How Technology Is Shaping the Future of Construction

The construction industry today is likely almost unrecognizable compared to what it looked like just a few generations ago. Today, projects are able to be completed faster and cheaper than ever before, and the benefits are passed along to businesses and individuals alike. Drones, lasers, and robots might not immediately come to mind when you think of a building site, but these advanced technologies are shaping the future of construction in no small way.

Access Like Never Before

The planning stage of a construction project accounts for a considerable amount of both the timeline and the budget. Technology has helped reduce both of these costs. Big data, for example, can collect huge amounts of information in a fraction of the time that it would take if it were done by hand. This has huge benefits when it comes to forecasting the use of supplies or wear over time. With the use of powerful technology such as laser scanning or drones, information can be quickly and easily gathered to an extremely accurate degree.

Visualizing Projects in a New Way

BIM, or building information modeling, allows developers to look at the building plans as a whole, as opposed to individual drawings. Additional information can be added to the model, such as historical data or real-time site conditions. Allowing multiple people access to all of this information at once greatly increases collaboration within a project. 3D printing has also been a game changer in the construction industry. Not only is this an advanced way to create models and visualize the project through the various stages of production, but materials can also be printed and used in the actual construction.

More Efficient Use of Labor and Materials

Information and apps are readily available and can be accessed on anyone’s mobile device at any time, which greatly improves the collaboration and overall communication across every stage of a construction project. This is incredibly important as a project progresses between stages, with new teams coming in to take over, and ensures that nothing is lost along the way. The use of robots for demolition and other menial tasks also ensures the safety of construction workers, while cutting down on the number of crew needed for the job.

Bringing Down the Costs

Not only are projects able to be completed faster, but technology also reduces the cost of labor while ensuring an overall higher quality and safety standard. In fact, it’s estimated that new technologies have the ability to reduce project costs by nearly 20%, which for large-scale projects can mean savings in the millions.

And It’s Only the Beginning

In the past couple of decades, technology has managed to entirely shift the way that construction projects are planned, implemented, and measured. This has ensured that buildings are developed to a higher quality, able to withstand time and weather, constructed faster and with a more efficient use of resources. As technology advances further, our ability to create and construct will only continue to improve, ultimately shaping the world that we live in.