How Construction Technology Is Changing The Industry

In this post, we are discussing how technology is changing the construction industry and is ensuring to increase profitability.

Construction Technology is Reshaping The Construction Industry

For years Engineers and Architects have been looking for newer ways to construct taller, more attractive, and stronger structures that would withstand the test of time and adverse conditions. Over the last 100 years, most industries have made significant gains in their progress while the construction industry has remained comparatively inert. However, with technology fuelling the industry, it is entering a phase where its progress is about to boom. Technology helps in ensuring quality, expediting delivery, keeping workers safe, increasing profit, and delivering to the ever-changing needs of the client. With recent advancements in technology, it is not farfetched to imagine a day when a notoriously noisy construction environment is hushed with silent autonomous nanobots or tires on tarmac be replaced with magnetized roads propelling levitating cars! Here’s a look at some of the areas that have witnessed technological advancement thereby reshaping the construction industry.

Self-healing Concrete

Concrete is for a fact the most used material in construction. Despite concrete being cheap and adaptable it is susceptible to detentions and cracks. In 2010 a team of researchers from the University of Rhode Island developed a smart concrete that heals its cracks. This is achieved by using tiny capsules of Sodium Silicate that raptures to release a gel-like healing agent that then hardens to fill the cracked joints. Worldwide the production of concrete accounts for 5% of carbon dioxide emissions but worldwide the production of concrete accounts for 5% of carbon dioxide emissions but according to researchers at Rhodes Island smart concrete will cut out greenhouse gases.

Figure 1: Self-healing Concrete

Computer-Aided Designs.

To completely appreciate the impact of CAD on the industry, we must understand that traditionally Architects and Engineers s had to use pencils, rulers, squares, and drafting compasses to design. This was a painstakingly slow and backbreaking method that was full of errors. The slow nature of this method would lead to delays in cases of revisions that most often took the designers to square one. The entry of CAD drafting a few decades ago was a welcomed relief to the construction industry.  CAD has changed the once complex process of planning, design, and evaluation of projects. Sometimes it is very difficult for a client to understand what is in the mind of an Architect. With CAD, 3D models can easily be developed and even take the client on a virtual tour of the project using 3D projections.

This will limit misunderstandings and build a good relationship between clients and designers. Wearable. Traditional PPEs have since been embedded with smart sensors that watch workers’ movement and their environment ensuring safety. Smart clothing i.e. e-textile are used to monitor workers’ biometrics like heart rate and respiration rate. This can help determine fatigue and exhaustion. Drones Drones have been used for mapping construction sites. During construction, drones can be flown overhead to take pictures. These pictures are then used to compute progress reports and even monitor materials on site. The University of Leeds recently demonstrated how drones can be used to repair roads. After spotting the drone then uses its onboard 3D printer to spray asphalt on the damaged sections.

Figure 2 : Pothole-repairing drone

Conclusion

In a wrap, the construction industry has come around to adopting technology in their trade. The traditional rigidity associated with the industry is fast fading out as technology has proven to cut costs and increase productivity.