability of a business.