Of all the major industries, the construction industry was the slowest to absorb the untamed technological tornado, which first occurred around 1985 with 3D modeling. It has accelerated as it produces more and more tools and software for efficient execution of work. While the other industries have gone through a complete systematic overhaul in order to fully submit to it, the construction industry, which firmly clings to traditional techniques, has yet to bend its torso before it.
The main reason for reluctance is believed to be the extreme sophistication and complexity of construction projects that are feared to be jeopardized by introducing new ones. The other reason is the lack of enough big players to build an industry-wide standard. The industry has always focused on the continuous improvement process that it needs to change now and stop seeing digital tools as impractical. Nowadays it is imperative that the industry adopts and accepts digitization with open arms, as it has a major impact on the growth and development of the economy.
The introduction of new technologies redefines technical practices and the way to act in difficult situations, be it BIM, virtual reality, drones, 3D mapping, 3D printing, or mobile technology – To understand how all of this can come together to make work easier, companies in the industry need to evolve, compete and survive. The expectations of customers who have been exposed to rapid changes in other sectors have also increased significantly. From the possession of smartphones and smart TVs to the desire for an intelligent infrastructure. The requirements are increasing and becoming increasingly complex. Another temptation that digitization attracts in the industry. The industry has also seen the influx of tech-savvy engineers who have a demand for green building. You might also be satisfied with the introduction of digital tools. Above all, there is a need to compete and conquer massive infrastructure projects that require digital literacy.
Here are some tools and software that are driving the brick and mortar industry through the digital age:
- Building Information Modelling (BIM):
Building information modeling has been on the lookout for a number of years but is still not accepted by most. With BIM, you can view the digital simulation of projects even before a single building block has been placed. The elimination of planning errors enables faster calculations, quantifies the cost overrun and shows all feasible options for the execution of work. Models that can be created through BIM have different dimensions of project information. 3D BIM can be used to assess the constructability of a build before the project is carried out; 4D BIM enables the visualization of the construction model over time and simulates the construction process. 5D BIM helps with early budget estimates with a high level of detail and precision.
- Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality:
The advent of AR, VR, and MR has dramatically changed the way construction companies consume and interact with data. Being able to walk through and even feel what a property will look like just with the assistance of a headgear provides the clients and the employees an extremely satisfying outlook. While virtual reality is mainly used in the preparation phase, augmented reality comes into play after the project has started. With the help of a smartphone or tablet, technical documentation or 3D models are merged into real-time images of the project (via the camera) to offer a unique perspective.
- Mobile Technology:
Mobile era has reached nearly all the far-ends of the industry and is being well exploited for all the blessings it may offer for the efficient work-float in the industry. The spectrum of its spread is such that there’s no returning back to existence without it. Mobile era has been supporting with the fast switch of data, control of documents and drawings, faster and correct calculations on site, cost tracking, speedier reporting to authorities and taking pictures labor and equipment hours. Construction Industry this is taken into consideration to be a laggard in the adoption of virtual tools too isn’t very far from going paperless and for that reason contributing its bit closer to sustainable development.
4. Internet of Things and Smart Sensors:
The Internet of Things and smart sensors are used together on construction sites to ensure worker safety, reduce costs, assess quality and energy efficiency, and maintain equipment by predicting environmental conditions. IoT is the ability of a device or object with sensors to connect to other machines via Internet. Objects or equipment range from trucks, excavators, haulers to portable equipment (such as Fitbits or goggles and work boots). Any construction site can become a network of interconnected devices that can be easily accessed from the office.
- Drones:
Due to countless advantages, drones and Unnamed Aerial vehicles have been seamlessly transferred from the commercial market to the construction industry. They are used for aerial photography, inspections, health and safety awareness, progress reports, commercial photography, laser scanning and thermal imaging. UAV technology also fi the communication gap between offices and facilities, helping to ensure accurate measurements
- AI or Machine Learning:
The inclusion of AI in every field has led us to believe that many people are unemployed because algorithms and intelligent robots can replace them. However, in the construction industry, labor shortages have turned to AI for help. Although machine learning is still in its infancy, it has been used in the construction industry to predict risk, extensively analyze data sets to determine the best option, and monitor and maintain building hazards based on past experience. The construction industry is mainly dedicated to finding patterns in large data sets, otherwise it will be a tedious task for humans.
There is no doubt that the construction industry is undergoing a systemic revolution, but the pace of change does not coincide with the development of the technical field. Cruel and ruthless, the person with the highest number ratio always liked it better than Luddites, who eventually surfaced and defeated everyone else.
